"LJ  E>  RAR.Y 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


The  person  charging  this  material  is  re- 
sponsible for  its  return  on  or  before  the 
Latest  Date  stamped  below. 

Theft,  mutilation  and  underlining  of  books 
are  reasons  for  disciplinary  action  and  may 
result  in  dismissal  from  the  University. 


UNIVERSITY    OF    ILLINOIS    LIBRARY    AT    URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


JOV  0  9  1987 
1986 


X  •  "«    •    ,  «www  AJAC. 

fW17*^ 

APR  08  1380 
MAR  1  3  1980     ftUP  2  4 1988 


1  980  jnAC 

"%m  MAR  01 1995 


DEC  2  2 


L161— O-1096 


HISTORY 


OF 


McDONOUGH  COUNTY, 


ILLINOIS. 


TOGETHER  WITH    SKETCHES  OF  THE  TOWNS,  VILLAGES   AND  TOWNSHIPS,  EDUCATIONAL,  CIVIL, 

MILITARY  AND  POLITICAL  HISTORY;    PORTRAITS  OF  PROMINENT  INDIVIDUALS, 

t  AND    BIOGRAPHIES    OF   THE  .  REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


EMBRACING  ACCOUNTS  OF  THE  PRE-HISTORIC  AND  HISTORIC  RACES,  AND  A 
BRIEF  REVIEW  OF  ITS  CIVIL  AND  MILITARY  HISTORY. 


SPRINGFIELD,  ILL..*. 
CONTINENTAL  HISTORICAL  CO. 

1885 


©O  THE 


OP 


WITH   THE    HOPE  THAT  THEIK  VIRTUES  MAY  BE 
EMULATED,  AND  THEIR  TOILS  AND  SAC- 
RIFICES APPRECIATED  BY  THE 

COMING  GENERATIONS. 


Printers  &  Bookbinders,  (fe^o- 


PREFACE. 


The  importance  of  preserving  in  concise  form  the  traditions  of  the  past  has 
never  been  questioned,  nor  the  usefulness  of  local  history  been  disputed.  Believ- 
ing that  the  county  of  McDonough  afforded  most  excellent  material  for  a  good 
county  history,  the  Continental  History  Company  placed  in  the  field  a  full  corps  of 
experienced  historians,  prepared  to  spare  no  time  or  money  in  compiling  a  com- 
plete and  reliable  work.  The  manuscript  of  this  history  has  been  submitted  to  the 
committee  chosen  by  your  own  citizens  for  the  purpose,  who,  after  a  critical  exam- 
ination of  them,  have  approved  of  our  work.  We  feel  confident  that  we  here  pre- 
sent our  patrons  with  a  work  that  is  as  correct  as  it  is  possible  for  humanity  to 
make.  That  errors  have  crept  in,  and  may  be  found,  we  do  not  doubt.  Man  is,  at 
the  best,  but  a  fallible  creature,  but  every  statement  herein  published,  is  honestly 
believed  in  by  the  parties  furnishing  the  information,  by  the  historians,  and  by  the 
committees  of  revision.  All  desire  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth.  They 
gave  much  time  and  labor  to  the  work,  and  deserve  the  thanks  of  the  citizens  of 
the  county  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  trust  reposed  in  them.  Our  thanks 
are  due  to  the  numerous  friends  who  have  so  kindly  assisted  us  in  gathering  up 
items  and  assisting  in  the  compilation  of  this  volume.  We  cannot  name  them  all, 
for  their  name  is  legion,  but  we  must  not  forget  to  mention  James  M.  Campbell, 
Thomas-  Fulkerson,  Quintus  Walker,  Charles  W.  Dines,  C.  S.  Churchill,  Charles 
H.  Whitaker,  B.  R.  Hampton,  T.  H.  B.  Camp,  W.  H.  Hainline,  and  the  other 
county  officials,  members  of  the  press  and  others  throughout  the  county. 

Nor  mast  we  forget  to  remember  and  thank  the  historians  of  the  company 
who  have  labored  so  hard  and  faithfully  for  the  good  of  all — James  S.  Walters, 
general  historian;  Charles  W.  Moseley,  assistant  historian;  Maurice  E.  Power,  W. 
M.  Shumaker,  James  McFarland,  C.  M.  Reynolds,  Myron  E.  Lusk,  J.  M.  Braddock, 
Charles  H.  Shaler,  George  A.  Franklin,  Karr  McClintock,  C.  C.  Chapman  and 
Joseph  H.  Power,  local  historians ;  W.  B.  Wetherbee,  of  the  portrait  department ;  J.  K. 
Magie,  R.  V.  Mallory,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Wetherbee,  Thomas  Jewell  and  Miss  Adele 
Walters,  editors  of  the  biographical  department.  All  have  tried  to  do  their  duty 
well,  and  please  the  company  and  our  patrons. 

In  conclusion,  we  would  say  that  our  work  is  done;  the  History  of  McDon- 
ough County  is  before  you.     We  cheerfully  hope  it  will  please  you. 
Yours  Very  Truly, 

THE  CONTINENTAL  HISTORICAL  COMPANY. 

SPRINGFIELD,  ILLINOIS,  JUNE,  1885. 


Certificate  of  tl^e  General  Gon^ittee, 


WE,  the  undersigned  committee  of  old  settlers,  and  business  men  of  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  history  of  our  county,  now  being  compiled  by 
the  Continental  Historical  Company,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  manuscript 
of  the  said  work  was  submitted  to  us  at  Macomb,  on  the  27th  of  April,  1885,  and  that  we  have  made 
all  the  corrections  and  additions,  which  we  in  our  judgment  deemed  necessary,  and  as  so  corrected 
we  approve  of  the  same. 


John  Wilson,  Sr., 
B.  R.  Hampton, 
James  M.  Campbell, 
G.  W.  Hamilton. 


Thomas  Fulkerson, 
Henry  W.  Kreider, 
John  M.  Jackson, 


John  L.  Anderson, 
Richard  Pennington, 
Charles  H.  Whitaker, 


Certificate  of  tl^e  SoW^sl^ip  Gorr^r^ittees, 


WE,  the  undersigned  committee,  appointed  by  the  old  settlers  for  the  purpose  of  correcting 
and  revising  the  histories  of  our  respective  township  for  the  forthcoming  history  of  McDonough 
county,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  manuscript  of  the  same  has  been  submitted  to  us,  and  we  have 
made  such  additions,  corrections  and  emendations  as  we,  in  our  judgment,  deemed  necessary,  and 
as  so  corrected,  we  do  approve  of  the  same. 


James  Cole, 
Stockton  West, 

— Bushnell. 

W.  W.  Stewart, 
Quintus  Walker, 

— Walnut  Grove. 

Henry  W.  Kreider, 

— Prairie  City. 

Edward  Dyer, 
W.  H.  Greene, 
J.  M.  Jackson, 

—Mound. 

J.  E.  D.  Hammer, 
Richard  Pennington, 

— New  Salem. 

Thomas  Lawyer, 
J.  N.  Foster, 
Thos.  Ausbury, 

— Eldorado. 


George  W.  Reid, 

— Chalmers. 

S.  J.  Grigsby, 
Alfred  Pennington, 
O.  P.  Pennington, 

— Blandinsville. 

Nancy  Logan, 
James  Seybold, 
E.  N.  Hicks, 
G.  H.  Monarch, 

—Hire. 

A.  V.  Brooking, 
Alfred  Pennington, 
Charles  Creel, 

— Emmet. 

J.  M.  Wallin, 
W.  B.  Clarke, 
T.  W.  Head, 
James  Statler, 

— Sciota. 


Charles  E.  Holton, 
G.  G.  Venard, 

—Bethel. 

John  H.  Smith, 
Charles  Hills, 

— Lamoine, 

Thomas  Fulkerson, 
J.  Eaton, 

— Tennessee. 

D.  W.  Campbell, 

— Colchester. 

John  Wilson,  Sr., 
G.  C.  Meader, 

— Industry. 

W.  T.  Brooking, 
J.  M.  Jackson,     D.  M.  Crabb, 

— Macomb. 
Hugh  Watson, 
John  Barclay, 

— Scotland. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


HISTORY    OF    ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

The  mr>und  builders  ................................  17 

Other  races  ..........................................  19 

Indians  ......................  ........................  20 

Illinois  confederacy  .........  .......................  20 

Early  discoveries  ...................................  21 

First  setllers  .....................  ....................  22 

English  rule  .........  .  ...............................  23 

CHAPTER  II. 

COUNTY  AND  TERRITORY  OF  ILLINOIS.  ...  24 

County  of  Illinois  ..............................  25 

Northwestern  territory  ........................  26 

Ordinance  of  1787  ...............................  26 

Illinois  territory  ................................  27 

CHAPTER  III. 

STATE  ORGANIZATION 
First  constitution 
Wfnnebago  war 
Black  Hawk  war 
Internal  Improvements 
Improvements  inaugurated 


28 
28 
28 
29 
30 
30 
Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  ...................     31 

Panic  .............................................     32 

CHAPTER  IV. 

MORMON,  MEXICAN  AND  CIVIL  WARS  .....  32 

The  battle  of  Nauvoo.  ,  .........................  35 

Mexican  war  ....................................  36 

War  for  the  union  ..............................  38 

CHAPTER  V. 

GOVERNMENT  ....................................  40 

Governors  .......................................  40 

Shadrach  Bond  ................................  40 

Edward  Coles  .................................  40 


Nlnian  Edwards 

John  Reynolds 

Joseph  Duncan 

Thomas  Carlin 

Thomas  Ford 

Augustus  C.  French 

Joel  A.  Matteson 

William  H.  Bissell 

Richard  Yates 

Kichard  J.  Oglesby 

John  M.  Palmer 

Shelby  M.  Cullom 

John  M.  Hami Iton 

Lieutenant  Governors 

Superintendents  of  Public  Instruction. 

Attorney  General 

Treasurers 

Secretaries  of  State 

Auditors  of  State 

United  State  Senators 

Niuian  Edwards 

Jesse  B.  Thomas 

.John  McLean 

Elias  Kent  Kane 

David  Jewett  Parker 

John  M.  Kobinson 

William  L.  D.  Ewing 

Richard  M.  Young 

Samuel  McRoberts 

Sidney  Breese 

James  Semple 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 

James  Shields 

Ly man  Trumbull 

Orville  H    Browning 

W.  A.  Richardson 

Richard  Yates 

John  A.  Logan 

David  Davis 

Representatives  in  Congress 


TAOE 

.  40 

..  40 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  41 

.  42 

.  42 

.  42 

.  42 


43 
43 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
45 
46 
46 
46 
46 
46 


HISTORY    OF    McDONOUGH    COUNTY. 


CHAPTER  I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


CHAPTER  II. 

GEOGRAPHY,  TOPOGRAPHY,  RESOURCES. 
Wealth 

CHAPTER  III. 


GEOLOGY : 

Coal  measures 

St.  Louis  limestone 

Keokuk  limestone 

Economical  Geology 

Coal 

Fire  clay — Iron  ore 

Building  stone— Limestone  for  lime. 

Sand  and  clay  for  brick 

Soil  and  agriculture 


CHAPTER  IV. 


PIONEER  LIFE 

Early  manners  and  customs . 


Character  of  the  pioneers . 

Clothing , 

Weddings 

Shakes 

Snakes— Agriculture 

Religion T 


CHAPTER  V. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

Early  settlers 

Historic  first  items. . . 


CHAPTER  VI. 

REMINISCENCES,  INCIDENTS,  ETC. 

An  Incident 

Deep  snow 

By  Humphrey  Horrabln 

Reminiscence  of  A.  H.  Walker 

By  Thomas  Fulkerson 

By  Isaac  Opp 

By  John  Wilson 

Reminiscence  of  R.  L.  Darke 

Martha  Russell's 


71 
7:. 
77 
78 
711 
80 


88 

84 


96 
98 
101 
102 
103 
106 
107 
108 
110 
111 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PAGE 

BLACK  HAWK  WAR 112 

Roster 119 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

MORMONS  AND  MORMON  WAR 119 

Roster , 129 

CHAPTER  IX. 

WAR  FOR  THE  UNION 133 

Roster '. 146 

Battery  H,  2d  artillery  and  2d  cavalry 147 

7th  cavalry 149 

8th  and  llth  cavalry 151 

12th  and  16th  cavalry 152 

12th  and  16th  infantry 155 

17th,  18th  and  28th  infantry J60 

30th,  50th  and  55th  infantry 163 

57th  infantry 166 

59th  infantry 167 

62d  and  64th  infantry 169 

72d  and  78th  infantry 174 

84th  infantry 178 

88th  and  103d  infantry 182 

118th  and  119th  infantry 183 

124th  infantry 185 

125th  and  137th  infantry 187 

138th  and  151st  Infantry 191 

10th  Missouri  infantry r 192 

2d  California  cavalry 194 

54th  Ohio  infantry 194 

5th  California  infantry 194 

United  states  veteran  volunteers 194 

.     E- gineer  regiment  of  Missouri 194 

First  engineer  regiment  of  the  west 194 

Roll  of  honor 194 

CHAPTER  X. 

COUNTY  GOVERNMENT 200 

Commissioners'  court 202 

County  court 212 

Board  of  supervisors 213 

CHAPTER  XI. 

OTHER  OFFICIAL  MATTER 221 

Matrimonial 221 

Records 224 

Town  plats— Court  house 227 

Countyjall : >. 235 

County  charity 236 

CHAPTER  XII. 

POLITICAL 239 

Official  vote 255 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

NAT'L,  STATE,  COUNTY,  REPRESENTAT'N. 

Congressional 

General  Assembly 

County  c.erk 

County  judge 

County  treasurer 

Clerk  of  circuit  court 

Sheriff 

Surveyors 

Coroners 


266 
266 
270 
293 
299 
307 
317 
321 
327 
328 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

COURTS  OF  MCDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

Circuit  court 

States  attorneys 

Dark  deeds 

Murder  of  John  Wilson 

Murder  of  James  Dye 

Killing  of  W.  H.  Randolph 


328 
329 
337 
338 
339 
342 
345 


CHAPTER  XV. 


RAILROADS 348 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

PAGE 

SOCIETIES  IN  GENERAL 357 

Agricultural  society 357 

Stock  association 359 

Bushnell  agricultural  society 359 

Old  settlers  association 360 

Patrons  of  Husbandry 363 

Anti-Horse-Thief  association 866 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

EDUCATIONAL 371 

Commissioners  of  school  lands 375 

Superintendent  of  schools 377 

Development 879 

McDonough  college 381 

Normal  college 883 

Western  Normal  college,  Bushnell 383 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

THE  BAR 385 

Lawyers  of  the  county 387 

Bar  of  the  present » 392 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  MEDICAL  PROFESSION 405 

Physicians  of  Macomb 407 

Physicians  of  Colchester 415 

Physicians  of  Bushnell 416 

Physicians  of  Blandlnsville : 418 

Other  physicians 421 

CHAPTER  XX. 

ECCLESIASTICAL 427 

Presbyterian  church,  Macomb 428 

Bushnell 430 

Good  Hope 433 

Camp  Creek 433 

Doddsville 435 

Shiloh— Prairie  City 439 

Ebenezer 440 

Cumberland  Presbyterian,  Macomb 442 

Argyle , 443 

West  Prairie 444 

Industry— Good  Hope 445 

Sugar  Creek 446 

Methodist  Episcopal,  Macomb 446 

Second,  Macomb 447 

Prairie  City 447 

Greenwood 449 

Emmet  township 460 

Stickle— Blandinsville 450 

Bardolph 451 

Scott's— Bushnell— German,  Bushnell 453 

Industry 454 

Linn  Grove — Good  Hope 455 

Chalmers  township— Tennessee 455 

Rock  creek— Friendship 456 

Maple  Grove 457 

Mound  Cbapel 457 

Pleasant  Grove 457 

Liberty 457 

Colchester 458 

Willow  Grove 458 

New  Hope— Adair— Sec.  11 459 

Pleasantj  Mound 459 

Mound  Chapel— Adair 460 

Pennington's  Point 460 

Centennial— Tennessee 461 

Baptist  Church,  Macomb 461 

Second.  Macomb 462 

New  Hope 462 

Blandinsville 463 

Bushnell— Tennessee— sciota 467 

Independent— Hillsborough 468 

Prairie  City 468 

Cedar  Creek 469 

Regular  Baptist,  Bethel  township 469 

Antloch 473 

Free-Will  Baptists,  Prairie  City 473 

German  Baptists 

Christian  church,  Macomb 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


XI 


Ecclesiastical — Continued—  PAGE 

Cblchester— Blandinsville 477 

Mound— New  Salem •. .  478 

Bedford ; 479 

Sciota— New  Bradford 480 

Lutheran,  Trinity,  Macomb 480 

Chalmers  township 481 

Congregational,  Macomb „, 482 

Prairie  City 482 

Universalist,  Macomb 482 

United  Brethren  In  Christ 483 

Center 485 

Pleasant  Gale— Willow  Grovu 486 

Jerusalem — Blandinsville 487 

Hire  township— Scotland  township 489 

Pilot  Grove 489 

Bushnell  Reformed  church 489 

St.  Thomas  Episcopal  ch-urch 490 

Catholic  church,  McDonough  county 490 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

JOURNALISM 499 

McDonough  Independent 502 

Macomb  Enterprise 507 

Military  Tract  Journal 511 

Macomb  Journal 511 

Macomb  Eagle 514 

Macomb  Ledger 521 

Western  Light 521 

Illinois  By-Stander 521 

Illinois  Granger 525 

Macomb  Independent 526 

Colchester  Independent 527 

Colchester  News 528 

McDonough  Democrat 530 

Daily  Independent 531 

Prairie  City  Chronicle 531 

Prairie  Chief— Prairie  Chicken 531 

Prairie  City  Herald— Prairie  City  Bugle 531 

Prairie  City  Herald / 533 

Blandinsville  Argus 535 

Blaudlnsville  Era 535 

McDonough  Democrat 535 

Blandinsville  Republican , 536 

Blandinsville  Review 536 

Good  Hope  Index 538 

Union  Press 541 

Bushnell  Record 541 

Macomb  Enterprise 545 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

TENNESSEE  TOWNSHIP 545 

Earl v  settlement 546 

HILL'S  GROVE 561 

Educational 561 

Postoffice—  Religious— Historic 564 

Organization 564 

TKNNKSSKB 565 

The  Beginning 565 

Business  development 566 

Hotels— Postofflce 569 

Industrial  Interests 570 

Societies 575 

Organization 576 

Educational 577 

Historic  Notes 579 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

COLCHESTER  TOWNSHIP 589 

Early  settlement 590 

Organic 597 

COLCHESI-KB 598 

Beginning 599 

First  merchant 599 

Business  development 600 

Hotels 611 

Bank— Elevator...! .  612 

Mills 613 

School  interests 614 

Societies 615 

Municipal 617 

Band— Coal  Interests : 618 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


HIRE  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlers. 

Educational 

Organic  and  historic. 
Sunday  schools 


PACiE 

.  623 

.  623 

.  646 

.  647 

.  647 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

LAMOINE  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Religious,  Historic  notes 

Organic 

COLMAK 

Postofflce,  churches 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

EMMET  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Chickamauga  stock  farm 

Vineyards 

Coal  banks,  brick  yards,  etc 

Good  Templars 

Historic  Items,  Organic  and  Clay  bank. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

BETHEL  TOWNSHIP 

Early  setllers .' 

Organic— Educational 

Postoffice— Religious 

H  storical. .. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

SCOTLAND  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Religious— Organization 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

INDUSTRY  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Organic — First,  items , 

INDUSTRY 

Hotels 

Educational — Religious 

Government — Societies ..; 

Insurance  Co 

Saw  mill 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


PRAIRIE  CITY  TOWNSHIP 

Organization.- 

Educational— Early  settlement 

PRAIKIE  CITY 

How  Named 

Beginning 

Business  interests 

Hotels 

Bank— Tile  works 

Coal 

Improvements 

Societies 

Academy 

Religious— First  items ., 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

ELDORADO  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Hall— Organic 

Historical— Religious 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

CHALMERS  TOWNSHIP 

Early  settlement 

Educational 

Mineral  spring— Organic— Historic. 

MlDDLETOWN 


649 
649 
661 
662 
663 
663 
664 


664 
665 
691 
692 
692 
693 
691 


695 
695 
707 
708 
711 


711 
712 
725 
726 


726 
727 
742 
745 
745 
749 
755 
755 
756 
756 


757 

757 
758 
764 
765 
766 
768 
774 
775 
777 
787 
788 
789 
790 

790 
791 

807 
808 
809 

809 
810 
817 
819 
820 


XII 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

PAGE 

BUSHNELL  TOWNSHIP 821 

Early  settlement 821 

Educational— Organic 824 

BUSHNELL 824 

Hotels 839 

Mill— Tile  works 840 

Koseville  manufacturing  company 840 

Tile  works 840 

PumpCo 841 

Opera  House— Creamery 842 

Hstorlc— Societies t50 

Municipal..: 852 

Educational...                                                 .  853 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

BLANDINSVILLE  TOWNSHIP 856 

Early  settlement 857 

Educational 875 

Mill— Religious 877 

Hilldale  stock  Farm 878 

Organic 878 

Historical .  879 


BLANDINSVILLE. 

Bank 

Elevator— Opera  House— Hotels. 

Band— Mills— Educational 

Iteligious— Societies 


879 
888 
890 
897 
899 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


NEW  SALEM  TO  W  NSH1P 901 

Early  settlement • 901 

Etlucatioual 924 

Historic 925 

Organic 926 

PENMNGTON'S  POINT 926 

ADAIK 926 

Hotel...  .  928 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP : 930 

Educational 941 

Historic 941 

Organization 943 

GOOD  HOPE 943 

Postofflce— Tile  works 949 

Creamery 950 

Elevator— Grist  mill 95i 

Societies— Municipal 952 

SCIOTA 953 

Beginning 953 

Municipal 956 

Elevator— Historical 957 

Societies -Educational 957 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

PAGE 

MOUND  TOWNSHIP 958 

Early  settlement 959 

Educational 974 

Organic— Historic 976 

NEW  PHILADELPHIA 976 

Hotel— First  items 981 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

MACOMB  TOWNSHIP 984 

Early  settlement 985 

Educational 997 

Clay  Bank — Lyceum — Creamery 998 

Religious— Organic— Historic 999 

BAR  LOLPH 999 

Organic— Fire  Clay  works 1002 

Poti  ery  works 1005 

Societies 1006 

Band 1008 

Educational 1009 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

WALNUT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP 1014 

Artificial  Lakes 1027' 

Educational 1037 

lown  Hall— Religious 1039 

Organic— Historic 1040 

WALNUT  GROVB 1041 

Postofflce— Elevator-, K41 

Society -. 1042 

SCOTTbBURQ 10458 

Postofflce— Elevator 1043 

.  Reminiscence 1043 

CHAPTER  XL. 

CITY  OF  MACOMB 1048 

Early  days 1049 

Business  development 1056 

Present  business 1057 

Banks 1089 

Hote.s 1094 

Board  of  trade 1096 

Mills 1096 

Macomb  Tile  and  Sewer  Pipe  Co 1097 

Eagle  Pottery— Buckeye  Pottery 1098 

Carriage  manufactories 1099 

Wagon  works 1100 

Vinegar  factories : 1102 

Bottling  works 1103 

Marble  works 1103 

Calendar  Clock  Co 1104 

Foundry — Planing  mill 1105 

Gas  woi  ks— Opera  house  1106 

Depot 1107 

Postofflce 1113 

Government 1115 

Educational 1122 

Religious H25 

Societies— Library  1126 

Fire  department— Band 1131 


BIOGEAPHICAL  INDEX                                      xii 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Page. 
Ackerman,  D  C        .         783 

Page. 
Blazer,  James  M     .           398 

Page. 
Chandler,  C.  V  1090 

PBM. 

Dines,  C.  W                        296 

Adair,  A.  A                 990 

Blount,  J.  W  1078 

Chandler,  Thompson  302 
Chapman,  C.  C  1101 

Dines,  Thomas                   2% 

Adams,  Alexander  803 
\dkisson,  J.  N           .   .    741 

Blount,  Asher  10r£ 

Dixson,  E.  B  840 

Bodkin,  R.  T  8.4 

Chapman,  W.  W  387 

Dixon,  Amos                       323 

Agnew,  M.  P              604 

Bolles,  Dr.  Edgar  410 

Chatterton,  C.  II  687 

Doak,  T.   J                        1144 

A<mew,  H.  C     397 

Bonham,  R.  M...:  1143 

Chambers,  David  402 

Dodds,  J.  S  869 

Aldrich.  Davis                .  .  895 

Boothe,  G.  J  1005 

Churchill,  Cadwalader  S.  321 
Churchill,  Burchard  321 
Churchill,  J.  W  1111 

Dodge,  Rev.  S.  T  780 
Douglas,  Stephen  A  331 
DoiH'las,  Adam                   990 

Alexander,  S.  J    847 

Booth,  James  1037 

Allen,  R.  T                        970 

Booth,  J.  C  1037 

Allison,  John           715 

Booth,  J.  W  I...  966 

Clark,  Dr.  Albert   S  416 
Clark,  H.  T  842 

Douglass,  U.  T                   938 

Allison,  John,  Jr  731 

Booth,  J.  F  966 

Drake,  L.  T.     .                    769 

Allison,  H.  A                       94(5 

Booth,  George,  Sr  .  .   .  .    9ti7 

Clark,  Alvah  909 

Duncan,  C.  M                       888 

Allison,  J.  H               949 

Bostwick,  G.  L  773 

Clark,  James  714 

Duncan,  II.  II                     873 

Allison,  Andrew  951 

Bowman,  T.  J  610 

Clarke,  David  1051 

Duncan,  T.  B     ....           861 

Allison.  John  Jr               1033 

J3oyd.  Benjamin  586 

Clarke,  S.  L  665 

Douglas,  J.  S                       580 

Ames,  J.  B            9% 

Bradbury,  L.  H  776 

Clarke,  W.  B  955 

Doughty,  G.  S                     402 

Anderson,  John  92 

Bradburv.  B.  F  776 

Clarke,  James  299 

Dudrnan,  T.  J.   .                378 

\nderson  W.  E                1069lBradhurv.  L.  H:  766 

Clayton,  V.  B  592 

Dunham,  Rev.  Joshua.  ..  488 
Dunn,  Richard           .          84 

Andrews,  James  815 

Bradfield.  S.  S  839 

Clayton,  W.  W  592 

Andrews,  William  816 

Brattle,  James  W  328 

Claybaugh,  B.  H  612 

Dunn,  E.  T  1103 

Anstine,  Simon           .       752 

Breiner,  F.  J  762 

Cline.I.  F  991 
Cline,  A.  J  991 

Dunn,  Dr.  B.  1  414 
Dunbar,  J.  II                      762 

Archer,  Dr.  Meredith  C.  408 
Arthur,  Abraham  1028 

Breiner,  G.  D  935 

Breiner,  Lewis  935 

Coffman,  M  883 

Duncan,  Frank.                  740 

Atherton,  W.  B  723 

Bridees.  John  ...            .  .  728 

Cole,  James  826 

Duncan,  Dr.  J.  M  420 

A-tkinson,  Louis    678  Bright.  Samuel  .•  678 

Coleman,  B.  M  849 

Duncan,  Dr.  B.  A                421 

Ausbury,  I.  N  732  Brooking.  T.  A  1053 

Collins,G.  W  657 

Dunsworth,  J.  H                696 

Bacon,  Larkin  C  555 

Brooking,  Robert  1061 

Collins,  John  948 

Dunsworth,    Charles  697 
Dunsworth,  John  M  377 
Durflinger,  Jacob              593 

Brooking,  T.  A  681 

Collins,  Joseph  993 

Brooking,  A.  V  682 

Costlo,  Gregg     805 

Bailey,  Col.  Wm.  W....  271 
Bailey,  Jacob  L  398 

Brooking,  Lucian  1070 

Costlo,  J.  H  806 

Durflinger,  J.  T                  594 

Brown,  Joseph  737 

Conner,  Joseph  797 

Dyer,  Edward.                    846 

Bailey,  G  W                    1057 

Brown,  Alfred  644 

Consene,  W.  L     605 

Eads,   Albert  1093 

Baldwin,  H.  S                .941 

Brown,  F.  L  945 

Conwell,  Charles  865 

Ball,  IraD  838 
Baker,  John  293 

Brown,  J.  A  1036 
Brooks,  F.W  884 

Cook,  J.  W  1072 

Cooper,  A.  B  781 

Eakle,  Newton...               631 

Baker,  Jonathan  H  30f 
Baker,  E.  D  267 

Broadhead,  J.  T  656 

Cordell,  Mrs.  Sarah  740 
Cordell,  J.  W....  747 

Early,  W.  L                       1018 

Bryan,A.L  995 

Edie,  W.  J.   .   .                  1023 

Baker,  John                        87 

Bryan,  D.  W  1103 

Cordell,  P.  B          ...        749 

Edmonston,  James             810 

Banks,  Vandever               626 

Burtis,  S.  M  1156 

Cottrell,  C.  S  1138 

Edmonston.  William  270 
Egerton,  William  619 
Ellis,  W.  D  568 

Banks.JobV  fi26 
Banning,  Ephraim  1021 

Butcher,  J.  A  735 
Burford,  W.  L  585 
Bryant,  W.  L  390 

Conrtwright,  O.  P  630 
Courtwright,  F.  M  630 
Cowan,  William  581 

Banfill,  Solon      .      .       400 

Ellison,  R.  E                       992 

Barnes,  J.  C    785 

Burchett,  James  920 

Cowgill,  Dr.  G.  J  418 

Ellwell.  Thomas                  927 

Barnes,  Abner  E                399 

Burden,  Robert,  Jr  782 

Cowperthwaite,  W.  H        823  'Ellwell,  Eli.                         918 

Barnes,  Reece      .              644 

Case,  M.  H..  .              .  .  1145 

Cox,  N.  C  770  Ellwell,  Mrs.  Eli                918 

Barrett,  W  P                       299 

Cox,  R.  M                              783  Rlliofl.  William                   :W7 

Barclay,  John         .           718 

Cady,  Rev.  C.  T  458 

Cox,  William     796 

Elting,  P.  H                         686 

Barclay,  James.         .     .  719 

Cadwalader,  J.  C  822 

Cozard,  M.  W  937 

El  ting,  C.  M  687 
Elting,  John     .                .  687 

Barclay,  Andrew  719 
Barclay,  Alexander.          719 

Cadwalader.  G  .  A  965 

<  'all  alia  n,  Michael  686 

Crabb,  J.M  986 
Crabb,  D.  M                         988 

Emery,  Dr.  J  H                  419 

Barclay,  Robert                 719 

Cainp.  F.  B  811 

Crane,  Alexander..  .    .     1034 

Emory,  F.  T                        76(1 

Barber,  J.  D  590 

Campbell,  James  M  277 

Creel,  Dr.  D.  M  426 

Erwin,  Patrick.                  583 

Barber,  Robert  A.              591 

Campbell,  William  872 

Creel,  Charles                    669 

Ervin,  Capt.  William..  .  294 
Ervin,  Hugh.                       271 

Bartlow,  Thomas  874 

Campbell,  Daniel  322 

Crissey,  C.  E  110V 

Bartlett,  Isaac  1015 

Campbell,  Alex  1017 

Cruser.  Frederick  1034 

Ewing,  Jolin  1148 

Bateson,  George               922 

Campbell,  D.-  W  599 

Cummings,  J.  B           .   .  318 

Farris.  N.  W                       632 

Bateson,  L.  J                      922 

Campbell,  Dr.  E.  N          422 

Cummings,  J.  B                  841 

Banmann,  Jacob  1031 

Campbell,  Howard  896 

Cumminge,  J.  II  1091 

Farris,  W.  J  636 

Bayles,  J.  H  653 

Campbell,  N.  S  896 

Dailev,  I.  W  806 
Dailey,  Thomas  806 

Fafrenkopf,  John              581 

Bayne,  Dr.  W.  F  413 

Cannon,  Robert  k  .  592 

Farwell,  Capt.  G.  L  328 
Farr.K  A.  D  980 

Beardsley,  S.  R  1108 

Canote,  Henry  591 

Bennett,  Aaron  1158 
Bice,  James  643 

Canote,  Henry,  Jr  593 
Carter,  William  85 

Dallam,  C.  W  989 

Farmer,  E.  M  1064 

Danley,  S.  P  1084 

FargusHon,  Elisha  1033 
Fentem,  G.  R    ...          1069 

Binnie,  Andrew  721 

Carter,  L.  G  873 

Davis,  Simeon  B              .  290 

Binnie  John  721 
Binnie,  James      .               721 

Carlin,  J.  A  1037 
Carlin,  William     .     ...  915 

Davis,  R.  W  875 

Ferster,  DrR  990 

Davis,  J.  M                .         875 

Fisher,  John     .       .           644 

Binnie,  Robert  721 

Carlin,  Mrs.  Eliza  916 

Davis,  J.  W  782 
Dayis,  J.M  890 

Fisher,  Mathias  871 
Flack,  J.  W..  .                 ..750 

Bird,  G.  W...                ..  787 

Carnahan,  Barnet  703 

Bivens,  T.  E                .        771 

Carnahan.  J.  H    .          .    738 

Decker,  J.  C                         656 

Flack,  J.  W     740 

Blackburn,  Alex  1138 

^hamp,  William  811 

Dennis,  Charles    .   .  .      801 

Flemming,  1.  N  681 

Blackstone,  Stephen  906 
Blaisdell,  Dr.  W.  O        ..412 

Chase,  J.  M.,  Sr  679 
Chase.  J.  M.,  Jr                 679 

Delaney,  P.  H  1067 
Detrick,  Jacob                 1032 

Fiemming,  J.  W  681 

Fleming,  A.  J  967 

Blandin,  C.  A  870 

Chandler,  Col.  Chas  1134 

Dice,  Ephraim  956 

Folts.  R.  M...                  ..637 

xiv                                    BIOGEAPHICAL  INDEX. 

Page, 
Knits,  Reuben  <;37 

Page. 
Hammer,  R.  M     928 

Page. 
Howell,  Dr.  Charles     .      416 

Page. 
Kinkade,  William               729 

Folts,  Christiania  638 

Hammer,  J.  E.  D  907 
Hummer.  J.  Y.                 .     908 

Ilovt,  Jonathan   593 

King.  J.  W                          75S 

Foreman    11    M                     "74 

Hudson,  Jauies                1035 

King,  J.  R                            759 

Ford,  \.  C                  ...  10421  Hampton,  Van  L              527 

Huff,  John  936 
Huff,  B.   L  936 
Hull,  Dr.  Abraham        .    423 

King,  J.  M  759 
King,  S.  P  759 
Kin",  Thomas                    1024 

Foster,.!.  N  796  Hamilton.  R.  R.                   5-24 

Foster,  S.  J  807 

Hammond,  Dr.  R.  D....     no 
Hammack,  William  737 
Hanson,  Ama/.iah  283 
Hand.  M.  T  767 
Hannaford,  E.  K  948 

Foster,    K.  F        631 

Hull,  Dr.  J.  R  423 
Hume,  Charles  K  300 
Hunt,  Joshua  549 
Hunt,  Simon  W       550 

KiiiL'.  Rev.  James  1025 
Kipling,  Wm  595 

Fowler,   Bi'i)  j  S!h> 
Fowler.  J.  W  886 
Franklin,  W.  H  1148 

Kipling,  Thomas                596 

Kirk,  John            .       ...  554 

Franklin,  G.  A  ,11411 
Frost,  Samuel         325 

Ilankins.  A.  J  874 
ll;irl:)n    <;    T                       9*1 

Hunt,  Samuel  A  311 
Hunter    Robert                    H17 

Kirk,  John.!  555 

Kirk-iuitrifU-    W     R                 Kli<) 

Fox,  George  402;Harliiii,  \\Yslov  781 
Fneate,  Martin  897|Hardln,  Davia             .  .  669 

Hunter,  Wm        1141  Kin",  Dr.  K.  F    .       ..     110H 

Hun«ate,  Harrison            863  Kline,  Abraham                  718 

Fugate,  J  .  \v  697  HartBtiK,  G.  F  6or> 
Filtrate,  Dr.  C.   \V  416  Harrison,  Dr.  II.  M  418 
Fuhr,  J.  II  1112  Harris,  James  801 
Fuhr,  George  S  402  ifm-ris.  .1.  1}                        805 

Hungate,  John  II       .    ...   320  Kline,  Peter            ,       .       835 

Hushaw,  Jonas  798  Kline,  diaries  1068 
Hiishaw,   Henry           .   .  801  Knapp,  David                    1086 

Huston,  Rigdon  850  Knapp,  Dr.  J.  B  424 
Huston,  Marion  883|Knapi>enberger,  John.  ..  310 
Huston,  John  276  Knowles.  R.  B  722 

Fulton  J  ained        1144 

1  [arris,  James  915 
Harris,   R.  E  1105 
Harris,  R.  R  873 
Harris,  C.  S                         783 

Fulton,  James  9S5 
Fiilkersou,  I1.  W  5.VJ 
Fulkerson,  James  551 

Huston,  Dr.  W.  A     .      .  .  407 

Knowles,  William  722 

Huston,  Dr.  W  M              419 

Kvle,  F.  R                          1066 

Fnlkerson,  Thomas  551 

Galvin,  Daniel  1107 
Gamble,  Dr.  John  R  421 
Garrett,  Loven  1139 
Garrettson,  Dr.  P.  F  —  415 
Garden,  W.  B  979 

Harris,  Dr.  Ralph        ..     413 

Ilutchinson,  W.  A  594 
Hutchins,  G.  W  966 

lines,  Chas  I                      396 

Kvle,  Dr.  James  B     .   .    409 

Hardestv,  W.  T  873 
Hardesty,  Dr.  John  418 
Hathawav,  Caleb  749 
Hauser,  G.  F.-.  936 
Havens,  Henry  983 
Hays  Dr  Charles              407 

Kreider,  Dr.  W.  L  424 
Kreider,  Dr.  H.  W            425 

Kruse,  G.  W           ...    813 

lines,  W.  L          1100 

Lane,  John  E  325 

Ingram,  B.  D  1087 

Irish  Dr    B    F                   423 

Lane  E    A                         1065 

George,  P.  W  868 

Havs,  W  H                          624 

Lant/,  D    W                     1032 

Hays,  J.W..               ...1062 
Hii'ves,  J.  H  638 
Head,  William  T  317 
Head,  James                       666 

Isom,  John  645 

Jackson,  Rev.  W.  H  960 
Jackson,  J.  W                     961 

Lanphere  A   P                   769 

Gesler,  James  1082 
Gill-rev,  John  864 
Gilfrey,  H.  F  865 

Lan-'sford,  J.  H  981 

Laughlin,  Patrick  689 

Lawyer,  Thomas                799 

Gilchrist.  0  .  B  559 

Head,  Albert                       955 

Jackson,  W.  J                    961 

Lawver,  M.  V  804 

Gilchrist,  V.  B  560 
Goldsmith,  Edward  766 
Glasgow.  Douglas  568 
Gloyd,  S.  V.  K  991 
Graham,   Bedford  63H 

Head,  J.  M  955 
Head,  Bi"<*er                       972 

Jackson,  N.  H            .     .1001 

Lawyer,  Jacob  807 

Jackson.  J    M                   1156 

Lawver,  Michael           .     732 

Head,  C.  A  1009 
Hendee,  IS.  A  828 
Hendricks,  H.  F                660 

Jacobs,  Seth  969 
James,  Rev.  S.  P        ....  449 

Lawver,  James  733 
Lawver,  G.  J  660 

James,  Thomas  "              588 

Lawyer,  Michael     .       .     557 

Graves   DM         1139 

Hendricks.  J.  W  658 
Hendricks,  J    B                659 

James,  J.  T  869 
James    W  E                       933 

Lawver,  John  558 
Law'son,  David                   322 

-     Greenup,  C.  W  753 

Greene,  \V.   II  972 

Hendrickson,  G.  F           lOll 

James,  W-  H                       933 

Leavitt,  Sewell  864 

Greene,  L.  II  8-19 
Grihble,  J.   L  1099 
Griffith,  J.D  673 
Griffith,  C.  F  674 
Griffith,  J.  L  847 

Hendrickson,  J.  E  1012 
Herndon,  Elijah   .•  723 

James,  J.  C  933 
James,  Aaron  .      .   .   ...  934 

Ledgerwood,  John  672 
Ledgerwood,  Elijah  672 
Lef  tridge,  P.  M  ...   799 

Herndon,   Marcellns  923 

James,  Abel  934 

Herbert/,  H.  J  538 
Hiatt,  W.  S        .                  748 

James,  J.  E                  .  .     947 

Legg,  J.  M  706 

Janes    John                        730 

Leightv.  J.  M                   .     909 

Griffith,  B.  A  937 

Hicks,  E.  N                        628 

Leightv,    Samuel     ...   .     928 

Griffins,',  J.T  929 
Grii'sbv,  J.   E     882 

I  lickev,  James  622 
Hickman,   Eliphalet.  .  ..  685 
Hickman.  Arehart  874 
Higbee,  Chauncev  E  336 
Hills,  Charles...            ..  650 

Jarvis,  James  582 
Jar  vis,  Ephraim  583 
Jarvis,  Edward  656 
Job,  William  84 
Job,  William  857 
.Toll  n  son.  C.  F                         678 

Leightv,  H.  S  796 
Leightv.  J.   H  798 
Leib.  John  838 
LeMattv,  Dr.  J.  B  425 
LeMaster,  J.  F  977 
Lightner,  A.  B  613 

Grisrsby,  Redman  889 

Grigsbv,  S.  J  889 
Grigsb'y,  S.  J.,  Jr  890 
GriSsby,  J.  H  1070 

Hills,  John                          650 

Giunbart,  Capt.  G.  C....1109 
Guy,  G.  C  669 

Hills,  Ishmael  .    703   Johnson'  Dr.  B.  F    .     .    4J6 

Lindsav,  Jonah  763 

Hire,  George                       228  I.Tollv.  T  T                          1094 

Little,  'L.  D  657 

Guv,  B.  K  670 
Guy,  J.  V  688 

Ilalleuheck,  Francis  938 
llagertv,    J.  V  722 

Hire,  George  629 
Hire,  Jesse.  .  .'  629 
Hire,  William               .      629 

Jones,  J.  B                          724 

Little,  J.  M  801 

Jones,  Abner  722 
Jones  W  F                        723 

Lipe,  Francis  D  309 
Lipe,  William  M               311 

Hire,  Cvrus                          629 

Jones,  Perry  C  324 
Jones  J  A  "                        782 

Lisk,  Captain  O.  M  891 
Lock,  Samuel  944 

Hobart  K                          U52 

Ha^erfv,  J.  T  1140 

Hobart,  Wesley                1153 

Kaiser,  Louis                       829 

Lodge,  A.  K  1100 

Hageman,  \V.  M  1026 

Hocan.    Svdnor  U                   310 

Logan,  Elder  John.     ..    465 

Hageman.  J.  D  10881  Horahatt.  .lameR              1021 

Kaiser,  G.  A  829 

Logan,  Samuel  625 
r.ni'an.  John                             934 

Hames,  E.  D    C  832 

Holler,  Eli                          996 

Hainee,  Dr.  W.  E  417 

Holland.   T,                             1137 

Keach,  Elisha                   .  800  1  Loo-scion.  Stmira  831 

Hainline,  Wm.  II  513aiollidav  LA                     880 

Lott,  Peter                    .    331 

Mainline,  Jacob  627|Holton,"  Isaac...            ..  562 
Hainline,  George  W  689  Holton.  William  699 
Hainline.  J.  I).:  674JHolton.,C.  K                        699 

Keefer,  J.  M  1065 
Keefer,  Geo           1142 

Lyon,  John  557 
Lyon,  R.  W  557 

Keister,  Daniel  1035 
Keith,  D.  B  1157 
Kenner,  W.  L  1060 
Keithley,  J  acob  627 

McCandless,  A  1149     - 
McCandless,  William  ...  961 
McCartney,  G.  A  955 

Hainline,  John  93" 
Hainline,  J.  W...*  931 
Hall,  M.  ,S  751 

Hollev,  Isaac...             ..  912 
Hoover,  M.  L  831 
Hoover,  Joseph  831 

Hall,  Enoch     764 

Horrabin,  Humphrey  284 
Horrell,  J.  L  699 
Horton  Thos                      751 

Keithley,  George  W.  .....  638 
Keithley,  James  639 
Kelly.  J.  M  717 
Kepple,  David  845 
Kennle.  J.  K                     ..   970 

McClelland,  W.  S  816 
McClure,  Hugh  816 
McClure,  Thomas  578 

Hamilton,  G.  W  778 

Hamilton,  J.  A                 .  768 

Hamilton,  J.  M  778 
Hamilton,  A.  J  688 

Horrocks,  Abram  1003 
Hoskinson,  J.  L                1068 

McClure,  Rutherford....  579 
McClintock,  William  ....  1153 
McClintock,  Karr  1154 
Mi-Cord,  J.  A.  F  636 

Hamilton,  Harrison  1020 
Hamilton,  J.  F  1021 

Hoton,  William  652  1  Kerr.  .Tohn  .  .  .          706 

Hoii-'hton.  Silas.    .           .   763 

Kinkade,J.  P  729 

BIOGKAPHICAL  INDEX. 


xv 


Page.  Page. 

McCord,  W.  W 636  Munson,  Charles .35 

McCord,  William 883  Murray,  J.  B 632 

McCormick,  Theodore  B.  309lMurray,  J.  K 634 

McDonald,  C.  P 919 1  Murray,  Ell 635 

McDonoiigh,  Kd 1112  Murray,  Kev.  J.  T 444 

KcDonongh,  H  ugh,  Sr . .  550,  Murray,  M.  A 610 

McDonough,  Hugh,  Jr..  530 1  Murphy,  Benjamin 949 

McElvain,    H.  H 994'Mustaih,  Mrs.  Hannah..  892 

McFadden,  Elias 810  Mustain,  G.  D 867 

McFadden,  8.  M 797  Mustain,  N.  D 865 

McFall,  Sylvester 888  Mustain,  G.  W 866 

McGahan,"A.  H 849  Mustain,  C.  P 866 


McGaughey,  J.  G 784 

McGee,  W.  T 770 


Mclntosh,  J.  W  1110  Mustain,  J.  P 

McKamv,  Rev.  W.  C 730  Myers,  Adam . . . 

McKee/A.  R 989 

McKinney,  R.  W 401 

McLean,  Hector 1132 

McLean,  Alexander 1133 


McLean,  John 1136 


McLeod,  W.  C....; 288  Naylor,  B.  T 

McMillan,  William 724  " 


Pointer,  William 
Pollock,  Kobert 
Pontious,  Byron 
Porter,  J.E 
Posey,  W.  A 
Post,  Nathaniel 


Page.  Page. 

..  750  Simpson,  B.  E 1151 

.  .101 7 1  Shaffer, T.  B , 1069 


Mustain,  T.  A 861 

Mustain,  W.  D 862 


868 

659 

Myers,  D.  M 983 

Myers,  Robert 594 


Nance,  Dr.  H.  H. 
Naylor,  Resin.. .. 


968 
307 
668 
Naylor,'  W.  B 669 


McMillan,  John 1073  Naramore,  J.  M 897 

McNeely.  Thompson ....  268  i  Nebergall,  David 918 

McNutt,  Elder  Wm 465  Nebergall,  J.  H . . . 978 

Makinson,  G.  W 981'Neece,  Jesse  T 

Manly,  James 286  Neece,  W.  H 

Mapes,  Charles 1059  Neff,  John 

Mariner,  Henry 1023  Nickel,  J.  B 

Martin,  Dr.  I.  M 412  Nessel,  Conrad 

Marvin,  W.  H 762  Newland,  Fred 

Martin,  Evan 624  Newland,  Abraham,  Jr 

Martin,  B.  P 10~~ 


Martin,  W.  E 1078 

Marvin,  Alfred 657 

Mason,  H.  N 885 

Mason,  Burrow 703 

Mathews,  Anson 791 


86 

Mathews,'  Benj 696  Ott,  Hieronymus 595 

Mathews.  John 699  Owen,  Ambers  G 567 

Maury,  W.  B 1075  Owen,  Ambrose  E 567 


Magee,  Rev.  A 780 


Maloney,  J.  H 1073  O'Meara,  Patrick. 

Maxwell.  Henry  A 378 


jam*. vi  cii.  AAcui  v  A«  ••••••    vi  v 

Mead,  Alfred 768 


Meador,  G.  C 739 

Merrell,  Lycurgus 912 

Merriam,  S.  A 993 


Mershon,   Henry 800 

Meyers.F.F 588 

Miller,  J.  W 739 

Miller,  Marvin 702 


Miller,  P.  J 1095 

Miller,  Mason 802 

Miller,  Rev.  Jacob 454 

Miller,  W.  M 867 


Mills,  J.  A , 706 

Millett,  Charles 777 


609 


Mills,  S.  D 

Mills,  Ladson 811 

Mills,  R.  J 817 


Miner,  J .  F 718  Pennington,  Riggs . . 

Pennington,  William . 


Miner,  J.  F 916 

Minshall,  Wm.  A........  335 

Mitchell,  N.B 947 

Monk,  Malachi 697 

Monk,  John 697 


Monninger,  J.M 946 


Monger,  A 

Moran,  W.  B.... 

Morey,  C.  A 

Morrison,  Levi.. 

Morris,  S.  F 

Mtfss,  W.  W.... 

Mosser,  J.  F 

Mourning,  W.  H 


Mullen,  Solomon 705 

M  unson,  E.  P 572 

Munson,  George 736 

Munson,  Daniel '  735 


399 
269 
313 
304 
834 
327 
571 


Oakman,  Joseph 597 

Obermeyer,  Jacob 954 

Odenweller,  Isaiah 734 

Opp,  Isaac 914 

Osborn,  William... 


Owens,  Nathaniel 997 


Pace,  A.  J 715 

Pace,  G.  W 1076 

Pace,  W.  1 1075 

Painter,  T.  G 685 

Painter,  F.  M . .  .*. 685 

Park,  James 1014 

Parnell,  John,  Sr 602 

Parnell,  James 602 


Shannon,  Delas. 973 

Shannon,  R 728 

Shannon,  H.  M 395 

584; Shannon,  Charles 89 

Powers,  Abraham 1010, Shannon.  Dr,  G.  G 426 

Price,  T.  J 1108  Sheets.  H.  W 978 

Price,  S.  J..:   804  Shevalier,  Chas 1146 

.  804  Sherman.  L.  Y 398 

.    393  Shoop,  W.  W 1036 

.  i;:i!i  shoopman.  T.  F tills 

704  Shope.  S.  P £6 

335  Shriner.  L.  II 995 

Shrier.  David 885 

.  :i!3  ShnfT,  Dr.  J.  L 407 

.  655  Skiers.  John  W 312 

.  331jSikes,  Dr.  H.  B 1013 

.  40i  Simmons,  Louis  A 803 

.  277  Simmons,  Joshua 667 

.1187  Simmons,  T.  M 667 

.  272,Slmpson,  S.  C 707 

.  275  Skinner   O.  C 335 

.  441  Skean,  James 782 

.  577  Skiles,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  733 

.  702  Slade,  C  W 1004 

.  655  Slater,  John 968 

.  932  Snalck,  J.  C 974 

.  282  Smick,  Lewis 967 

.  537  Smith,  J.  S 1145 

.  596  Smith,  W.  H 738 

.  814  Smith,  Samuel 1149 

.  814  Smith,  A.  J.  Sr 603 


Price.  G.  L 

Prentiss,  William  . 
Pulliam,  Samuel... 
Purdum,  James.. .. 
Purple,  Norman  H. 


Ragon,  William  M.. .. 

i  Ralston,  W.  D 

!  Ralston,  James  H 

i  Randall,  R.  S. 


Randolph,  James  M.. . 
{Randolph,  Benjamin.. 
Randolph,  Win.  H..  .. 
Randolph,  Mrs.  W.  H . 

Rankin,  Rev.  J.  G, 

Rapelje,  H.  L  _, 

Raymond,  G.  F 

Reans,  John  W 

Reed,  Arlington 

Reid,  Lewis  G 

Reid,  Lucien  S 

Reid,  Captain  G.  W.. . 

Reid,  W.  M 

Reid,  John 

Rexroat,  G.  R 

Rexroat,  L.  T.. 

Rexroat,  J.  M 

Reynolds,  B.  D 

Richardson,  W.  A 

Riggs,  J.  E 

Riggs,  Samuel 

Riggs,  Russell 

Roach,  John 

Roberts,  B.  H 

Roberts,  A.  B 

Robertson,  Hugh 

Robinson,  J.  C 

Robinson.  D.  L.  A 

Robbins  Family 

Rodgers,  Randolph  . . 

Rogers,  H.  F 

Rogers,  J.  S 

Rogers,  A.  B 

Rorer,  Edmund... 


720 
720 
720 


Smith,  J.  H. 
Smith,  I.  G. 


651 
651 
Smith;  P.  K 735 


587  Smi there,  W.T 1083 

337  Smithers,  Thomas 1083 


700 
700 
700 

836 


Parkin,  W.  H 950  (Ross,  L.  W.... 

Parker,  Prof.  C.  W 614  i  Ross,  C.  N  . . . . 

Patterson,  J.  R 1110  iRuddell,  G.  H.... 

Ruddell,  William. 

Runkle,  David, . . . 

Ruukle,  W.  J 

Rush,  W.  C 

Russell,  Dr.  D.  L. 


Pearce,  J.  B 1030 

Pearson,  Dr.  C.  H 786 

Pearson,  Isaac  N 291 

Peck,Oi-rin 814 


Pech,  Joseph 1098 


Pelley,  J.  M.... 100$ 


Pennington,  Richard . . 

Pennington,  T.  J 

Pennington,  D.  A 

Pennington,  W.  R 

Pennington,  Joel 


1085  Pennington,  William 

797  Pennington,  T.  J 

992  Peuniugtou,  Stewart.. 
.1081  Phelps.L.  P.... 

652Phelps,  J.  H 

Phillips,  J.  C... 

748  Phillips.  W.  A 

591  Phillips,  Heslip 


84 
86 
88 
736 
736 
795 
795 
901 
905 
905 
635 
1061 
887 
887 


[Rutledge,  It.  G... 
[Ryan,  Rev.  John. 


Mourning,  L.   B 558  Piper,  O.  F 1111 


Pittiuger,  A.  H 1029 

Pittman,  Dr.  W.  R 427 

Plassman,  August. . .     ]    814 
Pointer,  R.  C 1004 


jSattell,  R.  \V 

{Sanders,  Dr.  S.  K 

!  Sanders,  Jos.  T 

Sandidge,  Joshua 

!  Sandidge,  Daniel 

i  Sandidge,  John 

Sandidge,  W.   W 

Sehisler,  George 

!  Schroder,  T.  F 

Scott,  Joshua x. 

Scott,  Richard 

Scott.  J.  J 

Seaburn,  George 

Seaburn,  Thomas 

Seibert,  G.  P 

Serven,  J.  J 

Serven,  J.  H 

Seybold,  James 


Smithers,  Thomas  Jr...l083 

Smith,  W.  F 1071 

Snapp,  J.  H 1029 

Snapp.  Alex 1*  29 

.  MOjSnodgrass,  Aaron 1027 

.  587'snowden,  John 802 

.  771  isolomon,  G.  W 984 

.  704|sommers,  S.  L 1147 

.  939 'Sorter,  Thomas  1 314 

.  939 [southward,  William...  321 

•  WO'sparks,  Allen  L 295 

.  9*W!spangler,  W.  W 1155 

N33  Sparks,  T.  J 401 

•  834  s  perry,  Levinus 962 

880  Sperry,  Oman 974 

•  &08  Splker,  Martin 867 

.1068  Standard,  J.  B 798 

584  standard,  S.  R 863 

.  <i26  Standard.  Gideon, 732 

.  994  stapp,  J.  W 671 

•  994|Statler,  Samuel 690 

•  785  Statler,  James 916 

^isteach,  K.  R 771 

M'J'Steach.H.  S 784 

•  W"  Stearns,  S.  S 760 

Stevens,  H.  II 529 

813 .Stevens,.!.  F 602 

.  422;gtevens,  C.  A 606 

•  400  stevens,  W.  0 609 

•  80S  stevens,  E.  D 601 

•  702'Stevens,  J.  W 601 

•  792  Stevens,  J.  H 601 

.1155  stevens,  William 964 

•  802  steckel,  W.  F 812 

•  803 1  steckel,  Mrs.  W.  F 812 

•  704istewart.  W.  W 1022 

•  64fl  Stites,  T>.  B HM5 

.1018  stlokle,A.  B c,8:! 

.  722!stickle,  Abraham (584 

•  911  Stickle,  George 084 

•  818! Stickle,  William 684 

.  761  stocker,  L 1068 

.  761  Stoffer,  J 1145 

.  623  Stoneking,  Rev.  Uriah  705 


XVI 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 

Stookey,  J.  A 602  Tyrrell,  lloswell 546 

Stookey,  Dr.  D.  V 423 


Stewart,  John  T 266 

Sullivan,  Joseph,  Sr 713 

Sullivau.T.  D. 747 

Sullivan,  H.  C 747 


Sumpter,  H.  C. 
Swango,  s.  w... 
Swayze.  W.  C.. 
Sylvester,  C.  R. 


Talnter,  Almon 


881 
918 


.1081 
852 


Tainter,  Benj -822 


Page. 
Ward,  William 1113 


Page. 
Williamson,  Mat  hew.  823 


Upp,  George 992 

Updegraff,  J.  C 973 

UpdegrafT,  J.  P 1055 

Vance,  John 85 

Vance,  John 858 

Varner.  J.  J 837 

Vail,  Ebenezer 754 

Vail,  H.  W 754 

Vail.Q.  W 755 

Vaif.  J.  B 7r>4 


Tainter.  Mrs    Benj....  822  Vail.   Christopher 753 

Tallis,  William.. .'.....  5S(i  VanHoseii,   Isaac 11180 


Tannehill,  J.  K. 
Taiinehill.  W.  II.. 


VanHosen,  W.  J 1080 

76)  Venard,  J.  B 1114 


Warren,  C.  A 938  Wilson,  Hugh 85 

Washburn.  L.  1 767J  Wilson,  Samuel 324 

Waters,  Louis  H 391 :  Wilson,  J.  O.  C 376 

Watson,  Archibald....  716  Wilson,  John 728 

Watson,  Jno.  W 717  Wilson,  J.  H 775 

Watson,  Thomas 717' Wilson,  Lewis 1013 

Watson,  Alexander.. .  715,  Wilson,  J.  H 982 

Watson,   John 715'  Wilson,  James 640 

Watson,  Thomas 716  Wilson,  W.  L 643 

!  Watson,  Hugh 716  Wilson.  John  W 680 

Wayland,  W.  F 815  Windsor,  Benjamin. ..  591 

Weaver.  I.  M 774  i  Winslow,  M.  t 1076 

Wear,  II.  E 6.V2  Wisherd,  J.  H 823 

Wear,  J.  D...  .    66SJ  Wisherd,  Jacob 823 

698  Wlssler,  J.  1) 927 


Tate.  H.   D 1151 1  Venard.  R.  11 1115 

Tate,  A.  K llftSl  Venard,  John 696 

Taylor,  George  A 322  Venard,  Wm 696 

Taylor,  W.  H 326  Venard,  George 690 

Tatman,  Hiram 11-42  Vincent,  Michael 1006 

Teats.  Aloha 737  Vose,  L.  B 397 

Terr ?  11,  John <>21 

Thomas,  Jesse  B 332  Waddlll,  Col  C.  \V 553 

Thomas,  W.  0 1106  Wad  Mil.  Michael  L...  554 

Thomas,  G.  W 921  Waddill,  John 552 

Thompson,  Dr.  S 421  Waddill,  C.W 552 

Thompson,  Mrs.  Loren  703  Waddill,  Benjamin.. ..  553 

Tnompson,  Rev  P.W..  714]  Walker,  J.  D 1150 

Thornton,  Anthony....  312  Walker,  Pinkney  H...  335 

Tinsley,  N.  P 1135  Walker,  Cyrus 387 

Tig.  r,  A.J 1024  talker,  Allen  H 713 

Tobin,  A.  D 1085  Wai  Her,  T  G 713 

Toland,  William 705  Walker,  Cyrus 724 

Towner,  Rev.  J.  L 752'  Walker,  A.  A.,  Sr.- 682 

Trew,  J.  D 611  Walker,  A  A 683 

Trull,  G.  C 6131  Walker,  H.  B 815 

Trumpy,  Henry 773  Walker,  Gilrner 1016 

TuKgle.  John 741|Walker,  Qulntus 1016 

Tunnicliff,  D.  G 392 '  Walker.  A.  H 1019 

Twaddle,  W.  H 395!  Walker,  J.  M 1157 

Twaddle.  George  W 7001  Wallln,  J.  M 941 

Twidwell,  John <T> '  Wallingford,  J.  R 936 

Twyman.Iverson  L 308 \  Ward,  Q,.  C 295 


698  Wold.  Ole  E. 


!  Webb,  Bowen. 

Webb,  J.  C 

Webb.  S.    A 954.  Woolley,  Fitzgerald. 

I  Weir,  Dr.  Wm.  H 292  Woods,  Salem  .. 

'  Wells,  G.  M 1063:  Woods,  Edward 

iWells,  E.  L 1063|Woods,  D.  D 

i  Wells,  G.  P 1063kWoodside,  W.  L. 

Wells,  W.  F 1074 


Wells,  J.  T 756 

West,  Stockton 835 

Westfall,  Dr.  A..  M. 
Westfall,  Dr.  E.  K.. 
Westfall,  Dr.  B.  R  . 
Wetsel,  Christopher 
Wettengel,  C.  W. 


287 


606 
627 
902 
904 
904 
870 

Woodside,"  T.  K 870 

Woodworth,  Rev.  H.G.  779 
Work,  J.  M 971 


Wright,  I.  N. 


620 


Wright,  T.  R 940 

408|Wrigley,T.  H.. 704 

917  Wyne,  J.  W 1059 

688;Wyne,  H.  C 1059 

Wetsel.~G.'W 993  j  Wyne,  Joseph  E 320 

Wheat.  Crosby   F 396 ! 

iWhitaker,  Charles  H.  519:  Yard,  Job 

IWhite,  S.  A...  ..  588'Yard,  Job  Jr 

White,  F.  S 620!  Yard,  Thomas  C 

White,  Dr.  Abner 89dYates,  Christopher.. 

Whittington,  Beverly.  652  i  Yeast,  J.  L 

Wilcox,  J.  M 964;Yoder,  J.  P 

Wliey,  John 989  Yocum,  Stephen 905 

Wilkins,  W.  O 910!Young,  W.  W 1031 

Willey,   Charles 706 1  Young,  Richard  M 330 

Williams,  John  H 3371 


B66 
666 
666 
650 
932 
855 


Williams,  Richard..  ..1096 


Williams,  Lafayette. . 
Williams,  L.  M... 


Zirkel,  Adam. 


995 


PORTRAITS    AND    ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Page. 
Blackstone,  Stephen...  201 
Bushnell  High  School..  854 

Clark  Alvah  .  607 

Cruser,  Frederick.. 
Miner,  J  F  

Page. 
743 

539 

Porter,  J  E  

Page. 

Stickle,  Abraham.. 
Tunnicliff  D  G  

Page. 
Sol 

..     9ft 

Prentiss,  William.. 
Randolph,  W.  H.... 

171 
471 

Miner  Mrs  J  F 

540 

Neece,  W.  H  

279 

Western  Normal  Coll..  384 
Whitaker,  C.  H  ,  135 

Cole  James  315 

675 

Newlaud,  FreJ 

243 

HISTORY  OF   ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


ILLINOIS,  the  fourth  state  in  the 
Union  in  wealth,  population  and  po- 
litical power,  lies  in  the  very  heart  of 
the  upper  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 
Stretching  over  five  degrees  of  latitude, 
from  parallel  37^  to  42^,  it  has  consider- 
able diversity,  both  of  soil  and  climate. 
The  boundary  line  of  the  state  is  about 
twelve  hundred  miles  in  length.  From 
the  point  where  it  joins  the  Wisconsin 
line  on  the  northeast,  Lake  Michigan 
bounds  it  on  the  east  for  fifty  miles  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  Indiana; 
thence  a  line  is  drawn  due  south  one 
hundred  and  sixty-eight  miles  to  the 
Wabash  river.  The  Wabash  and  Ohio 
rivers  constitute  the  remainder  of  the 
eastern  and  southern  boundaries,  while 
the  lordly  Mississippi  washes  its  entire 
western  border.  The  extreme  length  of 
the  state  is  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
eight  miles ;  the  extreme  breadth,  in  the 
latitude  of  Danville  and  Rushville,  is  two 
Imndred  and  ten  miles,  and  the  average 
breadth  is  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
miles. 

Illinois  contains  55,405  square  miles, 
or  more  than  35,000,000  acres  of  land. 


Fully  two-thirds  of  this  is  prairie,  and 
nearly  all  of  it  is  susceptible  to  proper 
cultivation.  The  state  has  10,000  more 
square  miles  than  New  York  or  Ohio, 
and  is  larger  than  Pennsylvania  and 
New  Jersey  combined,  and  is  almost  as 
large  as  all  the  New  England  states 
taken  together. 

THE    MOUND  BUILDERS. 

That  Illinois  was  inhabited  by  a  race 
of  men  prior  to  the  present  Indian  race 
that  yet  inhabits  a  portion  of  the  Union, 
hardly  admits  of  a  doubt.  It  is  clearly 
demonstrated  by  the  well  authenticated 
accounts  of  discoveries  made  that  a  civ- 
ilized people,  and  one  highly  cultivated, 
once  occupied  the  great  "Prairie"  state, 
and  various  parts  of  the  country  now 
constituting  the  American  union,  but 
the  date  of  their  rule  in  the  western 
world  is  so  remote  that  all  traces  of  this 
history,  progress  and  decay,  lie  buried  in 
the  deepest  obscurity.  This  pre-historic 
race  is  known  as  the  -Mound  Builders, 
from  the  numerous  large  mounds  of 
earthworks  left  by  them.  Their  char- 
acter can  be  but  partially  gleaned  from 
the  internal  evidences  and  peculiarities 


18 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


of  all  that  remains  of  them  the 
mounds.  Remains  of  what  were  appar- 
ently villages,  altars,  temples,  idols, 
cemeteries,  monuments,  camps,  fortifi- 
cations, and  pleasure  grounds  have  been 
found,  but  nothing  showing  of  what 
material  were  their  habitations. 

The  question  as  to  the  origin  of  the 
Mound  Builders  is  an  interesting  one. 
If  they  were  not  the  ancestors  of  the 
Indians,  who  were  they  ?  Those  who  do 
not  believe  in  the  common  parentage  of 
mankind  contend  that  they  were  an  in- 
digenous race  of  the  western  hemis- 
phere; others  think  they  came  from  the 
east,  and  imagine  the  religion  of  the 
Hindoos  and  southern  Tartars,  and  the 
supposed  theology  of  the  Mound  Build- 
ers to  be  coincident  and  identical.  They 
were,  no  doubt,  idolaters,  and  it  has 
been  conjectured  that  the  sun  was  the 
object  of  their  adoration.  The  mounds 
were  generally  built  in1  a  situation  af- 
fording a  view  of  the  rising  sun ;  when 
enclosed  in  walls,  their  gateways  were 
toward  the  east;  the  caves  in  which 
their  dead  were  occasionally  buried  al- 
ways opened  in  the  same  direction; 
whenever  a  mound  was  partially  enclos- 
ed by  a  semi-circular  pavement,  it  was 
on  the  east  side;  when  bodies  were  bur- 
ied in  graves,  as  was  frequently  the  case, 
they  were  laid  in  a  direction  east  and 
west;  and,  finally,  medals  have  been 
found  representing  the  sun  and  his  rays 
of  light. 

At  what  period  they  came  to  this  coun- 
try, or  how,  is  likewise  a  matter  of 
speculation.  From  the  comparatively 
rude  state  of  the  arts  among  them,  it  has 
been  inferred  that  the  time  was  very  re- 
mote. Their  axes  were  of  stone.  Their 


raiment,  judging  from  fragments  which 
have  been  discovered,  consisted  of  the 
bark  of  trees,  interwoven  with  feathers; 
and  their  military  works  were  such  as  a 
people  would  erect  who  had  just  passed 
to  the  pastoral  state  of  society  from  that 
dependent  alone  upon  hunting  and  fish- 
ing. 

The  mounds  and  other  ancient  earth- 
works constructed  by  this  people  are  far 
more  abundant  than  generally  supposed, 
from  the  fact  that  while  some  are  quite 
large,  the  greater  part  of  them  are  small 
and  inconspicuous.  Along  nearly  all 
our  water-courses  that  are  large  enough 
to  be  navigated  with  a  canoe,  the  mounds 
are  almost  invariably  found,  covering  the 
base  points  and  headlands  of  the  bluffs 
which  border  the  narrower  valleys;  so 
that,  when  one  finds  himself  in  such  posi- 
tions as  to  command  the  grandest  views 
for  river  scenery,  he  may  almost  always 
discover  that  he  is  standing  upon,  or  in 
close  proximity  to,  some  one  or  more  of 
these  traces  of  the  labors  of  an  ancient 
people. 

One  of  the  most  singular  earthworks 
in  the  state  was  found  on  the  top  of  a 
ridge  near  the  east  bank  of  the  Sinsin- 
awa  creek,  in  the  lead  region.  It  re- 
sembled some  huge  animal,  the  head, 
ears,  nose,  legs,  and  tail,  and  general  out- 
line of  which  being  as  perfect  as  if  made 
by  men  versed  in  modern  art.  The  ridge 
on  which  it  was  situated  stands  on  the 
prairie,  300  yards  wide,  100  feet  in  height 
and  rounded  on  the  top  by  a  deep  de- 
posit of  clay.  Centrally,  along  the  line 
of  its  summit,  and  thrown  up  in  the  form 
of  an  embankment  three  feet  high,  ex- 
tended the  outline  of  a  quadruped  meas- 
uring 250  feet  from  the  tip  of  the  nose 


HISTOBY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


19 


to  the  end  of  the  tail,  and  having  a  width 
of  18  feet  at  the  centre  of  the  body. 
The  head  was  35  feet  in  length,  the  ears 
10  feet,  legs  60,  and  tail  75.  The  curv- 
ature on  both  the  fore  and  hind  legs  was 
natural  to  an  animal  lying  on  its  side. 
The  general  outline  of  the  figure  most 
nearly  resembled  the  extinct  animal 
known  to  geologists  as  the  Megatherium. 
The  question  naturally  arises,  by  whom 
and  for  what  purpose  was  this  earth  fig- 
ure raised  ?  Some  have  conjectured  that 
numbers  of  this  now  extinct  animal  lived 
and  roamed  over  the  prairies  of  Illinois 
when  the  Mound-Builders  first  made 
their  appearance  on  the  upper  part  of 
the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  that  the  won- 
der and  admiration,  excited  by  the  colos- 
sal dimensions  of  these  huge  creatures, 
found  some  expression  in  the  erection  of 
this  figure.  The  bones  of  some  similar 
gigantic  animals  were  exhumed  on  this 
stream  about  three  miles  from  the  same 
place. 

Mr.  Breckenridge,  who  examined  the 
antiquities  of  the  western  country  in  1817, 
speaking  of  the  mounds  in  the  American 
Bottom,  says:  "The  great  number  and 
extremely  large  size  of  some  of  them 
may  be  regarded  as  furnishing,  with 
other  circumstances,  evidences  of  their 
antiquity.  I  have  sometimes  been  in- 
duced to  think  that  at  the  period  when 
they  were  constructed  there  was  a  pop- 
ulation here  as  numerous  as  that  which 
once  animated  the  borders  of  the  Nile  or 
Euphrates,  or  of  Mexico.  The  most  nu- 
merous, as  well  as  considerable,  of  these 
remains  are  found  in  precisely  those 
parts  of  the  country  where  the  traces*  of 
a  numerous  population  might  be  looked 
for,  namely,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio, 


on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  to  the 
Illinois' river,  and  on  the  west  from  the 
St.  Francis  to  the  Missouri.  I  am  per- 
fectly satisfied  that  cities  similar  to  those 
of  ancient  Mexico,  of  several  hundred 
thousand  souls,  have  existed  in  this 
country." 

OTHER   RACES.   • 

Following  the  Mound-Builders  as  in- 
habitants of  North  America,  were,  as  it 
is  supposed,  the  people  who  reared  the 
magnificent  cities  the  ruins  of  which  are 
found  in  Central  America.  This  people 
was  far  more  civilized  and  advanced  in 
the  arts  than  were  the  Mound-Builders. 
The  cities  built  by  them,  judging  from 
the  ruins  of  broken  columns,  fallen 
arches  and  crumbling  walls  of  temples, 
palaces  and  pyramids,  which  in  some 
places  for  miles  bestrew  the  ground, 
must  have  been  of  great  extent,  magnifi- 
cent and  very  populous.  When  we  con- 
sider the  vast  period  of  time  necessary 
to  erect  such  colossal  structures,  and, 
again,  the  time  required  to  reduce  them 
to  their  present  ruined  state,  we  can  con- 
ceive something  of  their  antiquity. 
These  cities  must  have  been  old  when 
many  of  the  ancient  cities  of  the  Orient 
were  being  built. 

The  third  race  inhabiting  North  Amer- 
ica distinct  from  the  former  two  in  every 
particular,  is,  the  present  Indians.  They 
were,  when  visited  by  the  early  discov- 
ers, without  cultivation,  refinement  or 
literature,  and  far  behind  the  Mound 
Builders  in  the  knowledge  of  the  arts. 
The  question  of  their  origin  has  long 
interested  archaeologists,  and  is  the  most 
difficult  they  have  been  called  upon  to 
answer.  Of  their  predecessor,  the  In- 


20 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


dian  tribes  knew  nothing;  they  even  had 
no  traditions  respecting  them.  It  is 
quite  certain  that  they  were  the  success- 
ors of  a  race-  that  had  entirely  passed 
away  ages  before  the  discovery  of  the 
new  world.  One  hypothesis  is  that  the 
American  Indians  are  an  original  race 
indigenous  to  the  western  hemisphere. 
Those  who  entertain  this  view  think 
their  peculiarities  of  physical  structure 
preclude  the  possibility  of  a  common 
parentage  with  the  rest  of  mankind. 
Prominent  among  those  distinctive  traits 
is  the  hair,  which  in  the  red  man  is 
round,  in  the  white  man  oval,  and  in  the 
black  man  flat.  A  more  common  suppo- 
sition, however,  is  that  they  are  a  deriv- 
ative race,  and  sprang  from  one  or  more 
of  the  ancient  peoples  of  Asia.  This  last 
is  doubtless  the  true  theory. 

INDIANS. 

When  Christopher  Columbus  had 
finally  succeeded  in  demonstrating  the 
truth  of  his  theory,  that  by  sailing  west 
from  Europe  land  would  be  discovered, 
landing  on  the  island  of  San  Salvador 
he  supposed  that  he  had  reached  the 
East  Indies.  This  was  an  error,  but  it 
led  to  the  adoption  of  the  name  of  "In- 
dians" for  the  inhabitants  of  the  newly 
discovered  county,  by  which  name  the 
red  men  of  America  have  ever  since  been 
known.  At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of 
America,  the  Algonquins,  one  of  the 
most  powerful  tribes  of  Indians,  occu- 
pied the  seaboard,  while  the  Iroquois, 
another  great  tribe,  inhabited  the  country 
almost  surrounded  by  them.  The  Algon- 
quins spread  over  vast  territory,  and 
various  tribes  of  Algonquin  lineage 
sprang  up  over  the  country,  in  time 


adopting  distinct  tribal  customs  and 
laws.  An  almost  continuous  warfare 
was  carried  on  between  tribes,  but  when 
the  white  men  came,  a  confederacy  of 
Indian  tribes  was  formed,  and  every  foot 
of  territory  was  fiercely  disputed.  The 
Algonquins  formed  the  most  extensive 
alliance  to  resist  the  encroachments  of 
the  whites,  especially  the  English.  Such 
was  the  nature  of  King  Philip's  war. 
This  king,  with  his  Algonquin  braves, 
spread  terror  and  desolation  throughout 
New  England.  With  the  Algonquins  as 
the  controlling  spirit,  a  confederacy  of 
continental  proportions  was  the  result, 
embracing  in  its  alliance  the  tribes  of 
every  name  and  lineage  from  the  north- 
ern lakes  to  the  gulf.  Pontiac  having 
breathed  into  them  his  implacable  hate 
of  the  English  intruders,  ordered  the 
conflict  to  commence,  and  all  the  British 
colonies  trembled  before  the  desolating 
fury  of  Indian  vengeance. 

ILLINOIS   CONFEDERACY. 

The  Illinois  confederacy,  the  various 
tribes  of  which  comprised  most  of  the 
Indians  of  Illinois  at  one  time,  was  com- 
posed of  five  tribes;  the  Tamaroas,  Mich- 
igans,  Kaskaskias,  Cahokias  and  Peorias. 
The  Illinois,  Miamis  and  Delawares, 
were  of  the  same  stock.  As  early  as 
1670,  the  priest,  Father  Marquette,  men- 
tions frequent  visits  made  by  individuals 
of  this  confederacy  to  the  missionary 
station  at  St.  Esprit,  near  the  western 
extremity  of  Lake  Superior.  At  that 
time  they  lived  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
in  eight  villages,  whither  they  had  been 
driven  from  the  shores  of  Lake  Michigan 
by  the  Iroquois.  Shortly  afterward, 
they  began  to  return  to  their  old  hunt- 


HISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


21 


ing  grounds,  and  most  of  them  finally 
settled  in  Illinois.  Joliet  and  Marquette, 
in  1673,  met  with  a  band  of  them  on  their 
famous  voyage  of  discovery  down  the 
Mississippi.  They  were  treated  with 
the  greatest  hospitality  by  the  principal 
chief.  On  their  return  voyage  up  the 
Illinois  river,  they  stopped  at  the  prin- 
cipal town  of  the  confederacy,  situated 
on  the  banks  of  the  river,  seven  miles 
below  the  present  town  of  Ottawa.  It 
was  then  called  Kaskaskia.  Marquette 
returned  to  the  village  in  1675,  and 
established  the  mission  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception,  the  oldest  in  Illinois. 
When,  in  1679,  LaSalle  visited  the  town, 
it  had  greatly  increased,  numbering  460 
lodges,  and  at  the  annual  assembly  of 
the  different  tribes,  from  6,000  to  8,000 
souls.  In  common  with  other  western 
tribes,  they  became  involved  in  the  con- 
spiracy of  Pontiac,  although  displaying 
no  very  great  warlike  spirit.  Pontiac 
lost  his  life  by  the  hands  of  one  of  the 
braves  of  the  Illinois  tribe,  which  so 
enraged  the  nations  that  had  followed 
him  as  their  leader,  that  they  fell  upon 
the  Illinois  to  avenge  his  death,  and 
almost  annihilated  them.  Tradition 
states  that  a  band  of  this  tribe,  in  order 
to  escape  the  general  slaughter,  took 
refuge  upon  the  high  rock  on  the  Illi- 
nois river  known  as  "Starved  Hock." 
Nature  has  made  this  one  of  the  most 
formidable  military  fortresses  in  the 
world.  From  the  waters  which  wash  its 
base,  it  rises  to  an  altitude  of  125  feet. 
Three  of  its  sides  it  is  impossible  to 
scale,  while  the  other  may  be  climbed 
with  difficulty.  From  its  summit,  almost 
as  inaccessible  as  an  eagle's  nest,  the 
valley  of  the  Illinois  is  seen  as  a  land- 


scape of  exquisite  beauty.  The  river 
near  by  struggles  between  a  number  of 
wooded  islands,  while  further  below  it 
quietly  meanders  through  vast  meadows 
until  it  disappears  like  a  thread  of  light  in 
the  dim  distance.  On  the  summit  of  this 
rock,  the  Illinois  were  besieged  by  a  su- 
perior force  of  the  Pottawattamies,  whom 
the  great  strength  of  their  natural  for- 
tress enabled  them  to  keep  at  bay.  Hun- 
ger and  thirst,  however,  soon  accomplish- 
ed what  the  army  was  unable  to  effect. 
Surrounded  by  a  relentless  foe,  without 
food  or  water,  they  took  a  last  look  at 
their  beautiful  hunting  grounds,  and 
with  true  Indian  fortitude,  laid  down 
and  died  from  starvation.  Years  after- 
ward, their  bones  were  seen  whitening 
in  that  place. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen- 
tury, the  remnants  of  this  once  powerful 
confederacy  were  forced  into  a  smaller 
compass  around  Kaskaskia.  A  few  years 
later  they  emigrated  to  the  southwest, 
and  in  1850  they  were  in  the  Indian -Ter- 
ritory, and  numbered  but  84  persons. 

EAKLY   DISCOVERIES. 

Nicholas  Perrot,  a  Frenchman,  was 
the  first  white  man  to  visit  the  present 
great  state  of  Illinois.  In  the  year 
1671,  he  was  sent  to  Chicago  by  M. 
Talon,  intendant  of  Canada,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  inviting  the  Indians  to  a  peace 
convention,  to  be  held  at  Green  Bay. 
The  object  of  this  convention  was  the 
formation  of  a  plan  for  the  exploration 
of  the  Mississippi  river.  De  Soto,  the 
Spanish  explorer,  had  discovered  the 
river  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years 
previously,  but  did  not  effect  a  settle- 
ment or  explore  the  country  any  farther. 


22 


HISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


It  remained  as  it  was  until  the  French 
determined  to  visit  it,  for  which  purpose 
it  was  deemed  a  wise  policy,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  secure  the  friendship  and 
co-operation  of  the  Indians,  before  ven- 
turing upon  an  enterprise  which  their 
hostility  might  render  disastrous.  A 
plan  was  accordingly  arranged,and  Louis 
Joliet  joined  Father  Jacques  Marquette 
at  the  Jesuit  Mission,  on  the  strait  of 
Mackinaw,  and  with  five  other  French- 
men, and  a  simple  outfit,  the  daring 
explorers,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1673,  set 
out  on  their  perilous  voyage  to  discover 
the  Mississippi.  Coasting  along  the 
northern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  they 
entered  Green  Bay,  and  passed  thence 
up  Fox  river  and  Lake  Winnebago,  to  a 
village  of  the  Muscatines  and  Miamis, 
where  great  interest  was  taken  in  the 
expedition  by  the  natives.  With  guides 
they  proceeded  down  the  river.  Arriv- 
ing at  the  portage,  they  soon  carried 
their  eight  canoes  and  scanty  baggage 
to  the  Wisconsin,  about  three  miles 
distant.  Their  guides  now  refused  to 
accompany  them  further,  and  endeavored 
by  reciting  the  dangers  incident  to  the 
voyage,  to  induce  them  to  return.  They 
stated  that  huge  demons  dwelt  in  the 
•great  river,  whose  voices  could  be  heard 
a  long  distance,  and  who  engulfed  in  the 
raging  waters  all  who  came  within  their 
reach.  They  also  stated  that  if  any  of 
them  should  escape  the  dangers  of  the 
river,  fierce  tribes  of  Indians  dwelt  upon 
its  banks,  ready  to  complete  the  work  of 
destruction.  They  proceeded  upon  their 
journey,  however,  and  on  the  17th  of 
June,  pushed  their  frail  barks  upon  the 
bosom  of  the  stately .  Mississippi,  down 
which  they  smoothly  glided  for  nearly  a 


hundred  miles.  Here  Joliet  and  Mar- 
quette, leaving  their  canoes  in  charge  of 
their  men,  went  upon  the  western  shore, 
where  they  discovered  an  Indian  village, 
and  were  kindly  treated.  They  journeyed 
on  down  the  unknown  river,  passing  the 
mouth  of  the  Illinois,  then  running  into 
the  current  of  the  muddy  Missouri,  and 
afterwards  the  waters  of  the  Ohio  joined 
with  them  on  their  journey  southward. 
Near  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  they 
discovered  Indians  who  showed  signs  of 
hostility;  but  when  Marquette's  mission 
of  peace  was  made  known  to  them,  they 
were  kindly  received.  After  proceeding 
up  the  Arkansas  a  short  distance,  at  the 
advice  of  the  natives,  they  turned  their 
faces  northward  to  retrace  their  steps. 
After  several  weeks  of  hard  toil,  they 
reached  the  Illinois,  up  which  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Lake  Michigan.  Following 
the  western  shore  of  the  lake,  they  en- 
tered Green  Bay  the  latter  part  of  Sep- 
tember, having  traveled  a  distance  of 
2,500  miles. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS/ 

On  his  way  up  the  Illinois,  Marquette 
visited  the  Kaskaskias,  near  what  is  now 
Utica,  in  LaSalle  county.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  returned,  and  established 
among  them  the  mission  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception.  This  was  the  last  act 
of  his  life.  He  died  in  Michigan,  May 
18,  1675.  The  town  was  named  Kas- 
kaskia  by  Marquette. 

The  first  military  occupation  of  the 
country  was  at  Fort  Crevecoeur,  erected 
in  1680;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that 
a  settlement  was  commenced  there, 
or  at  Peoria,  on  the  lake  above,  at  that 
early  date.  The  first  settlement  of 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


23 


which  there  is  any  authentic  account 
was  commenced  with  the  building  of 
Fort  St.  Louis,  on  the  Illinois  river, 
in  1682;  but  this  was  soon  abandoned. 
The  oldest  permanent  settlement,  not 
only  in  Illinois,  but  in  the  valley  of 
the  Mississippi,  was  at  Kaskaskia, 
six  miles  above  its  confluence  with 
the  Mississippi  and  Prairie  du  Eocher, 
near  Fort  Chartres.  Fort  Chartres  was 
built  under  the  direction  of  the  Missis- 
sippi company  in  1718,  and  was  for  a 
time  the  headquarters  of  the  military 
commandants  of  the  district  of  Illinois, 
and  the  most  impregnable  fortress  in 
North  America.  It  was  also  the  center 
of  wealth  and  fashion  in  the  west.  For 
about  eighty  years,  the  French  retained 
peaceable  possession  of  Illinois.  Their 
amiable  disposition  and  tact  of  ingrati- 
ating themselves  with  the  Indians,  en- 
abled them  to  escape  almost  entirely  the 
broils  which  weakened  and  destroyed 
other  colonies.  Whether  exploring  re- 
mote rivers  or  traversing  hunting  grounds 
in  pursuit  of  game,  in  the  social  circle 
or  as  participants  in  the  religious  exer- 
cises of  the  church,  the  red  men  became 
their  associates,  and  were  treated  with 
the  kindness  and  consideration  of 
brothers.  For  more  than  a  hundred 
years,  peace  between  the  white  man  and 
the  red  was  unbroken,  and  when  at  last 
this  reign  of  harmony  terminated,  it 
was  not  caused  by  the  conciliatory 
Frenchman,  but  by  the  blunt  and  sturdy 
Anglo-Saxon.  During  this  century,  or 
until  the  country  was  occupied  by  the 
English,  no  regular  court  was  ever  held. 
When,  in  1765,  the  country  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  English,  many  of  the 
French,  rather  than  submit  to  a  change 


in  their  institutions,  preferred  to  leave 
their  homes  and  seek  a  new  abode. 
There  are,  however,  at  the  present  time, 
a  few  remnants  of  the  old  French  stock 
in  the  state,  who  still  retain  to  a  great 
extent,  the  ancient  habits  and  customs 
of  their  fathers. 

ENGLISH   RULE. 

In  1750  France  claimed  the  whole  val- 
ley of  the  Mississippi,  and  England  the 
right  to  extend  her  possessions  westward 
as  far  as  she  might  desire.  Through 
colonial  controversies,  the  two  mother 
countries  were  precipitated  into  a  bloody 
war  within  the  Northwestern  Territory, 
George  Washington  firing  the  first  gun 
of  the  military  struggle  which  resulted 
in  the  overthrow  of  the  French,  not  only 
in  Illinois,  but  in  North  America.  The 
French  evinced  a  determination  to  re- 
tain control  of  the  territory  bordering 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  from  Canada 
to  the  Gulf,  and  so  long  as  the  English 
colonies  were  confined  to  the  sea-coast, 
there  was  little  reason  for  controversy. 
As  the  English,  however,  became  ac- 
quainted with  this  beautiful  and  fertile 
portion  of  our  country,  they  not  only 
learned  the  value  of  the  vast  territory, 
but  also  resolved  to  set  up  a  counter- 
claim to  the  soil.  The  French  establish- 
ed numerous  military  and  trading  posts 
from  the  frontiers  of  Canada  to  New 
Orleans,  and  in  order  to  establish  also 
their  claims  to  jurisdiction  over  the 
country,  they  carved  the  lilies  of  France 
on  the  forest  trees,'  or  sank  plates  of 
metal  in  the  ground.  These  measures 
did  not,  however,  deter  the  English  from 
going  011  with  their  explorations;  and 
though  neither  party  resorted  to  arms, 


24 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


yet  the  conflict  was  gathering,  and  it  was 
only  a  question  of  time  when  the  storm 
should  burst  upon  the  frontier  settle- 
ment. The  French  based  their  claims 
upon  discoveries,  the  English  on  grants 
of  territory  extending  from  ocean  to 
ocean,  but  neither  party  paid  the  slight- 
est attention  to  the  prior  claims  of  the 
Indians.  From  this  position  of  affairs, 
it  was  evident  that  the  actual  collision 
between  the  contending  parties  would 
not  much  longer  be  deferred.  The  Eng- 
lish government,  in  anticipation  of  a  war, 
urged  the  governor  of  Virginia  to  lose 
no  time  in  building  two  forts,  which  were 
equipped  by  arms  from  England.  The 
French  anticipated  the  English,  and 
gathered  a  considerable  force  to  defend 
their  possessions.  The  governor  deter- 
mined to  send  a  messenger  to  the  nearest 
French  post,  and  demand  an  explanation. 
This  resolution  of  the  governor  brought 
into  the  history  of  our  country  for  the 
first  time  the  man  of  all  others  whom 
America  most  loves  to  honor,  namely, 
George  Washington.  He  was  chosen,  al- 
though not  twenty-one  years  of  age,  as 
the  one  to  perform  this  delicate  and  diffi- 
cult mission.  With  five  companions  he 


set  out,  on  November  10,  1753,  and  after 
a  perilous  journey,  returned  January  6, 
1754.  The  struggle  commenced,  and  con- 
tinued long,  and  was  bloody  and  fierce; 
but  on  the  10th  of  October,  1765,  the  en- 
sign of  France  was  replaced  on  the  ram- 
parts of  Fort  Chartres,  by  the  flag  of 
Great  Britain.  This  fort  was  the  depot  of 
supplies,  and  the  place  of  rendezvous  for 
the  united  forces  of  the  French.  At  this 
time  the  colonies  of  the  Atlantic  sea- 
board were  assembled  in  preliminary 
congress  at  New  York,  dreaming  of  lib- 
erty and  independence  for  the  continent; 
and  Washington,  who  led  the  expedition 
against  the  French  for  the  English  King, 
in  less  than  ten  years  was  commanding 
the  forces  opposed  to  the  English  tyrant. 
Illinois,  besides  being  constructively  a 
part  of  Florida  for  over  one  hundred 
years,  during  which  time  no  Spaniard 
set  foot  upon  her  soil  or  rested  his  eyes 
upon  her  beautiful  plains,  for  nearly 
ninety  years  had  been  in  the  actual  occu- 
pation of  the  French,  their  puny  settle- 
ments slumbering  quietly  in  colonial  de- 
pendence on  the  distant  waters  of  the 
Kaskaskia,  Illinois  and  Wabash. 


CHAPTER    II. 


COUNTY  AND  TERRITORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


The  Northwest  Territory  was  now  en- 
tirely under  English  rule,  and  on  the 
breaking  "Out  of  the.  Revolutionary  war, 
the  British  held  every  post  of  impor- 


tance in  the  west.  While  the  colonists 
of  the  East  were  maintaining  a  fierce 
struggle  with  the  armies  of  England, 
their  western  frontiers  were  ravaged  by 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


25 


the  merciless  butcheries  of  Indian  war- 
fare. The  jealousy  of  the  savage  was 
aroused  to  action  by  the  rapid  extension 
of  American  settlement  westward,  and 
the  improper  influence  exerted  by  a 
number  of  military  posts,  garrisoned  by 
British  troops.  To  prevent  indiscrimi- 
nate slaughter,  arising  from  these  causes, 
Illinois  became  the  theatre  of  some  of 
the  most  daring  exploits  connected  with 
American  history.  The  hero  of  the 
achievements  by  which  this  beautiful 
land  was  snatched  as  a  gem  from  the 
British  crown,  was  George  Rogers 
Clark,  of  Virginia.  He  had  closely 
watched  the  movements  of  the  British 
throughout  the  northwest,  and  under- 
stood their  whole  plan;  he  also  knew 
the  Indians  were  not  unanimously  in  ac- 
cord with  the  English,  and  therefore  was 
convinced  that  if  the  British  could  be  de- 
feated and  expelled  from  the  northwest, 
the  natives  could  be  easily  awed  into 
neutrality.  Having  convinced  himself 
that  the  enterprise  against  the  Illinois 
settlement  might  easily  succeed,  he  re- 
paired to  the  capital  of  Virginia,  arriv- 
ing November  5,  1777.  While  he  was 
on  his  way,  fortunately,  Burgoyne  was 
defeated  (October  17),  and  the  spirits  of 
the  colonists  were  thereby  greatly  en- 
couraged. Patrick  Henry  was  governor 
of  Virginia,  and  at  once  entered  heart- 
ily into  Clark's  plans.  After  satisfying 
the  Virginia  leaders  of  the  feasibility  of 
his  project,  he  received  two  sets  of  in- 
structions— one  secret,  the  other  open. 
The  latter  authorized  him  to  enlist  seven 
companies  to  go  to  Kentucky,  and  serve 
three  months  after  their  arrival  in  the 
west.  The  secret  order  authorized  him 
to  arm  these  troops,  to  procure  his  pow- 


der and  lead  of  General  Hand,  at  Pitts- 
burg,  and  to  proceed  at  once  to  subju- 
gate the  country. 

"With  these  instructions  Colonel  Clark 
repaired  to  Pittsburg,  choosing  rather  to 
raise  his  men  west  of  the  mountains,  as 
he  well  knew  all  were  needed  in  the  col- 
onies for  the  conflict  there.  Enlisting 
his  men,  he  at  once  proceeded  to  carry 
out  his  instructions.  His  plan  was  to 
go  by  water  as  far  as  Fort  Massac,  and 
thence  march  direct  to  Kaskaskia. 
Here  he  intended  to  surprise  the  garri- 
son, and  after  its  capture  go  to  Cahokia, 
then  to  Vincennes,  and  lastly  to  Detroit. 
Each  of  these  posts  were,  in  turn  cap- 
tured. 

The  services  of  Clark  proved  of  es- 
sential advantage  to  his  countrymen. 
They  disconcerted  the  plans  of  Hamil- 
ton, the  governor  of  Detroit,  who  was 
intending  to  make  a  vigorous  and  con- 
certed attack  upon  the  frontier,  and  not 
only  saved  the  western  frontier  from 
depredations  by  the  savages,  but  also 
greatly  cooled  the  ardor  of  the  Indians, 
for  carrying  on  a  contest  in  which  they 
were  not  likely  to  be  the  gainers.  Had 
it  not  been  for  this  small  army,  a  union 
of  all  the  tribes  from  Maine  to  Georgia 
against  the  colonies  might  have  been  af- 
fected, and  the  whole  current  of  our  his- 
tory changed. 

COUNTY    OF   ILLINOIS. 

In  October,  1778,  after  the  successful 
campaign  of  Colonel  Clark,  the  assem- 
bly of  Virginia  erected  the  conquered 
country,  embracing  all  the  territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  river,  into  the 
county  of  Illinois,  which  was  doubtless 
the  largest  county  in  the  world,  exceed- 


26 


HISTOBY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


ing  in  dimensions  the  whole  of  Great 
Britian  and  Ireland.  To  speak  more 
definitely,  it  contained  the  territory  now 
embraced  in  the  great  states  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Mich- 
igan. On  the  12th  of  December,  1778, 
John  Todd  was  appointed  lieutenant 
commandant  of  this  county  by  Patrick 
Henry,  then  governor  of  Virginia,  and 
accordingly,  also,  the  first  of  Illinois 
county. 

NOBTHWESTERN  TERRITORY. 

Illinois  continued  to  form  a  part  of 
Virginia  until  March  1,  1784,  when  that 
state  ceded  all  the  territory  north  of  the 
Ohio  to  the  United  States.  Immedi- 
ately the  general  government  proceeded 
to  establish  a  form  of  government  for 
the  settlers  in  the  territories  thus  ceded. 
This  form  continued  until  the  passage 
of  the  ordinance  of  1787,  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Northwestern  Territory. 
No  man  can  study  the  secret  history  of 
this  ordinance  and  not  feel  that  Provi- 
dence was  guiding  with  sleepless  eye, 
the  destinies  of  these  unborn  states. 
American  legislation  has  never  achieved 
anything  more  admirable,  for  its  inter- 
nal government  than  this  comprehen- 
sive ordinance.  Its  provisions  concern- 
ing the  distribution  of  property,  the 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty 
which  it  laid  at  the  foundation  of  the 
communities  since  established,  and  the 
efficient  and  simple  organization  by 
which  it  created  the  first  machinery  of 
civil  society,  are  worthy  of  all  the 
praise  that  has  ever  been  given  them. 

ORDINANCE    OF   1787. 

For  some  years  Tho.mas  Jefferson  had 
vainly  tried  to  secure  a  system  of  govern- 


ment for  the  Northwestern  Territory. 
He  was  an  emancipationist,  and  favored 
the  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the  terri- 
tory, and  in  this  he  was  opposed  by  al- 
most the  entire  south.  In  July,  1787, 
Manasseh  Cutler  appeared  in  New  York 
to  lobby  on  the  question  of  organization 
of  the  Northwestern  Territory.  He  was 
a  country  gentleman  of  the  old  style,  a 
man  of  commanding  presence  and  of  in- 
viting face.  He  came  representing  a 
Massachusetts  company  that  desired  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  land,  now  included 
in  Ohio,  for  the  purpose  of  planting  a 
colony.  This  company,  together  with 
certain  speculators  in  New  York,  enabled 
him  to  represent  a  demand  for  5,500,000 
acres.  The  amount  thus  received  from 
the  sale  of  this  land  would  apply  towards 
reducing  the  national  debt,  which  Jeffer- 
son was  anxious  should  be  paid  as  soon 
as  possible. 

Massachusetts  then  owned  the  terri- 
tory of  Maine,  which  she  was  crowding 
on  the  market.  She  was  opposed  to 
opening  the  northwestern  region.  This 
fired  the  zeal  of  Virginia.  The  south 
caught  the  inspiration,  and  all  exalted 
Dr.  Cutler.  The  entire  south  rallied 
around  him.  Massachusetts  could  not 
vote  against  him,  because  many  of  the 
constituents  of  her  members  were  inter- 
ested personally  in  the  western  specula- 
tion. Thus  Cutler,  making  friends  in 
the  south,  and  doubtless  using  all  the 
arts  of  the  lobby,  was  enabled  to  com- 
mand the  situation.  True  to  deeper  con- 
victions, he  dictated  one  of  the  most  com- 
pact and  finished  documents  of  wise 
statesmanship  that  has  ever  adorned  any 
human  law  book.  He  borrowed  from 
Jefferson  the  term  "Articles  of  Compact," 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


27 


which,  preceding  the  federal  constitution, 
rose  into  most  sacred  character.  He  then 
followed  very  closely  the  constitution  of 
Massachusetts,  adopted  three  years  be- 
fore. Its  prominent  points  were: 

1.  The  exclusion  of  slavery  from  the 
territory  forever. 

2.  Provision  for  public  schools,  giv- 
ing one  township  for  a  seminary,  and 
every  section  numbered  16  in  each  town- 
ship; that  is,  one-thirty-sixth  of  all  the 
land  for  public  schools. 

3.  A  provision  prohibiting  the  adopt- 
ion of  any  constitution  or  the  enactment 
of  any  law  that  should  nullify  pre-ex- 
isting contracts. 

Be  it  forever  remembered  that  this 
compact  declared  that  "religion,  moral- 
ity and  knowledge  being  necessary  to 
good  government  and  the  happiness  of 
mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  edu- 
cation shall  always  be  encouraged."  Dr. 
Cutler  planted  himself  on  this  platform, 
and  would  not  yield.  Giving  his  un- 
qualified declaration  that  it  was  that  or 
nothing, — that  unless  they  could  make 
the  land  desirable  they  did  not  want  it, 
— he  took  his  horse  and  buggy  and  started 
for  the  constitutional  convention  at  Phil- 
adelphia. On  July  13, 1787,  the  bill  was 
put  upon  its  passage,  and  was  unani- 
mously adopted.  Thus  the  great  states 
of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin,  a  vast  empire,  were  conse- 
crated to  freedom,  intelligence  and  mor- 
ality. Thus  the  great  heart  of  the  na- 
tion was  prepared  to  save  the  union  of 
states,  for  it  was  this  act  that  was  the 
salvation  of  the  republic  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  slavery.  Soon  the  south  saw  their 
great  blunder,  and  tried  to  have  the  com- 
pact repealed.  In  1803  congress  referred 


it  to  a  committee,  of  which  John  Ran- 
dolph was  chairman.  He  reported  that 
this  ordinance  was  a  compact,  and  op- 
posed repeal.  There  it  stood,  a  rock  in 
the  way  of  the  on-rushing  sea  of  slavery. 
General  Arthur  St.  Clair  was,  by  con- 
gress, elected  governor  of  this  vast  ter- 
ritory. 

ILLINOIS   TERRITORY. 

After  the  division  of  the  Northwest- 
ern Territory,  Illinois  became  one  of  the 
counties  of  the  territory  of  Indiana, 
from  which  it  was  separated  by  an  act 
of  congress,  February  3,  1809,  forming 
the  territory  of  Illinois,  with  a  population 
estimated  at  9,000,  and  then  including  the 
present  state  of  Wisconsin.  It  was 
divided,  at  the  time,  into  two  counties — 
St.  Clair  and  Randolph.  John  Boyle, 
of  Kentucky,  was  appointed  governor 
by  the  president,  James  Madison,  but 
declining,  Ninian  Edwards,  of  the  same 
state,  was  then  appointed,  and  served 
with  distinction;  and  after  the  organiza- 
tion of  Illinois  as  a  state,  he  served  in 
that  capacity,  being  its  third  governor. 

During  Governor  Edwards'  adminis- 
tration, the  war  of  1812  commenced,  and 
the  few  whites  in  the  state  had  to  con- 
tend against  a  savage  foe  incited  on  to 
deeds  of  violence  by  the  British  officers 
sent  out  for  that  purpose.  The  massa- 
cre at  Fort  Dearborn,  of  helpless  pris- 
oners, by  the  infuriated  Indians,  forms 
a  black  page  in  Illinois  history.  Several 
expeditions  were  put  on  foot  by  Gover- 
nor Edwards  against  -the  Indians,  and 
in  the  various  campaigns  the  governor 
bore  an  honorable  and  heroic  part. 
Peace  came  at  last,  the  Indian  depreda- 
tions ceased,  and  the  territory  of  Illinois 
was  again  on  the  road  to  prosperity. 


28 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER    III. 


STATE   OKGANIZATION. 


In  January  of  1818  the  territorial  leg- 
islature forwarded  to  Nathaniel  Pope, 
delegate  in  congress  from  Illinois,  a 
petition  praying  for  admission  into  the 
national  union  as  a  state.  On  April  18 
of  the  same  year,  congress  passed  the 
enabling  act,  and  December  3,  after  the 
state  government  had  been  organized, 
and  Governor  Bond  had  signed  the  con- 
stitution, congress,  by  a  resolution,  de- 
clared Illinois  to  be  one  of  the  "United 
States  of  America,  and  admitted  into 
the  union  on  an  equal  footing  with  the 
original  states  in  every  -respect." 

FIRST   CONSTITUTION. 

In  July  and  August  of  1818,  a  con- 
vention was  held  at  Kaskaskia  for  the 
purpose  of  drafting  a  constitution.  This 
constitution  was  not  submitted  to  a  vote 
of  the  people  for  their  approval  or  rejec- 
tion, it  being  well  known  that  they  would 
approve  it.  It  was  about  the  first  or- 
ganic law  of  any  state  in  the  union  to 
abolish  imprisonment  for  debt.  The 
first  election  under  the  constitution  was 
held  on  the  first  Thursday  and  the  two 
succeeding  days  in  September,  1818. 
Shadrach  Bond  was  elected  governor, 
and  Pierre  Menard  lieutenant-governor. 
Their  term  of  office  extended  four  years. 
At  this  time  the  state  was  divided  into 
15  counties,  the  population  being  about 
40,000.  Of  this  number,  by  far  the 


larger  portion  were  from  the  southern 
states.  The  salary  of  the  governor  was 
$1,000,  while  that  of  the  treasurer  was 
$500.  The  legislature  re-enacted,  ver- 
batim, the  territorial  code,  the  penalties 
of  which  were  unnecessarily  severe. 
Whipping,  stocks  and  pillory  were  used 
for  minor  offenses,  and  for  arson,  rape, 
horse-stealing,  etc.,  death  by  hanging 
was  the  penalty.  These  laws,  however, 
were  modified  in  1821. 

The  legislature  first  convened  at  Kas- 
kaskia, the  ancient  seat  of  empire  for 
more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  years, 
both  for  the  French  and  Americans. 
Provisions  were  made,  however,  for  the 
removal  of  the  seat  of  government  by 
this  legislature.  A  place  in  the  wilder- 
ness on  the  Kaskaskia  river  was  selected, 
and  named  Yandalia.  From  Vandalia 
it  was  removed  to  Spfingfield  in  the 
year  1839. 

THE   WINNEBAGO   WAR. 

The  Indians,  who  for  some  years  were 
on  peaceful  terms  with  the  whites,  be- 
came troublesome  in  1827.  The  Win- 
nebagoes,  Sacs  and  Foxes  and  other 
tribes  had  been  at  war  more  than  a  hun- 
dred years.  In  the  summer  of  1827  a 
war  party  of  the  Winnebagoes  surprised 
a  party  of  Chippewas,  and  killed  eight 
of  them.  Four  of  the  murderers  were 
arrested,  and  delivered  to  the  Chippe- 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


29 


was,  by  whom  they  were  immediately 
shot.  This  was  the  first  irritation  of  the 
Winnebagoes.  Red  Bird,  a  chief  of 
this  tribe,  in  order  to  avenge  the  execu- 
tion of  the  four  warriors  of  his  own 
people,  attacked  the  Chippewas,  but  was 
defeated;  and  being  determined  to  sat- 
isfy his  thirst  for  revenge  by  some 
means,  surprised  and  killed  several  white 
men.  Upon  receiving  intelligence  of 
these  murders,  the  whites  who  were 
working  the  lead  mines  in  the  vicinity 
of  Galena  formed  a  body  of  volunteers, 
and,  reinforced  by  a  company  of  United 
States  troops,  marched  into  the  country 
of  the  Winnebagoes.  To  save  their  na- 
tion from  the  miseries  of  war,  Red  Bird 
and  six  other  men  of  his  nation  volun- 
tarily surrendered  themselves.  Some 
of  the  number  were  executed,  some  of 
them  imprisoned,  and  destined,  like  Red 
Bird,  ingloriously  to  pine  away  within 
the  narrow  limits  of  a  jail,  where  for- 
merly the  vast  forests  had  proven  too 
confining  for  them. 

BLACK   HAWK  WAR. 

In  the  year  1804,  a  treaty  was  con- 
cluded between  the  United  States  and 
the  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations, 
who  had  fought  with  great  bravery  in  the 
service  of  Great  Britain  during  the  war  of 
1812.  Black  Hawk  had  always  taken  ex- 
ceptions to  this  treaty,  pronouncing  it 
void.  In  1831  he  established  himself ,  with 
a  chosen  band  of  warriors,  upon  the  dis- 
puted territory,  ordering  the  whites  to 
leave  the  country  at  once.  The  settlers 
complaining,  Governor  Reynolds  dis- 
patched General  Gaines,  with  a  company 
of  regulars  and  1,500  volunteers,  to  the 
scene  of  action.  Taking  the  Indians  by 


surprise,  the  troops  burnt  their  villages 
and  forced  them  to  conclude  a  treaty,  by 
which  they  ceded  all  lands  east  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  agreed  to  remain  on 
the  western  side  of  the  river.  Necessity 
forced  the  proud  spirit  of  Black  Hawk 
into  submission,  which  made  him  more 
than  ever  determined  to  be  avenged 
upon  his  enemies.  Having  rallied  around 
him  the  war-like  braves  of  the  Sac  and 
Fox  nations,  he  crossed  the  Mississippi 
in  the  spring  of  1832.  Upon  learning 
of  this  invasion,  Governor  Reynolds 
hastily  collected  a  body  of  1,800  volun- 
teers, placing  them  under  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Whiteside.  The  army 
marched  to  tlie  Mississippi,  and  having 
reduced  to  ashes  the  Indian  village 
known  as  "Prophet's  Town,"  proceeded 
several  miles  up  the  river  to  Dixon,  to 
join  the  regular  forces  under  General 
Atkinson.  They  found  at  Dixon  two 
companies  of  volunteers,  who,  sighing 
for  glory,  were  despatched  to  reconnoi- 
tre the  enemy.  They  advanced,  under 
command  of  Major  Stillman,  to  a  small 
creek,  afterwards  known  as  "Stillman's 
Run,"  and  while  there  encamped,  saw  a 
party  of  mounted  Indians  at  a  distance 
of  a  mile.  Several  of  Stillman's  party 
mounted  their  horses  and  charged  the 
Indians,  killing  three  of  them,  but  being 
attacked  by  the  main  body  under  Black 
Hawk,  they  were  routed,  and  by  their 
precipitated  flight,  spread  such  a  panic 
through  the  camp  that  the  whole  com- 
pany ran  off  to  Dixon  as  fast  as  possible. 
On  their  arrival,  it  was  found  that  eleven 
of  their  number  were  missing,  having 
been  killed  by  the  Indians. 

In  June,  1832,  Black  Hawk,  with  a 
band  of  150  warriors,  attacked  Apple 


30 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Biver  Fort,  near  Galena,  defended  by  25 
men.  This  fort,  a  mere  palisade  of  logs, 
was  erected  to  afford  protection  to  the 
miners.  For  fifteen  consecutive  hours 
the  garrison  had  to  sustain  the  assault 
of  the  savage  enemy;  but  knowing  very 
well  that  no  quarter  would  be  given 
them,  they  fought  with  such  fury  and 
desperation  that  the  Indians,  after  los- 
ing many  of  their  best  warriors,  were 
compelled  to  retreat. 

New  forces  having  been  sworn  into  the 
service,  Generals  Atkinson  and  Henry 
determined  to  pursue  the  retreating  foe. 
They  followed  them  into  Wisconsin,  and 
hearing  that  Black  Hawk  was  encamped 
on  Eock  river,  at  the  Manitou  village, 
issued  orders  to  continue  the  pursuit. 
The  officers  of  General  Henry  handed 
to  him  a  written  protest;  but  he,  a  man 
equal  to  any  emergency,  ordered  the 
officers  to  be  arrested,  and  escorted  to 
General  Atkinson.  Within  a  few  minutes 
after  the  order  was  given,  the  officers  all 
collected  around  the  general's  quarters, 
and  pledged  their  word  that  if  forgiven, 
they  would  return  to  duty,  and  never  do 
the  like  again. 

The  battle  of  Bad  Axe  immediately 
followed,  resulting  in  a  loss  to  the  In- 
dians of  three  hundred,  besides  fifty 
prisoners.  The  whites  had  but  seventeen 
killed  and  twelve  wounded.  Black 
Hawk, with  twenty  of  his  braves,  escaped, 
retreating  up  the  Wisconsin  river.  The 
Winnebagoes  desiring  to  secure  the 
friendship  of  the  whites,  went  in  pur- 
suit, and  captured  and  delivered  them  to 
General  Street,  the  United  States  Indian 
agent.  Among  the  prisoners  were  the 
son  of  Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet  of 
the  tribe.  These,  with  Black  Hawk, 


were  taken  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 
were  soon  confined  as  prisoners  at  For- 
tress Monroe.  Thus  ended  the  Black 
Hawk  war. 

INTERNAL   IMPROVEMENTS. 

At  the  general  election  in  1834,  Joseph 
Duncan  was  chosen  governor  by  a  hand- 
some majority.  A  reckless  and  uncon- 
trollable desire  for  internal  public  im- 
provements seized  the  minds  of  the 
people.  In  his  message  to  the  legisla- 
ture, in  1835,  Governor  Duncan  said: 
''When  Ave  look  abroad  and  see  the 
extensive  lines  of  inter-communication 
penetrating  almost  every  section  of  our 
sister  states;  when  we  see  the  canal 
boat  and  the  locomotive  bearing  with 
seeming  triumph  the  rich  productions 
of  the  interior  to  the  rivers,  lakes  and 
oceans,  almost  annihilating  time,  bur- 
then and  space,  what  patriotic  bosom 
does  not  beat  high  with  a  laudable  am- 
bition to  give  Illinois  her  full  share  of 
those  advantages  which  are  adorning  her 
sister  states,  and  which  a  magnificent 
Providence  seems  to  invite  by  a  wonder- 
ful adaptation  of  our  whole  country  to 
such  improvements." 

STUPENDOUS    SYSTEM    OF    IMPROVEMENTS 
INAUGURATED. 

The  legislature  responded  to  the 
ardent  words  of  the  governor,  and  enacted 
a  system  of  internal  improvements  with- 
out a  parallel  in  the  grandeur  of  its  con- 
ception. They  ordered  the  construction 
of  1,300  miles  of  railroad,  crossing  the 
state  in  all  directions.  This  was  sur- 
passed by  the  river  and  canal  improve- 
ments. There  were  a  few  counties  not 
touched  by  the  railroad,  river  or  canal, 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


31 


and  they  were  to  be  compensated  by  the 
free  distribution  of  $200,000  among 
them.  To  inflate  this  balloon  beyond 
credence,  it  was  ordered  that  work  should 
commence  on  both  ends  of  each  of  these 
railroads  and  rivers,  and  at  each  river 
crossing  all  at  the  same  time.  This 
provision,  which  has  been  called  the 
crowning  folly  of  the  entire  system,  was 
the  result  of  those  jealous  combinations 
emanating  from  the  fear  that  advantages 
might  accrue  to  one  section  over  another 
in  the  commencement  and  completion  of 
the  works.  We  can  appreciate  better, 
perhaps,  the  magnitude  of  this  grand 
system  by  reviewing  a  few  figures.  The 
debt  authorized  for  these  improvements 
in  the  first  instance  was  $10,230,000. 
But  this,  as  it  was  soon  found,  was  based 
on  estimates  at  least  too  low  by  half. 
This,  as  we  readily  see,  committed  the 
state  to  a  liability  of  over  $20,000,000, 
equivalent  to  $200,000,000  at  the  present 
time,  with  over  ten  times  the  population, 
and  more  than  ten  times  the  wealth. 

Such  stupendous  undertakings  by  the 
state  naturally  engendered  the  fever  of 
speculation  among  individuals.  That 
particular  form  known  as  the  town  lot 
fever,  assumed  the  malignant  type  at 
first  in  Chicago,  from  whence  it  spread 
over  the  entire  state  and  adjoining  states. 
It  was  an  epidemic.  It  cut  up  men's 
farms  without  regard  to  locality,  and  cut 
up  the  purses  of  the  purchasers  without 
regard  to  consequences.  It  Avas  estimated 
that  building  lots  enough  were  sold  in 
Indiana  alone  to  accommodate  every 
citizen  then  in  the  United  States. 

Chicago,  which  in  1830,  was  a  small 
trading  post,  had  within  a  few  years 
grown  into  a  city.  This  was  the  starting 


point  of  the  wonderful  growth  and 
marvelous  career  of  that  city.  Improve- 
ments, unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of  the 
world  by  individual  effort,  were  then 
begun,  and  have  been  maintained  to  this 
day.  Though  visited  by  the  terrible  fire 
fiend,  and  the  accumulations  of  years 
swept  away  in  a  night,  yet  she  has  arisen 
and  to-day  is  the  best  built  city  in  the 
world.  Eeports  of  the  rapid  advance  of 
property  in  Chicago  spread  to  the  east, 
and  thousands  poured  into  her  borders, 
bringing  money,  enterprise  and  indus- 
try. Every  ship  that  left  her  port  car- 
ried,.-with  it  maps  of  splendidly  situated 
towns  and  additions,  and  every  vessel 
that  returned  was  laden  with  immi- 
grants. It  was  said  at  the  time  that  the 
staple  article  of  Illinois  exports  was 
town  plats,  and  that  there  was  danger  of 
crowding  the  state  with  towns  to  the  ex- 
clusion of  land  for  agriculture. 

ILLINOIS   AND    MICHIGAN   CANAL. 

The  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  again 
received  attention.  This  enterprise  is 
one  of  the  most  important  in  the  early 
history  of  Illinois,  on  account  of  its 
magnitude  and  cost,  and  forming  as  it 
does,  the  connecting  link,  between  the 
great  chain  of  lakes  and  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  Governor  Bond, 
the  first  governor,  recommended  in  his 
first  message  the  building  of  the  canal. 
In  1821,  the  legislature  appropriated 
$10,000  for  surveying  the  route,  This 
work  was  performed  by  two  young  men 
who  estimated  the  cost  at  $600,000  or 
$700,000.  It  cost,  however,  when  com- 
pleted $8,000,000.  In  1825,  a  law  was 
passed  to  incorporate  the  canal  company, 
but  no  stock  was  sold.  In  1826,  upon 


32 


HISTOBY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


the  solicitation  of  Daniel  P.  Cook,  con- 
gressman from  this  state,  congress  gave 
800,000  acres  of  land  on  the  line  of  the 
work.  In  1828,  commissioners  were  ap- 
pointed and  work  commenced,  with  a 
new  survey  and  new  estimates.  In 
1834-5  the  work  was  again  pushed  for- 
ward, and  continued  until  1848,  when  it 
was  completed. 

PANIC — EEPUDIATION  ADVOCATED. 

Bonds  of  the  state  were  recklessly  dis- 
posed of,  both  in  the  east  and  in  Europe. 
Work  was  commenced  on  various  lines 
of  railroads,  but  none  were  ever  com- 
pleted. On  the  Great  Western  Bailroad, 
from  Meredosia  east  eight  miles,  the  first 
locomotive  that  ever  turned  a  wheel  in 
the  great  valley  of  the  Mississippi  was 
run.  The  date  of  this  remarkable  event 
was  November  8,  1838.  Large  sums  of 
money  were  being  expended  with  no  as- 
surance of  a  revenue,  and  consequently, 
in  1840,  the  legislature  repealed  the  im- 


provement laws  passed  three  years  pre- 
viously, not,  however,  until  the  state  had 
accumulated  a  debt  of  nearly  $15,000,- 
000.  Thus  fell  the  most  stupenduous, 
extravagant  and  almost  ruinous  folly  of 
a  grand  system  of  internal  improvements 
that  any  civil  community,  perhaps,  ever 
engaged  in.  The  state  banks  failed, 
specie  was  scarce,  an  enormous  debt  was 
accumulated,  the  interest  of  which  could 
not  be  paid,  people  were  disappointed  in 
the  accumulation  of  wealth,  and  real  es- 
tate was  worthless.  All  this  had  a  tend- 
ency to  create  a  desire  to  throw  off  the 
heavy  burden  of  state  debt  by  repudia- 
tion. Men,  true,  honest  and  able,  were 
placed  at  the  head  of  affairs;  and  al- 
though the  hours  were  dark  and  gloomy, 
and  the  times  most  trying,  yet  our  grand 
state  was  brought  through  and  prosper- 
ed, until  to-day,  after  the  expenditure  of 
millions  for  public  improvements,  and 
for  carrying  on  the  civil  war,  it  has,  at 
present,  no  public  debt  whatever. 


CHAPTER    IV. 


MOBMON,  MEXICAN  AND  CIVIL  WABS. 


In  April,  1840,  the  "Latter-Day 
Saints,"  or  Mormons,  came  in  large  num- 
bers to  Illinois,  and  purchased  a  tract  of 
land  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  about  ten  miles  above  Keokuk. 
Here  they  commenced  building  the  city 
of  Nauvoo.  A  more  picturesque  or  eli- 


gible site  for  a  city  could  not  have  been 
selected. 

The  origin,  rapid  development  and 
prosperity  of  this  religious  sect  are  the 
most  remarkable  and  instructive  histori- 
cal events  of  the  present  century.  That 
an  obscure  individual,  without  money, 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


33 


education  or  respectability,  should  per- 
suade hundreds  of  thousands  of  people 
to  believe  him  inspired  of  God,  and 
cause  a  book,  contemptible  as  a  literary 
production,  to  be  received  as  a  continua- 
tion of  the  sacred  revelation,  appears 
almost  incredible;  yet,-iii  less  than  half 
a  century,  the  disciples  of  this  obscure 
individual  have  increased  to  hundreds  of 
thousands ;- have  founded  a  state  in  the 
distant  wilderness,  and  compelled  the 
government  of  the  United  States  to 
practically  recognize  them  as  an  inde- 
pendent people. 

The  founder  of  Mormonism  was  Joseph 
Smith,  a  native  of  Vermont,  who  emi- 
grated while  quite  young  with  his  father's 
family  to  western  New  York.  Here  his 
youth  was  spent  in  idle,  vagabond  life, 
,  roaming  the  woods,  dreaming  of  buried 
treasures,  and  in  in  endeavoring  to  learn 
the  art  of  finding  them  by  the  twisting 
of  a  forked  stick  in  his  hands,  or  by  look- 
ing through  enchanted  stones.  Both  he 
and  his  father  became  famous  as  "water- 
wizards,"  always  ready  to  point  out  the 
spot  where  wells  might  be  dug  and  water 
found.  Such  was  the  character  of  the 
young  profligate  when  he  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Sidney  Rigdon,  a  person 
of  considerable  talent  and  information, 
who  had  conceived  the  design  of  found- 
ing a  new  religion.  A  religious  romance, 
written  by  Mr.  Spaulding,  a  Presbyter- 
preacher  of  Ohio,  then  dead,  suggested 
the  idea,  and  finding  in  Smith  the  requis- 
ite duplicity  and  cunning  to  reduce  it  to 
practice,  it  was  agreed  that  he  should 
act  as  a  prophet;  and  the  two  devised  a 
story  that  gold  plates  had  been  found 
buried  in  the  earth  containing  a  record 
inscribed  011  them  in  unknown  charac- 


ters, which,  when  inspired  by  the  power 
of  inspiration,  gave  the  history  of  the  ten 
lost  tribes  of  Israel. 

After  their  settlement  in  and  about 
Nauvoo,  in  Hancock  county,  great  dep- 
redations were  committed  by  them  on 
faie  "Gentiles."  The  Mormons  had  been 
received  from  Missouri  with  great  kind- 
ness by  the  people  of  this  state,  and  every 
possible  aid  granted  them.  The  depre- 
dations committed,  however,  soon  made 
them  odious,  when  the  question  of  get- 
ting rid  of  them  was  agitated.  In  the 
fall  of  1841,  the  governor  of  Missouri 
made  a  demand  on  Governor  Carlin  for 
the  arrest  and  delivery  of  Joe  Smith  as 
a  fugitive  from  justice.  Smith  was  sub- 
sequently arrested,  but  was  released  by 
Judge  Douglas  upon  the  ground  that  the 
writ  had  once  been  returned  before  it 
had  been  executed.  In  1842,  he  was 
again  arrested,  and  again  escaped.  Em- 
boldened by  success,  the  Mormons  be- 
came more  arrogant  and  overbearing. 
Many  people  began  to  believe  they  were 
about  to  set  up  a  government  for  them- 
selves in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  the 
state.  Owners  of  property  stolen  in 
other  counties  made  pursuit  into  Nauvoo; 
and  were  fined  by  the  Mormon  courts 
for  daring  to  seek  their  property  in  the 
holy  city.  About  this  time  they  peti- 
tioned congress  to  establish  a  territorial 
government  for  them  in  Nauvoo. 

Smith  soon  began  to  play  the  tyrant 
over  his  people.  Among  the  first  acts  of 
this  sort  was  an  attempt  to  take  the  wife 
of  William  Law,  one  of  his  most  talented 
disciples,  and  make  her  his  spiritual 
wife.  He  established,  without  author- 
ity, a  recorder's  office,  and  an  office  to 
issue  marriage  licenses.  He  proclaimed 


34 


HISTOEY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


that  none  could  deal  in  real  estate  or 
sell  liquor  but  himself.  He  ordered  a 
printing  office  demolished,  and  in  many 
ways  controlled  the  freedom  and  busi- 
ness of  the  Mormons.  Not  only  did  he 
stir  up  some  of  the  Mormons,  but  by  his 
reckless  disregard  for  the  laws  of 
the  land,  raised  up  opposition  on 
every  hand.  It  was  believed  he  intro^ 
duced  the  Danite  band,  which  he  had 
chosen  as  the  ministers  of  his  vengeance, 
that  no  blood,  except  that  of  the  church, 
was  to  be  regarded  as  sacred,  if  it  con- 
travened the  accomplishment  of  his  ob- 
ject. It  was  asserted  that  he  inculcated 
the  legality  of  perjury  and  other  crimes, 
if  committed  to  advance  the  cause  of  true 
believers;  that  God  had  given  the  world 
and  all  it  contained  to  his  saints,  and 
since  they  were  kept  out  of  their  right- 
ful inheritance  by  force,  it  was  no  moral 
offense  to  get  possession  of  it  by  steal- 
ing. 

It  was  currently  reported  that  an  estab- 
lishment existed  in  Nauvoo  for  the  manu- 
facture of  counterfeit  money,  and  that  a 
set  of  outlaws  were  maintained  for  the 
purpose  of  putting  it  in  circulation. 
Statements  were  circulated  to  the  effect 
that  a  reward  was  offered  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  Warsaw  Signal,  an  anti-Mor- 
mon paper,  and  that  Mormons  dispersed 
over  the  country  threatened  all  persons 
who  offered  to  assist  the  constable  in  the 
execution  of  the  law,  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  their  property  and  the  murder  of 
their  families.  There  were  rumors  also 
afloat  that  an  alliance  had  been  formed 
with  the  western  Indians,  and  in  case  of 
war  they  would  be  used  in  murdering 
their  enemies.  In  short,  if  only  one- 
half  of  these  reports  were  true,  the  Mor- 


mons must  have  been  the  most  infamous 
people  that  ever  existed. 

William  Law,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  printing  office  destroyed  by  Smith, 
went  to  Carthage,  and  procured  a  war- 
rant for  the  arrest  of  Smith  and  others 
in  the  deed.  The  prophet,  his  brother 
Hiram  and  others,  surrendered  them- 
selves at  Carthage,  June  24,  1844,  on  a 
charge  of  riot,  and  all  entered  into  a 
recognizance  before  a  justice  of  the  peace 
for  their  appearance  at  court.  They 
were  again  arrested,  and  thrown  into 
prison  at  Carthage.  The  people  of  Han- 
cock, McDonough  and  Schuyler  counties 
had  assembled,  armed  and  ready  to 
avenge  the  outrages  that  had  been  com- 
mitted by  the  Mormons.  Great  excite- 
ment prevailed.  All  were  anxious  to 
march  into  Nauvoo.  The  27th  of  June 
was  appointed  for  the  march,  but  Gov- 
ernor Ford,  who  at  the  time  was  in  Car- 
thage, apprehended  trouble  if  the  mi- 
litia should  attempt  to  invade  Nauvoo, 
disbanded  the  troops,  retaining  only  a 
guard  for  the  jail. 

Governor  Ford  went  to  Nauvoo  on  the 
27.  The  same  morning  about  two  hun- 
dred men  from  Warsaw,  many  of  them 
disguised,  hastened  to  Carthage.  On 
learning  that  one  of  the  companies  left 
as  a  guard  had  disbanded,  and  the  other 
stationed  150  yards  from  the  jail,  while 
eight  men  were  left  to  guard  the  prison- 
ers, a  communication  was  soon  estab- 
lished between  the  Warsaw  troops  and 
the  guard;  and  it  was  arranged  that  the 
guard  should  have  their  guns  charged 
with  blank  cartridges  and  fire  at  the  as- 
sailants when  they  attempted  to  enter  the 
jail.  The  conspirators  came  up,  jumped 
the  fence  around  the  jail,  were  fired 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


35 


upon  by  the  guard,  which,  according  to 
arrangement,  was  overpowered,  and  the 
assailants  entered  the  prison  to  the  door 
of  the  room  where  the  two  prisoners 
were  confined.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
break  open  the  door;  but  Joe  Smith,  be- 
ing armed  with  a  pistol,  fired  several 
times  as  the  door  was  broken  open,  and 
three  of  the  assailants  were  wounded. 
At  the  same  time  several  shots  were  fired 
into  the  room,  by  some  of  which  John  Tay- 
lor, a  friend  of  the  Smith's,  received  four 
wounds,  and  Hiram  Smith  was  instantly 
killed.  Joe  Smith,  severely  wounded, 
attempted  to  escape  by  jumping  out  of 
a  second  story  window,  but  was  so  stun- 
ned by  the  fall  that  he  was  unable  to 
rise.  In  this  position  he  was  dispatched 
by  balls  fired  through  his  body.  Thus 
fell  Joe  Smith,  the  most  successful  im- 
poster  of  modern  times.  Totally  igno- 
rant of  almost  every  fact  in  science,  as 
well  as  in  law,  he  made  up  in  construct- 
iveness  and  natural  cunning  what  he 
lacked  in  education. 

Many  feared  the  Mormons  would  as- 
semble in  force  and  attack  Carthage  for 
the  purpose  of  avenging  the  death  of 
the  prophet.  But  this  was  never  done. 
In  the  fall  of  1845,  a  convention,  con- 
sisting of  delegates  from  eight  of  the 
adjoining  counties,  assembled  to  concert 
measures  for  the  expulsion  of  the  Mor- 
mons from  the  state.  The  Mormons  se- 
riously contemplated  emigration  west- 
ward, believing  the  times  forbode  evil 
for  them.  Accordingly  during  the  win- 
ter of  1845-46,  the  most  stupendous 
preparations  were  made  by  the  Mor- 
mons for  removal.  All  the  principal 
dwellings,  and  even  the  temple,  were 
converted  into  workshops,  and  before 


spring,  12,000  wagons  were  in  readiness ; 
and  by  the  middle  of  February,  the 
leaders,  with  2,000  of  their  followers, 
had  crossed  the  Mississippi  on  the  ice. 

Before  the  spring  of  1846,  the  major- 
ity of  Mormons  had  left  Nauvoo,  but 
still  a  large  number  remained. 

THE    BATTLE   OF   NAUVOO. 

In  September  a  writ  was  issued 
against  several  prominent  Mormons, 
and  placed  in  the  hands  of  John  Carlin, 
of  Carthage,  for  execution.  Carlin  call- 
ed out  a  posse  to  help  make  the  arrest, 
which  brought  together  quite  a  large 
force,  in  the  vicinity  of  Nauvoo.  Car- 
lin, not  being  a  military  man,  placed  in 
command  of  the  force,  first,  General 
Singleton,  and  afterward  Colonel  Brock- 
man,  who  proceeded  to  invest  the  city, 
erecting  breastworks,  and  taking  other 
means  for  defensive  as  well  as  offensive 
operations.  What  was  then  termed  a 
battle  next  took  place,  resulting  in  the 
death  of  one  Mormon  and  the  wounding 
of  several  others,  and  loss  to  the  anti- 
Mormons  of  three  killed  and  four 
wounded.  At  last,  through  the  inter- 
vention of  an  anti-Mormon  committee  of 
one  hundred,  from  Quincy,  the  Mor- 
mons and  their  allies  were  induced  to 
submit  to  such  terms  as  the  posse  choose 
to  dictate,  which  were  that  the  Mor- 
mons should  immediately  give  up  their 
arms  to  the  Quincy  committee  and  re- 
move from  the  state.  The  trustees  of 
the  church  and  five  of  their  clerks  were 
permitted  to  remain  for  the  sale  of  Mor- 
mon property,  and  the  posse  were  to 
march  in  unmolested,  and  leave  a  suffi- 
cient force  to  guarantee  the  perform- 
ance of  their  stipulations.  Accordingly 


36 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


the  constable's  posse  inarched  in,  with 
Brockman  at  their  head.  It  consisted 
of  800  armed  men,  and  600  or  700  un- 
armed, who  had  assembled  from  all  the 
country  around,  through  motives  of  curi- 
osity to  see  the  once  proud  city  of  Nau- 
voo  humbled,  and  delivered  up  to  its  en- 
emies. They  proceeded  into  the  city  slow- 
ly and  carefully,  examining  the  way  for 
fear  of  the  explosion  of  a  mine,  many 
of  which  had  been  made  by  the  Mor- 
mons, by  burying  kegs  of  powder  in  the 
ground,  with  a  man  stationed  at  a  dis- 
tance to  pull  a  string  communicating 
with  the  trigger  of  a  percussion  lock  af- 
fixed to  the  keg.  This  kind  of  a  con- 
trivance was  called  by  the  Mormons 
"  hell's  half  acre."  When  the  posse. 
arrived  in  the  city,  the  leaders  of  it 
elected  themselves  into  a  tribunal  to  de- 
cide who  should  be  forced  away  and 
who  remain.  Parties  were  dispatched 
to  hunt  for  fire-arms  and  for  Mormons, 
and  to  bring  them  to  judgment.  When 
brought,  they  received  their  doom  from 
the  mouth  of  Brockman,  who  remained 
a  grim  and  unawed  tyrant  for  the  time. 
As  a  general  rule,  the  Mormons  were 
ordered  to  leave  within  an  hour  or  two, 
and  by  rare  grace  some  of  them  were 
allowed  until  next  day,  and  in  a  few 
cases  longer  time  was  granted. 

MEXICAN    WAR. 

In  1846,  when  the  war  with  Mexico 
commenced,  Illinois  sent  her  quota  of 
six  regiments  to  the  tented  field.  More 
men  were  offered,  but  only  the  six  reg- 
iments could  be  accepted.  These  six 
shed  imperishable  honors,  not  only  upon 
the  state,  but  upon  the  American  union. 
Veterans  never  fought*  more  nobly  and 


effectively  than  did  the  volunteers 
from  Illinois.  At  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista,  by  the  coolness  and  bravery  of 
the  Second  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Bissell,  the  day  was  saved.  The  con- 
flict began  early  on  the  morning  of  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1847,  and  was  continued  till 
nightfall  of  the  next  day.  The  solid 
columns  of  the  enemy  were  hurled 
against  our  advancing  forces  all  day 
!  long,  but  were  met  and  held  in  check  by 
the  unerring  fire  of  our  musketry  and 
artillery.  A  portion  of  General  Lane's 
division  was  driven  back  by  the  enemy, 
who  appeared  in  such  formidable  num- 
bers as  to  be  almost  irresistible.  At  this 
time  the  Second  Illinois,  under  Colonel 
Bissell,  with  a  squadron  of  cavalry  and  a 
few  pieces  of  artillery,  came  handsome- 
ly into  action,  and  gallantly  received 
the  concentrated  fire  of  the  enemy, 
which  they  returned  with  deliberate 
aim  and  terrible  effect.  Every  dis- 
charge of  the  artillery  seemed  to  tear  a 
bloody  path  through  the  columns  of  the 
enemy.  Says  a  writer:  "The  rapid 
musketry  of  the  gallant  troops  from 
Illinois  poured  a  storm  of  lead  into 
their  serried  ranks,  which  literally 
strewed  the  ground  with  the  dead  and 
dying."  But,  notwithstanding  his  los- 
ses, the  enemy  still  advanced  until  our 
gallant  regiment  received  fire  from 
three  sides.  Still  they  maintained  their 
position  for  a  time  with  unflinching 
firmness  against  that  immense  host. 
At  length,  perceiving  the  danger  of  be- 
ing entirely  surrounded,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  fall  back  to  a  ravine.  Colonel 
Bissell,  with  the  coolness  of  ordinary 
drill,  ordered  the  signal  "  cease  firing  " 
to  be  made;  he  then,  with  the  same  de_ 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


37 


liberation,  gave  the  command,  "  face  to 
the  rear,  battalion  about  face;  forward 
march!"  which  was  executed  with  the 
regularity  of  veterans  to  a  point  beyond 
the  peril  of  being  outflanked.  Again, 
in  obedience  to  command,  these  brave 
men  halted,  faced  about,  and  under  a 
murderous  tempest  of  bullets  from  the 
foe,  resumed  their  well  directed  fire. 
The  conduct  of  no  troops  could  have 
been  more  admirable,  and,  too,  until 
that  day  they  had  never  been  under  fire, 
when,  within  less  than  half  ah  hour, 
eighty  of  their  comrades  dropped  by 
their  sides. 

From  Colton's  "History  of  the  Battle 
of  Buena  Vista,  the  following  extract  is 
taken:  "As  the  enemy  on  our  left  was 
moving  in  retreat  along  the  head  of  the 
plateau,  our  artillery  was  advanced  until 
within  range,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire 
upon  him,  while  Colonels  Hardin,  Bissell 
and  McKee,  with  their  Illinois  and  Ken- 
tucky troops,  dashed  gallantly  forward 
in  hot  pursuit.  A  powerful  reserve  of 
the  Mexican  army  was  then  just  emerg- 
ing from  the  ravine,  where  it  had  been 
organized,  and  advanced  on  the  plateau, 
opposite  the  head  of  the  southernmost 
gorge.  Those  who  were  giving  way  ral- 
lied quickly  upon  it,  when  the  whole 
force,  thus  increased  to  over  12,000  men, 
came  forward  in  a  perfect  blaze  of  fire. 
It  was  a  single  column,  composed  of  the 
best  soldiers  of  the  republic,  having  for 
its  advanced  battalions  the  veteran  regi- 
ments. The  Kentucky  and  Illinois 
troops  were  soon  obliged  to  give  ground 
before  it,  and  seek  the  shelter  of  the 
second  gorge.  Over  half  of  the  column 
suddenly  enveloped  it,  while  the  other 
half  pressed  on  across  the  plateau,  hav- 


ing for  the  moment  nothing  to  resist 
them  except  the  three  guns  in  their 
front.  The  portion  that  was  immediately 
opposed  to  the  Kentucky  and  Illinois 
troops,  ran  down  along  each  side  of  the 
gorge,  in  which  they  had  sought  shelter, 
and  also  circled  around  its  head,  leaving 
no  possible  way  of  escape  for  them  ex- 
cept by  its  mouth,  which  opened  upon 
the  road.  Its  sides,  which  were  steep, 
— at  least  an  angle  of  forty -five  degrees, 
-•-  were  covered  with  loose  pebbles  and 
stones,  and  converged  to  a  point  at  the 
bottom.  Down  there  were  our  poor  fel- 
lows, nearly  three  regiments  of  them 
(First  and  Second  Illinois,  and  Second 
Kentucky),  with  but  little  opportunity 
to  load  or  fire  a  gun,  being  hardly  able 
to  keep  their  feet.  Above  the  whole 
edge  of  the  gorge,  all  the  way  around, 
was  darkened  by  the  serried  masses  of 
the  enemy,  and  was  bristling  with  mus- 
kets directed  on  the  crowd  beneath.  It 
was  no  time  to  pause.  Those  who  were 
not  immediately  shot  down  rushed  on  to- 
ward the  roarl,  their  number  growing  less 
and  less  as  they  went,  Kentuckians  and 
Illinoisans,  officers  and  men,  all  mixed 
up  in  confusion,  and  all  pressing  on  over 
the  loose  pebbles  and  rolling  stones  of 
those  shelving,  precipitous  banks,  and 
having  lines  and  lines  of  the  enemy  fir- 
ing down  from  each  side  and  rear  as 
they  went. 

Just  then  the  enemy's  cavalry,  which 
had  gone  to  the  left  of  the  reserve,  had 
come  over  the  spur  that  divides  the 
mouth  of  the  second  gorge  from  that  of 
the  third,  and  were  now  closing  up  the 
only  door  through  which  there  was  the 
least  shadow  of  a  chance  for  their  lives. 
Many  of  those  ahead  endeavored  to 


38 


HISTOKY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


force  their  way  out,  but  few  succeeded. 
The  lancers  were  fully  six  to  one,  and 
their  long  weapons  were  already  reek- 
ing with  blood.  It  was  at  this  time  that 
those  who  were  still  back  in  that  dread- 
ful gorge  heard  the  roar  of  Washing- 
ton's battery.  No  music  could  have 
been  more  grateful  to  their  ears.  A 
moment  only,  and  the  whole  opening, 
where  the  lancers  were  busy,  rang  with 
the  repeated  explosions  of  spherical 
case  shot.  They  gave  way.  The  gate, 
as  it  were,  was  clear,  and  out  upon  the 
road  a  stream  of  our  poor  fellows  is- 
sued,. They  ran  panting  down  toward 
the  battery,  and  directly  under  the  flight 
of  iron  then  passing  over  their  heads, 
into  the  retreating  cavalry.  Hardin, 
Clay,  McKee,  Willis,  Zabriskie,  Hough- 
ton,  but  why  go  on?  It  would  be  a  sad 
task  indeed  to  name  over  all  who  fell 
during  this  twenty  minutes'  slaughter. 
The  whole  gorge,  from  the  plateau  to 
its  mouth,  was  strewn  with  our  dead. 
All  dead!  No  wounded  there — not  a 
man;  for  the  infantry  had  rushed  down 
the  sides,  and  completed  the  work  with 
the  bayonet. 

After  a  hard  fight,  at  night  both  ar- 
mies laid  down  upon  their  arms,  in 
much  the  same  position  as  in  the  morn- 
ing. However,  early  on  the  following 
morning,  the  glad  tidings  were  heard 
amidst  our  army  that  the  enemy  had  re- 
treated, thus  again  crowning  the  Amer- 
ican banners  with  victory. 

In  addition  to  Colonel  Bissell,  other 
names  that  shine  as  stars  in  this  war  are 
Shields,  Baker,  Harris,  Hardin,  Coffee 
— all  from  Illinois.  Such,  indeed,  were 
the  intrepid  valor  and  daring  courage 
exhibited  by  Illinois  volunteers  during 


the  Mexican  war,  that  their  deeds  should 
live  in  the  memory  of  their  countrymen 
while  time  shall  last. 

THE   WAE   FOB    THE    UNION. 

In  the  war  for  the  Union,  no  state  can 
show  a  more  glorious  record  than  that 
of  Illinois.  Sumpter  was  fired  upon 
April  12,  1861,  Two  days  afterward, 
President  Lincoln  issued  his  first  call 
for  volunteers — 75,000  in  numbers.  On 
the  15th,  Governor  Yates,  issued  his 
proclamation  convening  the  legislature 
and  ordering  the  enlistment  of  six  regi- 
ments, the  quota  assigned  the  state. 
The  call  was  no  sooner  made  than  filled. 
Patriotism  filled  every  heart.  The  farm, 
the  workshop,  the  office,  the  pulpit,  the 
bar,  the  bench,  every  vocation  in  life  of- 
fered its  best  men.  On  assembling, 
the  legislature  authorized  the  raising  of 
ten  additional  regiments,  anticipating 
another  call,  At  the  close  of  1861,  Illi- 
nois had  sent  to  the  field  nearly  50,000 
men,  and  had  17,000  in  camp  awaiting 
marching  orders,  thus  exceeding  its  full 
quota  by  15,000. 

In  July  and  August  of  1862,  the 
President  called  for  600,000  men — the 
quota  of  Illinois  being  52,296 — and  gave 
until  August  18  as  the  limits  in  which 
the  number  might  be  raised  by  volun- 
teering, after  which  a  draft  would  be  or- 
dered. The  state  had  already  furnished 
17,000  in  excess  of  her  quota,  and  it  was 
first  thought  this  number  would  be  de- 
ducted from  the  present  requisition,  but 
this  could  not  be  done.  But  thirteen 
days  were  granted  to  enlist  this  vast 
army,  which  had  to  come  from  the  far- 
mers and  mechanics,  The  farmers  were 
in  the  midst  of  harvest,  but,  inspired  by 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


39 


love  of  country,  over  50,000  of  them 
left  their  harvest  ungathered,  their  tools 
and  their  benches,  the  plows  in  their 
furrows,  turning  their  backs  on  their 
homes,  and  before  eleven  days  had  ex- 
pired, the  demands  of  the  government 
were  met,  and  both  quotas  filled. 

The  war  went  on,  and  call  followed 
call,  until  it  began  to  look  as  if  there 
would  not  be  men  enough  in  all  the  free 
states  to  crush  out  and  destroy  the  mon- 
strous war  traitors  had  inaugurated.  But 
to  every  call  for  either  men  or  money, 
there  was  a  willing  and  ready  response. 
And  it  is  a  boast  of  the  people  that,  had 
the  supply  of  money  fallen  short,  there 
were  women  brave  enough,  daring 
enough,  patriotic  enough,  to  have  offered 
themselves  as  sacrifices  on  their  country's 
altar.  On  the  21st  of  December,  1864, 
the  last  call  for  troops  was  made.  It 
was  for  300,000  men.  In  consequence  of 
an  imperfect  enrollment  of  the  men  sub- 
ject to  military  duty,  it  became  evident, 
ere  this  call  was  made,  that  Illinois  was 
furnishing  thousands  of  men  more  than 
what  her  quota  would  have  been,  had  it 
been  correct.  So  glaring  had  this  dis- 
proportion become,  that  under  this  call 
the  quota  of  some  districts  exceeded  the 
number  of  able-bodied  men  in  them. 

No  troops  ever  fought  more  heroically, 
stubbornly,  and  with  better  effect,  than 
did  the  boys  from  the  "Prairie  state." 
At  Pea  Ridge,  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, luka,  Corinth,  Stone  river,  Holly 
Springs,  Jackson,  Yicksburg,  Chicka- 
mauga,  Lookout  mountain,  Murfrees- 
boro,  Atlanta,  Franklin,  Nashville,  Chat- 
tanooga, and  on  every  other  field  where 
the  crash  of  arms  was  heard,  her  sous 
were  foremost. 


The  people  were  liberal,  as  well  as  pat- 
riotic; and  while  the  men  were  busy  en- 
listing, organizing  and  equipping  com- 
panies, the  ladies  were  no  less  active, 
and  the  noble,  generous  work  performed 
by  their  tender  loving  hands,  deserves 
mention  along  with  the  bravery,  devotion 
and  patriotism  of  their  brothers,  upon 
the  southern  field  of  carnage. 

The  continued  need  of  money  to  ob- 
tain the  comforts  and  necessaries  for  the 
sick  and  wounded  of  our  army,  suggested 
to  the  loyal  women  of  the  north  many 
and  various  devices  for  the  raising  of 
funds.  Every  city,  town  and  village  had 
its  fair,  festival,  picnic,  excursion,  or  con- 
cert, which  netted  more  or  less  to  the 
cause  of  hospital  relief,  according  to  the 
population  of  the  place,  and  the  amount 
of  energy  and  patriotism  displayed  on 
such  occasions.  Especially  was  this 
characteristic  of  our  own  fair  state,  and 
scarcely  a  hamlet  within  its  borders 
which  did  not  send  something  from  its 
stores  to  hospital  or  battlefield,  and  in 
the  larger  towns  and  cities  were  well  or- 
ganized soldier's  aid  societies,  working 
systematically  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war  until  its  end.  The  great  state  fair 
held  in  Chicago  in  May,  1865,  netted  $250, 
000.  Homes  for  traveling  soldiers  were 
established  all  over  the  state,  in  which 
were  furnished  lodging  for  600,000  men, 
and  meals  valued  at  $2,500,000.  Food, 
clothing,  medicine,  hospital  delicacies, 
reading  matter,  and  thousands  of  other 
articles,  were  sent  to  the  boys  at  the 
front. 

The  rebellion  ended  with  the  surrender 
of  Lee  and  Johnson,  in  April,  1865,  and 
as  soon  as  possible  the  troops  were  dis- 
banded. The  following  is  a  summary  of 


.40 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


troops  furnished  by  the  state :  Infantry, 
185941;  Cavalry,  32082;  Artillery,  7277; 
making  a  grand  aggregate  of  225300  men 
of  all  arms. 


Thus  it  will  br  seen  that  Illinois  did 
her  full  share  toward  putting  down  the 
Rebellion,  as  regards  the  number  of 
men  and  amount  of  materials  supplied. 


CHAPTER    -V. 


GOVERNMENT. 


Shadrach  Bond  was  the  first  governor 
of  Illinois.  He  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  was  born  in  1773;  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation, and  came  to  Illinois  in  1794. 
He  served  as  a  delegate  in  congress  from 
1811  to  1815,  where  he  procured  the 
right  of  pre-emption  of  public  land.  He 
was  elected  governor  in  1818 ;  was  beaten 
for  congress  in  1824  by  Daniel  P.  Cook. 
He  died  at  Kaskaskia,  April  11,  1830. 

Edward  Coles,  the  second  governor, 
was  born  December  15, 1786,  in  Virginia. 
His  father  was  a  slave-holder,  gave  his 
son  a  collegiate  education,  and  left  to 
him  a  large  number  of  slaves.  These  he 
liberated,  giving  each  head  of  a  family 
160  acres  of  land  and  a  considerable  sum 
of  money.  He  was  President  Madison's 
private  secretary.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1819,  was  elected  governor  in  1822,  on 
the  anti-slavery  ticket;  moved  to  Phila- 
delphia in  1833,  and  died  in  1868. 


Ninian  Edwards,  the  successor  of  Mr. 
Coles,  was  not  new  to  the  duties  of  the 
office,  having  been  appointed  in  1809, 
when  the  territory  of  Illinois  was  formed,- 
as  its  territorial  governor,  which  position 
he  held  until  its  organization  as  a  state, 
when  he  was  sent  to  the  United  States 
senate.  He  was  elected  governor  in 
1826.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
born  in  1775;  received  a  collegiate  edu- 
cation; was  chief  justice  of  Kentucky. 

John  Reynolds,  the  fourth  governor  of 
the  state,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1788,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1800.  In  1830  he  was  elected 
governor  on  the  democratic  ticket,  and 
afterwards  served  three  years  in  con- 
gress. He  received  a  classical  educa- 
tion, yet  was  not  polished.  He  was  an 
ultra-democrat;  attended  the  Charleston 
convention  in  1860,  and  urged  the  seizure 
of  United  States  arsenals  by  the  South. 
He  died  in  1865,  at  Belleville,  childless. 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


41 


In  1834  Joseph  Duncan  was  elected 
governor  by  the  whigs,  although  form- 
erly a  democrat.  He  had  previously 
served  four  terms  in  congress.  He  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  in  1794;  had  but  a 
limited  education;  served  with  distinc- 
tion in  the  war  of  1812;  conducted  the 
campaign  of  1832,  against  Black  Hawk. 
He  came  to  Illinois  when  quite  young. 

Thomas  Carlin  succeeded  Duncan, 
having  been  elected  on  the  democratic 
ticket  in  1838.  He  had  but  a  meagre 
education  ;  held  many  minor  offices, 
and  was  active,  both  in  the  war  of  1812 
and  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  in  1789;  came  to  Illinois 
in  1812,  and  died  at  Carrollton,  February 
14,  1852. 

Thomas  Ford,  the  next  governor,  was 
elected  as  a  democrat,  in  1842.  He  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1800; 
was  brought  by  his  widowed  mother  to 
Missouri,  in  1804,  and  shortly  afterwards 
to  Illinois.  He  received  a  good  educa- 
tion, and  studied  law;  was  elected  judge 
four  times — twice  as  circuit  judge,  judge 
of  Chicago,  and  judge  of  the  supreme 
court.  He  wrote  his  history  of  Illinois 
in  1847,  and  died  in  1850. 

Augustus  C.  French  was  born  in  New 
Hampshire,  in  1808;  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1831,  and  shortly  afterwards 
moved  to  Illinois.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor in  1846.  On  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  of  1848,  he  was  again 
chosen,  serving  until  1853.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics. 

Joel  A.  Matteson,  who  succeeded 
French  in  the  gubernatorial  office,  was 
born  in  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  in 
1808.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and 
gave  his  son  only  a  common  school  edu- 


cation. He  first  entered  upon  active 
life  as  a  small  tradesman,  but  subse- 
quently became  a  large  contractor  and 
manufacturer.  He  was  a  heavy  con- 
tractor in  building  the  canal.  He  was 
elected  governor  in  1852  upon  the  dem- 
ocratic ticket. 

William  H.  Bissell  was  elected  by  the 
republican  party  in  1856.  He  had  pre- 
viously served  two  terms  in  congress; 
he  was  a  colonel  in  the  Mexican  war, 
and  had  held  many  minor  offices  pre- 
vious to  being  chosen  governor.  He 
was  born  in  New  York  state,  in  1811; 
received  a  common  school  education; 
came  to  Illinois  early  in  life  and  engaged 
in  the  medical  profession.  This  he 
changed  for  the  law,  and  became  a  noted 
orator,  and  the  standard-bearer  of  the 
republican  party  in  Illinois.  He  died 
in  1860,  while  governor. 

Eichard  Yates,  the  "war  governor"  of 
Illinois,  was  born  in  Warsaw,  Kentucky, 
in  1818;  came  to  Illinois,  in  1831;  served 
two  terms  in  congress;  in  1860  was 
elected  governor,  and  in  1865,  United 
States  senator.  He  was  a  college  grad- 
uate, and  read  law  under  J.  J.  Hardin. 
He  rapidly  rose  in  his  chosen  profession 
and  charmed  the  people  with  his  ora- 
tory. He  filled  the  gubernatorial  chair 
during  the  trying  days  of  the  rebellion, 
and  by  his  energy  and  devotion  won  the 
undying  affection  of  the  loyal  people. 
He  died  in  St.  Louis  after  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  as  senator. 

Eichard  J.  Oglesby,  who  was  elected 
governor  in  1864,  was  born  in  Kentucky 
in  1824;  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  he 
found  himself  an  orphan,  and  four  years 
later  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  was  ap- 
prenticed to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade, 


42 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


worked  some  at  farming,  and  read  law 
occasionally.  He  enlisted  in  the  Mex- 
ican war,  and  was  chosen  first  lieutenant. 
After  his  return,  he  again  took  up  the 
law,  but  during  the  gold  fever  of  1849, 
went  to  California;  he  soon  returned, 
and,  in  1852,  he  entered  upon  his 
illustrious  political  career.  He  raised 
the  second  regiment  organized  in  the 
state  to  suppress  the  rebellion,  and  for 
gallantry  was  promoted  to  be  major- 
general.  His  election  as  governor  in 
1864  was  due,  in  a  great  degree,  to  his 
patriotic  war  record.  He  was  again 
elected  to  the  same  position  in  1872,  but 
resigned  to  go  to  the  United  States 
senate.  He  was  again  elected  in  1884. 
He  is  a  staunch  republican  in  politics. 

John  M.  Palmer  succeeded  General 
Oglesby.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky  in 
1817,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1831.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1839.  He 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  probate  judge 
of  Macoupin  county  in  1843;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  constitutional  convention  in 
1847;  county  judge  in  1849;  elected  to 
the  state  senate  in  1851 ;  member  of  the 
peace  conference  in  1861.  He  was 
colonel  of  the  14th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  rose  by  successive  promotions  to 
major-general,  commander  of  the  14th 
army  corps,  and  afterwards  of  the  de- 
partment of  Kentucky.  Was  governor 
from  1869  to  1872,  both  inclusive. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  again  elected 
to  the  office  of  governor  in  1872;  in  1873 
he  was  sent  to  the  United  States  senate 
and  Lieutenant-Governor  John  L.  Bev- 
eridge  succeeded  to  the  governorship, 
which  he  held  until  1877. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom,  succeeded  Gov- 
ernor Beveridge.  He  was  born  in  Ken- 


tucky in  1828;  studied  law,  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar,  and  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  1848;  was  elected 
to  the  state  legislature  in  1856,  and 
again  in  1860.  Served  on  the  war  com- 
mission at  Cairo,  in  1862,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  39th,  40th,  and  41st  con- 
gresses, in  all  of  which  he  served  with 
credit  to  his  state.  He  was  again  elected 
to  the  state  legislature  in  1872,  and 
re-elected  in  1874.  He  was  elected  gov- 
ernor in  1876,  and  again  in  1880.  Dur- 
ing the  last  term  he  was  sent  to  the 
United  States  senate,  and  Lieutenant- 
Governor  John  M.  Hamilton  succeeded 
to  the  office  of  governor,  which  he  held 
with  credit  and  ability  for  the  remainder 
of  the  term. 

John  M.  Hamilton  was  succeeded  as 
governor  by  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  elected 
in  1884.  A  sketch  of  Gov.  Oglesby  is 
given  in  connection  with  the  mention  of 
his  first  election. 

LIEUTENANT-GOVEBNORS. 

Pierre  Menard  was  the  first  lieuten- 
ant-governor of  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  Quebec,  Canada,  in  1767.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1790,  where  he  engaged  in 
the  Indian  trade,  and  became  wealthy. 
He  died  in  1844.  Menard  county  was 
named  in  his  honor. 

Adolphus  F.  Hubbard  was  elected 
lieutenant-governor  in  1822.  Four  years 
later,  he  ran  for  governor  against  Ed- 
wards, but  was  beaten. 

William  Kinney  was  elected  in  1826. 
He  was  a  Baptist  clergyman;  was  born 
in  Kentucky  in  1781,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1793. 

Zadock  Casey  was  elected  lieutenant- 
governor  in  1830,  although  on  the  oppo- 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


43 


sition  ticket  to  Governor  Reynolds,  the 
successful  gubernatorial  candidate.  He 
subsequently  served  several  terms  in 
congress. 

Alexander  M.  Jenkins  was  elected  on 
the  ticket  with  Governor  Duncan,  in 
1834,  by  a  handsome  majority. 

S.  H.  Anderson,  lieutenant-governor 
under  Governor  Carlin,  was  chosen  in 
1838.  He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee. 

John  Moore  was  elected  lieutenant- 
governor  in  1842.  He  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1793,  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1830.  He  won  the  name  of  "Honest 
John  Moore." 

Joseph  B.  Wells  was  chosen  with  Gov. 
French,  at  his  first  election,  in  1846. 

In  1848,  when  French  was  again 
chosen  governor,  William  McMurtry  was 
elected  lieutenant-governor. 

Gustavus  P.  Koerner  was  the  next  to 
hold  the  office,  having  been  elected  in 
1852.  He  was  born  in  Germany  in  1809. 
At  the  age  of  22,  he  came  to  Illinois.  In 
1872  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  liberal 
party  for  governor;  but  was  defeated. 

John  Wood  was  elected  in  1856,  and 
on  the  death  of  Governor  Bissell,  became 
governor. 

Francis  A.  Hoffman  was  chosen  with 
Governor  Yates  in  1860.  He  was  born 
in  Prussia  in  1822,  and  came  to  Illinois 
in  1840. 

William  Boss  was  the  next,  elected  in 
1864.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1848.  John  Dough- 
erty Avas  elected  in  1868. 

John  L.  Beveridge  was  chosen  lieuten- 
ant-governor in  1872,  and  when  Gov- 
ernor Oglesby  was  sent  to  the  senate  in 
1873,  he  became  governor,  and  held  the 
position  the  remainder  of  the  term. 


Andrew  Sherman  was  elected  lieuten- 
ant-governor in  1876. 

John  M.  Hamilton,  elected  in  1880, 
became  governor  when  Shelby  M.  Cul- 
lom  was  elected  to  the  office  of  United 
States  senator. 

Wm.  J.  Campbell  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  senate  and  ex-oflicio  lieuten- 
ant-governor when  Hamilton  succeeded 
to  the  gubernatorial  chair. 

John  C.  Smith  is  the  present  incum- 
bent. 

SUPEKINTENDENT  OF  PUBLIC  INSTEUCTION. 

The  following  have  served  in  this  ca- 
pacity: Ninian  W.  Edwards,  1854-56; 
W.  H.  Powell,  1857-58;  Newton  Bate- 
man,  1859-75;  Samuel  M.  Etter,  1876-80; 
James  P.  Slade,  1880-81;  Henry  Raab 
succeeded  Slade.  His  last  term  will  ex- 
pire in  1887. 

ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 

The  attorney-generals  of  Illinois  have 
been  as  follows:  Daniel  P.  Cook,  1819; 
William  Mears,  1820;  Samuel  .D.  Lock- 
wood,  1821-22;  James  Turney,  1823-28; 
George  Forquer,  1829-32;  James  Sem- 
ple,  1833-34;  Ninian  W.  Edwards,  1834- 
35;  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  Jr.,  1835;  Walter 
B.  Seates,  1836;  Asher  F.  Linder,  1837; 
George  W.  Olney,  1838;  Wickliffe 
Kitchell,  1839;  Josiah  Lamborn,  1841- 
42;  James  A.  McDougall,  1843^6; 
David  B.  Campbell,  1846;  [office  abol- 
ished and  re-created  in  1867] ;  Robert  G. 
Ingersoll,  1867-68;  Washington  Bush- 
nell,  1869-72;  James  K.  Edsall,  1872-80; 
James  McCartney,  1880-84;  George 
Hunt,  present  incumbent. 

TREASURER. 

The  state  treasurers  of  Illinois  have 
been  as  follows:  John  Thomas,  1818-19; 


44 


HISTORY   OF  ILLINOIS. 


R.  K.  McLaughlin,  1819-22;  Ebner 
Field,  1823-26;  James  Hall,  1827-30; 
John  Dement,  1831-36;  Charles  Greg- 
ory, 1836;  John  D.  Whiteside,  1837-40; 
M.  Carpenter,  1841-48;  John  Moore, 
1848-56;  James  Miller,  1857-60;  Wil- 
liam Butler,  1861-62 ;  Alexander  Starne, 
1863-64;  James  H.  Beveridge,  1865-66; 
George  W.  Smith,  1867-68;  Erastus  N. 
Bates,  1869-72;  Edward  Rutz,  1878-79; 
John  C.  Smith,  1879-81;  Edward  Rutz, 
1881-83;  John  C.  Smith,  1883-84;  Jacob 
Gross,  1885-89. 

SECEETAKIES  OF  STATE. 

Elias  K.  Kane,  1818-22;  Samuel  D. 
Lockwood,  1822-23;  David  Blackwell, 
1823-24;  Morris  Birkbeck,  1824;  George 
Farquer,  1825-28;  Alexander  P.  Field, 
1829^0;  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  1840;  Ly- 
man  Trumbull,  1841-42;  Thompson 
Campbell,  1843-46;  Horace  S.  Cooley, 
1846-49;  David  L.  Gregg,  1850-52;  Alex- 
ander Starne,  1853-56 ;  Azias  M.  Hatch, 
1857-60;  Sharon  Tyndale,  1865-68;  Ed- 
ward Rummel,  1869-72 ;  George  H.  Har- 
low,  1873-79;  Henry  D.  Dement,  1881. 
He  is  the  present  incumbent. 

AUDITORS. 

Elijah  C.  Berry,  1818-31;  I.  T.  B. 
Stapp,  1831-35;  Levi  Davis,  1835^0; 
James  Shields,  1841^2;  W.  L.  D.  Ew- 
ing,  1843-45;  Thompson  Campbell,  1846; 
Jesse  K.  Dubois,  1857-64;  Orlin  H. 
Miner,  1865-68;  Charles  E.  Lippincott, 
1869-76;  Thomas  B.  Needles,  1877-79; 
Charles  P.  Swigert,  elected  in  1880,  and 
again  in  1884,  is  the  present  incumbent. 

UNITED  STATES  SENATORS. 

Ninian  Edwards — O,n  the  organization 
of  the  state,  in  1848,  Ninian  Edwards, 


the  popular  territorial  governor,  was 
chosen  senator  for  the  short  term,  and 
in  1819  re-elected  for  full  term. 

Jesse  B.  Thomas — One  of  the  federal 
judges  during  the  entire  territorial  exis- 
tence, was  chosen  senator  on  organiza- 
tion of  the  state,  and  re-elected  in  1823, 
and  served  till  1829. 

John  McLean— In  1824  Edwards  re- 
signed, and  John  McLean  was  elected 
to  fill  his  unexpired  term.  He  was  born 
in  North  Carolina  in  1791,  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1815 ;  served  one  term  in  con- 
gress, and  in  1829  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate,  but  the  following 
year  died.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the 
most  gifted  man  of  his  period  in  Illi- 
nois. 

Elias  Kent  Kane — Was  elected  No- 
vember 30, 1824,  for  the  term  beginning 
March  4,  1825.  In  1830  he  was  re-elec- 
ted, but  died  before  the  expiration  of  his 
term.  He  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  in  1814  came  to  Illinois.  He  was 
first  secretary  of  state,  and  afterwards 
state  senator. 

David  Jewett  Parker — Was  appointed 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge 
McLean  in  1830,  November  12,  but  the 
legislature  refused  to  endorse  the  choice. 
Baker  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born 
in  1792;  and  died  in  Alton  in  1869. 

John  M.  Robinson — Instead  of  Baker, 
the  governor's  appointee,  the  legislature 
chose  Robinson,  and  in  1834  he  was  re- 
elected.  In  1843  he  was  elected  supreme 
judge  of  the  state;  but  died  within  two 
months  of  his  election.  He  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illinois  when 
quite  young. 

William  L.  D.  Ewing — Was  elected 
in  1835,  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


45 


the  death  of  Senator  Kane.     He  was  a 
Kentuckian. 

Richard  M.  Young — Was  elected  in 
1836,  and  held  his  seat  from  March  4, 
1837  to  March  4, 1843,  a  full  term.  He  was 
a  native  of  Kentucky;  was  a  circuit  judge 
before  his  election  to  the  senate,  and  su- 
preme judge  in  1842.  He  died  in  an  in- 
sane asylum  at  Washington. 

Samuel  McRoberts — The  first  native 
Illinoisan  ever  elevated  to  the  high 
office  of  United  States  senator  from  this 
state,  was  born  in  1799,  and  died  in  1843 
on  his  return  home  from  Washington. 
He  was  elected  circuit  judge  in  1824, 
and  March  4,  1841,  took  his  seat  in  the 
United  States  senate. 

Sidney  Breese  Was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate,  December  17, 1842, 
and  served  a  full  term.  He  was  born  in 
Oneida  county,  New  York.  He  was  a 
major  in  the  Black  Hawk  war;  was  cir- 
cuit judge,  and  in  1841  was  elected  su- 
preme judge.  He  served  a  full  term  in 
the  United  States  senate,  beginning 
March  4,  1843,  after  which  he  was 
elected  to  the  legislature,  again  circuit 
judge,  and,  in  1857,  to  the  supreme 
court,  which  position  he  held  until  his 
death,  in  1878. 

James  Semple — Was  the  successor  of 
Samuel  McRoberts,  and  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Ford  in  1843.  He  was 
afterwards  elected  judge  of  the  supreme 
court. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  —Was  elected  De- 
cember 14,  1846.  He  had  previously 
served  three  terms  as  congressman.  He 
became  his  own  successor  in  1853,  and 
again  in  1859.  From  his  first  entrance 
in  the  senate,  he  was  acknowledged  the 
peer  of  Clay,  Webster  and  Calhoun, 


with  whom  he  served  his  first  term.  His 
famous  contest  with  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  senate  in  1858,  is  the  most  mem- 
orable in  the  annals  of  our  country.  It 
was  called  the  "battle  of  the  giants," 
and  resulted  in  Douglas'  election  to  the 
senate,  and  that  of  Lincoln  to  the  presi- 
dency. He  was  born  in  Brandon,  Ver- 
mont, April  23,  1813,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois, in  1833.  He  died  in  1861.  He 
was  appointed  secretary  of  state  by 
Governor  Carlin,  in  1840,  and  shortly 
afterward  to  the  supreme  bench. 

James  Shields — Was  elected  and  as- 
sumed his  seat  in  the  United  States 
senate  in  1849,  March  4.  He  was  born 
in  Ireland,  in  1810,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1827.  He  served  in  the 
Mexican  war,  was  elected  senator  from 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1879  from  Missouri 
for  a  short  term. 

Lyman  Trumbull — Took  his  seat  in 
the  United  States  senate  March  4, 1855, 
and  became  his  own  successor  in  1861. 
He  had  previously  served  one  term  in 
the  lower  house  of  congress,  and  served 
on  the  supreme  bench.  He  was  born  in 
Connecticut;  studied  law,  and  came  to 
Illinois  early  in  life,  where  for  years  he 
was  actively  engaged  in  politics.  He  re- 
sides in  Chicago. 

Orville  H.  Browning— Was  appointed 
United  States  senator  in  1861,  to  fill  the 
seat  made  v/icant  by  the  death  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  until  a  senator 
could  be  regularly  elected.  Mr.  Brown- 
ing was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ken- 
tucky; was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1831, 
and  settled  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  law,  and  was 
instrumental,  with  his  friend,  Abraham 
Lincoln,  in  forming  the  republican  party 


46 


HISTOEY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


of  Illinois  at  the  Bloomington  conven- 
tion. He  entered  Johnson's  cabinet  as 
secretary  of  the  interior,  and  in  March, 
1868,  was  designated  by  the  president  to 
perform  the  duties  of  attorney  general, 
in  addition  to  his  own  as  secretary  of  the 
interior  department. 

William  A.  Richardson — Was  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  in  1863,  to 
fill  the  unexpired  term  of  his  friend,  Ste- 
phen A.  Douglas.  He  was  born  in  Fay- 
ette  county,  Kentucky,  about  1810,  stud- 
ied law,  and  settled  in  Illinois ;  served  as 
captain  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  was 
promoted  for  bravery  on  the  battle-field 
of  Buena  Vista,  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
his  regiment.  He  served  in  the  lower 
house  of  congl-ess  from  1847  to  1857, 
continuously. 

Richard  Yates — Was  elected  in  1865, 
and  served  a  full  term  of  six  years.  A 
sketch  of  him  is  given  in  connection  with 
the  office  of  governor. 

John  A.  Logan — Was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  in  1871.  He  was 
born  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois,  Febru- 
ary 9,  1826,  received  a  common  school 
education;  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
Mexican  war,  where  he  rose  to  the  rank 
of  regimental  quartermaster.  On  return- 
ing home  he  studied  law,  and  came  to  the 
bar  in  1852 ;  was  elected  in  1858  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  36th  congress,  and  re- 
elected  to  the  37th  congress,  resigning 
in  1861  to  take  part  in  the  suppression 
of  the  rebellion,  served  as  colonel,  and 
subsequently  as  a  major-general,  and 
commanded  with  distinction,  the  armies 
of  the  Tennessee.  He  was  again  elected 
to  the  senate  in  1879,  and  served  the  full 
term.  He  was  the  candidate  of  the  re- 
publican party  in  1884  for  vice-president 


of  the  United  States,   with  Blaine,  but 
was  defeated. 

David  Davis — Was  elected  to  the 
United  States  senate  in  1877,  for  a  term 
of  six  years.  He  was  born  in  Cecil 
county,  Maryland,  March  9,  1815;  grad- 
uated at  Kenyon  college,  Ohio,  studied 
law,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1835 ;  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  and  settled  in 
Bloomington,  where  he  has  since  resid- 
ed, and  amassed  a  large  fortune.  He 
was  for  many  years  the  intimate  friend 
and  associate  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  rode 
the  circuit  with  him  each  year,  and  after 
Lincoln's  election  to  the  presidency,  was 
appointed  by  him  to  fill  the  position  of 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the 
United  States,  which  position  he  re- 
signed to  accept  the  senatorship.  When 
Arthur  ascended  to  the  presidency,  at 
the  death  of  Garfield,  Davis  was  elected 
president  of  the  senate  and  acting  vice- 
president  of  the  United  States. 

REPEESENTATIVES   IN   CONGRESS. 

Fifteenth  congress,  1818 — John  Mc- 
Lean. 

Sixteenth,  1819-20— Daniel  P.   Cook. 

Seventeenth,  1821-22— Daniel  P.  Cook. 

Eighteenth,  1823-24— Daniel  P.  Cook. 

Nineteenth,  1825-26— Daniel  P.  Cook. 

Twentieth,  1827-28— Joseph  Duncan. 

Twenty-first,  1829-30— Joseph  Dun- 
can. 

Twenty-second,1831-32 — Joseph  Dun- 
can. 

Twenty-third,  1833-34— Joseph  Dun- 
can, Zadock  Casey. 

Twenty-fourth,  1835-36— Zadock  Ca- 
sey, John  Reynolds,  William  L.  May. 

Twenty-fifth,  1837-38— Zadock  Casey, 
John  Reynolds,  William  L.  May. 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


47 


Twenty-sixth,  1839-^0— Zadock  Casey, 
John  Reynolds,  John  T.  Stuart. 

Twenty-seventh,  1841-42— Zadock  Ca- 
sey, John  Reynolds,  John  T.  Stuart. 

Twenty-eight,  1843-44— Robert  Smith, 
Orlando  B.  Ficklin,  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
John  A.  McClernand,  Joseph  P.  Hoge, 
John  J.  Hardin,  John  Wentworth. 

Twenty-ninth,1845-46— Robert  Smith, 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Orlando  B.  Fick- 
lin, John  J.  Hardin  (1845),  Joseph  P. 
Hoge,  John  A.  McClernand,  John  Weiit- 
worth. 

Thirtieth,  1847-8— John  Wentworth, 
Thomas  J.  Turner  (1847),  Abraham 
Lincoln,  John  A.  McClernand,  Orlando 
B.  Ficklin,  Robert  Smith,  William  A. 
Richardson. 

Thirty-first,  1849-50— John  A.  Mc- 
Clernand, John  Wentworth,  Timothy  R. 
Young,  William  A.  Richardson,  Edward 
D.  Baker,  William  H.  Bissell,  Thomas 
L.  Harris. 

Thirty-second,  1851-52— William  A. 
Richardson,  Thompson  Campbell,  Or- 
lando B.  Ficklin,  John  Wentworth, 
Richard  Yates,  Richard  S.  Maloney, 
Willis  Allen,  William  H.  Bissell. 

Thirty-third,  1853-54— William  H. 
Bissell, John  C.Allen, Willis  Allen,  Elihu 
B.  Washburne,  Richard  Yates,  Thomp- 
son Campbell,  James  Knox,  Jesse  O. 
Norton,  William  A.  Richardson. 

Thirty-fourth,  1855-56  —Elihu  B. 
Washburne,  Lyman  Trumbull,  James 
H.  Woodworth,  James  Knox,  Thompson 
Campbell,  Samuel  S.  Marshall,  J.  L.  D. 
Morrison,  C.  Allen,  Jesse  O.  Norton, 
William  A.  Richardson. 

Thirty-fifth,  1857-58— Elihu  B.  Wash- 
burne, Charles  D.  Hodges,  William 
Kellogg,  Thompson  Campbell,  John  F. 


Farnsworth,  Owen  Lovejoy,  Samuel 
S.  Marshall,  Isaac  N.  Morris,  Aaron 
Shaw,  Robert  Smith,  Thomas  L.  Harris. 

Thirty-sixth,  1859-60— Elihu  B.  Wash- 
burne, John  A.  Logan,  Owen  Lovejoy, 
John  A.  McClernand,  Isaac  N.  Morris, 
John  F.  Farnsworth,  Philip  B.  Fouke, 
Thomas  L.  Harris,  William  Kellogg, 
James  C.  Robertson. 

Thirty-seventh,  1861-62— Elihu  B. 
Washburne,  James  C.  Robertson,  John 
A.  Logan,  Owen  Lovejoy,  John  A.  Mc- 
Clernand, Isaac  N.  Arnold,  Philip  B. 
Fouke,  William  Kellogg,  Anthony  L. 
Knapp,  William  A.  Richardson. 

Thirty-eighth,  1863-64— Elihu  B, 
Washburne,  Jesse  O.  Norton,  James 
C.  Robinson,  William  J.  Allen,  Isaac  N. 
Arnold,  John  R.  Eden,  Lewis  W.  Ross, 
John  T.  Stuart,  Owen  Lovejoy,  William 
R.  Morrison,  John  C.  Allen,  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  Charles  W.  Morris,  Eben 
Ingersoll,  A.  L.  Knapp. 

Thirty-ninth,  1865-66— E-  B.  Wash- 
burne, Anthony  B.  Thornton,  Jno.  Went- 
worth, Abner  C.  Hardin,  Eben  C.  Inger- 
soll, Barton  C.  Cook,  Shelby  M.  Cullom, 
John  F.  Farnsworth,  John  Baker,  Henry 
P.  H.  Bromwell,  Andrew  Z.  Kuykendall, 
Samuel  S.  Marshall,  Samuel  W.  Moul- 
ton,  Lewis  W.  Ross. 

Fortieth,  1867-68— Elihu  B.  Wash- 
burne, Abner  C.  Hardin,  Eben  C.  Inger- 
soll, Norman  B.  Judd,  Albert  G.  Burr, 
Barton  C.  Cook,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  John 
F.  Farnsworth,  John  Baker,  Henry  P.  H. 
Bromwell,  John  A.  Logan,  Samuel  S. 
Marshall,  Green  B.  Raum,  Lewis  W. 
Ross. 

Forty-first,  1869-70  — N.  B.  Judd, 
John  F.  Farnsworth,  H.  C.  Burchard, 
John  B.  Hawley,  Eben  C.  Ingersoll, 


48 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


Barton  C.  Cook,  Jesse  H.  Moore,  Shelby 
M.  Cullora,  Thomas  "W.  McNeeley,  Al- 
bert G.  Burr,  Samuel  S.  Marshall,  John 
B.  Hay,  John  M.  Crebs,  John  A.  Logan. 

Forty-second,  1871-72— Charles  B. 
Farwell,  John  Farnsworth,  Horatio  C. 
Burchard,  John  B.  Hawley,  Bradford  N. 
Stevens,  Henry  Snapp,  Jesse  H.  Moore, 
James  C.  Eobinson,  Thos.  W.  McNally, 
Edward  Y.  Bice,  Samuel  S.  Marshall, 
John  B.  Hay,  John  M.  Crebs,  John  S. 
Beveridge. 

Forty-third,  1873-74— John  B.  Eice, 
Jasper  D.  Ward,  Charles  B.  Farwell, 
Stephen  A.  Hurlburt,  Horatio  C.  Bur- 
chard,  John  B.  Hawley,  Franklin  Cor- 
win,  Bobert  M.  Kiiapp,  James  C.  Rob- 
inson, John  B.  McNulta,  Joseph  G. 
Cannon,  John  R.  Eden,  James  S.  Mar- 
tin, William  R.  Morrison,  Greenbury 
L.  Fort,  Granville  Barriere,  William  H. 
Ray,  Isaac  Clements,  Samuel  S.  Mar- 
shall. 

Forty-fourth,  1875-76  —  Bernard  G. 
Caulfield,  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Charles 
B.  Farwell,  Stephen  A.  Hurlburt,  Hora- 
tio C.  Burchard,  Thomas  J.  Henderson, 
Alexander  Campbell,  Greenbury  L. 
Fort,  Richard  H.  Whiting,  John  C. 
Bagby,  Scott  Wike,  William  M.  Springer, 
Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  Joseph  G.  Cannon, 
John  R.  Eden,  W.  A.  J.  Sparks,  Wil- 
liam R.  Morrison,  William  Hartzell, 
William  B.  Anderson. 

Forty-fifth,  1877-78— William  Aldrich, 
Carter  H.  Harrison,  Lorenzo  Brentano, 
AVilliam  Lathrop,  Horatio  C.  Burchard, 
Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Philip  C.  Hayes 
Greenbury  L.  Fort,  Thomas  A.  Boyd, 
Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  Robert  M.  Knapp, 
William  M.  Springer,  Thomas  F.  Tip- 
ton,  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  John  R.  Eden, 


W.  A.  J.  Sparks,  William  R.  Morrison, 
William  Hartzell,  Richard  W.  Town- 
shend. 

Forty-sixth,  1879-80— William  Aid- 
rich,  George  R.  Davis,  Hiram  Barber, 
John  C.  Sherwin,  R.  M.  A.  Hawk, 
Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Philip  C.  Hayes, 
Greenbury  L.  Fort,  Thomas  A.  Boyd, 
Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  James  W.  Single- 
ton, William  M.  Springer,  A.  E.  Steven- 
son, Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Albert  P.  For- 
sythe,  W.  A.  J.  Sparks,  William  R. 
Morrison,  John  R.  Thomas,  R.  W.  Town- 
shend. 

Forty-seventh,1881-82— William  Aid- 
rich,  George  R.  Davis,  Charles  B.  Far- 
well,  John  C.  Sherwin,  Robert  M.  A. 
Hawk,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  William 
Cullen,  Lewis  E.  Payson,  John  H. 
Lewis,  Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  James  W. 
Singleton,  William  M.  Springer,  Diet- 
rich C.  Smith,  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Samuel 
W.  Moulton,  W.  A.  J.  Sparks,  William 
R.  Morrison,  John  R.  Thomas,  R.  W. 
Townshend. 

Forty-eighth — Ransom  W.  Dunham, 
John  F.  Finerty,  George  R.  Davis, 
George  E.  Adams,  Reuben  Ellwood, 
Robert  R.  Hilt,  Thomas  J.  Henderson, 
William  Cullen,  Lewis  E.  Payson, 
Nicholas  E.  Worthington,  William  H. 
Neece,  James  M.  Riggs,  William  M. 
Springer,  Jonathan  H.  Rowell,  Joseph 
G.  Cannon,  Aaron  Shaw,  Samuel  W. 
Moulton,  William  R.  Morrison,  R.  W. 
Townshend,  John  R.  Thomas. 

Forty-ninth — Ransom  W.  Dunham, 
Francis  Lawler,  James  H.  Ward,  George 
E.  Adams,  Reuben  Ellwood,  Robert  R. 
Hilt,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Ralph 
Plumb,  Lewis  E.  Payson,  Nicholas  E. 
Worthington,  William  H.  Neece,  James 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 


49 


M.  Biggs,  William  M.  Springer,  Jona- 
than H.  Rowell,  Joseph  G.  Cannon, 
Silas  Z.  Landes,  John  E.  Eden,  William 
R.  Morrison,  Richard  W.  Townshend, 
John  R.  Thomas. 

Only  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago, 
the  territory  of  Illinois  was  organized, 
with  a  population  estimated  at  9,000; 
to-day,  it  numbers  more  than  three  and 
one-half  millions — a  greater  number 
than  in  all  the  colonies  during  the  revo- 
lution. When  organized,1  steamboats 
had  never  traversed  its  waters ;  railroads, 
telegraphs  and  telephones  were  un- 
known; to-day,  every  navigable  stream 
is  alive  with  vessels,  carrying  her  pro- 
ducts to  other  lands;  while  railroads 
traverse  every  county  and  almost  every 
township  in  the  state;  while  the  num- 
.ber  of  miles  of  telegraph  wire  would 
probably  encircle  the  globe,and  the  tele- 
phone is  placed  in  many  thousands  of 
homes,  enabling  their  inmates  to  con- 
verse intelligibly  with  parties  at  a  dis- 
tance of  many  miles.  Then  the  light 
that  shone  out  of  darkness  was  only  the 
tallow  dip,  or  that  furnished  from  blaz- 
ing logs  in  the  old-fashioned  fire-places; 


to-day,  after  having  displaced  the  tallow 
dip,  the  candle  and  the  common  house- 
lamp,  the  darkness  of  night  is  pene- 
trated by  the  glare  of  gas,  and  the 
bright  rays  of  the  electric  light,  rivaling 
the  light  of  day.  Then  agriculture  was 
in  its  infancy,  it  being  possible  with  the 
machinery  then  used,  only  to  raise  suf- 
ficient crops  to  supply  the  wants  of 
those  lying  within  its  boundary;  to-day, 
with  the  improved  plows,  the  self -bind- 
ing reaper,  the  steam  thresher,  and 
other  improved  machinery,  Illinois  can 
feed  a  nation  of  50,000,000  of  people. 
Then  the  newspaper  was  a  rare  visitor 
in  the  household;  to-day,  the  humblest 
citizen  •  can  scarcely  exist  without  his 
daily  and  weekly  paper.  Then  knowl- 
edge was  possessed  by  few;  to-day,  by 
means  of  free  schools,  well  endowed 
colleges  and  other  influences,  there  is 
no  excuse  for  living  ignorant.  But  time 
would  fail  to  compare  the  advantages  of 
to-day  over  the  first  decade  of  the  pres- 
ent century,  and  the  student  of  history, 
as  he  reads  of  the  progress  made,  can 
only  wonder  what  the  future  will  reveal. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


51 


OF 


McDoNOUGH    COUNTY, 


ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER    I. 


INTRODUCTORY. 


To  nearly  every  thinking  mind  the 
study  of  history  is  one  of  peculiar  pleas- 
ure and  enjoyment.  The  sage  and 
scholar  poring  over  a  dusty  tome,  draws 
from  the  details  of  a  vanished  past  the 
lessons  of  to-day.  The  fiery  mind  of 
youth  receives  from  its  pure  well  the  in- 
spiration for  bright  and  noble  deeds 
that  oft  bear  the  fruit  of  name  and  fame. 
The  politician,  too,  can  therein  see  the 
rocks  and  shoals  that  have  wrecked  so 
many  a  noble  craft,  and  can  steer  his 
bark  into  safety's  haven  by  its  glow. 

All  history,  if  properly  written,  is  in- 
teresting; and  there  is  not  a  country,  or 
a  city,  or  a  hamlet — nay,  it  might  be 
said,  not  a  family  or  an  individual  on  the 
globe — whose  history  might  not  be  more 
or  less  valuable  to  posterity. 


From  those  days  called  ancient,  away 
back  in  the  dim  and  misty  past,  -when 
the  human  race  first  arrived  at  a  state  of 
intelligence  sufficient  to  enable  them  to 
transmit  a  traditionary  account  of  them- 
selves, all  along  down  "  the  dim  corri- 
dors of  recorded  time "  our  ancestors 
have  left  in  various  ways,  and  by  differ- 
ent means,  information,  more  or  less 
mythical  and  fabulous,  of  the  age  and 
generation  in  which  they  played  their 
ephemeral  part  on  the  world's  ever 
changing  theater  of  action.  It  is  graven 
in  bronze  on  the  wonderful  works  of  the 
central  nations  of  Africa,  around  those 
"  dim  fountains  of  the  Nile;"  the  grey 
old  pyramids  in  the  valley  of  'that  clas- 
sic river  are  covered  with  the  demotic 
and  hieroglyphical  language  of  the  past. 


52 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOITGH  COUNTY. 


The  vast  and  mighty  "  palaces  and  piles 
stupendous,"  heavy  with  the  dust  of  un- 
known centuries,  that  bewilder  the  trav- 
eler amid  Egypt's  drifting  sands,  upon 
the  plains  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates, 
and  hidden' away  in  the  jungles  of  the 
Indies;  the  gigantic  ruins  of  Central 
and  Southern  America,  under  the  snow- 
capped Cordilleras,  and  among  the  pro- 
lific forests  of  Yucatan;  the  seamed  and 
wrinkled  pyramids  of  the  Aztecs,  in 
Mexico  and  California,  and  the  ten 
thousand  crumbling  evidences  of  a  pow- 
erful and  advanced  civilization  scattered 
throughout  the  great  valley  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, all  bear  testimony  to  the  count- 
less attempts  to  transmit  knowledge  to 
posterity. 

The  written  history  of  the  American 
Continent  dates  back  scarcely  four  cen- 
turies, yet  within  that  comparatively 
short  period  its  pages  have  garnered 
from  her  hills  and  mountains,  from  her 
grand  rivers  and  mighty  inland  seas,  val- 
uable additions  to  the  world's  stock  of 
knowledge. 

Like  the  Eastern  Continent,  our  own 
has  its  historic  points,  its  nuclei  around 
which  cluster  the  memories  of  heroic 
deeds,  the  story  of  martyrs,  and  the  le- 
gends of  a  barbarous  past.  St.  Augus- 
tine, Jamestown,  Plymouth  Rock,  Que- 
bec, Montreal,  Boston,  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia and  Detroit,  are  localities  about 
which  gather  volumes  of  history. 

A  recital  of  these  chain  the  attention 
and  inflame  the  imagination  of  the  care- 
ful student,  as  he  slowly  peruses  its 
pages,  and  lives  over  again  the  deeds  of 
those  that  have  left  such  "footprints  in 
the  sands  of  time"  as  excite  the  emula- 
tion of  all  good  people. 


If  this  is  true  of  general  history,  the 
annals  of  the  long  ago,  in  distant  climes, 
among  a  strange  people,  how  much  more 
interesting  it  must  be  to  peruse  the 
pages  of  local  history—  the  chronicle  of 
the  birth  and  development  of  our  homes, 
the  history  of  the  people  with  whom  we 
have  an  acquaintance,  the  record  of  the 
development  of  the  towns,  the  buildings, 
the  institutions  that  surround  us  and 
that  we  have  known  for  years — when  on 
each  page  we  can  scan  the  rise  and 
growth  of  some  familiar  landmark  in  our 
own  lives,  or  watch  Avith  pride  the  career 
of  some  one  loved  and  dear. 

It  is  the  aim  of  this  wrork  to  collect  and 
preserve  in  enduring  and  popular  form 
some  of  the  facts  of  the  early  settlement 
and  subsequent  growth  of  a  great  county 
of  a  grand  state.  The  families  whose 
ancestors  were  early  on  the  ground,  and 
whose  members  have  made  the  county 
what  it  is  are  worthy  of  remembrance, 
and  it  is  the  intention  to  rescue  them 
from  the  dust  of  oblivion. 

The  hands  upon  the  dial  of  time  had 
scarcely  pointed  to  the  last  hour  of  the 
third  decade  of  the  present  century 
when  first  the  foot  of  civilized  man 
pressed  the  virgin  soil  of  McDonough 
county.  Before  that  era  this  bright 
land  was  a  vast,  unbroken  wilderness, 
whose  only  inhabitants  were  the  birds 
and  beasts,  and  their  scarcely  less  wild 
congener,  the  nomad  Indian  of  the  plains, 
who  here  found  a  hunting  ground, 
oftimes  a  place  of  battle  and  a  red 
grave.  To  the  untutored  savage,  who 
lived  but  in  the  present,  the  thought 
that  the  "  palefaces "  would  penetrate 
this  beautiful  country  occurred  not  to 
disturb  his  dreams,  and  he  continued  on 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


53 


with  his  daily  life  of  hunting  and  fish- 
ing, and  only  varied  the  monotony  of  his 
lazy  existence  by  a  short,  but  bloody, 
passage-at-arms  with  some  rival  tribe. 
But  the  time  must  come  when  he  must 
surrender  this  lovely  heritage  of  his 
fathers  and  move  onward  to  the  sunset 
land,  to  give  place  to  the  hated  white 
man.  The  time  was  soon  to  come  when 
all  nature  must  be  changed;  when  the 
fair  prairies  with  their  gorgeous  flowers 
and  emerald  sod  must  be  broken  up  by 
the  husbandman,  and  grain  fit  for 
the  uses  of  civilized  man  sown  therein. 
Sixty  years  ago  the  soil  was  as  yet  un- 
vexed  by  the  plow,  and  the  woodman's 
ax  had  never  been  heard ;  the  rude  cabin 
of  the  settler  with  its  smoke  curling 
heavenward,  with  an  air  inviting  the 
weary  traveler  to  come  and  rest,  was 
totally  wanting  in  the  broad  landscape, 
and  there  was  not  even  the  slightest 
trace  of  the  coming  civilization — noth- 
ing but  emerald  seas  and  luxuriant 
grasses. 

"These,  the  gardens  of  the  desert — these 
The  unshorn  fields,  boundless  and  beautiful, 
As  the  young  earth  ere  mail  had  sinned. 

Lo!  they  stretch 
In  airy  undulations  far  away, 
As  though  the  ocean,  in   the  gentlest  swell, 
Stood  still,  with  all  its  rounded  billows  fixed, 
And  motionless  forever." 

But  these  beautiful  prairies  that  but  a 
few  short  years  ago  lay  basking  'neath  a 
summer  sun,  without  a  trace  of  human 
habitation  upon  their  broad  bosoms,  are 
now  covered  with  fertile  farms,  thriving 
villages,  commodious  mansions  and  busy 
towns.  The  wilderness  has  been  changed 
into  the  abode  of  man  and  the  home  of 
civilization.  And  the  annals  of  the  men 
and  the  times  that  wrought  this  wonder- 


ful transformation,  it  is  the  duty  as  well 
as  the  pleasure  of  the  historian  to  collect 
and  jot  down  upon  these  pages,  so  that 
when  these  heroes  of  the  frontier  shall 
have  passed  onward  to  their  "  great  re- 
ward "  they  shall  have  left  these  lines 
behind  them  as  monuments  to  mark 
their  memories — monuments  more  en- 
during than  stone  or  brass,  even  were 
their  epitaphs  written  in  letters  of  gold. 
Even  while  they  live,  the  recital  of 
those  early  days  when  first  they  "stuck 
their  stakes"  in  this  their  land  of  prom- 
ise, the  changes  from  the  then  to  now 
will  come  uppermost  in  their  minds,  and 
the  contrast  will  afford  some  food  for 
thought.  In  those  by-gone  days  the 
road  hither  was  long  and  tedious,  no 
roads,  no  bridges ;  the  only  mode  of  cross- 
ing the  numerous  streams  that  mean- 
dered across  the  path  of  the  pilgrim  was 
by  fording  or  swimming.  The  only  mode 
of  transportation  was  the  covered  wagon, 
within  whose  protecting  hood  was  packed 
the  courageous  wife  and  mother  with  her 
little  ones,  together  with  the  few  articles 
of  furniture  thought  necessary  to  begin 
life  in  the  "far  west."  Letters  from  the 
dear  ones,  left  in  the  home-nest,  were 
like  the  proverbial  angel's  visits,  "Few 
and  far  between."  Entering  upon  pos- 
session of  their  new-found  home,  after 
"the  labor,  keen  and  arduous,  of  the 
father  and  husband  had  been  rewarded 
by  the  completion  of  the  humble  cot, 
built  of  the  primeval  logs,  the  family 
settled  down  to  the  hardships  and  scant 
fare  of  pioneer  life.  No  labor-saving 
machinery  was  there  in  those  days  to 
lighten  the  work  in  husbandry  or  domes- 
tic economy,  only  heavy  manual  labor, 
with  the  crudest  of  tools.  No  conven- 


54 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ient  mill  or  store  at  which  to  purchase 
the  necessities  of  life,  when  "reluctant 
nature  withheld  her  smile"  and  crops 
failed  to  meet  the  emergency.  These 
were  but  a  tithe  of  the  trials  and  incon- 
veniences of  a  new  settlement,  but  how 
changed  to-day.  In  place  of  the  weary 
journey  through  mud,  or  dust,  or  drifted 
snow,  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  mill  or  dis- 
tant village  for  provision,  the  only  means 
of  transport,  the  slow-paced  oxen,  or 
scarcely  faster  plodding  farm-horse,  now 
the  iron  steed  of  commerce, with  rush  and 
roar,dashes  up  almost  to  the  door  step  of 
the  farmer,  and  towns  and  villages  with 
stores  and  mills  dot  these  verdant  hills 
and  plains.  Conveniences  are  brought- 
to  their  very  homes,  and  the  mails,  that 
were  many  weeks  on  their  way  in  the 
past,  now  are  hardly  cold  from  the  hands 
of  the  loved  ones  in  the -"old  home"  ere 
they  are  in  the  hands  of  the  receiver. 
Ye  newer-comers,  compare,  in  your 
minds,  the  rude  appliances  of  early  days, 
both  in  the  farm  implements  and  the 
domestic  helps  to  the  labors  of  both  man 
and  wife  ;  contrast  the  horse-power 
thresher  with  the  flail;  the  scythe  and 
cradle  with  the  self -binding  harvester; 
the  sewing  machine  with  its  humble 
sister,  the  needle,  and  thousands  of  other 
innovations  and  improvements  with  the 
makeshifts  and  ruder  implements  of 
former  times. 

The  heroes  and  heroines  of  the  early 
days,  for  women  met  the  same  fate  with 
as  bold  a  front  as  the  sterner  sex,  have 
earned  their  place  in  history,  and  it  is 
but  meet  that  they  should  occupy  it. 

A  history  of  the  people  is,  par  excel- 
lence, the  history  of  the  state,  the  nation 
or  the  county,  and  in  these  pages  the 


people  shall  fill  the  prominent  place. 
The  annals  of  the  lives  of  these,  the 
"Pilgrim  Fathers"  of  McDonough  county 
have  within  them  all  the  elements  of 
tragedy  or  comedy,  and  the  story  of  their 
conflict  with  nature  and  the  vicissitudes 
of  pioneer  life  shall  be  the  principal 
theme  of  this  history. 

Thousands  of  facts  are  herein  record- 
ed, and  individual  sketches  of  hundreds 
of  citizens,'  living  and  dead,  are  here 
placed  in  enduring  form.  These  men 
and  women  are,  or  have  been,  actors  in 
the  drama  of  the  settlement  and  develop- 
ment of  McDonough  county.  By  insert- 
ing these  sketches,  in  addition  to  other 
matter,  is  preserved,  not  only  the  recital 
of  historic  fact,  but  a  subcurrent  of  in- 
dividual deeds  that  run  through  it,  like 
some  minor  .chord  in  the  grand  melody, 
giving  a  realism  to  the  narrative  which 
could  be  imparted  in  no  other  way. 

The  first  place  in  a  history  of  this 
class  necessarily  begins  with  the  first 
settlers,  the  hardy  pioneers  who  first 
broke  the  way  for  civilization  into  these 
pristine  wastes.  The  pioneers!  how 
that  word  strikes  a  responsive  chord  in 
every  bosom — how  at  its  sound  we  con- 
jure up  the  bold,  hardy  and  adventurous 
father  of  a  family  packing  up  a  few  in- 
dispensables  and  turning  his  back  upon 
the  parent  roof -tree,  all  its  conveniences 
and  luxuries,  and  plunging  into  a  savage 
and  untried  wilderness,  far  in  advance 
of  the  hosts  of  civilization,  there  to  carve 
him  out  a  new  home.  Bugged  men, 
with  nerves  and  muscles  of  steel,  and 
hearts  bold  as  the  Yikings  of  old,  they 
merit  our  fullest  admiration  of  their 
heroism,  for  heroic  it  was,  this  defying 
of  nature  in  her  wildest  moods.  Let, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


55 


then,  the  tablets  of  history  bear  their 
names,  that  when,  in  a  few  short  years, 
they  have  been  called  to  the  land  of  the 
hereafter,  their  deeds  and  actions  perish 
not  with  them,  and  that  coming  genera- 
tions may  have  ever  before  them  the 
bright  examples  of  these  noble  men. 

Rough  were  they  in  many  cases,  and 
uncouth,  yet  in  them  lies  the  true  nobil- 
ity that  lifts  a  man  from  an  ignomini- 
ous position  and  places  him  upon  a  high 
pedestal.  Burns,  the  Scottish  poet, 
truly  says: 

"The  rank  is  but  the  guinea's  stamp, 
The  gold  the  gold  for  all  that." 

And  although  in  many  cases  these 
bold  pioneers  were  men  of  limited  edu- 
cation and  little  social  training,  men 
who  would  be  out  of  place  in  the  gilded 
salons  of  society,  or  the  silken  boudoir 
of  beauty,  still  they  were  possessors  of  a 
noble  manhood  that  is  the  monopoly  of 
no  race  or  caste.  Then  honor  to  these 
noble  men,  and  women,  too,  that  first 
made  a  settlement  on  the  wild  prairies 
and  in  the  timber  of  McDonough  county ; 
and  here  planted  the  seeds  that  have 
grown  into  such  a  flourishing  commun- 
ity; that  have  had  a  prominent  hand  in 
making  it  what  it  is. 

When  these  argonauts  first  came  here 
they  were  completely  isolated  from  their 
kind.  No  railroads,  and,  in  fact,  no 
roads  of  any  kind,  connected  them  with 
the  far-away  land  of  their  Idn.  No 
house  in  which  to  dwell  until  they  could 
rear  their  humble  log  cabin,  no  neigh- 
bors to  render  aid  in  sickness  or  trouble, 
no  one  to  close  their  eyes  in  death — 
alone.  Life  with  them  was  not  all  a 
rosy  dream,  but  a  hard  and  bitter  strug- 
gle with  want,  penury  and  privation,  and 


the  wonder  is  that  they  should  still  be 
spared  to  us,  after  almost  a  life-time  of 
toil  and  conflict;  but  still  many  of  them 
linger  this  side  of  the  grave.  Let  us 
then  hasten,  and  inclining  the  ear,  listen 
to  their  tales  of  bygone  days,  the  story 
of  their  lives,  the  description  of  their 
acts  during  the  heroic  age,  that  history 
may  inscribe  them  upon  her  tablets,  a 
monument,  when  they  are  gone,  more 
enduring  than  stone  or  bronze. 

The  men  of  to-day,  hardy  sons  of 
heroic  sires,  prominent  in  official  or  in 
commercial  circles,  also  deserves  a  place 
in  history,  for  "each  day  we  live,  we 
are  making  history,"  and  the  details  of 
the  rise  and  growth  of  the  business  in- 
"terests  of  the  county  are  not  without 
their  value  in  observations  on  the  grad- 
ual rise  of  this  section  from  barbarism 
and  a  wilderness  to  the  teeming  farm 
lands,  interspersed  with  cities,  towns 
and  villages,  as  we  now  find  it. 

These  old  settlers  must  be  gathered 
unto  their  fathers;  the  men  so  full  of 
business  and  activity  to-day  must  go 
down  into  the  grave ;  the  youth  and  bud- 
ding maiden,  rise  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  linger  and  decay,  and  even 
children  that  now  linger  'round  their 
parents'  knee,  .give  place  to  other  people 
and  other  things.  Then  the  value  of 
history  will  be  better  understood,  when 
all  these  actors  upon  the  stage  of  life 
have  lain  down, 
"With  patriarchs  of  the  infant  world, — with 

kings, 

Fair  forms,  and  hoary  seers  of  ages  past, 
All  in  one  mighty  sepulchre." 

Then  posterity  will  hail  with  gladness 
these  annals  of  the  times  and  deeds  of 
their  forefathers,  that  they  may  pattern 
after  their  noble  sires. 


56 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    II. 


GEOGRAPHY,  TOPOGRAPHY  AND  RESOURCES. 


McDonough  county  is  one  of  the 
western  subdivisions  of  the  state  of 
Illinpis,  being  contigous  to  Henderson 
and  Warren  counties,  which  bound  it  on 
the  north,  by  Fulton  on  the  east,  Schuy- 
ler  on  the  south,  aud  Hancock  on  the 
west.  It  comprises  sixteen  congres- 
sional townships,  from  4  to  7  north, 
inclusive,  of  range  1  to  4  west  of  the 
fourth  principal  meridian,  inclusive,  and 
contains  576  square  miles,  -or  368,640 
acres.  This  forms  a  perfect  square  of 
twenty-four  miles  each  way,  divided  into 
eighteen  civil  townships,  whose  size 
varies  from  thirty-six  square  miles 
downward.  Of  all  this  vast  expanse  of 
territory  above,  300,000  acres  are 
adapted  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  the  balance,  being  covered  by  wood- 
land, marsh,  slough  or  watercourse,  is 
not  without  a  surface  value,  while 
underlying  every  foot  of  it,  the  "dusky 
diamonds"  of  the  coal  measures  may  be 
found. 

The  surface  of  McDonough  county  is 
diversified  with  belts  of  timber  and 
pellucid  streams.  These  streams  take  a 
southwesterly  course  without  any  excep- 
tion, the  general  trend  of  the  land  being 
in  that  direction.  The  principal  streams 
are  Crooked,  Camp,  grindstone,  Trou- 
blesome and  Spring  creeks.  The  head 


waters  of  Crooked  creek  can  hardly  be 
determined.  In  Prairie  City  township 
rises  a  small  stream  which  has  been 
known  for  fifty  years  as  Drowning  Fork 
of  Crooked  creek.  This  stream  passes 
down  near  the  town  of  Bardolph,  where 
it  is  joined  by  another  fork,  and  the  two 
combined  form  a  considerable  stream, 
which  has  been  given  the  name  of 
Crooked  creek,  from  its  being  in  fact 
what  its  name  implies.  In  all  the  old 
maps  published  this  stream  is  known  as 
the  Lamoine  river — a  French  word 
meaning  "the  monk."  It  is  generally 
surmised,  though  not  certainly  known, 
that  in  the  very  early  settlement  of  this 
country,  when  the  French  Catholics  oc- 
cupied it  for  the  purpose  of  converting 
the  Indians  to  the  Catholic  religion,  the 
priests  gave  it  this  name.  In  the  origi- 
nal field  notes  of  the  United  States  sur- 
vey for  McDonough  county  it  is  marked 
Lamine  river.  In  its  tortuous  course 
through  the  county,  it  passes  through 
the  townships  of  Prairie  City,  Bushnell, 
Macomb,  Emmet,  Chalmers,  Colchester, 
Tennessee  and  Lamoine.  In  the  early 
days  a  great  many  mills  were  erected 
upon  this  stream,  but  all  have  been  torn 
down  or  left  to  the  decay  of  time. 

Camp  creek  has  its  head  waters  in 
New   Salem    township,   emerging  from 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


57 


which  it  courses  through  Scotland,  In- 
dustry and.  Bethel  townships,  uniting 
with  Grindstone  creek  within  the  boun- 
daries of  the  latter. 

Grindstone  creek  was  originally  named 
Turkey  creek,  from  the  fact  that  at  ce,r- 
tain  seasons^large  flocks  of  wild  turkeys 
were  found  there.  A  party  of  men  from 
Schuyler  county,  finding  upon  its  banks 
a  good  quality  of  stone  for  grindstones 
gave  it  its  present  name.  Its  head-waters 
'are  in  Eldorado  township.  It  passes 
through  Industry,  and  joins  Camp  creek 
in  Bethel  township. 

Troublesome  creek  is  a  small  stream 
having  its  rise  in  Scotland  township, 
from  whence  it  passes  through  Chalmers, 
touching  Tennessee,  and  then  into  La- 
moine  township,  where  it  joins  Crooked 
creek.  A  government  surveyor,  after 
making  vain  efforts  to  effect  a  crossing, 
remarked  that  "it  was  the  most  trouble- 
some stream  he  ever  saw."  Its  banks 
are  almost  perpendicular  its  entire 
length,  although  the  stream  is  but  a  few 
feet  wide,  and  without  bridges,  it  is  a 
very  "troublesome  creek." 

Spring  creek  is  another  small  stream 
rising  in  Sciota  township,  passing 
through  Emmet,  joining  Crooked  creek 
on  the  line  dividing  the  two  townships. 
As  its  name  implies,  its  origin  or  source 
is  from  springs  bursting  forth  from  the 
earth. 

A  minute  account  of  the  soil,  surface 
features,  and  lesser  water  courses,  will 
be  found  in  connection  with  the  histo- 
ries of  the  various  townships,  further  on. 

Among  the  principal  productions  of 
the  agriculture  parts  of  McDonough 
county,  are  corn,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley, 
potatoes,  buckwheat,  and  hay.  Corn  of 


course  take  precedence,  here  as  else- 
where, as  being  the  most  profitable  and 
best  adapted  to  the  soil. 

WEALTH. 

The  following  tables  will  give  some 
idea  of  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  county,  in  a  material  respect.  A  table 
of  the  values  of  all  classes  of  property 
for  every  year, were  they  obtainable, would 
be  of  great  value,  but  in  their  absence, 
these  reports  will  trace  the  increase  of 
the  people  in  wealth  and  property.  The 
only  reports  we  have  of  early  years  show 
that  in  1830,  the  personal  property  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  county  was  valued 
at  $26,742.  In  1835,  the  personal  prop- 
erty had  increased  in  value  to  $109,714. 

1850. 

Value  of  lands  exclusive  of  town  lots...  $982,350 

"      "    town  lots 71,761 

"      "    personal  property 346.609 


Total  valuation  of  the  county $1,400,780 

1856  No.          Valued  at. 

Horses... 5,762  $417,604 

Neat  cattle 15,969  265,407 

Mules  arid  asses 348  81,352 

Sheep 11,282  16,613 

Hogs 29,453  74,826 

Carriages  aud  wagons....  2,261  93,179 

Clocks  aud  watches 2,252  16,186 

Pianos 11  2,250 

Goods  and  merchandise 121,479 

Bankers  property 80 

Manufactured  articles 3,411 

Moneys  and  credits 279,504 

Bonds,  stocks,  etc 100 

Unenumerated  property 773,981 


Aggregate $2,095,972 

Lands $2,328,390 

Town  lots 288,962  2,617,352 

Real  and  personal  property .$4,713,324 

Tax  levied $65,982.58 


58 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1858. 
Value  of  real  estate  exclusive  of 

town  lots $3,769,415 

Value  of  town  lots 615,654 

Value  of  personal  property .'....     1,339,795 

Value  of  railroad  property 482,936 


Total  valuation  of  the  county   f 6,207,800 

1881. 

No.  Value. 

Horses 8,196  $265,842 

Neat  cattle  17,683  120,618 

Mules  and  asses  690  27,349 

Sheep 9,358  9,410 

Hogs 47,483  102,807 

Carriages  and  wagons  3>069  68,143 

Clocks  and  watches  .......  2,938  8,801 

Pianos 21  1^854 

Goods  and  merchandise .'. 66,667 

Bankers'  brokers'  and  stock  jobbers' 

property 30 

Manufactured    articles 6,306 

Moneys  and  credits 134,426 

Bonds,    stocks,  etc 470 

Uuenumerated  property ' 118,015 


Aggregate $930,738 

Deductions 45,910 


Total  value  of  personal  property  ... ^$884,828 

Railroad  property $400,543 

Lands,  exclusive  of  town 

lots 2,307,565 

Town  Lots 447,265 

Total  value  of  real  property...  $3,155,373 

Total    valuation  of  real    and 

personal  property $4,040,201 

Total  tax  levied 37,865.75 

Acres  in  cultivation  :  wheat,  35,589  ;    corn, 
78,945  ;  other  products,  15,585. 

1865. 

Value  of  land  exclusive  of  town 
lots $2,514,854 

Value  of  town  Jots... 523,888 

"        "        railroad  property 183,137 

11        "        personal  prop'ty,stock, 

etc 1,419,560 


Total  valuation  of  the  county ..$4,641,439 


1868. 

Value  of  lands  exclusive  of  town 

lots $3,260,872 

Valueof  town  lots 738,463 

"        "        railroad  property 306,793 

"        "        personal  property 1,575,402 

Total  valuation  of  the  comity  $5,881,530 

1871. 

Value  of  lands  exclusive  of  town 
lots $2,812,610 

Valueof  town  lots 438,689 

"        "        railroad  property 350,308 

"        "        personal  property 742,678 

Total  value  of  property $4,342,276 

1873. 

Value  of  lands $10,731,833 

41        "        town  lots 1,781,116 

"        "        railroad 1,890,838 

'•        "        personal  property 4,413,1)28 

Total  valuation  of  the  couuty.$18,516,815 

1875. 

Value  of  farm  lauds,  etc $8,817,400 

"       "town  lots 1,620,250 

"       "   railroad  property 738,862 

"       "  personal  property  1,935,082 


Total  valuation  of  the  county ..$14,947, 390 

1876. 

Valueof  farm  lands,  etc $8,532,325 

"       "   town  lots 1,493,394 

"       "  personal  property 3,678,798 

"       "   railroad  property 738,862 


Total  valuation  of  the  county..$14,443,379 

1882. 

Lands,  except  town  lots $5,609,000 

Town  property 1,025,087 

Railroad  property 1, 198 

Personal  property 2,634,434 

Total  assessed  valuation $9,269,459 

1884. 

Lands,  outside  of  town  lots $5,193,116 

Town  and  city  lots 1,079,505 

Personal  property 2,312,756 

Railroad  property 582,242 


Total $9,167,619 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


59 


As  will  be  observed,  there  is  a  vast 
increase  in  1873,  but  this  is  readily  ac- 
counted for  by  understanding  that  prior 
to  that  year  the  assessments  were  made 


on  the  basis  of  from  one-third  to  one- 
fifth  cash  value,  but  that  year  was  inaug- 
urated the  present  plan  of  making  the 
assessment  on  an  estimated  cash  value. 


CHAPTER    III  , 


GEOLOGY. 


No  apology  is  necessary  for  the  quo- 
tation of  the  following  article  on  the 
geology  of  McDonough  county,  from  the 
report  of  A.  H.  Worthen,  state  geolo- 
gist. No  man  was  more  thoroughly 
conversant  with  the  subject,  or  so  able 
to  treat  of  a  matter  which  he  had  so  ex- 
haustively investigated.  No  history  of 
the  county  would  be  Complete  without 
it,  and  no  one  so  qualified  to  give  it 
as  he: 

The  geological  formations  appearing 
at  the  surface  in  this  county  comprise 
the  quaternary,  including  the  loess  and 
drift;  the  lower  portions  of  the  coal 
measure,  including  the  three  lowest 
seams  of  coal;  and  the  St.  Louis  and 
Keokuk  divisions  of  the  lower  carboni- 
ferous limestones. 

The  entire  area  of  this  county,  except 
the  valleys  of  the  streams,  is  covered 
with  beds  of  quaternary  age,  ranging 
from  thirty  to  a  hundred  feet  or  more  in 
thickness,  and  presenting  the  same  gen- 
eral features  that  have  been  given  as 
characteristics  of  this  formation  in  the 
reports  of  the  adjoining  counties.  Good 


natural  exposures  of  these  are  but  rarely 
found  here,  and  the  observer  is  com- 
pelled to  rely  mainly  on  such  informa- 
tion as  can  be  obtained  from  the  well 
diggers,  or  others  engaged  in  surface 
excavations,  as  to  their  thickness  and 
general  character.  In  the  railroad  cut 
on  the  north  bank  of  Crooked  creek, 
just  below  Colmar,  the  following  section 
of  quaternary  beds  was  seen: 

Soil 1  to   2  feet. 

Ash  colored  marley  clay  (loess)...  8  to  10    " 

Reddish  brown  clay 5    " 

Sand  and  gravel,  partially  strati- 
fied  15  to  20    " 

This  exposure  is  considerably  below 
the  general  level  of  the  prairie,  and  the 
beds  seem  to  have  been  subjected  to 
some  shifting  process  since  its  original 
deposition,  giving  to  it  the  general  char- 
acteristics of  "modified  drift."  In  the 
shafts  of  Colchester  the  drift  clays  gen- 
erally range  from  thirty-five  to  forty 
feet  in  thickness,  and  consist  of  buff  or 
brown  clays,  with  gravel  and  boulders, 
passing  downward  at  some  points  into 
blue  clays,  or  "hard  pan."  Boulders  of 
metamorphic  rocks,  of  various  kinds, 


60 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  of  all  sizes  up  to  a  diameter  of 
two  or  three  feet,  are  scattered  in  con- 
siderable numbers  in  all  the  gulches  and 
streams  that  cut  through  the  drift  beds, 
and  are  most  abundant  in  the  lower  part 
of  the  drift  deposits.  No  indication  of 
the  presence  of  an  ancient  soil  under- 
neath either  the  loess  or  drift,  was  seen 
at  any  of  the  points  visited  in  this 
county;  nor  did  we  learn  that  it  had 
been  observed  by  any  one  else.  The 
wells  are  seldom  sunk  to  the  bottom  of 
the  drift,  and  hence  afford  no  indications 
of  what  may  underlie  the  boulder  clays. 
At  Bushnell  a  boring  for  coal  passed 
through  112  feet  of  these  quaternary 
deposits  before  reaching  the  bed  rocks, 
in  the  following  order: 

Feet 

No.  1.     Soil  2 

N o.  2.     Yellow  clay 12 

No.  3.     Sand ; 2 

No.  4.     Blue  boulder  clay 61 

No.  5.     Blue  and  yellow  sand 35 

Total 112 

This  is  probably  twice  as  much  as  the 
average  thickness  of  the  deposits  in  this 
county — the  drill  having  evidently  pene- 
•trated  an  old  valley,  where  from  60  to 
70  feet  of  coal  measure  strata  had  been 
removed  by  erosion,  and  the  valley  thus 
formed  subsequently  filled  with  the 
transported  material.  The  average 
thickness  of  the  drift  deposits  probably 
does  not  exceed  50  feet. 

COAL   MEASURES. 

All  the  uplands  in  the  county  are  un- 
derlaid by  the  coal  measures  except  a 
limited  area  on  Crooked  creek,  in  the 
southwestern  corner  of  the  county,  em- 
bracing nearly  the  whole  of  township  4 


north,  range  4  west  (Lamoine),  and  the 
southwestern  portion  of  township  5 
north,  range  4  west  (Tennessee).  The 
beds  composing  the  lower  portions  of 
the  coal  measures,  as  they  are  developed 
in  this  county,  give  the  following  sec- 
tions: 

Feet. 
No.    1.    Sandstone  and  sandy  shales,  partly 

ferruginous 20     to  30 

No.  2.  Band  of  calcareous  shale,  with  lentic- 
ular masses  of  dark  blue  limestone 
containing  Cardiomorpha  Missou- 

•     riensis 2     to    3 

No.    3.    CoalNo.3 2     to    3 

No.    4.    Sandy  shale  and  soft  sandstone 35     to  40 

No.    5.    Bluish  clay  shale,  filled  with  fossil 

ferns Y2  to    2 

No.    6.    CoalNo.2 ' 2     to    2>/2 

No.    7.    Bituminous  fire  clay 2 

No.    8.    Gray  clay  shale 6 

No.    9.    Septaria  limestone 3 

No.  10.    Variegated   shales,    purple,     yellow 

andblue 18     to    20 

No.  11.    Sandstone      passing      locally     into 

shale 10     to    15 

No.  12.    Coal  No.  1.  sometimes  replaced  with 

slate  or  blue  shale 1     to    3 

No.  13.    Fire   clay,    sometimes"   replaced    by 

sandy  shale • 2     to    3 

No.    14.    Quartzose  sandstone,  conglomerate  5     to  20 

These  beds  have  a  maximum  thickness 
of  about  150  feet,  and  consequently  a 
boring  anywhere  in  the  county,  carried 
down  to  a  depth  of  two  hundred  feet  from 
the  surface,  would  pass  entirely  through 
the  coal  measures,  and  determine  the 
amount  of  coal  that  could  be  found  at 
that  point.  No  coal  seam  is  worked  at 
the  present  time,  except  No,  2,  or  the 
Colchester  coal;  and  it  seemed  to  us 
quite  probable  that  neither  1  nor  3  is 
developed  in  the  county  so  as  to  be  of 
any  value  to  the  industrial  interests  of 
its  people.  In  the  vicinity  of  Colchester, 
limestone  and  calcareous  shale  usually 
found  above  coal  No.  3 .out-crops  in  the 
brakes  of  the  ravines  west  of  the  town, 
but  no  indications  of  the  presence  of 
coal  was  seen.  The  concretionary  or 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


61 


lenticular  masses  of  dark  blue  limestone 
were  found  quite  abundant  here,  and 
they  afforded  Cardiomorpha,  Missouri- 
ensis  in  great  numbers,  associated  with 
Discina  nitida,  Productus  muricatus^ 
P.  Prattenianus,  Pleurotomaria  sphser- 
ulata,  Aviculopecten  rectalaterarea,  two 
or  three  species  of  small  Goniatites,  fos- 
sil wood,  and  the  spine  of  a  fish  Listra- 
canchus  hystrix.  We  also  obtained  from 
one  of  these  limestone  concretions,  asso- 
ciated with  the  fossil  wood  above  men- 
tioned, a  fossil  fruit,  shaped  somewhat 
like  an  elongated  pecan  nut,  the  rela- 
tions of  which  have  not  yet  been  deter- 
mined. These  limestone  concretions 
have  been  found  in  Fulton  and  Schuyler 
counties  overlaying  coal  No.  3,  and  af- 
fording most  of  the  species  of  fossil 
shells  obtained  from  it  here;  so  that 
there  seems  scarcely  a  doubt  but  that  it 
here  represents  the  horizon  of  that  coal. 
It  is  quite  probable  that  in  the  eastern, 
and  especially  in  the  southeastern  por- 
tion of  the  county,  coal  No.  3  may  be 
found  sufficiently  developed  to  be  worked 
to  advantage.  The  shale  and  sandstone 
above  this  coal,  No.  1  of  the  foregoing 
section,  we  only  saw  in  the  vicinity  of 
Colchester,  where  about  ten  feet  in 
thickness  of  sandy,  ferruginous  shales 
overlay  the  limestone  concretion  above 
mentioned.  No.  4  of  the  foregoing  sec- 
tion is  well  exposed  on  the  ravines  lead- 
ing into  the  east  fork  of  Crooked  creek, 
west  of  Colchester,  but  it  is  everywhere 
a  sandy  shale,  with  some  thin  layers  of 
sandstone,  but  affords  no  material  of  any 
economical  value.  The  calcareous  shale 
associated  with  the  limestone  in  No,  2  of 
the  above  section  is,  at  some  points  near 
Colchester,  quite  full  of  small  fossil 


shells,  among  which  the  Spirifer  plano- 
convexus  was  the  most  abundant,  asso- 
ciated with  S.  lineatus,  Chonetes  meso- 
loba,  Productus  muricatus,  Pleuroto- 
maria, Grayvillensis,  a  small  Macro- 
cheilus,  and  fragments  of  a  Nautilus. 

No.  5  of  the  above  section  forms  the 
roof  of  the  Colchester  coal,  and  is  a  true 
clay  shale  at  the  bottom,  and  locally 
quite  bituminous,  becoming  sandy  higher 
up,  and  gradually  passes  into  the  sandy 
shales  of  No.  4.  It  contains  ironstone 
concretions  similar  to  those  at  Mazon 
creek  and  Murphysboro,  though  usually 
not  so  perfectly  formed,  and  they  con- 
tain fossil  ferns  of  the  same  species  found 
at  those  localities.  The  shales  also  are 
filled  with  beautiful  ferns,  in  a  remark- 
ably fine  state  of  preservation;  and  this 
locality  may  be  reckoned  as  one  among 
the  best  in  the  state  for  collecting  these 
beautiful  relics  of  an  ancient  vegetable 
world.  Two  specimens  of  fossil  insects 
and  two  or  three  species  of  shells  have 
been  found  associated  with  the  fossil 
ferns  of  this  locality.  The  following  list 
comprises  all  the  species  of  fossil  plants 
that  have  been  identified  at  Colchester 
to  the  present  time:  Neuropteris  hirsuta, 
N.  tenuifolia,  N.  rarinervis,  Alethopteris 
aquilina,  Callipteris  Sullivantii,  Pecop- 
teris  squamosa,  P.  villosa,  P.  unita,  P. 
plumosa,  P.  chserophylloides,  Sphenop- 
teris  irregularis,  S.  trifoliata,  Hymeno- 
phyllites  alatus,  H.  Spinosus,,  H.  splen- 
dens,  H.  Gutbierianus,  H.  thallyformis, 
Cordaites  borassifolia,  C.  angustifolia, 
Spenophyllum  Schlotheimii,  S.  emargin- 
atum,  S.  cornutum,  Annularia  longifolia, 
A.  sphenophylloides,  Asterophyllites 
equisetiformus,  Calamites  ramosus,  C. 
approximates,  C.  undulatus,  Selaginites 


62 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


uncinnatus,  S.  carifolius,  Lepidodendron 
diplotegioides,  L.  simplex,  L.  obovatum, 
L.  gracile,  Ulodendron  majus,  U.  ellipti- 
cum,  Lepidophloios  ol)cordatum,  Lepi- 
dostrobus  princeps,  Lepidophyllum  au- 
riculatum,  Sigillaria  monostigma,  Stig- 
maria  ficoides,  S.  umbonata,  Pinnularia 
capillacea,  Caulopteris  obtecta,  C.  acan- 
tophora,  Carpolithes  multistriatus.  Ow- 
ing to  the  thinness  of  the  coal,  the  roof 
shales  are  removed  in  driving  the  en- 
tries to  the  mines,  thus  affording  a  fine 
opportunity  for  collecting  the  many 
beautiful  fossil  plants  that  they  contain. 
The  thickness  of  the  coal  at  this  locality 
varies  from  twenty-four  to  thirty  inches, 
and  at  the  level  of  the  prairie  it  lies  from 
seventy-five  to  ninety  feet  below  tjie  sur- 
face. On  all  the  branches  west  of  Col- 
chester the  coal  out-crops,  and  is  worked 
by  tunneling  into  the  hillsides.  The 
city  of  Quincy,  as  well  as  most  of  the 
small  towns  along  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy  railroad  south  of  Bush- 
nell,  have  for  many  years  derived  their 
supplies  of  coal  mainly  from  the  Col- 
chester mines. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Macomb  the  Colches- 
ter coal  seam  has  not  yet  been  found  of 
sufficient  thickness  to  be  worked.  About 
a  mile  and  a  half  southwest  of  the  town 
a  thin  coal  out-crops  above  the  sandstone 
quarries  of  Mr.  Stewart,  which  I  am  in- 
clined to  regard  as  the  Colchester  seam, 
though  it  is  here  only  about  one  foot  in 
thickness.  This  may,  however,  be  an 
out-crop  of  the  lower  seam  number  one, 
but  from  the  appearance  of  the  sand- 
stone I  believe  it  to  be  number  two, 
thinned  out  here  to  about  one-half  its 
usual  thickness. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Colchester  a  very 


good  sandstone  is  found  below  the  coal, 
and  from  ten  to- fifteen  feet  in  thickness. 
It  is  number  eleven  of  the  foregoing 
section.  This  I  believe  to  be  the  equiva- 
lent of  the  sandstone  at  Stewart's,  and 
the  old  McLean  quarries  near  Macomb. 
A  section  of  the  beds  exposed  in  the 
vicinity  of  these  quarries  show  the  fol- 
lowing succession  of  strata: 

Thin  coal 1  foot. 

Shaly  clay 2  feet. 

Thin-bedded  sandstone 1  to  6 

Massive  sandstone 10  to  12 

Bituminous  shale  (coal  No.  1).  4 

Carbonate  of  iron.: ,.  % 

Fireclay % 

Bituminous  slate  or  shale % 

Shale 5 

The  horizon  of  coal  number  one  is 
here  occupied  by  bituminous  shales  and 
a  six  inch  band  of  carbonate  of  iron. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Colchester,  at  most  of 
the  out-crops  we  examined,  the  same 
horizon  was  represented  by  dark  blue 
shales  ( No.  12  of  the  section  previously 
given)  containing  nodules  of  iron  ore 
inclosing  crystals  of  zinc  blende.  On 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  24, 
town  5  north,  range  4  west,  ( Tennessee ) 
the  following  beds  were  found  exposed 
in  connection  with  coal  number  one. 


Shaly  sandstone 

Coal  No.  1 

Fire  clay — not  exposed 
Shaly  sandstone 

St.  Louis  limestone 


4  feet. 
2    " 

16     " 


Although  we  did  not  "find  this  lower 
coal  developed  at  any  of  the  exposures 
examined  in  the  vicinity  of  Colchester, 
yet  it  was  found  by  Mr.  Horrocks  at  his 
tile  and  fire-brick  kiln,  not  more  than  a 
mile  from  the  town,  and  was  struck  in 
one  of  the  pits  sunk  for  fire-clay.  It 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


63 


was  found  to  be  about  a  foot  in  thickness 
only,  and  was  associated  with  an  excel- 
lent fire-clay,  and  was  here  about  forty- 
five  feet  below  coal  number  two.  Below 
Horrick's  brick  and  tile  kiln  on  the  same 
stream  a  band  of  ferruginous  sandstone, 
or  rather  sandy  iron  ore,  was  found, 
about  six  inches  in  thickness,  filled  with 
fossil  shells,  among  which  a  large  Dis- 
cina  was  the  most  abundant,  associated 
with  Hemipronites  crenistria,  Athyris 
subtilita,  Spirifer  opimus,  S.  Kentuck- 
ensis,  and  some  other  undetermined 
species.  This  was  no  doubt  a  local 
deposit,  and  probably  represents  the 
band  of  iron  ore  occurring  in  Schuyler 
and  Fulton  counties,  associated  with  coal 
number  one.  This  band  of  iron  ore  oc- 
curs just  at  the  junction  of  beds  num- 
bered 13  and  14  of  the  general  section  of 
the  coal-bearing  strata,  on  a  preceding 
page. 

On  section  24,  town  5  north,  range  4 
west  [Tennessee],  southwest  quarter  of 
the  section,  a  coal  seam  was  opened  as 
early  as  1853,  when  we  first  visited  this 
county,  on  land  then  owned  by  Mr. 
Lowry.  The  coal  was  from  eighteen 
inches  to  two  feet  in  thickness,  overlaid 
by  a  few  feet  of  shaly  sandstone.  Be- 
low the  bed  -of  coal  there  was 
about  sixteen  feet  of  sandstone  exposed, 
and  a  short  distance  up  the  creek  a  con- 
cretionary limestone  is  exposed,  under- 
lying the  sandstone.  This  I  have  no 
doubt  is  the  lower  coal  (No.  1),  and  will 
no  doubt  be  found  at  many  points  in  the 
county,  ranging  from  one  to  three  feet 
in  thickness. 

At  this  time  coal  was  also  dug  on  Mr. 
Thompson's  place,  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  16,  town  4  north, 


range  3  west  [Bethel].  The  seam  at 
this  point  was  thirty  inches  thick,  but 
was  only  exposed  in  the  bed  of  the 
creek,  with  no  out-crop  of  the  associate 
beds.  This  is  also,  without  doubt,  the 
lower  seam,  as  the  concretionary  mem- 
ber of  the  St.  Louis  limestone  was 
found  out-cropping  on  the  creek  a  short 
distance  below  where  the  coal  was  found. 
On  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33, 
town  4  north,  range  3  west  [Bethel],  a 
coal  seam  was  opened  and  worked  in 
1858  on  land  then  owned  by  J.  Stone- 
king.  The  coal  was  worked  by  "  strip- 
ping "  in  the  bed  of  a  small  creek,  and 
the  coal  ranged  from  eighteen  to  twenty 
inches  in  thickness,  and  was  overlaid  by 
about  two  feet  of  gray  shale. 

These  two  lower  seams  also  out-crop 
on  Job's  creek,  near  Blandinsville,  and 
have  been  worked  from  the  first  settle- 
ment of  the  county.  They  out-crop  also 
on  nearly  all  the  tributaries  on  the  east 
fork  of  Crooked  creek,  and  probably 
underlie  at  least  seven-eighths  of  the  en- 
tire area  of  the  county.  They  seldom 
attain  a  thickness  of  three  feet,  how- 
ever, in  this  portion  of  the  state,  but 
they  are  nowhere  more  than  one  hun- 
dred to  one  hundred  and  seventy-five 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  general 
level  of  the  prairie.  No.  3,  if  developed 
anywhere  in  the  county,  will  probably  be 
found  in  the  eastern  range  of  townships, 
and  would  be  the  first  seam  reached  in 
sinking  a  shaft  or  boring  from  the  prai- 
rie level. 

At  Bushnell,  a  boring  for  coal  at  the 
steam  mill  passed  through  the  following 
beds,  as  represented  by  those  in  charge 
of  the  work : 


64 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1.  Soil 2  feet. 

2.  Yellow  clay 12*  " 

3.  Sand 2 

4.  Blue  clay  with  boulders 61  " 

5.  Blue  and  yellow  sand 35  " 

6.  Sandstone 5  " 

7.  Clay  shale V-/2  " 

8.  Black  shale 1^  " 

9.  Gray  shale 34  " 

10.  Limestone 9  " 

11.  Shale 1 

163 

The  beds  numbered  1  to  5  inclusive 
belong  to  the  drift,  and  shown  an  aggre- 
gate thickness  of  one  hundred  and 
twelve  feet,  indicating  the  existence  of 
an  old  valley  here,  in  which  the  coal 
measures  have  been  cut  away  down  to  a 
point  below  the  horizon  of  the  Colches- 
ter coal,  and  which  was  subsequently 
filled  with  drift  deposits,  and  conse- 
quently that  coal  which  should  have  been 
found  at  a  depth  of  fifty  to  seventy  feet 
'  below  the  surface  at  this  point,  was  not 
met  with  at  all.  The  limestone  No.  10 
of  the  above  sections  is  probably  the 
bed  overlaying  the  Seaville  coal.  The 
extent  and  direction  of  this  old  valley 
we  have  no  data  for  determining  at  the 
present  time,  but  it  is  probably  a  lateral 
arm  of  the  Spoon  river  valley,  and  most 
probably  trends  southeastwardly  into 
the  valley  of  that  stream.  At  Prairie 
City  a  boring  was  carried  down  to  a 
depth  of  227  feet,  passing  through  the 
following  beds,  as  reported  by  Mr.  T.  L. 
Magee: 

1.  Soil  and  drift  clays 36  feet. 

2.  Clay  shale  or  "  soapstorie  " 16  " 

3.  Black  shale ^  " 

4.  Coal  No.  2 \YZ  " 

5.  Fireclay 4 

6.  Shale  and  sandstone.., 12  " 

7.  Clay  shale 38 


8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 


Hard  rock  (limestone)  .................  11 

Shale  .......................................  4 

White  flint  ..................  ..............  1 

Shale..  .....................................  10 

Coal  No.  1  ................................  3 

Fireclay  ........................  ;  .........  6 

Hard  rock  .................................  5 

Clay  shale.  ................................  8 

Sandstone  ..................................  4 

Dark  gray  shale  ........................  8 

Clay  shale  (light  colored)  .........  14 

Limestone  (St.  Louis  bed)  ............ 


feet. 


227 


In  the  foregoing  sections  the  beds 
numbered  from  -2  to  18  inclusive  belong 
to  the  Coal  Measures,  and  include  the 
two  lower  coals.  No,  19  is  undoubtedly 
the  St.  Louis  limestone  which  outcrops 
on  Spoon  river  just  below  Seaville, 
about  eight  miles  east  of  Prairie  City. 
At  Lawrence's  mound,  at  an  elevation 
considerably  above  the  surface  where  the 
above  boring  was  made,  a  coal  seam 
three  feet  in  thickness  was  found  in 
digging  a  well,  which  was  probably  No. 
3,  occurring  here  as  an  outlier  left  by 
the  denuding  forces  which  swept  it  away 
from  the  surrounding  region.  It  lay  im- 
mediately below  the  drift,  with  no  roof 
but  gravel,  and  covered  but  a  limited 
area  of  ground. 

At  Macomb,  a  boring,  carried  to  the 
depth  of  about  160  feet,  failed  to  find 
any  coal  of  sufficient  thickness  to  be  of 
any  economical  value.  From  these  ex- 
periments, it  would  seem  that  the  lower 
coals  in  this  county  are  not  very  uniform 
in  their  development,  and  probably 
neither  No.  1  nor  No.  3  will  be  found  over 
any  considerable  area  thick  enough  to  be 
worked  to  advantage,  while  No.  2  is  also 
too  thin  to  be  worked  at  some  points, 
though  it  may  be  considered  the  most 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


65 


persistent  and  reliable  seani  to  be  found 
in  this  country,  and  is  the  one  most  gen- 
erally worked,  both  at  and  near  the  town 
of  Colchester,  and  other  places  in  this 
county. 

ST.    LOUIS   LIMESTONE. 

This  divisionof  the  Lower  Carbonif- 
erous series  is  probably  nowhere  in 
this  county  more  than  fifty  feet  in 
thickness,  and  consists,first,  of  a  bed 
of  light-gray  concretionary  or  brec- 
ciated  limestone,  laying  immediately 
below  the  lower  sandstone  of  the  Coal 
Measures;  and  secondly,  of  a  magne- 
sian  limestone  and  some  blue  shales 
or  calcareous  sandstones,  constituting 
what  is  sometimes  called  the "  War- 
saw limestone."  On  the  east  fork 
of  Crooked  creek,  a  little  north  of  west 
from  Colchester,  the  following  sections 
of  these  limestones  may  be  seen: 

No.  1  Brecciated  light-grey  limestone 5  to  20  feet. 

No.  2  Calcareous  sandstone,  in  regular  beds  . .        12    " 
No.  3  Bluish  shale 3    " 

The  magnesian  bed,  which  usually 
forms  the  base  of  this  group,  is  below 
the  surface  here  and  generally  ranges 
from  eight  to  ten  feet  in  thickness.  The 
brecciated  limestone  is  very  unevenly 
developed,  and  often  varies  in  thickness 
in  a  short  distance  from  five  to  twenty 
feet  or  more.  It  rarely  affords  any  fos- 
sils except  the  common  ccrals  Lithostro- 
tion  canadense  and  L.  proliferum,  sil- 
icious  specimens  of  which  are  often 
found  weathered  out  along  the  creeks 
where  this  limestone  out-crops.  No  fos- 
sils were  seen  in  the  calcareous  sand- 
stone, but  the  magnesian  limestone  that 
out-crops  lower  down  on  the  creek,  and 
underlies  the  blue  shale  in  the  above 


section,  usually  contains  a  variety  of 
Bryozoans,  among  which  are  the  Arch- 
imides  Wortheni,  Polypora  Varsoeiense, 
Semicoscinium,  Keyserlingi,  etc. 

KEOKUK    LIMESTONE. 

This  is  the  lowest  rock  exposed  in  the 
county,  and  is  only  found  along  the 
bluffs  of  Crooked  creek,  in  townships  4 
and  5,  range  4  west,  (Lamoine  and  Ten- 
nessee ).  The  upper  part  of  this  forma- 
tion is  usually  a  bluish  calcareo  argilla- 
ceous shale,  containing  silicious  geodes 
either  filled  with  a  mass  of  crystaline 
quartz,  or  hollow  and  lined  within  quartz 
crystals,  mammillary  chalcedony,  calcite 
and  dolomite.  Below  this  geode  bed 
there  is  usually  from  thirty  to  forty  feet 
of  cherty  gray  limestone,  the  layers 
varying  in  thickness  from  a  few  inches 
to  two  feet  or  more,  and  separated  by 
partings  of  shale.  The  limestone  beds 
consist  mainly  of  the  remains  of  organic 
beings,  the  corals,  the  crinoids,  and  mol- 
lusca  that  swarmed  in  countless  numbers 
in  the  primeval  ocean ;  and  the  old 
quarries  of  limestone  afford  a  rich  field 
for  the  student  who  desires  to  become 
fully  acquainted  with  the  varied  and 
peculiar  organic  forms  of  this  period. 
South  of  Colmar  the  grade  of  the  C.,  B. 
&-  Q:  railroad  cuts  into  the  upper  part  of 
this  limestone  to  the  depth  of  several 
feet,  and  from  the  material  thrown  out 
from  this  cut  we  obtained  many  speci- 
mens of  the  characteristic  fossils  of  this 
limestone  in  an  excellent  state  of  pres- 
ervation. The  upper  layers  of  the  lime- 
stone had  been  freely  exposed  to  the 
erosive  action  of  the  water  during  the 
drift  period,  and  many  of  the  silicious 
fossils  were  found  completely  weathered 


66 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


out  from  the  shaly  limestones,  and  in  a 
most  perfect  state  of  preservation. 
Among  the  fossils  found  at  this  locality, 
were  many  specimens  of  Laphrentis 
dalii,  Spirifer  Keokuk,  S.  lineatus,  S. 
sub-orbicularis,  Agaricocrinus  ameri- 
cauus,  Actinocrinus  bi-turjbinatus,  Cya- 
thocrinus  stellatus,  Archimides,  Owen- 
ana,  Hemipronites  crenistria,  Phillipsia, 
Portlockii,  several  species  of  fish  teeth, 
etc.  The  lower  portion  of  this  limestone 
is  usually  below  the  level  of  the  creek 
bottoms,  but  the  upper  portion  is  well 
exposed  on  the  main  creek  in  township 
4  north,  range  4  west  (Lamoine),  and  on 
the  east  fork  in  township  5  north,  range 
4  west  (Tennessee).  In  the  region  south 
of  Colmar  the  geodiferous  shales  and 
the  St.  Louis  limestone  have  all  been  re- 
moved by  denudation  before  the  deposit 
of  the  drift,  and  the  boulder  clays  now 
rest  directly  upon  the  upper  part  of  the 
Keokuk  limestone.  A  complete  section 
of  all  the  limestones  below  the  coal 
measures  in  this  county  would  show  the 
following  order  of  succession  and  thick- 
ness: 

Feet. 

Light  gray  brecciated  limestone 5  to  20 

Calcareous  sandstone  12 

Magnesian  limestone  and  shale 10  to  12 

Geodiferous  shales  of  the  Keokuk  bed. ..20. to  30 
Light  gray  cherty  limestone 30  to  40 

ECONOMICAL    GEOLOGY. 

Coal 

As  may  be  seen  from  a  perusal  of  the 
foregoing  pages,  a  large  portion  of  this 
county  is  underlaid  with  coal,  and  though 
the  seams  that  are  found  here  are  much 
thinner  than  some  of  those  that  outcrop 
in  Schuyler  and  Fulton  counties,  yet 
they  have  not  only  furnished  an  abun- 


dant supply  of  coal  for  home  consump- 
tion, but  for  many  years  have  furnished 
many  thousands  of  tons  annually  for 
shipment  south  and  west  to  the  adjoin- 
ing counties.  The  shipment  from  Col- 
chester alone  for  the  years  1866  and  '67 
was 'about  500,000  tons  per  annum,  and 
the  product  of  the  mines  of  that  place 
and  vicinity  has  been  constantly  on  the 
increase.  The  coal  obtained  here  is.  of 
an  excellent  quality,  if  taken  out  at 
some  distance  from  the  outcrop,  where 
it  has  not  been  exposed  to  atmospheric 
influences.  The  coal  is  tolerably  hard, 
bright,  and  comparatively  free  from 
pyrite,  and  breaks  freely  into  cubic  * 
blocks  when  mined. 

An  analysis  of  this  coal  by  Mr.  Henry 
Pratten,  as  reported  in  Dr.  Norwood's 
"Analysis  of  Illinois  Coals,"  gave  the 
following  results; 

Specific  gravity 1,290 

Loss  in  coking 41  .2 

Total  weight  of  coke 58.8 


100.0 

ANALYSIS. 

Moisture  5.4 

Volatile  matters 35.8 

Carbon  in  coke 56.8 

Ashes  (light  gray) 2.0 


100.0 
Carbon  in  coal 60.10 

This  analysis  shows  this  to  be  one  of 
the  best  coals  in  the  state,  and  its  free- 
dom from  pyrite  has  always  made  it  a 
favorite  coal  with  blacksmiths  of  this 
and  adjoining  counties.  The  coal  from 
the  lower  seam  is  usually  harder  than 
that  from  the  Colchester  seam,  and  less 
uniform  in  quality.  Its  thickness  is  also 
more  variable  and  frequently  the  coal  is 
wanting  altogether,  and  its  place  occu- 
pied by  bituminous  shales.  Neverthe- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


67 


less,  it  sometimes  attains  a  thickness  of 
three  feet,  as  at  Seaville,  in  Fulton 
county,  and  the  coal  obtained  there  is  of 
a  fair  quality.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
this  seam  may  be  found  in  some  of  the 
eastern  townships  in  this  county  as  thick 
as  it  is  at  Seaville,  and  if  so,  it  might  be 
worked  to  advantage,  as  its  depth  below 
the  surface  would  probably  nowhere  ex- 
ceed two  hundred  feet. 

No.  3,  if  found  at  all  in  this  county, 
would  be  met  with  in  the  uppermost  lay- 
ers of  the  bed  rock,  and  immediately  un- 
derneath the  boulder  clays,  except  at  a 
few  points,  where  it  might  be  overlaid  by 
a  few  feet  of  sandstone  or  sandy  shale. 
It  is  less  persistent  in  its  development, 
however,  than  either  of  those  below  it, 
but  its  proper  horizon  may  be  readily 
recognized  by  the  dark  blue  limestone 
and  bituminous  shales  that  are  nearly 
always  present. 

A  boring  carried  down  to  the  depth  of 
two  hundred  feet  would  probably  pass 
entirely  through  the  coal  measures  in 
any  portion  of  the  county,  and  in  the 
western  part  the  subordinate  limestone 
would  be  reached  at  a  depth  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  or  less,  when  the  light 
gray  brecciated  limestone  of  the  St.  Louis 
group  is  reached,  it  is  useless  to  bore 
further  in  search  of  coal,  and  this  lime- 
stone is  so  decidedly  different  in  its  ap- 
pearance from  any  of  the  limestones  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  coal  measures,  that 
an  expert  would  find  no  difficulty  in  iden- 
tifying it,  even  by  the  smallest  fragments 
taken  up  by  the  sand  pump.  Hence  it 
forms  a  reliable  guide,  both  where  it  out- 
crops and  where  it  may  be  reached  by 
the  drill,  and  determines  the  point  below 
which  no  coal  can  be  found. 


FIRE-CLAY. 

The  fire-clay  under  the  Colchester  coal 
has  been  used  by  Mr.  Horrocks,  at  his 
kiln  west  of  the  town,  for  the  manufac- 
ture of  drain  tile,  fire-brick,  etc.,  but  re- 
cently he  has  obtained  a  better  quality 
fire-clay  by  sinking  a  shallow  shaft  down 
to  the  lower  or  No.  1  coal,  which,  at  his 
kiln,  is  about  forty-five  feet  below  the 
Colchester  seam.  The  horizon  of  this 
lower  coal  furnishes  an  excellent  article 
of  fire  and  potter's  clay  in  various  por- 
tions of  the  state,  and  it  may,  no  doubt, 
be  found  at  many  points  in  this  county, 
besides  the  one  where  it  is  at  present 
worked. 

IKON  ORE. 

There  is  a  band  of  iron  ore,  very 
generally  developed  in  connection  with 
coal  No.  1,  and  indications  of  its  pres- 
ence were  observed  at  several  points  in 
this  county,  though  not  in  sufficient 
quantity  to  justify  an  attempt  to  work  it 
at  the  present  time.  On  the  creek  be- 
low Horripk's  brick  kiln,  it  is  about  six 
inches  thick,  but  too  sandy  to  be  of 
much  value,  even  if  the  quantity  was 
greater.  On  the  creek  west  of  Macomb 
a  band  of  very  pure  iron  ore  occur?, 
about  six  inches  thick,  and  it  is  quite 
probable  it  may  be  found  somewhere 
in  the  county  of  sufficient  thickness  to 
be  of  some  economical  importance.  In 
Schuyler  county,  there  are  two  or  three 
bands  of  ore  associated  with  the  same 
coal,  attaining  there  an  aggregate  thick- 
ness of  about  two  feet,  and  yielding  on 
analysis  about  fifty-two  per  cent,  of 
protoxide  of  iron.  The  ore  is  an  argil- 
laceous carbonate  of  iron,  and  compares 
favorably  in  quality  with  the  best  Penn- 
sylvania ores. 


68 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


On  D.  C.  Flint's  place,  in  Mound 
toAvnship,  a  deposit  of  bog  iron  ore  of 
good  quality  is  found,  which  is  reported 
to  be  several  feet  in  thickness,  but  the 
area  covered  by  it  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. Should  it  prove  sufficiently 
extensive  and  pure  as  the  sample  sent  to 
my  office,  it  is  a  valuable  deposit. 

BUILDING  STONE. 

The  central  and  western  portions  of 
the  county  have  an  abundant  supply  of 
free  stone  from  the  sandstone  bed  inter- 
vening between  coals  No.  1  and  2.  This 
is  usually  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  in 
thickness,  the  upper  part  thin-bedded 
and  quarrying  out  in  thin,  even  slabs 
suitable  for  flags,  while  the  lower  part  is 
quite  massive  and  splits  evenly.  At 
Stewart's  quarries,  two  miles  west  of 
Macomb,  there  is  about  twelve  feet  in 
thickness  exposed  in  the  face  of  the 
quarry.  The  rock  is  a  rather  coarse 
grained  sandstone,  nearly  white  in  color, 
and  furnishes  a  very  durable  material 
for  foundation  walls,  and  is  also  easily 
cut  and  may  be  advantageously  used  for 
all  ordinary  architectural  purposes. 

At  these  quarries  the  rock  is  very 
massive,  but  at  the  old  McLean  quar- 
ries, about  a  half  mile  to  the  westward 
of  Stewart's,  the  sandstone  is  more  reg- 
ularly bedded,  the,  layers  varying  from 
four  to  twelve  inches  or  more  in  thick- 
ness. This  sandstone  is  equivalent  of 
that  on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Warsaw 
railroad  west  of  Seaville,  in  Fulton 
county,  and  is  very  similar  in  quality. 
Some  of  the. beds  seem  to  be  sufficiently 
even-textured  for  grindstones.  The 
magnesian  and  arenaceous  beds  of  the 
St.  Louis  group  will  afford  the  best  ma- 


terial for  culverts  and  bridge  abutments 
that  can  be  found  in  the  state,  as  they 
are  scarcely  at  all  affected  by  the 
action  of  frost  and  moisture."  The 
gray  limestones  of  the  Keokuk  series 
make  a  durable  building  stone  if  pro- 
tected from  water,  but  split  to  fragments 
on  exposure  to  ordinary  atmospheric 
agencies.  The  brecciated  limestone  will 
make  an  excellent  macadamizing  mate- 
rial for  the  construction  of  turnpike 
roads,  or  for  ballasting  our  railroads. 

LIMESTONE  FOR  LIME. 

Good  limestone  for  burning  into  quick- 
lime may  be  obtained  from  the  lower 
division  of  the  Keokuk,  and  from  the 
brecciated-  bed  of  the  St.  Louis  group. 
Where  the  former  is  used,  it  should  be 
selected  with  some  care,  as  a  portion  of 
the  beds  contain  too  large  a  per  cent,  of 
argillaceous  or  silicious  matter  to  slack 
readily  when  burned,  and  would  yield 
only  an  inferior  quality  of  lime.  The 
light  gray  semi-crystalline°layers  are  the 
best  for  this  purpose,  and  will  make  a 
quicklime  of  good  quality.  The  brec- 
ciated limestone  is,  however,  in  many 
respects  the  best  rock  in  the  county  for 
this  purpose,  as  it  is  usually  a  nearly 
pure  carbonate  of  lime  in  its  composi- 
tion and  can  be  burned  at  less  expense, 
and  makes  a  quicklime  of  superior  qual- 
ity. This  limestone  may  be  found  on 
most  of  the  tributaries  of  Crooked  creek, 
and  on  the  east  fork  as  far  north  as  the 
vicinity  of  Colchester. 

SAND  AND  CLAY  FOB  BRICK. 

The  sub-soil, where  it  is  predicated  upon 
the  marly  beds  of  the  loess, supplies  these 
materials  in  nearly  the  right  proportion 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


69 


forthe  brickyard;  and  when  deficient  in 
sand,  this  may  be  easily  supplied-  either 
from  the  creek  bottoms  or  sandy  beds 
interstratified  with  the  drift  clays.  These 
materials  are  so  universally  distributed 
that  there  is  scarcely  a  neighborhood  in 
the  county  where  they  may  not  be  read- 
ily found  at  hand. 

SOIL  AND  AGRICULTURE. 

There  is  not  much  variety  in  the  gen- 
eral character  of  the  soils  in  this  county, 
and  there  is  no  considerable  portion  of 
its  surface  that  will  not  bring  good  crops 
of  the  various  cereals  usually  cultivated 
in  this  latitude,  without  other  stimulants 
than  those  contained  in  the  soil  itself. 
The  prairie  soil  is  a  dark,  chocolate- 
colored  loam,  appearing  nearly  black 
when  wet,  and  produces  excellent  crops 
of  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  grass, 
and  where  a  proper  rotation  of  crops  has 
been  the  rule,  no  perceptible  decrease  in 
the  annual  product  has  been  observed, 
even  on  lands  that  have  been  under  con- 
stant cultivation  for  the  last  twenty-five 
or  thirty  years.  The  timber  lands  are 
generally  confined  to  the  creek  valleys, 
and  broken  ridges  adjacent  thereto. 

The  soil  on  these  timbered  ridges  is 
usually  thin,  but  they  are  excellent  fruit 
lands,  and  will  produce  fair  crops  of 
wheat,  oats  and  clover,  but  they  require 
manuring  if  subjected  to  long  continued 
cultivation.  These  thin  soils  are  predi- 
cated upon  the  boulder  clays,  and  the 
timber  growth  is  mainly  black  and  white 
oak  and  hickory;  and  their  uneven  sur- 
face does  not  retain  the  vegetable  and 
animal  matters  that  are  annually  depos- 
ited upon  them,  but  on  the  contrary, 
these  are  swept  away  by  the  annual  rains 


into  the  adjacent  valleys,  while  on  the 
level  prairies  they  are  retained,  and  add 
from  year  to  year  their  fertilizing  prop- 
erties fo  the  soil.  The  bottom  lands  on 
Crooked  creek  are  very  limited  in  extent, 
and  are  mostly  subject  to  overflow.  They 
afford  some  fine  timber,  the  varieties  of 
which  have  been  enumerated  on  a  pre- 
ceding page. 

Although  the  above  will  give  the  at- 
tentive reader  a  full  account  of  the  geo- 
logical formation  of  the  county,  still 
more  can  be  added,  and  we  freely  quote 
from  S.  J.  Clarke's  history  of  the  county 
the  following  items,  as  being  apt  to  in- 
terest all: 

"  The  area  of  the  coal  fields  of  McDon- 
ough  is  nearly,  if  not  quite,  co-extensive 
with  its  entire  surface,  having  been 
found  in  every  towrnship  except  Walnut 
Grove.  There  are  a  large  number  of 
shafts  and  banks  in  active  operation,  af- 
ording  employment  to  hundreds  of  men, 
some  of  whom  work  in  the  banks,  while 
others  are  constantly  engaged  in  hauling 
to  our  home  markets  and  the  towns  sur- 
rounding. There  is  no -limit  to  the  sup- 
ply, as  the  beds  are  inexhaustible.  An 
account  of  the  various  coal  shafts  ap- 
pears in  the  various  township  histories. 

"  The  coal  of  this  county  is  regarded 
as  the  best  in  the  state,  and  is  used  ex- 
tensively in  the  manufacture  of  gas  in 
several  of  our  large  western  cities. 

"  The  quarries  of  McDonough  county 
are  becoming  justly  noted  for  their 
superior  quality  of  freestone  and  sand- 
stone. As  remarked  of  coal,  the  supply 
is  almost  inexhaustible,  and  capable  of 
meeting  the  demand  for  hundreds  of 
years.  West  of  Macomb  a  short  dis- 
tance are  two  or  three  quarries  that  have 


70 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


been  worked  for  many  years,  and  the 
rock  taken  from  them  used  for  building 
purposes  have  stood  the  test  of  time  in 
a  remarkable  degree.  For  years  the 
stone  has  been  used  principally  for  foun- 
dation purposes,  wells  and  sidewalks. 
In  1875,  Mr.  Kowley,  of  New  York,  who, 
for  many  years  had  been  the  proprietor 
of  the  quarry  known  as  "Stewart's,  having 
tested  the  stone  in  every  conceivable 
way,  erected  a  factory  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  grindstones.  He  had  in 
his  employ  a  large  number  of  hands, 
and  turned  out  an  article  that  gave  uni- 
versal satisfaction.  Shipments  are  being 
made  daily  to  all  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  no  doubt  in  time  this  will  be 
onfe  of  the  institutions  of  the  county. 
John  McLean,  Esq.,  of  Macomb,  fur- 
nished the  following  statement  of  the 
quarry  formerly  worked  by  Hector 
McLean,  Sr.,  and  his  three  sons,  Alex- 
ander, John  and  Duncan: 

"We  commenced  work  in  the  Ran- 
dolph quarry  in  the  fall  of  1849,  and  in 
1852  left,  purchasing  the  interest  of 
Swigart  &  Broaddus  in  the  quarry  known 
as  Bartleson's,  and  considered  the  best 
freestone  or  sandstone  in  the  state.  The 
quarry  was  easy  to  work,  having  seams 
in  every  ledge,running  the  entire  length. 
We  frequently  pried  up  stones  30x15 
feet,  flat  and  smooth,  fitted  for  any  kind 
of  pavement,  the  ledges  being  from  one 
and  a  half  inches,  increasing  in  thick- 
ness to  three  feet,  being  the  lowest  ledge 
we  worked. 

"We  had  the  quarry  rented  for  four 
years,  at  ten  cents  per  perch.  In  1857 


we  purchased  160  acres  of  land  on  which 
the  quarry  Avas  situated,  of  a  Mr.  Airy, 
of  Philadelphia,  a  brother  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Bartleson,  of  Macomb,  for  which 
we  paid  $1,600;  sold  the  same  to  C.  N. 
Harding,  Esq.,  in  1867,  for  $4,000.  We 
worked  in  the  quarry  twelve  years,  in 
which  time  we  averaged  1000  perches 
per  year  of  all  kinds  of  rock. 

"In  looking  over  the  accounts  of  some 
years,  I  find  that  we  made  as  high  as 
$3,500  per  year,  paying  for  extra  labor, 
tools  and  powder  for  blasting  purposes, 
$1,300.  In  those  times  this  was  consid- 
ered 'big  money.'  We  usually  did  all 
the  business  ourselves,  having  four  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  a  large  wagon  capable  of 
carrying  five  tons  or  four  perches.  The 
wagon  was  made  by  our  former  towns- 
man, Sidney  S.  Chapman,  and  a  splendid 
wagon  it  was,  painted  on  the  axle  1852, 
the  year  in  which  it  was  made.  We 
quarried,  hauled  and  built,  receiving 
therefor  $2.50  to  $3.25  per  perch,  accord- 
ing to  wall." 

"Besides  the  quarries  mentioned,  there 
is  an  excellant  quality  of  stone  found 
near  Industry,  on  Grindstone  creek,  of 
the  same  general  character  as  the  fore- 
going." 

Clay,  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of 
pottery,  drain-tile,  fire-brick,  etc.,  is 
found  quite  extensively  throughout  the 
county,  and  is  largely  utilized,  there  be- 
ing quite  a  number  of  potteries  within 
its  limits,  full  accounts  of  which  will  be 
found  in  their  proper  places,  in  the  his- 
tories of  the  towns  or  townships  wherein 
they  are  located. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


71 


PIONEER  LIFE. 


In  this  chapter  it  is  the  design  to  pre- 
sent some  of  the  interesting  and  pecul- 
iar phases  of  frontier  life.  It  is  not  the 
purpose  to  here  portray  conditions  and 
circumstances  that  apply  to  every  case, 
but  to  pluck  from  the  mass  of  material 
some  of  the  most  extreme  cases,  and  be- 
longing properly  to  the  extreme  frontier. 
While,  as  a  means  of  variety,  here  and 
there  are  stated  occurrences  and  con- 
ditions which  have  existed  up  to  within 
a  very  recent  day,  it  is  impossible  to 
single  out  McDonough  county  as  an  iso- 
lated case  in  the  description  of  pioneer 
life,  for  it  finds  its  parallel  in  almost 
every  county  in  the  state  and  throughout 
the  entire  west.  And  it  is,  on  the  other 
hand,  just  as  impossible  to  limit  the  por- 
trayal so  as  to  just  precisely  fit  and 
cover  given  cases  and  territory.  Pioneer 
life  must  be  taken  as  a  whole,  and  as  it 
existed  a  half  century  ago  in  the  west. 
Some  of  the  illustrations  may  not  apply 
to  the  exact  manner  in  which  this  or  that 
particular  settler  got  along — nor  is  it  the 
intention  that  it  should — but  it  is  at- 
tempted to  show  what  has  been  done  in 
the  development  of  the  great  west. 

But  a  little  more  than  a  half  century 
ago,  McDonough  county  was  not  in  ex- 
istence, the  territory  comprising  it  be- 
ing as  wild  and  desolate  as  the  Indians 
who  inhabited  it;  and  there  was  not  a 


white  settler  within  its  boundaries- 
"When  the  determined  pioneers  of  Mc- 
Donough county  settled  here,  they  found 
an  unbroken,  uncultivated  and  uninhab- 
ited prairie.  Wild  beasts,  and  but  little 
less  wild  savages,  roamed  at  will  over 
the  prairie  and  through  the  forests. 
Forests  were  to  be  felled,  cabins  erected, 
mills  built,  and  the  river  and  creeks 
made  to  labor  for  the  benefit  of  mankind. 
The  beautiful  prairies  were  to  be  robbed 
of  their  natural  ornaments,  and  the  hand 
of  art  was  to  assist  in  their  decoratipn. 
Who  was  to  undertake  this  work.?  Are 
they  qualified  for  the  task  ?  What  will 
be  the  effect  of  their  labors  upon  future 
generations"? 

The  McDonough  county  pioneers  had 
many  difficulties  to  contend  with,  not 
the  least  of  which  was  the  journey  from 
civilization  to  the  forest  homes.  The 
route  lay  for  the  most  part  through  a 
rough  country;  swamps  and  marshes 
were  crossed  with  great  exertitin  and 
fatigue;  rivers  were  forded  with  diffi- 
culty and  danger;  nights  were  passed 
on  open  prairies,  with  the  sod  for  a 
couch  and  the  heavens  for  a  shelter; 
long,  weary  days  and  weeks  of  travel 
were  endured,  but  finally  the  "promised 
land"  was  reached.  Soon  the  anxious 
father  of  the  family,  with  his  hands  erects 
a  habitation  and  pioneer  life  began. 


72 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


EARLY  MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

The  young  men  and  women  of  to-day 
have  little  conception  of  the  mode  of 
life  among  the  early  settlers  of  the 
country.  One  can  hardly  conceive  how 
so  great  a  change  could  take  place  in  so 
short  a  time.  The  clothing,  the  dwell- 
ings, the  diet,  the  social  customs  have 
undergone  a  total  revolution,  as  though 
a  new  race  had  taken  possession  of  the 
land. 

In  a  new  country  far  removed  from 
the  conveniences  of  civilization,  where 
all  are  compelled  to  build  their  own 
houses,  make  their  own  clothing,  and 
procure  for  themselves  the  means  of 
subsistence,  it  is  to  be  expected  that 
their  dwellings  and  garments  will  be 
rude.  These  were  matters  controlled  by 
surrounding  circumstances  and  the 
means  at  their  disposal,  The  earliest 
settlers  constructed  what  were  termed 
"three-faced  camps,"  or,  in  other  words, 
three  walls,  leaving  one  side  open.  They 
are  described  as  follows:  The  walls 
were  built  seven  feet  high,  when  poles 
were  laid  across  at  a  distance  of  about 
three  feet  apart,  and  on  these  a  roof  of 
clapboards  was  laid,,  which  were  kept 
in  place  by  weight  poles  placed  on  them. 
The  clapboards  were  about  four  feet  in 
length,  and  from  eight  inches  to  twelve 
inches  in  width,  split  out  of  white  oak 
timber.  No  floor  was  laid  in  the 
"camp."  The  structure  required  neither 
door,  window  or  chimney.  The  one  side 
left  out  of  the  cabin  answered  all  these 
purposes.  In  front  of  the  open  side 
was  built  a  large  log  heap,  which  served 
for  warmth  in  cold  weather  and  for 
cooking  purposes  ir,  all  seasons.  Of 
course  there  was  an  abundance  of  light, 


and,  on  either  side  of  the  fire,  space  to 
enter  in  and  out.  These  "three-faced 
camps"  were  probably  more  easily  con- 
structed than  the  ordinary  cabin,  and 
was  not  the  usual  style  of  dwelling 
houses. 

The  cabin  was  considered  a  material 
advance  for  comfort  and  home  life.  This 
was,  in  almost  every  case,  built  of  logs, 
the  spaces  between  the  logs  being  filled  in 
with  split  sticks  of  wood,  called  "chinks," 
and  then  daubed  over,  both  inside  and 
outside,  with  mortar  made  of  clay.  The 
floor,  sometimes,  was  nothing  more  than 
earth  tramped  hard  and  smooth,  but  com- 
monly made  of  "puncheons,"  or  split  logs, 
with  the  split  side  turned  upward.  The 
roof  was  made  by  gradually  drawing  in 
the  top  to  the  ridge  pole,  and,  on  cross 
pieces,  laying  the  "clapboards,"  which, 
being  several  feet  in  length,  instead  of 
being  nailed,  were  held  in  place  by  poles 
laid  on  them,  called  "weight  poles,"reach- 
ing  the  length  of  the  cabin.  For  a  fire- 
place, a  space  was  cut  out  of  the  logs  on 
one  side  of  the  room,  usually  about  six 
feet  in  length,  and  three  sides  were  built 
up  of  logs,  making  an  offset  in  the  wall. 
This  was  lined  with  stone,  if  convenient; 
if  not,  then  earth.  The  flue,  or  upper 
part  of  the  chimney,  was  built  of  small 
split  sticks,  two  and  a  half  or  three  feet 
in  length,  carried  a  little  space  above  the 
roof,  and  plastered  over  with  clay,  and 
when  finished  was  called  a  "cat-and-clay" 
chimney.  The  door  space  was  also  made 
by  cutting  an  aperture  in  one  side  of  the 
room  of  the  required  size,  the  door  itself 
being  made  of  clapboards  secured  by 
wooden  pins  to  two  crosspieces.  The 
hinges  were  also  of  wood,  while  the  fast- 
enings consisted  of  a  wooden  latch  catch- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


73 


ing  on  a  hook  of  the  same  material.  To 
open  the  door  from  the  outside,  a  strip 
of  buckskin  was  tied  to  the  latch  and 
drawn  through  a  hole  a  few  inches  above 
the  latch-bar,  so  that  on  pulling  the  string 
the  latch  was  lifted  from  the  catch  or 
hook,  and  the  door  was  opened  without 
further  trouble.  To  lock  the  door,  it  was 
only  necessary  to  pull  the  string  through 
the  hole  to  the  inside.  Here  the  family 
lived,  and  here  the  guest  and  wayfarer 
were  made  welcome.  The  living  room 
was  of  good  size,  but  to  a  large  extent  it 
was  all — kitchen,  bed-room,  parlor  and 
arsenal,  with  flitches  of  bacon  and  rings 
of  dried  pumpkin  suspended  from  the 
rafters.  In  one  corner  were  the  loom 
and  other  implements  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  clothing,  and  around  the  ample 
fire-place  were  collected  the  kitchen  fur- 
niture. The  clothing  lined  one  side  of 
the  sleeping  apartment,  suspended  from 
pegs  driven  in  the  logs.  Hemp  and  flax 
were  generally  raised,  and  a  few  sheep 
kept.  Out  of  these  the  clothing  for  the 
family  and  the  sheets  and  coverlets  were 
made  by  the  females  of  the  house. 
Over  the  door  •  was  placed  the  trusty 
rifle,  and  just  back  of  it  hung  the  pow- 
der horn  and  hunting  pouch.  In  the 
well-to-do  families,  or  when  crowded  on 
the  ground  floor,  a  loft  was  sometimes 
made  to  the  cabin  for  a  sleeping  place 
and  the  storage  of  "traps"  and  articles 
not  in  common  use.  .  The  loft  was  reach- 
ed by  a  ladder  secured  to  the  wall. 
Generally  the  bedrooms  were  separa- 
ted from  the  living-room  by  sheets  and 
coverlets  suspended  from  the  rafters, 
but  until  the  means  of  making  these 
partition  walls  were  ample,  they  lived 
and  slept  in  the  same  room. 


Familiarity  with  this  mode  of  living 
did  away  with  much  of  the  discomfort* 
but  as  soon, as  the  improvement  could  be 
made,  there  was  added  to  the  cabin  an 
additional  room,  or  a  "  double  log  cabin  " 
being  substantially  a"  three-faced  camp," 
with  a  log  room  on  each  end  and  con- 
taining a  loft.  The  furniture  in  the 
cabin  corresponded  with  the  house  it- 
self. The  articles  used  in  the  kitchen 
were  as  few  q,nd  simple  as  can  be  imag- 
ined. A  ''Dutch  oven,"  or  skillet,  a 
long  handled  frying  pan,  an  iron  pot  or 
kettle,  and  sometimes  a  coffee  pot,  con- 
stituted the  utensils  of  the  best  furnish- 
ed kitchen.  A  little  later,  when  stone 
formed  the  base  of  the  chimney,  a  long 
iron  "  crane "  swung  in  the  chimney 
place,  which  on  its  "  pot-hook  "  carried 
the  boiling  kettle  or  heavy  iron  pot. 
The  cooking  was  all  done  on  the  fire- 
place and  at  the  fire,  and  the  style  of 
cooking  was  as  simple  as  the  utensils. 
Indian,  or  corn  meal,  was  the  common 
flour,  which  was  made  into  "pone"  or 
•'  corn-dodger,"  or  "  hoe-cake,"  as  the 
occasion  or  variety  demanded.  The 
"  pone  "  and  the  "  dodger  "  was  baked  in 
the  Dutch  oven,  which  was  first  set  on  a 
bed  of  glowing  coals.  When  the  oven 
was  filled  with  dough,  the  lid,  already 
heated  on  the  fire,  was  placed  on  the 
oven  and  covered  with  red  hot  coals. 
When  the  bread  was  done,  it  was  taken 
from  the  oven  and  placed  near  the  fire 
to  keep  warm  while  some  other  food  was 
being  prepared  in  the  same  "oven  "  for 
the  forthcoming  meal,  The  "  hoe-cake  " 
was  prepared  in  the  same  way  as  the 
dodger — that  is,  a  stiff  dough  was  made 
of  the  meal  and  water,  and,  taking  as 
much  as  could  conveniently  be  held  in 


74 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


both  hands,it  was  moulded  into  the  desir- 
ed shape  by  being  tossed  from  hand  to 
hand,  then  laid  on  a  board  or  flat  stone 
placed  at  an  angle  before  the  fire  and  pat- 
ted down  to  the  required  thickness  on 
the  "johnny-cake  board."  In  the  fall 
and  early  winter,  cooked  pumpkin  was 
sometimes  $dded  to  the  meal  dough, 
giving  a  flavor  and  richness  to  the  bread 
not  attained  by  the  modern  methods.  In 
the  oven  from  which  the  bread  was 
taken,  the  venison  or  ham  was  then  fried, 
and,  in  winter,  lye  hominy,  made  from 
the  unbroken  grains  of  corn,  added  to 
the  frugal  meal.  The  woods  abounded 
in  honey,  and  of  this  in  pioneer  times, 
the  early  settlers  had  an  abundance  the 
year  round. 

These  simple  cabins  were  inhabited 
by  a  kind  and  true-hearted  people. 
They  were  strangers  to  mock-modesty, 
and  the  traveler  seeking  lodgings  for  the 
night,  or  desirous  of  spending  a'  few 
days  in  the  community,  if  willing  to  ac- 
cept the  rude  offerings,  was  always  wel- 
come, although  how  they  were  disposed 
of  at  night  the  reader  may  not  easily 
imagine:  for,  as  described,  often  a  single 
room  would  be  made  to  serve  the  pur- 
pose of  a  kitchen,  dining-room,  sitting- 
room  and  parlor,  and  many  families  con- 
sisted of  six  or  eight  persons. 

CHARACTEE  OF  THE  PIONEERS. 

The  character  of  the  pioneers  of  Mc- 
Donough  county  falls  properly  within 
'the  range  of  the  historian.  They  lived 
in  a  region  of  exuberance  and  fertility, 
where  Nature  had  scattered  her  bless- 
ings with  a  liberal  hand.  The  fair  sup- 
ply of  timber,  the  fertile  prairie,  and  the 
many  improvements  'constantly  going 


forward,  with  the  bright  prospect  for  a 
glorious  future  in  everything  that  ren- 
ders life  pleasant,  combined  to  deeply  im- 
press their  character,  to  give  them  a 
spirit  of  enterprise,  an  independance  of 
feeling,  and  a  joyousness  of  hope. 
They  were  a  thorough  admixture  of 
many  nations,  characters,  languages, 
conditions,  and  opinions.  There  was 
scarcely  a  state  in  the  Union  that  was 
not  represented  among  the  early  settlers, 
All  the  various  religious  sects  Jiad  their 
advocates.  All  now  form  one  society. 
Says  an  early  writer:  "  Men  must  cleave 
to  their  kind,  and  must  be  dependent 
upon  each  other.  Pride  and  jealousy 
give  way  to  the  natural  yearnings  of  the 
human  heart  for  society.  They  begin  to 
rub  off  the  neutral  prejudices;  one 
takes  a  step  and  then  the  other;  they 
meet  half  way  and  embrace;  and  the 
society  thus  newly  organized  and  consti- 
tuted is  more  liberal,  enlarged,  unpreju- 
diced, and,  of  course,  more  affectionate 
than  a  society  of  people  of  like  birth 
and  character,  who  bring  all  their  early 
prejudices  as  a  common  stock,  to  be 
transmitted  as  an  inheritance  to  pos- 
terity." 

They  were  bound  together  by  a  feeling 
that  all  were  equal,  and  were  laboring 
and  striving  for  a  common  end.  They 
had  all  left  more  or  less  comfortable 
homes  in  the  eastern  states,  and  cast 
their  lot  in  a  country  where  there  was 
nothing  save  the  intrinsic  merits  of  the 
location.  Here  they  were  all  on  equal 
footing;  riches  could  give  no  advantage, 
even  had  they  existed,  and  the  absence 
of  the  aristocratic  element  that  is  now 
so  painfully  apparent  in  society,  must 
alone  have  been  a  great  source  of  com- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


75 


fort  to  the  pioneers.  They  all  felt  an 
equal  interest  in  the  improvement  and 
development  of  the  country,  and  to  the 
softening  and  smoothing  over  of  the 
rough  edged  disadvantages  against 
which  they  had  to  contend.  Every  one 
was  thought  of  and  treated  as  a  brother. 
Their  public  gatherings  were  like  the 
reunion  of  a  parted  family,  and  the  fact 
that  there  was  no  rivalry,  made  the  oc- 
casions doubly  joyous.  Their  hospitality 
knew  no  bounds. 

CLOTHING. 

The  clothing  of  the  early  pioneers  was 
as  plain  and  simple  as  their  houses.  Ne- 
cessity compelled  it  to  be  in  conformity 
to  the  strictest  economy.  The  clothing 
taken  to  the  new  country  was  made  to 
render  a  vast  deal  of  service  until  a  crop 
of  flax  or  hemp  could  be  grown,  out  of 
which  to  make  the  household  apparel. 
The  prairie  wolves  made  it  difficult  to 
take  sheep  into  the  settlements,  but  after 
the  sheep  had  been  introduced,  and  flax 
and  hemp  raised  in  sufficient  quantities, 
it  still  remained  an  arduous  task  to  spin, 
weave  and  make  the  wearing  apparel  for 
an  entire  family.  In  summer,  nearly  all 
persons,  both  male  and  female,  went 
barefooted.  Buckskin  moccasins  were 
much  worn.  Boys  of  twelve  and  fifteen 
years  of  age  never  thought  of  wearing 
anything  on  their  feet,  except  during 
three  or  four  months  of  the  coldest 
weather  in  winter.  Boots  were- unknown 
until  a  later  generation.  After  flax  was 
raised  in  sufficient  quantities,  and  sheep 
could  be  protected  from  the  wolves,  a 
better  and  more  comfortable  style  of 
clothing  prevailed.  Flannel  and  linsey 
were  woven  and  made  into  garments  for 


the  women  and  children,  and  jeans  for 
the  men.  The  wool  for  the  jeans  was 
colored  from  the  bark  of  the  walnut,  and 
from  this  came  the  term  "butternut," 
still  common  throughout  the  West.  The 
black  and  white  wool  mixed,  varied  the 
color,  and  gave  the  name  "pepper-and- 
salt."  As  a  matter  of  course  every 
family  did  its  own  spinning,  weaving 
and  sewing,  and  for  years  all  the  wool 
had  to  be  carded  by  hand  on  cards  from 
four  inches  broad  to  eight  .and  ten 
inches  long.  The 'picking  of  the  wool 
and  carding  was  work  to  which  the  little 
folks  could  help,  and  at  the  proper  sea- 
son all  the  little  hands  were  enlisted  in 
the  business.  Every  household  had  its 
big  and  little  spinning  wheels,  winding- 
blades,  reel,  warping-bars  and  loom. 
The  articles  were  indispensable  in  every 
family.  In  many  of  the  households  of 
McDonough  county,  stowed  away  in 
empty  garrets  and  out-of-the-way  places, 
may  still  be  found  some  of  these  almost 
forgotten  relics" 

The  preparations  for  the  family  cloth- 
ing usually  began  early  in  the  fall,  and 
the  work  was  continued  on  into  the  win- 
ter months,  when  the  whir  of  the  wheels 
and  the  regular  stroke  of  the  loom  could 
heard  until  a  late  hour  of  the  night. 
No  scene  can  well  be  imagined  so 
abounding  in  contentment  and  domestic 
happiness.  Strips  of  bark,  of  the  shell 
bark  hickory,  thrown  from  time  to  time 
in  the  ample  fire  place,  cast  a  ruddy, 
flickering  light  over  the  room.  In  one 
corner,  within  range  of  the  reflected 
light,  the  father  is  cobbling  a  well  worn 
pair  of  shoes,  or  trying  his  skill  at  mak- 
ing new  ones.  Hard  by,  the  young  ones 
are  shelling  corn  for  the  next  grist.  The 


76 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


oldest  daughter  whirls  the  large  spin- 
ning wheel,  and  with  its  hum  and  whir 
trips  to  the  far  side  of  the  'room,  draw- 
ing out  the  thread,  while  the  mother, 
with  the  click  of  the  shuttle  and  the 
measured  thump  of  the  loom,  fills  up  the 
hours.  The  whole  a  scene  of  domestic 
industry  and  happiness  rarely  elsewhere 
to  be  found. 

Industry  such  as  this,  supported  by  an 
economy  and  frugality  from  which  there 
was  no  escape,  necessarily  brought  its 
own  reward.  Changes  and  alterations 
were  to  be  expected,  but  the  reality  has 
distanced  the  wildest  conjecture;  and 
stranger  still,  multitudes  are  still  living 
who  witnessed  not  only  the  face  of  nature 
undergoing  a  change  about  them,  but 
the  manners,  customs  and  industries  of 
a  whole  people  almost  wholly  changed. 
Many  an  old  pioneer  sits  by  his  fireside 
in  his  easy  chair  with  closed  eyes,  and 
dreams  of  the  long  ago,  in  sympathy 
with  the  poet  describing  eastern  pioneer 
life,  and  seeing  here  and  there  strains 
that  are  parallel  to  his  own  experience: 

"  The  voice  of  Nature's  very  self  drops  low, 
As  though  she  whispered  of.  the  long  ago, 
When  down  the  wandering    stream  the    rude 

canoe 

Of  some  lone  trapper  glided  into  view, 
And  loitered  down  the  watery  path  that  led 
Thro'  forest  depths,  that  only  knew  the  tread 
Of  savage  beasts  and  wild  barbarians, 
That    skulked    about    with    blood    upon    their 

hands, 

And  murder  in  their  hearts.    The  light  of  day 
Might  barely  pierce  the  gloominess  that  lay 
Like  some  dark  pall  across  the  water's  face, 
And  folded  all  the  laud  in  its  embrace,  » 
The    panther's  screaming,  and   the   bear's   low 

growl, 
The  snake's  sharp  rattle,  and  the  wolf's  wild 

howl, 


The  owl's  grim  chuckle,  as  it  rose  and  fell 

In  alternation  with  the  Indian's  yell, 

Made  fitting  prelude  for  the  gory  plays 

That  were  enacted  in  the  early  days. 

Now,  o'er  the  vision,  like  a  miracle,  falls 

The  old  log  cabin  with  its  clingy  walls, 

And  crippled  chimney,  with  the  crutch-like  prop 

Beneath,  a  sagging  shoulder  at  the  top, 

The  coon  skin  battened  fast  on  either  side, 

The  wisps  of  leaf  tobacco,  cut  and  dried ; 

The  yellow  strands  of  quartered  apples  hung 

In  rich  festoons  that  tangle  in  among 

The  morning  glory  vines  that  clamber  o'er 

The  little  clapboard  roof  above  the  door ; 

Again,  thro'  mists  of  memory  arise 

The  simple  scenes  of  home  before  the  eyes ; 

The  happy  mother  humming  with  her  wheel ; 

The  dear  old  melodies  that  used  to  steal 

So  drowsily  upon  the  summer  air, 

The  house  dog  hid  his  bone,  forgot  his  care 

And  nestled  at  her  feet,  to  dream,  perchance, 

Some  cooling  di-eam  of  summer-time  romance. 

The  square  of  sunshine  through  the  open  door 

That  notched  its  edge  across  the  puncheon  floor, 

And  made  the  golden  coverlet  whereon 

The  god  of  slumber  had  a  picture  drawn 

Of  babyhood,  in  all  the  loveliness 

Of  dimpled  cheek  and  limb  and  linsey  dress. 

The  bough-filled  fire-place  and  the  mantle  wide, 

Its  fire-scorched  ankles  stretched  on  either  side, 

Where,  perchance  upon  its  shoulder  'neath  the 

joist, 
The  old  clock  hiccoughed,  harsh  and  husky 

voiced ; 

Tomatoes,  red  and  yellow,  in  a  row, 
Preserved  not  them  for  diet  but  for  show ; 
The  jars  of  jelly,  with  their  dainty  tops; 
Bunches  of  pennyroyal  and  cordial  drops, 
The  flask  of  camphor  and  vial  of  squills, 
The  box  of  buttons,  garden  seeds  and  pills; 
And  thus  the  pioneer  and  helpsome  aged  wife 
Reflectively  views  the  scenes  of  early  life." 

In  early  days  more  mischief  was  done 
by  wolves  than  by  any  other  wild  ani- 
mal, and  no  small  part  of  their  mischief 
consisted  in  their  almost  constant  bark- 
ing at  night,  which  always  seemed  men- 
acing and  frightful  to  the  settlers.  Like 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


77 


mosquitos,  the  noise  they  made  appeared 
to  be  about  as  dreadful  as  the  depreda- 
tions they  committed.  The  most  effect- 
ual, as  well  as  the  most  exciting,  method 
of  ridding  the  country  of  these  hateful 
pests,  was  that  known  as  the  circular 
wolf  hunt,  by  which  alLthe  men  and  boys 
would  turn  out  on  an  appointed  day,  in  a 
kind  of  circle  comprising  many  square 
miles  of  territory,  with  horses  and  dogs, 
and  then  close  up  toward  the  center  field 
of  operation,  killing  the  "varmints"  as 
they  came  into  view. 

WEDDINGS. 

The  wedding  was  an  attractive  feature 
of  pioneer  life.  There  was  no  distinc- 
tion of  life  and  very  little  of  fortune 
On  these  accounts  the  first  impressions 
of  love  generally  resulted  in  marriage. 
The  family  establishment  cost  but  little 
labor — nothing  more.  The  marriage 
was  always  celebrated,  in  those  days, 
at  the  house  of  the  bride,  and  she  was 
generally  left  to  choose  the  officiating 
clergyman.  A  wedding,  however,  en- 
gaged the  attention  of  the  whole  neigh- 
borhood. It  was  anticipated  by  both 
old  and  young  with  eager  expectation. 
In  the  morning  of  the  wedding  day,  the 
groom  and  his  intimate  friends  assem- 
bled at  the  house  of  his  father,  and  after 
due  preparation,  departed  en  masse  for 
the  "mansion"  of  his  bride.  The  jour- 
ney was  sometimes  made  on  horseback, 
sometimes  on  foot,  and  sometimes  in 
farm  wagons  and  carts.  It  was  always 
a  merry  journey,  and  to  insure  merri- 
ment the  bottle  was  always  taken  along. 
On  reaching  the  house  of  the  bride,  the 
marriage  ceremony  took  place,  and  then 
dinner  or  supper  was  served.  After  the 


meal  the  dancing  commenced,  and  gen- 
erally lasted  until  the  following  morning. 
The  figures  of  the  dances  were  three 
and  four-handed  reels,  or  square  sets 
and  jigs.  The  commencement  was 
always  a  square  four,  which  was  followed 
by  what  the  pioneers  called  "jigging,"— 
that  is,  two  out  of  the  four  would  single 
out  for  a  jig,  and  were  followed  by  the 
remaining  couple.  The  jigs  were  often 
accompanied  with  what  was  called  "cut- 
ting out" — that  is,  when  either  of  the 
parties  became  tired  of  the  dance,  on 
intimation  the  place  was  supplied  by 
some  one  of  the  company  without  inter- 
ruption of  the  dance.  In  this  way  the 
reel  was  often  continued  until  the  musi- 
cian was  exhausted.  About  nine  or  ten 
o'clock  in  the  evening  a  deputation  of 
young  ladies  stole  off  the  bride  and  put 
her  to  bed.  In  doing  this,  they  had  to 
ascend  a  ladder  from  the  kitchen  to  the 
upper  floor,  which  was  composed  of 
loose  •  boards.  Here,  in  the  pioneer 
bridal  chamber,  the  young,  simple- 
hearted  girl  was  put  to  bed  by  her  en- 
thusiastic friends.  This  done,  a  deputa- 
tion of  young  men  escorted  the  groom 
to  the  same  apartment,  and  placed  him 
snugly  by  the  side  of  his  bride.  The 
dance  still  continued,  and  if  the  seats 
in  the  house  were  scarce,  which  was  gen- 
erally the  case,  says  a  local  witness,  every 
young  man,  when  not  engaged  in  the 
dance,  was  obliged  to  offer  his  lap  as  a 
seat  for  one  of  the  girls,  and  the  offer 
was  sure  to  be  accepted.  During  the 
night's  festivities,  spirits  were  freely 
used,  but  seldom  to  excess.  The  infair 
was  held  on  the  following  evening,  where 
the  same  order  of  exercises  was  generally 
observed. 


78 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


SHAKES. 

Another  feature  of  pioneer  life,  which 
every  old  settler  will  vividly  recall,  was 
the  "chills  and  fever,"  "fever  and  ague," 
or  "shakes,"  as  it  is  variously  called.  It 
was  a  terror  to  new-comers,  for  in  the 
fall  of  the  year  almost  everybody  was 
afflicted  with  it.  It  was  no  respecter  of 
persons ;  everybody  looked  pale  and  sal- 
low, as  though  frost-bitten.  It  was"not 
contagious,  but  derived  from  impure 
water  and  air,  which  was  always  devel- 
oped in  the  opening  up  of  a  new  coun- 
try of  rank  soil  like  that  of  McDonough 
county.  The  impurities  continued  to 
absorb  from  day  to  day,  and  from  week 
to  week,  until  the  whole  corporate  body 
becomes  saturated  with  it  as  with  elec- 
tricity, and  then  the  shock  came;  and 
the  shock  was  a  regular  shake,  with  a 
fixed  beginning  and  ending,  coming  on, 
in  some  cases,  each  day,  but  generally 
on  alternate  days,  with  a  regularity  that 
was  surprising.  After  the  shakes  came 
the  fever,  and  this  "  last  estate  was 
worse  than  the  first;"  it  was  a  burning 
hot  fever,  and  lasted  for  hours,  ^hen 
you  had  the  chill  you  couldn't  get  warm, 
and  when  you  had  the  fever  you  couldn't 
get  cool.  It  was  exceedingly  awkward 
in  this  respect — indeed  it  was.  Nor 
would  it  stop  for  any  contingency — not 
even  a  wedding  in  the  family  could  stop 
it.  It  was  imperative  and  tyrannical. 
When  the  appointed  time  came  around, 
everything  else  had  to  be  stopped  to  at- 
tend to  its  demands.  It  didn't  even 
have  any  Sundays  or  holidays.  After 
the  fever  went  down  you  still  didn't  feel 
much  better;  you  felt  as  though  you 
had  gone  through  some  sort  of  a  collis- 
ion, threshing-machine,  jarring-machine, 


and  came  out  not  killed,  but  next  thing 
to  it.  You  felt  weak,  as  though  you  had 
run  too  far  after  something,  and  then 
didn't  catch  it.  You  felt  languid,  stupid 
and  sore  and  was  down  in  the  mouth  and 
heel  and  partially  raveled  out.  Your 
back  was  out  of  fix,  your  head  ached  and 
your  appetite  crazy.  Your  eyes  had  too 
much  white  in  them;  your  ears,  espec- 
ially after  taking  quinine,  had  too  much 
roar  in  them,  and  your  whole  body  and 
soul  were  entirely  woe  begone,  disconso- 
late, sad,  poor  and  good  for  nothing, 
You  didn't  think  much  of  yourself,  and 
didn't  believe  that  other  people  did 
either,  and  you  didn't  care.  You  didn't 
quite  make  up  your  mind  to  commit 
suicide,  but  sometimes  wished  some  ac- 
cident would  happen  to  knock  either  the 
malady  or  yourself  out  of  existence. 
You  imagined  even  the  dogs  looked  at 
you  with  a  sort  of  self-complacency. 
You  thought  the  sun  had  a  sort  of  sickly 
shine  about  it.  About  this  time  you 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  you  would 
not  take  the  whole  state  as  a  gift;  and 
if  you  had  the  strength  and  means  you 
would  pick  up  Hannah  and  the  baby, 
and  your  traps,  and  go  back  "yander" 
to  "  Old  Virginia,"  the  "  Jarseys  "  Mary- 
land, Pennsylvania,  Kentucky  or  Ten- 
nessee. 

"And  to-day,  the  swallows  flitting 
Round  my  cabin,  see  me  sitting 
Moodily  within  the  sunshine, 

Just  within  my  silent  door, 
Waiting  for  the  '  ager,'  seeming 
Like  a  man  forever  dreaming; 
And  the  sunlight  on  me  streaming 

Throws  no  shadow  on  the  floor ; 
For  I  am  too  thin  and  sallow, 
To  make  shadows  on  the  floor — 

Nary  shadow  any  more!" 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


79 


The  foregoing  is  not  a  mere  picture  of 
imagination.  It  is  simply  recounting  in 
quaint  phrase  of  what  actually  occurred  in 
hundreds  of  cases.  Whole  families  would 
sometimes  be  sick  at  one  time,  and  not 
a  member  scarcely  able  to  wait  upon 
another.  Labor  or  exercise  always  aggra- 
vated the  malady,  and  it  took  General 
Laziness  a  long  time  to  thrash  the  enemy 
out.  These  were  the  days  for  swallowing 
all  sorts  of  roots  and  "yarbs"  and  whisky 
straight,  with  some  faint  hope  of  relief. 
Finally,  when  the  case  wore  out,  the  last 
remedy  got  the  credit  of  the  cure. 

SNAKES. 

In  pioneer  times  snakes  were  numerous, 
such  as  the  rattlesnake,viper,adder,blood- 
snakes,  and  many  varieties  of  large  blue 
and  green  snakes,  milksnakes,  garter  and 
watersnakes,  and  others.  If,  on  meeting 
one  of  these,  you  would  retreat,  they 
would  chase  you  very  fiercely;  but  if  you 
would  turn  and  give  them  battle,  they 
would  immediately  turn  and  crawl  away 
with  all  possible  speed,  hide  in  the  grass 
and  weeds  and  wait  for  a  "greener"  cus- 
tomer. These  really  harmless  snakes 
served  to  put  people  on  their  guard 
against  the  more  dangerous  and  venom- 
ous kind.  It  was  a  common  paactice,  in 
order  to  exterminate  them,  for  the  men 
to  turn  6ut  in  companies  with  spades, 
mattocks,  and  crowbars,  attack  the  prin- 
cipal snake  dens,  and  slay  large  num- 
bers of  them.  In  early  spring  the  snakes 
were  somewhat  torpid  and  easily  cap- 
tured. Scores  of  rattlesnakes  were 
sometimes  frightened  out  of  a  single  den, 
which,  as  soon  as  they  showed  their 
heads  through  the  crevices  of  the  rocks, 
were  dispatched,  and  left  to  be  devoured 


by  the  numerous  wild  hogs  of  that  day. 
Some  of  the  fattest  of  these  snakes  were 
taken  to  the  house  and  oil  extracted  from 
them,  and  their  glittering  skins  were 
saved  as  a  specific  for  rheumatism. 
Another  method  for  their  destruction 
was  to  fix  a  heavy  stick  over  the  door  of 
their  dens,  with  a  long  grapevine  at- 
tached, so  that  one  at  a  distance  could 
plug  the  entrance  to  the  den  when  the 
snakes  were  all  out  sunning  themselves. 
Then  a  large  company  of  citizens,  on 
hand  by  appointment,  could  kill  scores 
of  the  reptiles  in  a  few  minutes. 

AGRICULTURE. 

In  the  earlier  settlements  of  this  sec- 
tion, ponds,  marshes  and  swamps 
abounded  where  to-day  are  found  culti- 
vated and  fertile  fields.  The  low  and 
flat  places  were  avoided  for  the  higher 
grounds,  not  only  on  account  of  the 
wetness,  but  for  sanitary  reasons.  Agri- 
cultural implements  were  necessarily 
rude,  and  the  agriculture  of  a  corre- 
sponding character.  The  plow  used  was 
called  a  "bar-share"  plow,  the  iron  point 
of  which  consisted  of  a  bar  of  iron 
about  two  feet  long,  and  a  broad  share  of 
iron  welded  to  it.  At  the  extreme  point 
was  a  coulter  that  passed  through  a 
beam  six  or  seven  feet  long,  to  which 
was  attached  handles  of  corresponding 
length.  The  mold-board  was  a  wooden 
one  split  out  of  winding  timber,  or 
hewed  into  a  Avindlng  shape,  in  order  to 
turn  the  soil  over.  In  the  springtime, 
when  the  ground  was  to  be  prepared  for 
the  seed,  the  father  would  take  his  post 
at  the  plow,  and  the  daughter  posses- 
sion of  the  reins.  This  is  a  grand  scene 
— one  full  of  grace  and  beauty.  The 


80 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


pioneer  girl  thinks  but  little  of  fine 
dress;  knows  less  of  the  fashions;  has 
probably  heard  of  the  opera,  but  does 
not  understand  its  meaning;  has  been 
told  of  the  piano  but  has  never  seen  one; 
wears  a  dress  "buttoned  up  behind;"  has 
on  "leather  boots,"  and  "drives  plow" 
for  father.  In  the  planting  of  corn, 
which  was  always  done  by  hand,  the 
girls  always  took  a  part,  usually  drop- 
ping the  corn,  but  many  of  them  cover- 
ing it  with  the  hand-hoe. 

In  the  cultivation  of  wheat,  the  land 
was  ploughed  the  same  as  for  corn,  and 
harrowed  with  a  wooden-toothed  harrow, 
or  smoothed  by  dragging  over  the  ground 
a  heavy  brush,  weighed  down,  if  neces- 
sary, with  a  stick  of  timber.  It  was  then 
sown  broadcast  by  hand  at  the  rate  of 
about  a  bushel  and  a  quarter  to  the  acre, 
and  harrowed  in  with  the  brush.  The 
implements  used  to  cut  the  wheat  was 
either  the  sickle  nor  the  cradle.  The 
sickle  was  almost  identical  with  the"grass 
hook"  in  use,  and  the  cradle  was  a 
scythe  fastened  to  a  frame  of  wood,  with 
long,  bending  teeth  or  strips  of  wood, 
for  cutting  and  laying  the  grain  in 
swaths.  There  were  few  farmers  who 
did  not  know  how  to  swing  the  scythe  or 
cradle,  and  there  was  no  more  pleasant 
picture  on  a  farm  than  a  gang  of  work- 
men in  the  harvest  field,  nor  a  more  hi- 
larious crowd.  Three  cradlers  would  cut 
about  ten  acres  a  day.  One  binder  was 
expected  to  keep  up  with  the  cradle. 
Barns  for  the  storage  of  the  unthreshed 
grain  are  comparatively  a  "modern  in- 
vention," and  as'soon^s  the  shock  was 
supposed  to  be  sufficiently  cured,  it  was 
hauled  to  some  place  on  the  farm  con- 
venient for  threshing,  and  there  put  in 


stack.  The  threshing  was  performed  in 
one  or  two  ways,  by  flail  or  tramping 
with  horses,  generally  the  latter.  The 
flail  Avas  used  in  stormy  weather,  on  the 
sheltered  floor,  or  when  the  farm  work 
was  not  pressing;  the  threshing  by  tramp- 
ing commonly  in  clear  weather,  on  a  level 
and  well  tramped  clay  floor.  The  bundles 
were  piled  in  a  circle  of  about  fifteen  to 
twenty  feet  in  diameter,  and  four  to  six 
horses  ridden  over  the  straw.  One  or 
two  hands  turned  over  and  kept  the  straw 
in  place.  When  sufficiently  tramped, 
the  straw  was  thrown  into  a  rick 
or  stack,  and  the  wheat  cleared  by  a 
"fanning-mill,"  or  sometimes,  before  fan- 
ning-mills  were  introduced,  by  letting  it 
fall  from  the  height  of  ten  or  twelve  feet, 
subjected  to  the  action  of  the  wind,  when 
it  was  supposed  to  be  ready  for  the  mill 
or  market. 

RELIGION. 

The  religious  element  in  the  life  of  the 
pioneer  was  such  as  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  those  living  in  more  favored 
places.  The  pioneer  was  no  hypocrite. 
If  he  believed  in  horse-racing,  whisky- 
drinking,  card-playing,  or  anything  of 
like  character,  he  practiced  them  openly 
and  above  board.  If  he  was  of  a  relig- 
ious turn  of  mind  he  was  not  afraid  to 
own  it.  He  could  truthfully  sing, 

"I'm  not  ashamed  to  own  my  Lord, 
Or  blush  to  speak  His  name." 

But  the  pioneer  clung,  to  the  faith  of 
his  father,  for  a  time,  at  least.  If  he 
was  a  Presbyterian  he  was  not  ashamed 
of  it,  but  rather  prided  himself  on  be- 
ing one  of  the  elect.  He  prayed  long 
and  loud  if  the  spirit  moved  him,  and 
cared  nothing  for  the  empty  form  of  re- 
ligion. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


83 


CHAPTER    "V. 


EAELY   SETTLEMENT. 


To  the  reader  of  local  history,  this 
chapter  is  of  general  interest,  but  to  the 
pioneer  himself  it  is  more.  Here  lie  has 
himself,  and  friends,  and  neighbors,  as 
in  days  past  they  first  sought  out  the 
western  wilds  and  fought  for  existence 
in  the  wilderness.  See  him,  as  he  takes 
the  book  in  hand  slowly,  critically  pore- 
ing  over  every  word,  recalling  in  his 
mind  the  pictures  of  a  vanished  past  at 
the  mention  of  some  well-known  name, 
or  smiling  as  recollection  brings  back 
some  ludicrous  adventure  in  the  early 
days  of  his  settlement.  His  old  associa- 
tions, the  trials  and  tribulations  incident 
to  a  new  country,  the  battles  against  hun- 
ger and  cold,  while  settlers  were  scat- 
tered thinly  over  a  large  expanse  of  coun- 
try. All  these  rise  up  before  him  as  he 
reads.  Even  now,  in  memory,  he  hears 
the  wind  moan  round  the  humble  cot- 
tage that  first  sheltered  him,  and  hears 
the  wolves  howl  as  they  did  in  clays  of 
yore.  The  picture  of  the  past  rises  up 
vividly  before  him,  and  he  once  more 
rejoices  in  the  pride  of  youth.  Now  the 
thought  comes  over  him,  that  by  and 
through  his  efforts,  he  has  helped  to 
make  this  wilderness  blossom  as  the 
rose,  and  emerge  from  a  state  of  nature 
into  a  well  developed  and  thrifty  land, 
and  views  with  satisfaction  the  growing 
towns  and  villages  and  fertile  farms  that 


dot  the  landscape  over.  But  perhaps 
the  brow  will  cloud  and  the  eye  dim  as 
memory's  mystic  voice  recalls  the  dark 
and  painful  side  of  those  early  exper- 
iences. The  loved  wife  of  his  bosom  fad- 
ing slowly  away  before  the  breath  of  the 
cold  destroyer,  or  some  laughing,  prat- 
tling babe,  the  joy  of  the  household,  laid 
away  under  the  sod,  in  solemn  silence, 
by  the  hands  of  rough-appearing,  but 
sympathizing  neighbors.  Time  has 
healed  those  wounds,  but  to-day,  as 
memory  is  fast  unlocking  the  chambers 
of  the  mind,  the  silent  tear  will  well  itself 
to  the  surface  and  drop  as  a  tribute  to 
the  loved  and  the  lost  of  that  by-gone 
time. 

Notwithstanding  the  cares  and  adver- 
sities that  clustered  round^the  cabin  door 
of  the  pioneer,  these  hardy  Argonauts 
led  a  happy  life.  Here  all  were  free 
and  equal,  and  the  absence  of  the  re- 
straining presence  of  wealth  and  posi- 
tion, was  to  him  a  source  of  comfort  and 
satisfaction.  The  rough  hospitality,  the 
hearty  feeling  of  brotherhood,  among 
these  vanguards  of  civilization,  were  the 
spontaneous  overflow  of  hearts  full  of 
regard  for  humanity,  and  was  practiced 
more  as  the  natural  prompting  of  their 
nature,  than  from  any  teaching  of  a 
Christian  duty.  They  were  men  in  the 
highest  acceptance  of  the  word. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


EARLY    SETTLERS. 

For  a  few  years  preceding  the  advent 
of  actual,  permanent  settlers,  in  nearly 
all  counties,  cabins,  temporary  in  char- 
acter, have  been  raised  by  a  class  of  peo- 
ple, the  forerunners  of  civilization,  that 
are  not  to  be  regarded  as  settlers  at  all. 
They  are,  generally,  hunters  and  trap- 
pers, who  do  not  break  the  sod  or  till 
the  ground,  but  live,  almost  exclusively* 
by  the  chase,  and  are  but  little  removed 
from  the  red  man,  the  original  occupant 
of  the  land.  That  McDonough  county 
had  its  usual  allotment  of  this  class  of 
people,  there  is  abundant  proof  in  the 
traditions  that  are  rife  in  many  of  the 
families  of  the  old  settlers,  that  when 
they  came  here,  on  such  and  such  a  sec- 
tion, there  was  an  old  cabin  that  had 
been  erected  six,  eight  or  ten  years  be- 
fore. Who  they  were,  where  they  came 
from,  or  where  they  went  to  is,  at  this 
late  day,  impossible  to  conjecture.  Their 
names,  even,  are  buried  under  the  ashes 
of  oblivion,  and  history  has  no  lens 
powerful  enough  to  discern  them. 

The  first  actual  settler,  that  is,one  who 
made  any  improvements  and  tilled  the 
land,  of  whom  there  is  any  account,  is 
Richard  Dunn,  who  settled  in  what  is 
now  Hire  township,  in  1825,  and  culti- 
vated about  four  acres  of  land.  He  had 
a  cabin,  and  for  about  three  weeks,  in 
the  spring  of  1826,  entertained  the 
family  of  William  Job,  while  the  latter 
was  building  a  log  cabin  for  himself  and 
his  family.  Mr.  Dunn  left  this  locality 
within  a  year  or  two  afterwards  and 
passed  out  of  the  knowledge  of  the  few 
settlers  that  knew  him.  His  cabin  was 
situated  upon  section  9,  and  on  the  ar- 
rival of  Hugh  Wilson,  the  latter  took  up 


his  quarters  in  it,  the  owner  having 
vacated  it  previously. 

In  regard  to  who  was  the  next  of 
make  a  settlement  within  the  limits  of  Mc- 
Donough county,  there  is  great  difficulty 
to  determine  with  the  accuracy  obligatory 
upon  history,  but  the  weight  of  testi- 
mony, which  has  been  carefully  sifted, 
seems  to  give  the  honor  to  William  Job. 
That  old  pioneer,  in  the  fall  of  1825, 
leaving  his  family  in  Morgan  county, 
came  to  this  county,  and  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  site  .of  Bland- 
insville  that  fall,  and  picked  out  the 
land  upon  which  he  wanted  to  make  a 
settlement.  In  the  early  winter  he  re- 
turned to  where  his  family  were  and 
there  remained  until  the  following 
spring.  Hardly  had  the  snow  gone  off, 
than  he  and  his  family,  in  company 
with  his  brothers-in-law,  William  South- 
ward and  Ephraim  Perkins,  with  their 
families  came  back  to  the  land  of  prom- 
ise and  settled.  Mr.  Job  took  up  a 
claim  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 33,  where  he  erected  a  cabin,  the 
others  locating  south  of  him.  A  full 
account  of  his  settlement  is  given  in  the 
history  of  Blandinsville  township,  to 
which  the  reader  is  most  respectfully 
referred. 

Eiggs  Pennington  made  a  settlement 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  24,  in 
what  is  now  Industry  township,  in  the 
spring  of  1826.  He  located  in  the  tim- 
ber, totally  ignoring  the  rich  prairie  that 
lay  so  near  his  door,  as  did  nearly  all 
the  pioneers  of  that  day.  Mr.  Penning- 
ton lived  here  for  a  few  years  when  he 
removed  to  Knox  county,  Illinois.  In 
1837,  he  emigrated  to  Texas,  where  he 
died. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


85 


William  Carter  in  the  summer  of  the 
same  year  located  upon  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26,  in  what  is  now  Industry  town- 
ship. The  settlement  that  sprung  up 
around  him  was  known  for  many  years 
afterwards  by  the  name  of  Carter's  set- 
tlement. Here,  on  this  section,  the  set- 
tlers erected,  in  the  year  1827,  a  block 
house,  or  log  fort,  near  the  residence  of 
William  Carter,  on  section  26.  This, 
was  a  two-story  affair,  the  upper  story 
projecting  about  four  feet  over  the  lower 
one  on  all  sides.  It  was  built  in  this  way 
because  it  would  afford  more  ample  pro- 
tection against  being  set  on  fire  by  the 
Indians.  Where  the  upper  story  pro- 
jected holes  were  made,  through  which 
an  Indian  could  be  gently  tapped  on  the 
head  should  he  come  for  incendiary  pur- 
poses. The  building  was  eighteen  by 
twenty  feet,  with  numerous  port  holes 
for  the  guns  of  the  inmates.  Luckily 
they  had  no  occasion  to  use  the  building 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  erected. 
The  soldiers  that  passed  through  this 
country  in  1831-2  to  the  seat  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war  made  considerale 
sport  of  this  building,  and  of  the  idea 
of  erecting  one  two  hundred  miles  from 
the  Indian  country.  But  it  should  be 
remembered  that  the  Indians  were  all 
around  them  every  spring  and  fall,  and 
like  those  of  the  present  day,  were  a 
treacherous  people.  Carter,  after  some 
years,  removed  to  Missouri. 

Stephen  Osborne,  in  1826,  also  made 
a  settlement  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mr. 
Carter,  where  he  remained  but  a  short 
time  when  he  went  to  Knox  county,  and 
passed  out  of  the  knowledge  of  those 
left  here. 


In  the  spring  of  1826,  John  Vance, 
came  to  this  county  and  locating  at  what 
was  long  known  as  Job's  settlement,  put 
up  a  cabin,  and  breaking  up  the  virgin 
soil,  put  in  a  crop.  All  that  summer  he 
toiled  to  get  his  farm  in  shape,  and  in 
the  fall  he  returned  for  his  family  which 
he  had  left  behind  him,  and  bringing 
them  with  him  landed  them  in  his  cabin, 
in  what  is  now  Blandinsville  township, 
December  24th,  1826.  Mr.  Vance  re- 
moved from  here  to  Iowa,  in  1854,  and 
died  while  in  that  state  in  1866. 

William  Dykeson  made  a  settlement 
in  the  same  locality  about  the  year  1826, 
but  resided  there  but  a  short  time. 

Hugh  Wilson  in  1827,  made  a  settle- 
ment on  section  9,  Hire  township.  He 
started  from  Schuyler  county  to  go  to 
some  place  on  the  Mississippi,  near 
the  Des  Moines  rapids,  and  when  they 
arrived  near  the  present  village  of  Web- 
ster, Hancock  county,  he  was  met  by 
William  Job,  William  Southward,  and 
Ephraim  Perkins,  all  brothers-in-law, 
who  had  settled  in  that  vicinity  a  short 
time  previous.  Through  the  solicitude 
of  Mr.  Job,  Mr.  Wilson  changed  his 
course  and  went  to  the  northwest  part  of 
this  county,  and  settled  as  above  stated. 
Here  he  erected  a  "half-faced  camp," 
being  nothing  more  than  a  shed  with 
three  sides  and  an  open  front.  Preparing 
his  ground,  he  planted  it,  and  raised  a 
crop.  When  his  harvest  was  over  he 
built  himself  a  more  substantial  house, 
into  which  he  moved,  but  only  lived 
therein  about  two  weeks,  when  a  friendly 
Indian  came  to  his  cabin  and  gave  the 
alarm  by  stating  that  a  band  of  hostile 
Indians  was  coming  that  way,  and  he 
had  better  leave.  This  advice  he  fol- 


86 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


lowed,  going  to  the  Des  Moines  rapids. 
He  afterwards  returned  to  Hancock 
county,  near  the  •  McDonough  county 
line,  as  is  detailed  in  the  history  of  the 
township,  further  on. 

William  Stephens,  located  on  a  farm  on 
section  24,  in  Industry  township,  in  the 
fall  of  1827.  It  was  in  his  cabin  that 
Rev.  John  Logan  held  the  first  religious 
services  in  the  county  in  the  spring  of 
1828. 

The  next  to  make  a  settlement  in  the 
county  was  Benjamin  Mathews,  a  native 
of  Tennessee;  but  came  to  this  county 
from  Cass  county,  Illinois.  He  located 
in  what  is  now  Bethel  township  during 
the  year  1827,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  in  1878. 

Frank  Redden,  a  native  of  Kentucky 
was  the  next  to  settle  at  the  Job's  settle- 
ment in  1827.  He  did  not  stay  very 
long,  but  moved  on  further  west,  and 
eventually  to  Iowa. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1828, 
William  Pennington,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, settled  in  New  Salem  township,  at 
what  is  now  known  as  Pennington's 
Point,  which  was  named  in  his  honor. 
He  was  the  first  settler  in  that  section  of 
the  county.  He  and  his  wife  have 
passed  away  to  their  reward,  but  several 
of  their  descendants  are  still  residents 
in  the  county.  Mr.  Pennington  lived  in 
this  county  until  1881,  when  he  died. 

John  Logan  made  a  settlement  on  first 
coming  to  the  county  in  1828,  in  Indus- 
try township.  He  lived  for  a  short  time 
in  the  old  fort,  but  afterwards  removed 
to  the  house  just  vacated  by  Stephen 
Osborne.  The  next  year  he  moved  to 
Schuyler  county,  but  in  1830,  returned 
to  this  county,  locating  at  Rock  creek. 


John  Wilson,  a  son  of  Hugh  Wilson, 
set  out  for  himself  and  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,in  1828, although  he  had  been 
here  with  his  father's  family  a  year  be- 
fore, and  located  upon  a  farm  in  Indus- 
try township.  He  was  married  October 
30,  1828,  to  Mattie  Vance,  which  event 
was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Wilson  is  still  a  resident  of  the 
township  and  county. 

Elias  McFadden  made  a  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Chalmers  township,  about 
one  mile  south  of  Macomb,  on  section 
12,  in  1827  or  1828.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  his  son  David,  and  a  nephew, 
Wylie  McFadden,  afterwards  his  son-in- 
law.  They  lived  here  until  November, 
1834,  when  the  two  first  named  were 
arrested  for  the  crime  of  murdering 
their  neighbor,  John  Wilson,  tried,  con- 
victed and  hung  in  Schuyler  county.  A 
full  account  of  the  crime  and  its  punish- 
ment is  given  in  chapter  XIII.  It  was 
at  the  house  of  Elias  McFadden  that 
the  first  election  in  McDonough  county 
was  held. 

William  Moore  made  a  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Eldorado  township,  in  1828, 
on  the  place  west  of  the  Comber  farm. 
The  following  year  he  went  crazy,  and 
was  taken  back  to  Georgia  by  his 
family. 

William  Osborne  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  first  to  make  a  settlement  in 
what  is  now  known  as  Scotland  town- 
ship, he  camping  out  all  the  summer  of 
1828,  on  the  banks  of  the  water-course 
since  known  as  Camp  creek,  from  this 
circumstance.  This  Osborne  was  not 
what  may  be  truly  termed  a  settler,  but 
rather  in  the  light  of  a  temporary  inhab- 
itant. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


87 


Elijah  Bristow  made  a  settlement  in 
Blandinsville  township,  on  section  21, 
during  the  year  1828  or  9.  He,  in  1845, 
sold  out  and  removed  to  Oregon. 

About  the  same  time,  John  Woodside 
settled  on  section  16,  in  the  same  sub- 
division of  the  county,  where  he  lived 
for  ten  years,  when  he,  too,  left  the 
county,  going  westward. 

Isaac  Fowler  settled  in  the  Carter  set- 
tlement, on  section  25,  in  1828,  where  he 
remained  several  years.  His  present 
whereabouts  is  unknown. 

John  Baker,  in  the  summer  of  1830, 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  erected 
a  cabin  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 31,  in  township  6  north,  and  2  west, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Macomb.  He  was,  or  had  been  a  min- 
ister of  the  Regular  Baptist  church,  but 
was  little  given  to  following  his  calling, 
being  too  busy  in  the  every  day  affairs 
of  life.  He  was  the  first  clerk,  pro  tern, 
of  the  county,  and  is  noted  at  length  in 
that  connection.  He  was  the  first  resi- 
dent of  the  city  of  Macomb. 

With  him  came  Oliver  C.  Bice,  who 
helped  put  up  the  cabin  and  who  lived 
in  part  of  it.  He  was  to  run  a  black- 
smith shop,  and  John  Baker  a  tavern, 
but  for  some  reason.  Rice,  in  the  follow- 
ing spring,  removed  west  of  town  and 
ran  a  mill.  Pascal  and  Hess  Smith 
assisted  in  the  building  of  the  double 
cabin. 

Lewis  Walters  made  a  settlement 
upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  3, 
in  Hire  township,  in  the  spring  of  1829, 
where  he  resided  until  the  fall  of  1830, 
when  he  left  the  county. 

David  Troxwell,  in  the  spring  of  1829, 
entered  land  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 


section  21,  Chalmers  township.  He  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  for  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  year  he  left  for  parts  un- 
known. 

James  Edmonstoii,  made  a  settlement 
in  1829,  in  the  southern  portion  of  the 
present  Chalmers  township.  He  shortly 
afterwards  removed  into  Bethel  town- 
ship, but  after  some  years  residence  there 
migrated  back  to  Chalmers  township, 
locating  on  section  32.  He  afterwards 
removed  to  Schuyler  county,  where  he 
died. 

William  O'Neal,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  made  a  settlement  on  section 
24,  Chalmers  township  in  1829,  where  he 
remained  a  few  years,  when  he  removed 
to  Iowa. 

William  Edmonston,  settled  in  Mc- 
Donough county  in  1829,  locating  upon 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  in 
Chalmers  township.  He  is  quite  noted 
in  the  official  life  of  the  county  and  is 
spoken  of  in  that  connection.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature  of  three  dif- 
ferent states  in  his  time,  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois and  Missouri.  He  left  this  county 
about  1842  or  3. 

Most  likely  the  next  family  to  locate  in 
this  county,  was  that  of  John  Bridges 
He  arrived  in  what  is  now  Indus- 
try township  in  November,  1829.  He  at 
once  set  to  work  to  open  up  a  farm,  and 
resided  here  until  the  day  of  his  death 
in  1844.  He  was  a  North  Carolinian  by 
birth,  but  was  for  many  years  a  resident 
of  Tennessee.  He  came  here  from  Mor- 
gan county,  Illinois. 

Daniel  Campbell,  came  to  McDon- 
ough county  in  December,  1829,  and  in 
the  following  spring  located  upon  a  farm 
on  section  10,  in  Tennessee  township. 


88 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


He  died  in  Greene  county,  Illinois,  while 
on  a  journey  through  that  place.  His 
son,  Daniel  W.,  came  with  his  parents, 
and  is  still  a  resident  of  the  county. 

A  party  by  the  name  of  Smitherton, 
squatted  upon  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  19,  now  within  the  limits  of  Col- 
chester township  in  the  fall  of  1829  or 
spring  of  1830,  and  remained  there  until 
the  summer  of  1831,  when  he  left  for 
Morgan  county. 

John  Massingall,  settled  in  Chalmers 
township,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  33,  in  1829  or  30.  He  paid  but 
little  attention  to  farming,  but  gained 
his  living  by  hunting.  He  died  while  a 
resident  of  the  county.  A  good,  kind 
man,  but  carried  the  knife  as  the  ugliest 
man  in  the  state. 

John  Bagby,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
located  on  the  same  section  with  John 
Woodside,  probably  about  the  year  1830. 
He  removed  to  Hancock  county  after- 
wards, but  feeling  dissatisfied  there,  re- 
turned to  this  county,  and  again  took  up 
his  residence.  He  dropped  dead,  one 
day,  while  engaged  in  some  household 
duties. 

Stewart  Pennington  with  his  family 
settled  upon  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  30,  in  what  is  now  New  Salem 
township,  in  1830.  He  was  a  nephew 
of  the  famous  Kentuckian,  Daniel  Boone, 
and  was  himself  born  611  the  "  Dark  and 
bloody  ground  "  in  1783.  A  history  in 
detail  is  given  of  him  in  the  history  of 
the  township,  further  on,  in  this  vol- 
ume. 

Michael  Stinson  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1830,  and  made  a  settlement 
southwest  of  Macomb.  He  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  clerk  of  the  commis- 


sioner's court  pro  tern.,  but  held  the  of- 
fice but  a  short  time  when  he  left  and 
went  westward. 

T.  J.  Pennington,  a  son  of  Stewart 
Pennington,  came  to  Pennington' s 
Point,  New  Salem  township,  in  1830. 
Here  he  remained  a  short  time,  when  he 
removed  to  Industry  township,  south- 
east of  the  village.  He  died  in  the 
township  in  1875. 

Richard  Pennington,  another  son,  al- 
though but  a  lad  of  sixteen  at  the  time, 
came  with  the  family  and  is  worthy  of 
mention  in  this  list  of  the  old  settlers 
of  the  county.  He  was  born  January 
24,  1814,  in  Monroe  county,  Kentucky. 
He  was  married  January  30,  1834,  to 
Delilah  Shannon.  They  settled,  on 
their  marriage,  on  section  30,  and  the 
old  homestead  is  still  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Pennington. 

John  Rogers  settled  in  what  is  now 
Industry  township,  in  the  summer  of 
1830.  He  erected  a  cabin  on  the  prai- 
rie but  in  the  fall  moved  it  to  the  timber, 
but  being  caught  by  the  falling  snow 
before  it  was  rebuilt,  enclosed  it  in  a 
tent  and  managed  to  exist  in  it  all  win- 
ter on  hominy  without  salt.  In  the 
spring  he  left,  disgusted  with  the  coun- 
try. He  afterwards  came  back  to  Han- 
cock county. 

Resin  Naylor  came  to  McDonough 
county  during  the  year  1830,  and  made 
a  temporary  settlement  near  Maeomb. 
In  1835,  he  removed  to  Macomb  and  en- 
tered upon  his  business  of  harness  mak- 
ing. He  was,  in  early  days,  quite  a 
character,  and  is  familiarly  spoken  of  as 
"Boss  Naylor."  He  held  several  offi- 
cial positions  and  is  noted  at  length  in 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


89 


the  chapter  entitled,  national,  state  and 
county  representation. 

Dr.  John  Hardesty  with  his  wife  and 
children  settled  upon  section  8,  of  Blan- 
dinsville  township,  during  the  early 
spring  of  1830.  A  sketch-  in  detail  of 
this  eminent  gentleman  is  given  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  the  history  of  the 
medical  profession  of  the  county. 
Doctor  Hardesty  died  in  the  month  of 
August,  1875. 

The  same  spring  of  1830,  William 
Duncan  came  to  the  above  township 
and  made  a  settlement,  but  the  follow- 
ing winter  drove  him  away.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Iowa  where  he  died. 

Enoch  Cyrus  also  settled  in  the  same 
locality,  at  the  same  time.  He  farmed 
sometimes  and  taught  school,  being  the 
first  teacher  in  the  township  now  known 
as  Blandinsville.  After  a  few  years  he 
sold  out  and  went  to  Missouri  and  from 
there  to  California,  when  he  died.  Noble 
Owsley  came  with  him  and  settled  near 
him  but  only  remained  a  year  or  so,  go- 
ing westward. 

David  Clarke,  made  a  settlement  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Macomb  dur- 
ing the  year  1830,  and  shortly  after  the 
laying  out  of  the  city,  moved  there,  and 
was  a  resident  until  the  day  of  his  death, 
in  March,  1884. 

Nathaniel  Herron,  in  the  spring  of 
1830,  took  up  land  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  3,  in  Hire  township. 
He  improved  a  farm,  and  lived  on  the 
place  until  1855,  when,  being  seized 
with  the  spirit  of  emigration,  he  went  to 
Nodaway  county,  Missouri,  where  he 
has  since  been  called  upon  to  pay  the 
debt  of  nature. 


Charles  Shannon,  made  his  settlement 
in  McDouough  county  in  1830.  He  lo- 
cated where  the  town  of  Industry  is  now 
laid  out.  He  was  a  native  of  Greenbriar 
county,  Virginia,  but  early  in  life  re- 
moved to  Knox  county,  Tennessee.  In 
1819,  he  removed  to  Gallatin  county,  Ill- 
inois, where  he  lived  until  coming  to 
this  county.  Mr.  Shannon,  like  many 
others  of  the  old  pioneers,  has  passed  to 
his  reward,  dying  about  the  year  1858. 

John  Huston,  arrived  in  McDonough 
county  on  the  14th  of  March,  1830,  and 
settled  upon  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  3,  Blandinsville  township.  He 
was  very  prominent  in  county  matters 
in  an  early  day;  was  elected  and  served 
as  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  of 
the  state,  in  which  connection  is  given  a 
sketch  in  full  detail.  He  died  July  8, 
1854.  His  son,  William  M.,  now  a  prac- 
ticing physician  in  the  town  of  Blandins- 
ville, then  but  a  small  child,  came  with 
his  father  and  mother. 

Charles  Hill  and  David  Fees,  in  the 
spring  of  1830,  settled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  12,  in  what  is  now. 
Lamoine  township,  being  the  pioneers 
of  that  sub-division.  Mr.  Hills  is  still  a 
resident  of  the  county,  having  survived 
the  trials  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life, 
and  although  over  seventy  years  of  age, 
is  still  quite  active. 

At  the  same  time,  or  very  shortly  after, 
John  Hills  settled  upon  section  12  of  the 
same  township,  where  he  still  resides. 

George  Dowell,  came  to  this  county 
in  1829  or  30,  and  built  a  cabin  in  what 
is  now  Eldorado  township.  This  place 
was  occupied  by  Abraham  Davis. 

Anson  Mathews,  in  about  1830,  settled 
at  what  was  afterwards  called  Foster's 


90 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


point,  and  sold  out  to  Arthur  J.  Foster 
during  the  year  1831. 

Abraham  David,  with  his  family,  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Eldorado  township 
during  the  summer  of  1830.  He  settled 
on  a  farm  and  resided  there  until  1863, 
when  he  died.  He  had  come  into  the 
county  in  the  spring  and  temporarily 
stopped  in  the  Carter  settlement,  but 
moved  here  as  above. 

John  D.  Barber,  made  a  settlement  in 
August,  1830,  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  20  of  Colchester  township, 
where  he  lived  two  years.  He  then 
moved  to  section  19,  where  he  died  in 
1874. 

Eoswell  Tyrrell,  in  the  fall  of  1830, 
came  over  from  Fulton  county,  where  he 
had  settled  in  1823,  and  put  up  a  cabin 
on  section  29,  in  Tennessee  town- 
ship. He  then  went  back  to  bring  his 
family;  but  did  not  return  until  1830,  in 
the  spring  of  which  year  he  made  a  per- 
manent settlement.  He  died  there  in 
April,1872.  A  sketch  in  full  detail  is  given 
further  on  in  the  history  of  Tennessee 
township. 

In  the  fall  of  1830,  Joel  Duncan, 
father  of  Russell  and  Charles,  came  to 
McDonough  county.  He  made  his  home 
temporarily  with  his  son  Russell,  and 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  cabin,  but 
before  he  had  it  finished,  the  great  snow 
of  that  winter  came  on,  so  thirteen  peo- 
ple were  compelled  to  live  all  winter  in 
that  little  cabin  not  over  eighteen  feet 
square.  In  the  spring  Joel  removed 
south  of  his  sons  and  opened  a  farm, 
where  he  afterwards  died. 

Robert  Seybold,  in  the  fall  of  1830, 
made  a  settlement  in  Hire  township.  A 
sketch  of  this  pioneer  and  his  family  is 


given   in   the    chapter    devoted  to   that 
township. 

A  party  by  the  name  of  Jesse  Bart- 
lett,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  located  on 
section  34,  Walnut  Grove  township,  in 
the  fall  of  1830.  A  sketch  of  him  is 
given  in  its  proper  place  in  the  chapter 
devoted  to  the  history  of  that  township. 

Truman  Bowen,  in  October,  1830, 
located  on  section  3,  in  Chalmers  town- 
ship. He  commenced  to  open  up  a  farm 
but  the  year  following  his  settlement  he 
died.  He  was  a  Pennsylvania!!  by  birth, 
but  came  here  from  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared. 

During  the  fall  of  1830,  Redmon 
Grigsby  and  others  of  that  family  came 
to  the  infant  settlement  in  Blandinsville 
and  settled.  Many  of  the  descendents 
of  the  name  are  still  residents  in  that 
quarter  of  the  county,  influential  and 
prosperous. 

James  Clarke,  one  of  the  first  com- 
missioners of  McDonough  county,  and 
quite  a  prominent  man  in  the  history  of 
this  section,  made  a  settlement  upon 
section  12,  in  Chalmers  township,  in 
1830.  He  did  not  remain  there  long,  but 
the  following  year  moved  to  Macomb, 
where  he  lived  until  the  day  of  his  death 
in  June,  1876.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Clarke 
will  be  found  in  chapter  XII,  under  the 
head  of  county  judge,  he  being  the  first 
to  fill  that  honorable  position. 

Russell  Duncan,  was  also  a  settler  of 
1830.  He  erected  a  cabin  in  which  he 
installed  his  family  on  section  3,  of 
Blandinsville.  It  was  his  intention  to 
place  it  on  section  4,  but  got  it  the  wrong 
side  of  the  line.  He  lived  here  until 
the  spring  of  1840,  when  he  died  very 
suddenly.  With  him  came  his  brother 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


91 


Charles  Duncan,  who  was  a  single  man. 
He  made  his  home  sometime  with  his 
brother,  but  moved  to  Hancock  county. 
Later  he  came  back,  but  afterwards, 
during  the  time  of  the  rush  to  Califor- 
nia, he  fell  in  with  the  tide  of  emigra- 
tion, and  moved  to  that  Eldorado  of  the 
west,  where  he  now  resides. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1830,  was  Peter 
Hale,  who  erected  a  cabin  in  what  is 
now  Emmett  township,  just  west  of 
where  Macomb  now  stands,  near  the  site 
of  the  old  grave  yard.  He  was  the  first 
coroner  of  this  county.  William  Prin- 
gle,  also,  made  a  settlement  a  short  dis- 
tance west  of  him  about  the  same  time. 

William  I.  Pace,  a  Kentuckian,  came 
to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1830,  and 
after  spending  the  winter  with  T.  J. 
Pennington,  he  made  a  settlement  in  the 
spring,  on  the  place  now  owned  by 
Robert  Venard,  in  Chalmers  township, 
where  he  remained  some  five  years,  re- 
moving from  thence  into  the  adjoining 
township  of  Scotland.  He  lived  there 
until  1855,  when  he  passed  to  "that  land 
from  whose  bourne  no  traveler  ever 
returns." 

Jacob  Coffman  erected  a  cabin  on  sec- 
tion 8,  Blandinsville  township,  in  1830, 
also,  and  made  some  improvements. 
After  a  few  years  he  sold  out  and  moved 
to  Missouri,  but  subsequently  returned 
to  this  county,  where  he  died. 

James  H.  Dunsworth  came  from  his 
native  state  of  Tennessee,  during  the 
year  1830,  and  locating  upon  section  8, 
in  Bethel  township;  opened  up  a  farm. 
He  remained  upon  •  this  place  until  Au- 
gust, 1860,  when  he  was  summoned 
hence  by  the  angel  of  death. 


John  Wilson,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Kentucky,  made  a  settlement  in 
1830,  upan  section  12,  Chalmers  town- 
ship, where  he  lived  until  the  fall  of 
1834,  when  he  was  murdered  by  the  Mc- 
Faddens,  as  related  elsewhere. 

Austen  Coker,  in  1830,  settled  down 
with  his  family  upon  a  farm  in  what  is 
now  Industry  township.  IJe  came  from 
Jackson  county ,x  Tennessee.  He  died 
while  still  a  resident  of  McDonough. 

Lewis  F.  Temple,  a  settler  of  18  -JO, 
came  from  Kentucky,  and  opened  a  farm 
on  section  3,  Chalmers  township.  In 
about  1835  he  left  for  Iowa. 

John  Scroggins  made  a  settlement  in 
Blandinsville  township,  on  section  32,  in 
1830,  but  remained  but  a  short  time.  He 
made  some  improvements  and  built  a 
cabin,  but  sold  out  and  moved  farther 
west. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  1831,  there 
arrived  at  the  cabin  of  John  Baker, 
which  then  stood  on  the  site  of  the  city 
of  Macomb,  the  newly  appointed  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court,  James  M.  Campbell, 
he  being  the  fifth  settler  of  that  town, 
the  family  of  Mr.  Baker  consisting  of 
four  persons.  Perhaps  there  is  no  man 
in  the  county,  that  has  been  more  fully 
identified  with  the  interests  of  it,  who 
has  been  more  active  in  advancing  its 
standing,  or  who  has  done  more  toward 
developing  its  resources  than  Mr.  Camp- 
bell. He  held  the  several  offices  of 
county  clerk,  clerk  of  the  circuit  court, 
county  recorder,  postmaster  of  Macomb, 
and  notary  public  for  many  years.  A 
full  sketch  of  this  eminent  and  honored 
gentleman  is  given  further  on,  in  chap- 
ter XII.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  Ma- 
after a  life  of  fifty-four  years 


92 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


spent  there,  honored  and  respected  by 
all — still  a  sturdy  survivor  of  early  days. 
[_  'Thomas  Palmer,  located  in  Colchester 
township,  on  section  19,  in  the  spring  of 
1831.  He  came  from  Morgan  county, 
and  returned  to  that  place  after  about 
two  years  residence. 

Moses  Henton  and  Lawson  H.  Rob- 
inson, came  to  Macomb  village  in  1831, 
and  opened  a  general  store,  a  history  of 
which  is  given  in  its  proper  place  in  the 
annals  of  that  city. 

Jonathan  Reno,  with  his  family,  set- 
tled in  what  is  now  Scotland  township 
in  the  spring  of  1831.  He,  after  open- 
ing a  farm,  disposed  of  it  to  Charles  Hays. 

About  the  same  time  Roland  Lee  and 
his  son  John,  came  to  this  township  with 
their  families  and  made  a  settlement. 
With  them  came  Alexander  and  James, 
also  sons  of  Roland  Lee,  who  were  at  the 
time  unmarried,  but  who  soon  obtained 
partners  and  settled  down.  Cyrus 
Walker  purchased  the  land  which  he 
owned  here,  of  these  Lees. 

About  the  same  time,  settlements  were 
made  in  this  locality  by  Josiah  Huddles- 
ton,  Anthony  Huddleston,  Berry  Stock- 
ton, Elhannon  Lane,  Benjamin  Rice, 
Stephen  Rice  and  others. 

Huddleston  and  his  family,  "squat- 
ted" upon  section  34  in  Scotland  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  until  1834, 
when  he  left  the  country.  Berry  Stock- 
ton settled  on  section  33,  of  Industry 
township,  in  1832,  and  remained  until 
1836,  when  he  went  to  Texas. 

Nicholas  B.  Rodgers,  settled  in  the 
village  of  Macomb  during  the  year  1831, 
and  died  while  a  resident  of  the  place  in 
after  years. 


John  Anderson  came  from  Columbia, 
Adair  county,  Kentucky,  in  1830,  to 
Lewistown,  Fulton  county,  and  in  No- 
vember, 1831,  located  two  miles  and  a 
half  west  of  Macomb  in  Chalmers  town- 
ship, on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
3.  Here  he  remained  until  about  Sep- 
tember, 1835,  he  moved  into  Macomb, 
and  purchased  lot  1  in  block  24,  where 
the  city  buildings  are  now  built,  and 
erected  a  hotel  which  he  operated  until. 
1846,  when  he  was  called  to  his  reward. 
He  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  moved  to  Kentucky 
with  his  father  in  1791,  and  settled  near 
New  Castle,  Henry  county.  There  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  London.  In  1808 
or  nine,  he  removed  to  Columbia,  Adair 
county,  and  from  thence  to  this  state. 

When  Mr.  Anderson  came  here  he 
purchased  a  claim  of  Lewis  F.  Temple, 
on  which  was  erected  a  small  cabin  about 
fourteen  feet  square.  In  this  small 
building,  a  family  of  fourteen  were  com- 
pelled to  pass  the  winter,  one  of  the 
most  severe  ever  experienced  in  the  state. 
They  were  compelled  that  winter,  to 
grate  corn  to  live  on  as  there  were  no 
mills,  and  the  corn  was  partially  frosted 
and  even  had  they  had  mills  they  could 
not  have  had  it  ground. 

Samuel  Bogart  came  to  Macomb  during 
the  early  summer  of  1831,  and  opened  a 
small  grocery.  He  afterwards,  in  1832, 
commanded,  as  major,  the  odd  battallioii 
during  the  Black  Hawk  war.  At  its  close, 
or  in  1833,  he  went  to  Iowa. 

Salem  Woods  settled  on  section  30, 
New  Salem  township  in  the  fall  of  1831, 
although  he  had  purchased  it  in  1827. 
He  was  a  native  of  Pennsyivania. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


93 


Hugli  McDonougli  made  a  settlement 
in  what  is  now  Tennessee  township  dur- 
ing the  fall  of  1831,  where  he  resided 
many  years.  Although  he  has  since 
died,  several  members  of  his  family  are 
still  living  in  McDonougli  county. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Ladd  came  to 
McDonough  in  the  fall  of  1831,  and 
took  up  his  residence  in  a  cabin  already 
built  on  section  17,  Colchester  township, 
but  left  within  a  year's  time. 

Evan  Martin,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
came  to  McDonough  county  in  1831,  and 
entered  over  ninety  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 31,  in  what  is  now  Hire  township. 
Here  he  opened  and  improved  a  farm, 
and  is  still  a  resident  of  the  township. 

Arthur  J.  Foster  located  on  section  2, 
in  Eldorado  township  during  the  year 
1831,  and  made  a  settlement.  On  this 
farm  he  resided  until  September  23, 
1843,  when  death  came  to  his  home,  and 
took  him  from  his  family.  He  purchas- 
ed the  claim  or  the  land  held  by  Anson 
Mathews.  In  1836,  Mr.  Foster  built  the 
first  brick  house  in  the  township.  To 
him,  also,  belongs  the  credit  of  planting 
the  maple  grove  in  which  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church  is  now  built. 
When  he  set  it  out  he  gave  it  out  as  his 
intention  that  it  was  for  that  purpose, 
and  since  his  death,  his  wishes  have 
been  fully  carried  out. 

John  Duncan  made  a  settlement  in 
Blandinsville  township  in  1831,  and  re- 
mained a  resident  until  his  death,  many 
years  after. 

William  Venard,  made  a  settlement  in 
Bethel  township  in  1831,  on  the  place 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  his  son, 
George. 


Joshua  Hunt  made  a  settlement  in 
what  is  now  Colchester  township,  in 
1831,  on  a  farm  about  a  mile  west  of  the 
present  site  of  the  town  of  Colchester. 
He  and  his  family  remained  on  this 
place  until  1839,  when  he  removed  to  a 
house  built  on  section  3.  He  has  since 
been  "  gathered  to  his  fathers "  but 
some  of  the  family  are  still  residents  of 
the  county. 

James  Fulkerson,  in  the  winter  of 
1831-2,  emigrated  from  Tennessee  to 
Illinois,  and  remained  the  balance  of 
that  season  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan 
county.  In  the  spring  of  1832,  he  came 
to  McDonough  county  and  located  on 
sections  28  and  29,  in  Tennessee  town- 
ship where  he  remained  until  overtaken 
by  death. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  Willis  Way- 
land,  .Sr.,  located  upon  section  34,  in 
Chalmers  township.  He  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  but  came  to  this  county 
from  Kentucky.  He  died  while  a  resi- 
dent of  this  place  in  1861. 

David  Jenkins  and  his  sons,  William 
and  James,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  came 
to  McDonough  county  from  Tennessee, 
and  liking  the  looks  of  the  land  in  La- 
moine  township,  made  a  settlement 
there.  The  elder  Mr.  Jenkins  is  now 
living  in  Kansas,  but  the  sons  are  both 
residents  of  this  county  yet. 

Among  the  other  settlers  of  1832,  was 
Daniel  Sandidge,  who  in  the  spring  of 
that  year  located  in  Industry  township, 
opening  a  farm.  He  stayed  there  until 
1833,  in  the  fall,  when  he  removed  to 
Eldorado  township,  and  later  to  Schuy- 
ler  county,  where  he  died  in  1882. 


94 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


John  Husliaw  was  another  early 
pioneer  of  the  southeastern  part  of  the 
county,  locating  in  the  township  now 
known  as  Industry,  in  the  month  of 
April,  1832. 

Bethel  township  received  another  set- 
tler in  the  person  of  Malachi  Monk,  in 
the  fall  of  1832.  He  located  on  the  west 
half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
7,  and  opened  a  farm.  He  made  this  his 
residence  until  April,  1840,  when  he 
died.  His  son,  John  Monk,  came  with 
him  and  took  up  the  east  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter  of  the  same  section  as 
his  father,  where  he  has  resided  many 
years. 

Section  33,  Chalmers  township,  re- 
ceived a  settler  in  1832,  in  the  person  of 
James  McClure.  He  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  but  came  to  this  state  in  an 
early  day  and  lived  in  Morgan  county. 
He  was  quite  an  oddity  in  his  way.  He 
died  a  resident  of  the  county. 

James  Head  came  to  McDonough 
county  and  settled  in  Emmet  township, 
on  section  5,  in  1832.  Here  he  remained 
until  1855,  when  he  moved  to  the  city  of 
Macomb,  where  he  lived  until  overtaken 
by  death  in  1863. 

In  1832,  Joseph  Smith  made  the  first 
settlement  in  what  is  now  Mound  town- 
ship, on  section  18,  where  he  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1837. 

Joseph  McCroskey,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, settled  in  Scotland  township  in 
1832.  He  died  in  the  city  of  Macomb. 

John  A.  Chenoweth  was  a  settler  in 
the  town  of  Macomb  during  the  year 
1832;  he  was  engaged  in  trade  there  for 
some  little  time,  but  left  in  1837,  quite 
suddenly. 


Richard  H.  Churchill  made  a  settle- 
ment on  section  14,  in  what  is  now  Em- 
met township,  in  1832. 

Dr.  Charles  Hays  located  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  34,  Scotland 
township,  in  1833,  purchasing  the  land 
of  Jonathan  Reno. 

Section  31,  in  Lamoine  township,  re- 
ceived a  settler  in  1832,  in  the  person  of 
Orvel  Sherrel.  He  afterwards  removed 
to  Missouri,  where  he  died.  Elijah 
Poole,  his  father-in-law,  at  the  same  time 
settled  upon  section  30,  and  moved  with 
him  to  Missouri,  and  is  also  numbered 
with  the  "great  majority." 

Abel  Friend  about  the  same  time  lo- 
cated upon  section  30,  but  soon  removed 
to  section  20.  In  1848,  h'e  emigrated  to 
Iowa,  where  he  afterwards  died.  His 
father  and  brother  Charles  also  came 
with  him,  the  former  settling  upon  sec- 
tion 8,  the  latter  on  28. 

Martin  Fugate  made  his  first  settle- 
ment in  this  county  in  Bethel  township, 
during  the  year  1832.  He  is  now  in 
Bushnell,  but  some  of  his  children  are 
still  resident  of  the  locality  where  the 
father  settled. 

James  C.  Archer  was  also  a  settler  in 
this  locality  the  same  year. 

John  P.  Kinkade  entered  a  farm  on 
section  5,  in  Indiistry  township,  in  1832, 
and  putting  up  a  cabin,  entered  upon 
the  labor  of  opening  up  a  farm.  He  re- 
sided here  for  many  years,  but  has  long 
since  been  gathered  to  his  fathers. 

During  the  year  1832,  a  settlement 
was  made  within  the  limits  of  what  is 
now  Lamoine  township,  by  Christopher 
Yates.  He  put  up  a  cabin  and  broke 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


95 


about  six  acres  of  land,  but  soon  left 
and  moved  to  Hancock  county. 

William  McKamy,  with  his  widowed 
mother,  located  in  Chalmers  township 
in  1832.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  the 
county;  his  mother  is  dead. 

Rev.  James  King,  a  Tennesseean, 
made  a  settlement  in  Lamoine  township 
in  the  fajl  of  1832  or  spring  of  1833, 
where  he  lived  for  many  years.  He  was 
a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  a  most  excellent  man,  and 
had  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who 
knew  him. 

Charles  Dunsworth  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  re- 
mained all  winter  with  his  son  James, 
who  had  preceded  him  some  two  years. 
In  the  spring  of  1833  he  settled  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  17,  in  what 
is  now  Bethel  township,  where  he  re- 
mained until  overtaken  by  death,  in 
1842. 

This  brings  the  settlement  up  to  Jan- 
uary 1,  1833.  After  that  the  country 
began  filling  up  more  rapidly,  until 
in  1835,  over  400  votes  were  cast  in  the 
county,  showing  it  then  had  a  popula- 
tion of  nearly  2,000.  The  names  given 
above  are  simply  an  index  of  what  will 
be  finished  in  the  histories  of  the 
respective  townships,  where  will  be 
found  the  accounts  of  the  settlement  of 
these  and  many  other  parties,  in  full  de- 
tail, which  are  not  given  here,  to  avoid 
needless  repetition,  which  space  and 
judgment  forbid. 

HISTORIC   FIRST  ITEMS. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  county  was 
James,  son  of  John  Vance,  who  was 


born  May  18,  1828,  on  section  30,  at 
what  was  then  known  as  "  Job's  Settle- 
ment," now  Blandinsville. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  county  oc- 
curred on  the  30th  of  October,  1828, 
when  Rev.  John  Logan  joined  in  wed- 
lock the  hands  of  John  Wilson  and 
Martha  B.,  daughter  of  James  Vance,  at 
the  residence  of  the  latter,  in  Industry 
township. 

The  first  death  in  the  county  was 
most  likely  an  infant  son  of  Isaac  Fow- 
ler, of  Industry  township,  who  died  in 
the  summer  of  the  year  1828,  on  sec- 
tion 25. 

The  first  school  in  the  county  was 
taught  by  a  man  by  the  name  of  George 
Dowell,  in  a  log  cabin  on  section  15,  in 
Industry  township,  during  the  year 
1830. 

The  pioneer  postofnce  was  that  at 
Macomb,  which  was  established  in  1831, 
with  James  M.  Campbell  as  postmaster, 
the  date  of  whose  commission  was  Octo- 
ber 1,  of  that  year. 

The  first  sermon  ever  preached  in  the 
county  was  delivered  by  Rev.  John 
Logan,  a  Baptist  clergyman,  at  the 
cabin  of  William  Stephens,  on  section 
24,  in  Industry  township,  in  the  spring 
of  1828. 

The  first  professional  lawyer  in  the 
county  was  W.  W.  Chapman,  in  June, 
1832. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  in  the 
county  was  Doctor  Shuff,  who  settled  in 
Macomb  during  the  early  part  of  1832. 

The  first  newspaper  was  the  McDon- 
ough  Independent,  first  issued  Septem- 
ber 12,  1851,  at  Macomb. 


96 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  first  term  of  the  circuit  court  was 
held  at  the  house  of  John  Baker,  on  the 
site  of  the  city  of  Macomb,  on  October 
17,  1830,  by  Judge  Richard  M.  Young. 

Richard  Dunn  is  believed  to  have 
been  the  first  white  settler  in  the  county, 
Ic citing  in  what  is  now  Hire  township, 
in  1825,  and  building  a  cabin  and  culti- 
vating about  four  acres  of  corn  that 
year. 

The  first  store  opened  in  the  county 
was  in  Macomb,  by  James  M.  Campbell, 
in  1831. 

The  first  town  laid  out  in  the  county 
was  Macomb,  in  1831. 

The  first  cooking  stove  was  brought 


into  the  county  of  McDonough  by  Salem 
Woods,  to  Pennington's  Point,  in  1832. 
James  M.  Campbell  brought  the  second 
one  to  the  county. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  the  county 
was  organized  at  the  old  fort  in  Indus- 
try township,  two  miles  south  of  the 
town  of  Industry,  at  what  is  now  called 
"the  cross-roads,"  by  Rev.  John  Logan, 
a  Baptist  minister. 

Rutherford  McClure,  of  Tennessee 
township,  laid  the  first  tile  for  drainage 
purposes,  in  McDonough  county,in  1872. 
He  purchased  the  tile  from  Abram  Hor- 
ricks,  who  established  a  small  factory  in 
Colchester  about  that  time. 


CHAPTKR    VI. 


REMINISCENCES,  INCIDENTS  AND  PERSONAL  RECOLLECTIONS. 


The  following  account  of  personal 
matters  is  given  to  show  the  mode  of  life 
under  Avhich  the  pioneers  labored,  and 
the  incidents  and  stories  of  early  life  in 
the  county  of  McDonough,  during  the 
embryoic  stage  of  its  growth.  In  the 
cases  where  they  have  been  written  by 
others,  the  compiler  of  this  volume  has 
in  no  case  altered  them,  but  inserted 
them  just  as  they  were  handed  to  us. 
The  expressions  of  an  individual,  as 
shown  in  the  writing,  are  sometimes  as 
good  an  index  to  character  and  peculiar- 
ities as  much  as  the  painting  or  engrav- 
ing. These  incidents  are  interesting 
and  well  worthy  of  perusal. 


Whatever  of  romance  adhered  to  the 
lives  of  the  hardy  colonists,  was  abund- 
antly compensated  for  by  hard  labor. 
Contrast  the  journey  of  that  devoted 
party  through  the  roadless  and  bridge- 
less  tract  between  civilization  and  their 
future  home,  with  a  company  on  a  like 
journey  to-day.  Instead  of  weeks  of 
labor  and  toil,  privation  and  suffering, 
with  cold  and  hunger,  a  seat  is  taken  in 
a  palace  car,  unexceptional  meals  are 
partaken  of  without  leaving  the  train, 
the  passenger  retires  upon  a  downy 
couch,  and,  in  all  probability,  awakes  to 
find  himself  at  his  point  of  destination 
in  central  or  western  Illinois,  having 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COD  NT  Y. 


97 


only  lost  a  day  or  two  on  his  journey. 
Those  who  enjoy  these  blessings  would 
be  less  than  human,  if  they  were  not 
filled  with  gratitude  toward  these  early 
settlers,  who  paved  the  way,  and  actually 
made  the  present  state  of  things  possi- 
ble. At  that  time  the  confines  of  civili- 
zation were  on  the  lakes  ;  Chicago  was 
just  beginning  to  be  a  village  and  Mil- 
waukee was  a  mere  vidette,  an  outpost  of 
civilization.  There  was  comparatively 
nothing  in  the  now  great  state  of  Illinois, 
with  her  almost  innumerable  railroad 
lines  spanning  the  state  in  all  directions, 
except  the  intrinsic  merit  of  the  location, 
to  attract  people  from  their  more  or  less 
comfortable  homes  in  the  east,  or  from 
on  the  other  side  of  the  briny  deep.  The 
hope  as  to  the  future,  which  "springs 
eternal  in  the  human  heart,"  was  what 
lured  them  on,  and  although  those  who 
came  were  usually  regarded  by  the 
friends  they  left  behind,  as  soldiers  of 
fortune,  who,  if  they  ever  returned  at 
all,  would  indeed  be  fortunate.  They 
were  a  sturdy  race,  who  realized  the  in- 
equality of  the  struggle  in  the  old  states 
or  countries,  and  resolved  to  plant  them- 
selves where  merit  would  not  be  sup- 
pressed by  traditions. 

The  men  who  came  were,  as  a  rule, 
enterprising,  open-hearted  and  sympa- 
thizing ;  they  were  good  neighbors,  and 
so  good  neighborhoods  were  created, 
and  they  illustrated  the  idea  of  the 
brotherhood  of  man  more  by  example 
than  by  quoting  creeds,  with  a  bravery 
that  never  blanched  in  the  presence  of 
the  most  appalling  danger,  they  never- 
theless were  tender,  kind  and  consider- 
ate in  the  presence  of  misfortune,  and 


their  deficiency  in  outward  manifesta- 
tions of  piety  was  more  than  compen- 
sated by  their  love  and  regard  for  hu- 
manity. And  if  this  meed  of  praise  is 
justly  due  to  the  men,  and  it  certainly 
is,  what  shall  be  said  of  the  heroic 
women  who  braved  the  vicissitudes  of 
frontier  life,  endured  the  absence  of 
home,  friends  and  old  associations, 
whose  tender  ties  must  have  wrung  all 
hearts  as  they  were  severed.  The  devo- 
tion which  would  lead  to  such  a  break- 
ing away,  to  follow  a  father,  a  husband 
or  a  son  into  the  trackless  waste  border- 
ing on  the  Mississippi,  where  gloomy 
apprehensions  must  have  arisen  in  the 
mind,  is  above  all  praise.  The  value  of 
the  part  taken  by  the  noble  women  who 
first  came  to  this  wild  region  cannot 
be  over-estimated.  Although  by  nature 
liberal,  they  practiced  the  most  literal 
economy,  and  often  at  critical  times  pre- 
served order,  reclaiming  the  men  from 
despair  during  gloomy  periods;  and 
their  example  of  industry  constantly 
admonished  him  to  renewed  exertion, 
and  the  instincts  of  womanhood  con- 
stantly encouraged  integrity  and  man- 
hood. 

As  to  the  effects  of  frontier  life  upon 
those  who  have  secured  homes  in  the 
west,  a  few  observations  may  not  be  in- 
appropriate. 

Years  ago  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bushnell,  a 
noted  divine  in  the  east,  preached  a  ser- 
mon on  the  barbarous  tendencies  of  civ- 
ilization in  the  west,  and  on  this  the 
reverend  gentleman  predicated  an  urgent 
— and  we  almost  said,  frantic  appeal  to 
Christianity  to  put  forth  renewed  and 


98 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


strenuous  efforts  to  save  the  west  from  a 
relapse  into  barbarism.  This  tendency 
was  supposed  to  result  from  the  disrup- 
tion of  social  and  religious  ties,  the 
mingling  of  heterogeneous  elements, 
and  the  removal  of  the  external  re- 
straints, so  common,  and  supposed  to  be 
so  patent,  in  older  communities.  Dr. 
Bushnell  did  not  have  a  sufficiently  ex- 
tended view  of  the  subject,  for  in  look- 
ing over  the  history  of  the  past,  we  find 
that  in  a  nomadic  position  thera  is  never 
any  real  progress  in  refinement.  Insti- 
tutions for  the  elevation  of  the  race  must 
be  planted  deep  in  the  soil  before  they 
can  raise  their  heads  in  beauty  and  maj- 
esty toward  heaven,  and  bear  fruit  for 
the  enlightenment  of  nations.  The  evils 
of  which  Dr.  Bushnell  was  so  afraid  are 
merely  temporary  in  their  character  and 
will  have  no  lasting  impression.  What 
actually  happens  is  this:  At  first  there 
is  an  obvious  increase  of  human  free- 
dom, but  the  element  of  self-govern- 
ment everywhere  largely  predominates, 
and  the  fusion  of  the  races,  which  is 
inevitable,  will  in  due  time  create  a  com- 
posite nationality,  or  a  race  as  unlike  as 
it  must  be  superior  to  those  that  have 
preceded  it.  Even  now,  before  the  first 
generation  has  passed  away,  society  in 
the  west  has-  outgrown  the  irritation  of 
transplanting,  and  there  are  no  more 
vicious  elements  in  society  here  than  in 
the  east,  as  the  criminal  statistics  will 
abundantly  verify. 

During  the  year  1831,  Samuel  McGee 
built  a  mill  on  Crooked  creek,  in  Ten- 
nessee township,  and  while  he  had  all 
the  neighbors  helping  raise  the  frame, 


Miss  Martha  McGee  carried  all  the 
water  and  provisions  to  them  from  their 
house,  a  mile  and  a  half  distant,  One 
day,  while  carrying  their  dinner  to  the 
force,  she  had  an  adventure  that  was 
startling,  to  say  the  least,  She  was  on 
horseback,  and  she  had  scarcely  gone  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  parental 
roof  when  they  were  attacked  by  a  pan- 
ther. The  scared  horse,  leaving  her, 
ran  off  homeward,  but  she  alarmed  the 
men  at  the  mill,  who  immediately  started 
in  pursuit.  All  that  afternoon  the  chase 
continued  and  until  the  next  morning, 
when  Moses  Holiday  shot  the  animal 
and  brought  it  home. 

AN   INCIDENT. 

During  the  winter  of  1832-3,  in  In- 
dustry township,  Kev.  Philip  Corder 
was  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Reno,  for 
the  purpose  of  holding  services,  the  lat- 
ter named  gentleman  having  the  largest 
house  in  the  neighborhood  at  that  time. 
It  was  a  bitter  cold  day,  and  the  rev- 
erend gentleman  had  just  arrived  and 
stood  by  the  fire-place  long  enough  to 
get  partially  warm,  when  the  genial 
Jonathan,  who  was  not  a  professor  of 
religion,  (although  his  wife  was),  called 
Rev,  Corder  outside  the  door  and  in- 
structed him  not  to  preach  a  warmer 
climate  for  the  her  eaf ter,because  his  wife 
would  surely  leave  him  to  seek  a  more 
genial  climate. 

The  family  were  from  the  State  of 
Tennessee,  and  Mrs.  Reno  was  greatly 
dissatisfied  with  the  severe  weather  they 
had  experienced  in  this  new  country. 
Rev.  Corder  afterward  acknowledged,  in 
a  conversation  with  a  friend,  that  the 


F,,.<!,v'-;iW'l!iaiT"i  .IB™  N. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


101 


interview  with  Mr.  Reno  had  so  taken 
him  down  that  he  was  almost  at  a  loss 
to  know  what  to  say  during  the  services 
which  followed. 

In  December,  1830,  James  Clarke 
went  to  Springfield,  and,  in  behalf  of 
the  county,  entered  the  quarter  section 
upon  which  the  old  town  of  Macomb 
was  subsequently  laid  out.  For  this 
service  he  was  allowed  the  munificent 
sum  of  three  dollars,  which  was  cer- 
tainly well  earned,  for,  while  returning, 
he  was  overtaken  by  the  big  snow  storm 
so  well  remembered  by  all  the  old  set- 
tlers, and  it  was  with  great  difficulty 
that  he  arrived  safely  at  home.  The 
snow  began  to  fall  when  he  was  between 
Springfield  and  Beardstown,  and  in  a 
few  hours  time  all  traces  of  the  road 
were  obliterated,  and  the  only  way  by 
which  he  could  with  certainty  know  he 
was  pursuing  the  right  course  was  by 
observing  the  trees  and  large  weeds  he 
had  noticed  in  previously  passing  over 
the  road.  The  recollection  of  this  "big 
snow"  is  vividly  impressed  upon  the 
mind  of  more  than  one  old  settler,  and 
the  remembrance  of  the  horrors  of  that 
long  winter  will  never  be  obliterated 
while  their  lives  shall  last.  The  snow 
began  falling  the  night  of  the  29th  of 
December,  continuing  to  fall  for  three 
days  and  nights,  until  it  reached  an 
average  depth  of  about  four  feet,  drift- 
ing in  places  as  high  as  eighteen  or 
twenty  feet.  Great  suffering  was  exper- 
ienced in  consequence.  The  settlers 
relied  for  their  daily  food  upon  the 
Indian  corn  which  they  were  enabled  to 
raise,  together  with  the  wild  game, 


which  was  abundant  at  that  time.- 
Plenty  of  the  former  was  raised  to  sup- 
ply the  wants  of  all  until  the  next  sea- 
son's crop ;  but  when  the  snow  fell,  but 
little  had  been  gathered;  game  could 
not  be  had.  The  great  depth  of  the 
snow  was  a  barrier  to  all  travel,  and  it 
may  well  be  imagined  the  sufferings  of 
the  people  were  great  indeed.  In  a  let* 
ter,  published  in  March,  1876,  in 
Chirkc's  Monthly,  James  Clarke  thus 
graphically  described  the  situation: 

"The  snow  fell  an  average  depth  of 
about  four  feet,  and  remained  on  the 
ground  for  about  three  months.  All 
kinds  of  wild  game  literally  starved  to 
death.  Before  the  snow  fell  the  deer  were 
as  fat  as  could  be,  and  before  it  passed 
away  they  were  so  poor  they  were  not 
fit  to  eat.  AVild  turkeys  would  fall  from 
the  limbs  of  trees.  «The  morning  after 
the  snow  fell  my  wife  was  about  three 
hours  shoveling  it  from  our  cabin.  We 
then  lived  about  one  hundred  yards  from 
the  house  lately  occupied  by  Isaac 
Haines,  a  little  southwest  of  Macomb. 
I  did  not  have  my  corn  gathered,  and 
had  a  good  sized  family  to  feed,  and  had 
five  horses  and  some  cattle.  As  soon  as 
possible  I  sent  John  Wilson,  the  young 
man  afterwards  murdered  by  McFadden, 
with  the  horses  to  Morgan  county  to  have 
them  kept  through  the  winter.  Each  day 
we  would  have  to  go  out  to  the  field,  and 
where  we  could  see  a  stalk  of  corn  stand- 
ing above  the  snow  reach  down  until  he 
came  to  the  ear,  pull  it  off,  gathering 
enough  for  the  day.  There  were  no 
mills  in  the  country,  and  each  family 
would,  with  a  mortar  and  pestle,  pound 
their  corn  so  as  to  make  bread.  A  few 


102 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


were  fortunate  enough  to  have  large 
graters  with  which  they  would  grate  up 
the  corn.  The  first  thing  done  each 
morning  would  be  to  build  the  fire  and 
put  on  a  big  pot  of  water  in  which  the 
corn  would  be  thrown  and  boiled  awhile, 
then  taken  out  and  grated  and  made  into 
good,  wholesome  bread.  This,  with  what 
game  we  could  get,  was  what  we  had  to 
live  on  during  the  long  winter." 

"  Several  families  came  to  the  county 
that  fall,  and,  of  course,  had  no  corn. 

All  things  were  then  held  more  than 
common.  Those  that  had  none  were 
welcome  to  help  themselves  from  their 
more  fortunate  neighbors,  all  that  was 
required  of  them  being  that  they  should 
gather  it  themselves.  Resin  Naylor, 
better  known  as  "Boss"  Naylor,  was  one 
of  that  class,  and  it  was  a  little  amusing 
to  see  him  go  out  to  the  fields, walking  for  a 
time  on  top  of  the  silow,  on  which  a  crust 
was  formed,  but  now  and  then  going 
through,  getting  his  corn,  and  come  in 
blowign  like  a  porpoise  and  sweating 
dreadfully.  But  we  all  managed  to  live, 
and  had  good  cause  to  be  thankful  it  was 
no  worse.  The  young  men  and  women  of 
this  day  have  little  knowledge  of  what  a 
pioneer  life  consisted.  Away  out  upon 
an  almost  boundless  prairie,  far  from 
home  and  kindred,  with  an  opportunity 
of  hearing  from  them  only  every  few 
months,  it  was  dreary  indeed,  but  how 
different  it  is  now!  However  far  the 
distance,  they  can  be  communicated  with 
in  a  few  moments  time." 

BY  HUMPHREY    HOREIBIN. 

Mr.  Horribin,  a  sturdy  Briton  who 
left  his  island  home  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1847,  emigrated  on  account 


of  the  overcrowded  state  of  that  coun- 
try, and  the  little  chance  there  was  there 
of  rising  above  the  position  of  a  labor- 
er for  those  who  happened  to  be  born  in 
the  humbler  walks  of  life.  Feeling 
within  himself  the  consciousness  of  some- 
thing more  than  the  satisfaction  of  mere 
animal  wants,  he  packed  up  his  bag- 
gage and  started  for  the  new  world, 
where  he  had  learned  there  was  room  for 
all,  and  no  place  too  high  for  any  to 
reach.  After  he  had  been  here  many 
years,  and  had  reached  a  point  of  ease 
and  competence  he  returned  on  a  visit  to 
the  land  of  his  nativity,  and  while  there 
had  a  conversation  with  a  friend  of  his 
youth.  Mr.  Horribin,  in  giving  an  ac- 
count of  it,  prefaces  it  with  these  re- 
marks; "When  I  landed  in  this  country 
I  was  poor  as  could  be,  having  but  two 
dollais  in  my  pocket,  and  no  expecta- 
tions, but  by  hard  work  accumulated" 
some  property,  being  able  to  spend 
about  a  thousand  dollars  in  making  two 
trips  to  the  old  home  to  see  the  dear  old 
mother.  I  may  have  vaunted  somewhat 
about  this  but  my  object  was  to  show 
my  poor  friends  that  America  was  the 
place  for  the  oppressed  and  poverty 
stricken.  While  there  I  met  with  an 
old  friend,  a  shoemaker,  who  remarked 
"  If  I  had  all  the  money  that  you  have 
spent  in  going  to,  and  coming  from 
America,  it  would  set  me  up  in  business, 
buy  me  a  stock  of  leather  that  would 
last  me  as  long  as  I  live."  "  It  is  evi- 
dent," I  replied,  "that  I  have  either 
money  or  friends,  or  I  could  not  do  it." 
He  then  said "  I  wish  I  had  gone  to 
America  with  you,  and  when  you  did." 
I  simply  relate  this  fact  to  demonstrate 
that  I  appreciate  the  blessings  of  this, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


103 


my  adopted  home,  and  to  give  a  correct 
idea  of  the  difference  in  the  countries  in 
this  respect. 

REMINISCENCE  OF  ANDREW  H.  WALKER. 
•  [Transcribi  d  by  his  son,  Montgomery  A.  Walker] 

The  Walker  family  settled  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  moved  from  there  to  Bock- 
bridge  county,  Virginia.  My  father 
lived  about  two  miles  from  the  Natural 
Bridge  and  frequently  visited  it  with 
persons  who  were  anxious  to  see  the  great 
curiosity.  From  there  he  removed  to 
Kentucky,  as  did  nearly  all  of  his 
brothers,  and  settled  in  Adair  county,  in 
early  times.  The  Indians  had  removed 
from  there,  but  occasionally  we  would  be 
excited  by  news  of  Indian  depredations 
on  the  borders  of  the  state.  Some  of  the 
Walkers'  went  to  Tennessee,  and  settled 
there.  Some  went  to  Ohio  and  Indiana, 
and  many  of  the  young  generation  to 
Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri  and  Kansas.  I 
went  to  school  which  would  be  kept  one 
term  of  three  months  in  a  year.  When 
about  12  years  old  I  went  to  school  in 
Columbia,  Adair  county,  to  learn  the 
Latin  language,  after  which  I  went  into 
Green  county  to  school  and  continued  to 
study  Latin.  I  boarded  at  my  Uncle 
Andy  McMahans.  After  that  I  again 
went  to  a  school  in  Columbia,  kept  by 
Thomas  Cheek  and  with  him  read  Latin 
and  some  in  the  Greek  Testament.  I 
then  went  to  John  Sutton  to  study 
Euclid's  elements  of  geometry  and  sur- 
veying. I  lived  at  home  and  went  to  his 
school  in  the  country.  After  that  I  re- 
mained awhile  at  home  and  helped 
brother  Abner  about  his  farm  work. 
After  I  was  grown  I  went  to  study  law 


in  Columbia,  at  brother  Cyrus'  law  office, 
and  boarded  with  him.  On  obtaining 
my  law  license,  I  went  home  and  worked 
around  the  farm  until  our  family  deter- 
mined to  leave  Kentucky  and  come  to 
Illinois. 

Abner  had  been  out  to  look  at  Illinois 
and  spoke  very  highly  of  it  as  a  state. 
Sanders  W.  Campbell  determined  to 
move  to  Illinois,  and  our  family  united 
with  him  and  hired  Alexander  Walker, 
who  had  come  back  from  Illinois  where 
he  lived,  to  move  his  brother-in-law  out 
to  that  state,  but  his  brother-in-law  had 
made  other  arrangements,  and  his  team 
was  not  wanted,  so  Sanders  and  me 
loaded  our  effects  in  Alexander's  wagon 
and  started  to  move  to  Illinois,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1830,  and  were  nearly  a  month 
on  the  road.  Alexander  landed  us  at  his 
house,  in  the  Irish  Grove,  Sangamon 
county,  where  we  emptied  our  goods  out 
of  his  wagon  on  the  day  after  we  landed, 
into  an  unfinished  school  house,  where 
we  staid  befogged  with  smoke.  Had 
to  go  eight  miles  to  a  horse  mill  and  get 
a  little  corn  meal  to  live  on.  We  found 
that  the  ague  prevailed  extensively  over 
the  county  and  numbers  of  persons  were 
moving  away  from  the  state  on  account 
of  sickness.  We  staid  about  ten  days  in 
Irish  Grove,  and  then  moved  to  Clarey's 
Grove,  where  we  lived  that  winter,  and 
rented  ground  in  the  spring  from  James 
White,  on  whose  farm  Sanders  built  a 
house  to  live  in.  We  lived  in  a  little 
cabin  close  by.  During  the  last  days  of 
December  there  fell  a  deep  snow,  about 
three  feet,  and  which  lay  all  winter.  I 
had  gone  down  on  Indian  creek,  in  Mor- 
gan county,  where  brother  Abner  had 
moved  and  settled,  and  got  a  school  made 


104 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOTJGH  COUNTY. 


up  but  did  not  teach  more  than  a  week 
until  the  snow  fell  which  put  a  stop  to 
the  school  for  the  time.  I  staid  two  or 
three  weeks  with  Abner,  waiting  for  the 
snow  to  settle,  and  finally  we  made  a 
company  to  go  to  Clarey's  Grove.  We 
toiled  nearly  all  day  through  the  snow 
to  get  to  that  place,  and  were  glad  to  get 
through  the  same  day.  We  had  to  take 
our  turns  in  breaking  the  road,  each  one 
leading  awhile  and  then  dropping  back 
and  let  another  go  ahead.  During  that 
winter  we  had  hard  times  gathering  corn 
out  of  the  fields  to  feed  on,  hauling  wood 
and  getting  grinding  at  the  horse  mills, 
while  the  river  mill  on  Sangamon  river, 
at  New  Salem,  was  frozen  up,  and  the 
roads  snowed  over  deeply.  Even  beasts 
of  the  forest  and  fowls  of  the  air  had 
hard  scuffling  to  live  and  got  quite  poor. 
Some  people  run  down  deer  with  dogs 
and  horses,  but  when  killed  they  were 
too  poor  to  eat.  Babbits  barked  the 
sumach  bushes  as  high  above  the  snow 
as  they  could  reach.  People  made 
jumper  sleighs,  toward  the  last  of  winter 
and  went  to  mill  in  companies.  About 
the  8th  of  March,  1831,  we  got  sight  of 
the  ground  on  the  high  knoll  in  the 
prairie.  Early  the  previous  fall  a  snow 
fell  that  was  about  eight  or  ten  inches 
deep,  and  we  gathered  corn  while  it  was 
on  the  ground.  That  fall  was  warm  and 
continued  so  almost  up  to  December.  In 
the  spring  of  1831,  people  had  trouble 
to  get  seed  corn  that  would  grow,  and  we 
made  two  trips  to  Indian  Creek  to  get 
some.  After  we  got  our  corn  planted, 
Sanders  and  I  came  over  to  McDonough 
county,  to  look  for  places  to  settle  upon, 
but  found  none.  After  harvest  we  came 
again  and  I  bought  an  improvement,  or 


claim,  on  Camp  creek  six  miles  south  of 
Macomb,  to  which  we  moved  in  the  fall. 
That  winter  was  very  cold;  the  ice  froze 
011  the  creek  a  foot  or  more  thick  and  the 
prairie  was  iced  over.  I  went  back  to 
Clarey's  Grove  and  packed  over  some 
meat  on  my  horse  for  our  winter's  pro- 
vision. We  lived  in  a  log  cabin,  not 
hewed  and  not  well  finished.  The  chim- 
ney had  mud  jambs  and  a  sod  or  stick 
funnel.  On  the  night  of  the  27th  of  Sep- 
tember we  had  a  severe  frost.  The  corn 
was  so  badly  frozen  that  it  looked  yellow, 
and  you  could  smell  it  as  you  rode  by 
the  fields.  October  4,  1831,  we  had  a 
snow  fall  four  inches  deep. 

I  bought  an  improvement  of  Wesley 
Moore,  on  the  south  side  of  Camp  creek, 
below  the  McKamy  farm,  and  .moved  to 
it  in  the  spring  of  1832.  Sanders 
moved  at  the  same  time  and  settled  on 
the  west  half  of  the  same  quarter.  We 
rented  ground,  and  had  difficulty  to  get 
good  seed  corn,  on  account  of  the  cold- 
ness of  the  spring  and  frosted  corn.  We 
had  to  go  to  Beardstown  and  buy  seed 
corn  that  was  shipped  from  Kentucky, 
and  planted  our  corn  all  over  again.  We 
also  went  over  to  Morgan  county  to  get 
seed  wheat.  The  latter  did  very  well, 
as  did  stock  of  all  kinds.  Money  was 
very  scarce,  aud  we  had  but  little  to 
market,  yet  taxes  were  very  low  and  lux- 
uries not  necessary,  and  we  got  along 
with  as  little  worry  and  discontent  as 
people  commonly  undergo.  Quintus 
Walker  married  Mahala  Campbell,  on 
Camp  creek,  on  the  4th  day  of  August, 
1833. 

After  a  year  or  so  Cyrus  and  Gilmer 
Walker  and  Dr.  Hays  moved  to  Camp 
creek.  Gilmer  settled  and  lived  a  while 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


105 


on  Grindstone  creek.  From  there  he 
moved  to  a  farm  on  the  north  side  of 
Camp  creek,  and  from  there  he  moved 
to  his  farm  in  Walnut  Grove  township. 
.1  married  Jane  Campbell,  on  'Camp 
creek,  March  20,  1834.  Brother  Abner 
had  previously  moved  from  Morgan 
county,  and  had  settled  in  the  Bacon 
prairie,  below  Macomb,  but  from  there 
he  moved  to  Camp  creek  and  built 
Cyrus  a  house  on  that  stream.  From 
there  he  removed  to  section  16,  Macomb 
township,  where  he  united  with  George 
Miller  in  building  a  mill,  a  short  dis- 
tance southeast  from  his  place.  While 
he  was  living  there,  Gilmer  moved  up 
to  Walnut  Grove,  and  shortly  after  we 
moved  and  settled  on  section  16,  of  the 
same  township,  The  county  all  around 
us  was  open  and  unsettled,  and  game 
ranged  over  the  prairie  in  gangs  and 
flocks.  We  had  good  wood  to  burn  and 
prairie  grass  to  mow  on  our  extensive 
prairies.  Prairie  chickens  were  abund- 
ant, as  were  also  wolves.  Wild  fruits 
were  also  plentiful.  Sometimes  we 
attended  camp  meetings  eighteen  or 
twenty  miles  away. 

Quintus  built  a  log  cabin,  in  1838,  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  16, 
Walnut  Grove  township,  and  Alexander 
Campbell  built  a  log  cabin  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  16.  His  son, 
John,  built  a  cabin  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  16,  and  I  built  one 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  same 
section,  but  when  the  sale  of  the  section 
came  off,  the  east  half  of  the  southeast 
quarter  was  struck  off  to  a  higher  bid- 
der, so  I  lost  it.  The  neighbors  tore 
down  my  cabin,  and  helped  me  to  move 


and  raise  it  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  the  section.  In  a 
few  years  after  we  moved  on  to  the 
section. 

Uncle  David  Campbell  and  Robert 
Perry  moved  from  Tennessee  to  our 
section.  Uncle  David  stayed  two  or 
three  years,  and  then  went  back  to  Ten- 
nessee. Uncle  Robert  died  of  erysip- 
elas. His  wife,  Aunt  Peggy,  moved 
back  to  Tennessee.  Mr.  Bishop  settled 
west  of  us,  six  or  seven  years  after  we 
moved  on  the  section.  The  Mormon 
war  broke  out  and  I  went,  at  the  call  for 
the  militia,  to  Carthage,  and  remained  a 
few  days  and  came  home.  It  was 
awfully  wet  that  season,  1844.  John 
and  David  Campbell  married  Mr. 
Bridges'  daughters,  and  Mary  Ann 
Campbell  married  John  Bishop.  Abner 
Walker  moved,  and  settled  in  the  Linn 
Grove  about  this  time. 

Our  peaceful  and  quiet  time  was 
interrupted  by  the  appearance  of  a 
malignant  fever  among  us,  in  the  fall  of 
1845,  which  removed  by  death  Alex- 
ander Campbell,  on  the  17th  of  October, 
and  my  wife,  Jane,  on  the  29th  of  the 
same  month.  In  the  fall  of  1846,  nearly 
everyone  around  us  had  the  chills,  but 
there  were  but  few  deaths.  Not  long 
after,  Frost  Combs,  who  had  moved  for 
the  second  time  from  Kentucky  to  this 
state,  and  who  had  settled  on  section 
16,  close  to  us,  lost  his  son,  Jesse,  by 
congestive  chills,  and  in  a  year  or  so 
moved  back  to  Kentucky,  where  he  lived 
a  few  years,  when  he  moved  to  Kansas 
territory,  where  he  afterward  died.  We 
continued  to  live  on  at  a  slow-jogging 
gait  and  plain  way,  improving  our  farms 
by  little  and  little.  Produce  was  low; 


106 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


people  hauled  their  wheat  to  the  river 
mostly  and  sold  it  at  low  prices.  We 
built  school  houses  and  started  schools, 
although  money  was  very  scarce. 

After  a  good  deal  of  speaking  and 
subscribing  a  railroad  was  built,  and 
then  there  was  a  rise  in  lands  and 
produce,  and  the  county  rapidly  filled 
up  with  new  settlers.  Taxes  and  expen- 
ditures increased,  and  fashion  and  ex- 
travagance grew  upon  us.  The  people 
were  much  in  debt,  and,  to  crown  all, 
the  banks  were  unstable  and  smashing 
up. 

EARLY     RECOLLECTIONS    OF     MCDONOUGH 

COUNTY. 
[Thomas  Fulkerson.] 

The  earth  was  covered  with  a  heavy 
coat  of  grass  of  the  blue  stem  variety, 
often  eight  and  ten  feet  high.  In  the 
spring  it  was  interspersed  with  flowers 
of  every  hue.  The  earth  was  mostly 
wet  or  marshy,  and  ponds  of  water  were 
numerous,  owing  to  the  absence  of 
drains,  for  a  continuous  sod  prevailed 
about  all  over  the  land,  so  the  roots  ob- 
structed the  flow  of  water,  and  the  high 
grass  shaded  the  earth.  Few  roads,  and 
grass  often  growing  between  the  tracks 
of  the  wheels. 

Wild  game  abounded  on  every  hand; 
deer  were  often  see  in  herds  of  15  or  20. 
They  seemed  to  be  very  happy,  often 
playing  and  frolicing  near  to  civiliza- 
tion, and  instances  have  been  known 
where  some  old  buck  has  contested  the 
right  of  way  with  man,  sometimes  prov- 
ing victorious.  Wolves  seemed  inclined 
to  court  the  acquaintance  of  man,  or 
more  especially  of  his  pigs  and  sheep. 
Ring  hunts  were  often  resorted  to  for 


their  special  benefit.  Every  one  for 
miles  around  starting  for  a  common  cen- 
tre, making  all  the  noise  possible,  aim- 
ing to  enclose  all  game  in  the  circle. 
Language  fails  me  to  paint  the  scenes  of 
excited  man  and  beast  as  the  ring  was 
nearly  closed;  the  beast  to  escape  and 
man  to  destroy  them. 

The  scream  of  the  panther  was  of 
common  occurrence,  whilst  lynxes,  foxes, 
catamounts,  etc.,  were  aiming  to  remain 
permanent  citizens  of  our  country. 

Faint  hearted  would  be  the  old  settler 
who  could  not  recount  numerous  adven- 
tures, hair  breadth  escapes,  in  which  he 
was  the  principal  hero. 

Snakes  seemed  to  contest  every  foot  of 
territory  with  man.  The  big  timber, 
or  yellow  rattlesnake,  the  prairie  rattle- 
snake, blue  racer  and  many  other  kinds 
seemed  to  flourish  grandly.  Snake  dens 
were  a  familiar  sight. 

Wild  geese,  cranes  and  ducks,  filled 
our  ponds  and  lakes  in  the  spring  of  the 
year.  The  noise  made  by  them  could  be 
heard  for  miles  around  and  when  they 
were  alarmed,  take  flight  and  almost  ob- 
scure the  sun  from  vision. 

Fires  ran  over  the  country,  every 
spring  and  fall. 

Every  one  belonged  to  the  fire  bri- 
gade, for  it  was  no  respecter  of  persons 
or  places,  as  grass  or  leaves  grew  every- 
where and  roads  afforded  no  barrier  to 
it,  so  it  went  out  only  when  it  had  noth- 
ing more  to  burn  or  was  surrounded. 
The  man  or  woman  be  who  would  not 
fight  for  such  a  cause  was  considered  too 
cowardly  to  exist. 

The  pioneers  were  mostly  of  limited 
means  and  had  to  move  slowly.  Houses 
to  build,  farms  to  make,  their  dress  was 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


107 


mostly  homespun,  for  store  clothes  were 
a  rarity.  They  farmed  on  a  primitive 
style,  using  barshare  and  cory  plows, 
and  other  tools  of  similiar  grade.  , 

They  patronized  the  water  mill,  the 
horse  mill — the  hand  mill — the  mortar 
— the  grater — and  when  these  failed  they 
took  a  trip  to  the  river  for  their  bread- 
stuff, yet  they  lived  well,  mostly — often 
delicacies  on  their  table,  such  as  game, 
maple  syrup,  honey,  etc. 

Among  the  prominent  features  of 
these  times  was  the  chills  and  fe"ver,  or 
ague,  as  it  was  called.  Often  three 
quarters  of  the  inhabitants  were  its  vic- 
tims and  such  woe-begone  visaged,  hol- 
low-chested looking  set  of  folks  were 
hardly  ever  seen;  yet  few  deaths  were 
caused  by  this  disease. 

The  above  state  of  affairs  existed  for 
many  years,  for  we  had  no  home  market, 
no  railroad,  telegraph,  etc.,  and  but  lit- 
tle capital  to  subdue  our  wild  lands  and 
build  our  future  homes. 

[By  Isaac  Opp.] 

In  the  spring  of  1842,  I  left  Stephen- 
son  county,  Illinois,  where  I  had  been 
living,  and  desiring  to  see  my  sister  who 
resided  at  Cuba,  Fulton  county,  I  took 
passage  with  four  Mormons,  who  had 
built  a  flat  boat,  and  were  going  to 
Nauvoo.  This  was  on  the  Pecatonica 
river.  We  had  to  float  all  the  way,  hav- 
ing no  way  of  propelling  our  craft.  Our 
route  was  down  the  Pecatonica  to  Rock 
river,  thence  down  to  the  Mississippi 
and  by.  the  "Father  of  waters,"  reach 
Nauvoo,  which  we  finally  reached.  I 
remained  here  about  two  days,  viewing 
the  temple  and  other  curiosities.  I  then 
shouldered  my  knapsack  and  accouter- 
ments  and  started  for  Carthage,  a  foot, 


there  being  no  conveyance.  This  was 
21  miles  away,  without  a  house  or  fence 
between,  and  as  my  route  lay  inland 
away  from  any  streams  I  suffered 
severely  for  water,  and  even  got  down 
and  drank  out  of  a  cow  track,  it  having 
rained  the  night  before.  When  I  reached 
Carthage,  my  feet  were  past  going  any 
further,  and  there  being  no  conveyance 
from  there  to  Macomb,  until  Monday  of 
the  next  week,  when  there  was  to  be  an 
extra  coach  put  on,  to  bring  Supreme 
Judge  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  and  three 
lawyers  to  Macomb,  I  remained  and 
came  with  them.  I  remained  all  night 
with  the  Judge  and  lawyers  in  the 
"Baldy"  Clarke  hotel,  that  was  then  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square.  The  next 
morning  I  hired  a  team  and  man  to 
carry  me  to  Bernadotte,  by  way  of 
Pennington's  Point  and  Table  Grove, 
crossing  Camp  creek  at  the  head  of 
Pennington's  Point.  There  was  nei- 
ther house  or  fence  across  the  prairie 
to  Table  Grove,  and  only  one  in 
the  grove,  and  that  was  occupied  by 
James  Spicer.  From  Bernadotte  I 
walked  10  miles  north  to  Centerville, 
now  called  Cuba,  where  I  remained  two 
weeks,  then  started  home  to  Stephenson 
county,  via  Peoria,  Northampton,  Indian 
Town,  Princeton,  French  Grove,  to 
Dixon.  We  arrived  at  the  latter  place 
at  11  P.  M.,  this  being  the  terminous  of 
the  stage  route,  and  it  having  snowed 
all  day  and  part  of  the  night,  I  staid  at 
the  hotel  till  morning,  when  I  contin- 
ued my  journey  on  foot.  I  crossed 
Rock  river  and  went  north  to  Buffalo 
Grove,  which  was  11  miles  distant,  there 
being  two  houses  in  the  grove  and  none 
between  Dixon  and  there,  and  scarcely 


108 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


any  road.  There  was  no  road  from  the 
Grove  to  Freeport  where  I  had  to  go  to 
get  home.  The  inhabitants  directed  me 
as  well  as  they  could  to  that  point,  it  be- 
ing 25  miles  from  Buffalo  Grove,  there 
was  neither  house,  fence  nor  water 
course  to  guide  my  steps,  and  no  road 
except  an  Indian  trail.  This  I  took  but 
when  only  half  way,  the  shades  of  night 
began  to  hover  around  me  in  which  I 
began  to  wander  until  I  come  to  a  wagon 
road  leading  east  and  west,  which  I  af- 
terward found  led  to  Rockford  and 
Cherry  Grove.  I  took  this  road  think- 
ing I  would  soon  come  to  some  house  or 
grove,  but  I  did  not,  when  at  last  being 
overcome  with  hunger,  thirst  and  weari- 
ness, I  began  making  preparations  for  a 
night  on  the  prairie.  The  grass  was  all 
burned  off  at  this  place  except  a  little 
in  the  middle  of  the  road.  This  I  gath- 
ered together  as  well  as  I  could  and 
made  me  a  bed.  The  wind  blew— so 
cold  that  I  could  not  sleep,  so  I  got  up 
and  went  on  as  long  as  I  could  stand 
this,  I  kept  repeating,  always  keeping 
near  the  road  so  that  if  I  should  die 
some  one  might  find  me.  The  wolves 
were  howling  niost  hideously  on  all  sides 
In  passing  on  I  came  to  where  the  grass 
was  not  burned.  Here,  had  I  been 
prepared  with  matches  as  a  traveler 
should  be,  I  might  have  built  fire  enough 
to  have  kept  warm,  but  I  commenced  to 
make  me  a  bed  of  grass  in  which  I  lay 
till  morning,  when  I  awoke  and  found 
that  my  feet  and  hands  were  frozen  (the 
nails  afterward  came  off).  AVhen  I 
awoke  there  were  three  deer  within  a 
few  rods  of  me.  When  they  saw  me 
they  soon  took  flight  and  were  soon  out 
of  sight.  From  here  I  could  see  a 


grove  a  few  miles  distant,  and  to  this  I 
made  my  way  as  fast  as  circumstances 
would  allow.  On  reaching  this  point  I 
saw  a  house  still  farther  on,  and  to  this 
I  made  my  way  where  I  was  kindly  wel- 
comed. Here,  after  partaking  of  a  good 
breakfast  and  a  sound  sleep,  resumed 
my  journey,  having  sufficiently  recov- 
ered, and  in  my  wandering  during  the 
night  had  not  gone  any  out  of  my  way 
for  I  had  now  only  eight  miles  to  go  to 
the  Pecatonica  river,  which  I  waded,  the 
distance  from  the  river,  home,  was  only 
one-half  mile,  but  when  I  got  there  my 
clothes  were  frozen  stiff.  Indians  at 
that  time  were  plenty,  but  they  were 
friendly. 

I  remained  here  for  about  two  years, 
when  I  made  up  my  mind  to  come  to 
McDonough  county,  and  started,  this 
time  walking  to  Galena,  and  there  tak- 
ing passage  in  a  boat  named  the  Old 
Brazil,  for  Burlington,  where  I  remained 
over  night,  visiting  friends.  From  there 
I  came  to  Macomb  in  a  hack,  and  from 
there  I  walked  across  the  prairie  and 
into  the  edge  of  Fulton  county  to  my 
brother-in-law's,  Jacob  Ritters,  where  I 
remained  till  May  3rd  1846. 

At  the  request  of  many  of  the  old 
settlers,  the  following  reminiscences  are 
taken  from  the  history  of  McDonough 
county,  written  by  S.  J.  Clarke  some 
years  ago,  as  they  wish  them  preserved. 

RECOLLECTIONS   OF    JOHN   WILSON. 

Until  1848,  when  I  was  married,  I 
cannot  say  that  I  ever  had  a  home,  On 
the  thirtieth  day  of  October,  1828,  I 
was  married  to  Martha  R.  Vance  by 
Elder  John  Logan,  with  whom  I  yet 
live. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


109 


When  I  commenced  farming  I  had 
one  horse  and  three  cows.  The  first  year 
I  broke  my  land  with  a  Barshire  plow,  a 
wooden  affair.  I  borrowed  a  wagon  from 
William  Moore,  who  was  just,  from 
Georgia.  He  went  crazy  soon  afterward 
and  was  taken  back  by  his  friends. 
After  this  I  made  a  wagon  myself  en- 
tirely of  wood,  the  wheels  of  which  were 
made  solid  and  hewed  out  of  a  large 
tree.  There  being  no  iron  about  it, 
I  had  to  keep  it  well  soaped  to  keep  it 
from  being  set  on  fire  by  the  friction.  I 
now  had  three  calves,  two  of  which  I 
yoked  together,  and  the  third  harnessed 
and  used  as  a  leader.  With  them  I  done 
my  plowing,  and  hitched  them  to  my 
wagon  and  done  all  my  hauling  of  wood 
and  rails,  they  being  able  to  draw  ten  or 
twelve  rails  to  the  load.  This  wooden 
wagon  we  used  for  several  years,  going 
to  mill  with  it  and  doing  all  my  hauling. 

What  little  education  I  have,  I  got 
after  we  were  married.  Got  a  United 
States  spelling-book  and  a  primer,  and 
at  night,  while  my  wife  was  spinning, 
would  throw  a  quantity  of  brush  upon 
the  fire,  having  first  placed  in  the  fire- 
place a  large  back-log,  and  lying  down 
on  the  floor,  by  the  light  given,  would 
study.  Would  do  this  after  having 
worked  hard  all  day  mauling  rails  and 
other  work.  In  this  way  I  soon  mastered 
my  speller  and  primer  and  then  took  up 
the  bible,  reading  it  through  twice,when 
I  thought  myself  able  to  read  anything. 
By  the  same  course  of  study  I  obtained 
a  little  knowledge  of  geography  and 
arithmetic. 

Game  was  very  abundant  in  the  early 
times,  and  wild  animals  were  not  uncom- 
mon, such  as  wolf,  wildcat,  fox,  lynx, 


badgers,  and  even  the  black  bear.  Deer 
were  very  plentiful.  The  strength  and 
powers  of  endurance  of  this  animal  are 
wonderful  indeed.  I  once  shot  and  crip- 
pled one,  when  the  dogs  attacked  it  and 
fought  it  a  long  time,  until  I  got  in  an- 
other shot,  when  it  jumped  about  twenty 
feet  away  from  the  dogs  that  were  hold- 
ing it,  and  fell  dead.  One  morning  I 
heard  my  dogs  barking  and  went  to  see 
what  was  the  matter,  when  I  discovered 
they  were  chasing  a  little  fawn.  Caught 
it  and  carried  it  in  my  arms  to  the  house, 
where  it  grew  up  as  a  pet.  One  day 
some  strange  dogs  came  around,  and, 
frightening  it,  caused  it  to  break  one  of  its 
legs.  I  tied  it  down  for  the  purpose  of  fix- 
ing it,  when  it  endeavored  to  get  away.  At 
last  it  gave  a  powerful  leap  and  actually 
pulled  itself  in  two,  thus  killing  itself. 

I  have  an  old  flint-lock  rifle,  one  traded 
for  when  I  first  came  to  the  county.  It 
was  then  an  old  gun  and  had  done  much 
service,  but  still  to-day  it  is  in  as  good 
order  as  it  ever  was,  and  as  true  as  the 
modern  breech-loader.  As  I  roamed  the 
wild  forest,  often  this  gun  was  my  only 
companion,  and  it  was  always  faithful. 
Many  are  the  exciting  incidents  that 
could  be  related  in  connection  with  it; 
A  short  time  ago  one  of  my  little  grand- 
sons desired  to  see  me  shoot  it.  To 
please  the  boy,  I  took  the  faithful  old 
gun  from  its  hook  on  the  Avail,  and,  as 
was  my  custom  nearly  a  half  century 
ago,  threw  it  across  my  shoulder  and 
started  forth  for  game.  We  soon  spied 
a  squirrel  in  a  tall  oak.  Took  aim  and 
fired.  Though  my  hand  was  not  so  steady 
or  my  eye  so  keen  as  it  used  to  be,  I 
brought  the  little  animal  to  the  ground. 

I    well  remember  quite  an   exciting 


110 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


fight  I  had  with  a  lynx,  one  winter. 
During  the  day  a  good  sized  calf  had 
died,  and  that  night  it  snowed.  While 
out  doing  chores  the  next  morning,  no- 
ticed some  tracks  near  the  carcass  of  the 
calf  which  I  supposed  were  made  by  a 
panther,  knowing  it  must -be  somewhere 
near  by,  I  called  my  dogs  that  they 
they  might  trace  it,  but  when  they  came 
they  refused  to  go  near  it.  Then  went  over 
to  Vances  for  a  couple  of  hounds  which 
were  glad  enough  for  a  fight,  and  soon 
had  the  animal  treed;  it  was  as  large  as 
a  gray  wolf  and  resembled  one.  Got  my 
old  flint-lock  and  determined  to  have  a 
fight.  I  shot  its  paw  a  time  or  two  but 
it  would  not  jump  from  the  tree.  Then 
shot  it  in  the  head  knocking  it  down. 
The  dogs  would  run  up  to  it  and  each 
time  would  have  great  pieces  of  flesh 
torn  from  their  bodies  by  the  savage 
animal.  I  thought  I  would  help  the 
dogs,  so  got  a  club  and  waded  in,  when 
the  lynx,  dogs  and  myself  had  a  lively 
battle,  but  we  were  too  much  for  it,  and 
at  last  killed  it.  For  many  years  we 
kept  the  skin  of  this  fierce  lynx  that  had 
fought  so  hard  for  its  life. 

Accommodations  in  Macomb  in  those 
early  days  were  not  so  great  as  they  are 
now.  Wm.  Shannon  and  myself  were 
once  summoned  to  attend  court  as  wit- 
nesses, and  when  we  arrived,  the  houses 
were  all  full  and  we  could  get  no  place 
to  stop.  We  were  compelled  to  go  out 
of  town  a  short  distance,  and  crawl  under 
a  hay  stack  to  sleep  during  the  night. 

I  used  to  raise  large  fields  of  cotton 
and  we  made  all  the  cotton  goods  we 
used.  Also  raised  flax,  which  we  spun 
and  wove  and  made  into  goods.  We 
didn't  buy  many  "  store  goods"  tl^eii. 


Have  on  my  place  a  log  house  built  in 
1829,  now  fifty-six  years  old,  but  we  have 
out-grown  it,  and  live  in  more  modern 
style. 

Was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Tennes- 
see, November  2,  1806. 

REMINISCENCES   OF  R.  L.  DARK. 

I  first  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1829  and  with  my  family  camped  upon 
Camp  creek.  The  Indians  were  then 
still  numerous  in  the  county  and  often 
came  to  our  cabin.  My  wife  could  not 
rid  herself  of  a  natural  fear  of  the  red 
man,  and  desired  to  return  to  Schuyler 
county,  from  which  we  removed.  To 
this  I  objected.  Twice,  while  I  was 
away,  she  packed  up  all  our  household 
goods,  preparatory  to  starting,  but  I  re- 
turned just  in  time  to  stop  all  such  pro- 
ceedings. Business  again  called  me 
away,  and  had  no  sooner  left  than  she 
again  packed  up,  and  loading  the  goods 
on  the  wagon,  with  our  two  little  ones 
she  started  for  the  vicinity  of  Rushville. 
Met  them  a  short  distance  from  the 
Schuyler  county  line  and  tried  to  pre- 
vail on  her  to  return,  but  this  time  with- 
out avail.  No  amount  of  coaxing  could 
make  her  change  her  mind.  As  "the 
mountain  would  not  go  to  Mahomet,  Ma- 
homet would  have  to  go  to  the  mountain," 
so  went  with  her,  and  we  settled  near 
Rushville,  where  we  lived  about  four 
years,  and  as  a  considerable  settlement 
had  been  made  near  the  present  town  of 
Industry,  again  prevailed  on  my  wife  to 
go  with  me  to  McDonough  county, 
where  we  settled  on  the  farm  on  which 
we  now  live,  on  section  30,  Industry 
township.  We  have  never  regretted  so 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Ill 


doing,  notwithstanding  we  have  seen 
hard  times,  yet  we  believe  "all  is  for  the 
best." 

MARTHA  RUSSELL'S  REMINISCENCES. 

My  father,  William  Priiigle,  moved  to 
this  county  in  1830,  when  I  was  a  very 
young  girl;  but  remember  the  occur- 
rences of  that  day  very  distinctly.  The 
"big  snow"  of  that  year  comes  to  my 
mind  just  as  vividly  as  if  it  was  but  yes- 
terday. Was  a  terrible  winter,  indeed. 
For  three  long  months  we  could  hardly 
stir  out  of  our  house. 

My  father  settled  west  of  Macomb, 
near  the  old  cemetery;  for  a  barn  he  used 
his  wagon,  and  sheltered  his  horses  un- 
der the  broad  canopy  of  heaven,  allow- 
ing them  to  graze  around  upon  the  prai- 
ries, they  going  out  in  the  morning  and 
home  at  night.  Among  the  horses  he 
had  one  we  called  "Old  Bill,"  who  was  as 
white  as  the  driven  snow.  One  day, 
while  the  horses  were  out,  the  prairie 
was  discovered  on  fire,  and  soon  all  re- 
turned in  great  fear  but  old  Bill.  The 
fire  swept  by,  and  old  Bill  came  in,  but 
now  his  color  was  entirely  changed,  he 
being  as  black  as  a  coal,  the  fire  having 
singed  off  every  bit  of  his  hair.  By  care- 


ful treatment  he  was  saved,  but  ever 
after  this,  when  the  smell  of  fire  was  in 
the  air,  he  would  scamper  home  in  a 
hurry. 

About  1830,  a  man  named  Thomas 
Morgan  married  a  widow  lady  with  a  lit- 
tle girl  about  three  years  old.  The  little 
one  had  the  chills  and  probably  gave 
some  annoyance  to  the  man.  One  day 
he  took  her  with  him  to  the  woods  to 
gather  blackberries,  and,  as  he  said,  car- 
ried along  some  coals  to  make  a  fire  in 
case  a  chill  should  come  on  the  girl. 
When  he  returned  home  the  little  one 
was  noticed  by  its  mother  all  stained 
with  blackberries.  Examining  her  body 
she  found  the  inhuman  wretch,  her  hus- 
band, had  with  coals  of  fire,  burned  her 
body  in  a  terrible  manner,  afterwards 
staining  it  with  berries  to  hide  the  mark. 
Peter  Hale  took  the  little  one  to  his 
house  where  she  lingered  about  three 
days,  when  she  died  and  was  the  third 
person  to  be  buried  in  the  old  grave 
yard.  The  wretch  was  arrested,  and 
there  being  no  jail  at  Macomb,  he  was 
taken  to  Rushville  for  safe  keeping,  from 
which  he  escaped  and  was  never  after- 
wards heard  from.  Thus  the  gallows 
was  cheated  out  of  a  deserved  victim. 


112 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER 


THE  BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 


The  causes  that  led  to  this  war  reach 
away  back  to  and  beyond  the  Winne- 
bago  or  Sauk  war,  in  1827.  Prior  even 
to  that  date  the  Indians  upon  the  north- 
ern border  of  Illinois,  not  only  com- 
menced hostilities  upon  one  another, 
but,  in  1825,  extended  their  warfare 
toward  the  white  settlements.  A  treaty 
of  peace  between  the  Winnebagoes, 
Sioux,  Chippewas,  Sauk  and  Foxes  de- 
nning the  boundaries  of  the  possessions 
of  each,  was  entered  into  at  Prairie  du 
Chien,  on  the  19th  of  August,  1825, 
brought  about  mainly  by  the  mediation 
of  the  whites  in  that  neighborhood. 
But,  in  spite  of  the  treaty,  depredations 
and  murders  still  continued  frequent, 
and  in  1827,  their  conduct,  especially  that 
of  the  Winnebagoes  grew  worse.  It  would 
seem,  however,  that  the  whites,  who 
earnestly  desired  the  removal  of  their 
red  neighbors,  used  every  means  to  ex- 
asperate the  Indians,  and  then  exagger- 
ated the  amount  of  depredations  com- 
mitted. 

A  combination  was  formed  by  the 
different  tribes  of  Indians,  under  Red 
Bird,  a  chief  of  the  Sioux,  to  extermi- 
nate the  white  invaders  above  Rock  river. 
This  league  commenced  operations  by 
killing  two  white  men  near  Prairie  du 
Chien,  Wisconsin,  June  24,  1827,  and  on 
the  30th  of  the  same  month  they  attacked 


two  keel  boats  that  were  returning  to 
Fort  Snelling  from  Fort  Crawford, where 
they  had  conveyed  military  stores,  and 
killed  two  of  the  crew  and  wounded  four 
others,  before  they  were  repulsed.  Gov- 
ernor Edwards  anticipating  trouble,  had 
issued  orders  on  the  14th  of  July,  to  the 
commandants  in  General  Hanson's  brig- 
ade, located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Illi- 
nois river,  to  detach  one-fourth  of  their 
respective  regiments,  and  hold  them- 
selves in  readiness  to  meet  any  attack  of 
the  Indians.  He,  also,  on  the  same  day, 
issued  orders  for  the  acceptance  of  six 
hundred  volunteers.  Under  this  call, 
one  company  of  cavalry  and  four  of  in- 
fantry were  recruited  and  marched  to 
Galena,  but  before  their  arrival,  Red 
Bird  and  six  of  his  principal  chiefs  had 
surrendered  and  the  campaign  came  to 
an  end.  While  these  troops  were  being 
recruited  and  proceeding  to  the  scene  of 
operation,  the  settlers  were  not  idle.  A 
committee  of  safety  had  been  formed 
and  agreeably  to  the  orders  of  Governor 
Edwards,  the  miners  in  that  part  of  the 
country  were  enrolled  in  companies 
and  equipped,  and  temporary  defenses 
thrown  up.  These  hastily  formed 
militia  were  placed  under  the  command 
of  General  Henry  Dodge,  and  formed 
an  auxiliary  force  to  the  600  regulars 
then  under  command  of  General  Henry 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


113 


Atkinson,  U.  S.  A.  These  forces  pro- 
ceeded against  Red  Bird  and  his  war- 
riors, but  that  chief  came  voluntarily 
into  the  camp  with  six  others,  among 
whom  was  Black  Hawk,  and  surren- 
dered. These  Indians  were  detained 
several  months,  Red  Bird  dying  while  in 
captivity,  and  some  of  them  having  been 
tried  and  convicted  of  complicity  in  the 
murder  of  white  settlers  were  executed, 
December,  26,1827.  Black  Hawk,against 
whom  there  could  be  nothing  proven, 
was  acquitted,  although  he  afterwards 
boasted  of  his  connection  with  the  mur- 
ders for  which  he  was  tried.  This  was 
the  end  of  the  Winnebago  war,  and  fear- 
ful of  another  outbreak,  the  whites  im- 
portuned the  general  government  for  the 
removal  of  the  Indians  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi. But  through  the  system  of  red 
tape  that  characterises  the  action  of  the 
war  department,  this  was  not  immedi- 
ately done. 

As  to  the  subsequent  history  that 
finally  led  to  this  outbreak,  Edwards 
says: 

"About  this  time  (1829)  the  president 
issued  his  proclamation,  according  to 
law,  and  in  pursuance  thereof  all  the 
country  above  Rock  river,  the  ancient 
seat  of  the  Sauk  nation,  was  sold  to 
American  families,  and  in  the  year  fol- 
lowing it  was  taken  possession  of  by 
them.  To  avoid  difficulty  with  the 
tribes,  another  treaty,  confirming  pre- 
vious ones,  was  made  with  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  on  the  15th  of  July,  1830,  by  the 
provisions  of  which  they  were  to  remove 
peaceably  from  the  Illinois  country.  A 
portion  of  the  Sacs,  with  their  principal 
chief,  Keokuk,  at  their  head,  quietly 
retired  across  the  Mississippi.  With 


those  who  remained  in  the  village,  at 
the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  an  arrange- 
ment was  made  by  the  Americans  who 
had  purchased  the  land,  by  which  they 
were  to  live  together  as  neighbors,  the 
Indians  still  cultivating  their  old  fields 
as  formerly.  Black  Hawk,  however,  a 
restless  and  uneasy  spirit,  who  had 
ceased  to  recognize  Keokuk  as  a  chief, 
and  who  was  known  to  be  still  under 
the  pay  of  the  British,  emphatically 
refused  either  to  remove  from  the  lands 
or  to  respect  the  rights  of  the  Ameri- 
cans to  them.  He  insisted  that  Keokuk 
had  no  authority  for  making  such  a 
treaty,  and  he  proceeded  to  gather 
around  him  a  large  number  of  the  war- 
riors and  young  men  of  the  tribe,  who 
were  anxious  to  distinguish  themselves 
as  'braves,'  and,  placing  himself  at  their 
head,  he.  determined  to  dispute  with  the 
whites  the  possession  of  the  ancient 
seat  of  his  nation.  He  had  conceived 
the  gigantic  scheme,  as  appears  by  his 
own  admissions,  of  uniting  all  the  In- 
dians, from  the  Rock  river  to  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  in  a  war  against  the  United 
States,  and  he  made  use  of  every  pre- 
text for  gaining  accessions  to  his  party." 

Having  rallied  around  him  the  war- 
like braves  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations, 
he  recrossed  the  Mississippi  in  the 
spring  of  1832.  Upon  hearing  of  the 
invasion,  Governor  Reynolds  hastily 
collected  a  body  of  1,800  volunteers, 
placing  them  under  command  of  Brig- 
adier-General Samuel  Whiteside. 

The  army  marched  to  the  Mississippi, 
and,  having  reduced  to  ashes  the  Indian 
village  known  as  "Prophet's  Town," 
proceeded  several  miles  up  Rock  river, 
to  Dixon,  to  join  the  regular  forces 


114 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


under  General  Atkinson.  They  formed, 
at  Dixon,  two  companies  of  volunteers, 
who,  sighing  for  glory,  were  dispatched 
to  reconnoiter  the  enemy.  They  ad- 
vanced, under  command  of  Major  Still- 
man,  to  a  creek  afterwards  called  "Still- 
man's  run,"  and,  while  encamping  there, 
saw  a  party  of  mounted  Indians  at  a 
distance  of  a  mile.  Several  of  Still- 
man's  party  mounted  their  horses  and 
charged  the  Indians,  killing  three  of 
them;  but  attacked  by  the  main  body, 
under  Black  Hawk,  they  were  routed, 
and,  by  their  precipitate  flight,  spread 
such  a  panic  through  the  camp  that  the 
whole  company  ran  off  to  Dixon  as  fast 
as  their  legs  could  carry  them.  On 
their  arrival  it  was  found  that  there  had 
been  eleven  killed.  The  party  came 
straggling  into  camp  all  night  long,  four 
or  five  at  a  time,  each  squad  positive 
that  all  who  were  left  behind  were  mas- 
sacred. 

For  a  long  time  afterward  Major  Still- 
man  and  his  men  were  subjects  of  ridi- 
cule and  merriment,  which  was  as  unde- 
serving as  their  expedition  was  disas- 
trous. Stillman's  defeat  spread  conster- 
nation throughout  the  state  and  nation. 
The  number  of  Indians  was  greatly 
exaggerated,  and  the  name  of  Black 
Hawk  carried  with  it  great  military 
talent,  savage  cunning  and  cruelty. 

A  regiment  sent  to  spy  out  the  coun- 
try between  Galena  and  Rock  Island, 
was  surprised  by  a  party  of  70  Indians, 
.and  was  on  the  point  of  being  thrown 
into  disorder,  when  General  Whiteside 
then  serving  as  a  private,  shouted  out 
that  he  would  shoot  the  first  man  who 
turned  his  back  on  the  enemy.  Order 
being  restored,  the  battle  began.  At  its 


very  outset  General  Whiteside  shot  the 
leader  of  the  Indians,  who  thereupon 
commenced  a  hasty  retreat. 

In -June,  1832,  Black  Hawk,  with  a 
band  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  warriors, 
attacked  the  Apple  River  fort,  near  Ga- 
lena, defended  by  twenty-five  men. 
This  fort,  a  mere  palisade  of  logs,  was 
erected  to  afford  protectiou  to  the  min- 
ers. For  fifteen  consecutive  hours  the 
garrison  had  to  sustain  the  asault  of  the 
savage  enemy;  but  knowing  very  well 
that  no  quarter  would  be  giren  them, 
they  fought  with  such  fury  and  despera- 
tion that  the  Indians,  after  losing  many 
of  their  warriors,  were  compelled  to  re- 
treat. 

Another  party  of  eleven  Indians  mur- 
dered two  men  near  Fort  Hamilton. 
Thjey  were  afterward  overtaken  by  a 
company  of  twenty  men,  and  every  one 
of  them  killed. 

A  new  regiment,  under  the  command 
of  General  Atkinson,  assembled  on  the 
banks  of  the  Illinois,  in  the  latter  part 
of  June.  Major  Dement  with  a  small 
party,  was  sent  out  to  reconnoiter  the 
movements  of  a  large  body  of  Indians, 
whose  endeavors  to  surround  him  made 
it  advisable  for  him  to  retire.  Upon 
hearing  of  this  engagement,  General 
Atkinson  sent  a  detachment  to  intercept 
the  Indians,  while  he  with  the  main 
body  of  his  army,  moved  north  to  meet 
the  Indians  under  Black  Hawk.  They 
moved  slowly  and  cautiously  through 
the  country,  passed  through  Turtle  Vil- 
lage, and  marched  up  along  Rock  river. 
On  their  arrival  news  was  brought  of 
the  discovery  of  the  main  trail  of  the 
Indians.  Considerable  search  was  made 
but  they  were  unable  to  discover  any 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


115 


vestige  of  Indians  save  two,  who  had 
shot  two  soldiers  the  day  previous. 

Hearing  that  Black  Hawk  was  en- 
camped on  Rock  river,  at  the  Manitou 
village,  they  resolved  at  once  to  advance 
upon  the  enemy,  but  in  the  execution  of 
their  design  they  met  with  opposition 
from  their  officers  and  men.  The  offi- 
cers of  General  Henry  handed  to  him  a 
written  protest ;  but  he,  a  man  equal  to  any 
emergency,  ordered  the  officers  to  be 
arrested  and  escorted  to  General  Atkin- 
son. Within  a  few  minutes  after  the 
stern  order  was  given,  the  officers  all 
collected  around  the  General's  quarters, 
many  of  them  with  tears  in  their  eyes, 
pledging  themselves  that  if  forgiven 
they  would  return  tD  duty  and  never  do 
the  like  again.  The  General  rescinded 
the  order,  and  they  at  once  resumed 
duty. 

General  Henry  marched,  on  the  15th 
of  July,  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians, 
reaching  Rock  river  after  three  days' 
journey,  where  he  learned  Black  Hawk 
was  encamped  further  up  the  river.  On 
July  19,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  com- 
mence their  march.  After  having  made 
50  miles,  they  were  overtaken  by  a  ter- 
rible thunder  storm,  which  lasted  all 
night.  Nothing  cooled,  however,  in 
their  courage  and  zeal,  they  marched 
again  50  miles  the  next  day,  encamping 
near  the  place  where  the  Indians  en- 
camped the  night  before.  Hurrying 
along  as  fast  as  they  could,  the  infantry 
keeping  up  an  equal  pace  with  the 
mounted  force,  the  troops,  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  21st,  crossed  the  river  con- 
necting two  of  the  four  lakes,  by  which 
the  Indians  had  been  endeavoring  to  es- 
cape. They  found,  on  their  way,  the 


ground  strewn  with  kettles  and  articles 
of  baggage, -which,  in  the  haste  of  re- 
treat, the  Indians  were  obliged  to  throw 
away.  The  troops,  inspired  with  new 
ardor,  advanced  so  rapidly  that  at  noon 
they  fell  in  with  the  rear  guard  of  the 
Indians.  Those  who  closely  pursued 
them  were  saluted  by  a  sudden  fire  of 
musketry  from  a  body  of  Indians  who 
had  concealed  themselves  in  the  high 
grass  of  the  prairie.  A  most  desperate 
charge  was  made  upon  the  Indians,  who, 
unable  to  resist,  retreated  obliquely  in 
order  to  outflank  the  voulunteers  on  the 
right;  but  the  latter  charged  the  In- 
dians in  their  ambush  and  expelled 
them  from  their  thickets  at  the  point  of 
the  bayonet,  and  dispersed  them.  Night 
set  in  and  the  battle  ended,  having  cost 
the  Indians  sixty-eight  of  their  bravest 
men,  while  the  loss  of  the  Illinoisans 
amounted  to  but  one  killed  and  eight 
wounded. 

Soon  after  this  battle,  Generals  At- 
kinson and  Henry  joined  their  forces 
and  pursued  the  Indians.  General 
Henry  struck  the  main  trail,  left  his 
horses  behind,  formed  an  advarice  guard 
of  eight  men,  and  marched  forward 
upon  their  trail.  When  these  eight 
men  came  in  sight  of  the  river,  they 
were  suddenly  fired  upon,  and  five  of 
them  killed,  the  remaining  three  main- 
taining their  ground  till  General  Henry 
came  up.  Then  the  Indians  charged 
upon  with  the  bayonet,  fell  back  upon 
their  main  force ;  the  battle  now  became 
general;  the  Indians  fought  with  des- 
perate valor,  but  were  furiously  assailed 
by  the  volunteers  with  their  bayonets, 
cutting  many  of  the  Indians  to  pieces 
and  driving  the  rest  into  the  rfver. 


116 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Those  who  escaped  from  being  drowned 
found  refuge  on  an  island.  On  hearing 
the  frequent  discharge  of  musketry,  in- 
dicating a  general  engagement,  General 
Atkinson  abandoned  th  e  pursuit  of  the 
twenty  Indians  under  Black  Hawk  him- 
self, and  hurried  to  the  scene  of  action, 
where  he  arrived  too  late  to  take  part  in 
the  battle.  He  immediately  forded  the 
river  with  his  troops,  the  water  reaching 
up  to  their  necks,  and  landed  on  the 
island  where  the  Indians  had  secreted 
themselves.  The  soldiers  rushed  upon 
the  Indians,  killed  several  of  them,  took 
the  others  prisoners,  and  chased  the  rest 
into  the  river,  where  they  were  either 
drowned  or  shot  before  reaching  the  op- 
posite shore.  Thus  ended  the  battle, 
the  Indians  losing  three  hundred,  be- 
sides fifty  prisoners;  the  whites,  but 
seventeen  killed  and  twelve  wounded. 

Black  Hawk,  with  his  twenty  braves, 
retreated  up  the  Wisconsin  river.  The 
Winiiebagos,  desirous  of  securing  the 
friendship  of  the  whites,  went  in  pursuit 
and  captured  and  delivered  them  to  Gen. 
Street,  the  United  States  Indian  agent. 
Among  the  prisoners  were  the  son  of 
Black  Hawk  and  the  prophet  of  the  tribe. 
These,  with  Black  Hawk,  were  taken  to 
Washington,  D.  C.,  and  soon  consigned 
as  prisoners  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

By  order  of  the  president,  Black  Hawk 
and  his  companions,  who  were  in  confine- 
ment at  Fortress  Monroe,  were  set  free 
on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1833. 

After  their  release  from  prison  they 
were  conducted  in  charge  of  Major  Gar- 
land, through  some  of  the  principal 
cities,  that  they  might  witness  the  power 
of  the  United  States  and  learn  their  in- 
ability to  cope  with  them  in  war.  Great 


multitudes  flocked  to  see  them  wherever 
they  were  taken,  and  the  attention  paid 
them  rendered  their  progress  through 
the  country  a  triumphal  procession,  in- 
stead of  the  transportation  of  prisoners 
by  an  officer.  At  Rock  Island  the  pris- 
oners were  given  their  liberty  amid  great 
and  impressive  ceremony. 

After  this,  all  times  when  Black  Hawk 
visited  the  whites  he  was  received  with 
marked  attention.  He  was  an  honored 
guest  at  the  old  settlers'  reunion  in  Lee 
county,  Illinois,  at  some  of  their  meet- 
ings, and  received  marked  tokens  of  es- 
teem. In  September,  1838,  while  on  his 
way  to  Rock  Island  to  receive  his  annu- 
ity from  the  government,  he  contracted 
a  severe  cold,  which  resulted  in  a  severe 
attack  of  bilious  fever,  and  terminated 
his  life  October  3.  After  his  death  he 
was  dressed  in  the  uniform  presented  to 
him  by  the  president  while  in  Washing- 
ton. He  was  buried  in  a  grave  six  feet 
in  depth,  situated  upon  a  beautiful  em- 
inence. The  body  was  placed  in  the 
middle  of  the  grave,  in  a  sitting  position 
upon  a  seat  constructed  for  the  purpose. 
On  his  left  side  the  cane  given  him  by 
Henry  Clay  was  placed  upright,  with 
his  right  hand  resting  upon  it.  His  re- 
mains were  afterwards  stolen  and  car- 
ried away,  but  they  were  recovered  by 
the  governor  of  Iowa,  and  placed  in  the 
museum  of  the  historical  society  at  Bur- 
lington, where  they  were  finally  destroyed 
by  fire. 

During  this  war,  in  June,  1832,  a  bat- 
talion of  men  was  raised  in  this  and  War- 
ren counties,  under  a  proclamation  of  the 
governor,  dated  May  20, 1832.  This  was  a 
company  or  battalion  of  mounted  rang- 
ers, the  battalion  under  the  command 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


119 


of  Major  Samuel  Bogart.  The  detach- 
ment  moved  from  Macomb,  wliere  it  was 
organized,  to  Oquawka  where  they  were 
stationed  for  the  purpose  of  guarding 
the  frontier.  The  battalion  was  mounted, 
each  man  furnishing  his  own  horse. 
They  never  saw  any  special  service,  but, 
were  out  some  eighty-six  days,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which  time  they  returned  to 
Macomb  and  were  discharged.  They 
received  eighty-six  cents  per  day  for 
man  and  horse,  besides  rations  and  for- 
age, and  subsequently  received  from  the 
government  a  bounty  of  eighty  acres  of 
land.  The  following  is  a  roster  of  those 
from  this  county  who  were  in  this  body 
of  defenders,  taken  from  the  official 
record,  supplemented  by  the  memories 
of  some  of  the  survivors : 

Second  Lieutenant: 
John  Wilson. 

Sergeants: 
Abraham  Dover,          Asa  Cook. 


Corporal : 
Lewis  F.  Temple. 


Privates: 


Moses  Booth,       *• 
J.  M.  Campbell,  *•" 
David  Clarke,     ^ 
Jacob  Coffman,    ^ 
Isaac  Craushaw,  ^ 
Thomas  Carter,    * 
Andrew  Calhoun, 
Uriah  Cook, 
Daniel  Campbell, 
Berry  Jones,  *- 
John  Jones,     ^ 
Iraby  Job, 
Larkiu  Osborn,  \, 
John  McFadden, 
Jeff'.  Pennington, 
John  L.  Bussell,  ^ 
William  Sacket,  - 
William  Southward, 
George  Tetherow,  *- 
James  Tetherow. 


Orsemus  Ferington,  ^ 
Nicholas  Campbell, 
John  Hardesty,       ^ 
Peter  Hays,  ^ 

Nathaniel  Hays,       ^ 
J.  C.  Head, 
Shadrach  Goens, 
John  Jackson,          '»•- 
Lace  Jones,  ^ 

Zachariah    Kirkland, 
John  Lathrop,  «-- 

Isaac  Morris,  ^ 

Solomon  Osborne, 
S.  P.  Lewis, 

Langley, 

P.  H.  Smith,  v- 

Shannon, 

David  Tetherow,   *< 
William  Tetherow, 
F.  C.  Tomberlin. 


CHAPTKR   VIII. 


THE  MORMONS  AND  THE  MOEMON  WAR. 


In  the  years  1839-40,  several  families 
of  that  very  peculiar  people,  the  Mor- 
mons, settled  in  McDonough  county. 
They  came  as  refugees  from  Missouri, 
being  driven  from  that  state  by  the  in- 
furiated people  whom  they  had  persist- 
ently robbed  and  despoiled.  Claiming 
that  they  were  persecuted  on  account  of 


their  religion,  they  appealed  to  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  people,  and  were  received 
with  favor.  These  peculiar  religious  en- 
thusiasts, called  themselves  "the  church 
of  Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints," 
and  are  a  sect  formed  on  a  basis  of  re- 
ligion founded  by  Joseph  Smith,  at 
Manchester,  New  York,  in  1830.  This 


120 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


man  was  a  native  of  Sharon,  Windsor 
county,  Vermont,  and  was  born  Decem- 
ber 23,  1805.  His  parents  being  quite 
poor  he  received  little  or  no  education. 
When  he  was  ten  years  old  his  parents 
removed  to  Palmyra,  Wayne  county, 
New  York.  Here  his  extreme  youth  was 
spent  in  idle,  vagabond  life,  roaming  the 
woods,  dreaming  of  buried  treasures, 
and  exerting  himself  to  learn  the  art  of 
finding  them  by  the  twisting  of  a  forked 
stick  in  his  hands,  or  by  looking  through 
enchanted  stones.  He,  and  his  father 
before  him,  were  what  are  called  '  water 
witches,'  always  ready  to  point  out  the 
ground  where  wells  might  be  dug  and 
water  found,  and  many  are  the  anecdotes 
of  his  early  life,  giving  bright  promise 
of  future  profligacy.  Such  was  Joe 
Smith  when  he  was  found  by  Sidney 
Rigdon,  who  was  a  man  of  considerable 
talent  and  information. 

The  distinguishing  peculiarities  of  the 
sect  founded  by  Smith  are,  in  religious 
aspects,  the  belief  in  a  continual  divine 
revelation  through  the  inspired  medium 
of  the  prophet  at  the  head  of  the  church ; 
in  moral  respects,  the  practice  of  poly- 
gamy; and  in  social  respects  a  complete 
hierarchical  organization.  The  govern- 
ment of  the  Mormons,  is  a  pure  theoc- 
racy; its  officers  form  a  complete  priest- 
hood. The  supreme  power,  spiritual  and 
temporal,  rests  with  the  first  president, 
elected  by  the  whole  body  of  the  church^ 
and  two  coadjutors,  the  council  of  the 
twelve  apostles,  and  of  the  seventy  disci- 
ples; then  the  order  of  high  priests, 
bishops,  elders,  priests,  teachers  and  dea- 
cons. Of  all  these  one  alone  is  head,  the 
prophet — the  seer — and  he  alone  has  the 
right  of  working  miracles,  and  receiving 


revelations.  This  belief  in  a  continual 
divine  revelation  through  the  prophet — 
a  belief  which  enjoins  absolute  obedi- 
ence to  the  commands  of  the  revelation 
on  the  part  of  the  persons  who  accept  it, 
is  the  corner  stone  of  the  social  building 
of  Mormonism,  the  only  vital  agency  in 
its  history,  the  whole  secret  of  its  success ; 
and  the  day  it  dies  out  Mormonism  is 
nothing  but  a  heap  of  nonsense.  The 
Mormons  accept  both  the  bible  and  the 
book  of  Mormon  as  divine  revelations, 
but  they  hold  them  both  subject  to  the 
explanations  and  corrections  of  the 
prophet.  This  book  of  Mormon  was 
the  record  by  which  Joseph  Smith,  the 
founder  of  the  faith,  first  introduced 
himself  to  the  world,  the  guaranty  he 
gave  for  the  divine  character  of  his  vis- 
ion. His  story  was  that  an  angel 
from  heaven  appeared  before  him  and 
told  him  where  this  book,  the  bible  of 
the  western  continent,  the  supplement  of 
the  new  testament,  was  hidden.  On 
the  spot  designated  by  the  heavenly  visi- 
tor, Smith  found  in  a  stone  box  a  volume 
six  inches  thick  and  composed  of  thin 
gold  plates,  eight  inches  by  seven,  held 
together  by  three  gold  rings.  These 
plates  were  covered  with  characters  in  an 
unknown  tongue,  but  beside  the  volume 
he  also  found  Urim  and  Thummin,  a  sort 
of  supernatural  spectacles,  which  ena- 
bled him  to  read  and  understand  the 
characters.  Sitting  behind  a  curtain 
drawn  across  the  room,  he  then  dictated 
a  translation — for  he  could  not  write 
himself — to  his  secretary,  Oliver  Cow- 
drey,  and  his  translation  was  printed  in 
1830,  accompanied  by  testimonials  from 
eleven  persons  prominent  among  whom 
were  Martin  Harris  and  David  White- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


121 


more,  who  had  seen  the  golden  plates 
before  they  unfortunately  disappeared. 
It  was  soon  proved  beyond  doubt  that 
the  book  of  Mormon  was  simply  a  sort 
of  historical  romance  written  in  1812,  by 
one  Solomon  Spalding,  a  Presbyterian 
minister  of  Ohio,  who  indulged  in  that 
kind  of  pseudo  history,  though  he  never 
succeeded  in  getting  his  productions 
published,  and  that  the  manuscript  had 
been  lost  in  a  printing  office,  in  Pitts- 
burg  under  the  hands  of  an  apprentice, 
Sidney  Rigdon,  who  in  1829  became  an 
associate  of  Joseph  Smith.  The  book 
pretends  to  give  the  history  of  America 
up  to  the  fifth  century  of  our  era;  the 
first  settlement  of  the  country  after  the 
destruction  of  the  tower  of  Babel,  and 
the  dispersion  of  the  nations ;  the  sec- 
ond settlement  in  the  sixth  century,  B. 
C.  by  Lehi  and  his  sons,  arriving  directly 
from  Jerusalem ;  the  origin  of  the  Amer- 
ican Indians  from  the  unfaithful  Jews 
who  were  condemned  to  have  dark  skins ; 
the  arrival  and  preaching  of  Christ  in 
America;  the  final  destruction  of  the 
faithful;  and  the  command  of  God  to  the 
prophet  Mormon  to  write  down  an 
abridgement  of  all  these  events  and  hide 
the  volume.  With  this  book  as  the  basis 
of  his  teaching,  Smith  began  to  preach, 
and  in  January,  1831,  he  led  the  first 
Mormon  congregation,  consisting  of 
thirty  members,  from  Manchester,  New 
York,  to  Kirtland,  Ohio,  which  became 
the  headquarters  of  the  sect  for  the  next 
seven  years.  The  great  body  of  these 
pecple  then  migrated  to  Missouri,  but 
their  conduct  growing  obnoxious  to  their 
neighbors,  they  were  kept  in  a  state  of 
actual  warfare,  and  at  the  close  of  1838, 
they  were  driven  from  that  state.  They 


crossed  the  Mississippi,  and  founded  the 
city  of  Nauvoo,  in  Illinois,  where  they 
lived  for  seven  years.  Several  families, 
as  mentioned  previously  came  to  this 
county  and  located.  Says  Mr.  Clarke, 
in  his  History  of  McDonough  county : 

"In  the  summer  of  1843,  George  Mil- 
ler, then  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  Macomb,  living  in  that  town, 
and  in  a  house  on  the  corner  of  east 
Carroll  and  north  Randolph  streets, 
made  a  trip  to  Nauvoo,  returning  appar- 
ently with  not  a  very  favorable  opinion 
of  the  "saints,"  unless  we  except  Joe 
Smith,  the  prophet.  Still,  as  occasion 
offered,  he  would  refer  to  the  Mormons 
and  express  a  desire  to  again  hear  them 
preach.  He  said  to  the  citizens  of 
Macomb  that  if.  they  desired  to  hear,  he 
would  have  Joe  Smith  come  over  and 
preach  for  them.  A  few  days  later  he 
went  to  the  woods,  near  the  present 
town  of  Bardolph,  in  search  of  black- 
berries. After  a  little  he  threw  up  his 
arms,  screamed  and  fell  to  the  ground. 
He  was  taken  up,  a  bed  was  provided, 
and  he  was  taken  home.  Dr.  J.  B.  Kyle 
was  called  in  and  relieved  him  of  about 
a  quart  of  blood,  and  gave  him  a  good, 
strong  dose  of  calomel.  The  beginning 
of  this  fit  occurred  about  the  middle  of 
the  afternoon  on  Thursday,  and  for 
forty-eight  hours  he  continued  to  rave. 
About  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  on 
Saturday,  a  couple  of  men,  on  horse- 
back, rode  up  to  the  square,  and  meeting 
William  Hamilton,  now  of  Bushnell, 
inquired  if  he  knew  where  George  Mil- 
ler lived.  Being  directed  to  the  place, 
they  rode  over,  and  tying  their  horses, 
went  into  the  house,  knelt  down  by  the 
bedside  of  the  sick  man,  commenced 


122 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


praying  in  a  loud  tone.  On  the  conclu- 
sion of  their  prayer,  they  arose,  and  laid 
their  hands  upon  Mr.  Miller.  This  they 
repeated,  calling  upon  Mr.  M.  to  have 
faith — by  faith  all  things  were  possible. 
In  a  few  moments  he  became  calm,  and 
soon  was  sitting  up  in  bed,  and  the  next 
day  was  as  well  as  ever,  though  a  little 
weak.  He  was  indeed  well  enough  to 
attend  the  preaching  of  these  saints, 
one  of  whom  was  the  renowned  Sidney 
Rigdon.  Whether  all  this  was  a  'put 
up  job'  between  Mr.  Miller  and  the 
saints,  we  know  not.  Suffice  it  to  say 
that  on  Monday  morning  Mr.  Miller  was 
baptised  in  the  creek  north  of  town,  and 
in  a  few  days  he  removed  to  Nauvoo  and 
became  a  leader  in  the  Mormon  people." 
In  1840,  these  peple  began  to  figure 
in  the  politics  of  the  state,  and  in 
August,  1843,  during  the  congressional 
contest  between  Cyrus  Walker  and 
James  P.  Hoge,  both  parties  labored  to 
secure  the  vote  of  the  Mormons,  as  is 
related  in  the  chapter  on  politics,  in  this 
volume. 

During  all  this  time  the  Mormons  had 
continued  to  increase  in  numbers  until 
they  had  become  a  powerful  body.  As 
they  grew  in  strength,  they  became  ar- 
rogant, and,  under  the  assumption  that 
"the  earth  was  the  Lord's,  and  the  full- 
ness thereof,"  and  that  they  being  his 
peculiar  people,  were  entitled  to  all  the 
fruits  of  it,  the  Gentiles  having  no 
rights  which  they  were  bound  to  respect. 
This  doctrine  led  to  considerable  trouble 
between  the  "saints"  and  those  who 
were  not  disposed  to  accept  it.  Much 
stock  disappeared  from  all  parts  of  the 
county,  a  great  deal  of  it  being  found  in 
the  "holy  city.  But  when  found,  it  was 


extremely  difficult  to  regain  possession. 
Under  a  provision  of  the  city  charter  of 
Nauvoo,  the  Mormons  enacted  "that  no 
writ  issued  from  any  other ,  place,  for 
the  arrest  of  any  of  her  citizens,  should 
be  recognized  in  the  city,  without  an 
approval  endorsed  thereon  by  the 
mayor;  that  if  any  public  officer,  by 
virtue  of  any  foreign  writ,  should  at- 
tempt to  make  an  arrest  in  the  city, 
without  such  approval  of  his  process, 
he  should  be  subject  to  imprisonment 
for  life;  and  that  even  the  governor  of 
the  state  should  not  have  the  power  of 
pardoning  the  offender  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  mayor."  If  an  attempt  was 
made  to  obtain  property  by  a  writ  of 
replevin,  witnesses  without  number 
would  promptly  swear  it  belonged  to 
some  Morman  claimant.  The  following 
is  a  case  in  point:  A  gentleman  living 
in  the  southern  part  of  this  county  had 
a  valuable  horse  stolen,  which  he  after- 
ward found  in  Nauvoo,  and  seized. 
During  the  trial  resulting  therefrom  he 
had  sixty  witnesses  to  identify  the  horse 
as  his  property,  but  the  Mormons 
brought  forward  seventy  to  prove  that  it 
belonged  to  some  "saint,"  and  having  a 
preponderance  of  testimony,  the  Mor- 
mon justice  decided  in  favor  of  his 
brother. 

The  citizens  of  Hancock  county  sub- 
mitted to  this  state  of  affairs  until  en- 
durance ceased  to  be  a  virtue,  and  the 
governor  was  appealed  to  for  aid.  This 
assistance  was  asked  more  especially  on 
account  of  the  failure  to  arrest  Joseph 
Smith  and  other  leading  Mormons  for 
engaging  in  a  riot  in  destroying  the 
office  of  an  anti-Mormon  paper.  A  war- 
rant was  issued  at  Carthage  and  served 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


123 


upon  them,  when  they  were  taken  at 
once  to  the  municipal  court,  at  Nauvoo, 
on  a  writ  of.  habeas  corpus,  and  dis- 
charged from  custody. 

Trouble  now  b'egan  and  an  armed 
force  of  the  militia  of  the  state  gathered 
at  Carthage,  where  Governor  Ford  ar- 
rived on  the  23d  of  June,  1844.  He 
organized  the  troops  and  when  all  was 
ready  sent  for  the  leaders  of  the  Mor- 
mons to  appear  before  him.  No  apology 
is  necessary  for  the  full  length  quota- 
tion from  the  able  history  of  Governor 
Ford's  history  of  Illinois,  as  he  was  an 
eye-witness  and  a  prominent  actor  in 
these  scenes. 

"It  appeared  clearly,  both  from  the 
complaints  of  the  citizens  and  the  ac- 
knowledgments of  the  Mormon  commit- 
tee, that  the  whole  proceedings  of  the 
mayor,  the  common  council,  and  the 
municipal  court,  were  irregular  and  ille- 
gal, and  not  to  be  endured  in  a  free 
country;  though  perhaps  some  apology 
might  be  made  for  the  court,  as  it  had 
been  repeatedly  assured  by  some  of  the 
best  lawyers  in  the  state  who  had  been 
candidates  for  office  before  that  people, 
that  it  had  full  and  competent  power  to 
issue  writs  of  habeas  corpus  in  all  cases 
whatever.  The  common  council  violated 
the  law  in  assuming  the  exercise  of  judi- 
cial power ;  in  proceeding  ex-parte  with- 
out notice  to  the  owners  of  the  property ; 
in  proceeding  against  the  property  in 
rem,  in  not  calling  a  jury;  in  not  swear- 
ing all  the  witnesses;  in  not  giving  the 
owners  of  the  property,  accused  of  being 
a  nuisance,  in  consequence  of  being 
libelous,  an  opportunity  of  giving  the 
truth  in  evidence;  and  in  fact,  by  not 
proceeding  by  civil  suit  or  indictment, 


as  in  other  cases  of  libel.  The  mayor 
violated  the  law  in  ordering  this  errone- 
ous and  absurd  judgment  of  the  common 
council  to  be  executed,  and  the  munici- 
pality erred  in  discharging  them  from 
arrest. 

"As  this  proceeding  touched  the 
liberty  of  the  press,  which  is  justly  dear 
to  any  republican  people,  it  was  well  cal- 
culated to  raise  a  great  flame  of  excite- 
ment. And  it  may  well  be  questioned 
whether  years  of  misrepresentation  by 
the  most  profligate  newspaper  could  have 
engendered  such  a  feeling  as  was  pro- 
duced by  the  destruction  of  this  one 
press.  It  is  apparent  that  the  Mormon 
leaders  but  little  understood,  and  re- 
garded less,  the  true  principles .  of  civil 
liberty.  A  free  press,  well  conducted, 
is  a  great  blessing  to  a  free  people.  A 
profligate  one  is  likely  soon  to  deprive 
itself  of  all  credit  and  influence  by  the 
multitude  of  falsehoods  put  forth  by  it. 
But  let  this  be  as  it  may,  there  is  more 
lost  to  rational  liberty  by  a  censorship 
of  the  press,  by  suppressing  informa- 
tion proper  to  be  known  by  the  people, 
than  can  be  lost  by  an  individual  now 
and  then  by  a  temporary  injury  to  his 
character  and  influence  by  the  utmost 

licentiousness. 

#*##*# 

"It  was  asserted  that  Joe  Smith,  the 
founder  and  head  of  the  Mormon 
church,  had  caused  himself  to  be  crown- 
ed and  anointed  king  of  the  Mormons; 
that  he  had  embodied  a  band  of  his  fol- 
lowers called  'Danites,'  who  were  sworn 
to  obey  him  as  God,  and  to  do  his  com- 
mands, murder  and  treason  not  excepted ; 
that  he  had  instituted  an  order  in  the 
church  whereby  those  who  composed  it 


124 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


were  pretended  to  be  sealed  up  to  eter- 
nal life  against  all  crimes,  save  the  shed- 
ding of  innocent  blood,  or  consenting 
thereto;  that  this  order  was  instructed 
that  no  blood  was  innocent  blood  except 
that  of  the  members  of  the  church;  and 
that  these  two  orders  were  made  the 
ministers  of  his  vengeance,  and  the  in- 
struments of  an  intolerable  tyranny 
which  he  had  established  over  his  peo- 
ple, and  which  he  was  about  to  extend 
over  the  neighboring  country. 

The  people  affected  to  believe  that 
with  this  power  in  the  hands  of  an  un- 
scrupulous leader  there  was  no  safety 
for  the  lives  or  property  of  any  one  who 
opposed  him.  They  affected  likewise  to 
believe  that  Smith  inculcated  the  legal- 
ity of  perjury,  or  any  other  crime  in  de- 
fense or  to  advance  the  interests  of  true 
believers;  and  that  himself  had  set  them 
the  example  by  swearing  to  a  false  accu- 
sation against  a  certain  person  for  the 
crime  of  murder.  It  was  likewise  as- 
serted to  be  a  fundamental  article  of  the 
Mormon  faith  that  God  had  given  the 
world  and  all  it  contained  to  them  as 
his  Saints;  that  they  secretly  believed 
in  their  rights  to  all  the  goodly  lands, 
farms  and  property  in  the  country;  that 
at  present  they  were  kept  out  of  their 
rightful  inheritance  by  force;  that  con- 
sequently there  was  no  moral  offense  in 
anticipating  God's  good  time  to  put 
them  in  possession  by  stealing  if  oppor- 
tunity offered;  that  in  fact  the  whole 
church  was  a  community  of  murderers, 
thieves,  robbers,  and  outlaws;  that  Jos- 
eph Smith  had  established  a  bogus  fact- 
ory in  Nauvoo  for  the  manufacture  of 
counterfeit  money,  and  that  he  main- 
tained about  his  person  a  tribe  of  swin- 


dlers, blacklegs,  and  counterfeiters  to 
make  it  and  put  it  into  circulation. 

"  It  was  also  believed  that  he  had  an- 
nounced a  revelation  from  heaven  saii- 
tioning  polygamy,  by  a  kind  of  spiritual 
wife  system,  whereby  a  man  was  allowed 
one  wife  in  pursuance  of  the  laws  of  the 
country,  and  an  indefinite  number  of 
others  to  be  enjoyed  in  some  mystical 
and  spiritual  mode ;  and  that  he  himself, 
and  many  of  his  followers,  had  prac- 
ticed upon  the  principles  of  this  revela- 
tion by  seducing  a  large  number  of 
women. 

"  It  was  also  asserted  that  he  was  in 
alliance  with  the  Indians  of  the  western 
territories,  and  had  obtained  over  them 
such  a  control  that  in  case  of  a  war  he 
could  command  their  assistance  to  mur- 
der his  enemies. 

"  But  the  great  cause  of  popular  fury 
was  that  the  Mormons  at  several  preced- 
ing elections  had  cast  their  vote  as  a 
unit,  thereby  making  the  fact  apparent 
that  no  one  could  aspire  to  the  honors  of 
the  offices  of  the  country  within  the 
sphere  of  their  influence,  without  their 
approbation  and  votes.  It  appears  to  be 
one  of  the  principles  upon  which  they 
insist  upon  being  governed  as  a  com- 
munity, to  act  as  a  unit  in  all  matters  of 
government  and  religion.  They  express 
themselves  to  be  fearful  that  if  division 
should  be  encouraged  in  politics,  it 
would  soon  extend  to  their  religion  and 
rend  their  church  with  schism  and  into 
sects." 

The  governor  now  held  several  con- 
ferences with  the  Mormon  leaders,  and 
it  was  finally  agreed  that  Smith  and 
some  of  those  highest  in  the  council  pf 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


125 


the  Mormon  church,  would  come  for- 
ward and  surrender  themselves,  and 
stand  a  trial  at  Carthage,  the  governor 
passing  his  word  for  their  safety  and 
assuring  them  of  his  protection.  To 
quote  again  from  the  same  source: 

"On  the  twenty-third,  or  twenty -fourth 
day  of  June,  Joseph  Smith,  the  mayor 
of  Nauvoo,  together  with  his  brother 
Hiram  and  all  the  members  of  the  coun- 
cil, and  all  others  demanded,  came  into 
Carthage  and  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  to  the  constable  on  the  charge 
of  riot.  They  all  voluntarily  entered 
into  a  recognizance  before  the  justice  of 
the  peace,  for  their  appearance  at  court 
to  answer  the  charge,  and  all  of  them 
were  discharged  from  custody  except 
Joseph  and  Hiram  Smith,  against  whom 
the  magistrate  had  issued  a  new  writ,  on 
a  complaint  of  treason.  They  were  im- 
mediately arrested  by  the  constable  on 
this  charge,  and  retained  in  his  custody 
to  answer  it." 

"The  overt  act  of  treason  charged 
against  them  consisted  in  the  alleged 
levying  of  war  against  the  state  by  de- 
claring martial  law  in  Nauvoo,  and  in 
ordering  out  the  legion  to  resist  the  posse 
comitatus.  Their  actual  guiltiness  of 
the  charge  would  depend  upon  circum- 
stances. If  their  opponents  had  been 
seeking  to  put  the  law  in  force  in  good 
faith,  and  nothing  more,  then  an  array 
of  military  force  in  open  resistence  to 
the  posse  comitatus  and  the  militia  of 
the  state,  most  probably  would  have 
amounted  to  treason.  But  if  those  op- 
ponents merely  intended  to  use  the  pro- 
cess of  the  law,  the  militia  of  the  state 
and  the  posse  comitatus,  as  cat's  paws  to 
compass  the  possession  of  their  persons 


for  the  purpose  of  murdering  them  after- 
wards, as  the  sequel  demonstrated  the 
fact  to  be,  it  might  be  doubted  whether 
they  were  guilty  of  treason. 

"After  the  Smith's  had  been  arrested 
on  the  new  charge  of  treason,  the  justice 
of  the  peace  postponed  the  examination, 
because  neither  of  the  parties  were  pre- 
pared with  their  witnesses  for  trial.  In 
the  meantime,  he  committed  them  to  the 
jail  of  the  county  for  greater  security." 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  of  June, 
Smith,  under  the  guard  of  the  Carthage 
guards  was  marched  around  the  square 
that  the  men  of  the  various  sections 
of  the  state  forming  the  militia,  might 
see  the  great  prophet  of  Mormons.  The 
great  body  of  the  troops  were  then  dis- 
banded, and  the  jail,  in  which  the  Mor- 
mons were  placed  was  committed  to  the 
care  of  the  Carthage  guards.  The  gov- 
ernor then  proceeded  to  Nauvoo  to 
reason  with  the  Mormons  on  their  con- 
duct, and  in  the  interest  of  peace.  In 
the  morning,  having  accomplished  his 
purpose,  he  started  back  to  Carthage, 
and  was  met,  oh  the  way,  by  two  men 
who  informed  him  that  Smith  had  been 
killed.  He  pushed  on  toward  Carthage. 
In  referring  to  the  news  of  the  murder, 
the  governor  says: 

"As  for  myself  it  was  perfectly  as- 
tounding, and  I  anticipated  the  very 
worst  consequences  from  it.  The  Mor- 
mons had  been  represented  to  me  as  a 
lawless,  infatuated  and  fanatical  people, 
not  governed  by  the  ordinary  motives 
which  influence  the  rest  of  mankind.  If 
so,  most  likely  an  exterminating  war 
would  ensue,  and  the  whole  land  would 
be  covered  Avith  desolation.  Acting  up- 
on this  supposition,  it  was  my  duty  to 


126 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


provide  as  well  as  I  could  for  the  event. 
I  therefore  ordered  the  two  messengers 
into  custody,  and  to  be  returned  with  us 
to  Carthage.  This  was  done  to  make 
such  arrangements  as  could  be  made, 
and  to  prevent  any  sudden  explosion  of 
Mormon  excitement  before  they  could 
be  written  to  by  their  friends  at  Carthage. 
I  also  dispatched  messengers  to  Warsaw 
to  advise  the  citizens  of  the  event.  But 
the  people  there  knew  all  about  it  before 
my  messengers  arrived.  They,  like  my- 
self, anticipated  attack  all  over  the 
country.  The  women  and  children  were 
moved  across  the  river,  and  a  committee 
was  dispatched  that  night  to  Quincy  for 
•  assistance.  The  next  morning  by  day- 
light the  ringing  of  bells  in  the  city  of 
Quincy  announced  a  public  meeting. 
The  people  assembled  in  great  numbers 
at  an  early  hour.  The  Warsaw  commit- 
tee stated  to  the  meeting  that  a  party  of 
Mormons  had  attempted  to  rescue  the 
Smiths  out  of  jail;  that  a  party  of  Mis- 
sourians  and  others  had  killed  the  pris- 
oners to  prevent  their  escape;  that  the 
governor  and  his  party  were  at  Nauvoo 
at  the  time  when  intelligence  of  the  fact 
was  brought  there;  that  they  had  been 
attacked  by  the  Nauvoo  Legion,  and  had 
retreated  to  a  house  where  they  were 
then  closely  besieged;  that  the  governor 
had  sent  out  word  that  he  could  main- 
tain his  position  for  two  days,  and  would 
be  certain  to  be  massacred  if  assistance 
did  not  arrive  by  the  end  of  that  time. 
It  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  this  entire 
story  was  fabricated.  It  was  of  a  piece 
of  the  other  reports  put  into  circulation 
by  the  anti-Mormon  party  to  influence 
the  public  mind  and  call  the  people  to 
their  assistance.  The  effect  of  it,  how- 


ever, was  that  by  10  o'clock  on  the 
twenty-eighth  of  June  between  two  and 
three  hundred  men  from  Quincy,  under 
command  of  Major  Flood,  embarked  on 
board  of  a  steamboat  for  Nauvoo,  to 
assist  in  raising  the  siege,  as  they  hon- 
estly believed. 

"As  for  myself,  was  well  convinced 
that  those,  whoever  they  were,  who  assas- 
inated  the  Smiths  meditated  in  turn  my 
assassination  by  the  Mormons.  The  very 
circumstances  of  the  case  fully  corrobora- 
ted the  information  which  I  afterwards 
received,  'that  upon  consultation  of  the 
assassins,  it  was  agreed  amongst  them 
that  the  murder  must  be  committed 
whilst  the  governor  was  at  Nauvoo;  that 
the  Mormons  would  naturally  suppose 
he  planned  it,  and  in  the  first  outpouring 
of  their  indignation,  they  would  assas- 
sinate him,  by  way  of  retaliation.  And 
that  thus  they  would  get  clear  of  the 
Smiths  and  the  governor  all  at  once. 
They  also  supposed,  that  if  they  could 
so  contrive  the  matter  as  to  have  the 
governor  of  the  state  assassinated  by  the 
Mormons,  the  public  excitement  would 
be  greatly  increased  against  that  people, 
and  would  result  in  their  expulsion  from 
the  state  at  least." 

Governor  Ford  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  murder: 

"It  was  many  days  after  the  assassina- 
tion of  the  Smiths  before  the  circum- 
stances of  the  murder  fully  became 
known.  It  then  appeared  that,  agreea- 
bly to  previous  orders,  the  posse  at 
Warsaw  had  marched,  on  the  27th  of 
June,  in  the  direction  of  Golden's  Point, 
with  a  view  to  join  the  force  from  Car- 
thage, the  whole  body  then  to  be  marched 
into  Nauvoo.  But  by  the  time  they  had 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


127 


gone  eight  miles,  they  were  met  by  the 
order  to  disband;  and  learning  at  the 
same  time  that  the  governor  was  absent 
at  Nauvoo,  about  200  of  these  men, 
many  of  them  being  disguised  by  black- 
ing their  faces  with  powder  and  mud, 
hastened  to  Carthage.  There  they  en- 
camped at  some  distance  from  the  vil- 
lage, and  soon  learned  that  one  of  the 
companies  left  as  guard  had  disbanded 
and  returned  to  their  homes;  the  other 
company,  the  Carthage  Grays,  was  sta- 
tioned by  the  captain  in  the  public 
square,  150  yards  from  the  jail,  whilst 
eight  men  were  detailed  by  him,  under 
the  command  of  Sergeant  Franklin  A. 
Worrell,  to  guard  the  prisoners.  A  com- 
munication was  soon  established  between 
the  conspirators  and  the  company,  and 
it  was  arranged  that  the  guards  should 
have  their  guns  charged  with  blank  car- 
tridges, and  fire  at  the  assailants  when 
they  attempted  to  enter  the  jail.  Gen. 
Deming,  who  was  left  in  command, 
being  deserted  by  some  of  his  troops 
and  perceiving  the  arrangements  with 
the  others,  and  having  no  force  upon 
which  he  could  rely,  for  fear  of  his  life 
retired  from  the  village.  The  conspira- 
tors came  up,  jumped  the  slight  fence 
around  the  jail,  were  fired  upon  by  the 
guards,  which,  according  to  arrange- 
ments, were  overpowered  immediately, 
and  the  assailants  entered  the  prison  to 
the  door  of  the  room,  where  the  two 
prisoners  were  confined  with  two  of  their 
friends  who  voluntarily  bore  them  com- 
pany. An  attempt  was  made  to  break 
open  the  door;  but  Joseph  Smith  being 
armed  with  a  six  barrelled  pistol,  fur- 
nished by  his  friends,  fired  several  times 
as  the  door  was  bursted  open,  and 


wounded  three  of  the  assailants.  At 
the  same  time  several  shots  were  fired 
into  the  room  by  some  of  which  John 
Taylor  received  four  wounds,  and  Hiram 
Smith  was  instantly  killed.  Joe  Smith 
attempted  to  escape  by  jumping  out  the 
second  story  window;  but  the  fall  so 
stunned  him  that  he  was  unable  to  rise; 
and  being  placed  in  a  sitting  posture  by 
the  conspirators  below,  they  dispatched 
him  with  four  balls  shot  through  his 
body. 

It  was  the  idea  of  the  murderers  that 
these  strong  measures  would  induce  the 
great  body  of  the  Mormons  to  leave, 
but  they  did  not  evacuate  Nauvoo  for 
two  years  afterwards.  All  this  time  the 
excitement  was  kept  up.  Every  case  of 
theft  or  crime  was  laid  at  the  door  of 
these  people,  who  although  somewhat 
guilty,  did  not  commit  one  tenth  of  the 
offenses  laid  at  their  door.  To  quote 
again  from  Mr.  Clarke: 

"  Before  the  spring  of  1846  the  great 
majority  of  the  Mormons  had  left  Nau- 
voo, but  still  a  large  number  remained. 
About  this  time  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Debenheyer  was  killed  near  the  town  of 
Pontoosuc,  and  buried  in  a  ditch  by  the 
side  of  a  sod  fence.  The  murderers 
were  unknown,  but  a  number  of  Mor- 
mons had  been  lying  around  the  neigh- 
borhood for  some  time  making  night 
hideous  with  their  noise,  and  were  or- 
dered away.  They  refused  to  go,  when, 
one  day  while  at  work  in  a  field  sur- 
rounded on  three  sides  by  timber,  they 
were  surrounded  by  forty  or  fifty  anti- 
Mormons,  who  captured  them,  took  them 
to  the  place  where  Debenheyer  had  been 
buried,  stripped  them  of  their  clothing, 
gave  each  of  them  thirty  and  nine  lashes 


128 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


upon  their  bare  backs,  and  again  bid 
them  go,  They  went  to  Nauvoo,  re- 
ported the  matter,  and  a  few  nights 
afterwards  a  large  number  of  the  Mor- 
mons surrounded  the  house  of  Major 
McCauley,  who  lived  in  the  neigbor- 
hood  of  the  occurrence,  and  demanded 
his  surrender.  J.  W.  Brattle,  now  of 
Macomb,  was  stopping  with  him,  and 
was  likewise  arrested  and  taken  with  him 
to  Nauvoo.  The  men  were  held  for,  sever- 
al days,  when,  after  due  trial,  they  were 
discharged.  They  would  probably  not 
have  been  let  off  so  easily  had  not  sev- 
eral leading  Mormons  been  taken  by  the 
anti-Mormon  party  and  held  as  host- 
ages. 

"About  the  first  of  September,  1846, 
a  writ  was  issued  against  several  leading 
Mormons,  and  placed  in  the  hands  of 
John  Carlin,  of  Carthage,  for  execution. 
Carlin  called  out  a  posse  to  help  make 
the  arrest.  Two  or  three  companies  of 
men  went  from  this  county  to  his  aid, 
and  quite  a  large  force  was  soon  gath- 
ered in  the  neighborhood  of  Nauvoo. 
Carlin,  not  being  a  military  man,  placed 
the  command  of  the  posse  first  under 
General  Singleton,  and  afterward  under 
Colonel  Brockman,  who  proceeded  to 
invest  the  city,  erecting  breastworks, 
and  taking  other  means  for  defensive  as 
well  as  offensive  operations.  What  was 
then  termed  a  battle  next  took  place, 
resulting  in  the  death  of  one  Mormon 
and  the  wounding  of  several  others,  and 
mortally  wounding  one  man  who  volun- 
teered from  this  county,  but  a  citizen  of 
Pennsylvania,  who  was  here  on  a  visit, 
and  slightly  wounding  several  others. 

"While  the  greater  number  of  the 
male  citizens  of  Macomb  were  gone  to 


Nauvoo,  apprehension  was  felt  by  the 
women  that  an  attack  might  be  made  on 
the  town,  and  they  would  not  rest  con- 
tent without  a  guard  every  night  to  give 
the  alarm  in  case  the  Mormons  ap- 
peared. James  M.  Campbell  and  others 
agreed  to  act  as  guard,  and  every  night 
about  dark  would  begin  their  regular 
patrol.  They  would  remain  out  until 
the  lights  about  town  were  put  out  and 
the  inhabitants  were  supposed  to  be 
asleep,  when  they  would  go  home  to 
bed." 

A  quotation  from  Fords'  excellent  hist- 
ory of  the  state  will  close  this  account  of 
the  so-called  "Mormon  war"  in  which  so 
many  from  McDonough  county  partici- 
pated. That  volume  says: 

"At  last,  through  the  intervention  of  an 
anti-Mormon  committee  of  one  hundred 
from  Quincy,  the  Mormons  and  their  al- 
lies were  induced  to  submit  to  such  terms 
as  the  posse  chose  to  dictate,  which  were 
that  the  Mormons  should  immediately 
give  up  their  arms  to  the  Quincy  com- 
mittee, and  remove  from  the  state. 

"The  trustees  of  the  church  and  five 
of  their  clerks  were  permitted  to  remain 
for  the  sale  of  Mormon  property,  and  the 
posse  were  to  march  in  unmolested,  and 
to  leave  a  sufficient  force  to  guarantee  the 
performance  of  their  stipulations. 

"Accordingly,  the  constable's  posse 
marched  in  with  Brockman  at  their  head, 
consisting  of  about  eight  hundred  armed 
men,  and  six  or  seven  hundred  unarmed 
who  had  assembled  from  all  the  country 
around,  from  motives  of  curiosity,  to  see 
the  once  proud  city  of  Nauvoo  humbled, 
and  delivered  up  to  its  enemies,  and  to 
the  domination  of  a  self -constructed  and 
irresponsible  power.  They  proceeded' 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


129 


into  the  city  slowly  and  carefully,  exam- 
ining the  way  for  f e'ar  of  the  explosion  of 
a  mine,  many  of  which  had  been  made 
by  the  Mormons,  by  burying  kegs  of 
powder  in  the  ground,  with  a  man 
stationed  at  a  distance  to  pull  a  string 
communicating  with  the  trigger  of  a  per- 
cussion lock  affixed  to  the  keg.  This 
kind  of  contrivance  was  called  by  the 
Mormons  a  'hell's  half  acre.'  When 
the  posse  arrived  in  the  city,  the  lead- 
ers of  it  erected  themselves  into  a  tribu- 
nal to  decide  who  should  be  forced  away 
and  who  remain.  Parties  were  dispatched 
to  hunt  for  Mormons'  arms  and  for 
Mormons,  and  to  bring  them  to  judg- 
ment, where  they  received  their  doom 
from  the  mouth  of  Brockman,  who  then 
sat  a  grim  and  unawed  tyrant  for  the 
time.  As  a  general  rule,  the  Mormons 
were  ordered  to  leave  within  an  hour,  or 
two  hours;  and  by  rare  grace,  some  of 
them  were  allowed  until  next  day,  and 
in  a  few  cases,  longer.  The  treaty  spec- 
ified that  the  Mormons  only  should  be 
driven  into  exile. 

"  Nothing  was  said  in  it  concerning 
the  new  citizens,  who  had  with  the  Mor- 
mons defended  the  city.  But  the  posse 
no  sooner  had  obtained  possession,  than 
they  commenced  expelling  the  new  citi- 
zens. Some  of  them  were  ducked  into 
the  river,  being  in  one  or  two  cases  act- 
ually baptized  in  the  name  of  the  lead- 
ers of  the  mob,  others  were  forcibly 
driven  into  the  ferry  boats  to  be  taken 
over  the  river,  before  the  bayonets  of 
armed  ruffians;  and  it  is  believed  that 
the  houses  of  most  of  them  were  broken 
open  and  their  furniture  stolen  during 
their  absence.  Many  of  these  new  set- 
tlers were  strangers  in  the  country  from 


various  parts  of  the  United  States,  who 
were  attracted  there  by  the  low  price  of 
property,  and  they  knew  but  little  of 
previous  difficulties,  or  the  merits  of  the 
quarrel.  They  saw  with  their  own  eyes 
that  the  Mormons  were  industriously 
preparing  to  go  away,  and  they  knew  of 
their  own  knowledge  that  an  effort  to 
expel  them  with  force  was  gratuitous 
and  unnecessary  cruelty.  They  had 
been  trained,  by  the  states  from  which 
they  came,  to  abhor  mobs,  and  to  obey 
the  law,  and  they  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices under  executive  authority,  to  de- 
fend their  town  and  their  property 
against  mob  violence,  and  as  they  hon- 
estly believed  from  distraction.  But  in 
this  way  they  were  partly  mistaken,  for 
although  the  mob  leaders,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  unbridled  power,  were  guilty  of 
many  enormities  to  the  person  of  indi- 
viduals, and  although  much  personal 
property  was  stolen,  yet  they  abstained 
from  materially  injuring  houses  and 
buildings.  The  most  that  was  done  in 
this  way,  was  the  stealing  of  the  doors 
and  the  sash  of  the  windows  from  the 
houses  by  somebody.  The  anti-Mor- 
mons allege  that  they  were  carried  away 
by  the  Mormons,  and  the  Mormons  aver 
that  the  most  of  them  were  stolen  by 
the  anti-Mormons.  Thus  ended  the 
Mormon  war. 

The  following  is  believed  to  be  a  com- 
plete roster  of  those  of  the  citizens  of 
McDoiiough  county,  who  were  out  dur- 
ing this  "unpleasantness": 

Colonel : 
E.  B.  Root. 

Lieutenant  Colonel: 
Levi  Warren. 


130                         HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

MajOr  : 

Ross  Penan, 

Harper  McCandless, 

V.  E.  Remington. 

James  Kepple, 

John  S.  Campbell, 

Hugh  Ervin, 

John  Snapp, 

Surgeon  : 

D.  M.  Crabb, 

Jonathan  Palmer, 

Dr.  H.  G.  Ay  re. 

William  Hamilton, 

Garret  Bonham, 

Adjutant: 

Thomas  Davis, 

G.  Vanhowten, 

S.  McFarland. 

George  Nichols, 

George  W.  Wade, 

J.  H.  Michael, 

Durham  Creel, 

Sergeant  Major: 

Valentine  Clayton, 

Nicholas  Bowman, 

H.  Gilfrey. 

R.  McClure, 

Calvin  Cauote, 

Quartermaster  Sergeants: 

William  Stevens, 
John  Crawford, 

Thomas  K.  Waddle, 
Charles  Kepple, 

Thomas  Gilfrey,          William  Duucan. 

Andrew  Walker, 

John  Bishop, 

Wagoner  : 

Ephraiin  Banning, 

John  Stokes,               . 

Joseph    Shute. 

P.  Hamilton, 

John  M.  Jackson,    —  T"1 

D.  R.  Hamilton, 

Michael  Harris, 

Captaips: 

W.  M.  McCartney, 

George  Boothe, 

Charles  Creel,               James  M.  Wilson, 

Wiley  M.  Sloan, 

William  Stewart, 

A.  P.  Smith,                  Chas.  W.  Waddill, 

O.  H.  Casley, 

S.  A.  Hunt, 

W.  S.  Hendricks,         Vaudever  Banks, 

C.  W.  Dunsworth, 

Patrick  Aber, 

Samuel  C.  Hogan,        Williuiu  I.  Pace, 

Lewis  Mourning, 

Richard  Mussou, 

F.  D.  Lipe,                     B.  Maxwell,. 

A.  Stephens, 

Joseph  Riley, 

John  Long,                    W.  F.  Blandiu, 

Thomas  J.  Hunt, 

Shad  Goan, 

Thomas  Davis.              J.  L.  N.  Hall. 

"William  Boyd, 

Peter  Dye, 

Lieutenants: 

Edmond  Beau, 

Thomas  White, 

Joseph  Crawford,          Peter  McClure, 

J.  J.  Lower, 
James  Chamberlain, 

Luke  Prentice, 
Levi  Done, 

J.  L.  Cross,                    I.  C.  Webb, 

Harry  B.  Holden,         John  Baker, 
Thomas  Shippey,          John  Smith, 
John  R.  Edmonston,    H.  H.  Burr, 
Milton  L.  Archer,        Patrick  Laughlin, 
Thomas  Mustain,          Richard  Brightwell, 
William  Edrnonston,  I.  L.  Twyman, 
James  S.  Palmer,         Absolom  Parker, 
William  B.  Clarke,      Bethel  Owen, 
Philetus  Rice,                J.  C.  D.  Carmack, 
Jonathan  L.  Berry,      Andrew  Alison,      / 
George  C.  Vest,             John  C.  Webb, 
V.  M.  Hardin,               A.  Dorothy, 
Perry  Laugford,           Harrison  Hungate, 
Joseph  P.  Gates. 

Isaac  Bacon, 
Eliphate  Jarvis, 
Win.  B.  Walker, 
G.  S.  Hainline, 
R.  J.  Scott, 
John  S.  Wilson, 
H.  H.  McGee, 
James  Dye, 
Stephen  White, 
W.  W.  Clayton, 
Silas  Parker, 
James  Stroud, 
James  Wilson, 
John  Rollins, 

William  Stroud, 
J.  L.  Cross, 
J.  M.  Head, 
J.  N.  Clark, 
G.  W.  Head, 
William  B.  Head, 
Robert  Garheart, 
A.  J.  Walker, 
Eli  Campbell, 
William  Lower, 
Samuel  M.  Not, 
A.  Fulkerson, 
William  B.  Clarke, 
A.  D.  McBride, 

J.  W.  Walker, 

George  Painter, 

Privates: 

Samuel  McCray, 

Samuel  Bland, 

Heury  Thompson,       John  Creel, 

George  Head, 

J.  B.  Stapp, 

John  W.  Clarke,           G.  E.  Robinson, 

A.  G.  Hainline, 

Orin  Chatterton, 

Silas  Creel,                     David  Hogsett, 

Jacob  Slickle, 

Michael  Youst, 

William,  Brooking       E.  Brooking, 

J.,  Mitchell, 

G.  W.  Eyres, 

Levi  Hamilton,             James  R.  Simpson, 

J.  H.  Head, 

Nathan  Hainline, 

HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY.                         131 

Samuel  Clarke, 

Frank  Clarke, 

William  McCord, 

James  Jarvis, 

Nelson  Montgomery 

,  S.  H.  Gillihan, 

Slocum  Wooley, 

Roily  Martin, 

C.  W.  Fulkerson, 

William  Owens, 

Charles  Martin, 

Moses  Haskins, 

Hugh  McDonough, 

David  Badger, 

Beta  Haskins, 

John  Caldwell, 

Jonathan  Parker, 

Allen  Porter, 

Oliver  C.  Smith, 

S.  M.  C.   Pennington, 

Asa  Decker, 

Elias  Clem, 

Robert  Andrews, 

Henry  W.  Foster, 

Andrew  Jackson, 

Thomas  Jackson, 

James  F.  Greenup, 

Thomas    Richardson, 

B.  Whittington, 

William  Gibson, 

Anson  Richardson, 

Martin  Miles, 

William  Badger, 

C.  McDonough, 

William  Waddle, 

Robert  Comer, 

John  C.  Conants, 

Nathaniel  Barker, 

Cyrus  Wing, 

Clem  Reddick, 

Ambrose  G.  Owen, 

James  Moore, 

James  McKee, 

John  W.  Lane, 

Lewis  Scalf, 

George  Crossier, 

James  Fulton, 

James  McCurdy, 

Charles  Jackson, 

Peter  McDonough, 

Jonas  Hushaw, 

Elam  Chockley, 

David  Kepple. 

R.  G.  King, 

Watson  Chockley, 

Benjamin  Chockley, 

John  Badger, 

Roswell  Tyrrell, 

Richard  Chockley, 

Isom  J.  David, 

William  Graftou, 

Ladwick  Courier, 

William  Toland, 

Thomas  Toland, 

Matthew  Framel, 

C.  G.  Gilchrist, 

George  Woods, 

Randolph  Hall, 

B.  B.  Jackson, 

William  Ervin, 

John  Seward, 

D.  Sandridge, 

D.  Boyd, 

James  Rigdon, 

Thomas  Bailey, 

John  P.  Kinkade, 

John  Twidwell, 

Isham  Rigdon, 

George  W.  Shultz, 

Walter  Scott, 

Josiah  Ralston, 

John  Smith, 

James  H.  Atkinson, 

Edmond  Cave, 

Isaac  Garrett, 

H.  Garrett, 

Jerry  Sullivan, 

James  Walker, 

Isaac  Smith, 

Henry  Garrett, 

John  Allison, 

Nelson  Campbell, 

H.  Melton, 

Allen  Melton, 

Samuel  Pollock, 

T.  W.  Greenup, 

Bird  Smith, 

John  B.  Wear, 

William  Henley, 

Alfred  Ripitow, 

Joseph  D.  Wear, 

W.  Melton, 

Benjamin  Miller, 

Jesse  Jeams, 

Andrew  D.  Wear, 

Nathan  Stephens, 

Gholson  Lane, 

Elisha  Dungan 

Augustus  Lillard, 

James  Hendricks, 

Jesse  Beck, 

William  Beck, 

David  Jenkins, 

Reuben  Alexander, 

G.  W.  Coker, 

William  Sullivan,     ^^ 

John  Kennedy, 

Solomon  Kennedy, 

Alfred  Gibson, 

James  Gibson, 

John  Hill, 

Levi  Sawyer, 

William  Rice, 

Robert  Smithers, 

Nicholas  Jarvis, 

Isaac  Ho  well, 

John  Hushaw, 

Johnson  Downer, 

Isaac  Welch, 

N.  C.  Averill, 

Joel  Pennington, 

Lewis  Springer, 

V.  A.  Caldwell, 

G.  W.  Welch, 

F.  C.  Tomberliu, 

Travis  Miller, 

J.  R.  Welch, 

Jefferson  Welch, 

A.  J.  Cockeram, 

J.  J.  Wyatt, 

H.  J.  Averill, 

John  James, 

Nathan  Hayes, 

B.  T.  Gibson, 

William  Carmack, 

Moses  Stookey, 

Wesley  Harlnn, 

Robert  Black, 

William  Walker, 

Rufus  Botts, 

William  B.  Peak, 

James  Rasor, 

N.  B.  Wooley, 

James  Williams, 

David  Later, 

Edmond  Naylor, 

Othias  DeHaven, 

James  Dorothy, 

Jeremiah  Sullivan, 

Hugh  Black, 

Jessie  Hainline, 

Hiram  Hainline, 

Robert  L.  Dark, 

Sam  n  el  McClure, 

John  Logan,  Jr., 

William  Martin, 

Morton  Pringle, 

William  S.  Bailey, 

Henry  Martin, 

Joshua  White, 

D.  C.  Riggs, 

Edmond  Barber, 

William  Hardesty, 

James  Milsaps, 

William  II.  Pringle, 

John  MrCorrnick, 

James  Seybold, 

Henry  H.  Monarch, 

N.  Edmondson, 

Shad.  Campbell, 

E.  T.  Monarch, 

Isaac  Bogart, 

Isaac  McCowen, 

Benjamin  Stephen, 

Jacob  Hutchiuson, 

Jacob  Keithley, 

John  Friend, 

Robert  Barber, 

C.  C.  Hungate, 

A.  G.  McCord, 

A.  Edmondsou, 

Thomas  Dungan, 

132 

HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

George  W,  Mitchell, 

Wm.  W.  McCormick, 

John  Monk, 

Samuel  Haney, 

Francis  Wayland, 

Zoel  Wayland, 

N.  B.  Hardin, 

B.  Past, 

Francis  Rice, 

Thomas  Allison, 

San  ford  Past, 

Jasper  Twichell, 

Andrew  Allison, 

G.  C.  Lane, 

Joseph  Overton, 

G.  Hainline, 

Anderson  Cannon, 

Jesse  Neece, 

John  Ledgerwood, 

John  Purdy, 

Henry  Perry, 

Alexander  Provine, 

J.  H.  Hughes, 

Jacob  Humbert, 

John  Fletcher, 

Jacob  Massingill, 

Francis  McSpirit, 

Smith  Haines, 

Joseph  Bailey, 

Botson  Seybold, 

J.  H.  Baker, 

A.  C.  Bristow, 

Elijah  Stephens, 

Israel  Camp,  Jr., 

Reuben  Harris, 

Daniel  Duncan, 

John  Barrett, 

William  J.  Despain, 

D.  Bristow, 

Sylvester  Ruddle, 

William  Gahagan, 

Jonathan  Comar, 

Wesley  Langford, 

Preston  Anderson, 

T.  B.  McCormick, 

Nathan  Scott, 

H.  Mayhew, 

James  Peak, 

John  E.  Jackson, 

William  Lovely, 

Robert  Dorothy, 

Lewis  Past, 

George  W.  Neece, 

L.  M.  Hobart, 

J.  E  Lansdown, 

Lorenzo  Twichell, 

James  Perry, 

George  Hume, 

D.  F.  Martin, 

S.  Stewart, 

A.  II.  Rutledge, 

David  Scott, 

G.  G.  Guy, 

William  Scott, 

Joseph  Haines, 

Isaac  Fugate, 

J.  Rollins, 

William  Humbert, 

John  W.  Fugate, 

Jacob  Morgan, 

William  Stickle, 

Allen  Bland, 

Thomas  Shoopman, 

Jacob  S.  Matthews, 

Thomas  J.  Caldwell, 

Wm.  Walker, 

Edward  Dixon, 

B.  Mason, 

B  J.Welclt, 

B.  R.  Hampton, 

B.  B.  Edmondson, 

John  G.  Stoneking, 

Harry  Caruiack. 

Martin  Miles. 

Thomas  E,  Smedley, 

J.  J.  Smedley, 

H.  S.  Head, 

Hiram  Bellew, 

Caleb  Husted, 

John  Bundridge, 

William  D.  Mustain, 

Robert  Kellison, 

H.  V.  Craig, 

Samuel  Calvin, 

Wm.  J.  Epperson, 

James  D.  Eads, 

Robert  Clugston, 

John  McCoy, 

E.  F.  Randall, 

Nathan  Ferris, 

G.  W.  Shoopman, 

Carroll  Lane, 

James  P.  Birtland, 

Thomas  Speaks, 

John  Wilson,  Jr., 

William  Venard, 

C.  A.  Brown, 

William  E.  Duncan, 

C.  Pruit, 

William  T.  Wells, 

Joseph  Duncan, 

William  Wilson, 

J.  C.  Vawter,           (/William  Shannon, 

Simeon  Everett, 

H.  G.  Woodside, 

Russell  Riggs, 

John  E.  Riggs, 

John  Hall, 

Francis  McKay, 

John  Nankeville, 

William  Thompson, 

John  L.  Charter, 

Henry  Dorothy, 

Charles  Patrick, 

M.  C.  Archer, 

Redmond  Grigsby, 

Silas  Grigsby, 

Nathan  Dunsworth, 

James  Dunsworth, 

David  Alton, 

Henry  Alton, 

Thomas  Hunt, 

Amos  Gibson, 

Hugh  Conner, 

John  Hagerty, 

Arch.  Holstein, 

Robert  McCumsey, 

William  Moss, 

Geoge  Bughman, 

Washington  Owens, 

John  Patrick, 

Philetus  Knight, 

John  Bowman, 

Samuel  Dark, 

John  Ferguson, 

Jonathan  Charter, 

A.  L.  Bryant, 

J.  Q.  McClure, 

Robert  Archer, 

B.  B.  Head, 

Ephraim  Hammer, 

Robert  Hall, 

G.  A.  Tayl, 

Squire  Charter, 

John  T.  Mustain. 

William  Parks, 

George  Venard, 

Samuel  Dunlap, 

James  Ward, 

Peter  Riggs, 

John  B.  Case, 

James  Grigsby, 

\Villiam  Grigsby, 

Nimrod  Duskill, 

James  C.  Archer, 

John  Vance, 

Isaac  Harris 

Jacob  Waimac, 

William  T.  Archer, 

Alva  Alton, 

John  Huston, 

John  I.  Foster, 

William  W.  Wilson, 

John  Duncan, 

John  L.  Gordon, 

John  Crisp, 

A.  J.  Edmonston, 

Alex.  McCullin, 

John  Gilfrey,  Sr., 

James  McPeters, 

William  Owens, 

Norman  Davis, 

John  T.  Gilfrey, 

J.  J.  Mathews, 

Samuel  Wilson, 

N.  Herrin, 

C.  A.  Lawson, 

William  Ellis, 

Hugh  B.  Smiley, 

G.  A.  Farwell, 

N.  Montgomery, 

HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY.                         133 

*  T.  B.  Maury,                 P.  H.  Walker, 

Wesley  Freeland,         William  Ervin, 

Merritt  A.  Russell,       Wen.  L.  Broaddus, 

R.  M.  Bonham,             Thomas  McElrath, 

G.  W.  Smith,               Joseph  Long, 

James  Walker,             James  Anderson, 

R.  H.  Broaddus,            8.  S.  Whitmire,     , 

Richard  Rowley,          Logan  Kyle, 

Joshua  Conrad,             J.  M.  Martin, 

Daniel  D.  Rail,             J.  C.  Roberts, 

Thomas  Pickelt,           James  Cannon, 

Robert  Cannon,            James  B.  Kyle, 

J.  P.  Head,                   David  Lawson, 

S.  C.  Watson,                James  Martin, 

Manva  Perry,                 Win.  H.  Randolph, 

John  Harrow,                Samuel  McKamy, 

J.  P.  Updegraff,            W.  H.  Kendrick, 

J.  O.  C.  Wilson,            Abner  Walker, 

John  Lowry,                T.  J.  Beard, 

J.  H.  Updegraff,           Theodore  Laughlin, 

Andrew  Lewis,             J.  E.  Wyne, 

Charles  Chandler,        Michael  Martin, 

T.  M.  Luster,                Milton  Sweeney, 

Robert  II.  Broaddus,    Wm.  F.  McCandless, 

B.  F.  Martin,                John  L.  Anderson, 

R.  F.  Anderson,           Joseph  Bailey, 

N.  McElrath,                 C.  M.  Duffee, 

Gowan  DeCamp,          Daniel  Courtwright, 

W.  H.  Kyle,                   Thomas  Adcock, 

J.  W.  McDonald,          W.  Courtwright, 

William  S.  Hail,          G.  W.  Watt, 

O.  C.  Cannon,                R.  A.  Biazeltou, 

William  H.  Phelps,     Henry  Towls, 

Charles  Dunn,              R.  Garrett, 

William  B.  Gordon,    Martin  Read, 

Daniel  Sullivan,           John  M.  Sullivan. 

J.  B.  McCartney,          John  Wiley, 

Adonijah  Hungate. 

C.  W.  Dallam,              Marshall  Rogers, 

CHAPTER    IX  . 

THE  WAE  FOE   THE   UNION. 

The  institution  of  slavery  was  always 

of  a  conciliatory   character  were  passed, 

a  source  of  trouble  between  the  free  and 

no    attempt    was   made  to   carry  their 

slave-holding   states.     The  latter    were 

threats  into   execution.      Finally   came 

always  troubled  with  the  thought  that 

the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise 

the  former  would  encroach  upon  their 

and  the  adoption  of  a  measure  known  as 

rights,  and  nothing   could  be   done  to 

the    Kansas-Nebraska    bill.      This  bill 

shake  this  belief.     Compromise   meas- 

opened certain  territory  to  slavery,  which, 

ures  from  time  to  time  were   adopted  to 

under  the  former  act,  was  forever  to  be 

settle  the  vexed  question  of  slavery,  but 

free.     About  the  time  of  the  passage  of 

the  fears  of  the  slaveholders  were  only 

this  act,  the  whig  party  was  in  a  state  of 

allayed  for   a  short  time.      Threats  of 

dissolution,  and  the  great  body  of  that 

secession  were  often  made  by  the  slave- 

party,  together  with  certain   democrats 

holding  states,  but  as  soon  as   measures 

who   were   opposed  to  the  Kansas-Ne- 

134 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


braska  bill,  united,  thus  forming  a  new 
party  to  which  was  given  the  name  of 
republican,  having  for  its  object  the  pre- 
vention of  the  further  extension  of  sla- 
very. The  people  of  the  south  imagined 
they  saw  in  this  new  party  not  only  an 
organized  effort  to  prevent  the  extension 
of  slavery,  but  one  that  would  eventu- 
ally be  used  to  destroy  slavery  in  those 
states  in  which  it  already  existed. 

In  1860,  four  presidential  tickets  were 
in  the  field.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  the 
candidate  of  the  republicans,  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  of  the  national  democrat, 
John  C.  Breckenridge  of  the  pro-slavery 
interests,  and  John  Bell  of  the  union. 
The  union  party  was  composed  princi- 
pally of  those  who  had  previously  affili- 
ated with  the  American  or  know-noth- 
ing party.  Early  in  the  campaign  there 
were  threats  of  secession  and  disunion 
in  case  of  the  election  of  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, but  the  people  were  so  accustomed 
to  southern  bravado  that  little  heed  was 
given  to  the  bluster. 

On  the  20th  of  December,  1860,  South 
Carolina,  by  a  convention  of  delegateSj 
declared  "that  the  union  now  existing 
between  South  Carolina  and  the  other 
states  of  North  America  is  dissolved, 
and  that  the  state  of  South  Carolina  has 
resumed  her  position  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth  as  a  free,  sovereign  and 
independent  state,  with  full  power  to 
levy  war  and  conclude  peace,  contract 
alliances,  establish  commerce,  and  do  all 
other  acts  and  things  which  independent 
states  may  of  right  do." 

On  the  24th  Gov.  Pickens  issued  a 
proclamation  declaring  that  "South 
Carolina  is,  and  has  a  right  to  be,  a  free 
and  independent  state,  and  as  such  has 


a  right  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace,  and 
do  all  acts  whatever  that  rightfully  ap- 
pertain to  a  free  and  independent  state." 

On  the  26th  Major  Anderson  evacuated 
Fort  Moultrie  and  occupied  Fort  Sum- 
ter.  Two  days  previously  he  wrote 
President  Buchanan's  secretary  of  war, 
John  B.  Floyd,  as  follows: 

"When  I  inform  you  that  my  garrison 
consists  of  only  60  effective  men,  and 
that  we  are  in  very  indifferent  works,the 
walls  of  which  are  only  fourteen  feet 
high ;  and  that  we  have  within  160  yards 
of  our  walls,  sand  hills  which  command 
our  works  and  Avhich  afford  admirable 
sites  for  batteries  and  the  finest  coverts 
for  sharp-shooters ;  and  that  besides  this 
there  are  numerous  houses,  some  of 
them  within  pistol  shot,  and  you  will  at 
once  see  that  if  attacked  in  force,  headed 
by  any  one  but  a  simpleton,  there  is 
scarcely  a  posibility  of  our  being  able  to 
hold  out  long  enough  for  our  friends  to 
come  to  our  succor." 

His  appeals  for  re-inforcements  were 
seconded  by  General  Scott,  but  unheeded 
by  President  Buchanan,  and  entirely 
ignored  by  Secretary  of  War  Floyd. 

On  the  28th  South  Carolina  troops 
occupied  Fort  Moultrie  and  Castle 
Pinckney,  and  hoisted  the  palmetto  flag 
on  the  ramparts.  On  the  29th  John  B. 
Floyd  resigned  his  place  in  Buchanan's 
cabinet,  charging  that  the  president  in 
refusing  to  remove  Major  Anderson  from 
Charleston  Harbor,  designed  to  plunge 
the  country  into  civil  war,  and  added: 
"I  cannot  consent  to  be  the  agent  of  such 
a  calamity."  On  the  same  day  the  South 
Carolina  commissioners  presented  their 
official  credentials  at  Washington,  which, 
on  the  next  day,  were  declined. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


137 


On  the  second  day  of  January,  1861, 
Georgia  declared  for  secession,  and  Geor- 
gia troops  took  possession  of  the  United 
States  arsenal  in  Augusta,  and  Forts 
Pulaski  and  Jackson. 

Gov.  Ellis,  of  North  Carolina,  seized 
the  forts  at  Beaufort  and  Wilmington 
and  the  arsenal  at  Fayetteville.  On  the 
evening  of  the  4th,  the  Alabama  and 
Mississippi  delegations  in  congress  tele- 
graphed the  conventions  of  their  respec- 
tive states  to  secede,  telling  them  that 
there  was  no  prospect  of  a  satisfactory 
adjustment. 

On  the  7th  the  conventions  of  Ala- 
bama, Mississippi  and  Tennessee  met  in 
secession  conclave.  Secretary  Thomp- 
son resigned  his  seat  in  the  cabinet  on 
the  9th,  on  the  ground  that,  contrary  to 
promises,  troops  had  been  sent  to  Major 
Anderson.  On  the  same  day,  the  Star  of 
the  West,  carrying  supplies  and  rein- 
forcements to  Major  Anderson,  with  her 
flag  at  her  mast-head,  was  fired  into  from 
Morris  Island,  and  obeying  instructions 
turned  homeward,  leaving  Fort  Sumter 
and  its  gallant  little  band  of  heroes  to 
the  mercy  of  the  rebels  and  traitors. 
On  the  same  day,  also,  the  ordinance  of 
secession  passed  the  Mississippi  conven- 
tion. Florida  adopted  an  ordinance  of 
secession  on  the  10th,  and  Alabama  on 
the  llth.  On  the  latter  day  the  rebels 
seized  the  arsenal  at  Baton  Rouge,  and 
Forts  St.  Philip  and'  Jackson,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  Fort 
Pike  at  the  entrance  of  Lake  Pontchar- 
train.  Pensacola  navy  yard  and  Fort 
Barrancas  were  surrendered  to  rebel 
troops  by  Colonel  Armstrong  on  the  13th. 
Lieutenant  Slemmer,  who  had  drawn 
his  command  from  Fort  McRae  to  Fort 


Pickens,  defied  Armstrong's  orders  and 
announced  his  intention  to  "hold  the 
fort"  at  all  hazards,  The  Georgia  con- 
vention adopted  an  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion on  the  19th.  On  the  following  day 
Lieutenant  Slemmer  was  besieged  by  a 
thousand  "allied  troops"  at  Fort  Pick- 
ens.  Louisiana  adopted  an  ordinance 
of  secession  on  the  25th.  On  the  1st  of 
February  the  rebels  seized  the  United 
States  mint  and  custom  house  at  New 
Orleans.  The  peace  convention  assem- 
bled at  Washington  on  th^  4th,  but  ad- 
journed without  doing  anything  to  quiet 
the  disturbed  elements.  On  the  9th  a 
provisional  constitution  was  adopted  at 
Montgomery,  Alabama,  it  being  the  con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  "re-con- 
structed" to  suit  their  purposes.  Jeffer- 
son Davis,  of  Mississippi,  was  chosen 
president,  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 
of  Georgia,  vice-president,  of  the  "con- 
federate states  of  North  America." 
Jefferson  Davis  was  inaugurated  on 
the  18th,  and  on  the  25th  it 
was  learned  that  General  Twiggs, 
commanding  the  department  of  Tex- 
as, had  basely  betrayed  his  trust? 
and  had  surrendered  all  the  military 
posts,  ammunition  and  arms  to  the  Texas 
authorities. 

Abraham  Lincoln,  was  inaugurated 
March  4,  1861,  in  front  of  the  capitol, 
the  ceremonies  being  witnessed  by  a  vast 
concourse  of  people.  Before  taking  the 
oath,  Mr.  Lincoln  pronounced  in  a  clear, 
ringing  voice  his  inaugural  address,  to 
hear  which  there  was  an  almost  painful 
solicitude ;  to  read  which  the  whole  Amer- 
ican people  and  civilized  world  awaited 
with  irrepressible  anxiety.  With  that 
address  and  the  administration  of  the 


138 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


oath  of  office,  the  people  were  assured. 
All  doubt,  if  any  had  previously  existed, 
was  removed.  In  the  hands  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  people's  president,  and  him- 
self of  the  people,  the  government  was 
safe. 

Traitors  were  still  busy  plotting  and 
planning.  Troops  were  mustering  in  all 
the  seceded  states.  On  Friday,  April  12, 
the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumpter,  with  its 
garrison  of  sixty  effective  men,  was  da- 
manded  and  bravely  refused  by  the  gal- 
lant Robert  Anderson,  the  heroic  com- 
mander. Fire  was  at  once  opened  on 
the  almost  helpless  garrison  by  the  rebel 
forces,  numbering  several  thousands. 
Kesistence  for  any  length  of  time  was 
useless,  and  at  last,  out  of  ammunition  and 
seared  and  scorched  by  flames  from  their 
burning  quarters,  the  little  band  of  heroic 
men  were  compelled  to  give  up,  and  the 
national  colors  were  hauled  down  and  by 
traitors  hands  were  trailed  in  the  dust, 
the  dirt  and  the  mire  not  defiling  them 
half  as  much  as  the  Judas  touch  of  arrant 
rebels.  On  Sunday  morning,  the  14th, 
the  news  of  the  surrender  was  received 
in  all  the  principal  cities  of  the  union. 
That  was  all,  but  that  was  enough.  A 
day  later  when  the  news  was  confirmed 
and  spread  throughout  the  country,  the 
patriotic  people  of  the  north  were  roused 
from  their  dreams  of  the  future — from 
undertakings  half  completed —  and  made 
to  realize  that  behind  that  mob  there  was 
a  dark,  deep  and  well  organized  purpose 
to  destroy  the  government,  rend  the 
union  in  twain,  and  out  of  its  ruins  erect 
a  slave  oligarchy;  wherein  no  one  would 
dare  question  their  right  to  hold  in  bond- 
age the  sons  and  daughters  of  men  whose 
skins  were  black.  Their  dreams  of  the 


future — their  plans  for  the  establishment 
of  an    independent   confederacy — -were 
doomed  from  their  inception  to  sad   and 
bitter     disappointment.        Everywhere 
north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line — the 
home  of  the  freemen — the  voice  of  Prov- 
idence was  heard. 
"Draw  forth  your  million  blades  as  one ; 
Complete  the  battle  now  begun; 
God  fights  with  ye,  and  overhead 
Floats  the  dear  banner  of  your  dead. 
They,  and  the  glories  of  the  past, 
The  future,  dawning  dim  and  vast, 
And  all  the  holiest  hopes  of  man, 
Are  beaming  triumphant  in  your  van. 

"Slow  to  resolve,  be  swift  to  do; 
Teach  ye  the  False,  how  fights  the  True ; 
How  buckled  perfidy  shall  feel, 
In  her  black  heart  the  Patriot's  steel ; 
How  sure  the  bolt  that  Justice  wings ; 
How  weak  the  arm  a  traitor  brings ; 
How  mighty  they  who  steadfast  stand, 
For  freedom's  flag  and  freedom's  land." 

On  Monday,  April  15,  President  Lin- 
coln issued  the  following  proclamation: 

WHEREAS,  The  laws  of  the  United  States 
have  for  some  time  past,  and  are  now,  opposed, 
and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the 
states  of  South  Carolina,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mis- 
sissippi, Louisiana  and  Texas,  by  combinations 
too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the  power 
vested  in  the  marshals ;  now,  therefore,  I,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln,«president  of  the  United  States,  by 
virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  consti- 
tution and  the  laws,  have  thought  to  call  forth, 
and  hereby  do  call  forth,  the  militia  of  the  sev- 
eral states  of  the  Union,  to  the  number  of  seven- 
ty-five thousand,  in  order  to  suppress  said  com- 
binations, and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly 
executed. 

The  details  for  this  subject  will  be  immedi- 
ately communicated  to  the  state  authorities 
through  the  war  department.  I  appeal  to  all 
loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate,  and  to  aid  this 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


139 


effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity,  and 
existence  of  our  National  Union,  and  the  per- 
petuity of  popular  government,  and  to  redress 
wrongs  already  long  endured.  I  deem  it  proper 
to  say  that  the  first  services  assigned  to  the  forces 
hereby  called  forth  will  probably  be  to  reposses 
the  forts,  places  and  property  which  have  been 
seized  from  the  Union;  and  in  every  event  the 
utmost  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with 
the  object  aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation, 
any  destruction  of,  or  interference  with  property, 
or  any  disturbance  of  peaceful  citizens  in  any 
part  of  the  country ;  and  I  hereby  command  the 
persons  composing  the  combinations  aforesaid, 
to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respect- 
ive abodes  within  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public 
affairs  presents  an  extraordinarv  occasion,  I  do 
hereby,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by 
the  constitution,  convene  both  houses  of  con- 
gress. The  senators  and  representatives  are 
therefore  summoned  to  assemble  at  their  re- 
spective chambers  at  12  o'clock,  noon,  on  Thurs- 
day, the  fourth  day  of  July  next,  then  and  there 
to  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as  in 
their  wisdom  the  public  safety  and  interest  may 
seem  to  demand. 

In  witness  thereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to 
be  affixed. 

Done  at  the  city  of  Washington,  on  the  fif- 
teenth day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  the  eighty- 
fifth. 

By  the  president, 

ABRAHAM  'LINCOLN. 

WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  secretary  of  state. 

The  last  word  of  this  proclamation 
had  scarcely  been  taken  from  the  elec- 
tric wire  before  the  call  was  filled.  Men 
and  money  were  counted  out  by  hun- 
dreds and  thousands.  The  people  who 
loved  their  whole  country  could  not  give 
enough.  Patriotism  thrilled  and  vibrated 
and  pulsated  through  every  heart.  The 


farm,  the  workshop,  the  office,  the  pul- 
pit, the  bar,  the  bench,  the  college,  the 
school  house — every  calling  offered  its 
best  men,  their  lives  and  fortunes,  in 
defense  of  the  government's  honor  and 
unity.  Party  lines  were  for  a  time 
ignored.  Bitter  words,  spoken  in  mo- 
ments of  political  heat,  were  forgotten 
and  forgiven,  and  joining  hands  in  a 
common  cause,  they  repeated  the  oath 
of  America's  soldier  statesman:  "By  the 
great  eternal,  the  union  must  and  shall 
be  preserved!" 

Seventy-five  thousand  men  were  not 
enough  to  subdue  the  rebellion.  Nor 
were  ten  times  that  number.  The  war 
went  on,  and  call  followed  call,  until  it 
seemed  as  if  there  were  not  men  enough 
in  all  the  free  states  to  crush  out  the 
rebellion.  But  to  every  call  for  either 
men  or  money,  there  was  a  willing  and 
ready  response.  The  gauntlet  thrown 
down  by  traitors  of  the  south  was  ac- 
cepted; not,  however,  in  the  spirit  which 
insolence  meets  insolence,  but  with  a 
firm,  determined  spirit  of  patriotism 
and  love  of  country.  The  duty  of  the 
president  was  plain  under  the  constitu- 
tion and  laws,  and,  above  and  beyond 
all,  the  people,  from  whom  all  political 
power  is  derived,  demanded  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion,  and  stood 
ready  to  sustain  the  authority  of  their 
representative  and  executive  officers  to 
the  utmost  extremity. 

Settled  as  McDonough  county  was  by 
many  from  the  southern  states,  it  is  in 
no  wise  derogatory  to  her  that  in  the 
breasts  of  many  of  her  citizens  beat 
hearts  in  sympathy  with  the  cause  of 
the  southern  confederacy,  and  that  a 
feeling  of  ill-will  should  prevail  against 


140 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  radical  abolitionist.  But  to  their 
honor  be  it  spoken,  that  many  of  these, 
who  looked  upon  the  movement  of  the 
south  as  -having  just  grounds,  with  a 
noble  patriotism,  sank  all  sectional  and 
political  feelings  in  their  devotion  to  the 
cause  of  the  Union,  and  the  "star 
gemmed  flag"  of  their  country."  Many 
of  the  citizens  of  the  county  of  McDon- 
ough,  and  among  them  many  of  the  most 
influential  "and  respected  ones,  used 
every  honorable  means  to  defeat  the 
election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the 
presidency,  deeming  it  to  the  best  inter- 
ests of  the  country.  But  others  worked 
equally  hard  to  elevate  the  favorite  son 
of  Illinois  to  the  executive  seat,  although 
a  no  less  distinguished  citizen  of  Illinois 
was  one  of  his  opponents.  The  vote,  in 
November,  1860,  best  shows  the  number  of 
those  who  favored  the  election  of  Lincoln 
and  who  favored  his  opponents :  for  Lin- 
coln, 2,255  votes;  for  Douglas,  2,266; 
for  Breckenridge,  6;  and  for  Bell,  62. 
In  the  minds  of  all  it  seemed  impossible 
that  the  south  would  secede,  and  that 
this  glorious  republic  would  be  disrupt- 
ed, thinking  that  when  the  excitement  of 
the  political  campaign  had  passed  away, 
peace  and  prosperity  would  continue. 
But  when  the  sad  news  of  Anderson's 
surrender  was  made  known  throughout 
the  land,  no  greater  indignation,  at  the 
outrage  to  our  flag,  was  betrayed  any- 
where than  in  McDonough  county. 
Political  rancor  was  hushed,  partisan 
feeling  was  swept  away,  and  pure  patriot- 
ism animated  the  whole  people.  Nobly 
did  the  people  of  the  county  respond  to* 
the  calls  for  men  in  the  foregoing  proc- 
lamation, and  at  each  succeeding  call. 
Meetings  were  held  all  over  the  county, 


participated  in  by  men  of  all  former 
shades  of  opinion  and  party,  but  all  now 
animated  by  but  one  feeling.  At  Ma- 
comb,  on  the  17th  of  April,  1861,  a  pub- 
lic meeting  was  held,  and  a  committee, 
consisting  of  Nelson  Abbott,  Charles 
Chandler,  A.  K.  Lowry,W.  E.  Withrow, 
John  Knappenberger  and  Carter  Van 
Vleck,  three  democrats  and  three  repub- 
licans, was  appointed  to  draw  up  resolu- 
tions. They  made  a  report  to  the  meet- 
ing of  the  following,  which  were  soon 
adopted: 

WHEREAS,  War  against  the  government  of  the 
United  States  has  been  commenced  by  the 
authorities  of  the  so-called  confederate  states, 
by  assailing  and  reducing  Fort  Sumpter,  a  for- 
tress garrisoned  and  defended  by  United  States 
soldiers,  and  under  the  sacred  protection  of  the 
national  flag;  and, 

WHEREAS,  The  president  of  the  United 
States  has  issued  his  proclamation  reciting  that 
"  the  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  and 
are  opposed  in  several  states  by  combinations 
too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  in  the  ordinary 
way,"  and  calling  for  volunteers  to  suppress  said 
combination  and  execute  the  laws;  be  it 

Resolved  by  the  citizens  of  McDonough 
county,  without  distinction  of  party,  in  mass 
meeting  assembled,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  all 
loyal  and  patriotic  citizens,  at  whatever  cost  of 
blood  and  treasure,  to  sustain  and  support  the 
constitutioned  authorities  of  the  United  States 
in  their  lawful  efforts  to  preserve  the  Union, 
maintain  the  integrity  of  the  constitution  and 
the  supremacy  of  all  the  laws,  and  protect  the 
federal  capital  and  sustain  the  honor  of  our  na- 
tional flag. 

Resolved,  That,  while  we  would  be  glad  to 
see  such  legislation  adopted  by  the  federal  and 
state  governments  as  would,  if  possible,  bring 
about  an  honorable  reconciliation  between  the 
citizens  of  the  several  states,  yet  we  deem  it  the 
duty  of  our  legislature  about  to  assemble  to  pass 
such  laws  as  will  render  the  general  govern- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


141 


ment  speedy  and  efficient  aid  in  all  its  lawful 
endeavors  to  carry  out  the  objects  indicated  in 
the  foregoing  resolution. 

Resolved,  That  the  stars  and  stripes  are  the 
emblems  of  our  country's  liberties  and  honors, 
and  wheresoever  floating  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
American  citizen  to  yield  to  that  flag  uncondi- 
tional allegiance  and  undying  devotion. 

At  Colchester,  April  9th,  at  a  public 
meeting,  the  following  was  adopted  as 
the  sense  of  the  meeting: 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  citizens  of  Colchester 
and  vicinity,  have  no  ill  feeling  toward  any  po- 
litical party,  and  say,  with  the  immortal  Clay, 
that  we  know  no  north — no  south — no  east — no 
west;  we  know  only  the  welfare  of  our  country. 

Resolved,  That,  in  view  of  our  present  crisis, 
we  pledge  our  support  to  the  administration  for 
the  purpose  of  sustaining  the  government,  the 
the  constitution,  and  the  Union.  In  doing  so  we 
show  them  we  are  not  degenerated  sons  of  '76. 

At  Foster's  point,  on  the  evening  of 
the  27th  of  April,  the  citizens  assembled 
and  adopted  the  following: 

WHEREAS,  The  government  of  these  United 
States  has  been  assailed — the  flag  of  our  coun- 
try fired  upon  and  dishonored— our  country  is 
severely  threatened  with  destruction ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we,  without  respect  to  party, 
declare  our  undying  devotion  to  the  Union,  the 
constitution,  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws. 

Resolved,  That  we  know  no  government  but 
our  government,  no  country  but  our  country,  and 
no  flag  but  the  stars  and  stripes  of  our  honored 
sires. 

In  other  parts  of  the  county  other 
meetings  passed  just  as  strong  resolu- 
tions. Recruiting  offices  were  opened, 
and  by  the  20th  of  April  one  company 
was  formed,  with  Y.  Y.  Ralston  as  cap- 
tain, and  within  a  few  days  another  was 
ready,  with  D.  P.  "Wells  as  captain. 
These  two  companies  were  raised  at 
Macomb  and  a  third  was  formed  at  Mid- 


dletown,  under  Captain  Samuel  Wilson. 
These  three  companies  departed  for 
Springfield,  the  general  rendezvous  of 
the  Illinois  troops,  and  were  assigned  to 
the  16th  infantry,  being  respectively 
companies  A,  B,  and  C,  of  that  famous 
regiment.  The  companies  were  all  es- 
corted to  the  depot  by  hosts  of  friends, 
and  they  were  heartily  cheered,  and 
many  a  heartfelt  ''God  bless  you"  was 
given  as  they  moved  off,  many  never  to 
come  back  to  home  and  loved  ones. 

All  throughout  the  long  years  that  the 
dark  cloud  of  war  covered  our  country, 
the  enlistment  of  men,  the  forming  of 
new  companies,  the  constant  stir  and  ex- 
citement was  kept  up,  and  men,  young, 
middle-aged  and  old,  pressed  to  the 
front.  In  all,  nearly  three  thousand 
brave  and  gallant  sons  of  McDonough 
county  represented  her  in  the  ranks  of 
"blue-coated  national  defenders,"  men 
who  stood  in  the  red  front  of  lurid  bat- 
tle, and  always  took  a  prominent  part. 
Numbers  of  them  laid  down  their  lives 
upon  the  altar  of  their  country,  and 
their  bones  enrich  the  soil  of  nearly 
every  southern  state.  From  the  Poto- 
mac to  the  Rio  Grande,  from  Albemarle 
sound  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  have 
their  drums  beat,  and  the  ground  re- 
echoed to  their  tread,  and  no  more  heroic 
soldiers  led  the  van  in  many  a  stricken 
field  than  did  the  representatives  from 
this  section  of  the  state. 

While  they  were  away  upon  the  tented 
field,  the  patriotic  men  and  women  at 
home  were  not  idle.  Although  impossi- 
sible  to  get  the  county  to  do  anything 
in  an  official  way  for  the  relief  of  sol- 
diers' families,  many,  as  private  citizens, 
thought  it  not  only  a  duty  but  a  blessed 


142 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


privilege  to  render  all  the  aid  in  their 
power.  During  the  entire  four  years  of 
war,  we  think  but  little  actual  suffering 
was  experienced  by  any  at  home  on  ac- 
count of  the  absence  of  their  natural 
protectors,  who  were  serving  their  coun- 
try. Fairs  and  festivals  were  held  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  sanitary  sup- 
plies for  those  in  the  field,  and  soldiers' 
aid  societies  were  continually  investigat- 
ing and  relieving  the  wants  of  the 
needy  at  home. 

On  Wednesday,  September  10,  1862, 
there  was  presented  to  the  board  a  pe- 
tition signed  by  numerous  citizens  of 
Macomb  and  the  county  generally,  ask- 
ing the  board  to  take  some  action  in  re- 
gard to  providing  for  the  families  of  the 
volunteers  from  McDonough  county. 
The  question  was  at  once  referred  to  the 
committee  of  the  whole.  On  the  12th 
of  the  same  month,  the  board,  on  motion 
of  Mr.  Casto,  the  member  from  Macomb, 
resolved  itself  into  a  committee  of  the 
whole,  for  the  consideration  of  the  ques- 
tion. After  considerable  discussion,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  were 
offered  by  L.  G.  Keid,  and  were  adopted: 

"  WHEREAS,  Divers  persons  of  this  county 
have  petitioned  this  board  to  make  an  appropri- 
ation for  the  support  and  maintenance  of  the 
families  of  the  volunteers  of  this  county  that 
have  enlisted  in  the  United  States  service ;  and, 

"  WHEREAS,  This  board  is  not  advised  as  to 
the  number  that  have  volunteered  from  this 
county,  nor  have  they  any  knowledge  of  the 
condition  of  those  families  that  it  is  proposed  to 
assist;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  supervisors  of  each 
township  be  appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain 
the  number  and  condition  of  the  families  of  vol- 
unteers in  each  township  of  the  county,  and  re- 
port to  this  board  at  its  next  meeting.  And  be 
t  further 


"  Resolved,  That  the  supervisor  of  each  town 
shall  be  required  to  call  the  attention  of  their 
several  townships  to  the  propriety  of  calling 
town  meetings  for  an  expression  of  the  wishes 
of  the  tax  payers  in  regard  to  the  proposed  ap- 
propriation, and  report  such  expression  so  ex- 
pressed at  the  next  meeting  of  this  board." 

At  the  October  session  following,  an 
abstract  of  the  votes  taken  on  the  sub- 
ject of  making  the  appropriation  in 
favor  of  the  wives  and  families  of  the 
volunteers  in  the  service  of  the  general 
government,  was  presented  to  the  board, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

Township :                               For  app.  Against 

Eldorado , 4  72 

New  Salem 23  0 

Mound 5  18 

Industry 4  103 

Macomb 42  19 

Walnut  Grove  5  48 

Bethel 5  75 

Chalmers 2  60 

Emmett 17  57 

Sciota 8  19 

Lamoine 1  108 

Tennesseee 8  117 

Hire 2  97 

Blandinsville 5  125 

By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  there  were 
but  113  "for  the  appropriation,"  and  918 
against  the  appropriation,"  with  the 
townships  of  Scotland  and  Prairie  City 
to  hear  from,  thus  defeating  the  action 
of  the  board. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors, held  on  the  26th  of  June,  1863, 
the  following  resolution  was  presented 
by  B.  B.  Hampton,  and  on  motion  of 
J.  P.  Updegraff,  it  was  adopted: 

WHEREAS,  There  have  been  a  number  of 
battles  recently  fought  by  General  Grant's  divis- 
ion of  the  army,  between  Jackson  and  Vicks- 
burg;  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


143 


WHEREAS,  Many  of  the  citizens  of  McDon- 
ough  county  are  soldiers  in  that  division;  and 

WHEREAS,  The  sanitary  commission,  of  Chi- 
cago, have  called  upon  the  people  of  the  state 
of  Illinois  for  aid  for  the  sick  and  wounded  sol- 
diers at  Vicksburg;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  we  make  an  appropriation  of 
one  hundred  dollars  out  of  any  county  funds  not 
otherwise  appropriated,  for  the  benefit  of  said 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and  the  clerk  is 
hereby  directed  to  issue  a  county  order  for  that 
amount,  and  send  the  money  to  the  secretary  of 
the  Chicago  sanitary  commission. 

In  his  history  of  McDonough  county, 
S.  J.  Clarke,  a  resident  of  the  county  at 
the  time,  says  of  the  year  1862 : 

"During  this  year  our  armies  met  with 
a  number  of  reverses,  and  doubts  arose 
in  the  minds  of  many  as  to  the  power  of 
the  government  to  put  down  the  rebel- 
lion. Organizations  were  formed 
throughout  the  north,  of  men  who  fav- 
ored a  cessation  of  hostilities,  the  with- 
drawal of  our  troops  from  southern  soil, 
and  a  compromise  with  the  rebels.  The 
organization  was  regarded  as  treason- 
able by  the  administration,  and  many  of 
the  leaders  of  the  movement  were  ar- 
rested without  regular  warrant  and  in- 
carcerated in  various  prisons,  while  the 
writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  suspended.  A 
great  hue  and  cry  was  raised  because  of 
this  fact;  the  government  was  denounced 
as  tyrannical,  and  a  forcible  resistance 
was  seriously  advocated.  A  large  num- 
ber in  McDonough  county  joined  in  the 
movement  with  the  opposition,  and  party 
strife  again  ran  high.  Friends  of  long 
standing  became  enemies,  and  threats 
of  personal  damage  were  made  upon  both 
sides.  Recruiting  for  the  army  was 
well  nigh  suspended,  and  the  union  cause 
seemed  very  dark.  At  this  juncture,  B. 


K.  Hampton  introduced  the  following 
resolution,  and  asked  its  adoption  by  the 
board  of  supervisors  at  their  session  in 
Mayrl863: 

WHEREAS,  Our  nation  is  now  involved  in 
civil  war,  brought  about  by  the  acts  of  designing 
and  unscrupulous  men  who  seek  to  destroy  the 
best  government  ever  instituted  upon  the  earth 
by  man ;  and  believing  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all 
public  bodies,  assembled  for  the  purpose  of 
transaction  of  public  business,  to  throw  their 
influence,  whether  it  be  much  or  little,  on  the 
side  of  the  government  and  for  the  maintenance 
of  its  power  and  authority ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  although  some  of  us  may 
differ  with  the  administration  in  relation  to 
some  of  its  war  policy,  yet  we  are  anxious  to  see 
the  rebels  subdued,  and  forced  to  submit  to  the 
regularly  constituted  authorities  of  the  United 
States ;  and  further,  that  we  are  opposed  to  any 
and  all  propositions  for  a  compromise,  come 
from  what  source  they  may,  short  of  an  uncon- 
ditional surrender  of  the  rebels  to  the  govern- 
ment. 

Resolved,  That  we  utterly  condemn  all  sym- 
pathizers with  the  rebellion,  wherever  found,  as 
also  that  spirit  of  fault-finding  which  is  so  rife 
among  us. 

On  motion,  the  subject  of  the  adop- 
tion of  the  resolutions  were  laid  upon 
the  table,  and  afterward  being  taken 
therefrom,  after  slight  amendment  by 
Mr.  Hampton,  and  considerable  discus- 
sion ensuing,  Supervisor  Reid  offered 
the  following  as  a  substitute  for  those  of 
Mr.  Hampton: 

Resolved,  That  McDonough  county  has  been,  is 
now,  and  will  forever  remain,  devotedly  attached 
to  the  federal  government  of  the  United  States, 
under  the  constitution  which  creates  that  gov- 
ernment and  defines  its  powers. 

Resolved,  That,  we  are  in  favor  of  destroying 
the  rebellion,  and  sanction  any  legitimate  means 
for  the  accomplishment  of  that  purpose,  either 
through  an  honorable  compromise  of  difficulties 
or  a  convention  of  all  the  states  for  arranging 


144 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


terms  of  mutual  intercourse,  leaving  to  every 
state  the  right  to  regulate  their  domestic  affairs 
in  their  own  way,  subject  only  to  the  constitu- 
tion. 

Resolved,  That  we  sincerely  regret  that  the 
president  has  not  moved  with  the  whole  power 
of  the  army  placed  in  his  hands  by  a  confiding 
but  betrayed  people,  upon  the  enemy's  works, 
but  instead  thereof  has  made  war  upon  unarmed 
and  patriotic  citizens  of  the  north,  whose  only 
"  crime  "  has  been  devotion  to  the  constitution 
and  best  interests  of  the  country. 

Resolved,  That  we  view  with  just  alarm  the 
repeated  usurpations  of  power  by  the  president 
and  his  military  officers,  in  the  arbitrary  arrests 
and  imprisonment  of  peaceable  citizens;  in  their 
mock  trial  and  imprisonment;  in  the  attempt  to 
overawe  peaceful  meetings  of  the  people  called 
"  to  petition  the  government  for  redress  of 
grievances;"  in  the  arbitrary  suspension  of  the 
habeas  corpus ;  in  the  substitution  of  the  will  or 
whim  of  an  irresponsible  officer  for  the  written 
law;  that. if  these  and  other  kindred  usurpations 
are  not  rebuked  and  counteracted  by  the  friends 
of  law  and  order,  then  indeed  is  a  military  des- 
potism established  over  us,  our  constitution  de- 
stroyed, and  a  new  government  destructive  of 
our  liberties  inaugurated  in  the  place  of  the 
fundamental  laws  bequeathed  to  us  by  our 
fathers. 

Resolved,  That  we  call  upon  this  government 
to  return  to  true  and  faithful  allegian.ee  to  the 
constitution,  and  to  employ  the  remaining  period 
of  their  short  term  of  power  in  honest  endeav- 
ors to  restore  the  country  to  the  condition  of 
peace,  prosperity  and  growth  which  distin- 
guished our  country  before  the  advent  of  a  sec- 
tional organization  of  power. 

Resolved,  That,  the  profligate  squandering  of 
the  public  money  by  the  officers  under  the  con- 
trol of  President  Lincoln  is  without  a  parallel 
for  recklessness  and  infamy  in  the  history  of 
any  civilized  nation ;  in  the  language  of  John  P. 
Hale,  we  solemnly  "believe  and  declare  that  the 
liberties  of  this  country  are  in  greater  danger 
to-day  from  the  corruption  and  profligacy  prac- 
ticed in  the  various  departments  of  this  admin- 


istration than  they  are  from  the  open  enemy  in 
the  field." 

Resolved,  That,  we  request  our'representutive 
in  congress,  the  Hon.  Lewis  W.  Ross,  to  use  his 
best  exertions  to  secure  the  repeal  of  the  con- 
scription bill,  the  indemnity  bill,  and  all  other 
oppressive  and  partisan  enactments  of  the  late 
congress;  also,  to  oppose  all  measures  looking 
toward  a  recognition  of  the  independence  of  the 
southern  confederacy. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  language  of  Governor 
Seymour,  "having  given  the  administration  a 
generous  support  in  the  war,  we  pause  to  see 
what  kind  of  a  government  it  is  for  which  we 
are  asked  to  pour  out  our  blood  and  our  treas- 
ures, and  demand  to  know  whether  the  wrar  is 
waged  to  put  down  the  rebellion  at  the  south,  or 
destroy  free  institutions  at  the  north." 

Pending  the  question  of  the  adoption 
of  the  resolutions,  Supervisor  Potter  of- 
fered the  following  as  a  substitute  there- 
for, to-wit: 

Resolved,  That  we,  as  a  board  of  supervisors, 
whatever  shades  of  difference  of  opinion  there 
may  be  among  us,  we  are  united  in  this,  a  firm 
and  unshaken  determination  to  stand  upon  the 
federal  constitution — standing  upon  this  broad 
basis,  we  are  opposed  to  secession,  and  to  sup- 
press it,  we  are  in  favor  of  the  use  of  the  means 
guaranteed  to  us  by  a  wise  and  benignant  gov- 
ernment, arms,  amnesty,  redress  of  grievances, 
an  honorable  compromise  on  all  subjects  of  con- 
troversy ;  in  short,  by  the  use  of  all  means  that 
become  a  wise  and  Christian  nation. 

Resolved,  That  upon  this  basis  shall  we 
stand  till  the  "trump  of  peace  shall  sound." 

The  resolutions  of  Mr.  Porter  were 
rejected,  and  those  of  Mr.  Reid  adopted. 

As  we  have  before  remarked,  enlist- 
ments for  the  army  were  slow  at  this 
time,  and  in  order  to  encourage  volun- 
teers, Hon.  B.  R.  Hampton,  at  the  De- 
cember meeting  (1863)  of  the  board  of 
supervisors,  offered  the  following  reso- 
lution, which  was  rejected  by  the  board: 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


145 


Resolved,  That  in  addition  to  the  bounties 
offered  by  the  government  of  the  United  States 
for  recruits,  we  offer  a  county  bounty  of  lifty 
dollars  to  each  man  who  is  the  head  of  a  family, 
and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  single  or  unmar- 
ried man  who  shall  hereafter  enlist  in  the  mil- 
itary service  of  the  United  States. 

But  the  government  had  need  of  men, 
and  as  the  quota  of  this  county  was  not 
full,  drafting  was  resorted  to.  We  may 
here  state  that  had  McDonough  county 
received  credit  for  all  who  had  gone 
from  her  midst,  no  draft  would  ever 
have  been  ordered  here;  but  many,  in 
order  to  receive  the  large  bounty  offered 
by  other  counties,  went  there  for  the 
purpose  of  enlistment.  When  this  strain 
came,  those  who  were  formerly  opposed 
to  the  giving  of  a  bounty  by  the  county 
for  volunteers,  now  became  clamorous 
for  it  to  be  done  at  once.  On  the  14th 
day  of  December,  1864,  W.  H.  Green 
offered  the  following  preamble  and  reso- 
lution, which  was  adopted  by  the  board 
of  supervisors: 

WHEREAS,  It  has  become  necessary  for  the 
government  of  the  United  States  to  draft  men 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  for  the 
purpose  of  suppressing  the  rebellion  in  the 
southern  states;  and, 

WHEREAS,  The  government  of  the  United 
States  does  not  pay  a  sufficient  bounty  to  obtain 
volunteers  for  said  service ;  now,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the 
county  of  McDonough  request  William  H. 
Neece,  the  representative  of  this  county  in  the 
legislature  of  this  state,  to  have  such  law  or  laws 
passed  at  the  next  meeting  of  the  legislature  as 
will  empower  the  board  of  supervisors  of  this 
county  to  levy  a  tax  sufficient  to  enable  the 
county  to  offer  bounties  to  persons  enlisting  in 
the  military  service  of  the  United  States,  and  to 
enable  drafted  men  to  procure  substitutes  when 
drafted  into  said  service. 


This  was  accordingly  done,  and  Mr. 
Neece,  in  due  time,  introduced  a  bill  be- 
fore the  legislature  in  accordance  with 
the  provisions  of  the  above  request.  The 
bill  became  a  law,  receiving  the  signa- 
ture of  the  governor.  On  Monday,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1865,  the  board  of  supervisors 
were  called  together  to  take  action  on 
this  law.  A  dispatch  was  forwarded  to 
Mr.  Neece,  inquiring  into  the  provisions 
of  the  bill,  and  the  answer  being  satis- 
factory, John  McSpirit  offered  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions,  and  moved  their 
adoption,  viz: 

Resolved  by  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
McDonough  county,  that  the  sum  of  three  hun- 
dred dollars  be,  and  the  same  is,  hereby  appro- 
priated to  each  and  every  volunteer  that  may 
have  been,  or  shall  be,  enlisted  in  the  military 
service  of  the  United  States,  to  fill  the  quota  of 
McDonough  county  under  the  proclamation  of 
the  president  of  the  United  States,  made  in  De- 
cember, 1864,  for  300,000  men  to  fill  the  army : 
provided,  that  this  appropriation  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  no  person  who  shall  be  credited  to  any 
other  county,  city  or  state,  and  to  no  person  who 
shall  volunteer  or  present  a  representative  sub- 
stitute from  any  township  after  its  quota  under 
the  present  call  shall  have  been  filled.  Also, 
that  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  be,  and 
the  same  is,  hereby  appropriated  to  each  person, 
a  resident  of  this  county,  who  shall  be  drafted 
under  the  present  call,  to  furnish  a  substitute  or 
enter  the  service  himself :  provided,  further,  that 
where  townships  or  parts  of  townships  have  al- 
ready furnished  volunteers  under  the  present 
call,  by  clubs  or  townships,  and  have  paid  the 
men  so  furnished,  then  such  clubs,  townships,  or 
parts  of  townships,  shall  have  the  right  to  their 
respective  shares  of  this  appropriation,  instead 
of  the  men  so  paid  and  in  the  service,  to  be  paid 
to  such  person  or  persons  as  the  club  or  town- 
ship may  designate;  to  be  divided  pro  rata 
among  all  persons  contributing  to  such  club  or 
township  fund  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of 
their  contribution :  provided,  also,  that  no  in- 


146 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


habitant  of  the  city  of  Macomb  shall  be  entitled 
to  any  part  of  this  appropriation  unless  the  tax 
to  pay  the  same  shall  have  been  levied  upon  the 
property  of  said  city,  as  well  as  the  property  of 
said  county. 

For  the  payment  of  the  above  appropriations 
the  clerk  of  the  county  court  of  McDonough 
county  is  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  draw 
his  order  on  the  treasurer  of  this  county  for  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  dollars,  payable  in  one 
year,  and  drawing  six  per  cent,  interest  from 
date,  in  favor  of  each  and  every  persons  volun- 
teering, and  credited  to  the  several  townships 
and  wards  of  said  county,  or  their  respective 
orders ;  and  also  to  each  and  every  drafted  man 
(after  he  shall  have  been  accepted),  or  his  order, 
so  far  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  to  fill  the 
quota  of  said  county:  provided,  that  any  order 
for  said  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  may  be 
made  in  amounts  of  fifty  dollars,  if  required 
by  the  person  entitled  thereto.  The  certificate 
of  the  provost  marshal  of  this  district,  as  to  the 
names  of  the  persons  volunteering  or  having 
been  drafted,  and  as  to  the  quotas  of  the  differ- 
ent townships  or  wards  of  this  county,  shall  be 
sufficient  evidence  to  the  clerk  to  authorize  him 
to  act  under  the  present  appropriation. 

Various  substitutes  were  offered  for 
the  foregoing  resolutions.  Among  others 
G.  W.  Provine  offered  one  embodying 
the  following  objections:  First,  that  it 
would  be  unequal  and  unjust  for  those 
that  have  sons,  or  that  have  sent  sons  un- 
der twenty-one  years  of  age ;  second,  that 
it  is  the  duty  and  the  privilege  of  every 
able-bodied  man  to  respond  to  the  call 
of  his  country  in  defense  of  his  civil 
and  religious  liberties;  third,  that  the 
making  of  such  appropriations  would  in- 
volve the  county  in  such  a  debt  as  would 
result  in  bankruptcy  and  ruin. 

Previous  to  a  vote  upon  the  question 
the  privilege  was  given  to  L.  H.  Waters, 
J.  S.  Bailey  and  James  M.  Campbell  to 


present  their  views.  All  the  various 
substitutes  were  voted  down,  and  the 
original  resolutions  of  Mr.  McSpirit 
were  adopted.  Mr.  Hamilton  afterwards 
(at  March  term,  same  year)  endeavored 
to  have  passed  a  resolution  exempting 
from  taxation  under  the  levy  to  raise 
money  for  the  payment  of  the  bounties 
certain  classes,  as  follows:  First,  those 
who  have  been  themselves  in  the  service 
during  the  present  war;  second,  those 
who  may  be  widows  or  orphans  of  sol- 
diers who  have  served  in  the  present 
war;  third,  those  have  hired  substitutes 
in  the  present  war  previous  to  the  pres- 
ent call;  those  from  whose  families  mi- 
nors have  gone  out  as  soldiers  during 
the  present  war. 

This  resolution  was  voted  down. 

It  has  been  shown  by  official  reports 
made  by  the  county  clerk  to  the  state 
adjutant-general,  that  there  were  paid 
out  by  this  county  as  bounty  money  the 
sum  of  $134,400.  In  addition  to  this, 
Mound  township  expended  $5,860;  Prai- 
rie City,  $18,049.39;  New  Salem,  $6,266.- 
50;  a  total  for  the  county  of  $161,575.85. 

EOSTEE. 

The  following  is  a  complete  roster  of 
the  citizens  of  McDonough  county,  who 
in  that  trying  hour  of  a  nation's  need, 
left  wife,  children  and  comfortable 
homes,  and  shouldering  the  musket, went 
to  the  front  in  discharge  of  the  patriot's 
duty.  These  are  compiled  from  the 
adjutant  general's  report,  and  other  offi- 
cial and  authentic  sources.  If  there  are 
any  inaccuracies  of  spelling,  or  omis- 
sions, the  historians  hope  that  they  will 
be  pardoned,  as  the  rolls  have  been  fol- 
lowed as  nearly  as  possible,  and  none 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


147 


has  a  higher  appreciation  of  the  "boys 
in  blue,"  than  than  the  writers  of  these 
annals: 

SECOND  ARTILLERY. 

BATTERY    II. 

Sergeant : 


Jonas  Eckdall. 


Clark,  Peter,  ST., 
Clark,  Peter,  Jr., 
Rutisharaer,  Jacob, 
Smith,  James, 
Waldrick,  Patrick, 
Corporal  Newton, 


Privates : 

Jellison,  John, 
McCarty,  John, 
Megan,  Martin, 
Stewart,  Charles, 
Whitten,  James, 
Walter,  Isadore. 


BATTERY  K. 

Harris,  Columbus,  Fis*hbourne,  Thomas. 

BATTERY  H — SECOND  ARTILLEEY. 

Battery  H,  2d  Illinois  light  artillery, 
was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois, 
December,  1861,  by  Captain  Andrew 
Stenbeck,  and  was  mustered  in  Decem- 
ber 31,  1861,  and  February  6,  1862, 
moved  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  was  sta- 
tioned at  Fort  Holt.  One  section  moved 
to  the  siege  of  Fort  Pillow,  and  returned 
to  Columbus,  Kentucky.,  and  from  there 
to  Henderson  and  went  into  pursuit  of 
Morgan,  August  1.  One  section  moved 
to  Smithfield,  Kentucky,  and  September 
4,  one  moved  to  Clarksville,  Tennessee, 
January  1,  1864,  sixty-five  men  re-en- 
listed as  veterans,  and  were  f  urloughed. 
During  the  summer  of  1864,  the  men  of 
the  battery  were  mounted  and  armed,  as 
cavalry,  and  used  in  scouting,  etc.  Au- 
gust 8,  engaged  the  enemy  at  Canton  and 
Bockcastle  Ford,  Kentucky,  and  subse- 
quently were  in  garrison  at  Clarksville, 
until  July  15,  1865,  when  the  battery, 
was  moved  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  for 


muster  out,  and  accordingly  July  29  was 
mustered  out  of  service.  Fourteen  men 
of  this  battery  were  from  McDonough 
county,  none  of  whom  were  killed,  and 
but  one  died. 

SECOND  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  H. 

Captains : 
James  D.  Walker,  Josephus  B.  Venard. 

Lieutenant : 

George  W.  Nay  lor. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant : 

Charles  H.  Rogers. 

Sergeant : 

Wm.  Venable. 

Corporals : 

Gabriel  Jones,  Thomas  Hays, 

Oliver  Williams,  John  Shipman, 

,        John  Venard. 

Buglers : 
William  H.  Hudson,       Frank  R.  Kyle. 

Saddler : 
James  Ellis. 


Privates : 


Austin,  James, 
Brown,  William, 
Halliday,  Thomas  L., 
Davis,  George, 
Hanson,  Nels, 
Ingram,  Riley, 
Johnston,  Henry, 
Kinkade,  Mack, 
Freeland,  Charles, 
Huff,  James  E., 
Jewett,  A.  V., 
Keithley,  Andrew, 
Beck,  James  E., 
Bently,  George  R., 
Tift,  Semer  B., 


Bartleson,  Charles, 
Chase,  James  P., 
Calvin,  Henry  C., 
Hamilton,  Thomas, 
Hogan,  Augustus, 
Jacobs,  Mark  F., 
Kohule,  John, 
Limberge,  Henry, 
Edward,  Edmonds, 
Jackson,  Edwin, 
Kinkade,  John  H., 
Yaple,  Oscar, 
Beck,  Jesse, 
Butcher,  Bowman  R., 
Tift,  Silas  J., 


148 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Venard,  George  G., 
Wright,  Hiram  B., 
Chapman,  Amos, 
Lightfood,  Armsted, 
Morgan,  James  G., 
Munson,  William  F., 
McClure,  James, 
Markham,  Daniel, 
Norwood,  Douglas, 
Payton,  John, 
Rickets,  Green, 
Shannon,  John, 
Walker,  Samuel  P., 
Warren,  Edward  F., 
Curtis,  Edward  E., 
Cockerhain,  Daniel, 
Dunham,  George, 
Butcher,  Preston, 
Cockerhain,  William, 
Lee,  George  W., 
Michaels,  William  F., 
Pace,  Andrew  J., 
Rouse,  Levi  H., 
Markham,  Archey, 

Schultz 


Wagle,  William  A., 
Webb,  Silas  H., 
Dickens,  Joshua, 
Scott,  Thomas, 
McMahon,  Thad.  C., 
Metts,  John  H., 
Martin,  Charles  E., 
Markham,  Henry  L., 
Oertel,  Jacob, 
Rickets,  Rival, 
Seiberling,  Henry  M., 
Tyson,  Charles  F., 
Welkin,  Ohio, 
Wright,  Thomas, 
Clugston,  Warren, 
Dark,  Samuel  A., 
Butcher,  John  M., 
Ballou,  Charles, 
Knowles,  Robertson  B. 
Markham,  Aaron, 
Morgan,  Isaac  L., 
Rickets,  Pleasant  G., 
Sullivan,  John, 
Markham,  Daniel, 
, John  H. 


SECOND  CAVALEY  REGIMENT. 

It  is  very  difficult  to  write  the  history 
of  a  regiment  of  cavalry,  owing  to  the 
usual  detached  state  of  each  company 
from  the  regimental  headquarters.  The 
following  official  history  of  company 
H,  of  this  regiment,  which  was  raised 
in  this  county,  will  give  some  idea  of  its 
services  in  the  field. 

The  company  was  organized  at  Ma- 
comb  by  J.  D.  Walker,  and  accepted  by 
the  governor,  July  24,  1861,  and  went 
into  quarters  at  Cainp  Butler,  Spring- 
field, August  5,  and  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  August  12,  1861. 
It  remained  in  the  state  until  November 
12,  1861,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Padu- 
cah,  Kentucky,  where  it  was  partly 
armed  and  equipped.  From  here  the 


company  made  several  important  recon- 
noisances  into  the  interior  of  Kentucky. 
They  were  ordered  to  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky, March  11,  1862,  being  the  first 
union  soldiers  to  enter  that  rebel  strong- 
hold; here  they  remained  until  March 
23,  1862,  when  they  were  ordered  to 
Hickman,  Kentucky.  March  31,  they 
were  part  of  the  force  that  attacked  and 
captured  Union  City,  then  a  rebel  camp 
of  instruction.  Returned  to  Hickman, 
and  remained  until  July  9,  1862,  when 
they  were  ordered  to  Union  City,  thence 
to  Crocket  Station,  and  from  there  to 
Trenton,  Tennessee,  arriving  June  18. 
Their  duty  while  here  was  arduous,  hav- 
ing considerable  scouting  to  do,  the 
country  being  alive  with  guerrillas.  On 
July  27  they  scouted  toward  Browns- 
ville, and  for  17  days  were  continually 
skirmishing  with  the  guerrillas.  Re- 
turned to  their  camp  at  Trenton,  and 
was  ordered  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  Aug- 
ust 25,  and  the  29th  to  Bolivar,  Tennes- 
see, where  they  arrived  on  the  30th,  and 
were  immediately  ordered  into  action,  in 
which  the  noblest  officer  of  the  regi- 
ment, Lieutenant-Colonel  Hogg  was 
killed.  The  casualties  of  the  regiment 
were  heavy,  but  in  company  H  were 
light.  While  in  camp  at  Bolivar  they 
scouted  in  Haywood  county,  destroying 
Captain  Haywood's  guerrilla  band  by 
capturing  his  camp,  equipage,  and  forty 
men.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  La- 
grange,  Tennessee,  November  5,  1862, 
from  which  they  made  several  reconnois- 
ances,  one  in  the  direction  of  Lamar, 
where  they  brought  on  an  engagement 
with  the  rebels,  driving  them  away  and 
taking  possession  of  the  field  with  eighty 
prisoner,  company  H  meeting  with  slight 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


149 


losses.  On  the  28tli  of  November  they 
took  the  advance  of  the  army,  moving 
through  Holly  Springs  to  Abbeyville, 
returned  to  Holly  Springs  December  2, 
aud  went  into  camp.  The  rebel  general, 
Van  Dorn,  made  a  raid  upon  Holly 
Springs  December  20,  1862.  After  two 
hours  hard  fighting  the  rebels,  with 
overwhelming  numbers,  drove  this  regi- 
ment from  their  place,  it  losing  160 
killed,  wounded  and  missing.  January 
1,  1863,  ordered  to  Memphis,  where  they 
had  an  opportunity  to  recuperate  some. 
On  the  22d  of  February  moved  to  Young's 
Point,  arriving  the  23d,  and  March  14 
ordered  to  Milliken's  Bend,  where  they 
remained  until  the  movement  on  Vicks- 
burg  commenced,  this  regiment  taking 
the  advance.  March  31,  moved  on  Rich- 
mond, Louisiana,  where  they  engaged 
the  rebels  across  the  bayou,  which, 
after  about  one  hour's  fighting,  they 
captured.  Left  Richmond  April  5, 
moving  down  Round  Away  bayou,  skir- 
mishing with  the  rebel  colonel,  Hanson's, 
command.  April  14,  camped  at  Smith's 
plantation;  moved  from  here  crossing 
Videl  and  Mill  bayous  in  flat  boats,  and 
encamped  at  St.  Joseph,  Louisiana,  the 
28th.  Crossed  the  Mississippi  at  Bruins- 
burg  May  1,  and  arrived  at  Big  Sandy  the 
5th.  The  duties  of  this  regiment  were 
heavy,  having  to  picket  the  front  of 
Osterhaus,  and  Hovey's  divisions,  and 
watching  the  flanks  at  the  battle  of 
Champion  Hills.  May  16,  1863,  they 
arrived  at  Big  Black  river,  and  the 
next  day  made  the  first  reconnoissance 
in  the  rear  of  Yicksburg.  They  were 
engaged  in  scouting  in  the  Yazoo  val- 
ley until  June  9,  1863,  when  they 
were  ordered  to  Big  Black  Bridge, 


on  the  Vicksburg  and  Jackson  road 
remaining  until  July  5,  when  they 
advanced  on  Jackson.  They  skirmished 
heavily  with  the  rebels  four  days,  and 
arrived  at  Jackson  on  the  ninth,  and 
on  the  sixteenth  were  ordered  to  scout 
to  Brookhaven,  seventy-five  miles  below 
Jackson.  Returned  July  20,  and  were 
ordered  to  Vicksburg,  where  they  ar- 
rived July  28,  1863.  August  5,  were 
ordered  down  the  Mississippi  river  to 
Natchez,  remaining  until  the  fifteenth, 
when  they  were  ordered  to  Carrollton, 
Louisiana,  and  September  5  to  Mor- 
ganza,  Louisiana,  where  they  skirmished 
with  the  rebels  fifteen  days,  and  on  the 
29th  the  rebels  brought  on  a  general 
engagement,  compelling  them  to  retreat. 
October  9,  1863,  they  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Lee  at  New  Orleans,  and  on  the 
15th  left  for  Brashear  City,  arriving  on 
the  17th,  and  at  Franklin,  the  18th,  New 
Iberia  the  19th,  at  Vermilionville,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1863.  On  the  twenty-first  they 
advanced  on  the  Bayou  Teche  road,  and 
brought  on  an  engagement  with  the 
enemy,  meeting  slight  losses.  Novem- 
ber 1,  returned  to  Vermilionville,  and 
on  the  llth  engaged  the  rebels  at  Car- 
rion Crow  Bayou  Crossing,  one  killed 
and  three  wounded.  January  5,  1864, 
ordered  to  New  Orleans  to  recuperate, 
they  arriving  on  the  15th.  The  com- 
pany was  mustered  out  November  22, 
1865.  There  were  in  this  company, 
from  McDonough  county,  91  men,  four 
of  whom  were  killed,  four  died,  and  four 
wounded. 

SEVENTH  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY   K. 

Adams,  Matthew,  Gustasson,  Alexander, 

Janiieson,  Lewis  M.,        Nelson,  Enoch, 
Smith,  Lewis  M. 


150 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


COMPANY    L. 

Captains: 

George  M.  Scott,  Squire  A.  Epperson, 

Daniel  M.  Wilt. 

First  Lieutenant: 

James  Price,  Warren  W.  Porter. 

Second  Lieutenants : 

Squire  A.  Epperson,        Daniel  M.  Wilt, 
Elijah  F.  Martin.  Lewis  Picket, 

Quartermaster  Sergeant : 
Alexander  W.  Scott. 


Israel  Markham, 


Sergeants : 

James  W.  Lancy, 


John  R.  Sperling,  Eliab  Martin. 

Corporals : 
Lester  Husted, 


John  T.  Lancy, 


Alexander  Lockard, 
Henry  B.  Parvin, 


George  Stansbury. 
Privates : 


Dewey,  George  I., 
Hammer,  John, 
Hopwood,  Josephus, 
Lair,  Daniel, 
Meyers,  Christian, 
Price,  James, 
Wilt,  Daniel  M., 
Wilson,  James, 
Atkinson,  Charles, 
Allison,  Samuel, 
Burnett,  Daniel  D., 
Campbell,  John  A., 
Husted,  Marion, 
Elliott,  Jasper  S., 
Johnson,  Nathaniel  L., 
Matthewson,  Josiah  C., 
McDermott,  Patrick, 
Markham,  Hiram, 
McGinnis,  John, 
McClure,  Winslow, 
Pyle,  Benjamin  F., 
Scott,  Seymour  R., 
Wissler,  Jonas, 
Wooley,  Lewis  B., 


Francis,  Henry  H., 
Harris,  Alexander, 
Lambert,  David, 
Long,  Henry, 
Myers,  Frederick, 
Schall,  Samuel  S., 
Wilson,  James  M., 
Adcock,  Joseph, 
Adcock,  George  L., 
Brown,  William  B., 
Boughner,  Christian, 
Epperson,  John  L., 
Eveland  Charles  B., 
Henry,  Lorenzo  D., 
Jones,  Thomas  G., 
Mitchell,  Levi, 
Markham,  Frank, 
Markham,  Harrison, 
Myers,  James  J., 
Park,  William  B., 
Schall,  John  L., 
Thompson,  Henry, 
Willis,  William  H., 
White,  William  J. 


SEVENTH   ILLINOIS   CAVALRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  during 
during  the  summer  of  1861,  with  Wil- 
liam Pitt  Kellogg  as  colonel;  Edward 
Prince,  lieutenant-colonel;  Cyrus  Hall, 
major;  Sidney  Stockdale,  adjutant.  Com- 
pany L  of  the  regiment  was  organized 
at  Bushnell,  by  Captain  George  M. 
Scott,  in  August,  1861,  and  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service  Septem- 
ber 3,  1861.  The  regiment  remained  at 
Camp  Butler  until  December,  1861, 
when  it  was  moved  to  Cairo,  thence  to 
Bird's  Point,  Missouri.  It  remained 
here  until  March  5,  1862.  Engaged  in 
the  capture  of  New  Madrid  and  Island 
No.  10;  also  in  capture  of  Corinth  and 
pursuit  of  the  rebels.  Guarded  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad  in 
Alabama,  until  September  9, 1862.  After 
this  the  above  company  participated  in 
the  following  engagement:  luka,  Mis- 
sissippi, September,  1862;  Burnesville, 
Mississippi,  September  19,  1862;  Cor_ 
inth,  October  3  and  4;  Hudson  Lane, 
November,  1862;  Oxford,  iDecember  1, 
1862;  Yancona  creek,  December  3;  Wa- 
ter Valley,  December  4;  Coffee ville,  De- 
cember 5;  Covington,  Tennessee,  March 
8,  1863;  Union  Church,  Mississippi, 
April,  1863;  Plain  Store,  Louisiana, 
May  25;  Clinton,  Louisiana,  July  3; 
Quin's  Mills,  Mississippi,  August  1 ;  Sa- 
lem, Mississippi,  September  9;  Collier- 
ville,  Tennessee,  September  11;  Byhalia? 
Mississippi,  September  12;  Wyattsford, 
Mississippi,  September  13;  Collierville, 
Tennessee,  October  10,  1863;  Moscow, 
October  12,  1863;  Espanola,  Tennessee, 
December  24;  Summerville,  Tennessee, 
December  26;  West  Point,  Mississippi, 
February  20,1864;  Okalon  a,  Mississippi, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


151 


February  23 ;  Pontiac,  Mississippi,  Feb- 
ruary 24;  Guntown,  Mississippi,.  June 
10;  Memphis,  Tennessee,  July  21;  Shoal 
creek,  Tennessee,  November;  Lawrence- 
burg,  Tennessee,  November  21;  Camp- 
bellville,  Tennessee,  November  24; 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  10; 
Nashville,  December  15  and  16;  Harpe 
creek,  Tennessee,  December  17;  Ruth- 
erford creek,  Tennessee,  December  19; 
Anthony  Hill,  Tennessee,  December  25, 
Besides  a  number  o£  long,  wearisome 
marches,  the  company  participated  in 
several  important  raids,  among  which 
was  Grierson's  famous  raid,  made  in 
April,  1863,  from  LaGrange,  Tennessee, 
to  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana,  traveling  in 
sixteen  days  a  distance  of  eight  hundred 
miles.  After  which  the  company  par- 
ticipated in  the  siege  and  capture  of 
Port  Hudson,  Louisiana,  in  June  and 
July  of  1863.  A  portion  of  the  com- 
pany re-enlisted  as  veterans,  February 
9,  1864,  under  Captain  Daniel  Wilt, 
Lieutenants  James  Price  and  Lewis 
Pickel. 

There  were  185  officers  and  privates 
enlisted  in  this  company — many  being 
recruits — 59  of  this  number  were  from 
this  county.  The  company,  although 
very  active  all  during  the  war,  did  not 
suffer  as  many  did,  there  being  but  five 
killed;  sixteen  died.  The  company  was 
mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
November  4,  1865.  Mr.  Clarke  tells  the 
following  anecdote: 

"J.  L.  Epperson,  a  member  of  this 
regiment,  was  not  addicted  to  the  use  of 
profane  language,  and  condemned  it  in 
others,  but  on  one  occasion  the  boys 
claimed  that  they  had  a  famous 
joke  on  him.  While  in  camp  at  a  cer- 


tain place  he  went  down  to  a  stream 
to  get  a  drink  of  fresh  water,  and  as 
he  raised  up  from  quenching  his  thirst, 
he  was  fired  upon  by  a  couple  of  bush- 
whackers, one  of  whom  had  a  shot-gun 
and  the  other  a  musket.  Although  they 
were  only  about  forty  steps  away,  they 
failed  to  touch  him,  when  he  quickly 
drew  his  revolver,  firing  three  shots  at 
them  as  they  retreated,  and  in  all 
earnestness  exclaiming:  'You  playgonit 
cowards,  you!'  His  comrades  laughed 
at  him  for  his  conduct,  telling  him  he 
had  disgraced  the  noble  7th,  in  fact, 
the  entire  army,  by  his  terrible  swear- 
ing; that  the  rebels  would  think  them 
an  awful  wicked  set  of  fellows,  to  hear 
such  oaths  coming  from  a  Union  sol- 
dier," 

EIGHTH  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY   G. 

Danley,  William  L.,  Delaney,  Dennis, 

Edmonston,  James  C.,  Luton,  Samuel, 

Luther,  James.  Lear,  John  W. 

O'Brian,  James,  Woolary,  George. 


ELEVENTH  CAVALRY. 

COMPANY  I. 

Captains : 
Harvey  T.  Gregg,  William  R.  Hays. 

First  Lieutenant: 
Joseph  Edell. 

Second  Lieutenants : 
John  H.  Hays,  Henry  C.  Fuller. 

Sergeants : 
John  H.  Hays,  Martin  V.  Owen. 

Corporals : 

Theophilus  Spicllman,  Robert  S.  Brooking, 
Adam  S.  Zimmerman.    ' 


152                         HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

Privates  : 

COMPANY  M. 

Butterfield,  C.  W.,           Camp,  Edward  S  , 

Captain  : 

Calkins,  George  W.,        Cox,  R.  S., 

John  A.  Gray. 

Davidson,  Henry  C.,        Duncan,  Elijah, 

Eclell,  Joseph,                  Friend,  Thomas  J., 

Freeland,  Fleming  F.,    Gates,  George  C., 
Graves,  William  C.,        Gove,  Charles, 

TWELFTH  CAVALRY. 

Hays,  Levi  S.,                   Holler,  Joseph, 

COMPANY  D. 

Hume,  Robert  W.,          Keithley,  Francis  M., 

Kirkpatrick,  Win.  B.,      Lowe,  Austin, 

Sergeant  : 

McKiuney,  Ephraim,      Metcalf,  William,  E., 

Danford  Taylor, 

Mayhugh,  McCullum,    McQueen,  Arlow, 

Privates  : 

Pennington,  Thomas,      Pennington,  Allen, 
Schenck,  Phillip,            Spirva,  F.  M., 
Webster,  Francis  B.,       Weston,  Benjamin  F., 
Bushnell,  Homer,           Bughman,  James  K.  P. 
Bailey,  William  S.,         Butler,  Ozias, 

Arter,  William,               Blazer,  David, 
Doran,  William,              Loftis,  Benjamin, 
Whitsel,  Henry,               Bryle,  Charles  R., 
Murphy,  C.  R.,                 Miller,  Frank. 

Butler,  Harry  R.,             Courson,  Andrew, 

COMPANY  L. 

Cunningham,  Wm.,         Coe,  Edward  D., 

Davis,  Reuben  A.,            Durham,  Wm.  A., 

Alden,  John  H.,              Foster,  James, 

Duncan,  Elias,                 Eclell,  Louis, 

Fonts,  John  C.,                Giles,  Daniel  F., 

Foster,  Wm.  H.,              Farris,  Wm.  C., 

Hinesman,  John  C.,        Hughson,  Jacob  D., 

Grove,  Benjamin  F.,        Grigsby,  Redmond, 

Lipsey,  James  B.,            Martin,  Norton  D., 

Hays,  George  W.,            Hainline,  Nathan  G., 

Morgan,  George  W.,        Montrose,  Charles, 

Jackson,  Henry  D.,         Jackson,  John, 

Nichols,  George  W.,       Robb,  Francis  C., 

Luthey,  Francis  A.,        Lillard,  Augustus, 

Sapp,  Calvin  A.,               Shultz,  Josiah  M., 

Mitchell,  Marcellus,       Moore,  William  W., 

Tanner,  William,             Tainter,  David  N., 

Milliugton,  German,       McQueen,  Norman, 

Thompson,  John  S.,        Wentzel,  Abram. 

Pennington,  F.  M.,          Pennington,  S.  M., 

COMPANY   M. 

Pennington,  Wm.  R.,      Pennington,  John  L., 
Snyder,  Henry,                Titus,  John  M., 
Wyman,  J.  Alex.,            Willard,  Reiley, 

Brassfield,  James,           David,  John  F., 
Mitchell,  Theodore,        Toland,  James  B. 

Williams,  Reuben,          York,  Francis. 

COMPANY  G. 

SIXTEENTH  CAVALRY. 

Pixley,  Enoch. 

COMPANY  L.    . 

COMPANY   K. 

Commissary  Sergeant: 

Botkins,  Ira  B.,                Harvermail,  Mont.  H., 

James  C.  Canfield. 

Hefley,  William,             Johnson,  Edwin  W., 

Corporal  : 

Johnson,  Sylvanus  B.,    Little,  Henry  C., 

Morse,  William  H.,         Ratikin,  Silas  E., 

Joseph  Markham. 

Shultz,  David  A.,             Sweegle,  Robert, 

Privates  : 

Sweegle,  John,                 Vandall,  Charles  W. 

Able,  Thomas,                  Beard,  James, 

COMPANY  L 

Fultz,  Frederick,             Beardsley,  Bartemus, 

Bellew,  Henry  H.,           Cochran,  Mahlon  B., 

Gleason,  William  H.,      Martin,  George. 

-    Howard,  Joseph  T. 

HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


155 


TWELFTH  INFANTRY. 


COMPANY   A. 


Cochran,  Alexander,        Godfrey,  Samuel, 
Jones,  George  -W.,  Stark,  William, 

Naylor,  William  B. 


SIXTEENTH   INFANTRY. 

KOSTEB  OF  OFFICERS. 

Lieutenant  Colonels: 
Samuel  Wilson,  James  A.  Chapman. 

Quartermaster : 
Thomas  J.  Coulter. 

Hospital  Steward : 
Patrick  H.  Delaney. 

Musician : 
Enoch  Welker. 

COMPANY    A. 

Captains : 

Virgil  Y.  Ralston,  Benjamin  F.  Pinkley, 

Eben  White.  Ambrose  Updegraff. 

First  Lieutenants : 

Benjamin  F.  Pinkley,     Henry  W.  Gash, 
John  V.  Mason. 

Second   Lieutenant : 
Hiram  H.  Bartholomew. 

First  Sergeant: 
Henry  W.  Gash. 

Sergeants : 

Clark  C.  Morse,  John  E.  Lane, 

Charles  L.  Sanders. 

Corporals : 

Joseph  M.  Gaston,  Marsh  B.  Burr, 

William  H.  Bonham,      John  V.  Mason, 
John  C.  Bell,  William  Morrison, 

James  L.  Hainline.          William  F.  Bayne. 

Musicians: 
Enocli  Welker.  Samuel  P.  Danley. 


Privates : 

Adams,  Edward  A.  Allison,  Joshua. 

Brandon,  Calvin  K.  Bell,  James  F. 

Brooks,  Harrison.  Chapman,  Thomas  B. 

Clarke,  Benjamin  F.  Doran,  William  M. 

Delaney,  Patrick  H.  Ervin,  James. 
Fishbourne,Thomas  M.,  Forrest,  James  M., 

Franklin,  William  J.,  Gordon,  Harrison, 

Graham,  John  M.,  Grooms,  Nathaniel  C., 

Gash,  George  B.,  Hainline,  Baxter., 

Hainline,  George  L.,  Hainline,  William  H., 

Hampton,  Van  C.,  Hampton,  Harrison   H., 

Hart,  Henry,  Hayden,  John, 

Head,  William  H.,  Hendrickson,  James  F., 

Henderson,  Edward  F.,  Hicks,  William, 

Hook,  Charles,  Hurley,  Edward, 

Kelly,  Edwin  D.,  Kendrick,  Nathaniel  H., 

King,  William  F.,  Lea,  Archibald  T., 

Logan,  William,  Loucks,  Wellington, 

Lane,  Cyrus,  Mattison,  D.  W., 

Morrison,  Robert,  Montague,  Charles, 

McCartney,  John  M.,  Merrick,  Charles  W., 

McCurdy,  Martin,  Overstreet,  William  .H., 

Price,  Miles,  Prentice,  William  H., 

Rutherford,  Robert  A.,  Sackett,  Charles, 

Shannon,  Aaron,  Slocum,  George, 

Speake,  Richard  H.,  Spear,  James  T., 

Spencer,  Benjamin  F.,  Sperry,  Orren, 

Stainbrook,  James  H.,  Strenge,  George, 

Simmons,  Fletcher  C.,  Shrader,  John  B., 

Taylor,  Thomas  B.,  Taylor,  Albert, 

Thomas,  Lloyd,  Jr.,  Thomas,  Abel, 

Thompson,  Ellis,  Updegraff,  Ambrose, 

Walters,  Charles,  Wheeler,  George, 

Wood,  Wesley  W.,  William,  Benjamin  F., 

White,  Eben,  Crowl,  John  H., 

Campbell,  John  T.,  Clark,  Richard  J., 

Ellis,  Alvin  C.,  Fox,  Hugh, 

Hastings,  George  F.,  Hamilton,  George  A., 

Hainline,  Nathan  T.,  Kelly,  William, 

Kendrick,  James  W.,  Keho,  Miles, 

McDonough,  John  W.,  Phillips,  Charles  A., 

Ragon,  William  M..  Smith,  Charles  W. 

Lane,  William,  Thomas,  Winfleld  S. 

COMPANY   B. 

Captain : 
David  P.  Wells. 


156                         HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

First  Lieutenants: 

First  Lieutenants  : 

Wrn.  L.  Broaddus,           George  W.  Ray, 

Edwin  Moore,                  James  Donaldson, 

Pelatiah  Wilson. 

Second  Lieutenants: 

Abrara  Rowe,                   E.  K.  Westfall, 

Second  Lieutenant: 

James  A.  Chapman,        George  W.  McAllister, 

Edwin  Moore. 

Benjamin  Lowe,              Gilbert  W.  Parvin, 

First  Sergeant  : 

First  Sergeant  : 

Ebenezer  Rhodes, 

Elnathan  K.  Westfall. 

Sergeants  : 

Sergeant  : 

Sylvester  C.  Gilbert,        James  Donaldson, 

Henry  Bailey,                 Wm.  S.  Hendricks, 

Andrew  J.  Duncan,         Pelatiah  Wilson, 

William  H.  Campbell. 

Corporals  : 

Corporals  : 

James  M.  Johnson,         John  P.  Humbert, 

Henry  W.  McAllister,    James  A.  Chapman, 

Edward  Wilson,              Richard  Betston, 

Alexander  D.  Hail,         William  H.  Walker, 

Don.  C.  Salisbury,           Richard  Hobert, 

James  M.  Eyre,               William  Powers. 

William  Wilson. 

Wagoner  : 

Fifer: 

Samuel  Manholland. 

William  S.  Johnson. 

Privates  : 

Wagoner  : 

Allerd,  Jeremiah,           Bates,  Edward,   • 

Isaac  Allshire. 

Buchanan,  Robert  A.,      Brink,  Thomas, 

• 

Privates  : 

Dillon,  James  I.,             Farrier,  Charles  I., 

Gill,  John,                       Hogue,  George  P., 
Hammer,  William  B.,    Jellison,  James, 
Jones,  Perry  C.,         •      Kipling,  Thomas, 
Keener,  Henry  H.,          Lowe,  Benjamin, 
Layton,  Henry  C.,            Miller,  William  N., 
McGraw,  Thomas  F.,      McCampbell,  James  I., 
Pile,  William  S.,            Parr,  James, 
Parvin,  Gilbert  T.,          Rugh,  Joseph, 
Ritchey,  Simon,              Ray,  George  W., 
Slater,  Isaac  O.,               Smith,  John  W., 
Starr,  Osc^r  P.,               Smithers,  Joseph, 
Strickler,  Robert  P.,        Thompson,  Julius  G., 
Truitt,  Lafayette,            Tordy,  James  A., 
Walker,  Wm.  P.,             Wolf,  John  W., 

Barnett,  James,                Barnett,  Edward, 
Dalton,  James.                  Fritz,  Charles  S., 
Hendricks,  Benjamin,    Johnson,  Alexander  M., 
Lane,  Wilson,                   Leary,  Patrick  J., 
McGrew,  George  W.,      Newland,  Frederick, 
Smithwait,  John,              Thorp,  James, 
Taylor,  John,                   Taylor,  Richard, 
Tones,  Walker,                Tuttle,  Charles  G., 
Turner,  Henry,                Watts,  Hiram, 
Young,  Robert,                Barrett,  Samuel  D., 
Brundage,  Daniel,           Bagbie,  Thomas, 
Hobart,  Lewis,                 Lane,  William  B,, 
Nutall,  William,              Scott,  John, 
Slater,  Thomas,        / 

Wovely,  John,                 Wetherhold,  George, 

COMPANY  D. 

Yocum,  Sylvester,           Campbell,  Alex.  B., 
Dillon,  Andrew  J.,          Green,  Wm.  C., 

Carter,  Smith  W.,           Webster,  Eleazar. 

Myrick,  Myron  N.,          Nebergall,  A.  J.  C.  S., 

COMPANY  G. 

Jones,  I.  N.,                     Toland,  Isaac. 

Cannon,  William,            Currier,  Elon, 

/I^IXfTJ  »  W      /"< 

Lester,  Cyrus,                  Wyatt,  Samuel, 

C/UJVl.rA£i  I      C. 

Burson,  Jesse  A.,             Newell,  Jacob, 

Captains  : 

Pontious,  David,             Steel,  William, 

Abram  Rowe,                   George  W.  Patrick, 

Swartz,  Benjamin. 

HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


157 


COMPANY   I. 

Freeland,  Snyder,  Runkle,  Joseph. 

COMPANY   K. 

Corey,  Silas  G.,  Cooper,  John  M., 

Johnson,  Thomas  J.,        Rigney,  John  H., 
Tipton,  James,  Conley,  John, 

VanSlake,  Daniel,  Maxwell,  John  C., 

Veal,  John  S. 

THE  SIXTEENTH   ILLINOIS   INFANTRY, 

This  celebrated  regiment  was  organ- 
ized at  Quincy,  Adams  county,  Illinois, 
under  what  is  called  the  "ten  regiment 
act,"  on  the  24th  of  May,  1861,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  at  that  place,  by  Captain  T.  G- 
Pitcher,  of  the  regular  service,  on  the 
12th  of  June  of  the  same  year.  The 
first  officers  were:  Colonel  R.  F.  Smith; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Samuel  Wilson,  of 
Colchester;  Major  Samuel  M.  Hays; 
Adjutant  Charles  D.  Kerr;  Quartermas- 
ter Thomas  J.  Coulter,  of  Macomb;  and 
Louis  Watson,  surgeon.  Immediately 
after  its  muster,  it  moved  to  Grand 
River,  Missouri,  and  was  employed  as  a 
guard  along  the  line  of  the  Hannibal 
and  St.  Joseph  railroad.  One  detach- 
ment, under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Smith,  at  Monroe  Station,  on  the  10th 
of  July,  sustained  an  attack  of  some 
1,600  mounted  confederates,  and  held 
the  position  until  the  arrival  of  rein- 
forcements, when  the  assailants  de- 
camped. On  the  16th  of  the  same 
month,  in  a  skirmish  at  Caldwell's  Sta- 
tion, the  regiment  lost  two  men  killed 
and  two  wounded.  On  the  20th  of  Aug- 
ust, the  regiment,  once  more  united, 
marched  together  with  other"  troops 
under  General  Stephen  Hurlburt,  to 
Honeyville,  Missouri,  in  pursuit  of  the 


column  under  General  Green,  and  arrived 
at  that  town  on  the  1st  of  September. 
Here  they  remained  until  the  10th  of 
the  same  month,  when  they  were  ordered 
to  St.  Joseph,  but  on  arrival  at  that 
place  marched  to  Platte  City,  where,  to- 
gether with  the  3d  Iowa  infantry,  they 
had  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy,  and  on 
the  13th  returned  to  St.  Joseph.  While 
here,  Captain  Geo.  W.  Patrick  left  com- 
pany C,  and  returned,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Abram  Howe,  of  Macomb.  The  reg- 
iment went  into  camp,  and  drilled  until 
January  27,  1862,  when  they  moved  to 
Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  in  obedience  to 
orders,  and  on  the  3d  of  March  to  New 
Madrid,  and  assigned  a  place  in  the  2d 
brigade,.  1st  division  of  the  army  of  the 
Mississippi.  On  the  evening  of  the 
12th  of  March,  the  16th  and  10th  Illi- 
nois were  detailed  to  erect  some  fortifi- 
cations, and  moving  forward  they  threw 
up  a  line  of  earthworks  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  enemy's  works,  and  in  which 
were  mounted  four  pieces  of  heavy  ord- 
nance. In  the  conflict  the  next  day,  the 
16th  was  mainly  engaged  in  supporting 
the  batteries  of  siege  guns. 

On  the  7th  of  April  the  brigade  formed 
of  the  10th  and  16th  Illinois  infantry 
regiments,  were  taken  across  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  and  followed  the  rebel 
forces  retreating  from  New  Madrid  to 
Tiptonville,  Tennessee,  where  they  cap- 
tured five  thousand  prisoners,  and  large 
quantities  of  artillery,  small  arms  and 
ammunition,  and  on  the  9th  of  the  same' 
month,  returned  to  New  Madrid,  flushed 
with  victory.  On  the  17th  of  April,  they 
were  embarked  at  Osceola,  Arkansas  and 
taken  to  Hamburg,  Tennessee,  from 
whence  they  marched  to  Corinth,  where 


158 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


they  participated  in  the  siege  of  that 
place.  After  the  evacuation,  they  pur- 
sued the  retreating  enemy  as  far  as 
Booneville,  but  on  the  12th  of  June  re- 
turned and  camped  at  Big.  Springs. 
Eight  days  later  they  moved  to  the  Tus- 
cumbia,  Alabama,  and  on  the  29th, 
crossed  the  Tennessee  at  Florence,  and 
marched  to  Nashville.  Here  they  ar- 
rived after  17  days'  continual  marching 
and  guerilla  fighting,  losing  one  man 
killed  and  five  wounded. 

They  were  now  placed  in  garrison  at 
Edgefield,  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge, 
so  necessary  to  keep  open  communica- 
tion for  supplies,  and  on  the  5th  of  Nov- 
ember they  were  attacked  by  General 
Morgan,  but  they  gallantly  withstood 
the  assault  and  repulsed  the  rebels  with 
heavy  loss,  their  own  being  one  killed 
and  five  wounded.  Among  the  latter 
was  Captain  Rowe. 

General  W.  T.  Sherman  with  a  force 
numbering  a  little  less  than  one  hun- 
dred thousand  men  of  all  arms,  with 
two  hundred  and  fifty-four  guns,  in  the 
spring  of  1864,  started  on  his  ever  mem- 
orable campaign,  to  penetrate  the  heart 
of  the  confederacy,  draw  off  the  atten- 
tion of  a  large  portion  of  the  forces  of 
the  South,  so  that  they  could  not  re-in- 
force  the  hard  pressed  army  of  Virginia. 
The  country  te  be  traversed  was  almost 
chaotic  in  its  upheaval.  Rugged  moun- 
tains, deep,  narrow  ravines,  thick  prim- 
itive woods,  crossed  by  narrow,  ill- 
made  roads,  succeed  each  other  for  forty 
miles;  then  intervenes  a  like  distance 
of  comparatively  open  country,  only  to 
be  succeeded  by  another  rugged,  diffi- 
cult region  of  mountains  and  passes 
which  reaches  nearly  to  the  Chattahoo- 


hee  river,  across  which,  eight  miles 
distant,  lay  the  important  city  of  Atllanta. 
The  gallant  band  of  heroes  called  the 
16th  Illinois  infantry,  lead  now  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Cahill,  partici- 
pated in  all  of  the  movements  and  en- 
gagements that  led  up  to  the  siege  of 
Atlanta,  and  honorably  acquitted  them- 
selves at  Snake  Creek  Gap,  Besaca  and 
others. 

General  Sherman  now  invested  At- 
lanta, and  settled  down  to  take  the  place, 
which  was  strongly  fortified.  On  the 
22d  of  June,  General  Hood  fell,  by  a 
long  flank  movement,  upon  our  left  and 
rear,  at  or  near  Decatur,  but  the  16th 
being  in  another  part  of  the  field  took 
no  part  in  the  conflict,  except  as  acting 
the  pari  of  reserve. 

Again  at  the  fight  at  Jonesborough, 
on  the  7th  of  September,  1864,  the  16th 
was  in  line,  and  to  quote  the  words  of 
Greeley  in  his  history  of  the  war: 
"These  soldiers  stood  as  still  as  though 
bullet  proof." 

The  regiment  was  mustered  out  July 
8,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  ar- 
rived at  Camp  Butler,  July  10,  1865, 
where  it  was  finally  paid  off  and  the  men 
discharged. 

Mr.  Clarke,  in  his  history  of  the 
county,  has  given  some  humorous  inci- 
dents connected  with  men  in  this  regi- 
ment, which  we  quote  without  apology  : 
"While  this  regiment  was  stationed  at 
Memphis,  a  couple  of  Irishmen  found 
time  to  pay  court  to  a  pretty  Irish  maiden 
residing  there.  Jealousy  existed  in  the 
hearts  of  both,  and  each  did  his  level 
best  to  win  the  good  graces  of  the  fair 
one,  while  at  the  same  time  he  would 
utterly  demolish  his  rival.  One  even- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


159 


ing  both  happened  to  call  upon  the  loved 
one  fit  .the  same  time,  and  fell  to  demean- 
ing each  other  in  her  presence.  Becom- 
ing tired  of  this  they  began  bragging  of 
their  ancestors,  .One  said  his  father  was 
a  very  wealthy  man  in  the  old  country 
and  a  lineal  descendant  of  a  noble  lord. 
The  other  responded, 'I  can't  say  my 
father  is  very  wealthy  and  a  descendant 
of  a  lord,  but  I  can  say  he  came  to  this 
country  when  a  poor  boy  and  became  a 
great  builder  and  architect,  planning 
some  of  the  finest  buildings  and  works 
of  art  in  this  country;  in  fact,  he  was 
the  principal  architect  of  the  natural 
bridge  in  Virginia!'  'Take  the  girl,'  said 
the  other,  'I  have  nothing  more  to  say'.  " 

In  the  regiment  was  a  German  going 
by  the  name  of  Solomon,  an  easy-going, 
good-natured  soul.  One  day  he  came 
into  camp  from  a  foraging  expedition, 
and  related  an  adventure  of  his  as  fol- 
lows: "As  I  vas  coming  along  te  road, 
somepody  he  behint  me  holered  out, 
'Get  out  of  te  road.'  I  taught  it  was 
some  tarn  cavalry  man,  and  I  paid  no 
'tention  to  him.  Butty  soon  he  hollers 
out  again,  'Get  out  of  te  road  you  tarn 
-  of  a  -  — .'  I  tought  ten  it  vas 
somepody  vot  knowd  me,  ven  he  callt 
me  py  name,  and  I  looks  around,  and 
dere  vas  John  Bope  (General  Pope), 
and  I  gets  out  of  te  road  butty  quicks." 

"While  in  Missouri,  General  Pope, 
for  some  cause,  took  a  dislike  to  this 
regiment,  and  charged  them  with  being 
a  set  of  thieves,  and  said  they  would 
steal  everything  they  could  lay  their 
hands  on.  Afterward,  at  Tiptonville, 
this  regiment,  with  the  10th  Illinois, 
captured  5,000  prisoners  without  the 
rebels  firing  a  gun,  and  when  General 


Pope  heard  of  it,  he  enquired  of  Gen- 
eral Payne  how  it  was  done.  The  ques- 
tion was  overheard  by  a  member  of  the 
regiment,  who  quickly  responded,  "Gen- 
eral, I  can  tell  you  how  it  was  done. 
The  16th  stole  all  their  ammunition,  and 
they  couldn't  fire.' 

"On  a  long  march  the  men  were  apt  to 
break  ranks,  which  being  observed,  the 
order  was  given  to  "close  up,"  which 
order  was  carried  all  along  the  line.  On 
one  occasion,  a  large  number  of  "contra- 
bands" were  following  the^  regiment, 
when  this  order  was  given.  An  old  col- 
ored lady,  thinking  the  order  was  meant 
for  her,  raised  her  clothes  a  little  above 
her  ankles,  and  turning  to  the  officer 
near  her  who  gave  the  command,  inno- 
cently asked,  "Is  that  high  enough, 
massa?" 

"  The  following  letter,  which  we  give 
precisely  as  received, without  the  change 
of  a  single  word,  was  received  by  Cap- 
tain Howe,  while  the  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  St.  Joseph.  It  is  needless  to 
say  the  captain,  being  a  "gintleman  that 
he  was,"  made  the  boys  pay  their  just 
debts,  and  immediately  forward  the 
"  sax  dollars "  to  the  lady.  For  this 
kind  deed  we  have  no  doubt  the  lady  has 
always  held  him  in  kind  remembrance: 

THA  SITTY  o  QUANCY  Nov.  1,  1861. 
CAPTAIN  KOWE. — Ant  yer  company  after  bein 
ashamed  o'  yerselves  to  let  a  pure  widdy  go  wid 
no  pay  4  munths  when  u  hev  yer  one  pay  long 
sense  ye  rite  wel  no  I  did  yer  washin  when  yer 
were  in  this  sitty  and  ye  hev  never  ben  the  men 
to  pay  an  not  let  the  childers  cryin  fer  bred  drab 
yer  eis  may  ye  have  never  be  after  bein  hungry 
childers  yerselves,  wid  a  mothers  hart  in  ye  at  all, 
now  that  ye  ma  niver  forget  it  my  name  is  Cath- 
arine O'Sullivan  an  did  the  washin  fur  companie 
C  whin  Captain  Cahill  wus  the  after  bein  the  boss 


160 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Captain  and  jeems  Barnett  was  the  Clark  an  he 
sed  he  wud  see  "it  pade  wil  ye  no  dear  Captin 
Howe  tha  do  sa  ye  ar  after  bein  dacent  gintle- 
man  yerself  an  wuld  uiver  like  ter  see  yer  one 
childers  cri  fur  bred  wunt  ye  be  as  a  gude  man 
as  ye  are  hilp  me  get  the  6  dolirs  that  companie 
C  oes  me  fur  washin  when  I  walked  a  mile  and 
a  half  to  git  it  and  fatch  it  home  twice  almost 
every  weak  when  tha  wur  at  Keinp  wut  Michael 
Reedy  noes  I  did  the  wurk  so  dus  michael  lynch 
no  it,  I  an  wil  tel  ye  the  same  if  yer  onor  wil 
but  ask  him  an  he  wus  married  when  he  was  at 
Quancy  an  a  dacent  man  he  seamed  But  Jim 
Barnet  tuk  the  names  fur  me  an  he  can  tel  best 
that  tha  oe  me  sax  dolirs  fur  washin  an  will  tes- 
tify on  the  cross  if  he  still  in  companie  c  yet  an 
wil  tel  the  trooth  about  it. 

Catherine  O'Sullivan  To  Captain  Rowe  Mich- 
ael lynch  or  Reedy  or  Jeems  Barnet  who  all  no 
the  Captin  noe  that  companie  c  oes  me  sax  dol- 
lars. 

Wei  ye  plase  try  an  get  the  muny  fur  the  lady 
as  shea  is  very  pure  and  neads  it  much  an  got 
me  to  rite  for  her  set  it  to  Mr.  Newton  Fagg  for 
Catherine  O'Sulliven  sax  dolrs. 

SEVENTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   C. 


Privates : 


Douglas,  Royal, 
Murry,  William, 
Still,  K.  D., 


Hendryx,  William, 
Sanford,  Sylvester, 
Demits,  Ernest. 


EIGHTEENTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  F. 

Corporal : 
George  P.  Norton. 

Musician : 
Edward  P.  Vail. 

Privates : 
McClure,  James  P.,        Waggle,  Jasper  S. 

COMPANY  I. 

Corporals : 
William  L.  Brooks,         James  N.  Tedron. 


Privates : 


Daniels,  Daniel  L., 
Ervin,  James  D., 
Hall,  Edward, 
Messick,  David  H., 
Tedron,  M., 


Ellis,  Isaac  W., 
Hubbard,  William" 
Johnson,  George  M., 
Snyder,  Alvin  A., 
Woods,  William  H. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Lieutenant  Colonel: 
Louis  H.  Waters. 

Quartermasters : 

Hugh  Ervin,  Arthur  G.  Burr. 

Richard  Lawrence. 

Surgeon. 
John  Keuiper. 

Sergeant  Major : 
Charles  E.  Waters. 

Hospital  Stewards: 
Robert  R.  C.  Danley,      Albert  G.  Sullivan. 

COMPANY  J>. 

Captain : 
Gladden  L.  Farwell. 

First  Lieutenant: 
John  B.  Pearson. 

Second  Lieutenants: 

Charles  Conover,  Andrew  W.  McGoughy, 

Daniel  K.  Miller,  Henry  H.  Henderson. 

Sergeant : 

Robert  Pearson. 

Corporals : 

Ezra  V.  Sayer,  Joseph  T.  Walker, 

Joseph  Gill,  Solomon  Foster, 

Elijah  Patrick. 

Musician: 

Robert  R.  C.  Danley. 
Privates : 

Anderson,  John  E.,         Bloss,  William, 
Blackford,  Isaac,  Brant,  Abraham, 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


161 


Courtright,  Van.  H., 
Dawson,  Richard, 
Freeland,  N.  B., 
Faulkner,  Thomas, 
Gordon,  John, 
Hobart,  Edwin  L., 
Hillyer,  Isaac  C., 
Hoyt,  Lucien, 
Long,  Albert, 
Matheny,  William  H., 
Metts,  Clinton, 
McGee,  Samuel  R., 
Penrose,  Henry  W., 
Russell,  J.  T., 
Simmons,  Rowen  L., 
Shepherd,  S.  R., 
Spencer,  Richard, 
Teas,  George  H., 
Welch,  Azro  B., 
Wayland,  E.  Q.  A., 
Welch,  Sylvester  B., 
Gordon,  James  A., 
Kearns,  Marion, 
Broaddus,  Edward  L., 
Jellison,  Zimri, 


Gorman,  William, 
Freeland,  Francis, 
Freeth,  George  W., 
Gill,  Josiah, 
Hardesty,  Wm. 
Hillyer,  Lambert, 
Hawk,  Samuel, 
Keller,  William, 
Laughlin,  John  W., 
Menzies,  Walter, 
Milligan,  Albert, 
Nichols,  Seymour, 
Pierce,  Frank, 
Smithers,  Thomas  J., 
Sharp,  Samuel, 
Penrose,  John  F., 
Smith,  John, 
Twitchell,  William, 
Welch,  James  M., 
Warren,  Francis  L., 
Carter,  James  L., 
Heath,  E.  A., 
Plotts,  Joseph  C., 
Gordon,  Benjamin  F., 
Keller,  Joseph. 


COMPANIES  A  AND  B,  DRAFTED. 

Privates : 

Patrick,  John  R.,  Brothers,  Albert, 

Seward,  John  A.,  Taylor,  Henry  L., 

COMPANY  K. 

First  Sergeant; 
Ellis  S.  Stokes : 

Corporals : 
Thomas  W.  Blackston,    Joseph  A.  Thornburg. 

Privates ; 

Barker,  James,  Davis,  James  R., 

Edmunson,  Wm.  D.,        Nergeman,  Henry, 
Nichols,  Alvinus  W.,      Phillips,  Martin, 
Scott,  Theodore  H.,         White,  Marcus, 
Young,  Ralph  J. 

THE  TWENTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS   INFANTKY. 

The  gallant  band  of  heroes  well  known 
to  fame  as  the  28th  infantry  was  organ- 
ized at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  in 


-August  1861,  with  Amory  K.  Johnson, 
of  Petersburg,  as  colonel ;  Louis  H.  Wa- 
ters, of  Macomb,  lieutenant-colonel; 
Charles  J.  Sellon,  major;  J.  B.  T.  Mead, 
adjutant;  and  Hugh  Ervin,  quarter-mas- 
ter. On  the  28th  of  August,  the  regi- 
ment moved  to  Thebes,  Illinois,  and  on 
the  9th  of  September  to  Bird's  Point, 
Missouri,  and  first  put  foot  on  rebel  soil. 
On  the  2d  of  October,  they  proceeded  to 
Fort  Holt,  Kentucky,  where  they  re- 
mained in  the  brigade  of  Colonel  John 
Cook,  until  January  31,  1862.  While 
under  his  command  several  marches  were 
made  south  and  east  from  the  fort,  but 
no  engagement  was  had  of  any  note.  On 
the  date  last  above  mentioned,  the  regi- 
ment moved  to  Paducah,  where  upon 
arrival  they  were  assigned  to  the  brigade 
of  Colonel  M.  Smith,  in  the  brigade  of 
General  Lew.  Wallace.  On  the  5th  of 
February  the  brigade  moved  up  the  Ten- 
nessee river,  with  the  other  troops  under 
General  Grant,  and  took  part  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Forts  Henry  and  Hinman,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  a  detachment  of  48  men  and 
12  officers,  under  Colonel  Johnson,  met 
the  enemy  (500  strong),  at  Little  Bethel 
church,  five  miles  from  Fort  Henry,  and 
immediately  attacked  and  routed  them. 

On  March  6,  having  been  assigned  to 
General  Hurlbut's,  (Fourth)  division, 
they  moved  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  arriv- 
ing the  17th. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of 
April  the  regiment  was  called  into  line 
and  marched  half  a  mile  to  the  front, 
where  it  met  the  enemy  driving  General 
Prentiss.  It  was  assigned  to  a  position 
on  the  left  of  the  line,  in  the  Peach  Or- 
chard. The  enemy  immediately  attack- 
ed it,  but  were  repulsed;  and  it  held  its 


162 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


position  from  8  o'clock  A.  M.  until  3  p.  M., 
only  then  retiring  under  orders  from 
Brigadier-General  S.  A.  Hurlbut,  com- 
manding the  old  fighting  4th  division. 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th  it  held  a  posi- 
tion on  the  right  of  the  line,  and  was 
hotly  engaged  until  the  battle  closed  and 
the  victory  won.  During  those  two  long, 
trying,  bloody  days  the  regiment  behaved 
nobly,  and  was  never  broken  or  driven 
back  by  the  enemy,  though  often 
most  heavily  pressed.  The  regiment 
here  sustained  a  loss  of  239  killed  and 
wounded.  All  the  historians  of  this 
fearfully  contested  field  highly  compli- 
ment this  noble  band  of  heroes,  who  that 
day  distinguished  themselves  at  a  fear- 
ful cost.  When  the  news  of  their  gal- 
lant conduct  reached  this  their  home  the 
enthusiasm  knew  no  bounds. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  held  thereafter,  Hon.  James 
M.  Campbell  introduced  the  following 
resolution,  which,  on  motion,  was  unani- 
mously adopted: 

Resolved,  That  James  M.  Wallin,  Esq.,  the 
chairman  of  this  board,  be  requested  to  procure 
and  present  to  Captain  G.  L.  Farwell,  for  his 
company  D,  Twenty-eighth  regiment,  Illinois 
volunteers,  a  national  flag  as  a  token  of  merit 
for  distinguished  patriotism  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  on  the  sixth  and  seventh  of  April  last,  on 
behalf  of  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

It  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Corinth 
during  the  month  of  May,  1862. 

Marched  to  Memphis,  via  Grand  Junc- 
tion, Lagrange,  Holly  Springs,  Moscow, 
Lafayette,  Colliersville  and  Germantown, 
reaching  Memphis  July  21,  1864 
Marched  September  6,  reaching  Bolivar 
the  14th;  marched  October  4th,  to  Big 
Muddy  river;  October  5,  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Metamora,  on  Hatchie  river, 


.losing  97  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
Returned  to  Bolivar  October  7,  and  left 
for  Lagrange  November  3.  Marched 
from  Lagrange,  November  29,  to  Holly 
Spring;  thence  to  Lumpkin's  Mill,  Wa- 
terford,  Abbeville  and  Oxford  to  Tocona 
creek;  December  21,  to  Tocona  station; 
thence  to  Tallahatchie  river,  Waterford, 
Lumpkin's  Mills,  and  December  30,  was 
assigned  to  duty  of  guarding  the  railroad 
from  Holly  Springs  to  Waterford,  Mis- 
sissippi. 

January  8,  1863,  marched  via  Holly 
Springs  to  Moscow  and  Lafayette;  re- 
turned and  camped  at  Colliersville,  where 
it  was  assigned  to  guard  railroad.  Regi- 
ment at  this  time  being  in  the  3d 
brigade,  fourth  division,  sixteenth  army 
corps,  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg,  from  June  11  to  July  4,  1863. 

On  the  12th  of  July,  1863,  near  .Jack- 
son, Mississippi,  the  28th,  41st  and  53d 
Illinois,  and  3d  Iowa  infantry,  not  ex- 
ceeding 800  men,  were  ordered  to  charge 
across  an  open  level  corn  field,  some  600 
yards,  and  carry  a  strong  line  of  the 
enemy's  works,  mounting  12  guns  and 
manned  by  at  least  2,000  men.  The 
brigade  swept  gallantly  forward  under  a 
destructive  fire  of  grape,  canister  and 
minie  bullets.  The  enemy  appearing 
upon  both  flanks  as  it  reached  the  ditchj 
it  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  with  a  loss 
of  more  than  half  of  the  rank  and  file 
killed  or  wounded.  The  eight  companies 
of  this  regiment  in  line,  numbering  128 
men,  lost  73  killed  and  wounded,  and  16 
taken  prisoners. 

September  1,  1863,  the  28th  formed 
part  of  an  expedition  from  Natchez  to 
Harrisonburg,  compelling  the  enemy  to 
evacuate  Fort  Beauregard.  The  regi- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


163 


merit  remained  at  Natchez  doing  provost 
guard  duty  in  the  city. 

The  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans, 
and  on  July  4,  1864,  was  mustered  for 
three  years'  veteran  service,  and  May 
18,  proceeded  to  Illinois  for  veteran  fur- 
lough. May  29,  every  man  who  had 
been  furloughed  reported  at  Camp  But- 
ler} Illinois,  and  the  regiment  moved  for 
Natchez. 

October  10,  the  regiment  was  consoli- 
dated into  four  companies,  and  on  the 
12th  embarked  for  Morganzia,  Louisiana. 
November  3,  embarked  for  mouth  of 
White  river;  arrived  the  7th;  left  the 
20th ;  arrived  at  Memphis  the  22d.  Here 
the  regiment  received  200  recruits,  which 
were  organized  into  two  companies;  was 
assigned  to  the  v  1st  brigade  district  of 
West  Tennessee,  Major  General  C.  C. 
Washburne,  commanding;  December  21, 
formed  part  of  an  expedition  to  Moscow; 
arrived  the  23d,  and  returned  to  Mem- 
phis the  31st. 

On  January  3,  1865,  embarked  for 
Kenerville,  Louisiana,  arriving  the  6th, 
and  on  the  12th,  embarked  for  Mobile 
Point,  Louisiana,  and  encountering  a 
heavy  gale  on  the  voyage  were  compelled 
to  throw  overboard  130  mules  and  horses 
to  save  the  vessel;  arrived  back  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  February  14, 
and  proceeded  to  New  Orleans.  On  the 
14th,  moved  to  Lake  Ponchartrain,  on 
the  17th  embarked  for  Fort  Morgan, 
Mobile  Bay,  camped  at  Navy  Cove,  and 
arrived  at  Fish  river  March  25,  and 
Spanish  Fort  the  27th. 

In  the  advance  upon  Spanish  Fort  the 
regiment  occupied  the  extreme  right  of 
the  division  and  corps,  and  held  this 
position  during  the  entire  siege  of  14 


days,  losing  14  killed  and  wounded,  in- 
cluding two  captains. 

April  10,  marched  to  Fort  Blakely, 
then  returned  and  on  the  12th,  entered 
the  city  of  Mobile,  and  on  the  13th, 
marched  to  Whistler  Station  and  skir- 
mishing with  the  enemy.  May  11,  moved 
within  three  miles  of  Mobile,  Alabama. 
June  3,  1865,  reviewed  by  Chief  Justice 
Chase.  July  2,  embarked  for  Brazos 
Santiago,  Texas  ;  arrived  July  6;  7th, 
marched  to  Clarksville ;  August  2,  march- 
ed for  Brownsville,  arrived  the  3d.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  March  15, 
1866.  Number  enlisting  at  organization 
761,  recruits  959.  Total  1,620  ;284" 
wounded,  241  killed  and  died.  Of  the 
28th,  89  men  were  from  this  county,  in 
two  companies,  D,  and  K,  of  whom  nine 
were  killed,  nine  died,  and  15  wounded. 
Their  record  was  a  glorious  one. 
THIRTIETH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  B. 

Privates : 

Wagoner,  Jacob.  Wheeler,   Benjamin  F. 

FIFTIETH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  D. 

Privates : 
McManigle,William  R.  Willis,  John  J. 

COMPANY  F. 

Private : 
Clarke,  Thacldus  S. 

COMPANY  G. 

Evans,  William  H.,  Ewalt,  Nicholas, 

McManirnie,  W.,  McManimie,  Marion  A., 

Myers,  Noah,  Perkey,  Daniel, 

Atherton,  Finley  B.  Strode,  Jesse  B. 


FIFTY-FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Lieutenant  Colonel: 
Milton  L.  Haney. 


164 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Major: 
G.  F.  Hand. 

Chaplain': 
M.  L.  Handy. 

COMPANY   F. 

First  Lieutenants: 
Joshua  R.  Benton,  David  N.  Holmes. 

Second  Lieutenants : 
Joseph  W.  Parks,  John  B.  Johnson. 

First  Sergeant : 
James  M.  Shreeves. 

Sergeant : 
George  Sanford. 

Corporals : 

George  H.  Rogers,          David  M.  Crambaugh, 
Giles  F.  Hand. 

Musician : 
David  J.  Matheny. 

Privates : 
Brady,  Archibald  C..       Booth,  William, 


Benton,  Joshua, 
Games,  William  H., 
Growl,  William  A., 
Dewey,  John  C. 
Dunlap,  LeGrand, 
Eads,  John, 
Fowraker,  George  W., 
Fugate,  Robert  M., 
Holmes,  David  N., 
Hensley,  Samuel  H., 
Hartsook,  Joseph, 
Hutchins,  George  W., 
Inman,  Jesse  N., 
Jameson,  Robert  S., 
Long,  Samuel, 
Lybarger,  Milton  C., 
Medaris~  Joseph  B., 
Medaris,  John  C., 
Miller,  Jacob  C., 
Moore,  Albertson, 
Newkirk,  George  W. 
Putnam,  Joseph  P., 
Patterson,  Robert  8., 
Potinger,  Samuel  W., 
Rogers,  Lewis  B., 
Rickman,  Moses  B., 


Bane,  George, 
Carries,  John, 
Growl,  George  P. 
Dewey,  Edwin, 
Davis,  Lloyd  P. 
Ewing,  Joseph  B., 
Foster,  Channing  B., 
Fleharty,  John  N., 
Hartsook,  Daniel, 
Hendricks,  James, 
Hartman,  Aaron  V., 
Hoyt,  Oliver  J., 
Jones,  Samuel, 
Johnson,  John  A. 
Long,  George  W. 
Mead,  Alfred, 
Maxwell,  William  J., 
Miller,  George  S., 
McComb,  Matthew, 
McDonald,  James, 
Powers,  John, 
Putnam,  John  M., 
Pennington,  Jacob  A., 
Pennell,  George  W. 
Reed,  Amenzo, 
Sanford,  Jacob, 


Sanford,  Amos, 
Snapp,  William, 
Swearingen,  Bennett, 
Sperling,  Theodore, 
Thompson,  Thomas  E., 
Wetsel,  Daniel  W.., 
Winget,  Louis, 
Winters,  Augustus, 
King,  Lyman  B., 
Osborn,  John, 
Perdum,  Dallas, 


Sanford,  Ebenezer, 
Sperling, Lewis  W.. 
Shannon,  Alvin, 
Tatman,  Edmond, 
Teithworth,  Oliver  P., 
Wetsel,  Ahaz  B., 
Wycoff,  Daniel  L., 
Wilson,  J.  O., 
Miller,  John  W., 
Pattison,  W.  S., 
Smith,  Kellogg  J. 


COMPANY    G. 

Sergeants : 
Thomas  R.  Scott,  H.  H.  Weaver. 

Corporals : 

James  B.  Murphy,          Wm.  J.  Eckley, 
Stephen  R.  Bell. 
Privates : 


Ayres,  M.  L., 
Briggs,  W.  A., 
Cadwalader,  M.  A., 
Emery,  J.  R., 
Eckley,  George  W., 
Eckley,  James  A., 
Gray,  James  W., 
Hogue,  James  B., 
Hiner,  Joseph  C., 
Lovelace,  J.  W., 
Mills,  David  M., 
Myers,  John  H., 
Smith,  W.  N., 
Williams,  Andrew, 
Moorey,  Harvey  C., 


Ball,  Harrison, 
Baldwin,  Wm.  G., 
Coggswell,  L.  S., 
Ervin,  E.  P., 
Earley,  Wm.  L., 
Fitzsimmons,  T., 
Gillespie,  James  W., 
Hogue,  Wm.  P., 
Jackson,  George  W., 
McKaig,  R.  B., 
McQueen,  H.  B., 
Oglesby,  Joseph, 
Sexton,  John, 
Drake,  D.  N., 
Hensley,  Samuel  F., 


COMPANY  H. 

Privates : 

Dowmen  John,  Ford,  William, 

Kennedy,  John,  Merrick,  John, 

Randolph  William. 

COMPANY  K. 

Cox,  Robert  M. 
FIFTY-FIFTH  INFANTKY. 

The  55th  infantry,  Illinois  volunteers, 
was  organized  at  Camp  Douglas,  Chi- 
cago, Illinois,  and  mustered  in  October 
31,  1861.  November  9th,  left  by  rail  for 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


165 


Alton,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  18th, 
left  for  St.  Louis  by  steamer.  Remained 
at  Camp  Benton  until  January  12,  1862, 
when  it  was  ordered  to  Paducah,  Ken- 
tucky, where  it  arrived  on  the  22d,  and 
March  8th  embarked  on  steamer  for  the 
Tennessee  river. 

March  15th  marched  out  with  the  ex- 
pedition from  a  point  some  fourteen 
miles  above  Pittsburg  Landing,  for 
the  surprise  and  overthrow  of  Corinth, 
but  high  water  defeated  the  movement. 
It  returned  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  and 
went  into  camp  east  of  Shiloh  church. 

The  opening  of  the  battle  Sunday 
morning  found  the  regiment  in  position 
with  an  effective  force  of  873  men. '  Col- 
onel Stuart  was  wounded  and  nine  of 
the  line  officers,  three  of  whom  died,  102 
enlisted  men  were  killed  and  mortally 
wounded,  and  161  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  The  regiment  was  with  the 
army  in  advance  on  Corinth,  and  at  Rus- 
sell's house,  May  17;  lost  in  skirmish 
eight  men,  two  killed  and  six  wounded. 

Entered  Corinth  May  30th,  and  from 
there,  with  General  Sherman,  westward 
along  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  rail- 
road. Marching  to  Lagrange,  Lafayette, 
Moscow,  to  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi; 
with  Sherman  marched  into  Memphis, 
July  31st,  and  remained  in  camp  until 
November  25thj  when,  with  Sherman's 
division,  it  marched  for  the  Tallahatchie 
river.  Was  marched  back  to  Memphis 
to  descend  the  Mississippi  river  to  Vicks- 
burg  with  the  new  troops  that  arrived 
at  Memphis.  Embarked  with  the  expe- 
dition, and  six  companies  were  engaged 
in  the  battle  of  Chickasaw  Bayou,  De- 
cember 29th,  losing  one  captain  killed, 
and  one  enlisted  man  killed  and  seven 


wounded.  This  was  an  impotent  and 
fruitless  attack  on  the  most  superb  for- 
tifications of  the  south.  The  sluggish 
waters  of  the  bayou  covered  the  entire 
rebel  front,  behind  which  rose  the  lofty 
bluffs  of  the  Yazoo.  Here  the  labor  of 
thousands  of  slaves  had  been  devoted  to 
the  complete  fortifications  of  the  line 
for  months,  until  it  was  perfectly  im- 
pregnable to  the  simple  assault,  yet 
General  Sherman  dared  the  awful  hazard 
of  the  battle,  and  hurled  column  after 
column  of  infantry  upon  them  in  sim- 
ple, useless  slaughter.  In  obedience  to 
orders  the  men  plunged  into  the  bayou, 
where  both  banks  were  covered  by  tan- 
gled abatis,  and  where  the  bayou  pre- 
sents a  quicksand  bed  300  feet  wide,  con- 
taining water  fifteen  feet  wide  and  three 
feet  deep.  The  rebel  rifle  pits  beyond 
were  filled  with  sharpshooters,  whose 
every  bullet  drew  blood;  his  gunners 
had  the  range  of  the  ford,  such  as  it 
was,  and  poured  grape  and  canister  into 
their  dauntless  but  rapidly  decimated 
ranks.  Toiling  like  heroes,  they  essayed 
to  stem  the  storm  until  an  order  was 
received  to  fall  back,  It  was  raining  all 
the  time,  and  stung  by  the  consciousness 
that  they  had  fruitlessly  thrown  away 
many  valuable  lives,  they  retired  sul- 
lenly from  the  contest.  During  the 
rainy  night  which  followed  the  battle, 
our  men  stood  or  lay  without  fire  in  the 
swamp  bordering  the  execrated  bayou, 
but  next  morning  they  were  embarked 
and  returned  Milliken's  Bend.  On  the 
10th  and  llth  of  January,  1863,  they 
took  part  in  the  reduction  of  Arkansas 
Post,  or  Fort  Hindman,  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  where  they,  as  usual,  dis- 
played their  high  courage  and  valor. 


166 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


After  the  fall  of  this  place  they  marched 
to  Young's  Point,  in  front  of  Vicksburg, 
which  camp  they  reached  011  the  22d  of 
January.  Here  they  lay,  taking  part  in 
the  digging  of  the  canal  at  that  place, 
which  General  Grant  had  caused  to  be 
made,  and  which  proved  to  be  such  a 
lamentable  failure. 

The  regiment  participated  in  all  the 
the  engagements  that  led  to  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  losing  in  all,  from  May  16  to 
July  4,  eight  killed  and  thirty-nine 
wounded.  Encamped  on  Black  river 
near  Vicksburg,until  September  27,when 
it  embarked  for  Memphis,  and  moved 
out  with  the  army  past  Corinth  to  luka. 
From  luka  it  was  with  the  reconnoiss- 
ance  to  Tuscumbia.  October  30,  marched 
from  East  Point  to  Chattanooga;  arrived 
November  21,  and  during  the  night  of 
the  twenty-third,  with  the  rest  of  the 
brigade,  manned  a  fleet  of  pontoon  boats 
in  North  Chickamauga  creek,  four  miles 
above  Chattanooga,  and  in  the  midst  of 
rain  and  intense  darkness,  with  muffled 
oars,  descended  and  crossed  the  Tennes- 
see river,  and  captured  the  enemy's  picket 
line.  November  25,  marched  with  Sher- 
man to  the  relief  of  Knoxville ;  returned 
and  camped  successively  at  Bridgeport, 
Bellefonte,  and  Larkinsville  during  the 
winter,  and  at  Larkins'  landing  during 
the  spring,  at  which  place  the  regiment 
veteranized,  and  returned  to  Illinois  on 
a  furlough  of  thirty  days.  June  27, 1864, 
participated  in  the  assault  on  Kenesaw 
mountain,  Georgia,  losing  fifteen  killed 
and  thirty-three  wounded.  On  July  22, 
the  regiment  was  again  engaged,  with 
an  effective  force  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  men,  and  came  out  of  the  en- 
gagement with  one  hundred  ond  eighty. 


In  the  siege  of  Atlanta  the  regiment's 
loss  was  seven  killed  and  eighteen 
wounded.  In  the  battle  of  Jonesboro, 
Georgia,  August  31,  1864,  lost  twenty- 
three  men. 

In  a  short  campaign  of  about  two 
months,  the  whole  regiment  lost  about 
one-half  its  number. 

The  regiment  joined  in  pursuit  of 
Hood  through  northern  Alabama,  and 
returned  to  Atlanta,  when  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two  non-veterans  were  dis- 
charged. It  soon  left  for  Savannah  with 
the  15th  army  corps.  In  what  is  called 
the  battle  of  Bentonville  the  55th  lost 
eight  men  more.  It  marched  with  the 
glorious  army  of  Sherman's  from  here 
to  Richmond,  and  from  that  city  to 
Washington,  where  it  participated  in  the 
grand  review,  and  then  removed  to  Louis- 
ville, where  it  remained  in  camp  a  few 
weeks,  and  then  by  steamer  went  to 
Little  Rock,.  Arkansas,  where,  August 
14,  1865,  it  was  mustered  out  of  service, 
and  on  the  19th  left  for  Chicago,  and 
arrived  on  the  22d,  and  received  final 
payment  and  discharge. 

During  its  term  of  service  the  regi- 
ment marched  3,374  miles. 

This  county  was  represented  by  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  men,  in  four 
different  companies  of  the  55th,  of  whom 
three  were  killed,  fourteen  died  and  sev- 
enteen wounded. 

FIFTY-SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   I. 

First  Lieutenant: 
Martin  Hoagland. 

Second  Lieutenants: 
William  S.  Hendricks,   John  T.  Parvin. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


167 


Privates : 


Anderson,  Elijah  E., 
Hanks,  George. 
Pelly,  David, 
Smith,  Richard  L., 
Downey.  Jauies, 


Brown,  William  P., 
McCord,  William, 
Rabbitt.  Robert, 
Smith,  Henry, 
Head,  Richard  R., 


Jacob,  Benjamin  F.,        McBride,  Samuel  S. 


FIFTY-NINTH   INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  C. 

Captains : 
Barzillia  M.  Veatch,        George  R.  Stire. 

First  Lieutenants : 

Norman  Curtis,  John  H.  Loop. 

Second  Lieutenants : 
Heslep  Phillips,  George  R.  Stire, 

Samuel  Purdam. 

Orderly  Sergeant: 
Dennis  L.  Buford. 

Sergeants : 

Jefferson  G.  Eastwood,  Joseph  H.  Bayles, 
Joseph  Holmes,  Henry  R.  Turpin. 

Corporals : 

William  H.  McElroy,     Samuel  Purdam, 
William  A.  Blume,         George  Iseminger, 
Norman  Curtis,  Heslep  Phillips, 

John  W.  Leager. 

Musicians: 
Charles  Veatch,  Alison  G.  Weir. 

Wagoner, 
Samuel  S.  Bennett. 


Privates : 


Alsop,  William  B., 
Barnum,  Henry, 
Bell,  George  W., 
Grants,  George, 
Cumbal,  Francis, 
Chusy,  John, 
Dillon,  James, 
Doughton,  Andrew, 
Gastwood,  George  W., 
Emeil,  William  H., 
Gordon,  Charles  W., 
Gauf,  Samuel  T., 
Hoyt,  Joel, 


Asendorf,  Henry, 
Brinay,  Chriest, 
Beals,  Jesse  W., 
Chung,  Jackson  W., 
Cochran,  James, 
Chute,  Abraham  G., 
Dobbs,  Henry, 
Dorsey,  William  M., 
Eilenge,  James  M., 
Erens,  William, 
Green,  Washington, 
Gallagher,  Thomas, 
Herr,  George  W., 


Jacob,  Samuel  J., 
Jarvis,  Gilbert, 
Loflam,  Eugene, 
Loge,  Nathan, 
Loftis,  William, 
McGorani,  Thomas, 
Murphy,  James, 
McTiegh,  Michael, 
Norman,  George  E., 
Gelson  William, 
Purdam,  Mesach, 
Painter,  James  H., 
Shanklin,  John, 
Sullivan,  Joshua  H., 
Trolock,  Thomas, 
Tally,  William, 


Jarvis,  William  H^ 
Jamet,  Charles, 
Loup,  John  H., 
Lawyer,  Thomas, 
Mourning,  John  M., 
Melvin,  Thomas  J., 
Mullen,  Michael, 
Morris,  Willard, 
Nelfon,  Benjamin, 
Olive,  Richard, 
Phiver,  Louis, 
Spencer,  Joseph, 
Stilson,  Nicodemus, 
Sheets,  James  H., 
Torhouse,  Henry, 
Purdam,  Francis  M., 


FIFTY-NINTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTEY. 

Among  one  of  the  first  companies  or- 
ganized in  McDonough  county  was  the 
one  raised  in  tke  western  part  of  the 
county  by  Captain  B.  M.  Veatch,  who 
was  commissioned  August  5,  1861.  As 
an  independent  company  it  was  sent  to 
Cape  Girardeau,  Missouri,  where  it  re- 
mained until  September  18,  1861,  when, 
upon  the  organization  of  the  9th  Mis- 
souri infantry  it  was  assigned  to  that 
regiment.  This  was  entirely  composed 
of  Illinois  companies,  and  on  the  12th  of 
February,  1862,  by  order  of  the  war  de- 
partment its  name  was  changed  to  that 
of  59th  Illinois  infantry.  Previous  to 
this,  when  known  as  the  9th  Missouri,  it 
was  ordered  to  Jefferson  City,  and  early 
in  October,  1861,  it  moved  to  Boone- 
ville,  and  was  brigaded  with  the  37th 
Illinois  infantry,  the  5th  Iowa  infantry, 
1st  Kansas  infantry  and  Davidson's  Illi- 
nois battery.  The  brigade  was  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  J.  C.  Kelton, 
and  the  division  to  which  it  was  at- 
tached,by  Brigadier-General  John  Pope, 
The  campaign  of  1861  and  early  part  of 


168 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1862,  was  passed  in  Missouri,  on  the  13th 
of  March  of  the  latter  year,  participat- 
ing in  the  siege  of  New  Madrid.  On  the 
20th  day  of  May,  1862,  the  regiment 
embarked  for  Hamburg  Landing,  Ten- 
nessee, and  from  there  moved  toward 
Farmington,  on  the  27th.  After  the 
evacuation  of  Corinth,  they  pursued  the 
enemy.  In  June  it  marched  into  Mis- 
sissippi, and  in  August  to  Florence, 
Alabama.  Thence  to  Franklin,  Tennes- 
see; from  there  to  Murfreesboro,  arriv- 
ing September  1,  1863.  On  September 
3,  commenced  the  northward  march  with 
General  Buell's  army,  arriving  at  Louis- 
ville on  the  26th.  October  7,  met  the 
enemy  at  Chaplin  Hill,  near  Perryville. 
On  the  8th  they  were  heavily  engaged, 
losing  113  killed  and  wounded  out  of 
361  men  men  going  into  action.  Pursued 
the  enemy  on  the  10th.  Arrived  in  Nash- 
ville November  7,  and  camped  at  Edge- 
field,  near  which  they  remained  during 
the  year. 

December  25,  skirmished  toward  No- 
lensville.  On  the  26th,  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  was  put  in  motion  for  the 
Stone  river  campaign,  and  the  59th  were 
employed  as  skirmishers,  and  drove  the 
enemy  nine  miles.  They  took  active 
part  in  the  attack  on  Nolensville.  On 
the  29th  they  marched  toward  Murfrees- 
boro; here  the  enemy  were  found  in 
force  and  entrenched.  An  unsuccessful 
attempt  was  made  to  drive  him  from  his 
position,  and  the  regiment  lay  during 
the  night  of  the  30th  within  a  few  hun- 
dred yards  of  the  enemy's  works.  Early 
on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  the  enemy 
turned  the  right  flank  of  the  20th  corps. 
The  59th  changed  front  to  rear,  and  sup- 
porting the  5th  Wisconsin  battery,  for  a 


long  time  held  the  enemy  in  check,  and 
when  it  was  withdrawn,  brought  with  it 
the  guns  of  the  battery,  from  which  the 
horses  had  all  been  killed.  It  was  then 
put  in  position  on  the  Murfreesboro 
pike,  which  it  held  until  January  2. 

The  regiment  forded  the  river,  swollen 
by  recent  rains,  and  assisted  in  driving 
back  the  enemy,  and  held  their  position 
in  the  extreme  front  until  the  morning 
of  January  4,  when  it  re-crossed  Stone 
river,  and  the  enemy  evacuated  Mur- 
freesboro. June  23, 1863,  the  Tullahoma 
campaign  was  commenced,  and  the  59th 
took  a  hand  therein.  August  30,  it  left 
Stevenson,  crossed  the  Tennessee  river, 
and  ascended  the  Sand  mountain.  Then 
marched  to  Lookout  valley.  Arrived  at 
Chattanooga  September  22.  Distance 
marched  from  Stevenson,  122  miles.  It 
was  active  in  the  Lookout  mountain 
campaign. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  they  came  to 
the  charnel  house,  and  buried  the  dead 
from  the  battle  field  of  Chickamauga,  of 
September  19  and  20. 

January  12,  1864,  the  regiment  mus- 
tered as  a  veteran  organization,  and  ar- 
rived at  Springfield,  Illinois,on  furlough, 
February  10,  and  on  March  19  was  reor- 
ganized. It  took  part  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign.  On  July  12  the  regiment 
crossed  the  Chattahoochie,  and  pre- 
sented itself  before  the  fortifications 
around  Atlanta,  and  from  that  time  until 
the  25th  of  August,  it  assailed  the  works 
of  the  enemy,  and  was  under  fire  day 
and  night.  On  the  1st  of  November, 
they  marched  toPulaski.  On  the  29th, 
the  brigade  attacked  the  enemy  in  the 
flank,  as  it  was  marching  toward  Spring 
Hill.  The  fight  continued  all  day,  and 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


169 


at  night  the  59th  marched  20  miles,  and 
reached  Spring  Hill  on  the  morning  of 
the  30th.  Here,  resting  but  one  hour, 
it  marched  to  Franklin,  and  during  the 
afternoon  the  battle  of  Franklin  was 
fought.  December  1,  arrived  in  Nash- 
ville, and  on  the  15th  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville commenced.  The  59th  was  in  the 
first  line  of  the  assaulting  column  here, 
and  planted  the  first  colors  on  the  cap- 
tured works.  In  the  afternoon  it  assaulted 
and  carried  the  enemy's  works  near 
Hillsboro  pike.  December  16,  the  mem- 
orable assaults  on  Overton's  Hills  were 
made;  here  the  regiment  lost  in  killed 
and  wounded  one-third  of  its  number. 
July  9,  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  marched 
to  San  Antonio,  and  was  stationed  at 
New  Braunfels,  Texas,  until  December 
8,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out.  In 
company  C  there  were  79  men  from  this 
county,  7  of  whom  were  killed,  7  died, 
and  7  were  wounded. 

SIXTY-SECOND  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  I. 

Corporal : 


Abbott,  Joshua, 
David,  John  F., 
Reno,  Alexander, 
Peak,  Patrick, 


Jacob  Pruat. 

Privates : 

Cordell,  James, 
Flack  Alexander, 
Black,  Richard  S., 
Peak,  Wm. 


Tatham,  W.  H. 

COMPANY  H. 

Private : 
Belleville,  Jacob  N. 

TJNASSIGNED  KECKUITS. 


Dixon,  John, 
White,  Charles  W., 


Frank,  Marion, 
Williams,  Moses  J. 


SIXTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   A 

Abbott,  Geo.  W.,  Anderson,  Joseph, 

Blanchard,  William,       Cochran,  Stephen  D., 
Clayton,  Francis  M.,       Dinwiddie,  Robert. 
COMPANY  F. 


Brown,  Charles, 
Haskins,  Benjamin, 
Ralson,  Jesse  R., 
Craig,  William  H., 
Fair,  William, 
Frank,  Marion  F., 
Kirkpatrick,  William, 
Mourning,  John  W., 
Powell,  James, 
Roberts,  Chauncy, 
Wilson,  Thomas  M. 
Williams,  Henry  W., 

Way, 


Haynes,  Jonathan, 
Roberts,  Adam, 
Dickerson,  Charles, 
Dixon,  John, 
Dutton,  William, 
Johnson,  John  M., 
Lloyd,  John  V., 
Martin,  Charles, 
Roberts,  Elmore, 
Rowe,  Louis  P., 
Williams,  Moses  J., 
White,  Charles  W., 
Enoch. 


THE   SIXTY-FOURTH     ILLINOIS     INFANTRY. 

The  first  battalion  "  Yates  sharpshoot- 
ers "  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Ill- 
inois, in  the  month  of  December,  1861, 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  D.  B.  Williams. 
It  consisted  of  four  companies,  to  which 
were  added  two  others  the  last  of  the 
month.  January  10,  1862,  the  battalion 
was  ordered  to  Quincy,  where  it  was 
armed,  after  which  it  was  ordered  south. 
Near  New  Madrid  they  had  their  first 
engagement  with  the  enemy  on  the 
night  of  March  12.  Was  engaged  at 
Fort  Pillow,  Corinth,  Kenesaw,  Atlanta, 
and  a  great  many  other  battle-fields. 
No  more  effective  duty  was  done  by  any 
regiment  during  the  war,  it  being  al- 
ways in  the  front.  Their  loss,  as  far 'as 
known,  in  killed  and  wounded,  was  two 
hundred  and  eighty-nine  men;  of  those 
dying  in  service  we  have  not  the  num- 
ber. The  regiment  was  continually  on 
the  go,  traveling  with  Sherman  to  the 
sea,  thence  around  through  North  Caro- 


170 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


lina,  and  then  on  to  Washington,  where 
they  were  in  the  grand  review,  May  24, 
1865.  They  were  discharged  at  Chicago, 
July  18, 1865. 

There  were  three  companies  repre- 
sented ironi  McDonough  county  in  this 
regiment — A,  D  and  F,  and  a  total  of 
eighty-five  men. 

John  Jacobs,  a  member  of  company 
D,,  was  captured  near  Atlanta,  and,  with 
other  prisoners,  was  hurried  south  un- 
der a  strong  guard,  their  captors  follow- 
ing the  line  of  railroad.  The  prisoners 
were  made  to  occupy  the  railroad  track 
as  far  as  possible,  while  the  guard  rang- 
ed upon  either  side. 

A  short  time  before  the  capture  the 
government  furnished  our  soldier  boys 
with  shirts  of  unbleached  cotton,  which, 
in  the  twilight,  looked  not  a  great  deal 
unlike  the  butternut  of  the  rebels.  This 
fact  was  quickly  discovered  by  young 
Jacobs,  who  determined,  if  possible,  to 
take  advantage  of  it. 

On  either  side  the  guard  was  a  num- 
ber of  rebel  soldiers  who  had  been 
slightly  wounded,  and  who  were  being 
sent  to  the  rear.  As  twilight  began  to 
settle  around  them,  Jacobs  began  to 
limp  slightly  and  fall  slowly  behind, 
and  soon  was  in  the  very  midst  of  the 
guard,  who,  from  his  clothing,  judged 
him  to  be  one  of  their  number  going  to 
the  rear.  Occasionally  he  would  limp  di- 
rectly in  the  way  of  one  of  them,  who, 
cursing  him,  would  tell  him  to  fall  be- 
hind. This  was  just  what  he  wanted, 
and  what  he  continued  to  do  until  he 
was  the  very  last  of  the  party  proceed- 
ing southward.  As  soon  as  he  thought 
his  absence  would  be  unnoticed,  he  turn- 
ed and  fled  in  the  direction  from  which 


he  came.  Not  knowing  the  direct  way 
back,  he  was  forced  to  continue  along 
the  line  of  the  railroad.  He  succeeded 
in  passing  the  infantry  out-posts  with- 
out alarming  them,  but  came  near  being 
recaptured  when  he  reached  the  cavalry 
pickets.  In  passing  through  the  woods 
the  underbrush  beneath  his  feet  would 
break,  and  notice  was  thus  given  of  his 
presence.  Although  unseen,  the  com- 
mand rang  out  to  halt,  and  several  shots 
were  fired  in  his  direction,  one  ball  graz- 
ing one  of  his  ears.  No  further  sound 
being  heard,  the  pickets  thought  the 
noise  was  made  by  a  hog  or  other  ani- 
mal passing  through  the  timber,  and 
made  no  further  efforts  to  discover  its 
source,  which  was  indeed  well  for  him. 
They  then  rode  off  and  he  proceeded  on 
his  way. 

When  daylight  came  he  dared  not 
proceed  further  for  fear  of  capture,  but 
lay  down  in  the  tall  weeds  by  the  side  of 
the  railroad  track,  and  all  day  long  the 
rebels  marched  over  the  road  and  on 
either  side  of  him,  many  of  them  pass- 
ing so  near  he  could  easily  have  reached 
out  and  grappled  with  them.  This  he 
•was  many  times  tempted  to  do,  that  he 
might  wrest  from  them  a  gun  with 
which  he  might  defend  himself  if  ne- 
cessary, and  also  to  get  hold  of  their 
canteens,  for  he  was  almost  suffocating 
with  thirst.  It  was  well  for  him  that  he 
restrained  himself,  for  if  he  had  attempt- 
ed to  grapple  with  one  he  would  surely 
have  been  discovered  and  his  recapture 
made  certain. 

When  night  came  on  he  made  his  way 
to  a  house  and  boldly  asked  for  some- 
thing to  eat,  telling  the  people  he  was  a 
confederate  spy.  The  family  were  very 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OP  IU,!HQic 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


173 


glad  to  render  him  such  service  as  they 
could,  and  gave  him  a  supper  which  he 
certainly  appreciated,  not  having  had 
anything  to  eat  for  about  thirty-six 
hours.  While  the  meal  was^  preparing 
and  while  eating,  he  plied  the  family 
with  questions  as  to  the  location  of  the 
Yankee  army,  the  best  road  to  reach  it, 
etc.,  obtaining  all  the  information  they 
were  able  to  give.  He  then  asked  for 
the  loan  of  a  mule  and  a  gun,  stating 
that  when  near  the  enemy's  lines  he 
would  turn  the  mule  loose,  and  let  him 
return  home  at  once,  and  the  gun  he 
would  return  the  first  favorable  oppor- 
tunity. Yes,  he  could  have  the  best 
mule  on  the  plantation,  and  an  excellent 
gun,  which  he  need  be  in  no  hurry  to 
return  if  they  could  be  of  service  to  the 
glorious  cause.  Thanking  his  kind  host 
for  the  favors  shown,  he  rode  forth  to- 
ward the  lines  of  the  Union  army. 

After  riding  all  night  he  came  to  a 
house,  and  hitching  his  mule  in  the  front 
yard,  he  went  in  and  asked  for  break- 
fast, first  depositing  his  gun  by  the  door, 
that  he  might  not  necessarily  alarm  the 
family,  and  where  he  could  easily  reach 
it  when  necessary.  To  this  family  he 
told  the  same  story  of  being  a  confeder- 
ate spy  on  his  way  to  the  enemy's  camp, 
and  from  the  lady  of  the  house  he 
learned  the  picket  line  of  the  Union 
army  was  but  a  short  distance  from  her 
dwelling. 

While  partaking  of  the  nice  warm 
breakfast  which  was  prepared  for  him, 
he  heard  the  tramp  of  horses  upon  the 
road,  and  rushed  to  the  front  window 
and  looked  out,  but  could  not  tell  to 
which  party  they  belong,  but  judging 
they  were  rebels  intent  upon  his  recap- 


ture, started  out  the  back  way  and  made 
for  the  woods.  He  was  quickly  over- 
taken and  brought  back  to  the  house. 
His  kind  landlady  then  witnessed  against 
him  that  he  had  confessed  to  her  he  was 
a  confederate  spy,  when  they  were  about 
to  hang  him  at  once,  without  the  form  of 
trial.  He  told  them  not  to  be  so  fast, 
that  he  was  a  Union  soldier  who  had 
been  captured  and  made  his  escape  from 
the  rebels.  His  story  they  refused  to 
believe,  cursing  him  as  a  spy,  and  ar- 
ranging to  at  once  put  an  end  to  his  ex- 
istence. Finally  better  counsels  pre- 
vailed and  he  was  at  once  taken  (not 
very  gently)  into  the  Union  carnp  and 
before  the  general  commanding,  who 
questioned  him  as  to  who  he  was  and 
where  he  was  from.  He  replied,  giving 
his  name,  company  and  regiment.  The 
general  then  questioned  him  upon  other 
matters,  receiving  direct  replies,  when 
he  ordered  him  under  double  guard,  that 
inquiries  might  be  made  as  to  the  truth 
of  his  story,  stating  that  he  was  either 
the  man  he  claimed  to  be  or  else  a  spy. 
Inquiry  being  made,  it  was  learned 
that  a  captain  of  that  regiment  was  then 
in  hospital.  He  was  asked  if  there  was 
such  a  person  as  John  Jacobs  in  com- 
pany D  of  his  regiment.  He  replied 
there  was,  and  stated  he  would  be  able 
to  identify  him  on  sight.  Jacobs  was 
then  brought  before  him,  and  the  recog- 
nition was  mutual,  and  he  was  at  once 
discharged.  He  then  asked  the  party 
bringing  him  into  camp  for  his  mule 
and  gun,  which  they  refused  to  Surren- 
der, when  he  at  once  complained  to  the 
general,  who  ordered  them  delivered  to 
him.  These  he  sold  for  $140;  which 
was  so  much  clear  gain.  The  whole 


174 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


affair  showed  that  Jacobs  was  without 
fear,  and  a  man  of  pluck  and  inventive 
genius.  As  illustrating  the  strict  disci- 
pline of  the  regiment,  the  following  in- 
cident is  given:  An  order  was  issued 
by  General  Rosecrans,  commander  of 
the  division,  that  no  one  should  be  per- 
mitted to  pass  the  guards  without  the 
countersign,  save  a  general  in  full  uni- 
form. A  gentleman,  in  a  linen  duster 
and  broad  brimmed  hat,  drove  along  a 
road  on  which  a  guard  was  stationed, 
when  he  was  commanded  to  halt.  Rein- 
ing up  suddenly,  he  inquired  why  he 
was  thus  stopped.  "Give  the  counter- 
sign," answered  the  guard.  "Get  out  of 
the  way,  d — n  you,  I'm  General  Gordon 
Granger."  "I  have  no  means  of  know- 
ing whether  you  are  General  Gordon 
Granger  or  not,  and  you  cannot  pass 
here  unless  in  full  dress,  or  you  give  the 
countersign."  Using  a  string  of  adjec- 
tives that  would  not  appear  well  in 
print,  he  again  asked  permission  to  pass ; 
when  the  guard  told  him  he  was  not  in 
a  humor  to  be  cursed,  and  that  he  must 
either  give  the  countersign  or  turn,  or 
he  would  at  once  arrest  him  and  send 
him  to  the  guard  house.  Upon  this  the 
party  wheeled  around,  and  soon  appeared 
dressed  in  full  uniform,  when  the  guard 
gave  the  salute,  and  he  was  permitted  to 
pass.  The  circumstance  was  reported 
to  General  Rosecrans,  who  reproved 
General  Granger,  and  told  the  guard  he 
did  just  right. 

Few  rebel  battle  flags  were  captured 
during  ftie  war,  and  it  was  always  con- 
sidered a  grand  honor  for  any  one  to 
take  one.  In  the  last  grand  charge  upon 
the  enemy's  works  at  Atlanta,  Captain 
George  W.  Reid,  who  at  the  time  was 


acting  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regi- 
ment, succeeded  in  securing  one  from  a 
Texas  regiment,  and  sent  it  home,  where 
it  remained  in  his  house  in  Chalmers 
township  about  one  year,  when  it  was 
taken  to  Springfield  by  request  of  the 
adjutant-general;  and  it  can  now  be  seen 
in  the  "trophy  room"  of  the  state  capi- 
itol,  duly  labeled,  and  credit  given  to 
Captain  Reid. 

SEVENTY SECOND  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    G. 

Privates: 

Cecil,  Henry  A.,          Ewing,  William, 
Jenkins,  Joseph,          Jenkins,  Thomas, 
Jarvis,  John  M.,  Jarvis,  Gurrett  J.  D. 

Morris,  Harmon  F.,     Myers,  John, 
McDauiel, George  W.,  McDaniel,  William, 
Miller,  Henry  G.,         Peters,  Peter. 
Royce,  John  W.,          Spurlock,  Lewis  J., 
Smith,  Markcay,          McElvaiu,  George, 

COMPANY  I. 

Corporal: 
John  C.  Murray. 

Privates: 

Bartlett,  Hiram  M.,     Braimau,  Patrick, 
Cole,  Samuel  D.,          Cooper,  Cyrus, 
Fordham,  John,  McElvain,  George  W. 

Marose,  Daniel  R.,        Miller,  John  WM 
Negley,  John  F.,          Sanders,  Anthony, 
Wilson,  Curtis  B.,        Negley,  John  F., 
Shreves,  Henry  S.,        Wilson,  William, 
Wilson,  Amos. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH   INFANTRY. 

REGIMENTAL  OFFICERS. 

Colonel: 
Carter  Van  Vleck. 

Major: 
William  L.  Broaddus. 

Adjutant: 
Charles  V.  Chandler. 

Surgeon: 
Thomas  M.  Jordan. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY.                         175 

Second  Assistant  Surgeou: 

Lindsey,  Thomas,        Lawson,  Joseph  D., 

Durham  M.  Creel. 

McGee,  William  F.,    Morgan,  Clinton, 

Chaplain: 

Messacher,  Silas,          Mayhugh,  John  T., 

Robert  F.  Taylor. 

Mayhugh,  F.  T.,           Marshall,  Josephus, 
Michaels,  Jacob  H.,     Martin,  George, 

Sergeant  Major: 

Mealey,  Michael,          Magie,  James  K., 

Harman  Veatch. 

Magie,  Charles  H.,       Mayhugh,   Laban  D., 

Musicians: 

McFall,  Sylvester,        Midcap,  Nathaniel, 

Daniel  M.  Carroll,        Reuben  L.  Maynard, 

Meeks,  Luther,             Messacher,  Wm.  D., 
Monohan,  John,            Norris,  Charles  L., 

Wagon  Master: 

O'Neil,  Andrew  J.,      O'Cain,  James, 

Karr  McClintock. 

Rush,  John  W.,           Robert",  Peter  B., 

COMPANY  A. 

Riddell,  Sylvester,       Sherry,  Marion, 

Brundage,  G.  W.,        Brundage,  James, 
Fugate,  Martin  V.,      Fugate,  Samuel  H., 
Frisby,  Abraham,        Husted,  Talmon, 
Scott,  Amos,                  Toland,  Solomon, 
Toland,  William,         Johnson,  David, 
Hendricks,  H.  F.,        Mullens,  John  W., 

Smith,  William,            Spielman,  C.  L., 
Stafford,  Albert  J.,      Sims,  John, 
Tyft,  Cyril,                    Tipton,  James, 
Venuing,  Henry,         Warner,  Wm.  H., 
Worley,  John  L.,          Wilson,  Andrew, 
Wood^ide,  John  W.,    Wilson,  Elias  H., 
Worley,  Wm.  H.  H.,  Welsh,  James  L., 

COMPANY  C. 

Wilhelms,  Wm.  A.,     Bayles,  Joseph  W., 

Captains: 

Brown,  Frederick  P.,  Chaffln,  Michael, 

Charles  R.  Hume,        George  W.  Blandin. 

Kirk,  John  W.,            Pace,  Ingram, 
Tift,  Semer,                   Terry,  Richard  L., 

First  Lieutenants: 

Warner,  Jesse.              James,  Jos.  E. 

O.  P.  Courtwright,       Andrew  J.  O'Neil, 

COMPANY  D. 

Second  Lieutenant: 

Bates,  William. 

John  E.  James. 

COMPANY  F. 

Privates: 

Captain: 

Bond,  Marion  D.  M.,  Bently,  Joseph  H., 

Elisha  Morse. 

Boylan,  Thomas  C.,     Bridges,  Thomas  B., 

Carter,  Isaac  G.,           Chaffiu,  Philip, 

COMPANY   I. 

Cole,  Eleazer,                Curtis,  Mark  M., 

Captain: 

Carnes,  Henry,             Clark,  Edward, 
Cline,  Marshal  C.,        Curtis,  Joseph  P:, 

Grauville  H.  Reynolds. 

Downeu,  Thomas  J.,  Davis,  Thomas  J., 

First  Lieutenant: 

Dowell,  George  W.,     Dixou,  William, 

Hardin  Hovey. 

Duncan,  James  M.,      Duncan,  John, 

Second  Lieutenants: 

Duffield,  William  H.,  Decker,  Nathaniel, 
Forrest,  John,               Frank,  John, 

Jas.  H.  McCaudless.    Charles  V.  Chandler. 

Freelaud,  Wm.  C.,       Green,  John  F., 

Privates  : 

Galbreath,  John  T.,    Gorham,  John, 

Arnold,  Ira,                  Allen,  Richard  C. 

Gibson,  Samuel  T.,      Harmon,  Wm.  W., 

Allhouse,  Lebeus,        Anstiue,  Theodore  P. 

Harmon,  John,            Hamilton,  Elisha, 

Buchanan,  James  C.,  Brown,  Daniel, 

Hainline,  John  R.,      Huddleston,  J.  R., 

Bennett,  Albert  C.,      Beatty,  Simon  B., 

Hendricks,  Lewis,       James,  John  W., 

Bowman,  Wm.  H.,      Baymiller,  Michael, 

James,  William  E.,      James,  John  E., 

Brown,  Christopher.    Bear,  John  O., 

Jenks,  Joel  H.,             Kirkpatrick,  F.  A., 

Batchelor,  John,           Chapman,  Douglas  M. 

Keithley,  Perry,           Keithley,  J.H,, 

Chase,  James  M.,         Clark,  Jerome  J., 

176 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Cowgill,  John  F., 
Carroll,  James  S., 
Carnahan,  8., 
Diseron,  Daniel, 
DeCamp,  Goin  SM 
Doran,  Hugh  H., 
Garrison,  Zach.  M., 
Gill,  Benjamin  F., 
Hall,  George  P., 
Hamilton,  P., 
Lane,  Benjamin  F., 
Monfort,  L.  M., 
McCandless,  Wilson, 
Myers,  John  V., 
McClellan,  John, 
May  field,  Joseph, 
Pitman,  Burress  E., 
Pembroke,  John  F., 
Parker,  Henry, 
Rhea,  Elias  B., 
Reed,  Henry  G., 
Shannon,  John  F., 
Stewart,  Francis  M., 
Shannon,  James  P., 
Stewart,  John  F., 
Smith.  Joseph  A., 
Smith,  William  F., 
Tunis,  Isaac, 
Vincent,  David  A., 
Weaver,  John, 
Wilson,  Lewis  R., 
Broaddus, Thomas  H. 
Carroll,  John  R., 
Cupp,  William  C.f 
Ellis,  James  C., 
Gibson,  Samuel  F., 
McClure,  Hugh, 
Sims,  John, 

Wilhelm 


Carroll,  Daniel  M., 
Craig,  Simeon, 
Downen,  Thomas  J., 
David,  George  H., 
Dallam,  Samuel  W., 
Edmoudson,  Thoinos, 
Gibson,  John, 
Howe,  John  B., 
Hogue,  George  P., 
Hummer,  John, 
Laughlin,  Robert  F., 
McCandless,  Moses  A. 
Maxwell,  John  C., 
McClellan,  James  C., 
McClellan,  Wm.  G., 
Pennington,  Jos.  L., 
Pitman,  George, 
Plotts,  Thomas  M., 
Painter,  George, 
Ricketts,  Harvey, 
Reed,  William  R., 
Scudder,  Jesse  B., 
Stewart,  Thomas  B. 
Seward,  John  W.. 
Scudder,  Martin  V., 
Smith,  James  H., 
Tunis.  Joseph, 
Vail,  Thomas  J., 
Weaver,  William, 
Withrow,  James  E., 
Wilson,  Rufus  R., 
Bridges,  Thomas  B., 
Cupp,  Jonas  P., 
Decker,  Nathaniel, 
Faber,  Jacob, 
McCliutock,  Karr, 
Pace,  Ingram  A., 
Wilhelm  A., 
Samuel  P. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTKY. 

This  regiment,  than  whom  a  more  gal- 
lant or  heroic  one  did  not  enter  the  ser- 
vice of  the  union,  was  organized  atQuincy, 
Illinois,  in  -August,  1862,  by  Colonel 
William  H.  Bennison.  It  was  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  general  govern- 
ment on  the  1st  of  December,  1862,  and 


was,  at  once,  ordered  to  report  at  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  upon  arrival  there 
it  was   assigned    to    the    2nd  brigade, 
4th   division,  army   of    the   Ohio.       It 
was  afterwards  transferred  to  the  2d  brig- 
ade, 2d  division,  14th  army  corps.    While 
at  Louisville,,  the  regiment  was  tempo- 
rarily detached  from  the  brigade,  and, 
under  the  command  of  General  Boyle, 
did  guard  duty  in  various  parts  of  Ken- 
tucky.    While  engaged  in  this  duty  the 
regiment  received  its  "baptism  of  fire," 
having  been  engaged  with  the  confeder- 
ates under    General    Morgan,  at   New 
Haven.     In  the   latter  part  of  Decem- 
ber, 1862,  General  Bosecrans,  who  had 
assumed  the  command  of  this  army,  com- 
menced  concentrating  troops  at  Nash- 
ville, and  shortly  afterwards  fought  the 
battle  of  Murfreesboro,  which  for  a  time 
drove  the  enemy  out  of   Kentucky,  and 
the  78th  was  ordered  to  rejoin  the  main 
army.     In  June,  1862,  it  took  part  in  the 
forward  movement  of  the  union  forces 
under  Bosecrans,  who  with  sixty  thou- 
sand men,  threatened  the  communication 
of  General  Bragg  and  compelled  that 
commander  to  evacuate  Chattanooga,  on 
the  8th  of  September.      General  Bose- 
crans under  the  impression  that  Bragg' s 
forces    in    retreat    were    demoralized, 
pushed  on  in  his  rear,  but  the  confeder- 
ate commander,  who  was   an  able  one, 
receiving  heavy  reinforcements,  turned 
and  met  his  pursuer.      This  he  did  with 
so  much   suddenness  and  ferocity,  that 
the  union  forces  narrowly  escaped  being 
cut  up  in  detail,  as  they  were  scattered 
along  a  line  forty  miles  in  length.     Gen- 
eral Bosecrans,  who  was  on  hand,  rap- 
idly concentrated  his  forces,  and  the  two 
armies  met  at  Chickamauga  creek.     The 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


177 


first  day's   engagement,  although  a  hot 
one,  was   indecisive  and  on  the  second 
day,  the   20th  of  September,  1863,  the 
day  had  hardly  dawned  ere  the  roar  of 
artillery,  and  the  sharp  rattle  of  musketry 
awoke  the.  slumbering    echoes    of  the 
"River  of  Death,"  the  Indian  name  of 
the  creek  bearing  that    interpretation. 
All  the  forenoon  the  battle   raged  with 
unparalleled  fury,  but  about  noon  the 
federal  line  was  broken  for  a  few  mo- 
ments by  the  passing  of  troops  to  the 
left,  then  hard  pressed.     General  Long- 
street,  of  the   confederate   army,  seized 
the  opportunity  and  hurling  the  neces- 
sary forces  on  the  weakened  center,  soon 
swept  it   and  the  right  wing  from  the 
field.    The  demoralized  fugitives,  in  their 
headlong  flight  carried  off  General  Rose- 
crans  with  them.       All,  now,  depanded 
upon   General  Thomas   who  had    com- 
mand of  the  left  wing,  which   yet  stood 
steadfast.     The  gallant  78th,  then  in  the 
division   commanded  by   General  Sted- 
man,  was  with  this  part  of  the  army  and 
did  noble  service   in  helping  save  the 
union  forces  from  utter  rout.  All  through 
that  long  afternoon,  the  entire  confed- 
erate army  surged  around  that  band  of 
heroes,-  a  body  of  brave  men  commanded 
by  as  brave  a  commander,  who  by  the 
firmness  of  their  front,  earned  for  Gen- 
eral Thomas    the    proud    sobriquet  of 
"  rock  of  Chickamauga."     The  78th  lost 
severely  in  this  conflict,  Major   William 
L.  Broaddus.  of  Macomb,  being  among 
the  killed,  at  the  first  volley  of  the  rebels. 
Gallantly  they  stood  at  their  post,  and 
their   colonel  having  been   asked  how 
long  he  could  hold  a  certain  point  where 
they  had  been  stationed,  and  had  been 
holding  against  great  odds,  replied,  "un- 


til the  regiment  is  mustered  out  of  serv- 
ice." When  the  shades  of  night  had 
gathered  around  both  armies,  General 
Thomas,  deliberately  and  sullenly,  with- 
drew his  forces  to  Chattanooga,  picking 
up  five  hundred  prisoners  by  the  way. 

Colonel  Bennison,  who  although  quite 
a  favorite  among  the  men  of  the  regi- 
ment was  not  liked  by  the  officers,  and 
the  latter  asking  him  to  resign,  he  did  so 
and  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Colo- 
nel Carter  Yan  Vleck,  of  McDonough 
county. 

The  union  army  was  now  shut  up  in 
the  fortifications  of  Chattanooga,  Bragg 
occupying  the  surrounding  hills  and  cut- 
ting off  all  communications.  General 
Grant  superceded  General  Rosecrans  in 
the  command,  and  soon  appeared  among 
the  starving  troops.  Reinforcements 
now  poured  in  and  communications  were 
once  more  established  and  active  opera- 
tions against  the  enemy  commenced  in 
which  the  78th  bore  its  full  part. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1864,  General 
Sherman  moved  with  an  army  of  one 
hundred  thousand  men  toward  Atlanta. 
Among  them  marched  the  78th.  For 
one  hundred  miles  there  was  constant 
skirmishing,  interspersed  with  bloody 
battles.  At  Dalton,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Lost 
mountain,  and  Kenesaw  mountain,  the 
enemy  was  met  in  great  numbers,  and 
battles  of  great  magnitude  were  fought. 
At  Kenesaw  in  particular,  the  78th  dis- 
played unequalled  valor  in  the  attack  on 
the  enemy's  works.  Finally,  on  the  10th 
of  July,  1864,  General  Joseph  E.  John- 
ston retired  to  the  entrenchments  of 
Atlanta,  and  Sherman  invested  the  city. 
In  all  the  engagements  that  proceeded 
the  fall  of  that  doomed  city,  the  78th  bore 


178 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  full  share,  but  sad  losses  befell  it. 
Colonel  VanVleck,  than  whom  there  was 
no  better  officer,  was  "mortally  wounded 
by  a  sharpshooter,  and  died  on  the  23d 
of  August,  1864,  while  many  of  the  offic- 
ers and  men  were  killed  or  maimed  by 
the  fatal  bullet  or  bursting  shell.  Illi- 
nois gloried  in  the  f  aine  of  her  honored 
sons,  but  wept  for  the  dead  heroes  on  the 
stricken  field.  The  following  beautiful 
lines  were  written  by  a  lady  upon  hear- 
ing of  the  sad  losses  sustained  by  this 
favorite  regiment  in  this  campaign: 

Cold  are  the  sleepers 
Wrapt  in  their  shrouds- 
Pale  are  the  weepers 
The  battle  has  bowed; 
Softly  they  slumber, 
Our  soldiers  in  death — 
While  hearts  without  number 
Cry,  with  hushed  breath — 
O  God,  are  they  dead ! 

Pale  are  the  sleepers. 
Like  marble  they  lie — 
Sad  are  the  weepers, 
Tear-stained  their  eyes; 
Quiet  they  slumber, 
Soldiers  entombed, 
While  hearts  without  number, 
All  shrouded  in  gloom, 
Cry— O,  are  they  gone ! 

Calm  are  the  sleepers, 
Taking  their  rest- 
Sad  are  the  weepers, 
Joyless  their  breasts; 
Softly  they  slumber, 
Our  soldiers  to-day, 
While  hearts  without  number 
Cry,  only  this  way 
Can  our  battles  be  won? 

After  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta  by 
Hood  and  the  subsequent  occupation  by 
Sherman,  the  78th,  with  the  balance  of 
the  army  under  that  matchless  com- 
mander, Sherman,  lay  encamped  for 


about  three  weeks,  and  then  entered  upon 
that  celebrated  "march  to  the  sea,"-  that 
is  so  well  known  as  to  need  no  comment 
in  this  connection, suffice  it  to  say  that  in 
that  campaign,  that  commenced  in  At- 
lanta pierced  the  confederacy,  and  ter- 
minated by  the  "grand  review,"  at  Wash- 
ington, the  78th  was  always  on  hand  for 
any  emergency,  and  added  fresh  leaves 
to  their  crown  of  laurels.  During  this 
march  the  regiment  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Maris  R.  Vernon.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  of  the  service  of 
the  government,  June  7,  1865,  and  re- 
turned to  their  homes. 

In  this  regiment  there  were  214  men 
from  this  county,  and  of  that  number  15 
were  killed,  28  wounded,  and  23  died  of 
disease  while  in  service,  20  were  taken 
prisoners,  6  of  whom  died  at  Anderson- 
ville,  and  3  at  Libby. 

EIGHTY-FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

Colonel: 
Lewis  H.  Waters. 

Adjutant: 
Charles  E.  Waters. 

Quartermaster : 
Louis  A.  Simmons. 

Surgeon: 
James  B.  Kyle. 

COMPANY    A. 

Captains: 
John  P.  Higgins.          Willis  Edson. 

Second  Lieutenants : 
William  F.  Stearns.     John  S.  Walker. 

Sergeants: 

John  McCabe,  Edwin  B.  Rail, 

Thomas  M.  Whitehead. 

Corporals: 

Warren  S.  Odell,          Joseph  B.  Wortman, 
David  J.  Tuggle,          Quincy  A.  Roberts, 
William  J.  Lea,  Thomas  J.  Starns, 

William  Jones. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


179 


Piivates: 

Allen,  Coff'ner  W.,       Archer,  George  C., 
Blair,  Samuel,  Brotherton,   Silas  E., 

Butler,  Preston,  Baker,  John, 

Clark,  Jacob,  Clarke,  James  S., 

Clark,  Milton,  Casto,  George  W., 

Casto,  Thomas  J.,  Cox,  Nathan  C., 
Covalt,  Abraham  B.,  Crane,  John  A., 
Case,  Edward,  Dunsworth,  D.  B., 

Driscoll,  John,  Deardorff,  Joseph, 

Davis,  John  W.,  Feuton,  George, 

Gadd,  Frank,  Green,  William  T., 

Holliday,  Francis  M.,  Kelly,  James, 
Lane,  David  H.,  Lutes,   Granville    M., 

Misener,  Charles  W.,  Maury,  Thomas  B., 
Morris,  Richard  L.,     Nolan,  Michael, 
Owen,  Nathaniel,         O'Bryan,  Edward, 
Parks,  George,  Parks,  John, 

Pelsor,  John  C.,  Patrick,  Samuel, 

Patrick,  Charles,          Remick,  Augustus, 
Reno,  Joseph  L.,          Robertson,  James  T. 
Shoopman,  Jacob,        Spear,  Samuel  R., 
Shepherd,  Thomas  J.,  Slyter,  Philo, 
Slyter,  Lorenzo,  Smizer,  John, 

Tuggle,  Crawford,        Voorhees,  George  R., 
Voorhees,  John,  Walker,  Daniel, 

White,  Thomas  W.,    Wood,  Richard  A., 
Willis,  Able  H.,  Wilson,  Zacharia, 

Whiting,  Charles  H.,  Wells,  Christopher  C. 
Dawson,  Richard  A.    Clarke,  Benjamin  F., 
Chase,  Chauncey,         Mitchell.  Wilford, 
McCamenout  J.  P.       Willis  George  W. 

COMPANY  B. 
Corporals : 
R.  H.  McClintock,       David  G.  Harland. 

Privates: 

Andrews,  Martin,        Chappell,  W., 
Hanuon,  Patrick,         Green,  Wm.  T., 
Leighty,  John  H.,        Miles,  Augustus, 
Mitchell,  Coleman,      Smiter,  James  P., 
Stambaugh,  Jacob,      Stambaugh,  Samuel, 
Toland,  John  T.,          Walker,  Ebeuezer, 
Walker,  Samuel,         Greer,  John  A., 

COMPANY  c. 

Captain: 

William  Ervin. 

First  Lieutenant: 

Joseph  G.  Waters. 


Second  Lieutenants: 
Wm.  P.  Pearson,          Wm.  F.  Jones, 

First  Sergeant: 
William  T.  Harris. 

Sergeants: 

John  S.  Provine,  George  T.  Yocum, 
John  A.  Eyre,  Wm.  Pointer. 

Corporals: 

Daniel  Wooley,  William  J.  Hensley, 

Edward  S.  Piper,         Alex.  Blackburn, 
Wm.  L.  Hampton,      Nathan  A.  Miller. 

Privates: 

A  dcock,  Joseph  T.,      A  very,  Daniel, 
Broaddus,  Thos.  H.,    Brooks,  Francis, 
Brown,  David,  Bowlin,  John  S., 

Cord,  William  G.,        Chapman,  Wm.  A,, 
Champ,  Martin  H.,     Dailey,  James, 
Dailey,  Isaac  W.,         Erwin,  Jesse  L., 
Foley,  William  H.,      Ferguson,  J.  V., 
Hill,  James,  Harris,  John, 

Hall,  Henry,  Herron,  Wesley  C., 

Harris,  George  W.,       Herndon,  Allen  A., 
Hammer,  Josiah  Y.,    Harlan,  Marcus  L  , 
Johnson,  James,          Kemble,  Thomas  E., 
Kelsey,  Cyrus,  Lee,  Cicero  B., 

Markham,  Albert,  McQuestion,  Alex., 
Martin,  Thomas  J.,  McDaniels,  G.  W., 
Maines,  David,  Maxwell,  George, 

Pennington,  C.  W.,     Provine,  James  H., 
Purdam,  Abraham,      Purdam,  James, 
Peunington,  R.  W,,     Pennington,  W.  T., 
Rollins,  John  H.,         Ringer,  William  W., 
Sumpter,  Henry,         Simmons,  Wm.  W., 
Sweeney,  John  W.,     Stratton,  John  W., 
Stratton,  Elijah,  Smith,  Samuel  A., 

Smith,  Edward,  Swigart,  Josiah, 

Sweeney,  William,      Tandy,  Jeptha  M., 
Venable,  John  W.,      Vleet,  David, 
VanMeter,  Henry,       Witherell,  Cyrus, 
Willis,  Abraham  V.,  Winslow,  Wm.  H., 
Wiuslow,  Charles  F.,  Wilkinson,  F., 
Wayland,  Wm.  H.,     Walker,  Wm.  C., 
Hunter,  James  H.,      Hankins,  John. 

COMPANY   E. 

Taylor,  Benjamin  F. 

COMPANY  F. 

Second  Lieutenants: 
Samuel  Frost,  Joseph  Price, 


180 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Corporals: 

Eli  Elwell,  James  H.  Kennie, 

Rufus  L.  Cox. 


Privates: 


Benson,  Vachel, 
Graves,  Allen, 
Hammond,  Benj  , 
Kerr,  Clayburu  T., 
McCouuell,  George, 
McFadden,  Satn'l  N., 
Seaburn,  George, 
Shaffer,  John, 
Swearingen,  George, 
Turner,  Thomas  B., 
Walroth,  Abram  N., 


Enders,  Christopher, 
Herlocker,  James  M., 
Kerr,  George  N., 
Knock,  Daniel, 
Miller,  Levi  A., 
Nebergall,  Reuben  J., 
Sloan,  John  F., 
Swearingiu,  Martin, 
Thomas,  John, 
Wetsel,  Christopher, 
Gulp,  William. 


THE  EIGHTY-FOURTH  INFANTEY. 

One  of  the  most  gallant  regiments  of 
a  gallant  state  was  the  one  known  as  the 
84th  infantry.  It  was  organized  at 
Quincy,  Illinois,  in  August,  1862,  by 
Colonel  Lewis  H.  Waters,  who  had 
served  a  few  months  as  the  lieutenant- 
colonel  of  the  28th  infantry,  and  who  had 
resigned  to  come  home  and  raise  a  new 
regiment.  On  the  1st  of  September, 
1862,  the  regiment  was  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States  with 
951  men,  rank  and  file.  It  was  on  Sep- 
tember 23,  ordered  to  report  at  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky,  and  on  arrival  at  that 
place  was  assigned  to  the  10th  brigade 
of  the  4th  division,  and  -on  the  29th  of 
the  same  year  marched  with  the  balance 
of  the  troops  in  pursuit  of  General  Bragg. 
After  a  long  and  weary  march  through 
Bardstown,  Danville,  Perryville,  Crab 
Orchard,  Wild  Cat,  Somerset,  Columbia, 
Gallatin  and  Silver  Springs,  the  com- 
mand reached  Nashville,  Tennessee.  The 
first  battle  of  any  importance  in  which 
the  regiment  participated  was  that 
known  as  Stone  River,  or  the  battle  of 
Murfreesboro,  which  occurred  on  the 


31st  of  December  1862,  and  on  the  2d 
and  3d  of  January  1863.  General  Rose- 
craiis  had  assumed  the  command  of  the 
army  lately  under  General  Buell  and 
had  concentrated  his  forces  at  Nashville. 
From  thence  he  inarched  to  meet  Gen- 
eral Braxton  Bragg,  the  'rebel  com- 
mander, who,  with  a  heavy  column  was 
moving  north  on  a  second  grand  expedi- 
tion, and  had  already  reached  Murfrees- 
boro. Both  Generals  had  formed  the 
same  plan  for  the  approaching  contest. 
As  the  union  left  was  crossing  Stone 
river  to  attack  the  rebel  right,  the  strong 
rebel  left  fell  heavily  on  the  weak  union 
right.  At  first  the  onset  was  irresistable. 
But  General  Sheridan  was  there  and  his 
generalship  held  the  ground  until  Rose- 
crans  could  recall  the  left,  replant  his 
batteries  and  establish  a  new  line  of  bat- 
tle. Upon  this  new  front  the  rebels 
charged  four  times,  but  were  driven  back 
with  heavy  losses.  This  was  upon  the 
31st  of  December.  On  the  2d  of  Janu- 
ary following  General  Bragg  renewed 
the  contest,  but  being  again  unsuccess- 
ful, retreated.  This  is  claimed  to  have 
been  one  of  the  bloodiest  conflicts  dur- 
ing the  war,  and  the  gallant  84th  play 
the  part  of  heroes,  losing  228  men,  killed 
and  wounded.  This  battle  was  the  last 
attempt  of  the  rebels  to  wrest  Kentucky 
from  our  grasp,  and  placed  General 
Bragg  upon  the  defensive.  At  Wood- 
bury,  on  the  17th  of  January,  while  in 
pursuit,  the  84th  had  another  brush  with 
the  enemy,  but  no  general  engagement 
took  place  until  during  the  summer 
months.  General  Rosecrans,  feeling  his 
inferiority  in  cavalry,  made  no  formal 
movement  until  June,  when  with  60,000 
men,  among  whom  was  the  84th,  he 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


181 


marched  in  search  of  General  Bragg. 
The  latter  lay  at  Chattanooga,  and  when 
Eosecrans  threatened  his  communica- 
tions, he  was  too  able  a  strategist  to 
allow  himself  to  be  cooped  up  in  a  forti- 
fied place,-  and  evacuated  the  place. 
Eosecrans,  thinking  that  Bragg  was  in 
full  retreat  pushed  on  rapidly  in  his 
rear,  but  the  rebel  general,  having  re- 
ceived some  powerful  re-inforcements, 
turned  on  him  so  suddenly  that  he  well 
nigh  caught  him  unprepared  and  scat- 
tered over  40  miles  of  line.  But  the 
union  forces  rapidly  concentrated,  and 
the  two  armies  met  upon  the  Chicka- 
mauga,  the  ''river  of  death,"  as  the  In- 
dian name  implies.  On  the  19th  of  Sep- 
tember the  armies  engaged  but  the  con- 
test was»indecisive  and  on  the  20th  was 
resumed.  About  noon  the  federal  line 
became  broken  from  the  movement  of 
troops  to  help  the  left  wing,  then  hardly 
pressed.  Longstreet  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity and  pushed  a  brigade  into  the 
gap,  and  following  it  up,  swept  the  union 
right  and  center  from  the  field.  The 
crowd  of  fugitives  bore  Eosecrans,  him- 
self away.  In  this  crisis  of  the  battle 
all  depended  upon  the  left  under  General 
Thomas,  who  alone  stood  between  the 
rebels  and  disaster  and  rout.  All 
through  the  long  afternoon  these  veter- 
ans stood  whilst  around  them  surged  the 
whole  rebel  force,  but  in  vain,  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Ohio  and  Minnesota's  bravest  men 
stood  there  and  bore  the  brunt  of  many 
a  hard  pressed  charge  and  earned  for 
General  Thomas  his  name  of  "Eock  of 
Chickamauga."  When  night  had  come, 
General  Thomas  deliberately  withdrew 
to  Chattanooga.  All  through  this  bloody 
day,  the  84th  fought  nobly  and  when 


rallied  around  their  colors  and  the  roll 
called,  172  men  failed  to  respond,  being 
either  killed  or  wounded.  They  now 
with  the  balance  of  the  union  army  were 
shut  up  in  the  entrenchments  of  that 
place,  while  Bragg  occupied  the  hills  and 
threatened  the  city.  The  garrison  was 
threatened  with  starvation. 

Grant  was  now  appointed  to  supercede 
General  Eosecrans,and  hastened  to  Chat- 
tanooga, but  being  afraid  that  Thomas, 
who  had  command  after  Eosecrans  left, 
would  surrender  before  re-inforcements 
could  reach  him,  telegraphed  him  to  hold 
fast.  The  old  Eoman's  reply  was  "I 
will  stay  till  I  starve."  On  Grant's  arri- 
val things  began  to  wear  a  different  as- 
pect. A  corps  from  the  army  of  the  Po- 
tomac, 23,000  strong  under  General  Jo- 
seph Hooker  came,  and  General  W.  T. 
Sherman  hastened  by  forced  marches 
from  luka,  200  miles  away,  and  commu- 
nications were  again  restored.  On  the 
24th  of  November,  the  84th  was  ordered 
on  duty  and  helped  fight  the  ever  mem- 
orable battle  of  Lookout  Mountain. 
Hooker  was  ordered  to  charge  the  enemy 
but  to  stop  on  the  high  ground,  but  the 
men,  carried  away  by  the  ardor  of  the 
attack,  swept  on,  over  the  crest,  driving 
the  enemy  before  them.  The  next  morn- 
ing Hooker  advanced  on  the  south  of 
Missionary  Eidge.  Sherman  had  been 
the  whole  time  pounding  away  on  the 
northern  flank,  and  Grant  perceiving 
that  the  rebel  line  in  front  of  him  was 
being  weakened  to  repel  these  attacks  on 
the  flank,  saw  that  the  critical  moment 
had  arrived  and  launched  Thomas'  corps 
on  its  center. 

"The  signals  for  the  attack  had  been 
arranged,"  says  B.  F.  Taylor,  in  his  ac- 


182 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


count  of  the  battle,  "six  cannon  shots 
fired  at  intervals  of  two  seconds.  The 
moment  arrived.  Strong  and  steady  the 
order  rang  out:  Number  one,  fire!  num- 
ber two,  fire!  number  three,  fire!  It 
seemed  to  me  like  the  tolling  of  the 
clock  of  destiny.  And  when  at  number 
six,  fire!'  the  roar  throbbed  out  with  the 
flash,  you  should  have  seen  the  dead  line, 
that  had  been  lying  behind  the  works  all 
day,  come  to  resurrection  in  the  twink- 
ling of  an  eye,  and  leap  like  a  blade  from 
its  scabbard." 

The  orders  were  to  take  the  rifle-pits 
at  the  foot  of  Missionary  Eidge,  then 
halt  and  re-form;  but  the  men  forgot 
them  all,  and  carrying  the  works  at  the 
base,  swept  up  the  ascent.  Grant  caught 
the  grand  inspiration,  and  ordered  a 
grand  charge  along  the  whole  front.  Up 
they  went,  without  firing  a  shot,  over 
rocks,  trees,  and  stumps,  surmounted  the 
crest,  captured  the  guns  and  turned 
them  upon  the  enemy,  now  fully  routed 
and  in  disorderly  retreat.  Although  the 
84th  held  its  accustomed  place,  in  these 
battles  it  was  fortunate  enough  to  lose 
only  nine  men. 

Early  in  the  spring  General  Sherman 
started  upon  the  ever  memorable  Atlanta 
campaign.  He  had  with  him  about  100,- 
000  men  of  all  arms,  among  whom  was 
the  84th  Illinois.  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  the  rebel  commander,  barred 
the  way  and  the  heroic  regiment  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  at  Dalton,  on  the  13th 
of  May,  1864,  Eesaca,  May  14,  Burnt 
Hickory,  May  26  to  31,  and  Dallas,  June 
1,  2  and  3.  At  the  battle  of  Kenesaw 
mountain  and  during  the  siege  of  Atlanta 
it  bore  a  prominent  part.  When  Sher- 
man drew  out  of  Atlanta,  Thomas'  corps 


was  left  to  defend  Nashville,  and  during 
the  sanguinary  conflicts  that  occurred  at 
Franklin  and  Nashville,  December  15, 
and  16,  the  84th  bore  off  the  usual  palm 
of  victory.  The  total  casualities,  in  the 
different  battles,  in  this  regiment  reached 
the  number  of  558  men.  On  the  8th  of 
June,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  the 
84th  was  mustered  out  of  service  and  re- 
turned home.  There  were  205  men 
from  McDonough  county  in  this  favor- 
ite regiment,  in  five  different  companies, 
A,  B,  0,  D  and  F,  and  of  these  11  were 
killed;  39  died;  39  were  wounded,  and 
one  was  captured  and  died  in  Anderson- 
ville  prison-pen. 

EIGHTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   A.  * 

Campbell,  Thomas,      Moss,  Samuel, 
Peterman,  David  P..    Randolph,  John  H. 

COMPANY  F. 

Sergeant: 
James  W.  Filson, 

Private: 
Hollenbeck,  Francis. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  THIRD  IN- 
FANTRY. 

COMPANY  F. 

Corporal: 
Andrew  J.  Justice. 

Musicians: 

William  A.  Smith,       William  E.  Cooper, 
Privates : 

Buck,  Joseph  H.,          Buck,  Joseph, 
Baughman,  Samuel,    Holler,  William, 
Post,  William. 

COMPANY  G. 

Ames,  Americus,         Myers,  Artemus, 
Yocum,  John  W. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


183 


ONE   HUNDRED  AND   EIGHTEENTH 
INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    A. 

Freeman,  John  P.,       Fortney,  Henry  M., 
Leal,  Clark.  Martin,  Henry  C. 

COMPANY  B. 

Burham,  James  T.,  Haigh,  John, 

Ladd,  Andrew  L.,  McCants,  Leander, 

Mattelu,  Conrad.  Ramsey,  Samuel, 

Wells,  Lewis  T.  Weider,  Alonzo. 

COMPANY  E. 

Corporals: 
Jacob  D.  Bungar.         Thomas,  George  W. 

COMPANY  I. 

House,  William  A. 

COMPANY  K. 

Hazel,  Solomon,  Martin,  George  W., 

Philip,  Felix  L.  Toland,  D.  L. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  NINETEENTH 
INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  H. 

Captain: 
Samuel  McConnell. 

First  Lieutenants: 
Henry  C.  Mullen,        Jackson  Wells. 

Second  Lieutenant: 
Samuel  D.  Sawyer. 

First  Sergeant: 
Nathan  B.  McGraw. 

Sergeants: 

Levi  S.  Mills,  Joel  C.  Bond, 

Robert  T,  Carter,         Parvis  H.  Moore, 


Privates: 


Arthur,  Daniel, 
Amos,  George  W., 
Booth,  James  Jr,, 
Booth,  James  C., 
Booth,  John, 
Clark,  James, 
Crownover,  F.  L., 
Covert,  John, 
Duncan,  Benjamin, 


Anderson,  Wm.  H., 
Bond,  Benjamin, 
Burchett,  Henry  B., 
Bechtel,  David, 
Carter,  John  E., 
Covert,  Joseph  B., 
Covert,  David, 
Cruser,  DeWitt  T.  B., 
Duncan,  James  E., 


Dewey,  William  H., 
Frost,  Richard  T., 
Falck,  Frederick, 
Fleming,  John, 
Farley,  George, 
Hobart,  John, 
Hunt,  Manning  F., 
Kepple,  James  V., 
Lemmons,  James  H., 
McKennelley,  W.L., 
McMein,  Ammon  P., 
Oglesby,  William  T., 
Pelley,  John  D., 
Plotts,  Martin  L., 
Pugh,  Alexander, 
Snook,  Roswell  H., 
Thomas,  William, 
Whittlesey,  Wm.  H., 
Maxwell,  John  A., 
Camp,  Thomas  J., 
Hyde.  Charles, 
Ralston,  David  R., 


Eby,  Jeremiah  W., 
Faust,  Charles, 
Fran  ken  burg,  Benj., 
Faulkner,  William, 
Gilson,  Alpheus  M., 
Hall,  James, 
Loggard,  Tolbert, 
Kantz,  George, 
Long,  Samuel  C., 
VtcMaster,  Wm.  W., 
Noel,  William  T., 
Parviu,  Isaac  M., 
Plotts,  John  C., 
Purman,  John  H., 
Stearns,  Abdallah  M., 
Sutton,  James  A., 
Wilson,  Lewis, 
Fraukenburg,  J.  W., 
Morris,  John, 
Couch,  William  H., 
Ittle,  John, 
Wagner,  John. 


THE  ONE  HUNDBED   AND   NINETEENTH   IN- 
FANTKY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Quin- 
cy,  in  September,  1862,  by  Colonel 
Thomas  J.  Kinney,  and  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  on  the 
10th  of  October.  On  the  2d  of  Novem- 
ber it  was  ordered  to  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky, where  it  went  into  camp,  but 
afterward  removed  to  Jackson,  Ten- 
nessee, and  then  to  Humboldt.  On  the 
30th  of  May,  1863,  it  proceeded  to  Mem- 
phis, where  it  was  assigned  to  the  4th 
brigade,  5th  division  of  the  16th  corps. 
In  January,  1864,  the  regiment  was 
ordered  to  Vicksburg,  where  it  took  part 
in  what  is  known  as  the  Meriden  cam- 
paign, under  General  Sherman.  On  the 
10th  of  March,  1864,  the  regiment,  with 
portions  of  the  16th  and  17th  corps, 
under  the  command  of  General  A.  J. 
Smith,  moved  up  the  Eed  river  to  the 
assistance  of  General  Banks.  General 


184 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Smith's  force  consisted  of  ten  thousand 
infantry  and  three  batteries  of  artillery, 
which  left  Vicksburg,  March  9th,  on 
transports,  accompanied  by  gunboats. 
At  the  mouth  of  the  Red  river  this  fleet 
was  joined  by  Admiral  D.  D.  Porter, 
with  a  large  fleet,  including  several  iron- 
clads. The  fleet  entered  Red  river  by 
the  southern  stream,  and  passed  thence 
into  Achafalaya,  proceeding  as  far  as 
Semmesport,  where  the  troops  disem- 
barked on  the  night  of  the  13th  and  im- 
mediately commenced  a  march  on  Fort 
De  Russey.  No  halt  was  ordered  till  the 
army  had  marched  some  seven  miles.  It 
was  twenty-eight  miles  from  there  to 
Fort  De  Russey.  Nevertheless  the 
army  marched  that  distance  the  next 
day,  constantly  harrassed  by  rebel  cav- 
alry ;  delayed  once  two  hours  at  a  stream 
over  which  a  bridge  had  to  be  made;  at- 
tacked the  fort  and  carried  it  by  storm 
before  sundown  and  before  the  gunboats 
had  arrived. 

At  Fort  De  Russey  they  re-embarked 
and  proceeded  to  Alexandria,  where  the 
troops  again  disembarked  and  remained 
nearly  two  weeks.  At  this  point  the 
column  under  General  Smith  formed  a 
junction  with  the  column  which  had 
marched  from  New  Orleans.  The  boats 
could  not  be  taken  over  the  rapids  while 
laden,  so  the  troops  marched  to  Cotile 
Landing,  some  twenty-five  miles  up  the 
river.  On  April  3d,  the  command  again 
embarked  and  reached  Grand  'Ecore  on 
the  next  evening,  where  it  remained  till 
the  morning  of  the  7th,  when  it  marched 
to  the  front  of  the  battle  of  Pleasant 
Hill,  where  the  brigade  to  which  the 
119th  belonged,  stood  the  brunt  of  the 
fight,  being  the  first  in  the  battle,  fight- 


ing longer  than  any  other,  in  the  hardest 
of  the  contest,  the  last  to  leave  the  field, 
and  losing  three  times  as  many  officers 
and  men  as  any  brigade  engaged. 

At  Bayou  la  Moore  and  Yellow  Bayou, 
they  also  had  a  share  in  the  engage- 
ments that  took  place,  and  did  their 
duty  by  the  old  flag  like  the  heroes  they 
were.  Having  finished  this  campaign, 
the  regiment  returned  to  Vicksburg, 
where  they  arrived  on  the  25th  of  May, 
and  after  a  rest  at  that  place  were  trans- 
ported to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  June  24. 

From  the  latter  place  they  moved  to 
LaGrange,  Mississippi,  and  on  the  5th  of 
July  commenced  the  march  through  that 
state,  returning  to  Memphis  on  the  27th 
of  the  same  month:  On  the  morning 
of  September  5,  they  embarked  and 
were  landed  at  Benton  Barracks,  Mis- 
souri, and  on  the  18th  of  November 
started  on  a  long  and  wearisome  march 
after  the  rebel,  General  Price.  They 
marched  some  seven  hundred  miles  and 
returned  on  the  1st  of  December. 
Hood,  now  in  the  rear  of  Sherman, 
threatened  Nashville,  and  General 
Thomas,  gathered  all  the  men  within 
reach,  for  the  defense  of  that  city,  to 
him,  and  among  them  the  119th  Ill- 
inois. They  arrived  in  time  to  take 
a  part  in  the  battle  on  the  16th  of 
December,  when  the  confederate  for- 
ces were  driven  out  of  their  in- 
trenchments  in  headlong  flight.  The 
union  cavalry  thundered  upon  their 
heels  with  remorseless  energy,  the  in- 
fantry following  closely  behind.  Al- 
most the  entire  rebel  army  was  dissolved 
into  a  rabble  of  demoralized  fugitives, 
who,  at  last,  escaped  across  the  Tennes- 
see. The  war  in  the  west,  so  far  as  great 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


185 


movements  were  concerned,  was  practi- 
cally at  an  end,  but  the  gallant  regiment 
whose  name  graces  the  head  of  this  arti- 
cle were  not  through  with  its  days  of 
battle.  On 'the  8th  of  February,  1865, 
it  embarked  for  New  Orleans,  and  were 
engaged  in  the  assault  at  Spanish  Fort 
and  Fort  Blakely.  It  afterward  went  to 
Mobile  and  Montgomery,  Alabama.  It 
was  mustered  out  August  26,  1865,  and 
arrived  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  Sept- 
ember 4.  Company  H,  of  this  regiment, 
contained  eighty-one  men  from  this 
county,  and  eight  of  them  left  their  bones 
in  southern  soil,  a  peace  offering  to  the 
God  of  war. 

ONE      HUNDRED      AND      TWENTY- 
FOURTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    D. 

Captains : 

Stephen  Brink,  Abraham  Newland. 

Second  Lieutenant: 
Travis  Mellor. 

Sergeant: 
John  Bechtel. 

Corporals: 

John  Baglan,  James  H.  Kirk, 

Joseph  Jackson. 

Musician: 
William  S.  Wilson. 


Privates: 


Byerly,  David, 
Brodbent,  Thomas, 
Bainbridge,  John, 
Calbert,  Simon, 
Dungan,  John, 
Deener,  Wm.  F., 
Ennis,  John  W., 
Green,  Wm.  M., 
Hickman,  William, 
Hainline,  A.  J., 
McKenzie,  William, 
Mourning,  F.  M., 


Bechtel,  A.  G., 
Barrett,  Abner, 
Boyd,  William  H., 
Chapin,  Robert, 
Dewey,  Victor  M., 
Duncan,  Joseph, 
Gartside,  Job, 
Hume,  Thomas, 
Hall,  George, 
Milbourne,  Wm., 
Moore,  John  J., 
Mumma,  David, 


Nelson,  E.  C., 
Spicer,  Benj.  F., 
York,  John, 
Burford,  Wm.  J., 
Hoi  ton,  John  W., 
Huff,  Francis  M., 
Jenkins,  David, 
Mitchell,  Robert, 
Mammon,  Henry  J. 
Richards,  J.  H., 
Shannon,  Walter, 
Shannon,  Edward, 
Swigert,  Zachariah, 
Smith,  John, 

Wear, 


Smith,  John  T., 
Terrill,  John, 
Young,  George  M., 
Delay,  William  H., 
Hutchinson,  A.  H., 
Jarvis,  Henry  M., 
Lowell,  John  H., 
Moore,  John, 
Pyle,  William,  A., 
Richards,  John  T., 
Sullivan,  M.  O., 
Sheets,  George  R.. 
Twitchel,  Almond  D., 
Delay,  Jacob, 
James  M. 


COMPANY  I. 

Captains: 
Thomas  K.  Roach,       Benjamin  A.  Griffith. 

First  Lieutenant: 

Elijah  Barton. 

Second  Lieutenant: 

James  M.  Griffith. 

Sergeant : 
James  S.  Shryak. 

Corporals: 

Thomas  O.  Bugg,         Milo  Hobart, 
David  T.  Guy.  William  B.  Greenup. 

Musician : 
Milton  J.  Stokes. 


Privates : 


Bowers,  Thomas  J., 
Bugg,  Benjamin, 
Campbell,  W.  M., 
Foley,  Thomas, 
Foster,  William, 
Griffith,  Cary  F., 
Harrison,  Joseph  D., 
Keunett,  Jasper, 
McDonald,  Daniel. 
Murphy,  George  C., 
Overton,  Joseph  B., 
Sypherd,  Flavius  J., 
Stodgill,  Isaac  N., 
Wooley,  Moses  F., 
Creasey,  John, 


Browning,  John  W., 
Bugg,  S.  A., 
Duncan,  William  H., 
Forrest,  Henry  T., 
Guy,  Nathaniel  M., 
Hainline,  Joseph  H., 
Hawkins,  William  B., 
McCanley,  William, 
Murfiu,  William, 
Morris,  William  C., 
Phillips,  John  C., 
Stokes,  Wesley  S., 
Teas,  Joseph  C., 
Yard,  Job, 
Fullerton,  Hiram, 


186 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Foley,  James  M., 
Gilbert,  George  G., 
Goodiug,  Lyman, 
Hainliue,  David  L., 
Lovell,  John  N., 
McGraw,  Calvin. 
Murphy,  Luther, 
Sweeney,  William  O., 
Burrows,  William, 
.Frost,  Ephraim, 
Heslop,  George  P., 
Leake,  Fennel, 
Morgan,  John  H., 
Silverston.WilliamF. 


Gilbert,  Barnard, 
Gilbert,  James  R., 
Griffin,  Joseph  F., 
Hawkins,   Ronert  B., 
Lovell,  Charles  W., 
Morton,  George, 
Rymer,  John  H., 
Wariner,  James, 
Divine,  Edwin, 
Haunaford,  Charles  A, 
Johnson,  Amos  B., 
Masteu,  Joel  H., 
Paulk,  Alfred, 
Williams,  S.  L. 


ONE   HUNDEED   AND   TWENTY   FOUKTH   IN- 
FANTRY. 

This  regiment,  which  contained  116 
men  from  McDonough  county  in  com- 
panies D  and  I,  was  organized  at  Camp 
Butler,  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1862,  by  Colonel  Thomas  J.  Sloan, 
and  after  being  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  general  government,  on  the 
6th  of  October  moved  to  Jackson,  Ten- 
nessee, where  it  was  assigned  to  the  3d 
brigade,  1st  division  of  the  13th  corps. 
This  body  of  troops  moved  to  LaGrange, 
Mississippi,  on  the  4th  of  November, 
and  on  the  28th  drove  the  enemy  across 
the  Tallahatchie,  and  advanced  to  the 
Yocona  river,  from  thence  to  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  On  the  13th  of  February, 
1863,  they  moved  down  the  Mississippi 
river  to  Lake  Providence,  and  March  17, 
went  into  camp  at  Berry's  Landing.  On 
the  18th  of  April,  the  regiment  moved 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  and  on  25th  com- 
menced with  the  other  troops  the  cam- 
paign that  ended  in  the  surrender  of 
Vicksburg.  On  the  30th  of  April,  it 
took  part  in  the  sanguinary  and  hotly 
contested  battle  at  Thompson's  Hill,  and 
gained  imperishable  laurels.  In  the  en- 


gagements at  Raymond,  Jackson  and 
Champion  Hills,  May  12,  14  and  16,  re- 
spectively, during  the  entire  seige  of 
Vicksburg,  including  the  assault  on 
Fort  Hill,  they  performed  a  heroic  part. 
After  the  surrender  of  that  redoubtable 
place,  they  rested  until  August  31,  when 
they  entered  upon  the  campaign  to  Mon- 
roe, Louisiana,  and  thence  to  Browns- 
ville, and  was  engaged  in  the  two  days 
battle  at  the  latter  place,  on  the  16th  and 
17th  of  October.  It  went  into  camp  at 
Black  river  November  7,  and  on  the  25th 
engaged  in  a  prize  drill  with  five  other 
regiments,  and  carried  off  the  palm.  At 
a  subsequent  contest  for  a  prize  banner, 
the  124th  received  the  flag,  inscribed, 
"Excelsior  regiment,  3d  division,  7th 
corp^,"  from  the  hands  of  Major  General 
McPherson,  for  excelling  in  soldierly 
appearance,  discipline  and  drill.  On 
the  3d  of  February,  1864,  the  regiment 
entered  upon  the-  famous  Meriden  ex- 
pedition and  returned  to  Vicksburg, 
March  4. 

It  was  engaged  at  Benton  on  May 
7  and  10,  returned  to  Yicksburg  on  the 
21st,  and  in  July,  moved  with  General 
Slocum  on  his  Jackson  campaign,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  sharp  fight  at  Jack- 
son Cross  roads  the  5th  and  7th.  In 
October  it  was  in  the  campaign  to  White 
river  and  Memphis.  Remained  at  Yicks- 
burg doing  guard  and  provost  duty  until 
February  25,  1865,  when  it  removed  to 
New  Orleans.  March  12,  it  embarked 
for  Mobile,  moved  to  Dauphin  Island, 
and  up  Fish  river,  and  commenced  the 
siege  of  Spanish  Fort.  The  regiment 
was  the  extreme  left  of  the  investing 
line,  and,  with  one-half  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  drove  the  enemy  within 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COD  NT  Y. 


187 


their  fortifications.  The  regiment  started 
for  Montgomery,  April  13,  and  July  17, 
1865,  started  home  for  muster  out;  ar- 
rived at  Chicago  August  3,  and  mustered 
out  the  15th. 

ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY- 
FIFTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   H. 

Coon,  Peter. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND   THIRTY- 
SEVENTH  INFANTRY. 

Lieutenant-Colonel : 
Thomas  K.  Roach. 

Surgeon : 
William  A.  Huston. 

Second  Assistant  Surgeon: 
Robert  G.  Scroggs. 

Acting  Assistant  Surgeon: 

Benjamin  I.  Dunn. 

Principal  Musician : 

James  S.  Carroll. 

COMPANY  c. 

Captain : 

Barzillia  Veach. 

First  Sergeant: 

Thaddeus  Huston. 

Sergeant : 
James  H.  Drais. 

Corporals : 

John  B.  Russell,          Fred.  L.  Lancy, 
James  R.  Bailey,          Peter  Mclntosh. 

Musician : 
Charles  Peurose. 


Privates : 


Brooking,  E.  S., 
Brown,  Isaac  N.  P., 
Cord,  Thaddeus  C., 
Darnell,  Homer  L., 
Duncan,  John, 
Essex,  William. 


Barber,  George  W., 
Cemmis,  Samuel, 
Chapman,  Frank  M., 
Dorothy,  Archibald, 
Eakle,  Milton, 
Herron,  Eli  P., 


Hooker,  Francis  M.,    Kious,  Jacob, 


Lea,  William,  J., 
Miller,  Edward  M., 
Maylor,  Albert, 
Roach,  Job  a  M., 
Thompson,  James, 


Martin,  John, 
Moore,  Joseph, 
Nichols,  Henry  P., 
Runkle,  Darius, 
UpdegrafF,  A.  W., 


COMPANY    D. 

Captain : 
John  B.  Johnson. 

First  Lieutenant: 
James  Robb. 

First  Sergeant : 
Charles  Broadbent. 

Sergeants : 
Palmer  E.  Hughson,   Peter  C.  Stire. 

Corporals : 

James  Tannehill,         Orion  H.  Bliss, 
Henry  C.  King,  John  C.  Dewey. 

Privates : 

Arbogast,  Henry,         Boyle,  William, 
Carrier,  George  D., 
Davis,  Albert  W., 
Funk,  Joseph  H., 
Kreider,  Jacob, 
Murray,  Arthur, 
Painter,  John  W., 


Raymond,  Simon, 
Sackett,  Solomon, 


Collar,  Allen  J.  P., 
Drake,  William,  P., 
Hull,  Henry, 
McDonald,  Isaac  J., 
Owens,  Alexander, 
Plotts,  William  L., 
Robinson,  Hamilton, 
Sheley,  Samuel, 


Stantial,  Christopher  P. 

COMPANY  G. 

First  Lieutenant: 
John  M.  Johnson. 

Privates : 

Adcock,  George  P.,      Ackerson,  Joseph, 
Buck,  George  W.,         Carrier,  Alonzo  E,, 
Crabtree,  B.  F.  Henry,  William  J., 

Jellison,  Zimri,  Jellison,  John, 

Johnson,  Edward  R.,  Mallam,  Robert, 
Orr,  John,  Patrick,  Charles, 

Scalf,  William,  Wolf,  Jacob, 

Wilstead,  Thomas  G.,  Whittier,  Laforest, 

COMPANY  I. 

Captain: 
William  H.  Oglesby. 


188 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


First  Lieutenant: 
Andrew  R.  Wilson. 

Second  Lieutenant: 
James  N.  Porter. 

First  Sergeant: 
Charles  D.  Hendrickson. 

Sergeants: 
James  A.  Kyle,  James  T.  McDonald. 

Corporals: 

Edwin  R.  Dudley.        Myron  M.  Myrick, 
Jacob  R.  Dawson,        Silas  W.  Adcock, 
Samuel  F.  Sanders,      Melton  B.  Chupman, 

Privates : 

Austin,  George  W.,  Arnold,  Lewis  C., 
Anderson,  W.  H.,  Adams,  CharlesE., 
Barnes,  Asa  L.,  Barclay,  James, 

Bennie,  James,  Couch,  William  H., 

Carroll,  James  S..  Chambers.  David, 
Couch,  James  W.,  Chaddock,  James, 
Condon,  Andrew  L.,  Clark,  Wilbur  C., 
Davis,  David  A.,  Davidson,  Samuel  I., 

Duncan,  Isaac,  Folsom,  Edgar  A., 

Dinington,  James  R.,  Hogue,  George  P., 
Heusley,  William  J.,  Harris,  Henry  H., 
Hagemau,  C.  W.,         Jones,  George  T., 
Keirns,  William,          Little,  John  P., 
Lownes,  Charles  R.,    Le  Master,  James  L., 
Laughlin,  Edwin  T.,  Martin,  Jacob  E., 
Miller,  Robert  H.,        Montague,  Benjamin, 
Mills,  William  D.,       McGinnis,  John  F., 
Overman,  John  W..     Pottenger,  James  H., 
Porter,  Lester  W.,        Pennell,  William  J., 
Pearson,  Joseph  A.,     Prindle,  Chauncey  R., 
Purkey,  William,         Pugh,  John  W., 
Ratekin,  Wm.  H.,        Rodecker,  Wm.  H., 
Shreves,  Milton,  Scrutchfleld  J.  A., 

Sherman,  A.,  Smick,  William  A., 

Spencer,  W7m.  A.,        Steel,  James, 
Tolaud,  Stephen,         Walker,  James  H., 
West,  Martin,  Woolley,  Lewis  B., 

Wheeler,  Isaac  D.,       Wychoff,  Daniel  L., 
Wells,  David  L.,  Wilson,  Nelson.  M., 

Walker,  Robert  A. 

ONE    HUNDBED    AND    THIRTY-SEVENTH  IN- 
FANTRY. 

During  the  summer  of  1864,  Gener- 
als Grant  and   Sherman  being  actively 


engaged  with  large  armies  against  the 
enemy,  the  governors  of  the  northwestern 
states  proposed  to  the  authorities  of  the 
war  department  to  send  into  the  field  a 
considerable  number  of  troops  for  a  short 
term  of  service,  who  might  relieve  others 
on  guard  and  garrison  duty  at  the  rear, 
and  thus  be  the  means  of  adding  largely 
to  the  force  of  drilled  and  disciplined 
men  at  the  front.  This  proposition  was, 
after  a  time,  accepted,  and  the  term  of 
service  was  established  at  100  days. 
The  governor  of  this  state,  accordingly 
issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  the 
requisite  number  of  these  troops,  in  only 
one  regiment  of  which  was  McDonough 
county  largely  represented.  This  was 
the  137th  Illinois  infantry,  which  was 
organized  at  Camp  Wood,  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois, by  Colonel  John  Wood,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  1864,  for 
one  hundred  days.  On  the  9th  of  June} 
the  regiment  left  Quincy,  and  proceeded 
to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  where  it  was 
assigned  to  the  4th  brigade,  district 
of  Memphis,  Colonel  E.  L.  Baltwick,  of 
the  39th  Wisconsin  infantry,  command- 
ing. On  the  9th  of  July,  it  was  re- 
assigned to  the  third  brigade,  which  was 
placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
John  Wood,  of  this  regiment,  and  was 
stationed  on  the  Hernando  road  on  picket 
duty.  Here,  on  the  21st  of  August,  they 
were  attacked  by  General  Forrest,  the 
partisan  leader,  and  being  on  the  extreme 
outpost,  they  were  the  first  to  meet  the 
enemy,  and  suffered  more  than  any  reg- 
iment there  on  duty. 

There  were  in  this  regiment  from  Mc- 
Donough county,  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  men,  in  four  different  companies. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


191 


Company  C.,  which  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Barzilla  Veatch,  of  Tennessee 
township,  had  thirty-two  men,  rank  and 
file  from  the  county;  company  D,  Cap- 
tain John  B.  Johnson,  of  Prairie  city, 
contained  twenty-eight;  company  G,  sev- 
enteen; and  company  I,  Captain  William 
H.  Oglesby,  of  Bushnell,  seventy-one. 
Out  of  these,  three  were  killed  upon  the 
field  of  battle,  four  died  in  the  service, 
four  were  wounded,  and  twenty  were 
taken  prisoners.  Several  died  after  com- 
ing home,  owing  to  the  hardships  en- 
dured, and  sickness  engendered  by  the 
hard  life  of  a  soldier,  and  exposure.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  United 
States  service,  at  Springfield,  Illinois, 
September,  4  1864. 

Among  the  regimental  officers  of  the 
regiment  were  several  prominent  citi- 
zens of  this  county,  among  whom  were : 
Thomas  K.  Boach,  of  Colchester;  Sur- 
geon William  A.  Huston,  of  Macomb; 
second  assistant  surgeon,  Bobert  G. 
Scroggs,  Bushnell;  and  acting  assistant 
surgeon,  Benjamin  L  Dunn,  Macomb. 
Surgeon  Huston  died  at  Memphis,  June 
25,  1864. 

ONE     HUNDRED    AND    THIRTY- 
EfGHTH  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY   A. 

Duncan,  Dr.  B.  A. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    FIFTY  FIRST 
INFANTRY. 

COMPANY  C. 

Captains: 
George  C.  Steach.         James  L.  Cochran. 

First  Lieutenant: 
Harvey  T.  Gregg. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant: 
Isaiah  L.  Bailey. 


Commissary  Sergeant: 

Zimri  M.  Parvin. 

Hospital  Steward : 

Wiley  C.  Laugford. 

Sergeants: 
William  H.  Parrish.     Henry  Arbogast. 

Corporals : 

John  H.  Dixon,  -Thomas   R.  Ritenour, 

John  W.  Painter,          Abraham  Arthurs, 
Rollins  Whittlesey,      John  H.  Snook, 
Charles  E.  Blackburn. 

Musicians: 
Wilber  C.  Clark.  Richard  Hillyer. 

Privates: 

Wagoner,  J.  8.   K.,      Adams,  Albert  J., 
Atkinson.William  H.,Broaddus,  John  R., 
Brink,  Stephen,  Boyer,  Silas  M., 

Beaver,  Francis  M.,     Chapman,  Henry, 
Campbell,  Murray  L.,  Cottrell,  William  J. 
Collier,  Thomas,  Carter,  George  W., 

Davidson.  Ezikiel  C.,   Davidson,  Garrett, 
Dean,  Thomas  W.,       Dace,  John, 
Gray,  James  A  ,  Green  well,  Francis  M. 

Gadden,  Cyrus  J  ,        Hiuesman,    William, 
Hickman,  Bayard,       Hudson,  Wash.  W., 
Isemau,  David,  Jellison,  John, 

Johnson,  Joseph,          Leighty,  Henry, 
Lester,  Calvin,  Langley,  Baruett  W. 

Laughlin,  Edwin  F.,  Miller,  Charles  C., 
Moore,  James  W.,        Muckey,  George  W., 
Montgomery,  John,     Martin,  John  B., 
Mariner,  George,          Myer,  Benjamin  F., 
Markham,  Byron,        McElvain,  George  H., 
Marsh,  Gilbert  H.,       McLaren,  John, 
Nickerson.D.  A.,          Nash,  Andrew  W., 
Pierson,  Thomas,          Pittsinburgen, Martin, 
Steel,  William,  Sperling,  Robert  B., 

Seafler,  Alliver  P.,       Travis,  James, 
Tittsworth,  John  M.,    Tower?,  Henry  J., 
Thompson,  John  W.,  Thomson,  Charles  L., 
Weisbrod,  George,        Weiubrod,  August, 
Whittier,  Laforrest,     Weukler,  Leopold, 
Waid,  John  J.,  Wolf,' Dallas, 

Barry,  Robert,  Cord,  Thaddeus  C., 

COMPANY  H. 

Corporal: 
Richard  N.  Pearson. 


192 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Privates: 
Brown,  Edwin  F.,       Campbell,  Samuel  A., 


Carstens,  A.  W., 
Hobart,  Lewis, 
Kennedy,  John, 
McGuire,  John, 
McPhersou,  G., 


Crawford,  James, 
Humberd,  J.  P., 
McDermitt,  M., 
McCormick.  Wm., 
Maxwell,  William, 


COMPANY  I. 

Corporal: 

Buchanan,  Ellis. 

Privates: 


Bacon,  Daniel, 
Cowdry,  Spencer, 
Dorset,  Harrison, 
Hudson,  W., 
Hall,  Avory, 
Kelsey,  John  S., 
Nutt,  John, 
Pryor,  Timothy, 


Cochran,  Asbury  C., 
Cook,  Robert, 
Graham,  Hugh, 
Herricks,  Almerlin, 
H  earns,  H.  H., 
Mower,  Francis  M.. 
Pickens,  Wm.  A., 
Roach,  Elam  A., 


Robertson,  John  W.,    Robertson,  Barton, 
Strucker,  Joseph,          Whitston,  Abijah. 


COMPANY     K. 


Allen,  John, 
Caldvvell.  John, 
Evans,  Job  J., 
Fariier,  James, 
Hall,  George  A., 
O'Brien,  John, 
Robertson,  John, 
Upton,  Charles  W., 
White, 


Burrows,  Joseph, 
Cooper,  Robert, 
Farrell,  Michael, 
Htiusaker,  James, 
Lovitt,  Thomas, 
Pike,  John, 
Toner,  John, 
Wallace,  B., 
Thomas. 


ONE    HUNDEED    AND    FIFTY-FIRST    INFAN- 

TBY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at 
Quincy,  Illinois,  and  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service  February  23,  1865, 
for  one  year.  From  Quincy  it  proceed- 
ed to  Springfield,  where  it  received  its 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  was  or- 
dered to  Nashville,  and  on  March  7 
marched  to  Murfreesboro,  and  then  by 
rail  to  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  where 
it  remained  drilling  and  engaged  in 
picket  and  guard  duty  and  scouting. 
On  the  23d  of  April,  Colonel  Woodall 


was  detailed  to  proceed  under  a  flag  of 
truce  to  Macon,  Georgia,  via  Atlanta,  to 
communicate  with  Major-General  Wil- 
son, and  carry  the  terms  offered  to  the 
rebel  General  Warford  for  his  surren- 
der, together  with  that  of  his  command. 
This"  mission  he  executed  with  credit 
and  dispatch  and  was  complimented  by 
his  commanding  officer,  Brigadier-Gen- 
eral H.  M.  Judah. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  they  were  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Kingston,  Georgia,  via 
Resaca  and  Calhoun,  and  arrived  at  that 
town  May  12th,  after  a  most  wearisome 
march. 

The  regiment  marched  into  town  with 
the  precision  of  regulars,  as  they  were 
to  receive  the  surrender  of  the  rebel 
General  Warford  and  his  command,  on 
the  13th,  14th  and  15th  of  May,  1865, 
they  were  employed  in  the  surrender 
and  paroling  of  this  body  of  rebels — 
10,400  in  all,  which  kept  them  busy. 

The  regiment  remained  at  Kingston 
guarding  government  property,  etc. 
July  28,  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Col- 
umbus, Georgia,  where,  January  24, 
1866,  it  was  mustered  out  and  ordered  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  where  it  received 
final  payment  and  discharge,  February 
8,  1866. 

Of  this  regiment  138  were  McDon- 
ough  county  men,  of  whom  but  four 
died,  being  the  only  casualties ;  as  far  as 
known. 

TENTH  MISSOURI  INFANTRY. 

COMPANY    B. 

Captain : 
William  F.  B-jyne. 

First  Lieutenant: 
James  E.  Fleming. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


193 


Sec  »nd  Lieutenant: 
Jerry  Randolph. 

Sergeants: 

David  S.  Randolph,    James  McClellau, 
Calvin  R.  Single,          James  F.  Jones, 
John  H.  Moore. 

Corporals: 

James  F.  Greenup,      Russell  T.  Stokes, 
James  W.  Harlan,        John  Matheny, 
C.  J.  Lindsey,  Crawford  Cubbisou, 

Isaac  Halterman,         John  W.  Clark. 

Musicians: 

C.  Mqrris,  flfer,  J.  W.  Foley,  drummer. 

Privates: 

Samuel  Baldwin,  George  W.  Btney, 

Reece  W.  Barnes,  Andrew  J.  Clark, 

P.  Cubbison,  D iniel  A.  Camp, 

W.  H.  Davis,  Thorn  is  J.  Ferguson, 

Francis  M.  Fleming,  John  H.  Fair, 

Samuel  H.  Frisclive,  EJwin  A.  Farley, 

Albert  Freas,  R  >bert  F.  Frances, 

Hiram  P.  Howe,  Anderson  D.  Hainline 

Joseph  Hensley,  Wm.  O.  Hoskinsou, 

John  Horton,  William  R.  Kirk, 

John  P.  Lane,  Win.  P.  Leaphart, 

William  T.  Moore,  Robert  J.  Mills, 

David  E.  Marler,  Richard  A-  Morris, 

John  Melviu,  William  N.  McGraw, 

Isaac  D.  Morgan,  Robert  S.  Morgan, 

D.  H.  McCartney,  John  W.  Myers, 
Thomas  J.  Martin,  David  C.  Newell, 
Harvey  Oatman,  William  B.  Rice, 
Edward  C.  Rabbit,  Louis  Roberts, 

G.  A.  Robinson,  Hiram  L.  Sweeny, 

John  M.  Sweeny,  Wm.  S.  Stokes, 

Wm.  H.  Stevens,  George  Sherwood, 

G.  W.  Thompson,  L.  C.  Twichel, 

John  E.  Vance,  I.  N.  VanHoesen, 

John  Wooley,  Milton  Woolridge, 

W.  H.  Woods,  Felix  B.  White, 

William  H.  Young. 

TENTH   MISSOURI  INFANTRY. 
COMPANY   B. 

At  the  first  call  for  300,000  men,  made 
by  President  Lincoln  in  1861,  Dr.  W.  K 
Bayne,  of  Macomb,  made  up  a  company, 


and  immediately  wrote  to  Springfield 
and  tendered  its  service  to  Governor 
Yates.  The  Governor  informed  him 
that,  as  he  had  already  accepted  two 
companies  from  McDonough  county, 
and  that  being  their  full  quota,  he  must 
decline  any  more.  The  Doctor,  with  his 
men,  not  desiring  to  quietly  submit  and 
remain  at  home  in  time  of  their  coun- 
try's peril,  concluded  to  go  to  Missouri 
and  enlist,  that  state  being  unable  to  fill 
her  quota.  They  accordingly  went  to 
St.  Louis  without  delay,  tendered  their 
service,  and  were  accepted  by  Governor 
Gamble,  and  were  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States  at  St.  Louis 
Arsenal,  as  company  B.  It  was  put  on 
detached  duty  until  1862,  when  it  was 
assigned  to  the  10th  Missouri  infantry 
2d  brigade,  3d  division,  army  of 
the  Mississippi.  The  doctor  received 
the  commission  of  captain,  and  for  two 
years  led  the  company  through  many  of 
the  hottest  engagements  of  the  rebellion. 
Very  soon  after  the  captain  had  been ' 
commisioned  he  received  a  letter  from 
Governor  Yates  accepting  the  services 
of  his  company,  stating  that  when  the 
two  companies  referred  to  came  to  mus- 
ter they  had  only  men  enough  for  one. 
This  letter  was  received  too  late  to  ef- 
fect any  change.  Had  it  arrived  a  few 
hours  earlier  Captain  Bayne  and  his 
company  would  have  been  in  the  28th 
Illinois  volunteers.  One  of  the  most 
efficient  regiments  engaged  in  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion  was  the 
10th  Missouri  infantry,  and  no  com- 
pany of  that  regiment  did  better  service 
or  has  a  brighter  record  than  company 
B,  of  McDonough  county. 

Many  of  those  enlisting  in  1861  never 


,  .     FCC 


194 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


returned  to  their  homes,  still  there  are 
a  few  of  the  brave  boys  scattered  here 
and  there  over  the  county,  who,  a  number 
years  ago,  were  so  resolutely  determined 
to  defend  their  country.  The  following 
are  some  of  the  more  prominent  engage- 
ments in  which  company  B  took  an  act- 
ive part:  Corinth,  in  the  spring  of  1862; 
luka,  September,  1862;  Corinth,  Octo- 
ber 3  and  4,  1862;  Raymond,  Miss., 
May  12,  1863;  Jackson,  May  14,  1863, 
and  Champion  Hills,  May  16.  The 
company  was  before  Vicksburg  during 
the  seige,  from  May  18  to  July  4,  1863. 
For  accounts  of  these  engagements  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  preceding 
pages. 

SECOND  CALIFORNIA  CAVALRY. 
Faulkner,  Henry  J., 


FIFTY-FOURTH     OHIO     INFANTRY. 

COMPANY     A. 

Depoy,  James. 


FIFTH  CALIFORNIA   INFANTRY. 

Brevet  Captain. 
H.  H.  Stevens. 


UNITED  STATES  VETERAN  VOLUN- 
TEERS. 

COMPANY  A. 

McConnell,  Wm.  J. 

COMPANY  K. 

Vandermint,  Daniel,   Begg,  Matthew, 
Smith.  John  O. 


ENGINEER  REGIMENT  OF  MISSOURI. 

COMPANY  C. 

Butler,  Cyrus  F. 


FIRST  ENGINEER  REGIMENT  OF 
THE  WEST. 

COMPANY   B. 


Folsom,  DeWitt  C., 
Davie,  Sylvester, 
Halterman,  Oliver, 
DeHass,  A.  J., 
Cooper,  David, 
Snyder,  James, 
Tally,  Vincent, 
Flantiegan,  William, 
Spunagle,  William, 
Spunagle,  Jacob, 
Patton,  William  G., 
Moore,  Oliver, 

Maloney, 


Folsom,  Isaac  Y., 
Davie,  Atwood, 
Benedict,  Benjamin, 
Stolcup,  David, 
Hatfield,  Joseph, 
White,  Joseph, 
Clarey,  John, 
Burdell,  Windell, 
Spunagle,  Daniel, 
Hoover,  Benjamin  K., 
Moore,  Peter,       . 
Lamb,  Frank, 
Richard  A. 


EOLL   OF   HONOR. 

The  following  embraces  a  list  of  the 
brave  patriots  from  McDonough  county, 
who  laid  down  their  lives  in  defense  of 
the  union.  Words  were  feeble  in  the 
expression  of  the  gratitude  to  these  gal- 
lant but  unfortunate  comrades;  weak  in 
the  expression  of  honor  with  which  their 
names  are  held  in  fond  remembrance  by 
those  they  died  to  benefit.  May  their 
names  be  handed  down  from  generation 
to  generation;  may  their  children,  and 
children's  children,  speak  of  them  and 
recount  their  deeds  with  reverence,  in- 
spired by  the  remembrance  and  admira- 
tion of  their  noble  sacrifice.  May  their 
sufferings,  their  death,  and  rude  burial 
upon  the  hot  and  dusty  battlefields  of 
the  south,  and  in  the  trenches  of  Ander- 
sonville  and  Libby,  all  tend  to  strengthen 
the  land  they  died  for,  and  make  patri- 
otism's watchword,  " 'Tis  sweet  and  hon- 
orable to  die  for  one's  country.'" 

The  muffled  drum's  sad  roll  has  beat, 

The  soldier's  last  tattoo; 
No  more  on  life's  parade  shall  meet 

The  brave  but  fallen  few. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


195 


On  fame's  eternal  camping  ground 

Their  silent  tents  are  spread, 
And  glory  guards,  with  solemn  round, 

The  bivouac  of  the  dead. 

No  rumor  of  the  foe's  advance 

Now  sweeps  upon  the  wind; 
No  troubled  thoughts  at  midnight  haunt, 

Of  loved  one?  left  behind; 
No  vision  of  the  morrow's  strife, 

The  warrior's  dream  alarm; 
Nor  neighing  horns  nor  screaming  fife, 

At  dawn  shall  call  to  arms. 

Their  shivered  swords  are  red  with  rust, 

Their  plumed  heads  are  bowed; 
Their  haughty  banners  trailed  in  dust, 

Is  now  their  martial  shroud; 
And  plenteous  funeral  tears  have  washed 

The  red  stains  from  each  brow, 
And  the  proud  form  by  battle  gashed, 

Are  free  from  anguish  now. 

Now,  'neath  their  parent  turf  they  rest, 

Far  from  the  gory  field, 
Borne  to  a  Spartan  mother's  breast 

On  many  a  bloody  shield; 
The  sunshine  of  their  native  sky 

Smiles  sadly  on  them  here, 
And  hundred  eyes  and  hearts  watch  by 

The  soldier's  sepulchre. 

Rest  on,  embalmed  and  sainted  dead, 

Dear  as  the  blood  ye  gave! 
No  impious  footsteps  here  shall  tread 

The  herbage  of  your  grave, 
Nor  shall  your  glory  be  forgot, 

While  fame  her  record  keeps, 
Or  honor  points  the  hallowed  spot 

Where  valor  proudly  sleeps. 

Yon  faithful  herald's  blazoned  stone 

With  mournful  pride  shall  tell, 
When  many  a  vanquished  age  has  flown, 

The  story  how  ye  fell! 
Nor  wreck,  nor  change,  nor  winter's  flight, 

Nor  time's  remorseless  doom, 
Shall  mar  one  ray  of  glory's  light 

That  gilds  your  deathless  tomb. 

Jacob  Rutishamer  died  at  Columbus,  Ken- 
tucky, April  4,  1862. 


James  E.  Saddler  died  July  4,  1863. 

Thomas  L.  Holliday  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 

Henry  0.  Calvin  was  mortally  wounded  No- 
vember 11, 1863. 

George  Davis  died  at  Trenton,  Tennessee, 
August  16,  1862. 

Jacob  Oertel  was  killed  at  Holly  Springs, 
December  20,  1862. 

Edward  Curtis  was  killed  at  Sabine,  Louisi- 
ana, Api'il  8,  1864. 

John  H.  Kinkade  died  at  Carrollton,  Louisi- 
ana, August  22,  1863. 

Aaron  Markharn,  a  veteran,  died  at  Baton 
Rouge,  Louisiana. 

Enoch  Nelson  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
September  29,  1865. 

Alexander  L.  Corporal  was  killed  at  Bird's 
Point,  Missouri,  January  10,  1862. 

Daniel  Lair  was  killed  at  Bird's  Point  Janu- 
ary 10,  1862. 

Christian  Myers  was  killed  at  Bird's  Point. 
Missouri,  January  10,  1862. 

Samuel  S.  Schall  died  of  wounds  at  Oxford, 
Mississippi,  December  7,  1862. 

William    B.    Park   died   at   Baton   Rouge, 
Louisiana,  July  14,  1863. 

Benjamin  F.  Pyle  died  at  LaGrauge,   Ten- 
nessee, February  15,  1863. 

Henry  Thompson  died  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, May  5,  1864. 

George  W.  Calkins  was    drowned  at  Clear 
creek  while  scouting. 

George  C.  Gates  was  killed  January  18,  1862, 
at  Bethel,  Tennessee. 

Ephraim  McKinney  died   in  the  service  at 
Memphis.Tennessee. 

Philip  Schenck  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
August  1,  1862. 

John  Jackson  died    at   St.  Louis,  Missouri 
June  18,  1862. 

John  M.  Titus  died  at  Vicksburg,  July  26, 
1864. 

Daniel  F.  Giles  died  at  Napoleonville,  Louis- 
iana. 

Theodore   Mitchell  died   August  2,  1864,  at 
at  Napoleouville,  Louisiana. 

James  Beard  died  at  wounds  at  Vandalia. 


196 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Commissary    Sergeant    James    C.    Can  field 

died  at  Richmond,  Virginia,    March  5, 

1864,  while  a  prisoner  of  war. 
Thomas  Able  died  iu  Andersonville  prison 

July  1,  1864;  number  of  grave,  2,415. 
Henry  H.  Bellew  died  while  a  prisoner  of 

wart  March  1,  1861,  at  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia. 
Captain  Eben  White  died  of  wounds  May  18, 

1865. 
George  L.  Haiuliue,  a  veteran,  was  killed  at 

Bentonville,  March  20,  1865. 
Harrison  H.  Hampton  died    while  in  the 

service. 

Henry  Hart  died  June  2,  1862. 
Edwin   D.  Kelly,  a  veteran,   was  killed  at 

Jonesboro,  Georgia,  September  7,  1864.    • 
Cyrus  Lane,  a  veteran,   missing  since    the 

battle  of  Bentonville. 

Orren  Sperry,  a  veteran,  died  May  31,  1864. 
Charles  Waters,  a  veteran,  died  of  wounds, 

April  24,  1865. 
John  II.  Growl  was  killed  at  Bentonville, 

March  20,  1865. 
George  F.  Hastings  died  from  wounds,  April 

21.  1865. 

Captain  David  P.  Wells  died  April  7,  1862. 
Corporal  James  M.  Eyre  died  September  19, 

1862. 
Corporal  William  Powers  died    October  15' 

1862. 

Sylvester  Yocum  died  May  4,  1862. 
William   C.  Green,  a  veteran,  was  killed  at 

Resaca,  Georgia,  May  15,  1864. 
Isaac  Toland,  a  veteran,  died  April  12,  1865. 
First    Lieutenant     James    Donaldson  was 

killed  July  17,  1864. 

Benjamin  Hendricks  died  March  1,  1862. 
John  Smithwait  died  January  7,  1862. 
Jacob  Newell  died  March  7, 1864. 
William  Murry  died  October  31,  1861. 
James  D.  Ervin  died  at  Little  Rock,  May  9, 

1865. 
David  H.  Messick  died  at  Memphis  April  10, 

1865. 
William    H.   Woods  died  at  Camp  Butler 

March  24,  1865. 
William  P.  Brown  died  at  Colmar,  Illinois. 


Second  Lieutenant  Andrew  W.  McGoughy 
was  killed  July  10,  1864. 

Sergeant  Robert  Pearson  was  killed  at  Shiloh, 
Tennessee,  April  6,  1862. 

Corporal  Joseph  Gill  was  killed  at  Shiloh, 
Tennessee,  April  6,  1862. 

Thomas  Faulkner  was  killed  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  July  12,  1862. 

Josiah  Gill  died  at  Natchez,  Mississippi, 
September  1,  1863. 

William  H.  Matheuy,  a  veteran,  died  at 
Natchez,  Mississippi,  March  10,  1864. 

Albert  Milligan  was  killed  at  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  April  6,  1862. 

Seymore  Nichols  died  of  wounds  received  at 
Hatchie  October  15,  1863. 

Henry  W.  Peurose  ditd  at  Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, August  5,  1862. 

Solomon  R.  Shepherd  was  killed  at  Shiloh, 
Tennessee,  April  6.  1862. 

George  H.  Teas  was  killed  at  Shiloh,  Ten- 
nessee, April  6,  1862. 

William  Twitchell  has  been  missing  since 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Tennessee. 

Corporal  James  H.  Welch  was  killed  at  Shi- 
loh, Tennessee,  April  6,  1862. 

Francis  L.  Warren  died  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, April  15,  1862. 

James  L.  Carter  died  at  Brownsville,  Texas, 
November  2-),  1865. 

Joseph  C.  Plotts  died  at  Fort  Holt,  Kentucky, 
November  22,  1862. 

James  R.  Davis  died  at  Brownsville,  Texas, 
August  30,  1865. 

Martin  Phillips  died  November  6,  1865,  at 
Brownsville,  Texas. 

First  Sergeant  James  M.  Shreeves  died  at 
Vicksburg,  August  19,  1863. 

Corporal  David  M.  Craubaugh,  a  veteran, 
died  of  wounds,  April  14,  1865. 

George  Bane  was  killed  while  on  picket  duty, 
July  14,  1863. 

George  W.  Fowraker  died  at  Walnut  Hills, 
Mississippi,  June  28,  1863. 

Robert  M.  Fugatedied  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, January  14,  1864. 

Oliver  J.  Hoyt  was  killed  at  Vicksburg,  Mis- 
sissippi, May  19,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


197 


Jesse  N.  Inman,  died  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see,-September  27,  1862. 
Joseph  B.  Medaris  died  atBushnell,  Illinois, 

May  2,  18Q4. 

Matthew  McComb  died  at  Bridgeport,  Illi- 
nois, December  25, 1865. 
Joseph  P.  Putnam,  a  veteran,  was  mortally 
wounded  at  Kenesaw  mountain  and  left 
on  the  field  June  27,  1864. 
William    Snapp   died    at    Camp  Sherman, 

Mississippi,  August  29,  1863. 
Sergeant  H.  H.  Weaver  died  at  St.  Loujs 

Aprils,  1863. 
Corporal  James  B.    Murphy   was  killed  at 

.Walnut  Hills,  June  25,  1863. 
Corporal  William  J.  Eckley,  a  veteran,  died 

of  wounds  August  15,  1864. 
George  W.  Eckley  died  at  Camp  Sherman, 

Mississippi,  August  8,  1863. 
John  Sexton  died  at  Camp  Sherman,  Mis- 
sissippi, August  31,  1863. 
George  Hanks  died  at   Corinth,  Tennessee, 

December  24,  1862. 
Corporal  Willia-n  A.  Blume  was   killed  at 

Perryville,  Kentucky,  October  8,  1862. 
Christ    Brinay    died    of    wounds  July     29', 

1864. 

James  Coch ran, a  veteran,  was  killed  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  December  16,  1864. 
Abraham  G.  Chute  died  at  Springfield,  Mis- 
souri, November  6,  1861. 
William  H.  Emeil  was  killed  at  Perryville, 

Kentucky,  October  8,  1862. 
William  H.  Jarvis  was  killed  at.  Perryville, 

Kentucky,  October  8,  1862. 
Nathan  Loge  died  at  luka,  Mississippi,  Aug- 
ust 9,  1862. 
Thomas  Lawyer  was   killed    at    Perryville, 

Kentucky,  October  8,  1862. 
William  Loftis  died  at  Mound  City,  Illinois, 

August  6,  1863. 

John  M.  Mourning  died  at  Lebanon,  Mis- 
souri, February  10,  1863. 
James   Murphy  died  of   wounds  March   18, 

1862. 
George  E.  Norman  was  killed  at  Rocky  Face 

Ridge  May  11,  1864. 
John  W.  Seward  died  October  22,  1863. 


Sergeant  William  Nelson   died  of  wounds 

December  1,  1863. 
James  H.  Sheets  was  killed  at  Stone  River 

December  31,  1862. 
Henry  Torhouse,  a  veteran,  died  December 

16,  1864. 

George  W.  Ramsey  died  at  Jackson,  Tennes- 
see, September  8,  1862. 
Corporal  Andrew  Kellough  was  killed  near 

Corinth  May  8,  1862. 

William  R.  Jacobs  died  at  Glendale,  Missis- 
sippi, October  1,  1863. 
James  Lyons  died  at  his  home  in  Bardolph 

July  28,  1862. 
Samuel  B.  Stokes  died  at  Decatur,  Alabama, 

May  15,  1864. 
Charles  F.  Winslow  was  killed  near  Atlanta, 

Georgia,  July  22,  1864, 
Jonathan  Haynes  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 

July  3,  1862. 

William  Fair  died  at  Roauoke,  Sonth  Caro- 
lina, March  31,  1865. 

William  Kirkpatrick  died  while  in  the  ser- 
vice. 
Lieutenant  Garrett  J.  D.  Jarvis  was  killed  at 

Fort  Blakeley,  April  9,  1865. 
Harmon  F.  Morris  died  at  Paducah,  October 

9,  1862. 
John  Myers  died  at  Yazoo  Pass,  March  16, 

1863. 
Peter  Peters  died  at  Selma,  Alabama,  July 

26,  1865. 
John  W.  Royce  died  at  Columbus,  Kentucky, 

October  21,  1863. 
Patrick  Branuan  was  killed   at   Franklin, 

Tennessee,  November  30,  1864. 
Colonel   Carter  Van  Vleck   died  August  23, 
1864,    of    wounds    received    at    Atlanta, 
Georgia. 

Major  William  L.  Broaddus  was  killed,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1863. 
Martin  V.  Fugate  waskilled  at  Chickamauga 

September  20,  1863. 
Samuel  H.  Fugate  died  at  Resaca,  Geoigia, 

May  17,  1864,  from  wounds. 
Lebeus  Allhouse  died  at  Richmond,  Virginia, 
February    14,  1864,  while  a  prisoner  of 
war. 


198 


HISTORY  OF  McDOTOUGH  COUNTY. 


Solomon  Toland  was  killed  at  Chickamauga, 
September  20,  1863. 

Richard  W.  Scott  died  of  wounds  Septem- 
ber 2,  1864. 

Second  Lieutenant  John  E.  James  was 
killed  in  battle  June  27, 1864. 

Marshall  C.  Kline  was  killed  at  Atlanta, 
Georgia,  August  7,  1864. 

George  W.  Dowell  died  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, October  29, 1863. 

John  Forrest  was  killed  at  Jonesboro,  Ga., 
September  1,  1864. 

William  W-  Harmon  died  at  Savannah,  Feb- 
ruary 21,  1865. 

John  W.  James  was  killed  at  Jonesboro, 
Georgia,  September  1,  1864. 

Thomas  Lindsey  died  at  Chattanooga  June 
25,  1864. 

Jacob  H.  Michaels  was  killed  at  Kenesaw 
Mountain  June  27,  1864. 

Sergeant  Michael  Mealey  was  killed  at  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  September  4,  1864. 

Charles  H.  Magie  died  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, August  19,  1863. 

John  Monahan  died  at  Chattanooga,  April 
3,  1864. 

Charles  L.  Norris  died  November  6,  1864,  at 
Chattanooga. 

John  W.  Bush  was  killed  at  Jonesboro, 
Georgia,  September  1,  1864. 

Sylvester  Riddell  died  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, December  30,  1853. 

Cyril  Tyft  was  killed  at  Jonesboro,  Georgia. 
September  1,  1864. 

Richard  L.  Terry  died  of  wounds,  in  the  ser- 
vice. 

Richard  C.  Allen  died  at  A.n,dersonville 
prison,  May  28,  1864. 

Albert  C.  Bennett  died  at  Boston,  Kentucky, 
November  12,  1862. 

William  H.  Bowman  died  November  26, 
1863,  of  wounds. 

Christopher  Brown  died  at  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, January  23,  1864,  while  a  prisoner 
of  war. 

Simeon  Craig  died  at  Andersonville  prison 
September  22,  1864;  number  of  grave, 
9,307. 


FirstSergeant  Jerome  J.Clark  died  of  wounds 
April  30,  1865. 

George  H.  David  died  of  wounds  October  2, 
1863. 

Hugh  H.  Doran  died  in  Andersonville  prison 
May  28,  1864. 

Benjamin  F.  Lane  was  killed  at  Chickamauga 
September  20,  1863. 

Parmeuium  Hamilton  died  of  wounds  Octo- 
ber 15,  1863. 

Moses  A.  M  c  Can  d  less  was  killed  near 
Griggsville,  Tennessee,  November  26, 
1864. 

Francis  M  Stewart  died  at  Andersonville 
prison  August  20,  1864;  number  of  grave 
6,292. 

Thomas  J.  Vail  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
July  3,  1863. 

William  Weaver  died  of  wounds  September 
6,  1864. 

John  R.  Carroll  died  in  Andersonville  prison, 
August  24,  1863. 

Samuel  F.  Gibson  died  in  Andersonville 
prison,  July  29,  1864. 

Sergeant  Thomas  M.  Whitehead  died  at  Gal- 
latin,  Tennessee,  December  11,  1862. 

Corporal  <iuincy  A.  Roberts  was  killed  at 
Rocky  Face  Ridge,  May  9,  1863. 

Corporal  Thomas  J.  Stearns  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  February  14, 1863. 

Samuel  Blair  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
October  26,  1863. 

Silas  E.  Brotherton  died  at  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, Tennessee'  August?,  1864. 

John  Baker  died  of  wounds  September  21, 
1863. 

Milton  Clark  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
December  25,  1862. 

George  W.  Casto  died  at  Chickamauga  Sep- 
tember 21, 1863. 

John  Driscoll  died  at  Somerset,  Kentucky, 
November  27,  1862. 

Frank  Gadd  died  of  wounds,  January  20, 
1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 

Francis  M.  Holliday  was  killed  near  Dallas, 
Georgia,  May  30,  1864. 

Edward  O'Bryan  was  killed  at  Rocky  Face 
Ridge  May  9,  1864. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


199 


George  Parks  died  of  wounds  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  February  13,  1863. 

George  R.  Vorhees  died  April  13,  1862. 

Abel  H.  Willis  died  at  Andersouville  prison 
March  15,  1865. 

James  P.  McCamenout  died  September  1, 
1862. 

George  W.  Willis  died  at  Chattanooga,  Oc- 
tober 13,  1863. 

Corporal  Richard  H.  McClintock  was  killed 
at  Chickamauga,  September  20,  1863. 

Corporal  David  G.  Harland  died  of  wounds, 
January  3, 1863. 

Augustus  Miles  was  killed  at  Chickamauga, 
September  19,  1863. 

Coleman  Mitchell  died  of  wounds,  April  3, 
1863. 

Samuel  Walker  died  of  wounds,  October  24, 
1863. 

John  A,  Greer  died  June  9,  1865. 

Sergeant  George  T.  Yocum  was   killed  at 
Stone  river,  December  31,  1862. 

Sergeant  John  A.  Eyre  died  at  Macomb,  Jan 
uary  16,  1864. 

Corporal  William  J.  Hensley  died  at  Bowling 
Green,  Kentucky,  December  29,  1862. 

Corporal  Edward  S.  Piper  died  at  Manches- 
ter, July  18,  1863. 

Corporal  Nathan  A.  Miller  died  at  Murfrees- 
boro,  Tennessee,  May  22,  1864. 

Joseph  T.  Adcock  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Ten- 
nessee, January  6,  1863. 

Francis  Brooks  died  at  Louisville,  Kentucky, 
November  23,  1862. 

David  Brown  died  at  Danville,  Kentucky, 
December  10,  1862. 

Jackson  V.  Ferguson  died  at  Benton  Bar- 
racks, Missouri,  February  10,  1863. 

Allen  A.  Herndou  died  at  Nashville  Febru- 
ary 20,  1862. 

Alexander   McQuestion   died    at  Nashville, 
February  7,  1863. 

Abraham   Purdam  died  of  wounds  at  Nash- 
ville, February  15, 1863. 

Richard  W.  Peimingtoii  was  killed  at  Stone 
river,  December  31,  1862. 

John  H.  Rollins  died  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, January  2, 1863. 


Josiah  Swigart  died  in  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  June  9,  1864. 

William  H.  Simmons  died  at  Bowling  Green, 
Kentucky,  November  23,  1862. 

Edward  Smith  died  of  wounds  -September 
22,  1863. 

Henry  Vanmeter  died  at  Dallas,  Georgia, 
June  1,  1864. 

Abraham  W.  Willis  died  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  December  6,  1862. 

William  H.  Winslow  died  at  Nashville, 
Tennessee,  December  31,  1862. 

Corporal  Eli  Elwell  was  killed  at  Stone  river 
December  31,  1862. 

Corporal  James  H.  Kennie  died  of  wounds 
at  Chattanooga,  October  20,  1863. 

Vachel  Benson  was  killed  at  Stone  river,  De- 
cember 31,  1862. 

Christopher  Enders  was  killed  at  Stone 
river,  January  23,  1863. 

Allen  Graves  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennes- 
see, January  23,  1863. 

George  W.  Kerr  died  atQuincy,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1864. 

Sergeant  Thomas  Campbell  died  .at  Cowan 
station,  Tennessee,  July  27,  1863. 

David  P.  Petermau  died  of  wounds  at  At- 
lanta, Georgia,  July  23,  1864. 

Artemus  Myers  was  killed  at  Kenesaw  moun- 
tain, June  27,  1864. 

Henry  C.  Martin  died  on  steamer  Di.  Veruon, 
January  18,  1863. 

James  T.  Burham  died  August  20,  1865. 

Sergeant  Robert  T.  Carter  died  at  Vicksburg, 
Mississippi,  August  13,  1864. 

John  Covert  died  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mis- 
souri, August  24,  1864. 

Benjamin  Duncan  died  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, August  5,  1864. 

Frederick  Falch  died  at  Mound  City,  Illi- 
nois, December  30,  1862. 

Benjamin  Frankenburg  died  of  wounds  at 
Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri,  December 
13,  1864. 

Alpheus  M.  Gibson  died  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
December  14,  1864. 

Wilson  L.  McKennelly  dfed  at  Memphis 
July  20,  1864. 


200 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


William  H.  Couch,  of  wounds,  March  30, 
1863. 

John  Ittle  died  in  the  insane  asylum  at 
Washington,  D.  C.,  October  1,  1863. 

Sergeant  John  Bechtel  died  at  Lake  Provi- 
dence, Louisiana,  March  21,  1863. 

Thomas  Brcdbent  died  of  wounds  May  16, 
1863. 

Abner  Barrett  died  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  Octo- 
ber 24.  1863. 

John  Bainbridge  died  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, January  28,  1863. 

William  H.  Boyd  died  at  Jackson,  Tennes- 
see, November  15,  1862. 

Simon  Calbert  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
July  24, 1863. 

Job  Gartside  died  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  No- 
vember 1,  1864. 

George  Hall  died  at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  Oc- 
tober 30,  1862. 

Benjamin  Bugg  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
February  17,  1863. 

Henry  T.  Forrest  was  killed  at  Champion 
Hills,  Mississippi,  May  16,  1863. 

Nathaniel  M.  Guy  died  at  Vicksburg,  Mis- 
sissippi, July  8,  1863. 

Jasper  Kennett  died  at  Memphis,  Tennessee, 
February  11,  1863. 

William  C.  Morris  died  at  Oxford,  Missis- 
sippi, December  16,  1862. 

Flavius  J.  Sypherd  died  at  home,  December 

27,  1864. 


Isaac  N.  Stodgill  died  after  having  been  dis" 
charged  on  account  of  disability. 

George  P.  Hezlip  died  of  wounds,  July  13, 
1863. 

Amos  B.  Johnson  died  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
April  27,  1865. 

Surgeon  William  A.  Huston  died  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  June  25,  1864. 

Edward  S.  Brooking  was  killed  while  a  pris- 
oner near  Memphis,  Tennessee. 

Henry  P.  Nichols  died  at  home,  December  2, 
1864. 

Samuel  Sheley  died  at  Memphis,  September 
1,  1864. 

Christopher  P.  Stantial  was  killed  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  August 21,  1864. 

John  H.  Lowell  died  at  home,  May  26,  1865. 

Henry  H.  Harris  died  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, September  1, 1864. 

Lieutenant  Lester  W.  Porter  was  killed  at 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  August  21,  1864. 

Corporal  Thomas  R.  Ritenour,  died  at  Co- 
lumbus, Georgia,  September  16,  1865. 

Joseph  Johnson  died  at  Dalton,  Georgia, 
May,  1865. 

Avery  Hall  died  at  Nashville,  March  7,  1865. 

David  Stolcup  died  of  wounds  at  Chatta- 
nooga. 

John  Clarrey  died  at  St.  Louis. 

Matthew  Begg,  a  United  States  veteran,  died 
at  Cairo,  Illinois,  October  13, 1863. 


CHAPTER    X. 


COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 


In  December,  1818,  when  the  state  of 
Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  union,  as 
one  of  the  great  sovereign  states,  the 
territory  now  known  as  McDonough 


county,  was  a  part  of  Madison  county, 
and  remained  so  until  1821,  in  which 
year,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature,  ap- 
proved on  the  20th  of  June,  it  was  made 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


201 


a  part  of  Pike  county.  On  the  10th  of 
February,  an  act  of  the  same  body  was 
approved  whereby  its  present  boundaries 
were  denned,  and  it  was  attached  to  the 
county  of  Schuyler,  for  judicial,  election 
and  recording  purposes.  It  remained 
thus  until  in  the  summer  of  1830,  when 
it  being  thought  that  there  were  enough 
inhabitants  to  justify  a  seperate  organi- 
zation, a  petition  signed  by  a  majority  of 
the  legal  voters  of  the  county,  was  pre- 
sented to  Hon.  Eichard  M.  Young,  at 
that  time  judge  of  the  Fifth  judicial  dis- 
trict, and  holding  court  at  Rushville, 
Schuyler  county.  This  was  /upon  the 
14th  day  of  June.  The  petition  went 
on  to  state,  that  McDonough  county  had 
the  requisite  number  of  inhabitants  des- 
ignated by  the  legislature  for  the  legal 
organization  of  counties,  and  praying  for 
the  necessary  authority  so  to  do.  There- 
upon, on  the  same  day,  Judge  Young 
issued  an  order,  of  which  the  following 
is  a  verbatim  copy: 

STATE  OF  ILLINOTS,     ( &  , 
MCDONOUGH  COUNTY.! 

To  the  People  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  to  all 
who  shall  see  these  presents,  greeting : 
WHEREAS,  By  the  said  ninth  and  eleventh 
sections  of  the  act  entitled  "An  act  forming 
new  counties  out  of  the  counties  of  Pike  and 
Fulton,  and  the  attached  parts  thereof,"  ap- 
proved January  13,  1825,  it  is  made  the  duty 
of  the  presiding  judge  of  the  Fifth  judicial 
circuit  of  the  state  of  Illinois,  whenever  it 
shall  be  made  to  appear  to  his  satisfaction 
that  either  of  the  counties  of  Hancock,  War- 
ren, Mercer,  Henry,  Putnam  or  Knox  con- 
tains three  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  to 
proceed  to  organize  the  same,  and  to  grant 
an  order  for  the  election  of  county  officers 
preparatory  thereto;  and 

WHEREAS,  By  virtue  of  an  act  entitled  "An 
act  supplementary  to  an  act  entitled  'An  act 


forming  new  counties  out  of  the  counties  of 
Pike  and  Fulton,  and  the  attached  parts 
thereof,'  "  approved  January  25,  1826,  a  new 
county  was  created,  to  be  called  the  county 
ofMcDouough,  with  the  express  provision 
therein  contained  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
said  county  of  McDonough  should  enjoy  and 
possess  all  the  rights  and  privileges  granted 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  several  counties 
created  by  the  first  recited  act,  and  to  which 
the  said  last  mentioned  act  is  a  supplement; 
and 

WHEREAS,  It  has  been  made  to  appear  to 
my  satisfaction  that  the  said  county  of  Mc- 
Douough  contains  three  hundred  and  fifty 
inhabitants  and  upwards,  and  inasmuch  as 
the  greater  part  of  the  qualified  voters  of 
said  county  have  requested,  by  petition,  that 
the  same  should  be  organized  with  as  little 
delay  as  possible,  I  do  therefore, in  pursuance 
of  the  power  invested  in  me  by  virtue  of  the 
provisions  contained  in  the  above  recited 
acts,  order  and  dijrect  that  an  election  in  and 
for  the  said  county  of  McDonough,  at  the 
house  of  Elias  McFadden,  in  said  county,  on 
Saturday,  the  third  day  of  July  next,  for  the 
election  of  three  county  commissioners,  one 
sheriff,  and  one  coronei,  to  serve,  when 
elected  and  qualified,  in  and  for  the  said 
county  of  McDonough,  respectively,  until 
they  shall  be  superseded  by  the  persons  whp 
may  be  elected  at  the  general  election,  to  be 
held  on  the  first  Monday  in  August  next 
ensuing  the  date  hereof;  and  for  the  purpose 
of  having  this  order  carried  into  execution, 
I  do  hereby  appoint  Ephraim  Perkins,  Wil- 
liam McDonald  and  John  Rogers,  Esquires, 
of  said  county,  judges  of  said  election,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  set  up  written  or  printed 
advertisements  or  notices  of  said  election  in 
at  least  six  of  the  most  public  places  in  said 
county,  inclusive  of  the  place  at  which  the 
said  election  is  hereby  directed  to  be  held, 
having  due  regard  to  the  situation  and  popu- 
lation of  the  different  settlements,  at  least 
ten  days  immediately  preceding  the  said 
election,  to  the  end  that  all  persons  con- 
cerned may  have  timely  notice  thereof,  the 


202 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


election  to  be  viva  voce,  between  the  hours 
of  10  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  7  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  of  said  day,  and  conducted  in 
all  respects,  as  near  as  may  be  practicable,  in 
conformity  with  the  act  entitled  "An  act 
regulating  elections,"  approved  January  10, 
1829;  and,  lastly,  the  said  judges  are  to  cer- 
tify the  result  of  the  said  election  to  the  office 
of  the  secretary  of  state  as  soon  thereafter  as 
may  be  convenient,  in  order  that  the  persons 
who  may  be  elected  and  entitled  to  commis- 
sions may  be  commissioned  and  qualify  with 
as  little  delay  as  possible,  and  after  the  said 
election  of  the  said  county  officers  shall  have 
taken  place  in  pursuance  of  this  order,  I  do 
hereby  declare  the  said  county  of  McDonough 
to  be  organized  and  entitled  to  the  same 
rights  and  privileges  as  the  other  counties  in 
this  state. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Rush- 
ville,  this  14th  day  of  June,  A.  D.,  1830,  and 
of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  the 
fifty-fourth. 

RICHARD  M.  YOUNG, 

'Circuit  Judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit  of 
the  State  of  Illinois. 

Accompanying  this  document  was  the 
following  letter,  which  is  of  historical 
importance  enough  to'  make  an  apology 
for  its  insertion  here  needless: 

RUSHVILLE,  SCHUYLER    CuUNTY,    ILL., 

June  14,  1830. 
Gentlemen : — 

Enclosed  you  will  find  an  order  for  the 
election  of  county  officers  in  the  county  of 
McDonough,  preparatory  to  the  organization 
thereof,  according  to  request  of  citizens  of 
that  county.  I  have  appointed  you  judges 
of  election,  as  you  will  see  by  reference  to 
the  order,  and  request  that  you  will  take  it 
upon  yourselves  to  act  in  that  capacity.  In 
conducting  the  election,  I  wish  you  to  pur- 
sue the  order  strictly  and  to  govern  your- 
selves in  all  other  respects,  as  nearly  as  will 
be  practicable,  in  conformity  with  the  act 


entitled  "An  act  regulating  elections,"  ap- 
proved January  10,  1829.  Yonr  county  will 
be  considered  as  organized  according  to  the 
statute  as  soon  as  your  county  officers  shall 
have  been  elected  in  pursuance  of  the  enclosed 
order.  It  will  be  your  duty,  I  suppose,  to 
give  certificates  of  election  to  the  different 
persons  who  may  be  elected,  immediately 
after  the  election  takes  place, as  well  as  make 
returns  thereof  to  the  office  of  secretary  of 
state,  in  order  that  they  may  enter  upon  the 
duties  of  their  respective  offices  immediately, 
the  county,  as  I  before  observed,  being  con- 
sidered as  organized  as  soon  as  the  election 
takes  place.  I  enclose,  also,  the  copy  of  a 
notice  to  be  set  up  previous  to  the  election 
as  directed  by  the  order,  in  six  of  the  most 
public  places  in  the  county.  After  the 
county  commissioners  are  elected,  it  will 
become  their  duty  to  fix  upon  the  temporary 
seat  of  justice  for  said  county,  and  to  provide 
a  place  for  the  holding  of  the  circuit  court. 
As  soon  as  these  facts  are  made  known  to  me, 
I  will  grant  an  order  for  the  holding  of  cir- 
cuit court,  until  the  legislature  shall  provide 
permanently  for  that  purpose. 
I  am,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

RICHARD  M.  YOUNG. 

On  the  outside  of  the  letter  sheet  as 
folded,  there  being  no  envelopes  used  in 
that  day,  is  the  folio  wing  superscription: 
On  Public  Business: 

Messrs.  Ephraim  Perkins, 

William  McDonald  and 
John  Rodgers, 

McDonough  County, 

Illinois. 
Care  of 

James  Vance,  Esq. 

COMMISSIONEKS'  COUET. 

In  accordance  with  this  order  the  elec- 
tion was  held  and  James  Clarke,  James 
Vance  and  John  Hardesty  were  elected 
county  commissioners;  William  South- 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


203 


ward,  sheriff ;  and  Peter  Hale,  coroner. 
These  were  the  first  officers  of  the  new 
county.  On  the  3d  day  of  July,  the 
same  day  the  election  was  held,  the 
newly  elected  county  commissioners 
'held  a  meeting  and  the  official  business 
of  the  county  was  initiated.  The  first 
order  emanating  from  this  body  af- 
firmed the  fact  that  the  order  of 
Judge  Young  had  been  fully  and  legally 
carried  out,  and  that  the  county  commis- 
sioners were  duly  and  truly  elected. 
Michael  Stinson  was  by  them  appointed 
clerk,  pro  tern.,  and,  in  their  third  order, 
the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county  was 
located  at  the  residence  of  John  Baker, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  31, 
in  township  6  north,  2  west,  which 
township  is  now  known  by  the  name  of 
Macomb.  The  commissioners  declared 
that  the  said  county  seat  should  "be 
known  as  the  -town  of  Washington  for 
the  present."  At  the  same  meeting  they 
also  appointed  Ephraim  Perkins,  Wil- 
liam McDonald  and  George  Dowell, 
judges  of  the  forthcoming  election,  to 
be  held  at  the  "town"  of  Washington, 
the  first  Monday  in  August  following. 
They  then  adjourned  until  the  5th  of 
July,  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  of  James 
Clarke,  one  of  their  number. 

In  pursuance  with  the  adjournment,  on 
the  5th  day  of  July,  1830,  the  commis- 
sioners again  met,  this  time  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Clarke,  and  proceeded  to  divide 
the  county  into  three  districts,  and  to 
provide  for  the  election  of  justices  of 
the  peace  and  constables  in  each.  These 
districts  were  each  eight  miles  wide,  and 
run  east  and  west  the  entire  length  of 
the  county,  and  were  known  as  First, 
Second  and  Third  magistrate's  district. 


The  First  was  in  the  south,  the  Second 
in  the  middle,  and  the  Third  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  county.  An  elec- 
tion for  the  First  district  was  ordered  to 
be  held  at  the  house  of  James  Vance, 
on  the  first  Saturday  in  August  follow- 
ing, for  two  justices  of  the  peace  and 
two  constables.  George  Dowell,  Wil- 
liam S.  Moore  and  William  Garrett  were 
appointed  judges  of  election.  In  the 
Second  district  an  election  was  ordered 
to  held  at  the  same  time,  at  the  residence 
of  John  Baker,  for  four  justices  and 
four  constables.  Elias  McFadden,  Peter 
Hale  and  David  Troxwell  were  appointed 
the  judges  of  the  election  in  this  pre- 
cinct. William  Deakins,  John  Wyatt 
and  Isaac  Bartlett  were  appointed  as* 
judges  of  election  in  the  Third  district, 
which  election  was  ordered  to  be  held  at 
the  house  of  John  Vance,  on  the  same 
day  above  mentioned,  when  two  justices 
of  the  peace  and  two  constables  were  to 
be  chosen. 

At  the  general  election,  held  on  the 
first  Monday  in  August,  1830,  James 
Vance,  James  Clarke  and  John  Hardesty 
were  re-elected  to  fill  the  positions  of 
county  commissioners;  William  South- 
ward, sheriff;  Peter  Hale,  coroner;  and 
Jesse  Bartlett,  surveyor.  This  election 
was  held  at  the  house  of  John  Baker, 
then  a  rude  hut  built  of  poles,  which 
were  hardly  large  enough  to  call  logs. 
This  edifice  was  used  as  a  tavern,  court 
house  and  clerk's  office,  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  log  court  house  in  1831. 

At  the  special  election,  held  August  7, 
in  the  several  magistrate's  districts, 
James  Vance,  Sr.,  and  John  Billew  were 
elected  justices  of  the  peace,  and  James 
Lee  and  James  B.  Tomberlin,  consta- 


204 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


bles,  in  the  First  district.  In  the  Sec- 
ond district  were  elected  James  Clarke, 
William  McDonald,  Robert  Cook  and 
Samuel  Bogart,  justices  of  the  peace, 
and  John  Wilson,  Oliver  C.  Rice, 
Thomas  J.  Pennington  and  John  Har- 
ris, constables.  In  the  Third  district 
Ephraim  Perkins  and  Caswell  Russell 
were  elected  justices,  and  Francis  Read- 
ing and  Jacob  Coffman,  constables. 

On  the  first  Monday  in  September, 
1830,  the  county  commissioners  held  the 
third  meeting  of  the  first  regalar  term, 
and  the  first  business  brought  up  was 
the  selection  of  grand  and  petit  juries 
for  the  October  term  of  the  Circuit  court, 
then  to  be  held  for  the  first  time  in  this 
.county.  It  required  nearly  two-thirds 
of  the  legal  voters  of  the  county  to  fill 
these  juries.  John  Baker  was  appoint- 
ed by  the  board  to  fill  the  office  of 
clerk,  pro  tern.,  in  place  of  M.  L.  Stin- 
son,  who  had  resigned.  They,  also,  ap- 
pointed James  Vance,  Sr.,  commissioner 
of  school  lands;  Isaac  Bartlett,  county 
surveyor,  and  John  Huston,  county 
treasurer.  The  latter  gentleman,  before 
qualifying  for  the  office  was  required  to 
give  bonds  in  the  sum  of  $800,  a  fact 
that  demonstrates  the  small  amount  of 
money  handled  by  that  officer  in  those 
early  days. 

Prior  to  the  organization  of  the  county 
McDonough  being  attached  to  Schuyler 
county,  the  taxes  were  assessed  and  col- 
lected in  that  county,  and  one  of  the 
first  acts  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
newly  created  county,  was  to  request  the 
authorities  of  the  latter  to  furnish  them 
with  a  list  of  taxes  assessed  for  the  com- 
ing year,  which  request  was  at  once 
complied  with. 


In  December,  1830,  James  Clarke, 
one  of  the  county  commissioners,  went 
to  Springfield,  and,  in  behalf  of  the 
county,  entered  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  31,  in  township  6,  north, 
range  2,  west,  upon  which  the  old  town, 
of  Macomb  was  laid  out. 

In  the  spring  of  1831,  James  M. 
Campbell,  having  been  appointed  to  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  Circuit  court,  came 
to  McDonough  councy,  to  enter  upon 
the  duties  of  that  position.  Shortly  af- 
ter his  arrival,  John  Baker  resigned  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  county  commission- 
er's court.  Mr.  Campbell  was  suggested 
for  the  place.  Somehow  an  impression 
had  obtained  among  the  people  that, 
that  gentleman  was  a  Yankee,  a  class  of 
people  not  in  favor  iu  these  localities. 
Mr.  Campbell,  on  being  asked  if  he  was 
a  New  Englander,  replied;  "Well,  gent- 
lemen, if  to  be  born  in  Frankfort,  State 
of  Kentucky,  living  there  until  six  years 
of  age,  coming  to  Illinois  and  remaining 
for  six  years,  then  returning  to  Kentucky 
and  living  there  for  twelve  years,  and 
then  returning  to  Illinois,  constitutes  a 
Yankee,  then  I  am  one."  This  explana- 
tion was  satisfactory  and  he  was  appoint- 
ed to  fill  the  office. 

Strict  economy  governed  the  commis- 
sioners in  all  affairs  pertaining  to  the 
welfare  of  the  county.  Every  bill  pre- 
sented was  carefully  scrutinized,  and 
value  received  was  invariably  required 
before  payment. 

At  the  March  term  of  the  county 
commissioners' court  James  Clarke  was 
allowed  the  sum  of  three  dollars  for  go- 
ing to  Springfield  and  entering  the  land 
upon  which  the  original  town  of  Ma- 
comb  was  located. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


205 


In  payment  for  the  use  of  his  house 
for  court  purposes  John  Baker  was 
granted  the  fee  simple  right  to  two  lots 
in  the  town  of  Macomb,  which  was  then 
to  be  laid  out.  John  J.  Keaton  was  em- 
ployed to  make  the  survey,  for  which  he 
was  allowed  the  sum  of  thirty-five  dol. 
lars.  David  Clarke  and  John  Baker' 
were  employed  to  carry  the  chain,  for 
which  they  each  received  fifty  cents  a 
day.  William  McDonald  received  sixty- 
two  and  a  half  cents  per  day  for  driving 
the  stakes,  the  work  being  more  arduous 
than  that  of  carrying  the  chain.  It  ap- 
pears from  bills  allowed  by  the  county 
commissioners'  court  the  wages  paid  lab- 
orers at  this  time  were  from  fifty  cents 
to  one  dollar  per  day. 

Many  laughable  anecdotes  are  related 
of  this  survey,  Mr.  Keaton  was  not  a 
regular  surveyor,  and  is  said  to  have 
known  less  about  surveying  than  those 
who  carried  the  chain.  He  had  great 
difficulty  in  making  the  corners — in  fact 
never  did  make  them,  and  they  have 
never  been  straightened  to  this  day. 
Another  man  being  wanted  to  assist  in 
the  work,  several  were  approached  for 
this  purpose,  but  all  had  an  excuse  to 
make,  one  man  replying  that  he  would 
not  give  the  pleasure  of  his  day's  drunk 
for  the  two  best  lots  in  the  town.  The 
first  plat  of  the  town  not  proving  satis- 
factory, the  citizens  petitioned  the 
county  commissioners  to  change  it, 
which  was  done,  although  one  of  the 
members  of  the  board,  Hon.  James 
Vance,  entered  upon  the  records  of  the 
court  his  protest  against  the  action. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  county 
commissioners,  held  April  12, 1831,  the 
question  of  building  a  court  house  was 


discussed  at  length,  and  the  following 
order  made: 

Ordered,  That  the  building  of  a  house,  to 
be  used  as  a  court  house,  be  let  to  the  lowest 
bidder,  of  the  following  description,  to-wit: 
To  be  built  of  logs,  hewed  on  both  sides,  to 
face  from  nine  to  twelve  inches;  to  be  built 
eighteen  feet  by  twenty,  with  a  white  oak 
plank  floor  above  and  betow,  laid  loose;  nine 
feet  between  the  joists  and  sleepers,  the 
sleepers  laid  two  feet  apart,  laid  on  the  sills; 
joists  not  more  than  two  feet  apart,  of  good 
white  oak,  hewed,  or  sawed  four  inches  thick 
by  nine  inches  wide;  to  be  chinked  and 
daubed  on  the  outside;  one  door  six  and  one- 
half  feet  high  and  three  feet  wide,  well  faced 
and  cased;  a  good  batten  door,  hung  on  good 
iron  hinges;  one  window,  to  have  twelve 
panes  of  glass,  and  one  window  of  six  panes 
of  glass;  to  be  placed  in  said  building  by  the 
the  instruction  of  James  M.  Campbell;  each 
window  to  have  a  good  strong  batten  shut- 
ter, hung  with  butt  hinges;  covered  with 
boards  four  feet  long,  of  good  width,  and 
what  is  called  double  covered,  with  good  gut- 
ters and  eaves.  The  said  building  when 
completed  and  finished  to  be  done  in  work- 
manlike manner.  The  said  building  to  be 
on  a  lot  in  the  town  of  Macomb,  (on  a  lot), 
to  be  in  due  time,  that  is  within  two  weeks, 

made  known  to  the  undertaker.   The  under- 

• 

taker  will  be  required  to  give  bonds,  with 
sufficient  security,  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  his  undertaking  in  the  penal  sum  of 
double  the  amount  of  his  bid,  made  payable 
to  the  county  commissioners,  or  their  succes- 
sors in  office,  for  the  use  of  the  county,  that 
the  said  house  shall  be  finished  on  or  before 
the  first  day  of  September  iust. 

It  is  furtherordered,  That  the  weightpoles 
are  to  be  of  sufficient  weight  to  be  of  service; 
that  the  undertaker  furnish  everything 
necessary  for  the  above  building,  except  the 
glass  for  the  windows. 

On  the  same  day  the  above  proposi- 
tions were  made  the  contract  was  let  to 
William  Southward  for  the  sum  of  sixty- 


206 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


nine  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  As  will 
be  observed,  there  is  a  considerable  dif- 
ference between  the  first  and  last  build- 
ings erected  for  court  purposes. 

At  this  meeting  John  Baker  applied 
for  a  license  to  keep  a  tavern,  which  re- 
quest was  ordered  on  his  paying  into  the 
county  treasury  the  sum  of  six  dollars 
and  fifty  cents,  together  with  the  clerk's 
fees  for  issuing  the  license.  The  board 
then  adopted  the  following  scale  of  pri- 
ces to  govern  inn-keepers  in  t^e  county: 

For  each  meal  of  victuals $0  25 

For  each  night's  lodgings 0  12£ 

For  each  horse  feed  per  night 0  25 

For  each  horse  feed 0  12J 

For  each  half  pint  of  whisky 0  12J 

For  each  half  pint  French  brandy 0  25 

For  each  half  pint  Hoi  laud  gin  or  wine  0  25 
For  each  half  pint  peach  brandy 0  18f 

Four  licenses  to  sell  intoxicating  liquor 
in  Macomb  were  granted  by  the  com- 
missioners during  the  year  1831,  one  of 
them  being  issued  to  John  Baker,  then 
a  Baptist  preacher,  who  figured  in  the, 
to  modern  eyes,  singular  dual  position 
of  a  dispenser  of  gospel  and  whiskey. 
Shortly  after  obtaining  the  license  he 
admitted  to  a  partnership  Samuel  Bogart, 
a  Methodist  clergyman,  and  under  the 
firm  name  of  Baker,  Bogart  &  Co.,  these 
reverend  gentlemen  continued  the  same 
business. 

On  the  26th  of  April,  1831,  the  first 
public  sale  of  lots  in  the  new  town  of 
Macomb  was  made.  William  Edmon- 
ston,  having  been  appointed  as  commis- 
sioner for  the  sale  of  all  lots,  acted  as 
auctioneer.  But  few  sales  were  made, 
and  the  amount  realized  was  small. 

At  the  June  session  of  the  board  of 
commissioners,  the  three  magistrate's 


districts  were  made  election  precincts  for 
the  congressional  election  to  be  held  in 
August.  For  this  election  the  judges 
were  allowed  one  dollar  per  day,  and  the 
clerks  one  dollar  and  a  shilling. 

In  September  of  this  year  James 
Vance  was  appointed  commissioner  of 
school  lands,  in  accordance  with  the  act 
of  congress  devoting  every  sixteenth  sec- 
tion of  land  for  school  purposes,  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sales  to  be  devoted  to  edu- 
cational matters.  He  was  instructed  by 
the  board,  to  loan  all  money  received 
therefor  for  not  less  than  twelve  per  cent, 
per  annum.  Trustees  for  each  township 
or  magistrate's  district  were  also  ap- 
pointed for  the  school  fund. 

At  the  regular  September  session  of 
the  county  commissioner's  court,  1831, 
it  was  ordered  "that  George  Grace,  John 
Lee  and  John  Baker,  be  appointed 
viewers,  to  lay  out  and  mark  the  road 
from  Washington  to  the  county  line, 
toward  the  town  of  Rushville. 

At  the  same  session,  on  a  petition  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county,  John  Lee 
was  appointed  constable  in  and  for  Mc- 
Donough  county.  This  term  or  session 
of  the  commissioner's  court  was  the  first 
that  was  held  in  the  new  log  court  house, 
then  just  finished,  at  the  cost  of  $69.50. 

At  the  December  session,  James 
Clarke  was  granted  a  license  to  keep  a 
tavern,  or  in  other  words,  to  deal  in 
ardent  spirits,  at  his  house  in  Macomb. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  1832,  the  follow- 
ing resolution  was  adopted  by  the  county 
commissioners: 

"Ordered, That  the  building  of  a  jail  for  said 
county  be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder,  OH  the 
second  Monday  of  April,  next;  and  that  the 
clerk  advertise  the  same,  to- wit:  twenty 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Cc  HUNOI' 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


209 


feet  square,  with  three  rooms,  at  least  niue 
feet  between  the  floor  and  ceiling,  the  walls 
built  of  hewed  logs,  twelve  inches  square, 
laid  close  and"  dovetailed  together,  and 
pinned,  each  log  at  the  corner,  so  as  not  to 
admit  of  anything  passing  through.  The  in- 
terior of  the  said  rooms  to  be  lined  with 
plank  two  inches  thick,  of  white  oak,  spiked 
on  across  the  logs,  laid  close;  with  a  floor  of 
said  sized  lumber  of  two  thicknesses  cross- 
ing at  right  angles,  with  a  ceiling  in  the 
same  way.  The  walls  planked  and  to  be 
spiked  in  diamond  form,  four  inches  square, 
on  all  the  walls,  ceilings  and  floors;  with  a 
clapboard  roof  nailed  on,  the  boards  to  be 
three  feet  long  and  of  good  width;  all  of 
which  is  to  be  done  in  good  workmanlike 
manner;  with  three  doors  covered  with  sheet 
iron,  with  a  place  left  so  as  to  open  on  hinges 
a  small  grate  in  the  center  of  the  two  inner 
doors — and  to  be  so  fixed  as  to  be  as  strong 
when  done,  as  though  they  were  solid,  with 
three  grates,  two  large  enough  to  admit  of  a 
pane  of  glass  10x12,  with  a  sash  swinging  on 
hinges  on  the  inside  of  each  room,  and  one 
window  large  enough  to  contain  six  panes  of 
glass,  in  each  window;  two  grates  of  iron 
bars  only  four  inches  square  from  center  to 
center  of  the  bars;  and  two  outside  doors  to 
the  criminal  rooms,  hanging  on  the  outside, 
opening  into  the  debtors'  room,  and  that  the 
bar  to  be  of  iron  three  inches  breadth  bar, 
and  crossing  through  the  center  with  bars 
one  inch  square;  the  house  to  be  placed  on 
a  stone  foundation,  built  at  least  six  inches 
above  the  highest  point  of  the  ground,  and 
to  set  into  and  under  the  surface  at  least  two 
feet  thick,  and  .the  space  tilled  with  stone  to 
the  lower  part  of  the  floor;  and  the  whole  to 
be  completed  in  a  workmanlike  manner,  etc. 

The  contract  was  let  to  James  Edmon- 
ston,  who,  in  due  time,  completed  the 
work  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  commis- 
sioners. 

At  the  April  term  (1834)  of 'the 
county  commissioners'  court,  William 
Willis  was  appointed  county  treasurer, 


his  bond  being  fixed  at  $2,500.  He  only 
retained  the  office  one  month,  when 
Resin  Naylor  was  again  re-appointed. 

On  the  3d  of  September,  1832,  a  new 
board  of  county  commissioners  came 
into  being,  consisting  of  James  Clarke, 
James  Edmonston  and  Enoch  Cyrus. 
These  were  elected  at  the  general  elec- 
tion held  on  the  6th  of  August  of  that 
year.  The  first  session  of  their  court 
was  held  on  the  3d  and  4th  of  Sep- 
tember. 

The  old  court  house,  built  of  logs 
proving  inconvenient,  and  incommodious 
for  the  transaction  of  the  business  of 
the  rapidly  growing  county,  at  the  ses- 
sion of  the  commissioner's  court,  held 
on  the  7th  of  March,  1833,  it  was  deter- 
mined to  build  a  brick  structure  for  the 
purposes  of  the  county.  The  building 
of  this,  it  was  determined  to  let  to  the 
lowest  bidder,  and  the  clerk  was  ordered 
to  issue  the  necessary  notices,  that  drafts 
for  the  same  would  be  received  at  an 
adjourned  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  6th 
of  May,  next."  At  the  time  appointed, 
the  commissioners  met  and  adopted  a 
plan  for  the  new  court  house.  The 
building  was  to  be  46  feet  square,  with 
foundation  walls  of  stone  two  feet  thick 
and  three  feet  high,  being  one  foot  above 
the  surface  of  the  ground.  This  was  to 
be  surmounted  by  a  superstructure  of 
brick,  two  stories  high,  the  lower  one  to 
be  14,  the  upper  to  be  12  feet  high,  the 
whole  to  be  surmounted  by  a  cupola. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  proposal  of 
the  letting  of  this  contract  should  be 
published  three  times  in  the  Jackson- 
ville Pdfriof,  and  that  the  contract 
should  be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder.  In 
due  time  this  contract  was  entered  into 


210 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


with  George  Miller  and  John  T.  Bishop, 
who  were  to  build  stone  and  brick  work 
of  the  same  for  $2,498.  James  Clarke, 
Moses  Henton  and  Benjamin  Naylor 
were  appointed  by  the  board  as  the  com- 
mittee on  building,  who  were  to  super- 
intend the  erection  of  the  same. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1835,  a 
further  contract  was  made  by  the  county 
with  Morris  Roberts  and  David  F.  Mar- 
tin to  complete  the  inclosure  of  the 
building  for  the  sum  of  $1,334.  This 
part  of  the  work  was  finished  and  ac- 
cepted in  the  spring  of  1836.  A  further 
contract  was  made  with  Benjamin  T. 
Naylor  and  Robert  A.  Brazleton  for  the 
completion  of  the  wood  work,  painting, 
etc.,  for  $1,000.  This  part  of  the  work 
gave  satisfaction,  was  accepted  by  the 
court,  and  McDonough  county  had  a 
court  house  in  which  her  citizens  felt  a 
just  pride.  It  was  built  at  a  total  cost 
of  $4,832. 

Jn  the  early  part  of  1834,  Enoch 
Cyrus  resigned  his  place  upon  the  board 
of  county  commissioners,  and  on  the  2d 
of  June  was  succeeded  by  James  Yance, 
Sr. 

The  county  commissioners'  court  that 
met  on  the  1st  of  September,  1834,  con- 
sisted of  James  Clarke,  Nathan  Ward 
and  Cavill  Archer. 

On  Tuesday,  March  3,  1835,  the 
county  commissioners'  court  ordered 
"that  the  following  be  the  bounds  of  a 
new  magistrate's  district,  in  the  south- 
west corner  of  McDonough  county, 
number  Four,  and  which  is  established 
as  such,  viz:  Beginning  on  the  line  that 
divides  the  counties  of  Schuyler  and 
McDonough,  at  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  36,  in  township  4  north,  range  3 


west,  thence  north  with  the  line  dividing 
ranges  2  and  3  west,  to  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  25,  township  5  north, 
range  3  west,  thence  west  with  the  line 
which  divides  sections  24  and  25  to  the 
county  line,  thence  south  with  the 
said  county  line  to  the  Schuyler  county 
line,  thence  east  with  the  said  line  to  the 
place  of  beginning;  and  that  all  elec- 
tions therein  be  held  at  the  house  of 
Malachi  Monk;  and  that  John  "Venard, 
James  Edmonston  and  Hugh  McDon- 
ough be  and  are  hereby  appointed 
judges  of  all  elections  in  said  district; 
and  the  said  place  is  established  a  pre- 
cinct for  holding  all  general  as  well  as 
well  as  special  elections,  in  said  county," 

A  resolution  was  passed  by  the  7th  of 
December,  1835,  as  follows:  "This  court 
doth  certify  that  Theophilus  L.  Dickey, 
Esq.,  who  is  about  to  apply  for  a  license 
to  practice  law  in  this  state,  is  a  man  of 
honesty  and  probity  and  good  de- 
ineaiior." 

James  Vance,  Sr.,  the  county  school 
commissioner  dying,  while  in  that  office, 
on  the  same  day  above  mentioned,  the 
commissioner's  court  appointed  Benja- 
min Naylor  to  fill  his  place.  It  was  this 
board  of  commissioners  that  laid  off  the 
county  into  13  road  districts  and  ap- 
pointed a  supervisor  to  each,  all  to  be 
under  George  H.  Rice,  chief  supervisor 
of  roads.  Previous  to  this,  each  road 
had  its  supervisor,  who  had  certain  con- 
tiguous land  owners  under  his  control, 
by  whose  labor  the  road  in  question  was 
kept  in  repair.  At  the  same  time  as  the 
laying  out  the  several  road  districts,  the 
county  commissioners,  in  compliance 
with  an-  act  of  the  legislature,  approved 
February  3,  1835,  entitled  "an  act  con- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


211 


eerning  public  roads,"  made  the  first 
levy  for  a  tax  for  the  benefit  of  the  road 
fund,  to  be  used  in  building  bridges,  re- 
pairing the  same,  setting  up  guide- 
boards,  etc. 

The  record  of  the  county  commis- 
sioner's court,  under  the  date  of  July 
11,  1836,  bears  the  following  significant 
entry:  "This  day  came  Wesley  Way- 
land  and  acknowledged  that  he  had 
signed  and  sealed  a  certificate  of  free- 
dom to  a  negro  woman,  now  resident 
with  him." 

On  Monday,  September  5,  1836,  the 
new  board  of  commissioners,  elected  at 
the  preceding  August  election,  took  their 
seats.  These  gentlemen  were:  Stewart 
Pennington,  James  Edmonston  and  Asa 
Smith.  A  fifth  magistrate's  district  was 
laid  out  by  them,  at  onq  of  their  first 
meetings,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
county,  and  ordered  that  elections  be 
held  therein,  at  the  house  of  Ephraim 
Palmer;  and  Ephraim  Palmer,  Alexan- 
der Campbell  and  Quintius  Walker, were 
appointed  judges  of  elections.  The 
county  treasurer,  who  was  also  county 
assessor,  was  at  the  same  time  ordered 
tojevy  a  tax  against  various  personal 
property  in  the  county,  among  the  items 
of  which  is  that  of  slaves,  showing  that 
that  class  of  property  was  owned  in  the 
county,  although  to  a  very  limited  ex- 
tent. A  sixth  magistrate's  district  was 
formed  in  September,  1837,  and  all  elec- 
tions therein  were  ordered  to  take  place 
at  the  house  of  Benjamin  B.  Gates. 
Asahel  Hubbard,  Allen  Milton  and  B. 
B.  Gates  were  appointed  judges  of 
elections. 

The  county  commissioner's  court  that 
came  into  power  on  the  first  Monday  in 


September,  1848,  was  composed  of  Wil- 
liam W.  Bailey,  John  Vance  and  John 
Wyatt.  James  M.  Campbell  still  con- 
tinued clerk,  and  the  new  sheriff  was 
William  H.  Randolph.  Up  to  this  time 
all  three  of  the  commissioners  "had  been 
elected  for  two  years,  but  now,  under  a 
law  of  the  state,  they  were  to  be  elected 
one  each  year,  to  serve  for  three  years. 
In  accordance  with  this  and  the  statute 
in  such  cases  made  and  provided,  the 
three  commissioners  drew  lots  for  the 
length  of  term  each  was  to  hold  the 
office.  John  Wyatt  drew  the  ticket  en- 
titling him  to  stay  in  one  year,  William 
W.  Bailey  two  years  and  John  Vance 
three  years.  This  court  transacted  the 
usual  routine  business  of  the  county  in 
an  apparently  satisfactory  manner,  and 
on  the  first  Monday  of  September,  1839, 
Mr.  Wyatt  retiring,  his  year  being  up, 
was  succeeded  by  James  Edmonston. 
The  position  of  county  commissioner 
was  filled  by  the  following  gentlemen 
for  the  succeeding  years:  Hugh  Kin- 
kade,  elected  August  3,  1840,  resigned 
August  7th,  and  succeeded  by  Josiah 
Harrison;  John  Huston,  elected  in  1841 ; 
1842,  Isaac  G.  Smith;  1843,  William 
Ferguson;  1844,  John  G.  Woodside; 
1845,  Robert  Bean;  1846,  Joel  Penning- 
ton; 1847,  Charles  C.  Hungate;  1848, 
Samuel  Calvin.  This  was  the  last 
county  commissioner  elected,  the  form 
of  government  being  changed.  In  1847 
a  state  election  was  held  for  members  of 
a  constitutional  convention,  which  assem- 
bly prepared  and  submitted  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  state  a  new  constitution, which 
was  adopted  by  a  large  majority.  By 
this,  in  place  of  the  county  commis- 
sioner's court,  a  county  court  was  organ- 


212 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ized  in  each  county.  This  consisted  of 
a  county  judge,  and  if  the  legislature 
saw  proper  to  order  it,  two  .associate 
justices.  This  the  legislature  acted 
favorably  upon.  The  last  meeting  of 
the-  county  commissioner's  court  was 
held  on  the  8th  of  September,  when  Joel 
Pennington,  C.  C.  Hungate  and  Samuel 
Calvin,  the  members  were  all  present. 
When  they  adjourned,  it  was  "until  court 
in  course,"  but  they  never  re-assembled 
as  a  court  again.  They  were  succeed- 
ed by 

THE   COUNTY   COURT. 

The  first  session  of  this  body  was  held 
at  the  court  house  in  Macomb,  on  Mon- 
day, December  3,  1849,  with  the  follow- 
ing members  present:  James  Clarke, 
presiding  judge;  Charles  E.  Hume  and 
Charles  C.  Hungate,  associate  justices; 
Isaac  Grantham,  clerk,  and  David  Law- 
son,  sheriff.  The  first  business  trans- 
acted by  the  court,  was  the  allowance  of 
some  claims  against  the  county,  the  first 
one  of  which  was  that  of  Philip  Spiker, 
who  was  allowed  $25  for  boarding  John 
Freeland,  a  pauper,  for  three  months. 

On  Thursday,  March  7,  1850,  it  was 
ordered  by  the  court  that  a  levy  be  made 
of  one  eighth  of  one  per  cent,  on  the  as- 
sessed valuation  of  property '  both  real 
and  personal,  in  McDonough  county  for 
the  year  1850,  to  be  set  apart  as  a  sepa- 
rate fund  for  the  purchase  of  farm,  etc., 
on  which  to  erect  a  poor  house,  and  for 
the  erection  of  the  same;  which  said  last 
mentioned  levy  shall  be  collected  in  gold 
and  silver  coin,  only."  It  was  also  made 
an  order  that  Eedmond  Grigsby,  Joel 
Pennington  and  Thomas  Smith,  were 
appointed  commissioners  to  receive  pro- 
posals for  the  purchase  of  a  farm,  not  to 


exceed  640  acres,  for  the  purpose  as  set 
forth  in  the  above  order.  This  com- 
mission was,  also,  instructed  to  report 
all  proposals,  together  with  their  views 
and  opinions  thereon,  at  the  June  term 
of  the  county  court,  next  following. 

For  some  cause  not  assigned,  these 
commissioners  failed  to  make  their  re- 
port at  the  time  mentioned,  and  the  mat- 
ter remained  open.  On  Friday,  March 
7,  1851,  one  year  thereafter,  the  court  in 
ordering  the  tax  levy  for  the  year,  in- 
cluded one  of  six  cents  on  each  one  hun- 
dred dollars  of  taxable  property  for  the 
poor  farm  fund,  to  be  paid  in  coin. 

The  same  day,  Charles  Chandler  and 
George  A.  Taylor,  were  appointed  com- 
missioners "to  receive  the  proposals  for 
the  sale,  to  the  county,  of  a  suitable  farm 
on  which  to  erect  a  poor  house,  and  to 
examine  such  farms  as  they  may  think 
suitable,  not  exceeding  twenty-five  hun- 
dred dollars  in  price,  payment  to  be  made 
in  specie,  half  cash  on  completion  of  the 
contract,  and  the  remainder  in  two  equal 
payments,  without  interest."  These 
parties  were  instructed  to  make  their  re- 
port at  the  next  regular  term  of  the  court. 

At  the  June  term  of  the  county  court, 
Thompson  Chandler  took  his  place  as 
associate  justice  in  place  of  C.  E.  Hume. 
On  the  llth  of  March,  1853,  an  entry 
was  made  upon  the  record  of  the  county 
court,  showing  that  the  commissioners 
appointed  for  the  purpose,had  purchased 
for  the  county  the  following  described 
real  estate,  for  a  poor  farm :  85  acres  on 
the  east  side  of  the  north  east  quarter 
of  section  24,  in  township  6  north,  range 
3  west,  two  and  a  half  acres  of  the  south 
end  of  the  above  described  section;  the 
south  half  of  the  south  west  quarter  of 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


213 


section  18  in  the  same  township,  contain- 
ing a  fraction  over  75  acres;  and  nine  and 
a  half  acres  off  the  north  end  of  the 
north  west  quarter  of  section  19;  and  six 
acres  off  the  south  end  of  the  east  half 
of  the  south  east  quarter  of  section  13, 
all  in  the  township  and  range  above 
.mentioned. 

One  of  the  most  important  acts  of  this 
court  was  the  submission  to  the  qualified 
voters  of  the  county  the  question  of  sub- 
scription to  the  stock  of  the  Northern 
Cross  railroad,  and  the  endorsement  of 
the  people  thereto,  as  is  spoken  of  else- 
where, under  its  appropriate  head. 

The  county  court,  which  assembled 
for  the  first  time,  on  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1853,  was  composed  of  Thompson 
Chandler,  county  judge;  Samuel  Calvin 
and  Silas  J.  Grigsby,  associate  justices; 
Isaac  Grantham,  clerk;  and  Sydnor  H. 
Hogan,  sheriff.  These  gentlemen,  with 
the  exception  of  the  last  named,  held 
their  positions  for  several  years.  Under 
date  of  Thursday,  December  4th,  1856, 
is  found  the  following  record : 

"WHEREAS,  ou  the  petition  of  the  Tawful 
number  of  citizens  and  legal  voters  of  Me- 
Donough  county,  presented  to  this  court  on 
the  3d  day  of  June  last,  asking  the  court  to 
submit  the  question  of  township  organiza- 
tion to  the  legal  voters  of  McDonough 
county,  to  be  voted  ou  by  them,  at  the  (then) 
next  general  election,  to  be  holden  in  said 
county,  agreeably  to  the  second  section  of 
the  act  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  state 
of  Illinois,  approved  February  17,  1851,  en- 
titled,'An  act  to  provide  for  township  or- 
ganization'; an  order  of  this  court  was  made, 
and  entered  of  record,  on  the  3d  day  of  June, 
aforesaid,  ordering  an  election  to  be  held  in 
the  several  election  precincts  in  said  county, 
ou  the  4th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1856,  <that 
being  the  day  fixed  by  law  for  all  general 


elections),  to  take  the  votes  of  the  legal  vot- 
ers of  said  county  for  and  against  township 
organization;  and, 

WHEREAS,  At  sa^d  general  election,  a  law- 
ful number  of  said  votes  were  cast  for  town- 
ship organization,  as  appears  to  the  court  by 
the  abstract  of  the  votes  cast  at  said  election 
for  and  against  township  organization*,  ex- 
hibited to  the  court  by  the  clerk  this  day;  it 
is  therefore 

Ordered,  That  Levi  H.  Bradbury,  Harrison 
Huugate  and  William  R.  Downen,  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  appointed,  commissioners  to 
divide  the  county  into  towns  or  townships; 
and  that  it  is  further 

Ordered,  That  the  clerk  of  this  court 
notify  the  said  parties  of  their  appoint- 
ment." 

The  committee  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  dividing  the  county  into  town- 
ships reported  in  due  time  that  they  had 
performed  that  duty.  By  them  the 
county  was  divided  into  sixteen  town- 
ships, having  the  following  names:  El- 
dorado, Industry,  Eagle  Town,  Lamoine, 
New  Salem,  Scotland.  Erin,  Tennessee, 
Mound,  Macomb,  Spring  Creek,  Rock 
Creek,  Prairie  City,  Walnut  Grove, 
Sciota,  Blandinsville.  The  first  election 
for  township  officers  was  held  April  7, 
1857. 

The  county  court  presided  over  by 
Judge  Chandler  continued  until  April 
11, 1857,  when  it  was  adjourned  sine  die. 
It  never  reassembled,  as  the  ruling 
power  in  the  county  government,  being 
superceded  by  the 

BOARD  OF  SUPERVISORS. 

The  first  meeting  of  this  honorable 
body  was  held  on  the  llth  day  of  May, 
1857,  at  the  court  house  in  Macomb,  at 
a  special  session.  There  were  there 
present  the  following  gentlemen: 


214 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1857. 

John  S.  Holliday Lamoine  township. 

Stephen  A.  White Tennessee. 

Ebenezer  N.  Hicks Rock  Creek. 

William  W.  Moss  .....*...  Blandinville. 

Jonathan  H.  Baker Spring  Creek. 

Isaac  T.  Montfort Scotland. 

Samuel  H.  McCandless Mound. 

James  H.  Epperson New  Salem. 

Joel  Pennington Industry. 

D.   I.  Dungan  ....    •  .   .    .   .  .Walnut  Grove,. 

William  Heath Sciota. 

Isaac  McCown Erin. 

James  H.  Dunsworth Eagle. 

John  Price Eldorado. 

Alonzo  L.  Kimber Prairie  City. 

James  McClure Macomb. 

On  organization,  Jonathan  H.  Baker 
was  chosen  chairman  for  the  ensuing 
year.  Among  the  first  actions  of  the 
board  was  the  looking  into  the  financial 
condition  of  the  county.  Resolutions 
to  that  effect  were  introduced  and  passed 
and  the  board,  like  the  proverbial  "  new 
broom,"  commenced  to  "  sweep  clean." 
Resolutions  were  also  passed  changing 
the  names  of  several  of  the  townships; 
that  of  Hock  Creek  to  Hire;  Spring 
Creek  to  Emmet;  Erin  to  Chalmers,  and 
Eagle  to  Bethel. 

The  boards  for  the  ensuing  years  have 
been  composed  as  follows: 

1858. 
Solomon   Markhain Mound. 

George  F.  Hendrickson Prairie  City. 

Joel  Pennington Industry. 

Isaac  P.  Montfort Scotland. 

Lewis  H.  Waters •  Macomb. 

David  I.  Dungan  ........  Walnut  Grove. 

James   H.  Dunsworth Bethel. 

Isaac  McCown Chalmers. 

Jonathan  H.  Baker Emmet. 

William  Heath Sciota. 

John  Twidwell Lamoine. 

Stephen  A.  White  ....••...  Tennessee. 


William  W.  Moss Blandinsville. 

E.   N.  Hicks Hire* 

Joseph  Lownes  < New  Salem. 

John  Price Eldorado. 

J.  H.  Baker  was  chosen  chairman  for 
the  year: 

1859. 

Isaac  McCown Chalmers. 

James  M.  Campbell •    ...  Emmet. 

Joel  Pennington Industry. 

S.  H.  McCandless Mound. 

Isaac  P.  Montfort Scotland. 

B.  R.  Hampton ....  Macomb. 

J.  M.  Wallin Sciota. 

D.  J.  Dungan  .    ; Walnut  Grove. 

John  S.  Holliday Lamoine. 

Isaac  Weaver Prairie  City. 

John  Nankavil   ....    • Bethel. 

E.  N.  Hicks •  .  Hire. 

John  Price Eldorado. 

S.  A.  White •    ...  Tennessee. 

Simon  Pontious New  Salem. 

William  W.  Moss Blandinsville. 

James  M.  Campbell  was  duly  elected 
chairman  of  the  board,  on  organization. 

1860. 

James  Keach Eldorado. 

S.  H.'McCandless Mound. 

Hiram   Conover Prairie  City. 

D.   Bunkle  ....    • Industry. 

George   W.  Provine Scotland. 

W.  S.  Hendricks Macomb. 

D.  J.  Duugan Walnut  Grove. 

James  Black Bethel. 

Alexander  Blackburn Chalmers. 

James  M.  Campbell •  .   Emmet. 

J.  M.  Wallin Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

S.  A.  White •    .   .   .    •  Tennessee. 

E.  N.  Hicks Hire. 

Hiram  Williams Blandinsville. 

Simon  Pontious New  Salem. 

James  M.  Campbell  was  duly  re-elect- 
ed to  the  chair. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


215 


1801. 

James  M.  Campbell   . Emmet 

Asahel  Russell New  Salem 

Edward  Dyer Mound. 

D.  R.  Hamilton Prairie  City 

Leander  Cassidy Industry 

George  W.  Provine Scotland 

John  McSperritt Walnut  Grove 

James  Black Bethel. 

Jeremiah   Sullivan Chalmers. 

J.  M.  Wallin •      Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

8.  A.  White Tennessee. 

E.  N.  Hicks Hire. 

V.  M.  Hardin Blandinsville. 

John  Price Eldorado. 

W.  S.  Hendricks Macomb. 

J.  M.  Campbell  was  again  re-elected 
chairman  of  the  board  upon  its  or- 
ganization, on  the  4th  of  June. 

1862. 

John  Price Eldorado. 

R.  C.  Porter New  Salem. 

Christian  Eby Mound. 

D.  R.  Hamilton   . Prairie  City. 

Leander  Cassidy Industry. 

Jacob  Randolph Scotland. 

John  McSperritt Walnut  Grove. 

James  Black •  .   .   .   .  Bethel. 

H.  S.  Marvel ^.   .   .    .  Chalmers^ 

Charles   Creel Emmet. 

J.  M.  Wallin Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

E.  N.  Hicks   •    • Hire. 

V.  M.  Hardin  ....••...   Blandinsville. 

S.  A.  White Tennessee. 

Ferman  Casto .•  .   .   .  Macomb. 

James  M.  Wallin  was  elected  perma- 
nent chairman  of  the  board  for  this 
year. 

At  the  December  session  of  1862, 
Presley  B.  Cordell  took  his  seat  upon 
this  board,  vice  Leander  Cassidy,  re- 
moved from  the  township. 


1863. 

Thomas  Lawyer Eldorado. 

Lyman  Porter New  Salem. 

James  Updegraff Mound. 

D.  R.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

P.  B.  Cordell  . ....  Industry. 

J.  W.  Randolph Scotland. 

B.  R.  Hampton Macomb. 

Joshua  Larkins Walnut  Grove. 

William  Twaddle Bethel. 

H.  B.  Marvel Chalmers. 

W,  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

G.  T.  Green  ...    - Sciota, 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

S.  A.  White Tennessee. 

E.  N.  Hicks Hire. 

V.  M.  Hardin Blandinsville. 

The  chairman  of    the   board  for  this 
year  was  Henry  S.  Marvel. 

1864. 
Leander  Cassidy Eldorado. 

Amaziah  Hanson New  Salem. 

James  Updegraff  .       Mound. 

D.  R.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

Simeon  Smith Industry. 

G.  W.  Provine Scotland. 

B.  R.  Hampton Macomb. 

John  McSperritt Walnut  Grove. 

William  Twaddle Bethel. 

Jeremiah  Sullivan Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

G.  T.  Green Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid  ...    - Lamoine. 

S.  A.  White Tennessee. 

S.  K.  Pedrick Hire. 

Hiram  Williams Blandinsville. 

Jeremiah  Sullivan  was  chairman  dur- 
ing the  year  1864. 

1865. 
John  Price Eldorado. 

J.  E.  Porter New  Salem. 

L.  Porter   .   .    .' Mound. 

D.  R.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

P.  J.  Pennington •   •  Industry. 

John  Blackburn Scotland. 

O.  F.  Piper Macomb. 

D.  A.  McKee  .  ....   Walnut  Grove. 


216 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


James  Robinson •   •  Bethel. 

T.  B.  McCorinick Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeocl Einmett. 

J.  "W.  Brewster   ••..•• Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid  ....•• Lamoiue. 

S.  A.  White  ....•• Tennessee. 

R.  M.  Folts Hire. 

Hiram  Williams Blandinsville, 

Lyman  Porter  was  chosen  chairman 
chairman  of  the  board  for  1865. 

1866. 

William  Marshall Eldorado. 

A.  Hanson New  Salem. 

James  Manly Mound. 

J.  H.  Smith  ...    • Prairie  City. 

J.  R.  Skiles Industry. 

S.  R.  Jones Scotland. 

O.  F.  Piper Macomb. 

Samuel  McWhinney  .   .    .   .  •    .  Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson Bethel. 

T.  B.  McCormick Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

J.  M.  Wallin Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

E.  B.  Hibbard Tennessee. 

E.  N.  Hicks Hire. 

Hiram  Williams Blandinsville. 

On  organization,  at  the  first  meeting, 
June  11,  James  M.  Wallin  was  chosen 
chairman  of  the  board.  At  a  meeting 
on  the  following  day,  the  board  ordered 
the  division  of  the  township  of  Prairie 
City,  giving  the  southern  half  of  the 
same  the  name  of  Bushnell,  and  the 
north  half  retaining  the  old  name  of 
Prairie  City. 

1867. 

William  Marshall Eldorado. 

Simon  Pontious New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon .    .   .  Mound. 

J.  H.  Smith Bushnell. 

H.  C.  Sanford Prairie  City. 

J.  R.  Skiles Industry. 

S.  R.  Jones Scotland. 

W.  J.  Merritt Macomb. 


B.  R.  Hampton Macomb  city, 

D.  G.  Tumiicliff Macomb  city. 

E.  B.  Davis Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson Bethel. 

Cyrus  Hoyt Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod .Emmet. 

Benjamin  Robinson Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

E.  B.  Hibbard Tennessee. 

E.  N.  Hicks Hire. 

J.  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

W.  C.  McLeod  was  chosen  chairman, 
at  the  first  meeting,  on  the  10th  of  June. 

1868. 

Milton  Amrine  .   .    .  - Eldorado. 

Joseph  E.  Porter New  Salem. 

James  Manly Mound. 

D;  M.  Wyckoff Bushnell. 

H.  C.  Sanford •  •  .  .  Prairie  City. 

Geo;  A.  Taylor Industry. 

John  C.  Moore Scotland. 

James  B.  Kyle Macomb  city. 

B.  R.  Hampton Macomb  city. 

William  W.  Stewart Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson Bethel. 

Cyrus  Hoyt ••....  Chalmer. 

W.  C.  McLeod •   •   .   .  Emmet. 

J.  L.  Painter Sciota 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

S.  A.  White Tennessee. 

James  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

P.  D.  Knapp Macomb. 

Isaac  Oakman Hire. 

W.  C.  McLeod  was  re-elected  to  the 
chair  at  a  special  term  held  on  the  13th 
of  May  and  thereafter. 

1869. 

Board  met  June  14  and  elected  H.  C. 
Sanford  chairman  for  the  ensuing  year. 
The  members  were  as  follows: 

Thomas  Cox ...  Eldorado. 

J.  E.  Porter ,.•...  New  Salem. 

T.  J.  Creel .   .    .  Mound. 

D.  M.  Wyckoff ...       Bushnell. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


217 


E.  K.  Westfall     Bushnell. 

H.  C.  Sanforct Prairie  City. 

B.  A.  Duncan Industry. 

J.  Watson Scotland. 

T.  D.  Knapp Macouab. 

B.  R.  Hampton •  .    .   .    .  Macornb  city. 

J.  B.  Kyle •  .   .   .  Macomb  city. 

W.W.Stewart.   . Walnut  Grove. 

J.  M.  Dunsworth Bethel. 

G.  W.  Neece Chalmers. 

William  McLeod Emmet. 

J.  L.  Painter Sciota. 

G.  L.  Reid Lamoine. 

J.  H.  Chenoweth •    Tennessee. 

I.  A.  Oakinan   . Hire. 

J.  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

1870. 

Joseph  Lownes New  Salem. 

James  Manly Mound. 

J.  N.  Devore Bushnell. 

G.  W.  Hamilton .  Prairie  City. 

Ebenezer  Vail Industry. 

John  C.  Moore Scotland. 

W.  H.  Rile Macomb. 

J.  B.  Kyle Macomb  city. 

W.  W.  Stewart Walnut  Grove. 

Samuel  Wilson Bethel. 

Geo.W.  Neece Chalmers. 

Thomas  Murray Emmet. 

J.  L.  Pointer Sciota. 

Reason  Hooten Tennessee. 

Isaac  A.  Oakinan Hire. 

J.  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

Thomas  Cox   .   . Eldorado. 

E.  K.  Westfall Bushnell. 

B.'  R.  Hampton Macomb  city. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

With  the  last  named  gentleman  in  the 
chair  during  the  year.  First  meeting 
held  June  13. 

1871. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  June  12, 
and  J.  A.  Mustain  was  elected  chairman 
for  the  year.  The  members  of  the  board 
were  the  following  gentlemen: 


Thomas  Cox Eldorado. 

Abraham  Powers New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

S.A.Epperson ».  .   .Bushnell. 

James  N.  Devore '.   .   .    .    .  Bushnell. 

James  W.  Brooks Prairie   City. 

T.  J.  Pennington Industry. 

John  Watson Scotland. 

C.  N.  Harding  .    .    .    .  •    ....  Macomb  city. 

James    M.   Campbell Macomb  .city. 

John  M.  Archer Macomb. 

W.  W.  Stewart Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson Bethel. 

Jeremiah  Sullivan    • Chalmers. 

William  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

J.  L.  Painter Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

Reason  Hooten Tennessee. 

Jesse  Martin Hire. 

James  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

1872. 

First  meeting  held  by  call,  signed  by 
two  thirds  of   the  members,  April  16, 

1872. 

James  Irwin Eldorado . 

J.  L.  Epperson New  Salem 

G.  W.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

Ross  Manly Mound. 

J.  N.  Devore :   .   .   .   .  Bushnell. 

S.  A.  Epperson Bushnell 

P.  B.  Cordell Industry. 

John  Watson Scotland. 

C.  N.  Harding Macomb  city. 

J.  M.  Campbell Macomb  city. 

Thomas  Cline Macomb. 

W.  W.  Stewart .    .   Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson .    .   Bethel. 

Jeremiah  Sullivan Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod .      Emmet. 

J.  L.  Painter Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

Reason  Hooten  .    .       Tennessee. 

J.  E.  K.  Carlisle Hire. 

James  A.  Mustain Blandinsville. 

W.  C.  McLeod  was  duly  elected  chair- 
man for  the  year. 


218 


KISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1873. 

First  meeting  held  April  30,  a  special 
one  by  call,  signed  by  various  members. 
The  following  was  the  board: 

James  Irwin Eldorado. 

John  L.  Epperson •   •  New   Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

Allen  L.  Sparks Bushnell. 

John  B.  Cummings Bushnell. 

G.  W.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

Thomas  L.  Maxwell Industry. 

John  Watson Scotland. 

J.  M.  Campbell Macomb  city. 

Thomas   Cline Macomb. 

David  Brockway Walnut  Grove. 

James  Robinson Bethel. 

George   W.  Neece Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

Ephraim  Dice Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lanioine. 

Rutherford  McClure Tennessee. 

J.  E.  K.  Carlisle Hire. 

Rigdon  Huston Blandinsville. 

Samuel  Frost Macomb  city 

W.  C.  McLeod  still  presiding. 
1874. 

Isaac  Chandler Eldorado, 

J.  L.  Epperson New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound, 

J.  N.  Devore Bushnell. 

D.  M.  Wyckoff Bushnell. 

C.  C.  Hays Prairie  City. 

Charles  R.  Shannon Industry. 

L.  F.  Smith Scotland. 

C.  V.  Chandler Macomb  city. 

C.  N.  Harding Macomb  city. 

Foster  Dobbins Macomb. 

David  Brockway Walnut  Grove. 

William  Twaddle Bethel. 

Robert  L.  Howell Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

Ephraim  Dice Sciota 

John  W.  Hendricks Lamoine. 

John  Myers Tennessee. 

Samuel  Logan Hire. 

Rigdon  Huston Blandinsville. 


First  meeting  held  on  the  13th  of 
July,  when  W.  C.  McLeod  was  re-elected 

chairman. 

1875. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  July  12, 
when  the  board  elected  Joseph  Shannon 
as  chairman.  The  members  were  as 
follows : 

J.  P.  Marshall Eldorado. 

John  Watson Scotland. 

R.  McClure Tennessee. 

Thomas  Cline Macomb. 

C.  V.  Chandler Macomb  city. 

W.  H.  Hainline Macomb  city. 

John  W.  Tipton ....  Sciota. 

A.  W.  Holstine Bethel. 

G.  W.  Closson Prairie  City. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

D.  M.  Wyckoff Bushnell. 

D.  Brockway Walnut  Grove. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

W.    Robinson Lamoine. 

George  M.  Thompson Chalmers. 

Samuel  Logan Hire. 

W.  H.  Taylor Industry. 

W.  W.  Gillihan Blandinsville. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

J.  L.  Epperson New  Salem. 

1876. 

J.  T.  Marshall  -.' Eldorado. 

S.  Pontious New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

E.  D.  C.  Hains Bushnell. 

J.  L.  Anderson Bushnell. 

G.  W.  Closson Prairie  City. 

William  Kinkade  ....••....  Industry 

Jonas  Ringer Scotland. 

W.  H.  Hainline Macomb  city. 

Thompson  Chandler Macomb  city. 

N.  H.  Jackson Macomb. 

A.  W.  Holstine ...  Bethel. 

G.  W.  Thompson Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

J.  W.  Tipton Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoiue. 

John  Myers Tennessee. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


219 


W.  D.  Welch Hire. 

S.  J.  Grigsby Blandinsville. 

R.  A.  Morris Walnut  Grove. 

Mr.  McLeod  still  presiding  as  chair- 
man. 

1877. 

A.  J.  Herron Eldorado. 

A.  Powers New  Salein. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader  .   .' Bushnell. 

L.  S.  Mills Bushnell. 

A.  T.  Irwin Prairie  City. 

\Villiam  Kinkade Industry. 

John  Barclay Scotland. 

W.  H.  Hainline Maconib  City. 

James  Gamage Maconib  City. 

N.  H.  Jackson Maconib. 

R.  A.  Morris Walnut  Grove. 

W.  H.  Nankeville Bethel. 

R.  L.  Howell Chalmers. 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

Evan  Rogers Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

H.  L.  Rapelji Tennessee. 

Allen  Stookey Hire. 

S.  J.  Grigsby Blandinsville. 

First  meeting  held  July  9,  when  W. 
H.  Hainline  was  elected  chairman  for 

the  ensuing  year. 

1878. 

First  meeting  was  held  July  8,and  W. 
C.  McLeod  was  chosen  chairman  for  the 
ensuing  year.  The  following  composed 
the  board: 

J.  P.  Marshall Eldorado. 

Abram  Powers New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

C.  C.  Morse Bushnell. 

J.  H.  Graham Prairie  City. 

William  Kinkade Industry. 

John  Barclay Scotland. 

B.  R.  Hampton Macomb  city 

Joseph  Durr Macomb  city. 

N.  H.  Jackson Macomb. 

Henry  Mariner Walnut  Grove 

J.  M.  Dunsworth Bethel. 


R.  T.  Howell •  Chalmers 

W.  C.  McLeod Emmet. 

Henry  Robinson Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

A.  G.  Owen Tennessee. 

Allen  Stookey Hire. 

H.  Sappington  .    . Blandinsville. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

1879. 

First  meeting  was  held  July  14,  and 
J.  P.  Marshall  was  elected  chairman. 
The  following  were  the  members  of  the 
board: 

J.  P.  Marshall Eldorado. 

Abram  Powers New  Salem. 

Joseph  Shannon Mound. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

W.  J.  Frisbie Bushnell. 

G.  W.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

William  Kinkade Industry. 

Hugh  Watson Scotland. 

B.  JR.  Hampton Macomb  city. 

Joseph  Durr Macomb  city. 

E.  D.  Stephens Macomb. 

Henry  Mariner Walnut  Grove. 

George  Venard Bethel. 

A.  L.  Howell Chalmers. 

J.  M.  Chase  .   .    •   • Emmet. 

J.  S.  Wallin Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

John  Myers Tennessee. 

Allen  Stookey  .   .    •   • Hire. 

H.  Sappington ,  Blandiiisville. 

1880. 

First  meeting  held  July  12,  and'  J.  P. 
Marshall  elected  chairman.  The  follow- 
ing was  the  board: 

J.  P.  Marshall Eldorado. 

J.  P.  Wilt New  Salem. 

G.  W.  Solomon Mound. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

W.  F.  Frisbie Bushnell. 

G.  W.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

William  Kinkade  .   .   « Industry. 

Hugh  Watson Scotland. 


220 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


E.  Pillsbury Macomb  city. 

John  Scott Macomb  city. 

Jackson  Kemble Macorab. 

Henry  Mariner Walnut  Grove 

D.  H.  Sterling Bethel. 

Fred  Newland Colchester. 

George  W.  Kruse Chalmers. 

T.  M.  Simmons Emmet. 

J.  R.  Wallingford Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

J.  B.  Isom •   • Hire. 

H'.  Sappington Blandinsville. 

Reason  Hooten Tennessee. 

1881. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  July  11, 
and  J.  Kimble  was  chosen  chairman  for 
the  ensuing  year.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  members  of  the  board: 

J.  N.  Foster Eldorado. 

J.  J.  Carlin New  Salem. 

G.  W.  Solomon Mound. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

Isaac  Weaver -Prairie  City. 

William    Kiukade Industry. 

J.  M.  Rexroat Scotland. 

Jackson  Kimble Macomb 

B.  R.   Hampton Macomb    city. 

L   F.  Campbell Macomb  city. 

Henry  Mariner Walnut  Grove. 

G.  G.  Venard Bethel. 

George  W.  Kruse Chalmers. 

W.  H.  Weir •   •   .   .   .   Colchester. 

A.  A.  Adair «...  Emmet. 

J.  L.  Hardin Sciota. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

A.  G.  Owen Tennessee. 

J.  B.  [som Hire. 

G.  S.  Fuhr Blandiusville 

1882. 

First  meeting  held  July  10,  and  on 
organization,  George  W.  Hamilton  was 
chosen  chairman  for  the  year.  The 
members  were  as  follows: 

J.  N.  Foster Eldorado. 

J.  J.  Carlin New  Salem. 

William  Stephens Mo*und. 


J.  C.  Cadwalader Bushnell. 

Henry  Mariner Walnut  Grove. 

G.  G.  Venard Bethel. 

J.  W.  B.  Hamilton Hire. 

J.  W.  Kruse .   .  Chalmers. 

J.  D.  Trew Colchester. 

T.  G.  Walker Scotland. 

G.  W.  Hamilton Prairie  City. 

A.  A.  Adair Emmet. 

William  Kinkade  ...........  Industry. 

G.  8.  Fuhr Blandinsville. 

A.  G.  Owens Tennessee. 

John  Wiley Macomb. 

B.  R.  Hampton  .   .   •   • Macomb  city. 

J.  T.  Adcock Macomb  city. 

L.  G.  Reid Lamoine. 

J.  L.  Yeast Sciota. 

1883. 

First  meeting  held  July  9,  and  W.  T. 
Kinkade  was  elected  chairman  by  the 
following  members: 

J.  P.  Marshall .   .  Eldorado. 

J.  P.  Wilt New  Salem. 

E.  A.  Boynton  ....    •  .   .   .    .   Prairie  City. 

W.  T.  Kinkade Industry. 

Hugh  Watson Scotland. 

J.  T.  Adcock Macomb  city. 

Charles  Imes Macomb  city. 

J.  A.  Carlin .  Walnut  Grove. 

J.  S.  Baymiller  : Bethel. 

R.  W.  Saffle Chalmers. 

D.  A.  Herlocker •  .   .    Sciota. 

M.  D.  Wear Lamoine. 

W.  H.  Weir Colchester. 

J.  R.  Fisher •   • Hire. 

M.  A.  Terry Blandinsville. 

William  Stephens Mound. 

A.  E.  Barnes Bushnell. 

Julius  Hartung •  Emmet. 

William  Cook  .   .    , Tennessee. 

1884. 

First  meeting  was  held  July  14,  and 
G.  G.  Venard  was  chosen  chairman. 
The  following  constituted  the  board: 

J.  P.  Marshall Eldorado. 

J.  P.  Wilt .  .  New  Salem. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


221 


James  Kepple -.       .   .  Mound. 

I.  S.  Mills ••....  Bushnell. 

A.  Mead Prairie  City. 

William  Kinkade Industry. 

Hugh  Watson ,  Scotland. 

C.  I.  Imes Macomb  city. 

Fred.  Ralston Macomb  city. 

J.  B.  Bricker Macoinb. 

G.  G.  Venard  .  .  Bethel. 


Robert  Saffle Chalmers. 

Julius  Hartung  •  • Emniet. 

James  Statler Sciota. 

William  Robinson Lamoine. 

William  Cook Tennessee. 

J.  R.  Fisher Hire. 

M.  A.  Terry Blandinsville. 

John  Carlin .   .  .Walnut  Grove. 


CHAPTER    XL 


OTHER  OFFICIAL  MATTER 


In  this 'chapter  it  is  designed  to  pre- 
sent the  various  official  matters,  which, 
although  too  brief  to  place  in  a  chapter 
separately,  are  too  important  to  be 
ignored.  These  items  have  been  mostly 
gathered  from  the  records  of  the  county, 
although  some  have  been  gained  in  frag- 
ments during  interviews  with  those  famil- 
iar with  the  subject. 

MATRIMONIAL. 

This  a  matter  which  always  attracts 
attention  when  treated  historically,  and 
is  especially  interesting  to  the  younger 
portion  of  the  community,  who,  their 
time  not  yet  having  come,  still  walk  "in 
maiden  meditation  fancy  free,"  dream- 
ing of  the  prince  that  will  "a  wooing" 
come,  or  picture  the  charms  of  the  future 
mistress  of  their  household. 

In  various  lands  the  marriage  rite  is 
solemnized  in  different  ways  and  by  dif- 
ferent ceremonies;  in  all  the  acts  of  the 


contracting  parties  must  be  understood 
by  each,  and  by  the  community  in  which 
they  live,  as  being  a  mutual  agreement 
to  hold  the  relations  toward  one  another 
as  man  and  wife.  In  this  state  a  license 
has  always  been  required,  although  it  is 
not  required  in  all  the  states,  and  thus 
from  the  records  we  can  trace  all  the 
earlier  marriages  of  the  county. 

In  early  days  young  men  and  maidens 
were  not  married  in  the  grand  style 
which  usually  characterizes  the  mar- 
riages of  the  present  period.  They  did 
not  wait  until  riches  came  before  they 
married,  as  is  too  much  the  case  in  this 
money-loving  age,  but  chose  their  mate 
without  regard  to  -this  point  and  settled - 
down  to  live  in  simple  and  comfortable 
style,  and  they  generally  lived  happily 
and  gained  the  respect  of  their  neighbors 
by  attending  to  their  own  business. 
There  were  no  "diamond  weddings"  in 
those  days,  and  the  extravagance  that 


222 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


now  often  attends  the  marriage  ceremony 
was  then  unheard  of.  The  old  folks  were 
plain,  economical  and  hospitable  people, 
and  the  young  folks  were  imbued  with 
the  same  attributes  that  characterized 
their  fathers  and  mothers.  They  were 
willing  to  commence  housekeeping  in  a 
style  corresponding  with  their  means, 
trusting  to  the  future  for  larger  houses 
and  more  expensive  furniture. 

There  are  many  rich  anecdotes  of  the 
rustic  marriages  in  early  days,  but  where 
possible  they  are  treated  of  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  townships  in 
which  they  occurred.  How,  when  the 
time  came,  the  blushing  and  rosy  maid 
would  drop  her  milk  pails,  throw  off  her 
apron  and  tying  on  her  sunbonnet,  clam- 
ber into  the  lumber  box  wagon,  while 
"John"  in  his  overalls  and  farm  boots 
would  take  up  the  whip,  and  the  oxen 
would  move  off  with  the  bridal  proces- 
sion to  the  "Squire's"  who  did  the  "jin- 
ing  of  the  knot." 

Among  the  amusing  stories  told  of 
some  parties  in  the  county,  away  back 
in  the  misty  past,  is  one  where  a  country 
couple  made  their  way  to  one  of  the  in- 
cipient villages  in  the  county  in  quest  of 
some  one  who  was  authorized  to  tie  the 
hymeneal  knot.  They  went  to  a  young 
storekeeper,  who,  in  the  way  of  a  prac- 
tical joke,  referred  them  to  the  postmas- 
ter, stating  that  the  government  author- 
ized him  to  officiate  upon  such  occasions. 
When  the  postmaster  -was  seen  he  dis- 
claimed any  knowledge  of  such  author- 
ity, and  said  that  he  had  only  been  in  the 
employment  of  the  government  a  short 
time  and  was  not  yet  "quite  up  to  snuff." 
But  if  the  merchant  said  he  could,  he 
supposed  it  was  so.  Accordingly  the 


couple  were  ranged  up  in  front  of  the 
postmaster,  who  in  the  most  approved 
style  impressed  them  with  the  solemnity 
of  the  occasion,  warned  them  to  "let  no 
man  put  asunder  what  he  had  jined," 
and  in  closing  pronounced  them  "Mr. 
and  Mrs.,  as  provided  by  the  United 
States- postal  regulations.  Go  your  way, 
keep  your  mouths  shut,  and  you'll  be 
happy."  As  they  turned  to  leave,  he  re- 
marked, "only  a  dollar  a  piece,  please." 

There  were  several  marriages  in  the 
county,  previous  to  its  organization,  but 
of  which  there  is  no  record,  the  parties 
having  to  go  to  other  places  for  their 
license;  for  an  account  of  these,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter  on  early 
settlement,  and  the  various  township 
histories. 

The  first  marriage  of  record  in  McDon- 
ough  county  was  that  which  united  the 
future  destinies  of  John  Wyatt  and  Bet- 
sey •  Massengale,  the  license  for  which 
was  issued  August  19,  1830.  The  mar- 
riage occurred  August  21st  of  this  year; 
solemnized  by  Rev.  John  Baker. 

The  second  marriage  in  the  county,  as 
appears  from  the  records,  was  that  of 
James  Lee  and  Sarah  Reno.  "The  license 
was  issued  January  5,  1831,  the  mar- 
riage ceremony  being  performed  the  fol- 
lowing day  by  James  Vance,  justice  of 
the  peace. 

The  third  marriage  was  that  of  Dotson 
Seybold  and  Polly  Hardesty,  March  24, 
1831.  The  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Robert  Long,  elder  of  the  Christian 
church. 

The  fourth  license  was  issued  May  18, 
1831,  to  Elias  H.  Branden  and  Jane 
Kennedy.  The  ceremony  was  performed 
two  days  later  by  Rev.  John  Baker. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


223 


The  following  parties  constitute  the 
remainder  to  whom  license  WBS  granted 
during  the  year  1831 : 

Eli  Harp  and  Lucinda  Broogan,  June 
1 ;  married  by  Rev.  John  Baker,  June  2. 

James  Vance  and  Helen  A.  Miller, 
August  24;  married  August  25th  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Bogart. 

Thomas  Bridges  and  Frances  Miller, 
August  24;  married  August  25th,  by 
James  Vance,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Jeremiah  G.  W.  Tate  and  Polly  Scog- 
gin,  October  11;  married  October  13,  by 
Enoch  Cyrus,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Henderson  H.  Hardesty  and  Laura  A. 
Bagley,  October  11;  married  October  13, 
by  Rev.  J.  G.  W.  Tate. 

Thomas  Coffman  and  Allie  Seybold, 
October  11 ;  married  October  13,  by  Rev. 
J.  G.  W.  Tate. 

David  Detherow  and  Ruth  Southward, 
October  18;  married  October  18,  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Bogart. 

Larkin  Osborne  aud  Delilah  Belyin, 
December  20;  married  December  25th, 
by  James  Vance,  justice  of  the  peace. 

Thomas  Huddleston'and  Anna  Canna- 
day,  December  22;  married  December 
22,  by  Jacob  T.  Reno,  justice  of  the 
peace. 

License  was  issued  to  the  following 
named  parties  during  the  year  1832: 

William  Shannon  and  Polly  Miller, 
January  9;  married  January  12. 

James  B.  Tomberlin  and  Clara  Hays, 
January  7;  married  January  12. 

Nicholas  J.  Hays  and  Mana  Head, 
February  28;  married  March  1. 

Philip  T.  Cordier  and  Julia  Head, 
April  9;  married  April  26. 

Alexander  Lee  and  Margaret  G.  Hud- 
dleston,  May  19;  married  May  20. 


Berry  Jones  and  Betsey,  Wyatt,  June 
8;  married  June  10. 

William  Barber  and  Eleander  Wells, 
June  20;  married  June  23. 

John    M.    McFadden    and  Parmelia 
McNight,  July  1;  married  July  1. 

Nicholas  Campbell  and  Mary  McGee, 
July  13;  married  July  13. 

James  Cyrus  and  Margaret  Duncan, 
September  1 ;  married  September  16. 

Thomas  W.  Pickett  and  Mary  F.  An- 
derson, Octobe'r  8;  married  October  9. 

The  following  named  were  licensed  to 
marry  during  the  year  1833 : 

Peter  D.  Smith   and   Jane  F,  Darby- 
shire,  February  8;  married,  February  14. 

John  Jackson  and  Elizabeth  J.  Metcalf, 
March  4;  married,  March  6, 

Nicholas  R.  Teas  and  Charlotte  M. 
Averill,  March  6;  married,  March  7. 

Williamson  Forgusson  and   Cassenda 
Morris,  April  4;  married  April  11. 

William  McDonald  and  Nancy  Hays, 
April  8;  married  April  11. 

W.  C.  Rells   and  Emma   Woodward, 
May  2;  married  same  day. 

Richard  S.  Lowe  and  Eliza  M.  Ander- 
son, May  7:  married  same  day. 

Michael  C.  Harris  and  Sarah  E.  Dar- 
byshire,  May  16;  married,  May  29. 

David    G.    McFadden     and    Darcus 
Bowen,  May  16;  married  same  date. 

W.  A.  Walker  and  Mahala  A.   Camp- 
bell, July  30;  married,  August  1. 

John   L.    Russell   and   Mary    Willis, 
October  2. 

John  Scott  and  Mary  Duncan,  Nov- 
vember  2 ;  married,  November  7, 

Charles  Duncan  and  Darcus  Coffman, 
November  2;  married,  November  10. 

Thomas  J.  Davis  and  Parmelia  Job, 
November  16;  married  November  24. 


224 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


David  Metcalf  and  Dorcas  Dougherty, 
November  21 ;  married,  November  24. 

Moses  J.  Wallis  and  Susan  Monk, 
December  2;  married,  December  5. 

The  marriage  licenses  issued  during 
the  year  1834,  were  to  the  following  par- 
.ties: 

F.  C.  Tomberlin  and  Matilda  Coker, 
January  11. 

Richard  Pennington  and  Delia  Shan- 
non, January  28. 

Morgan  Jones  and  Elizabeth  Osborn 
February  19. 

Charles  Hungate  and  Catharine  Halo, 
March  11. 

L.  H.  Robinson  and  Abagail  Danle- 
son,  March  13. 

Andrew  H.  Walker  and  Jane  L.  Camp- 
bell, March  19. 

James  Osborn  and  Ruth  Smith,  May 
14. 

William  Stults  and  Jane  Gearheart, 
September  6. 

James  M.  Hendricks  and  Elizabeth 
Bristow,  September  7: 

John  Long  and  Corintha  Twitchell, 
September  8. 

Charles  Bradshaw  and  Anna  Cyrus, 
October  2. 

John  Dill  and  Nellie  Clinkenbread, 
October  3, 

Wylie  McFadden  and  Nancy  Mc- 
Fadden,  October  8. 

John  H.  Beagles  and  Mary  A.  Stapp, 
October  21. 

Jonathan  Ratican  and  Nancy  Cannon, 
October  22. 

Hezekiah  Cain  and  Irene  Woodward, 
October  26.. 

Allen  Isaacs  and  Elizabeth  Barber, 
October  31. 


Reuben  Harris  and  Mary  Marlow, 
November  11. 

Nelson  Montgomery  and  Cynthia  A. 
Walker,  November  18. 

Thomas  W.  Hunt  and  Nancy  A.  Ar- 
cher, November  19. 

Jackson  Clinkenbread  and  Mary  A. 
Metcalf,  December  5. 

John  W.  Westfall  and  Icemenda 
Neece,  December  15. 

Lemuel  Bates  and  Priscilla  Jones, 
December  20. 

James  C.  Head  and  Sarah  A.  Ander- 
son, December  29. 

It  is  curious  to  note  the  fluctuations 
of  the  matrimonial  market  as  shown  by 
the  foregoing  table;  how  the  state  of  the 
times  causes  a  falling  off  or  an  increase 
of  the  number.  In  1862,  the  war  caused 
the  usual  depression  in  the  number  of 
matrimonial  ventures,  and  kept  it  at  a  low 
ebb  until  1864,  when  it  began  to  increase 
as  the  "boys  came  marching  home."  In 
1866,  when  all  the  battle-scarred  veter- 
ans had  returned,  the  market  jumped  to 
an  abnormally  high  condition,  and  which 
it  kept  for  some  years. 

RECOEDS. 

The  first  deed  recorded  upon  the  books 
of  the  county  bears  the  date  of  April  8,  • 
1830,  and  was  made  by  Joel  Moore  and 
Sally  Moore,his  wife,  convey  ing  the  north 
west  quarter  of  section  17,  in  township 
4  north,  range  3  west,  160  acres,  to  John 
I.  Foster,  for  the  consideration  of  $100. 
The  instrument  was  acknowledged  be- 
fore James  D.  Morrison,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  and  for  Morgan  county,  Illinois, 
and  was  filed  for  record  on  the  13th  of 
April,  1831,  by  Jas.  M.  Campbell,  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court  and  county  recorder. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


227 


The  first  county  warrant  issued  by  the 
newly  organized  comity  of  McDonough, 
bears  the  date  of  September  7,  1830, 
and  was  for  the  amount  of  one  dollar, 
and  in  favor  of  William  McDonald.  It 
was  a  payment -for  services  as  judge  of 
•  election.  Nos.  2  and  3  were  for  the 
same  amounts,  issued  the  same  day  to 
Ephraim  .Perkins  and  George  Dowell, 
for  the  same  service. 

The  first  will  entered  for  record  was 
that  of  Henry  Foster,  who  died  in  De- 
cember, 1832.  The  will  was  presented 
for  probate  March  4,  1833,  before  Wil- 
liam Willis,  at  that  time  probate  justice. 
A  note  appended  to  the  record  shows 
that  the  personal  property  of  the  de- 
ceased amounted  to  $268.05. 

c  TOWN  PLATS. 

The  plats  of  the  original  towns  in  the 
county  were  filed  for  record  on  the  dates 
given  below.  To  nearly  all  of  them 
many  additions  have  since  been  made, 
but  space  forbids  the  mention  of  them, 
and  as  they  are  a  matter  of  record  it  is 
useless. 

Macomb,  or  as  it  was  then  spelled, 
"McComb,"  was  filed  for  record  upon 
the  26th  of  April,  1831,  by  McDonough 
county,  represented  by  James  Clarke, 
James  Vance  and  John  Hardesty,  county 
commissioners. 

Doddsville  was  filed  for  record  July 
7,  1836,  by  Samuel  Dodds  and  Paris 
Wheeler. 

Seawardsville,  filed  for  record  August 
24,  1836,  by  William  Seaward. 

Middletown,  filed  March  22,  1837,  by 
James  Edmoiiston  and  John  Patrick. 

Blandmsville,  filed  March  16, 1842,  by 
Joseph  L.  Blandin. 


Hill's  Grove,  filed  April  20,  1844,  b 
Isaac  Holton. 

Tennessee,  filed  April  5,  1854,  by 
Thomas  K.  Waddill,  Joseph  B.  Bacon 
and  Stephen  Cockerham. 

Bushnell,  filed  for  record  upon  the 
29th  of  August,  1854,  by  Iverson  L. 
Twyman,  David  P.  Wells  and  John  D. 
Hail. 

Bardolph,  filed  September  1,  1854,  by 
George  W.  Parkinson,  W.  H.  Randolph, 
W.  C.  Chambers  and  Charles  Chandler. 

Prairie  City,  filed  October  11,  1854, 
by  Edwin  Reed. 

Colchester,  filed  November  22,  1855, 
by  Lewis  H.  Little  and  Charles  A.  Gil- 
christ. 

Industry,  filed  July  30,  1856,  by  Wil- 
liam R.  Downen. 

Chester,  filed  September  15,  1856,  by 
N.  I.  Hayes,  W.  Hathaway,  C.  C.  Chan- 
dler and  S.  B.  Kyle. 

Colmar,  filed  June  26,  1858,  by  Wil- 
liam W.  Graves. 

New  Philadelphia,  filed  September  22, 
1859,  by  Lloyd  Thomas. 

Sheridan,  filed  July  19,  1867,  by 
Thomas  Morris. 

Clarksville,  (now  Sciota)  filed  for 
record  by  W.  B.  Clarke,  December  23, 
1867. 

Grant,  filed  for  record  by  James  H. 
Langsford,  February  15,  1869. 

Reedyville,  filed  August  9,  1870,  by 
John  H.  Reedy  and  Jacob  Grim. 

COURT  HOUSE. 

As  has  been  already  mentioned,  the 
first  place  used  as  a  court  house  in  the 
county  of  McDonough,  was  the  log  cabin 
of  John  Baker,  on  the  site  of  the  city  of 
Macomb,  for  which  the  county  gave  him 


228 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


two  lots  in  that  embryo  city  as  rent.  At 
a  meeting  of  the  county  commissioners, 
held  on  the  12th  day  of  April,  1831,  the 
subject  of  building  a  court  house  was 
raised  and  after  considerable  discussion, 
it  was  agreed  to  build  such  an  edifice. 
This  was  a  hewed  log  affair  18x20  feet  in 
ground  area,  and  was  erected,  by  con- 
tract, by  William  Southward  for  $69.50. 
A  description  of  this  building  is  given 
in  the  chapter  in  relation  to  county  gov- 
ernment, on  page  205.  This  building 
answered  the  purpose  for  which  it  was 
erected  for  a  couple  of  years,  but  in 
March,  1833,  the  building  of  a  new  court 
house  was  determined  upon.  This  was 
to  be  of  brick  and  two  stories  in  height. 
In  answer  to  an  advertisement  inserted 
in  the  Jacksonville  Patriot,  in  March, 
1833,  for  plans  and  specifications,  several 
such  were  received  and  opened  at  the 
meeting  of  the  commissioner's  court  in 
May  of  that  year,  and  one  of  which  was 

adopted.     It  was  then. 

• 
"Ordered,  That  the  following  be  the  plans 

of  a  court  house  in  and  for  the  county  of  Mc- 
Donough,  viz:  the  foundation  walls  of  stone, 
forty-six  feet  four  inches  square,  and  two 
feet  thick  and  three  feet  high;  one  foot  above 
the  surface  of  the  earth;  which  foundation 
shall  be  made  of  stone,  range  work  above  the 
ground,  and  to  show  a  smooth  face  or  front, 
nicely  hewed,  and  laid  in  lime  and  sand 
mortar;  also  two  division  stone  walls  (of  the 
same  as  above)  twelve  by  twenty  feet  in  the 
west  end,  that  being  the  northwest  and 
southwest  corners  of  said  building,  which 
walls  are  to  be  eighteen  inches  thick,  three 
feet  high,  one  foot  above  the  surface  of  the 
earth;  there  will  be  a  wall  extending  from 
the  corners  of  each  of  the  jury  or  small  rooms 
to  the  east  end  of  the  building,  at  parallel 
lines  with  the  outside  foundation  wall,  same 
depth  in  the  ground,  and  only  to  come  to  the 


surface  of  the  earth,  eighteen  inches  thick, 
laid  in  lime  and  sand  mortar;  walls  made  of 
firat  rate  brick  and  other  suitable  materials, 
40  feet  square,  lower  story  18  inches  thick 
and  14  feet  high;  upper  story  to  be 
13  inch  walls  and  12  feet  high;  the  small 
rooms,  inside  wall,  to  be  13  inch  walls; 
on  the  outside  an  oval  and  round 
cornice  of  brick;  one  circular  top  door  frame 
four  feet  by  eight  and  a  half  feet  in  the  clear, 
with  panel  work,  and  glass  on  each  side  and 
above,  placed  in  the  north,  south  and  west 
centers  of  the  walls  of  the  house;  a  window 
placed  six  feet  above  the  judge's  seat,  and 
36  window  frames,  16  of  which  in  the  lower 
story  and  20  in  the  upper,  each  to  contain  12 
panes  of  glass  12  by  18  inches,  at  equal  dis- 
tances, to  be  proportionate,and  to  have  above 
each  a  double  arch  (13  inches)  finished  off 
smooth.  The  frame  of  the  cupola  to  be  run 
up  through  the  center  of  the  house-top;  in 
the  corners  of  the  house,  on  ttie  lower  floor, 
will  be  a  fire  place  of  convenient  size,  and 
above,  in  the  jury  rooms,  in  the  northwest 
and  southwest  corners,  a  small  fire  place, 
aud  in  the  northeast  corner,  above  the  gal- 
lery, will  be  left  a  space  and  flue  for  a  stove 
pipe;  chimneys  to  be  run  o"ut  five  feet  above 
each  corner  of  said  building;  the  short  joist 
will  be  three  by  ten  inches;  the  long  joist 
four  by  ten  inches;  making  a  round  founda- 
tion for  a  circular  cupola  10  feet  in  diameter, 
three  feet  above  the  roof,  and  closed  in  so  as 
to  make  a  roof  to  keep  out  the  rain;  a  square 
roof,with  aneave  all  around, sheeting  jointed, 
and  laid  close,  and  with  good  and  sufficient 
and  suitable  jointed  shingles,  18  inches  long, 
and  to  show  six  inches;  all  of  which  work 
shall  be  done  in  work-like  manner;  and  the 
timber  of  said  building  shall  be  of  the  most 
suitable  kind;  the  sills  of  the  windows  and 
doors  are  to  be  of  black  walnut,  three  inches 
thick,  and  of  sufficient  width;  the  walls  to  be 
jointed  and  penciled;  which  shall  be  adver- 
tised by  the  clerk  in  the  Jacksonville  paper 
(Patriot)  three  insertions;  to  be  let  to  the  Jow- 
est  bidder  on  the  first  Monday  of  June  next; 
which  building  is  to  be  completed  according 


HISTOE.Y  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


229 


to  the  contract  on  or  before  the  first  day  of 
November,  1834. 

An  advance  of  one-fourth  of  the  bid  will  be 
made  to- the  undertaker  so  soon  as  com- 
menced, in  order  to  carry  on  the  building, 
one-fourth  to  be  paid  when  the  contract  is 
half  done,  one-fourth  when  the  contract  is 
completed  and  received,  and  one-fourth  at 
the  expiration  of  nine  months  from  the  time 
the  contract  and  work  is  received  by  the 
county  commissioners'  court.  Bond,  with 
approved  security  or  securities,  will  be  re- 
quired to  be  given  in  a  penalty  of  double  the 
amount  of  the  undertaker's  bid,  which  pen. 
alty  will  be  required  as  a  forfeiture  in  case 
the  contract  is  not  complied  with  in  every 
respect. 

A  committee  consisting  of  Moses 
Heaton,  James  Clarke  and  Benjamin  T. 
Naylor,  were  appointed  to  superintend 
the  erection  of  the  building. 

The  contract  for  the  stone  and  brick 
work  was  awarded  to  George  Miller  and 
John  T.  Bishop,  who  had  bid  $2,498. 
They,  at  once,  entered  upon  their  labor 
and  in  a  short  time  they  had  their  part 
finished. 

In  the  month  of  September,  1835,  a 
further  contract  was  made  by  the  county 
with  Morris  Eoberts  and  David  F. Martin 
to  complete  the  inclosure  of  the  building 
for  the  sum  of  $1,334.  This  part  of  the 
work  was  finished  and  accepted  in  the 
spring  of  1836.  A  further  contract  was 
made  with  Benjamin  T.  Naylor,  and 
Robert  A.  Brazleton  for  the  completion 
of  the  wood-work  for  $4,000,  thus  mak- 
ing the  entire  cost  of  the  building  $1,832. 
This  structure  stood  in  the  center  of  the 
square  and  in  it  were  held  all  the  meet- 
ings of  the  county  commissioners,  the 
county  court,  the  board  of  supervisors 
and  the  circuit  court  and  for  all  county 
purposes.  In  1860,  C.  L.  Higbee  was 


making  a  political  speech  in  the  court 
room,  the  walls  made  an  ominous  noise, 
cracking  audible,  which  caused  an  im- 
mediate stampede.  In  a  moment's  time 
he  had  naught  but  empty  benches  for 
an  audience.  For  the  next  six  years  the 
building  was  but  little  used,  Campbell's 
Hall  being  secured  and  used  for  court 
purpose. 

'  In  May,  1863,  James  M.  Campbell 
was  appointed  by  the  board  to  confer 
with  the  council  of  the  city  of  Macomb 
in  reference  to  the  subject  of  a  new 
building,  the  board  being  of  the  opinion 
that  "the  city  ought  to  contribute  liber- 
ally in  the  construction  of  a  new  court 
house."  At  the  September  meeting  of 
the  board  Mr.  Campbell  reported,  and  a 
communication  was  also  received  from  a 
special  committee  appointed  by  the 
council  declining  to  take  action  in  the 
matter  at  that  time  for  certain  reasons 
therein  set  forth.  The  communication 
from  the  city  council  was  answered,  set- 
ting forth  the  necessity  for  a  new  court 
house  and  stating  that  nothing  would  be 
done  unless  the  city  should  do  its  part. 
On  Saturday,  September  19,  1863,  at 
the  regular  session  of  the  board  of 
county  supervisors,  B.  R.  Hampton  of- 
fered the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted: 

"Resolved,  That  this  board  offer  for'  the 
best  plan  of  a  new  court  house,  to  be  erected 
in  the  city  of  Macomb.  together  with  its  esti- 
mated cost,  the  sum  of  twenty- five  dollars; 
for  the  second  best  plan,  etc.,  the  sum  of  fif- 
teen dollars;  and  for  the  third  best  plan,  etc., 
the  sum  of  ten  dollars;  said  plans  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  this  board  at  its  next  December 
meeting, to  be  then  determined  by  the  board, 
and  that  the  clerk  be  directed  to  give  public 
notice  of  these  several  propositions  of  the 
board." 


230 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Under  this  resolution,  on  the  23d  of 
December,  of  the  same  year,  a  plan  for 
the  proposed  court  house  was  presented 
by  W.  C.  McLeod,  and  there  being  no 
others^  he  was  awarded  the  first  prize. 
The  plan  somehow  does  not  seem  to  have 
been  adopted  and  the  subject  seems  to 
have  evaporated  in  talk. 

At  the  September  term,  1864,  of  the 
board  of  supervisors,  a  resolution  was 
presented  and  adopted,  requesting  the 
member  of  the  general  Assembly  repre- 
senting McDonough  county,  to  urge  the 
passage  of  an  act  authorizing  the  county 
to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $50,000, 
to  raise  funds  toward  building  a  new 
court  house.  And  at  the  March  term, 
1865,  the  board  appointed  a  committee 
of  three  to  confer  with  a  like  committee 
from  the  council  of  Macomb,  in  regard 
to  the  location  of  the  proposed  edifice. 
Nothing  came  of  the  conference  and  the 
subject  again  was  dropped.  All  this 
time  each  session  'of  the  grand  jury  was 
condemning,  as  unsafe,  the  building 
then  in  use. 

In  the  spring  of  1866,  the  walls  of  the 
court  house  were  patched  up  and  the 
building  again  used.  It  was  never  re- 
garded safe,  however,  and  the  crowds 
assembled  there  were  always  in  fear  the 
walls  would  give  way  and  destruction 
would  be  their  doom.  In  consequence 
of  this  state  of  affairs  the  sheriff  and 
bailiffs  could  never  keep  order,  and  the 
patience  of  the  judge  was  sorely  tried. 
On  the  least  noise  being  heard,  the 
timid  would  precipitately  retire  from  the 
room.  The  judge  could  stand  it  no 
longer,  so,  in  1868,  he  publicly  declared 
that  McDonough  county  must  have  a 
new  and  better  court  house.  At  the 


September  meeting  of  the  board  there- 
after, George  A.  Taylor,  the  supervisor 
from  Industry  township,  offered  the  fol- 
lowing resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

WHKKEAS,  It  is  apparent  to  all  candid- 
minded  men  that  the  safety  of  our  land  re- 
cords, upon  which  the  title  to  the  laud  of  all 
our  citizens  rests,  and  of  the  records  of  both 
our  circuit  and  county  courts,  as  well  as  tiie 
board  of  supervisors,  upon  the  preservation 
of  which  depends  vast  public  aiid  private 
rights  of  the  whole  body  of  the  people  of  the 
county,  now  rendered  the  more  striking  from 
their  narrow  escape  from  destruction  by  the 
elements,and  the  dilapidated  and  crumbling 
condition  of  our  present  court  house;  by 
many  deemed  not  only  unsafe  for  the  people 
to  meet  in  while  the  courts  are  being  held, 
but,  as  all  know,  wholly  inadequate  to  ac- 
commodate the  jurors  and  others  connected 
with  the  administration  of  justice,  absolutely 
demands  the  laying  aside  all  local  feeling 
and  prejudice,  but  acting  solely  upon  a  high 
sense  of  duty  to  the  people  of  the  whole 
county  that  we  should  at  once  proceed  to 
take  the  necessary  steps  to  build  a  court 
house  adequate  for  the  wants  of  the  large  and 
daily  increasing  population  of  our  county, 
and  a  safe  depository  of  its  public  records  and 
archives;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  board 
that  measures  l,e  taken  at  its  present  meeting 
to  secure,  with  as  little  delay  as  possible,  the 
building  of  a  suitable  court  house  in  this 
county. 

S.  A.  White,  the  representative  from 
the  township  of  Tennessee,  submitted 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  also 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  this  board  appoint  L.  G. 
Reid  a  committee  to  procure  plans  and  speci- 
fications for  the  erection  of  a  new  court  house 
in  McDonough  county,  and  the  probable 
cost  of  the  same;  and  to  confer  with  the  city 
council  of  Macomb,  or  others,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  knowing  the  amount  said  city  or 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


231 


others  will  appropriate  to  build  said  house; 
and  to  leport  to  this  board,  at  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  said  board,  to  be  held  on  the  first 
Monday  iu October  next,  atone  o'clock  P.  M. 

At  tliis  time  there  existed  a  strong 
feeling,  both  among  the  members  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  and  their  constitu- 
ents, the  people  of  the  county  at  large, 
that  as  the  city  of  Macomb  would  reap 
many  of  the  advantages  of  having  the 
court  house  erected  within  its  limits, 
that  that  city  should  contribute  a  con- 
siderable sum  toward  the  building  of 
the  same.  At  a  meeting  held  in  Octo- 
ber, 1868,  Supervisor  .James  A.  Mustin, 
of  Blandinsville,  offered  the  following, 
which  was  adopted  by  the  board: 

Resolved,  That  this  board  refuse  to  erect  a 
court  house  in  the  city  of  Macomb  until  said 
city  become  legally  obligated  to  donate  in  aid 
of  the  construction  of  the  same  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars. 

A  new  committee  having  been  appoin- 
ted to  confer  with  the  city  council  of 
Macomb,  met  with  that  body  and  after 
an  extended  conference,  presented  their 
report  to  the  boaed.  It  seems  by  this 
that  the  council  had  voted  to  donate  the 
sum  of  $15,000  but  refused  to  give  one 
dollar  more,  and  as  the  board  would  not 
recede  from  its  demand  for  the  $20,000 
there  was  imminent  danger  of  the  whole 
thing  falling  through  or  that  the  seat  of 
government  of  the  county  would  be 
taken  to  some  other- place,  especially  as 
the  city  of  Bushnell  was  anxious  to  have 
the  honor  of  being  the  county'seat,  and 
were  making  great  efforts  for  the  re- 
moval. At  this  juncture,  that  public 
spirited  citizen  of  Macomb,  N.  P.  Tins- 
ley,  stepped  into  the  breach  and  appear- 
ing before  the  city  council,  agreed  to 


guarantee  the  extra  five  thousand  dol- 
lars demanded  by  the  board  of  super- 
visors, giving  the  city  his  obligation  for 
that  amount,  provided  the  "  city  fathers  " 
would  accede  to  the  demands  of  the 
county  board.  This  settled  the  matter 
and  upon  the  8th  of  October,  1868,  the 
following  agreement  was  made  and  sign- 
ed by  the  respective  parties: 

This  agreement  made  this  eighth  day  of 
October,  1868,  between  the  city  of  Macomb, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  by  Joseph  P. 
Updegraff,  mayor,  and  William  E.  Withrow, 
clerk  of  said  city,agents  of  said  city, duly  ap- 
pointed by  the  city  council  of  said  city  for 
this  purpose,  and  the  county  of  McDonough 
aforesaid,  by  J.B.  Kyle, chairman,  appointed 
the  agent  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  said 
county  for  the  said  purpose  of  the  second 
part,  wituesseth,  that,  whereas,  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  said  county  have  in  contem- 
plation the  erection  of  a  court  house  and  jail 
for  said  county,  and  the  parties  therein  hav- 
ing had  mutual  propositions  involving  the 
location  of  said  house  on  certain  conditions 
in  the  city  of  Macomb,  aforesaid, which  have 
been  accepted  by  the  parties,  it  is  hereupon 
agreed  as  follows,  to-wit:  That  the  board  of 
su  pervisors  will  erect  a  court  house  in  the 
city  of  Macomb  at  such  point  as  the  said 
board  may  determine,  with  which  the  said 
board  may,  if  they  see  fit,  combine  a  jail  for 
said  county,  the  said  court  house  with  or 
without  said  jail  to  cost  not  less  than  sev- 
enty-five thousand  dollars,  and  to  be  under- 
taken and  completed  iu  a  reasonable  time.  It 
is  moreover  agreed  that  the  said  board  shall 
at  this  present  session  levy,  and  when  the 
ordinary  taxes  for  said  county  are  collected 
for  the  current  year,  they  shall  cause  to  be 
collected  towards  the  erection  of  said  build- 
ing the  sum  of  one  per  cent,  on  the  assessed 
property  of  said  county.  Also  it  is  agreed 
that  they  shall  take  steps  to  carry  forward 
the  said  building  as  fast  as  the  lateness  of  the 
season,  and  the  extent  of  the  enterprise  will 
reasonably  allow. 


232 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


In  consideration  of  said  agreement  it  is 
also  hereby  agreed  on  the  part  of  said  city 
that  there  shall  be  paid  by  the  said  city  to 
the  said  county  for  said  purpose,  in  addition 
to  the  share  of  taxes  laid  by  the  said  board 
on  the  property  in  said  city,  the  sum  of 
twenty  thousand  dollars,  in  three  equal  pay- 
ments; the  first,  ou  the  first  day  of  May,  1869; 
the  second  on  the  first  day  of  May,  187C;  and 
the  third,  on  the  first  day  of  May,  1871. 

It  is  also  agreed  that  should  the  said  city 
pay  the  whole  or  any  pait  of  said  moneys  in 
manner  as  agreed,  and  the  said  board  for  any 
cause  should  fail  to  complete  the  said  house 
in  a  reasonable  time,  or  should  abandon  the 
enterprise,  that  whatever  the  said  city  may 
have  advanced  in  the  enterprise  shall  be  re 
funded  to  the  city :  provided,  however,  this 
"reasonable  time"  is  not  to  be  construed  so 
as  to  hurry  the  said  board  faster  than  a  due 
regard  to  the  quality  of  the  building,  the  ex- 
tent of  the  building,  and  the  ordinary  mode 
of  erecting  similar  buildings  of  good  grade  in 
other  counties  of  the  state,  will  allow. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  set 
our  hands  and  seal,  the  day  and  year  just 
above  written. 

J.  P.  UPDEGKAFF, 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  Macomb. 

W.  E.  WITHROW, 
Clerk  of  the  city  of  Macomb. 

J.  B.  KYLE, 
Chairman  of  the   Board  of   Supervisors  of 

McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

This  settled  the  question  of  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  court  house  in  the  city  of 
Macomb  and  in  furtherance  of  the  mat- 
ter, L.  G.  Reid,  who  was  appointed  a 
committee  for  that  purpose,  advertised 
for  plans  and  specifications  for  the  build- 
ing, and  one  submitted  by  E.  E.  Myers, 
of  Springfield,  Illinois,  seeming  to  meet 
the  views  of  the  board  it  was  adopted. 
Rooms  were  now  rented  in  Bailey's 
block,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
square,  for  the  convenience  of  the  county 
officers,  who  immediately  moved  thereto. 


The  work  of  demolishing  the  old  build- 
ing was  at  once  commenced  and  soon  it 
was  a  thing  of  the  past,  and  the  square 
cleared  and  the  ground  made  ready  for 
the  new  structure.  Bids  from  contrac- 
tors and  builders  were  now  solicited  and 
upon  the  29th  of  December,  1868,  at  an 
adjourned  meeting  of  the  board,  propo 
sals  from  nine  different  parties  were 
opened  and  discussed.  The  parties  with 
the  amount  of  their  bids  was  as  follows: 

B.  F.  Bushnell  &  Co f 160,000 

Deakman   &  Messenger 165,768 

D.  J.  Silver  .   .   . 147,500 

Same  (modified) 133,650 

A.  Walbaum  &  Co 156,000 

Mahannah  &  Dey 125,000 

W.  A.  Williamson .   .     146,300 

C.  R.  Underwood  &  Bro 159,250 

Same  (modified) 141,000 

Martin  &  Thomas 145,000 

W.  D.  Richardson 140,000 

Same  (modified) 142,600 

In  none  of  these  cases  were  the  figures 
satisfactory,  so  the  board,  falling  back 
upon  its  reserved  rights,  rejected  them 
all.  A  strong  effort  was  made  to  build 
the  court  house  according  to  the  plans 
and  specifications  of  the  architect,  the 
county  being  its  own  contractor.  After 
some  discussion,  a  resolution  to  that 
effect  was  offered  by  L.  G.  Reed,  of  La- 
moine,  but  it  was  not  adopted.  Adver- 
tisement was  again  made  for  proposals, 
and  the  time  set  for  the  opening  of  the 
same  was  the  2d  of  February, -1869.  On 
that  day  the  board  met  and  the  following 
bids  were  received: 

D.  J.  Silver $129,900 

William  Young 110,000 

Walbaum  &  Co 129,000 

Deakman  &  Messenger 143,620 

Johnson  &  Askew 137,000 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


233 


Richardson • 188,750 

Mahanuah  &  Dey 186,000 

Peter  Burns •  137,000 

Martin  &  Thomas  ...........  139,750 

Underwood  &  Co 143,800 

A  petition  was  presented  at  this  meet- 
ing, signed  by  sundry  citizens  of  the 
county,  praying  the  board  not  to  expend 
more  than  $75,000  in  the  erection  of  the 
court  house.  A  committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  act  upon  the  same,  who  reported  to 
the  board,  that  recognizing  the  right  of 
citizens  to  be  heard,  they  would  report 
it  "inexpedient  to  go  back  on  our  work 
and  open  the  door  for  new  litigation," 
and  that  they  were  satisfied  that  a  good 
fire-proof  building,  suitable  for  the  pur- 
poses of  the  county,  could  not  be  built 
for  that  amount. 

The  bids  being  duly  examined  by  the 
board,  that  of  Walbaum  &  Co., of  Chicago, 
was  adopted  as  being  the  lowest  and 
best. 

Immediately  upon  the  acceptation  of 
their  proposals,  the  above  firm  entered 
into  contract  with  the  county  for  the 
erection  of  the  building,  and  proceeded 
with  the  work.  L.  G.  Reid,  was  selected 
by  the  board,  at  a  salary  of  $1,200  per 
year,  to  superintend  its  construction  and 
entered  zealously  upon  the  discharge  of 
his  duties. 

The  contract  called  for  the  completion 
of  the  building  by  the  1st  of  November, 
1870,  but  owing  to  unforeseen  delays  it 
was  not  finished  until  the  summer  of 
1872.  The  building,  which  stands  in  the 
center  of  the  square,  in  the  center  of 
the  city  of  Macomb,  is  surrounded  with 
a  nerat  iron  fence.  The  lawn  around  it 
is  well  sodded  and  planted  with  trees 


and  sets  off  the  building  to  great  advan- 
tage. A  handsome  illustration  of  this 
magnificent  edifice  is  found  in  the  first 
pages  of  this  work. 

The  building  is  of  modern  style  of 
architecture,  and  is  three  stories  in  height 
above  the  basement.  The  basement 
story  is  built  of  Sagetown  limestone, 
which  gives  the  structure  the  appear- 
ance of  solidity,  and  is  in  beautiful  con- 
trast with  the  red  brick  with  which  are 
built  the  exterior  walls  of  the  main  and 
second  stories.  The  openings  and  cor- 
ners of  the  building  are  also  trimmed 
with  the  same  kind  of  stone.  The  out- 
side walls  of  the  fourth,  or  entresol, 
story  are  covered  with  slate  and  the  roof 
with  tin.  The  roof,  which  is  Mansard, 
presents  a  neat  appearance,  and  is  ele- 
gantly trimmed  with  cast-iron  trim- 
mings. 

There  are  four  entrances  leading  into 
the  corridors  of  the  main  story,  one  in 
the  center  of  either  side,  and  one  in  each 
end.  Each  of  these  open  from  a  portico 
constructed  from  iron  and  stone,  and 
reached  by  fine,  wide  stone  steps.  Under 
each  portico,  except  the  one  on  the  north, 
and  directly  below  the  main  entrances, 
are  openings  leading  into  the  halls  of 
the  basement.  The  building  is  sur- 
mounted by  a  fine  belfry,  which  rises 
from  the  west  end.  It  contains  a  large 
{own  clock,  the  bell  of  which,  weighing 
15,000  pounds,  peels  forth  the  hours  as 
they  pass.  On  four  sides,  and  in  plain 
view  from  all  points,  are  large  dials, 
with  huge  hands  pointing  to  the  hour 
and  minute.  The  entire  frame  work  of 
the  belfry  is  constructed  of  wrought 
iron.  From  this  belfry  a  fine  view  is 
obtained  of  the  surrounding  country  for 


234 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


many  miles,  it  being  the  highest  availa- 
ble point  in  the  county. 

The  ground  plan  of  the  building  is  114 
feet  long,  by  72  wide.  The  front  walls 
are  broken  by  projections  forming  an  ir- 
regular outline.  Large  halls  pass 
through  the  basement  and  main  stories. 
The  floors  of  the  halls  in  the  basement 
are  made  of  stone,  while  those  in  the 
first  and  second  stories  are  marble  tiling, 
12  inches  square.  The  partition  walls, 
with  few  exceptions,  are  made  of  brick, 
upon  which  rests  heavy  wrought  iron 
beams  and  joints  for  the  support  of  the 
floors.  The  ceilings  are  of  corrugated 
iron,  painted  white.  The  halls  are  wains- 
cotted  throughout  with  black  walnut  and 
ash.  The  doors  are  large  and  heavy  and 
made  of  ash,  with  black  walnut  trim- 
mings, while  the  inside  window  shutters 
and  casings  are  of  the  same  materials. 

In  the  center  of  the  south  side,  lead- 
ing from  the  basement  to  the  fourth 
floor  is  a  broad,  iron  stairway,  while  one 
in  the  west  end  of  the  building,  south  of 
the  main  entrance,  leads  from  the  base- 
ment to  the  third  floor.  Leading  from 
the  fourth  floor  to  the  balcony  of  the 
belfry  is  an  iron  spiral  stairway. 

In  the  basement  is  the  room  for  the 
engine  used  for  heating  purposes,  fuel 
and  storage  rooms,  water  closets  and 
bath-rooms.  The  main  floor  has  com-, 
modious  apartments  for  the  county 
judge,  county  and  circuit  clerks,  sheriff, 
treasurer,  and  school  superintendent, 
wdth  fireproof  vaults  for  public  records. 
On  the  third  floor  are  several  good  offices, 
the  private  room  of  the  circuit  judge, 
office  of  the  county  surveyor,  jury 
room,  also  the  circuit  court  room,  which 
occupies  the  eastern  portion  of  the 


second  and  third  stories.  This  room  is 
quite  large,  with  ample  provision  for  the 
bar,  witnesses,  jury  and  spectators,  being 
seated  with  about  400  arm  chairs.  The 
rooms  in  the  upper  story  are  used  prin- 
cipally for  storage  purposes.  There  are 
in  the  entire  building  34  rooms,  all  of 
which  are  heated  by  stearn,  the  principal 
rooms  being  provided,  in  addition,  with 
fireplaces  and  mantles.  Its  ventilation 
is  good  and  throughout  it  is  supplied 
with  all  the  modern  improvements. 
Take  it  all  in  all,  the  structure  is  one  of 
the  finest  and  best  in  the  state,  used  for 
a  like  purpose,  and  every  resident  of  the 
county  -feels  a  just  pride  of  ownership 
in  the  edifice.  Within  its  fireproof 
walls  the  many  valuable  public  records 
are  safe  from  the  demon  of  fire,  and 
security  is  felt  on  that  score.  The  total 
cost  of  the  building  when  completed, 
furniture  and  all,  was  as  follows,  al- 
though some  money  has  been  expended 
since  in  slight  additions  and  repairs  :- 

Contractor's  price $129,000 

Heating  apparatus 5,650 

Furniture 5,777 

Fence 6,289 

Drainage 2,608 

Architect 1,800 

Superintendent 3,427 

Bell 651 

Lightning  rods 168 


Total $155,370 

As  has  been  said,  the  plan  was  the 
work  of  E.  E.  Myers,  of  Springfield,  the 
contractors,  A.  Walbaum  &  Co.,  of 
Chicago,  but  the  humbler  sub-contrac- 
tors should  also  be  named  in  this  con- 
nection. These  were  Martin  and  Thomas, 
of  Macomb,  carpenter  and  cabinet  work; 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


235 


Frank   Whitson,  plasterer;  Ingram  and 
Argenbright,  painters. 

COUNTY    JAIL. 

No  sooner  was  the  county  of  McDon- 
ough  well  supplied  with  the  political 
court  house,  that  now  adorns  the  square 
in  Macomb,  than  the  attention  of  the 
people  was  drawn  to  the  dilapidated  old 
structure  that  but  partially  answered  the 
purpose  of  a  jail.  The  structure  first 
built  by  the  county,  mention  of  which 
has  been  made  in  the  chapter  relating  to 
county  government,  was  a  log  one,  which 
was  afterwards  sold  to  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb,  and  used  by  the  corporation  as  a 
city  jail  or  "calaboose."  In  1856,  this 
structure  being  found  to  be  too  small,  the 
county  court  determined  upon  building 
a  new  one,  and  contracts  were  immedi- 
ately let,  Hector  McLean  taking  the  stone 
work,  W.  O.  Thomas  &  Co.,  the  brick 
and  wood  work,  and  Ingram  and  Painter, 
the  painting.  The  total  cost  of  the  build- 
ing when  completed  was  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  $3,500,  but  it  proved  more  of  a 
nuisance  than  otherwise,  as  it  lacked  the 
necessity  of  security.  Prisoners  were 
continually  breaking  out,  as  it  was  no 
great  effort  to  do  so,  and  great  expense 
was  placed  upon  the  county,  as  the  inse- 
curity of  the  building  necessitated  an  al- 
most constant  guarding  of  those  incar- 
cerated therein.  For  twenty  years  this 
was  thus  used,  but  at  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  the  subject  for  a  new  jail  com- 
ing up  for  discussion,  it  was  determined 
to  build  one.  In  the  beginning  of  the 
year  1876,  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
visit  Knox  county  and  inspect  the  jail  of 
that  county,  and  in  making  their  report 
to  the  board  of  supervisors  they  recom- 


mended the  adoption  of  a  similar  plan  to 
the  jail  they  had  seen,  with  some  slight 
modifications  and  improvements.  This 
meeting  the  views  of  the  board,  adver- 
tisements inviting  proposals  for  the 
erection  were  inserted  in  newspapers  of 
the  county,  Chicago  and  Quincy,  and  in 
the  month  of  March,  the  bids  were 
opened  and  the  lowest  and  best  bid  hav- 
ing been  made  by  J.  M.  Price  &  Co.,  of 
Macomb,  the  contract  was  let  to  him,  he 
agreeing  to  turn  over  the  finished  build- 
ing for  $23,000.  Without  delay,  the 
work  was  commenced  and  soon  finished. 
The  entire  cost  of  the  jail  may  be  sum- 
med up  as  follows : 

Contractor's  price $23,000  00 

Lots  oil  which  it  is  built  ....  900  00 
Barns,  feuces,  walls,  etc 1,722  99 


Total $25,622  99 

The  edifice  is  one  of  the  ornaments  of 
the  city  of  Macomb  presenting  in  its 
front  view  the  appearance  of  a  palatial 
mansion  of  some  railway  magnate. 
This  front  part  is  occupied  by  the  sher- 
iff and  his  family,  the  jail  proper  being 
in  the  rear.  The  entire  building  is  in 
heighth  two  stories,  with  basement;  the 
front  portion,  or  sheriff's  residence,  is  35 
x42feet,  the  jail  proper  35x40.  The  ar- 
chitectural design  is  modern,  very  neat 
and  well  proportioned,  presenting,  on  the 
whole,  a  light,  cheerful  appearance. 
The  basement  is  constructed  of  lime- 
stone, with  the  exterior  surface  rough; 
the  walls  of  the  main  buildings  are  of 
red  brick,  the  openings  being  trimmed 
with  stone  trimmings.  In  the  sheriff's 
residence  are  eight  pleasant  rooms,  with 
closets,  wardrobes  and  halls.  There  are 
three  entrances,  all  leading  into  this 
portion  of  the  building.  In  the  jail  are 


236 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


twenty-four  cells,  each  4-|x7   feet,   and 
seven  in  height,  the  walls   of  which   are 
of     six-inch    limestone     flagging.     The 
cells  are  arranged  in  six  tiers,,  four  in 
length  and    three    in  height,   one-half 
opening  toward  the   east  and  one-half 
toward' the  west,   into  corriders   eleven 
feet  wide.     The  upper  cells  are  reached 
by  stairway  and  balcony,  which   extends 
in  front  of  each  tier.     Beneath  each  of 
the  lower  tier  of  cells  are  seven  feet  of 
solid  concrete.     In  the  north  end  is  the 
prison  dining  hall,  12x35  feet.  "*  Separat- 
ing the  dining  hall   from   the   corridors 
are  partitions  of  seven-inch  iron  grating, 
with  an  iron  slide  door,  which  is  worked 
from    the    hall   of  the  dwelling.      The 
doors  of  the  cells  ar.e  all  locked  from  the 
dining  hall,  so  arranged  that  the  sheriff 
or  attendants  are  not  required  to   come 
into  contact  Avith  the  prisoners.     Above 
the  cells  are  two  large  iron   tanks,  capa- 
ble of  holding  eighty  barrels  each,  from 
which  the  prisoners   are   supplied  with 
water  for  bathing  purposes.     In  the  din- 
ing hall  is  a  force  pump  leading  from  the 
well,-  which    supplies    drinking  water. 
Extending  from  the  basement  through 
the  roof  is  a  ventilating  flue,  3x4  feet, 
with  which  each  cell  is  connected,  and 
affording  ample  ventilation.     The  outer 
door,    leading    from    the     dwelling    to 
the    dining     hall    of    the  jail,  is  solid 
wrought  iron;  the  inner   one  a  grated 
Y    iron    door.      The    heating    furnace 
and  fuel  rooms  occupy  the  basement.  In 
the  rear  portion  of  the  second  story  of 
the  dwelling  are  the  female  and  debtor 
apartments,    consisting   of  three  large, 
well  lighted  rooms.     There   is  also  in 
this  part  the  sleeping  apartment  of  the 
turnkey,  and  a  large  sized  bath  room. 


The  jail  proper  has  a  bath  room  also,  for 
the  accomodation  of  the  prisoners.  A 
large  vault  is  in  the  main  part,  for  the 
storage  of  stolen  property  recovered. 
The  entire  building  is  covered  with  a  tin 
roof,  A  neat  iron  fence  'surrounds  the 
lot  on  which  it  stands,  which  adds  much 
to  its  general  appearance.  The  jail 
proper  was  first  occupied  the  latter  part 
of  November,  1876,  four  prisoners  being 
taken  there  from  the  old  jail.  Sheriff 
Hays  took  possession  of  the  dwelling  on 
the  first  of  January,  1877.  All  the 
work,  done  by  Price  &  Co.,  was  in  a 
most  excellent  and  workmanlike  man- 
ner, and  deserves  great  credit. 

COUNTY   CHARITY. 

Although  the  heart  of  every  man  in 
the  county  beat  in  earnest  sympathy 
with  the  poor  and  destitute  that  lay 
within  his  knowledge,  and  the  hand  of 
pity  and  help  was  never  withheld,  in 
time  of  need,  from  those  who  were  in 
want,  it  was  for  many  years  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county  ere  its  citizens 
felt  it  just  to  themselves  and  others,  to 
provide  a  building  to  be  used  as  a  sanc- 
tuary for  the  poor  and  friendless. 
Many,  having  in  mind  the  parish  poor- 
houses  and  "  unions  "  of  the  old  coun- 
tries, shrank  back  with  horror  at  the 
idea,  that  any,  in  whom  they  felt  an  in- 
terest should  be  doomed  to  inhabit  a 
place,  within  the  cold  and  cheerless 
walls  of  such  an  asylum.  The  large 
and  generous  heart  of  the  pioneer  could 
not  tolerate  it.  Little  did  they  feel  that 
many  a  waif,  upon  the  broad  and  troub- 
led sea  of  the  world's  bitter  experience, 
has  hailed  as  a  safe  harbor,  as  a  secure 
haven,  the  much  dreaded  almshouse. 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


237 


Perhaps  it  was  owing,  partially,  to  these 
mistaken  notions  in  regard  to  that  noble 
charity  that  so  long  delayed  the  erection 
of  the  building.  But  let  not  those  of 
this  later  generation  think  that  their 
forefathers,  and  the  early  settlers  here 
were  a  people  wanting  in  brotherly  char- 
ity. As  early  as  1836,  measures  were 
taken  looking  to  the  relief  of  the  nec- 
essatious.  The  method  of  relief,  the  let- 
ting out  of  the  care  of  the  unfortunate, 
though  not  deemed  the  best  now,  went 
far  toward  mitigating  the  sufferings  of 
the  weary  wight  that  had  lost  his  all 
through  force  of  untoward  circumstances ; 
the  widow  and  orphan  struggling  for  the 
daily  crust  of  bread;  the  waif  left  to 
live  or  die,  as  best  it  may.  For  many 
years  this  system  of  relief  was  the  only 
one  practiced,  and  as  but  few  needed  it, 
it  sufficed. 

In  1855,  the  number  of  those  seeking 
help  of  the  county,  having  grown  so 
large  that  a  just  regard  for  economy  in- 
duced the  county  government  to  buy  a 
farm  on  which  to  build  an  almshouse; 
land  in  Macomb  township  was  pur- 
chased, and  some  improvements  were 
made.  In  the  beginning  of  1856,  the 
place  was  rented  to  John  Scott,  for  one 
year,  he  to  pay  $250  rent,  and  agreeing 
to  board  and  provide  for  all  paupers 
sent  to  the  place  by  the  proper  authori- 
ties. In  September,  1857,  on  account  of 
the  large  amount  of  repairs  necessary  to 
be  made  on  the  poor  farm,  an  attempt 
was  made  to  sell  a  part  of  it.  After 
some  time  a  little  over  eighty  acres  of  it 
was  disposed  of  at  $30  per  acre.  In 
1862  or  63,  the  county  changed  its  plan, 
and  kept  the  poor  house  on  the  plan 
usually  adopted,under  a  superintendent. 


For  some  reason,  but  little  attention  was 
paid  to  the  county  poor  house  by  either 
the  people  or  the  officers,  and  it  became 
dilapidated  and  almost  ruinous,  and  was 
quite  unsightly  and  an  eyesore  to  those 
who  took  any  interest  in  the  county 
matters.  The  state  board  of  charities 
having  repeatedly  referred  to  the  mis- 
erable condition  of  the  almshouse  of 
McDonough  county,  the  people  were 
aroused,  and  in  1884  determined  to  wipe 
the  reproach  from  off  the  bright  escutch- 
eon of  the  county's  honor.  The  state 
having  appropriated  some  $5,000  toward 
the  repair  of  the  old  almshouse,  "the 
board  of  supervisors  took  into  considera- 
tion the  advisability  of  building  a  new 
one  entirely,  and  finally  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1884,  a  contract  was  let  to  W. 
O.  Thomas,  of  Macomb,  for  the  erection 
of  a  fine  new  almshouse  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  7,  in  Scotland 
township,  and  work  was  at  once  com- 
menced. The  contract  recites  that  the 
building  was  to  be  finished  by  Novem- 
ber 15,  of  the  same  year,  but  on  account 
of  some  changes- in  the  plan  and  other 
causes,  it  was  not  completed  until  about 
a  month  later.  The  architect,  F.  M. 
Ellis,  of  Marshalltown,  Iowa,  was  em- 
ployed as  the  superintendent  or  overseer 
of  the  work.  The  plan,  which  is  entirely 
original  with  Mr.  Ellis,  is  unique  and 
elegant,  and  reflects  great  credit  upon 
him  and  upon  the  board  of  supervisors 
who  discriminated  in  its  favor,  among  a 
number  of  others  submitted  to  them. 

The  building,  which  is  in  shape,  the 
half  of  a  Greek  cross,  or  of  the  letter 
L,  with  both  arms  equal  in  length.  The 
two  wings,  which  are  each  30x56  feet  in 
ground  area,  two  stories  high,  are  united 


238 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


at  the  angle  by  a  central  part  three 
stories  high.  In  this  loftier  part  is  the 
main  entrance,  the  superintendent's 
office,  and  a  liaudsome  suite  of  apart- 
ments for  the  use  of  superintendent  and 
his  family.  'The  entire  building  which 
is  built  of  pressed  brick,  with  cut  stone 
trimmings  from  the  quarries  at  Joliet, 
with  the  unique  roof,  called  after  Queen 
Anne,  presents  a  magnificent  appear- 
ance, and  reflects  credit  upon  all  con- 
cerned in  its  erection.  At  the  first  sight 
no  one  would  imagine  the  use  that  it  is 
put  to,  but  rather  incline  to  the  belief 
that  it  was  some  educational  institution. 
The  building,  in  general,  may  be  divided 
into  three  separate,  yet  closely  con- 
nected divisions,  and  by  the  aid  of  strong 
inner  brick  walls  and  heavy  iron  doors, 
in  case  of  fire  can  be  completely  isolated 
one  from  the  other.  The  basement, 
which  is  under  the  entire  building,  is 
built  of  blue  limestone  and  is  ten  feet 
high  and  contains  the  kitchen,  in  which 
is  a  fine  large  improved  range,  pantry, 
two  dining  halls,  four  bath  rooms,  with 
hot  and  cold  water,  boiler  room,  water 
closets,  laundry  and  ten  cells  for  the  in- 
sane wards  of  the  county,  four  of  these 
cells  have  heavily  grated  windows,  and 
are  otherwise  fitted  up  for  the  reception 
of  those  too  violent  in  their  manical 
fury.  Upon  the  next  floor,  is  the  super- 
intendent's office,  private  sitting  room, 
kitchen,  etc.,  in  the  central  part,  both 
wings  being  devoted  to  the  paupers ;  upon 
the  second  story  are  the  dormitories.  It 
contains,  in  all,  eighty-five  rooms,  and 
has  accommodations  for  75  inmates. 
Each  room  is  well  ventilated  and  heated 
by  steam,the  boilers,  Haxton's  base  bur- 
ners, being  placed  in  the  basement.  All 


of  the  joists  in  the  building  are  of  first 
class  2x10  lumber,  the  floors  of  clear 
Alabama  pine,  and  the  finer  woods  used 
in  the  stairways,  balustrade,  newel  posts, 
etc.,  of  a  species  of  redwood. 

For  ventilation,  convenience,  economy 
of  space,  elegance  of  appearance  the 
edifice  is  not  to  be  exceeded  in  the  state. 
Several  sub-contracts  were  let  by  Mr. 
Thomas,  among  which  were  the  follow- 
ing, which  are  given  here  that  all  may 
have  the  honor  due  them  for  completing 
this  stately  pile:  F.  W.  Menke  &  Co., 
of  Quincy,  contract  for  stonework;  John 
Koneface,  of  the  same  place,  for  brick- 
work; E.  Best,  also  of  Quincy,  steam  fit- 
ting, plumbing,  putting  in  range  and 
boilers;  Sandmeyer  &  Co.,  of  Peoria.  for 
ironwork,  roof  and  cornice;  Morris  and 
Leach,  of  Macomb,  for  painting.  All 
did  their  part  well.  The  brick,  or  most 
of  them,  of  which  it  was  built  were  man- 
ufactured on  the  spot.  The  building 
committee,  who  deserve  to  be  compli- 
mented for  their  able  efforts  towards  its 
completion,  was  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing gentlemen:  A.  E.  Barnes,  of  Bush- 
nell;  W.  Kinkade,  of  Industry;  Hugh 
Watson,  of  Scotland,  and  H.  A.  Max- 
well, of  Bardolph. 

The  house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
some  $24,000,  and  is  said  to  be  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  state. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  proper  to 
state  that  it  is  owing  to  the  exertions  of 
A.  E.  Barnes,  Hugh  Watson,  William 
Kinkade,  H.  A.  Maxwell  and  others  in 
the  board  ofsupervisors  that  the  county 
of  McDonough  can  pride  itself  upon  so 
magnificent  an  edifice,  for  when  the  sub- 
ject of  building  it  was  first  mooted,  a 
strong  opposition  was  developed.  The 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


239 


friends  of  the  measure  under  the  able 
lead  of  Mr.  Barnes,  rallied  to  its  sup- 
port, and  in  the  end  carried  the  point 
and  the  result  is  now  before  the  people. 
E.  B.  Knowles,  the  present  superin- 
tendent, is  the  best  that  this  county  ever 
had  in  that  position,  and,  in  fact,  has 
but  few  peers  anywhere.  The  cleanli- 
ness, quietness,  order  and  system  that 
prevades  the  house  and  grounds  is  re- 
markable and  is  due  to  the  executive 
ability  of  that  gentleman. 


The  following  is  the  report  of  the 
number  of  the  inmates  of  the  county 
poor-house,  made  to  the  board  of  super- 
visors, at  their  meeting,  March  10,  1885, 
by  J.  Kimble,  county  agent: 

Whole  number  of  inmates,  37;  number 
of  males,  22;  number  of  females,  15; 
number  of  sane,  12;  number  of  insane, 
10 ;  number  of  feeble  minded,  15 ;  number 
of  deaths  from  March  6,  1884,  to  date,  3 ; 
average  cost  of  maintainance  per  week, 
$1.49. 


CHAPTER    XII. 


POLITICAL. 


It  is  the  design  to  group  in  this 
chapter  all  the  items  of  interest  con- 
nected with  the  political  history  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  the  issues  which  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  the  people  during 
the  various  campaigns  since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  county,  so  far  as  can  be 
learned,  both  general  and  local,  and  fol- 
lowing this,  an  abstract  of  the  votes 
•polled  at  every  election.  There  is 
always  a  fascination  in  the  reading  of 
the  political  history  of  a  nation,  state  or 
country,  and  especially  is  this  true  in 
our  own  free  land,  where,  in  the  eyes 
of  the  law,  all  are  upon  an  equality; 
where  it  has  been  shown  that  even  the 
hiimblest — the  rail-splitter,  the  tailor  or 
the  tanner-boy — can  attain  the  highest 
honor  that  can  be  bestowed  upon 


an 


American  citizen.  It  is  delightful  to 
see  merit  thus  rewarded,  and  we  are 
well  pleased  with  the  onward  progress 
of  one  from  the  humbler  walks  of  life, 
as  steptby  step,  he  mounts  the  ladder  of 
fame.  Even  if  we  fail  of  reaching  the 
highest  pinnacle  of  fame  ourselves,  we 
natter  ourselves  that  possibly  our  chil- 
dren may. 

There  is  an  excitement  about  a  polit- 
ical campaign  which  nearly  all  enjoy, 
and,  although  to  the  disgrace  of  the 
parties  using,  personalities  are  often  in- 
dulged in,  as  a  general  thing  all  yield 
gracefully  io  the  verdict  of  the  people. 
This  speaks  whole  volumes  in  favor  of 
the  American  institutions. 

The  first  election  was  held  iu  Mc- 
Donough  county  on  the  3d  day  of  July, 


240 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1830,  and  was  for  county  officers,  to  com- 
plete and  carry  out  the  organization  of 
the  county.  Party  lines  were  not  drawn 
and  the  election  hinged  chiefly  upon 
local  issues.  James  Clarke,  John  Hard- 
esty  and  James  Yance  were  duly  elected 
county  commissioners,  William  South- 
ward, sheriff,  and  Peter  Hale,  'coroner. 

Politically,  McDonough  county  has 
always  been  considered  one  of  the  close 
or  doubtful  ones  of  the  state,  neither 
party  being  in  sufficient  strength  to 
claim  it  to  a  certainty.  For  the  first 
ten  years  of  its  existence  party  lines 
were  not  drawn,  the  citizens  of  the 
county  exercising  the  rights  of  the  elec- 
tive franchise  as  each  thought  best  for 
his  own  interest,  or  the  interest  of  the 
country.  The  whig  party,  in  general 
elections,  always  carried  the  day,  but  in 
local  elections  the  best  men  were  gener- 
ally selected,  regardless  of  whether  they 
favored  the  one  party  or  the  other.  In 
the  selection  of  county  commissioners 
locality  had  more  to  do  than  anything 
else;  the  county  being  divided  into  three 
districts,  each  desired  to  be  represented. 

There  is  no  record  of  any  party  caucus 
or  convention  in  this  county,  held  pre- 
vious to  1840,  unless  it  might  be  said 
that  a  meeting  held  in  Middletown  in 
1838,  by  the  democrats,  in  which  an 
effort  was  made  to  concentrate  their 
votes  on  Jesse  Neece,  one  of  their  can- 
didates for  sheriff,  could  be  called  one. 
At  this  election  there  were  five  candi- 
dates for  the  office  of  sheriff,  three  dem- 
ocrats and  two  whigs,  and  at  this  meet- 
ing in  Middletown  it  was  hoped  to  effect 
an  arrangement  by  which  Mr.  Neece 
could  get  the  combined  party  strength. 
The  effort  failed.  The  whigs  generally 


concentrated  on  William  H.  Eandolph 
one  of  their  candidates,  and  he.  also  be- 
ing personally  popular  was  elected,  the 
first  whig  ever  elected  to  office  in  the 
county. 

In  1840,  both  the  democratic  and  whig 
parties  held  regular  county  conventions, 
and  nominated  straight  tickets,  the  first 
regular  party  conventions  ever  held  in 
the  county.  This  was  the  year  of  the 
"hard  cider  campaign,"  one  of  the  most 
exciting  political  campaigns  in  the  his- 
tory of  this  country.  Mass  meetings 
were  held,  in  which  the  old  log  cabin, 
representing  the  lowly  origin  of  the  whig 
candidate  for  president,  General  Wil- 
liam XH.  Harrison,  was  carried  around, 
and  hard  cider  flowed  like  water.  The 
same  general  interest  and  excitement  that 
prevailed  elsewhere,  were  exhibited  here. 
Large  gatherings  of  both  parties  were 
held  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  and 
party  feeling  ran  high.  The  whigs,  on 
the  4th  of  July,  held  a  mass  meeting 
and  barbecue  in  Macomb,  and  the  dem- 
ocrats denounced  the  act  as  a  desecration 
of  the  day,  and  a  blight  settling  after- 
wards upon  the  grove  in  which  the  meet- 
ing was  held,  was  said  by  them  to  be  a 
judgment  of  the  Almighty  against  their 
proceedings.  The  whigs  charged  the 
democrats  with  being  likewise  guilty  of 
a  desecration  of  the  day,  if  it  could  be 
so  called,  in  holding  a  public  meeting 
in  the  vicinity  of  Spring  creek.  The 
democrats  vehemently  denied  its  being 
a  political  gathering,  but  only  a  meet- 
f  or  the  proper  celebration  of  the  nation's 
birthday.  After  a  most  exciting  time, 
the  whigs  carried  the  county  by  majori- 
ties ranging  from  twenty-five  to  forty- 
five — Colonel  W.  W.  Bailey,  candidate 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


241 


for  the  legislature,  receiving  the  former 
majority,  and  General  Harrison  the  lat- 
ter. Martin  VanBuren,  of  New  York, 
was  the  democratic  candidate  for  the 
presidency,  but  was  defeated  in  the 
county. 

In  1842,  the  whigs  again  carried  the 
county,  electing  their  whole  ticket,  by 
majorities  ranging  from  sixteen  to 
twenty-two,  with  the  exception  of  coro- 
ner, Charles  Chandler  being  beaten  by 
Benjamin  B.  Head  by  twenty-two  votes. 

In  1843  the  tide  turned,  and  the  dem- 
ocracy carried  the  county  by  majorities 
ranging  from  eleven  to  one  hundred  and 
forty-five,  excepting  on  county  treasurer, 
Iverson  L.  Twyinan,  whig,  being  elec- 
ted over  Jesse  M.  Chapman,  the  demo- 
cratic candidate,  by  one  hundred  and 
seventeen  votes.  The  cause  of  the  lat- 
ter's  defeat  was  attributed  to  his  being 
a  minister,  of  the  gospel,  there  being  a 
prejudice  in  the  minds  of  many  against 
voting  for  one  of  his  class  for  an  office. 
At  this  election  the  interest  all  centered 
in  the  candidates  for  congress,  Cyrus 
Walker,  the  representative  of  the  whig 
element,  and  James  P.  Hoge,  the  leader 
of  the  democracy.  The  former  lived,  at 
that  time  in  the  rising  city  of  Macomb, 
engaged  in  the  profession  of  law,  and 
enjoyed  a  practice  which  extended  over 
the  whole  northwestern  part  of  this  state, 
and  over  into  Iowa.  The  Mormons,  many 
of  whom  had  settled  in  Hancock  county," 
held  the  balance  of  power  in  this  district, 
and  in  order  to  lure  victory  to  their  ban- 
ners, it  was  necessary  to  have  this  Mor- 
mon vote.  Mr.  Walker,  was  considered 
by  the  whigs  the  best  man  to  capture 
their  suffrages,  having  on  one  or  two  oc- 
casions served  Joseph  Smith,  the  so- 


called  prophet,  as  counsel,  and  brought 
the  suits  to  a  successful  termination. 
Joseph  Smith  the  prophet,  and  George 
Miller,  a  leading  bishop  in  the  church, 
both  wrote  to  Mr.  Walker, urging  him  to 
become  a  candidate  and  pledging  him 
the  Mormon  vote.  The  latter  of  these 
was  formerly  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  at  Macomb,  and  well  acquainted 
with  Mr.  Walker.  Thus  solicited,  Mr. 
Walker  became  a  candidate  and  enter- 
ing into  the  canvass  with  his  whole  soul, 
commenced  "stumping  the  district.  But 
his  democratic  opponents  were  not  idle, 
and  worked  hard  to  bring  the  Mormon 
vote  to  their  side.  Some  time  before 
the  canvass  commenced,  Joseph  Smith 
was  arrested  on  a  requisition  from  the 
governor  of  Missouri,  and  delivered  to 
an  agent  from  that  state.  The  writ  was 
returned  satisfied.  Before  he  could  be 
taken  out  of  the  state,  however,  he  was 
released  on  a  writ  issued  by  a  Mormon 
justice  of  Nauvoo,  as  was  allowable  by 
the  charter  of  that  city.  .  The  Missouri 
authorities  now  applied  to  Governor 
Ford,  of  this  state,  to  renew  the  writ  and 
send  a  force  of  militia  to  enforce  it,  but 
the  governor  would  not  do  this.  The 
democratic  managers  now  raised  the 
idea  in  the  minds  of  the  Mormons  that 
if  they  voted  for  the  whig  candidate,  the 
militia  would  be  sent  against  them. 
Backinstos,  a  leading  democrat,  of  Han- 
cock county,  went  to  Springfield,  and 
Governor  Ford  being  absent,  a  leading 
democrat  in  that  city,  in  his  name,  gave  a 
promise  that  if  the  Mormons  voted  the 
democratic  ticket,  the  militia  should  not 
be  used  against  them.  They  now  re- 
solved to  drop  Walker  and  take  up  Hoge. 
On  Saturday  before  the  election,  Hi- 


242 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ram  Smith,  brother  of  Joseph,  in  a  pub- 
lic address  delivered  in  Nauvoo,  told  the 
Mormons  that  the  Lord  had  revealed  to 
him  that  if  they  voted  against  Hoge,  a 
greater  curse  would  befall  them  than  be- 
fell them  in  Missouri;  therefore,  ''when 
the  Lord  speaks,  let  men  obey."  Word 
was  sent  Mr.  Walker  a  few  days  before 
this  that  the  Mormons  would  probably 
forsake  him,  and  he  at  once  went  to 
Nauvoo  and  sought  out  Joseph  Smith 
for  an  explanation.  He  was  present 
when  Hiram  delivered  his  address,  and 
was  very  indignant  over  the  matter. 
Joseph  Smith,  likewise,  appeared  to  be 
very  angry  with  Hiram,  and  told  Mr. 
Walker  he  would  yet  make  it  all  right 
with  him,  and  that  he,  himself  the  next 
day,  (Sunday),  would  speak  to  the  peo- 
ple in  his  favor.  Agreeably  to  his  prom- 
ise, he  spoke  for  about  an  hour,  eulogis- 
ing Mr.  Walker  very  highly,  declaring 
that  he  was  no  politician,  but  an  honest 
man;  denounced  those  who  should  con- 
sult the  Lord  .as  to  how  they  should 
vote,  and  declared  that  if  any  should 
do  it,  he  should  be  cut  off  from  salva- 
tion; said  he  should  vote  for  his  friend 
Mr.  Walker.  But  in  his  hour's  speech 
one  thing  was  noticed:  that  not  with- 
standing the  strong  terms  in  which  he 
denounced  those  who  should  consult  the 
Lord  as  to  how  they  should  vote,  he  said; 
"  Brother  Hiram  is  the  elder  brother;" 
"  Brother  Hiram  never  has  deceived  this 
people;"  "Brother  Hiram  loves  this 
people;"  •'  When  the  Lord  commands, 
the  people  must  obey."  The  next  day 
Joseph  did  vote  for  Mr.  Walker,  but  the 
balance  of  the  Mormons  voted  for  Mr. 
Hoge,  and  elected  him,  as  the  Lord  had 
commanded.  In  this  county,  and  in 


other  counties  in  the  district,  Walker 
was  denounced  by  some  of  the  whigs 
for  trying  to  get  the  Mormon  vote,  and 
it  is  said  he  lost  as  many  of  their  votes 
on  this  account  as  would  have  elected 
him. 

At  the  August  election  in  1844,  the 
democrats  carried  the  county  on  con- 
gressman and  state  senator,  but  on  all 
county  offices,  the  whigs  were  the  vict- 
ors. W.  H.  Randolph,  the  whig  candi- 
date for  state  representative,  defeated 
his  opponent  H.  L.  Bryant,  by  47  bal- 
lots. In  November,  of  the  same  year 
was  the  eventful  election  of  James  K. 
Polk  and  George  M.  Dallas,  the  demo- 
cratic nominees  for  the  presidency  and 
vice-presidency,  over  Henry  Clay  and 
Frelinghuysen.  Party  spirit  ran  high 
throughout  the  country,  and  McDonough 
county  did  not  escape  the  contagion,  al- 
though not  so  large  a  vote  was  polled, 
the  whigs  not  appearing  in  full  numbers, 
having  given  the  state  to  the  democratic 
party.  The  democratic  nominee  re- 
ceived 484  ballots  and  the  whig  479,  a 
majority  of  five  for  the  former. 

In  1845,  a  light  vote  was  polled,  poli- 
tics seemingly  not  entering  into  the  can- 
vass, but  it  was  governed  solely  by  local 
issues.  Robert  Bean  was  elected 
county  commissioner,  Charles  Chandler, 
school  commissioner  and  W.  W.  Clay- 
ton, coroner. 

•  The  Democrats  carried  the  county  in 
1846,  on  the  state  officers,  by  a  small 
majority,  while  the  whigs  elected  their 
nominees  for  the  county  officers,  by  ma- 
jorities ranging  from  thirty-three  to 
ninety-five,  owing  to  personal  popular- 
ity and  local  causes.  W.  H.  Randolph 
was  elected  to  the  legislature. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  !'.""A' 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


245 


At  the  special  election  held  in  April, 
1847,  the  democrats  elected  James  M. 
Campbell  and  John  Huston  as  members 
of  the  constitutional  convention  from 
this  county.  On  county  officers,  at  the 
regular  election,  the  honors  were  evenly 
divided. 

The  year  1848,  was  the  scene  of  an- 
other presidential  conflict.  The  whigs 
nominated  as  their  candidate,  Zachary 
Taylor,  the  hero  of  the  earlier  days  of  the 
war  with  Mexico.  Lewis  Cass,  the  vet- 
eran statesman  of  Michigan,  was  the 
nominee  of  the  democratic  party.  Mar- 
tin Van  Buren,  was,  also,  placed  in  nomi- 
nation by  the  new  party,  then  called  the 
"free  soil,"  but  which  afterwards  became 
the  present  republican  party.  With 
these  three  standard-bearers,  the  cam- 
paign was  begun.  In  this  county,  Tay- 
lor polled  437  votes,  Cass  416  and  Van 
Buren,  the  paltry  vote  of  25  ballots.  The 
democrats  elected  two  of  their  candi- 
date to  county  offices,  Samuel  Calvin,  to 
that  of  county  commissioner,  and  John 
P.  Head  to  that  of  coroner.  Josiah 
Harrison  was  elected  as  member  of  the 
legislature  ;  David  Lawson,  sheriff ; 
James  W.  Brattle,  surveyor;  all  on  the 
whig  ticket. 

At  the  regular  election  of  1849,  which 
was  the  first  held  under  the  new  consti- 
tution, and  occurred  in  November,  the 
democracy  captured  all  the  county  of- 
fices, electing  James  Clarke  to  the  office 
of  county  judge,  Isaac  Grantham  to  that 
of  clerk,  William  T.  Head,  treasurer, 
and  W.  H.  Bile,  surveyor. 

The  campaign  of  1850,  was  principally 
conducted  upon  the  county  offices,  al- 
though a  congressman  and  member  of  the 
legislature  were  to  be  chosen.  The  dem- 


ocratic party  were  victorious  through- 
out, electing  W.  T.  Head,  as  sheriff; 
Samuel  E.  Taylor,  treasurer;  Lewis 
Cravens,  coroner;  John  H.  Huston  rep- 
resentative, and  Thompson  Campbell, 
congressman.  On  the  question  of  a 
general  banking  law,  in  the  state,  the 
friends  of  that  measure,  in  McDonough 
county  had  a  majority  of  one  in  a  total 
vote  of  934. 

In  1852,  the  whigs,  as  a  national  party 
made  their  last  great  effort  for  the  con- 
trol of  the  affairs  of  the  country.  They 
placed  at  the  head  of  their  ticket  the 
name  of  General  Winfield  Scott,  the  hero 
of  Lundy's  Lane,  Chippawa  Falls,  in  the 
war  of  1812-15 ;  of  Vera  Cruz,  Chepul- 
tepec,  Molino  del  Key,  Conteras,  and 
Churubusco,  in  the  Mexican  war.  The 
democrats  nominated  Franklin  Pierce 
for  the  presidency,  and  the  "free  soil," 
then  the  abolition  party,  meeting  in 
convention  at  Pittsburg  placed  in  nom- 
ination, John  P.  Hale.  Strong  efforts 
were  made  by  both  the  old  parties  to 
elect  their  candidates,  and  excitement 
was  rife  in  the  land.  In  this  county 
party  feeling  ran  high  and  a  full  vote 
was  cast.  General  Scott,  the  whig  can- 
didate, having  a  majority  of  two  in  a 
total  vote  of  1687.  E.  B.  Webb,  the 
nominee  of  the  same  party  for  governor, 
had,  in  McDonough  county,  a  majority 
of  three  over  Joel  A.  Matteson,  his  dem- 
ocratic opponent.  In  county  matters 
the  democrats  succeeded  in  electing 
Sydnor  H.  Hogan  as  sheriff,  the  whigs 
capturing  all  other  offices. 

The  election  of  1853,  was  for  county 
officers,  and  the  democratic  party  elected 
Thompson  Chandler,  county  judge; 
Samuel  Calvin  and  S.  J.  Grigsby,  asso- 


246 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ciate  justices;  Isaac  Grantham,  county 
clerk;  T.  13.  McCormick,  treasurer,  and 
J.  R.  Simpson,  school  commissioner,  all 
the  offices  voted  for  by  fair  majorities. 
The  total  vote  polled  was  1549. 

1854 — This  was  the  last  year  the  whig 
party  put  forth  candidates  for  office.  In 
this  election  they  were  again  unsuccess- 
ful. As  a  national  party,  it  was  consid- 
ered as  good  as  dead,  and  therefore,  even 
in  this  county,  where  the  chances  of 
success  was  as  good  as  that  of  the  oppo- 
sition, they  could  awake  no  enthusiasm. 
The  democrats  carried  the  county  by 
majorities  ranging  from  24  to  142,  with 
the  exception  of  the  member  of  the  legis- 
lature, L.  H.  Waters  (whig),  being 
elected  over  John  E.  Jackson  by  a 
majority  of  one  vote.  Mr.  Waters  ran 
not  only  as  a  whig  candidate,  but  as  a 
temperance  candidate,  doubtless  receiv- 
ing some  few  votes  from  democrats  who 
were  favorable  to  the  Maine  liquor  law, 
an  effort  being  made  to  secure  the  pas- 
sage in  this  state  of  a  similar  law.  Mr. 
Jackson,  believing  fraud  had  been  per- 
petrated on  the  part  of  the  opposition, 
notified  Mr.  Waters  that  he  should  con- 
test the  election;  and  the  latter,  feeling 
that  the  question  could  best  be  settled 
by  appealing  again  to  the  people,  sent  in 
his  resignation  to  the  governor,  who 
accepted  it  and  issued  an  order  for  a  new 
election  on  Saturday,  December  30. 
Both  parties,  metaphorically  speaking, 
stripped  themselves  for  the  contest,  and 
the  battle  was  warm,  indeed,  resulting 
in  the  election  of  Mr.  Waters  by  a 
majority  of  nineteen  votes. 

In  the  following  year,  that  of  1855, 
the  democratic  party  had  but  little  oppo- 
sition, electing  all  the  officers  by  major- 


ities ranging  from  two  hundred .  down- 
ward. 

Former  issues  dividing  the  political 
parties  had  disappeared  in  1856,  and  new 
issues  were  being  rapidly  formed.  The 
whig  party  had  ceased  to  exist,  and  on 
its  ruins  had  been  erected  two  other  par- 
ties one  having  for  its  central  truth  oppo- 
sition to  the  further  extension  of  slavery, 
and  the  other  that  American  born  citi- 
zens must  rule  America.  These  parties 
had,  of  course,  absorbed  many  of  the 
members  of  the  old  democratic  party. 
The  American  party  not  being  opposed 
to  slavery,  or,  at  least,  making  no  oppo- 
sition to  it,  either  in  the  stated  in  which 
it  existed,  or  the  newly  formed  terri- 
tories, where  it  had  been  made  subject 
to  admission  by  the  repeal  of  the  Mis- 
souri compromise,  had  become  a  numer- 
ous body  in  the  south,  with  many  adher- 
ents in  the  north.  The  republican  party, 
basing  its  claims  for  popular  suffrage 
upon  its  advocacy  of  freedom  in  the 
territories,  was  not  permitted  an  exist- 
ence in  the  southern  states,  and  of  neces- 
sity was  confined  to  the  north.  . 

Candidates  were  placed  in  the  fied 
for  both  national  and  state  offices  early 
in  the  year  and  platforms  were  adopted. 
That  of  the  republicans,  with  John  C. 
Fremont,  as  candidate  for  president,  W. 
H.  Bissell,  for  governor  of  Illinois, 
adopted  as  the  principal  plank  of  their 
platform,  the  doctrine  of  equal  rights 
for  all,  and  firm  opposition  to  the  ex- 
tension of  slavery.  The  American  party, 
with  Millard  Fillmore  as  their  nominee, 
and  a  platform  affirming  their  belief  in 
the  danger  to  American  institutions  from 
foreign  immigration  and  the  growth  of 
Roman  Catholic  power,  demanded  that 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


247 


"none  but  Americans  be  put  on  guard." 
The  democratic  national  convention  met 
at  Cincinnati  and  adopted  their  platform, 
enunciating  the  principles  advocated  by 
them  for  so  many  years.  The  nomina- 
tions of  James  Buchanan  and  John  C. 
Breckenridge  were  enthusiastically  re- 
ceived. 

In  McDonough  county  the  newly  or- 
ganized republican  party,  had  their  full 
ticket  in  the  field  while  the  American 
party  bent  their  full  energies  for  the 
election  of  congressman,  and  the  national 
and  state  ticket. 

The  republican  and  American  parties, 
made  common  cause  against  the  demo- 
cratic party,  a  partial  alliance  was 
entered  into  between  them  for  the  pur- 
pose of  securing  their  ends.  The  Am- 
erican party,  although  out  numbering 
the  republican,  was  at  a  disadvantage, 
having  no  newspaper  through  which  to 
express  their  views.  In  the  congress- 
ional district,  of  which  McDonough 
county  formed  a  part,  had  two  candi- 
dates nominated,  for  a  long  and  short 
term,  in  consequence  of  a  vacancy  ex- 
isting, and  it  was  generally  agreed  be- 
tween the  two  parties  that  if  the  Amer- 
icans would  vote  for  Jackson  Grimshaw, 
the  republican  candidate  for  the  long 
term,  the  republicans  would  vote  for 
Dr.  J.  B.  Kyle,  the  American  nominee 
for  the  short  term.  This  arrangement 
was  pretty  generally  carried  out  although 
not  completely,  many  of  the  republicans 
failing  to  vote  for  Dr.  Kyle.  Jackson 
Grimshaw  had  a  majority  in  the  county 
of  twenty-nine,  while  J.  C.  Davis,  the 
democratic  candidate  for  the  short  term 
distanced  his  competitor  by  185  votes. 
For  county  officers  the  Americans  made 


no  nominations,  voting  for  the  republi- 
can candidates  generally.  For  state  sen- 
ator, the  republicans  elected  W.  H. 
Franklin,  by  a  majority  of  thirty.  For 
representative,  the  vote  stood  1444,  for 
Vandever  Banks,  republican  to  1424  for 
George  Hire,  democrat,  but  on  account 
of  some  informality  in  the  returns  from 
Prairie  City  township,  the  board  of  can- 
vassers threw  them  out.  This  precinct 
gave  Banks  87  and  Hire  29  votes.  The 
certificate  of  election  was  given  to  Mr. 
Hire.  The  democrats,  also,  elected  their 
candidates  to  the  offices  of  circuit  clerk 
and  sheriff;  the  balance  of  the  offices  be- 
ing filled  by  the  republican  nominees. 

An  election  was  held  in  1857  for 
county  officers  and  but  little  excitement 
ensued.  The  American  party,  having 
but  a  short  life,  took  no  active  part  in 
this  campaign,  and  the  republicans  only 
polling  about  the  same  vote  as  they  did 
the  year  previous,  the  democrats  elected 
all  their  nominees,  by  handsome  major- 
ities. 

The  election  in  1858,  was  for  superin- 
tendent of  public  instruction,  congress- 
man, representative  and  county  officers. 
Although  the  republican  party  had  re- 
ceived large  accessions,  mainly  from  the 
ranks  of  the  American  party,  still  they 
lacked  about  200  of  enough  to  carry  this 
county.  A  very  heavy  vote  was  polled, 
however,  reaching  to  3719  in  some  cases. 

The  apathy  displayed  by  both  the  re- 
publican and  democratic  parties  in  the 
contest  of  1859,  is  remarkable.  The 
.former  only  polled  about  one-half  and 
the  latter  three-fourths  of  their  full 
strength  and  the  election  was  a  very 
tame  affair,  resulting  in  a  complete 
victory  for  the  democracy. 


248 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  country  was  now  becoming  deeply 
moved  over  questions  which  stirred  the 
popular  heart  as  none  had  ever  done  be- 
fore. The  storm  had  been  gathering 
ever  since  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
compromise  ;  the  struggles  in  Kansas 
had  deeply  intensified  the  feeling  of  the 
people  of  the  north,  and  John  Brown's 
attempt  upon  Harper's  Ferry  had  been 
skillfully  managed,  so  as  to  arouse  and 
heat  the  people  of  the  south.  That  the 
territories  of  the  United  States  should 
be  forever  consecrated  to  freedom,  was 
the  solemn  determination  of  a  large 
majority  of  the  people  of  the  north,  and 
that  the  boundaries  of  the  institution  of 
slavery  should  not  be  further  enlarged. 
The  south,  seeking  its  perpetuation  by 
means  of  enlarged  political  power,  de- 
termined that  it  should  not  be  restricted 
but  should  have  enlarged  privileges. 
The  questions  dividing  parties  were  thus 
chiefly  sectional,  and  pointed  directly  to 
war.  In  this  state  of  public  mind  the 
republican  party  met  in  national  conven- 
tion at  Chicago,  for  the  purpose  of  plac- 
ing in  the  field  candidates  for  the  offices 
of  president  and  vice-president.  The 
names  of  Seward,  Lincoln,  Chase,  Blair 
and  Bates  were  proposed  for  the  chief 
office.  In  the  convention  it  was  plain  to 
see  who  was  the  favorite  of  the  on- 
lookers, whose  sympathies  were  of  course 
enlisted  in  favor  of  Illinois'  candidate. 
Every  mention  of  Lincoln's  name  was 
received  with  cheer  after  cheer.  Three 
ballots  only  were  taken,  and  on  the  last 
Abraham  Lincoln  received  a  majority  of 
all  the  votes  cast,  and  was  made  the 
unanimous  choice  of  the  convention 
amid  the  most  intense  enthusiasm.  Han- 
nibal Hamlin,  of  Maine,  was  selected  as 


the  candidate  for  vice-president  on  the 
same  ticket. 

The  democratic  national  convention 
was  called  to  meet  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina.  The  friends  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  were  active  in  urging  his  claims 
to  the  nomination  for  the  presidency, 
many  of  the  delegates  from  the  northern 
states  being  instructed  to  use  all  honora- 
ble means  to  that  end.  The  claims  of 
Douglas  were  stoutly  contested  by  the 
leaders  of  the  democracy  of  the  south, 
and  it  was  evident,  some  time  before  the 
convention  assembled,  that  it  would  be 
difficult  to  come  to  an  agreement,  espe- 
cially as  the  rule  of  the  democratic  na- 
tional convention  required  a  two-thirds 
vote  to  nominate.  Meeting  in  the  city 
of  Charleston,  April  23,  1860,  the  con- 
vention remained  in  session  ten  days,  at 
the  expiration  of  which  time  no  nomina- 
tions had  been  made,  many  of  the  dele- 
gates from  the  southern  states  withdraw- 
ing. After  taking  57  ballots,  it  was 
found  impossible  for  any  candidate  to 
receive  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  entire 
body,  so  many  delegates  having  with- 
drawn. Adjournment  was  then  had  to 
Baltimore,  at  which  place,  on  the  19th  of 
June,  the  convention  met,  but  even  here 
no  agreement  could  be  reached  between 
the  factions.  After  six  days'  struggle, 
however,  Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  nomi- 
nated for  president,  and  Benjamin  Fitz- 
patrick,  of  Alabama,  for  vice-president. 
The  nomination  of  Douglas  was  received 
with  the  wildest  enthusiasm.  Mr.  Fitz- 
patrick  declining  the  nomination  for 
second  place  on  the  ticket,  Herschel  V. 
Johnson,  of  Georgia,  was  nominated. 

That  portion  of  the  convention  which 
seceded,  held  a  convention  June  23,  and 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


249 


nominated  John  C.  Breckinridge,of  Ken- 
tucky, for  president,  and  Joseph  Lane, 
of  Oregon,  for  vice-president.  A  "union 
conservative"  convention  was  also  held, 
at  which  John  Bell,  of  Tennessee,  was 
nominated  for  president,  and  Edward 
Everett,  of  Massachusetts,  for  vice- 
president. 

With  four  presidential  candidates  in 
the  field,  the  exciting  questions  growing 
out  of  the  institution  of  slavery  and  the 
threats  of  disunion  by  a  portion  of  the 
South  in  the  event  of  the  election  of 
Lincoln,  tended  to  make  the  campaign 
one  of  great  interest.  "Wide-awake" 
and  "  Invincible  "  clubs,  and  organiza- 
tion of  "  Hickory  Boys  "  on  the  part  of 
republicans  and  Douglas  democrats, 
respectively,  tended  to  increase  the  ex- 
citement. Large  and  enthusiastic  meet- 
ings were  held  by  each  party  in  all  the 
leading  cities  and  towns,  and  even  in 
many  of  the  smaller  villages.  The 
names  of  the  "  Bail-Splitter  "  and  the 
"  Little  Giant,"  evoked  the  greatest  en- 
thusiasm. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  memorable 
campaigns  in  the  history  of  the  country, 
one  not  equalled  even  by  the  the  hard 
cider  contest  of  1840.  The  two  favorite 
sons  of  Illinois  were  now  rival  candi- 
dates for  the  presidency,  and  such  an  ef- 
fort was  put  forth  by  the  friends  of  each 
to  carry  the  state  as  was  never  witnes- 
sed before  or  since.  This  county,  being 
exceedingly  close,  was  made  a  battle 
ground.  Some  of  the  best  speakers  in 
the  state,  of  both  parties,  were  sent 
here ;  monster  meetings  '  were  held  by 
each;  the  "  Wide-awakes  "  and  "Hick- 
ory Boys  "  were  out  in  force,  and  im- 
mense efforts  were  put  forth  to  influence 


votes.  Both  state  and  county  tickets,  of 
each  of  the  parties,  were  claimed  to  be 
unexceptionable.  A  vast  amount  of 
money  was  spent:  and  the  final  result 
was,  the  republicans  carried  the  county 
by  majorities  ranging  from  11  to  127, 
though  losing  it  on  the  presidential  vote 
Douglas  carrying  it  over  Lincoln  by  11 
votes.  John  Bell,  the  Union  candidate 
for  president,  received  62  votes  and 
John  C.  Breckinridge  6.  A  larger  vote 
was  polled  at  this  election  than  ever  be- 
fore, and  the  charge  of  fraud  was  made 
by  both  parties,  each  against  the  other, 
with  what  truth  has  really  never  been 
determined,  and  probably  never  will  be. 

The  war  for  the  union  was  in  progress 
during  the  political  campaign  of  1861, 
and  issues  growing  out  of  the  war  were 
rapidly  forming. 

The  election  in  McDonough  county 
was  principally  for  county  officers,  both 
parties  having  tickets  in  the  field. 
Thompson  Chandler,  the  democratic 
nominee  for  county  judge,  was  elected, 
polling  403  votes  more  than  S.  A.  Hen- 
<iee,  his  competitor.  James  Mathews, 
county  clerk,  John  Knappenberger, treas- 
urer, S.  A.  Hunt,  surveyor,  and  Louis 
A.  Simmons,  school  superintendent,  all 
democrats,  were  duly  elected  by  hand- 
some majorities.  J.  C.  Thompson,  the 
democratic  candidate  for  the  position  of 
delegate  to  the  state  constitutional  con- 
vention, was  also  elected. 

In  1862  and  1863  the  democratic  party 
in  McDonough  county  were  in  the  ascend- 
ency; in  the  former  year  carrying  every- 
thing by  majorities  from  500  upward;  in 
the  latter  year  by  small  majorities.  The 
total  vote  polled  in  1863  was  3,655. 

In  1864  Abraham  Lincoln  was  renomi- 


250 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


nated  by  the  republicans ;  associated  with 
him  on  the  ticket  was  Andrew  Johnson, 
the  union  governor  of  Tennessee.  The 
democrats  put  in  nomination  General 
George  B.  McGlellan,  for  the  presidency, 
and  George  H.  Pendleton,  of  Ohio,  for 
the  vice-presidency.  In  this  state  the 
republican  party  met  in  convention  and 
placed  in  nomination  Richard  J.  Oglesby, 
for  governor,  and  adopted  a  platform  en- 
dorsing the  renomination  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  paying  high  tribute  of 
praise  to  the  loyal  soldiers  and  soldiers' 
wives,  who  were  daily  making  sacrifices 
that  the  union  might  be  preserved.  The 
democrats  had,  as  their  candidate  for 
governor,  James  C.  Robinson,  and  at 
that  convention  adopted  resolutions  de- 
nouncing the  war  and  its  further  sup- 
port, and  rejecting  the  equality  of  the 
negro  with  the  white  man.  This  was 
the  darkest  period  of  the  war,  and,  al- 
though the  feeling  was  intense,  yet  it 
was  not  manifested  so  much  in  the  cam- 
paign as  usual. 

In  McDonough  county  the  contest  was 
severe  and  the  result  close,  the  republi- 
cans succeeding  in  electing  George  L. 
Farwell,  their  candidate  for  the  office  of 
sheriff;  all  the  balance  of  the  democratic 
ticket  carried  the  field. 

In  1865,  the  election^  which  was  purely 
local,  was  a  bitterly  contested  one,  the 
republicans  making  strenuous  efforts  to 
wrest  the  control  of  the  county  from 
their  political  adversaries.  After  an  ex- 
citing campaign,  a  proper  canvass  of  the 
votes  demonstrated  the  success  of  their 
plan  of  action.  W.  H.  H.  Hainline, 
candidate  for  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, D.  Branch,  school  commissioner, 
J.  W.  Brattle,  surveyor,  W.  Ervin,  county 


clerk,  and  L.  A.  Simmons,  county  judge, 
all  republicans,  were  elected  by  majori- 
ties ranging  from  8  to  112. 

The  campaign  of  1866  was  fought  on 
the  issue  of  reconstruction  in  the  south- 
ern states.  The  republicans,  in  conven- 
tion, resolved  that  the  people  who  sub- 
dued the  rebellion,  and  their  representa- 
tives in  congress,  had  the  right  to  reor- 
ganize the  states  that  were  in  rebellion. 
This  was  denied  by  the  democrats  and  a 
portion  of  the  republicans.  The  efforts 
put  forth  by  the  republicans  last  year 
were  repeated  this,  and  as  a  result  their 
entire  ticket  was  elected  by  majorities 
running  from  290  to  424.  In  county 
matters  there  were  two  offices  to  fill, 
namely,  those  of  sheriff  and  coroner. 
Samuel  Wilson  was  elected  to  the  first, 
and  William  W.  Head,  the  latter. 

The  general  issues  dividing  the  par- 
ties in  1867  were  about  the  same  as  in  the 
year  previous.  In  this  county  the  dem- 
ocrats again  succeeded  in  electing  their 
county  ticket,  Sydnor  H.  Hogan,  their 
candidate  for  treasurer,  receiving  2,007 
votes,  while  S.  A.  Epperson,  his  repub- 
lican opponent,  had  but  .1,990.  S.  A. 
Hunt,  democrat,  was  elected  coroner. 

The  year  1868  brought  with  it  another 
presidential  campaign.  The  republican 
national  convention  met  at  Chicago,  and 
placed  in  nomination  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
of  Illinois,  the  victorious  union  general, 
associating  with  him  Schuyler  Coif  ax,  of 
Indiana.  The  democratic  national  con- 
vention nominated  Horatio  Seymour  and 
Francis  P.  Blair,  Jr.,  for  president  and 
vice-president.  The  financial  question 
began  to  be  a  leading  issue,  especially 
with  reference  to  the  payment  of  the 
bonds  in  coin  or  greenbacks,  the  repub- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


251 


licans  favoring  the  payment  in  coin,  the 
democrats  opposing.  The  latter  also, 
by  resolution,  favored  the  abolition  of 
the  national  banking  system,  and  the 
substitution  of  United  States  notes  for 
those  of  national  banks.  This  was  op- 
posed by  the  republicans. 

In  the  state  of  Illinois,  the  republican 
state  convention  placed  in  nomination 
for  the  gubernatorial  office,  John  M. 
Palmer,  while  the  democrats  supported 
John  E.  Eden.  In  McDonough  county 
both  parties  had  full  tickets  in  the  field, 
and  considerable  interest  was  manifested. 
After  a  thorough  canvass  and  an  exciting 
election,  it  was  found  that  U.  S.  Grant 
had  carried  the  county  by  214  majority, 
and  that  on  state  and  county  tickets  the 
republicans  were  ahead  by  majorities 
ranging  from  154  to  215. 

The  campaigns  of  1868, 1870  and  1871 
were  devoid  of  much  interest,  and  were 
but  repetitions  of  the  results  of  previous 
years,  as  a  glance  at  the  official  vote  in 
this  chapter  will  show. 

In  1872,  the  movement  known  as  the 
liberal  republican  had  a  large  influence 
politically,  having  virtually  dictated  the 
democratic  nomination  for  the  presi- 
dency, and  the  platform  of  principles  on 
which  the  campaign  against  the  repub- 
lican party-  was  dictated.  The  liberal 
republicans  were  those  connected  with 
the  republican  party  who  were  opposed 
to  any  extreme  measure  in  the  recon- 
struction of  the  southern  states,  and 
who  believed  the  time  had  come  when 
past  issues  should  be  forgotten,  and  new 
issues  formed;  that  the  hand  of  reconcil- 
iation should  be  offered  the  south,  and 
a  united  country,  working  together  to 
build  up  the  waste  places  of  the  south. 


Many  of  the  most  able  men  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  including  Horace  Greeley, 
Charles  Sumner,  Lyman  Trumbull,  John 
M.  Palmer  and  others,  united  in  this 
movement.  In  May,  a  national  conven- 
tion was  held  by  the  liberal  republicans, 
in  Cincinnati,  which  nominated  Horace 
Greeley  for  president  and  B.  Gratz 
Brown  fcr  vice-president.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  synopsis  of  the  resolutions 
adopted: 

1.  Equality  of  all  men  before  the  law ; 
equal  and  exact  justice  to   all,  without 
regard  to  race,  color  or  previous  condi- 
tion. 

2.  Opposition  to  the  re-opening  of  all 
questions  settled  by  the    13th,  14th  and 
15th  amendments  to  the  constitution. 

3.  Demand    for  the  immediate  and 
absolute  removal  of  all   disabilities  im- 
posed on  account  of  the  rebellion. 

4.  Local  self-government ;  supremacy 
of  the  civil  over   the   military,  and  de- 
mand for  the  largest  individual   liberty 
consistent  with  public  order. 

5.  Denunciation  of  the  existing  sys- 
tem of  civil  service. 

6.  Demand  for   a  system  of  federal 
taxation  which  should  not  unnecessarily 
interfere  with  the  industries  of  the  peo- 
ple; reference   of  the  tariff  to  the  con- 
gressional districts. 

7.  Demand  for  civil  service  reform, 
and  for  the  election  of  president  for  a 
single  term  only. 

8.  Maintenance  of  public  credit  and 
denunciation  of  repudiation. 

9.  A  speedy  return  to  specie  payment. 

10.  Thanks  to  the  citizen  soldiers  and 
sailors  of  the  republic. 

11.  Opposition  to    further  grants  to 
railroads. 


252 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


12.  Cultivation  of  friendship  with  all 
nations;  regarding  alike  dishonorable, 
either  to  demand  what  is  not  right  or  to 
submit  to  what  is  wrong. 

The  democracy  in  convention  ratified 
the  nomination  of  Greeley  and  Brown 
and  adopted  the  platform  of  the  liberal 
republicans.  The  republicans  re-nom- 
inated President  Grant,  and  associated 
with  him  on  the  ticket  Henry  Wilson, 
of  Massachusetts,  for  vice-president. 
The  disaffection  among  the  democrats 
in  consequence  of  the  nomination  of 
Horace  Greeley,  a  life-long  political  en- 
emy was  so  great  that  a  third  ticket  was 
nominated,  at  the  head  of  which  was 
Charles  O'Connor,  the  distinguished 
lawyer  of  New  York.  In  the  state  con- 
vention, the  republicans  again  nominated 
Richard  J.  Oglesby  for  governor,  while 
Gustavus  Keener,  the  liberal  candidate 
for  the  same  office  was  endorsed  by  the 
democracy.  In  McDonough  county,  U. 
S.  Grant  received  a  majority  of  197,  and 
E.  J.  Oglesby,  only  90.  For  congress, 
"VV.  H.  Neece,the  liberal  democratic  can- 
didate received  2799  ballots  and  William 
H.  Eay,republican  2720.  B.  E.  Hampton 
for  state  senator,had  a  majority  of  19.  The 
balance  of  the  republican  ticket  was 
elected  by  fair  majorities,  the  personal 
popularity  of  the  candidates  causing 
many  of  them  to  run  far  ahead  of  their 
ticket. 

The  question  of  capital  vs.  labor  en- 
gaged the  attention  of  the  people  in  1873. 
The  republican  State  convention,  after 
nominating  candidates,  adopted  resolu- 
tions declaring  against  monopolies,  and 
urging  the  restriciion,  by  the  state  and 
the  several  states  of  the  powers  of  the 
railroads  and  their  corporations.  A  con- 


vention of  anti-monopolists  was  held 
which  nominated  candidates  and  adop- 
ted resolutions,  in  which  was  denounced 
the  old  party  organizations  as  corrupt 
and  no  longer  useful  in  live  issues:  and 
deploring  the  chicanery  in  government 
affairs.  The  democrats  made  no  nom- 
inations, but  favored  the  anti-monopoly 
movement  generally.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  what  was  known  as  the 
"granger"  movement*  In  this  county, 
the  anti-monopoly  party  swept  the  field, 
electing  the  county  officers  by  majorities 
close  around  200. 

In  the  year  1874,  there  was  a  triangu- 
lar fight,  three  parties  being  in  the  field, 
democratic,  republican  and  independent, 
the  organization  known  as  the  anti- 
monopoly  party  having  been  abandoned 
or  merged  into  the  independent.  About 
seven-eighths  of  the  regular  vote  of  the 
county  was  polled, 'the  republicans  being 
successful  over  both  the  other  parties. 

But  little  interest  was  manifested  in 
the  campaign  of  1875,  there  again  being 
three  tickets  in  the  field,  and  the  opposi- 
tion to  the  republicans  having  little  hope, 
in  their  divided  state,  of  being  success- 
ful, but  a  small  vote  was  polled,  the  re- 
publican candidates  receiving  a  majority 
over  both. 

The  election  of  1876  was  for  national, 
state  and  county  officers.  Eutherf  ord  B. 
Hayes  and  William  A.  Wheeler  were  the 
republican  candidates  for  president  and 
vice-president;  while  Samuel  J.  Tilden 
and  Thomas  A.  Hendricks  receiving  the 
nomination  of  the  democratic  party  for 
the  same  offices.  Peter  Cooper  was  the 
nominee  of  the  independent  or  green- 
back par,ty,  for  president.  The  hard 
times  which  had  begun  in  1873,  had  a 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


253 


perceptible  effect  upon  the  campaign. 
The  democratic  party,  which  has  for 
years  been  acting  upon  the  defensive, 
when  not  allied  with  some  other  political 
body,  now  assumed  the  offensive,  and 
under  the  banner  of  "Tilden  and  re- 
form," forcefl  the  republicans  upon  the 
defensive.  On  the  part  of  the  demo- 
crats the  whole  campaign  was  boldly 
conducted.  The  republicans  of  Illinois, 
in  state  convention  nominated  Shelby 
M.  Cullom  for  gubernatorial  honors, 
whilst  the  democrats  nominated  Lewis 
Stewart. 

In  this  county  there  were  again  three 
tickets,  the  independent  party  making 
their  fight  upon  the  financial  question. 
The  local  tickets  of  all  parties  were  un- 
exceptionable, and,  on  personal  grounds 
each  tried  to  obtain  votes.  The  princi- 
pal candidates  for  local  office  ran  ahead 
of  their  tickets  in  their  respective  towns. 

The  republican  national,  state  and 
county  ticket,  this  year,  was  the  success- 
ful one,  R.  B.  Hayes  receiving  a  majority 
of  141.  The  only  exception  to  the  suc- 
cess of  the  republican  ticket  was  the 
election  of  Charles  H.  Whitaker,  the 
able  editor  of  the  Macomb  Eagle,  tq  the 
position  of  representative  to  the  general 
assembly,  who  polled  7,605  votes,  almost 
the  entire  .vote  of  the  democratic  party 
of  the  county. 

At  the  fall  election  of  1877,  there  were 
three  parties  again  in  the  field,  republi- 
can, democratic  and  independent.  The 
democratic  nominees  for  county  judge, 
county  clerk,  treasurer  and  county  super- 
intendent were  all  elected  by  pluralities 
ranging  from  179  to  384.  A  question 
submitted  to  the  qualified  electors  of  the 
state  on  making  an  appropriation  to 


complete  the  state  capitol,  did  not  seem 
to  meet  the  favor  of  the  voters  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  as  there  were  900  voted 
for  it,  and  3,783  against  it. 

The  contest  of  1878  was  a  resume  of 
the  previous  year,  only  that  the  republi- 
cans were  the  successful  party,  by  small 
pluralities,  with  the  exception  of  W.  H. 
Neece,  who  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
congressman  by  a  plurality  of  498. 

A  prohibition  ticket  was  also  in  the 
field  but  polled  quite  a  small  vote  in 
this  county.  A  question  of  amending 
the  constitution  so  as  to  permit  drainage 
was,  also,  voted  on  at  this  election. 

In  1879,  W.  M.  Ragon,  the  republican 
nominee  for  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, and  Cephas  Holmes,  the  candidate 
for  surveyor,  of  the  same  party,  were 
elected.  The  total  vote  polled  at.  this 
election  was  4,835. 

The  general  campaign  for  1880  began 
quite  early,  especially  among  the  aspir- 
ants for  office  and  their  friends.  The 
preliminary  canvass  for  the  nomination 
grew  quite  warm,  as  both  republicans 
and  democrats  were  alike  confident  that 
they  would  succeed  in  the  national  strug- 
gle. James  A.  Garfield  received  the  re- 
publican nomination  for  president.  Win- 
field  S.  Hancock  was  chosen  to  lead  the 
democracy.  General  James  B.  Weaver 
was  nominated  by  the  greenbackers. 
The  canvass  was  pushed  with  vigor,  the 
democratic  and  republican  parties  using 
their  utmost  endeavors  to  be  successful. 
The  national  greenback  party,  under  the 
lead  of  Weaver,  also  endeavored  to  in- 
crease its  votes,  Mr.  Weaver  making 
speeches  in  more  than  half  the  states  of 
the  Union.  The  latter  party  adopted  a 
platform  re-asserting  their  demands  for 


254 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  abolition  of  the  national  banks,  the 
reduction  of  the  army,  the  limitation  of 
Chinese  immigration,  the  reduction  of 
salaries,  and  the  payment  of  the  national 
debt  in  greenbacks. 

The  republican  party  of  Illinois  met 
in  convention  and  nominated  S.  M.  Cul- 
lom  for  governor,  and  adopted  a  plat- 
form endorsing  the  principles  as  laid 
down  by  the  national  convention  at  Chi- 
cago, and  the  candidates  named  at  that 
time.  The  democrats  placed  in  nomina- 
tion Lyman  Trumbull  for  governor,  and 
the  greenbackers,  A.  J.  Streator.  Ex- 
citement ran  high,  as  all  parties  thought 
they  had  fair  hopes  of  success.  In  Mc- 
Donough  county,  Garfield  received  137 
plurality  over  his  competitors,  and  the 
state  republican  ticket  triumphed  by 
about  the  same  number.  For  congress, 
Robert  Holloway,  the  democratic  nomi- 
nee, carried  this  county  by  a  plurality  of 
95.  W.  C.  McLeod,  also  a  democrat,  re- 
ceived the  largest  vote  for  representative, 
Davis  and  Perry,  the  republican  nomi- 
nees, being  next.  The  republican  county 
ticket  was  generally  elected. 

The  election  of  1882  hinged  princi- 
pally on  that  for  member  of  congress 
and  county  officers,  and  resulted  in  the 
election  of  W.  H.  Neece,  the  democratic 
nominee  for  congressman.  J.  H.  Baker, 
county  judge,  C.  W.  Dines,  county  clerk, 
T.  J.  Dudman,  county  superintendent, 
all  democrats,  were  elected.  At  this 
election  on  the  question  of  making  an 
appropriation  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
pleting the  state  capitol  was  negatived, 
as  far  as  this  county  was  concerned,  by  a 
majority  of  1,731  ballots.  On  the  ques- 
tion of  McDonough  county  paying  cos'ts 
in  criminal  cases,  the  voters  assented. 


The  year  1884  brought  with  it  another 
presidential  campaign,  with  all  its  excite- 
ment and  turmoil.  Early  in  the  summer 
the  friends  of  the  various  candidates  for 
the  nomination  were  busily  at  work,  and 
the  columns  of  the  daily  and  weekly 
press  teemed  with  remarks  iaudatory  of 
or  derogatory  of  the  various  parties 
named.  The  republican  national  con- 
vention met  at  Chicago,  and  after  a  num- 
ber of  ballots  James  G.  Blaine,  of  Maine, 
for  president,  and  John  A.  Logan,  of 
Illinois,  for  vice-president,  were  present- 
ed to  the  people  of  the  United  States  as 
the  standard-bearers  of  that  party.  The 
democratic  party,  also,  held  their  con- 
vention in  Chicago,  and  placed  in  nomi- 
nation Grover  Cleveland,  then  governor 
of  New  York,  for  the  presidency. 
Thomas  A.  Hendricks,  of  Indiana,  occu- 
pied the  second  place  on  the  ticket. 
Prior  to  these,  the  labor-anti-monopoly- 
greenback  party  met  and  placed  at  the 
head  of  their  ticket  the  name  of  Benja- 
min F.  Butler  for  the  presidency.  John 
P.  St.  John,  ex-governor  of  Kansas,  was 
the  choice  of  the  prohibition  party. 
With  four  parties  in  the  field  excitement 
grew,  high,  until  it  was  seen  that  the 
great  contest  lay  between  the  two  old 
parties,  the  republican  and  democratic. 
The  result  was  a  close  vote  all  through 
the  country,  and  in  McDonough  county 
Cleveland  had  a  bare  plurality  of  one 
vote.  Party  spirit  ran  rife  through  the 
county,  and  a  strong  effort  was  made  by 
these  two  parties  to  carry  everything  be- 
fore them.  On  all  the  state  officers,  the 
democratic  plurality  was  but  a  trifle,  run- 
ning from  1  to  18.  "W.  H.  Neece,  the 
candidate  for  congress,  ran  far  ahead  of 
his  ticket,  owing  to  personal  popularity, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


255 


and  went  out  of  his  home  county  endorsed 
by  a  majority  of  278.  The  democrats 
elected  two  of  their  candidates  for  county 
offices,  and  the  republicans,  two.  By  a 
majority  of  860  the  people  of  the  county 
approved  of  an  appropriation  to  complete 
the  state  capitol. 

With  this,  the  political  history  of  the 
county  is  brought  down  to  the  present 
time,  and  by  reference  to  the  returns 
given  below,  it  will  be  seen  how  close 
has  been  the  result  year  by  year.  In 
consequence  of  this  closeness  the  canvass 
has  usually  been  warm,  and  as  a  gen- 
eral thing  men  of  unexceptional  person- 
al character  have  been  nominated,  each 
party  trusting  the  personal  popularity 
of  its  nominees  would  increase  their 
vote.  It  has  been  well  for  the  county 
that  such  has  been  the  case,  as  it  has 
had  a  tendency  to  make  each'  more 
watchful  of  -the  interests  of  the  people. 

Below  will  be  found  a  carefully  com- 
piled record  of  election  returns  for  each 
year  since  the  organization  of  the  coun- 
ty. The  only  break  in  the  chain  is  in 
the  earlier  years,  the  record  of  which, 
together  with  the  poll  books,  having 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  county 
offices  if  they  ever  were  made. 

Owing  to  some  carelessness  in  early 
days,  some  of  the  names  may  be  spelled 
in  an  irregular  manner,  but  it  has  been 
entirely  due  to  that  cause,  as  we  have 
caused  this  record  to  be  overrun  by  par- 
ties familiar  throughout  the  county  to 
correct  all  errors.  Particulars  regard- 
ing the  officers  elected  and  their  sketches 
may  be  found  in  other  chapters. 

OFFICIAL   VOTE. 

Below  will  be  found  a  carefully  com- 
piled record  of  election  returns  for 


each  year,  from  the  the  organization  of 
the  county  to  the  present  time: 

ELECTION    1830. 

Governor. 

William  Kinney 56—    49 

John  Reynolds 7 

Representative. 

Benjamin  V.  Geel 45—    26 

Joel   Wright 19 

Sheriff. 

William   Southward 28—      1 

William  Garret 27 

Peter  Bilyer 8 

Coroner. 

Isaac  Barrett 41—    19 

John  Seward 23 

ELECTION   1831. 

Congress. 

James  Gurney  (long  term) 142—  126 

Sidney  Breese  (long  term) 16 

Joseph  Duncan  (short  term) 140 —  124 

E.  Coles  (short  term) 16 

ELECTION  1832. 

President. 

Andrew  Jackson,  dem 128—  107 

Henry  Clay,  whig 21 

ELECTION  1834. 

Governor. 

Joseph  Duncan ". .  187 —  117 

William  Kinney 70 

Joseph  McLaughlin 47 

State  Senator. 

G.  W.  P.  McMackville 183—    67 

William  Chapman 116 

ELECTION  1834. 

Congress. 

William  S.  May 229—  161 

Benjamin  Mills 68 

Representative. 

William   Edmonston 239—  159 

Peter  Butler 80 

ELECTION  1835. 

Circuit  Clerk. 

James  M.  Campbell 304—  204 

Thompson  Chandler 100 

County  Surveyor. 

C.W.Bacon 175—    17 

W.  W.  Bailey 74 

A.  Mayfleld 158 

ELECTION  1836. 

President. 

Martin  Van  Buren,  dem 159 —    35 

William  H.  Harrison 124 

Congress. 

William  L.May 303-103 

JohnG.  Stuart 200 

ELECTION  1837. 

Probate  Justice. 

William  Willis,  dem 176 

Peachy  Gilmore,  dem 183—      7 

Richard  8.  Lowe,   whig 83 

Henry  H.  Hardin,  whig 51 

County  Treasurer. 
Benjamin  Naylor,  whig  (no  opposition) -394 


256 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Circuit  Clerk. 
James  M.  Campbell,  dem.  (no  opposition) 439 

Coroner. 

John  P.  Head,  dem 238—    87 

John  L.  Russell,  whig 151 

Robert  L.  Russell,  dem 6 

ELECTION  1838. 

*      Governor. 

Cyrus  Edwards,  whig 332 

Thomas  Cariin,  dem 382—    50 

Congress. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  dem 365 

John  G.  Stuart,  whig 366—      1 

State  Senator. 

Thomas  II.  Owens,  dem 342 

Sidney  H.  Little,  whig 368-    28 

Sheriff. 
W.H.Randolph  (no  opposition) 

Coroner. 
Caleb  G.  Overton  (no  opposition) 

ELECTION  1839. 

County  Clerk. 

James  M.  Campbell,  dem 511—  288 

Isaac  Granthain,  whig 223 

Probate  Justice. 

James  Clarke,  dem 415  -  118 

William  Willie,  whig 297 

County  Commissioner. 

James  Edmonston,  dem 391—    85 

Caville  Archer,  whig 306 

County  Surveyor. 

Samuel  A.  Hunt,  dem 488—  336 

Newton  W.  Chase,  whig 152 

C.  L.  Overton.  whig 99 

County   Treasurer. 

Jesse  M.  Chapman,  dem 341—221 

C.  harles  M.  Bartleson,  whig 128 

Benjamin  T.  Naylor,  whig 186 

ELECTION  1840. 

President. 

William  H.  Harrison,  whig 472—    45 

Martin  Van  Buren,  dem 427 

Representative. 

William  W. Bailey,  whig 497—    28 

William  Edmonston,  dem 469 

Sheriff. 

William  H.  Randolph,  whig 536—  196 

John  W.  Westf all,  dem 340 

John  H.  Westfall,  dem 97 

Coroner. 

Benjamin  B.  Head,  dem 299 —  121 

Benjamin  Head,  dem 163 

C.  L.  Overton,  whig 178 

Scattering •      72 

ELECTION  1841. 

Congress. 

John  T.  Stuart,  whig 430—      3 

John  H.  Ralston,  dem 427 

School  Commissioner. 

Isaac  Granthain,  dem 437 —    78 

Benjamin,  T.  Naylor,  whig 359 


ELECTION    1842. 

Governor.     , 

Joseph  Duncan,  whig 506 —    19 

Thomas  Ford,  dem • 487 

Representative 

Hugh  Ervin,  whig 488—    22 

Harvey  F.  Chase,  dem 466 

Sheriff. 

William  H.  Randolph,  whig 500—    16 

Jonathan  H.  Baker,  dem 484 

County  Commissioner. 

Isaac  G.  Smith,  whig 489—    14 

Joel  Pennington,  dein 475 

Coroner. 

Charles  Chandler,  whig 437 

Benjamin  B.  Head,  dem 459—    22 

ELECTION  1843. 

,        Congress. 

Joseph  P.  Hoge,  dem 537—    39 

Cyrus  Walker,  whig 498 

County  Clerk. 

James  M.  Campbell,  dem 522 —    11 

John  Fletcher,  whig 511 

Recorder. 

William  T.  Head,  dem 569-    90 

William  Y.  Head,  whig 479 

County  Commissioner. 

William  Ferguson,  dem 547—    57 

John  Clark,  whig 490 

Surveyor. 

Samuel  A.  Hunt,  dem 589—  145 

H.  J.  Averill,  whig 444 

County  Treasurer. 

Iverson  L.  Twyman,  whig 555—117 

Jesse  M.  Chapman,  dem 438 

ELECTION,  AUGUST,  1844. 

Congress. 

Joseph  P.  Hoge,  dem 579—    12 

Martin  P.  Sweet,  whig 567 

,  State  Senator. 

William  McMillan,  dem .     567—      7 

Pinckney  H.  Walker,  whig 560 

Representative. 

H.  L.  Bryant,  dem 531 

W.  H.  Randolph,  whig 578—    47 

ELECTION  1844. 


Jonathan  II.  Baker,  dem 559 

David  Lawson,  whig 587—    28 

County  Commissioner. 

Harrison  Hungate,  dem 556 

John  G.  Woodeide,  whig 576 —    20 

Coroner. 

James  Anderson,  whig 781 —  715 

B.  B.  Head,dem 66 

School  Commissioner.. 
Charles  Chandler,  whig 767 

President. 

James  K.  Polk 484—      5 

Henry  Clay 479 

At  the  election  in  August,  1845,  a  light  vote  was  polled, 
and  politics  do  not  seem  to  have  entered  into  the  contest 
to  any  great  extent.  Robert  Bean  was  elected  commis- 
sioner; Charles  Chandler,  school  commissioner,  and  W. 
W.  Clayton,  coroner. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


257 


ELECTION   1846. 

Governor. 

Augustus  C.  French,  dem 570 —    28 

Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick,  whig 542 

Congress. 

Thomas  J.  Turner,  dem 567—25 

James  Knos,  whig 542 

Representative. 

W.  II.  Randolph,  whig 565—    77 

James  M.  Campbell,  dem 488 

County  Clerk. 

Isaac  Grantham.  dem 563—    33 

Isaac  G.  Smith,  whig 530 

Sheriff. 

David  Lawson,  whig 612—    95 

Samuel  A.  Hunt,  dem 517 

County  Commissioner. 

Joel  Pennington,  dem 587 —    90 

Samuel  Wilson,  whig 497 

Surveyor. 

II.  J.  C.  Averill,  whig 552—    35 

Jeremiah  L.  Cross,  dem 517 

ELECTION  1847. 

Delegate  to  Constitutional  Condention. 

James  M.  Campbell,  dem 378—    50 

J.  P.  Gates,  whig 328 

Joint  Delegate  to  Constitutional  Convention. 

John  Huston,  dem 407 —    97 

John  H.  Mitchell,  whig 310 

Probate  Judge. 

William  S.  Hall,  whig 444—    53 

Charles  C.  Hungate,dem 391 

Recorder. 

William  T.  Head,  dem 453—  182 

Nelson  Montgomery,  whig 271 

County  Treasurer. 

JohnW.  Westfall,  dem. 448—  130 

William  L.  Broaddus,  whig 318 

Surveyor. 

Henry  J.  Averill,  whig 439—104 

Ephraim  Swingle,  dem 335 

County  Clerk. 

Isaac  Grantham,  dem.  (no  opposition) 648 

ELECTION  1848. 

President. 

Zachary  Taylor,  whig 487—    23 

Lewis  Cass,  dem 416 

MartinVan  Buren,  free-soil 25 

Representative. 

Josiah  Harrison,  whig 583 —    41 

George  Bughman,  dem 542 

Sheriff. 

David  Lawson,  whig 602 —    45 

Jonathan  H.  Baker,  dem 557 

County  Commissioner. 

Mankin  Champion,  whig 568 

Samuel  Calvin,  dem 574 —     6 

Surveyor. 

James  W.  Brattle,  whig 571—    19 

Samuel  L.  Clark,  dem 418 

Samuel  Clark,  dem 134 

Coroner. 

John  P.  Head,  dem 652—  590 

Scattering 62 


ELECTION,  NOVEMBER  1849. 

County  Judge. 


James  Clarke,  dem 

Thomas  A.  Brooking,  whig 

County  Clerk. 

Isaac  Grantham.  dem.- 

Joseph  E.  Wyne,  whig 


County  Treasurer. 
William  T.  Head,  dem . . . 
William  S.  Hail,  whig 

Surveyor. 

William  H.  Rile,  dem 

James  W.  Brattle,  whig 

School  Commissioner. 

John  O.  C.  Wilson,  no  opposition 

ELECTION  1850. 

Representative. 

John  Huston,  dem 

James  B.  Kyle,  whig 

Congress. 

Thompson  Campbell,  dem 

Martin  P  Sweet,  whig , 


606—    43 
563 


612—    41 
571 


633—    92 
541 


590—    23 
567 


Sheriff. 

William  T.  Head,  dem 

Joseph  P.  Updegraff,  whig 


County  Treasurer. 

Samuel  E .  Taylor,  dem 

G.  L.  Farwell,  whig 

William  Cheney,  whig 


Lewis  Graves,  dem . . . 
John  S.  Smith,  whig. 


Coroner. 


ELECTION   1851. 

County  Treasurer. 

Samuel  E.  Taylor,  dem 

John  S.  Wooley,  whig 


W.  H.  Rile,  dem . 
Scattering 


Surveyor. 


School  Commissioner. 

J.  O.  C.  Wilson,  whig 

John  E.  Jackson,  dem 

General  Banking  Law. 
For 

Against... 


Joel  A.  Matteson,  dem . 
E.  B.  Webb,  whig. 


ELECTION  1852. 
Governor. 


Winfleld  Scott,  whig.. 
Franklin  Pierce,  dem 
John  P.  Hale,  abol 


President, 


W.  A.  Richardson,  dem 
O.  H.  Browning,  whig.. 


Congress. 


J.  M.  Campbell,  dem. 
J.  W.  Singleton,  whig. 


State  Senate. 


Representative. 


John  Huston,  dem . 

J.  M.  Randolph,  whig , 

Circuit  Clerk. 

W.  H.  Randolph,  whig 

W.  T.  Head,  dem 


543—  107 


532—    96 
436 


549—  136 
413 


476—      5 

276 

195 

538—  109   . 
429 


441 

448—      7 


56!)—  558 
11 


383—    68 
315 

472—      1 
471 


841 
844—      3 


840—      2 
838 


859—    23 


790 
820—    30 


816 
858—    42 


838— 
835 


258 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Sheriff. 

8.  H.  Hogan,  dem 758—    30 

Dr.  C.  Gfllihan,  whig 728 

B.  B.  Head,  ind.  dem 163 

Prosecuting  Attorney. 

J.  S.  Baily,   dem 462 

D.  H.  Gilmer,  whig 549—    87 

Coroner. 

Lewis  Graves,  dem 833 

S.   H.  McCandless,  whig 841—      8 

ELECTION   1853. 

County  Judge., 

Thompson  Chandler,  dem 796 —    74 

W.  H.  Franklin,  whig 722 

Associate  Judges. 

Samuel  Calvin,  dem 807—    95 

Silas  J.  Grigsby,  dem 837—  103 

William  S.  Hail,  whig 734 

James  S.  Hogan,  whig 712 

County  Clerk. 

Isaac  Grantham,  dem 804—    81 

Joseph  W.  Blount 723 

County  Treasurer. 

S.  H.  McCandless,  whig 731 

T.  B.  McCormick,  dem 794—    73 

Surveyor. 

William  H.  Rile,  dem 783—    67 

W.  P.Barrett,  whig 716 

School  Commissioner. 

J.  R.  Simpson,  dem 777 —    60 

Man  kin  Champion,  whig 717 

ELECTION  1854. 
Congress. 

W.  A.  Richardson,  dem 855—    24 

Arch  Williams,  whig 831 

Representative. 

Louis  H.  Waters,  pro  and  whig 819—     1 

John  E.  Jackson,  dem 818 

John  Osborne,  rep 1 

County  Treasurer. 

Francis  D.  Line,  dem 906—  142 

John  S.  Holiday,  whig 764 

Coroner. 

David  Reese,  whig •••• 796—    35 

Benjamin  P.  Broaddus,  dem 761 

John  Friend,  dem 19 

ELECTION  1855. 
County  Treasurer. 

John  Knappenberger,  dem 324—  '201 

E.  B.  Bishop,  whig 101 

Scattering 22 

Surveyor. 

Charles  A.  Gilchrist,  whig 247—    81 

Samifel  A.  Hnnt,  dem 141 

Scattering 25 

School  Commissioner. 

Thomas  E.  Brannen,  dem 318—  290 

Scattering 28 

ELECTION  1856. 

President. 

James  Buchanan,  dem 1370—  515 

John  C.Fremont,  rep 590 

Millard  Fillmore,  Am 864 


Governor. 

W.  A.  Richardson,  dem 1390—  362 

W.  H.   Bissel,  rep 1088 

B.  S.  Morris,  Am 315 

Congress. 

I.  N.  Morris,  dem.  (long  term) 1388 

Jackson  Grimshaw,  rep.  (long  term) 1417—    29 

J.  C.  Davis,  dem .  (short  term) 1357—  185 

J.  B.  Kyle  am. (short term) 1162 

Thomas  C.  Sharp,  rep .  (short  term) 255 

State  Senator. 

W.  C.  Goudy,  dem 139<5 

W.  H.  Franklin,  rep 1426—    30 

Representative. 

Vandever  Banks,  rep 1444 —    20 

George  Hire,  dem 1424 

Circuit  Clerk. 

Win.  T.  Head,  dem. 1464—  126 

Joseph  E .  Wyne,  rep 1338 

Sheriff. 

George  A.  Taylor,  dem 1496—  174 

Isaiah  Dennis,  rep 1322 

Coroner. 

Benjamin  T .  Broaddus,  dem 1385 

J.  H.  Epperson,  rep 1418—    33 

ELECTION  1857. 

County  Judge. 

Thompson  Chandler,  dem...                               ..  1213—634 
W.  S .  Hail,  rep 579 

County  Clerk. 

Isaac  Grantham,  dem 1296—  829 

Daniel  Negley,  rep 467 

County  Treasurer. 

J.  Knappenberger,  dem 1225 —  675 

George  B.  Calvin,  rep 550 

Surveyor. 
Samuel  A .  Hunt,  dem 1221—  663 

C.  A.  Gilchrist,  rep 558 

School  Commissioner. 

Joseph  C .  Thompson,  dem 1247—1212 

Scattering 35 

ELECTION  1858. 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

A.  C.  French,  dem '1951—  183 

N.  Bateman,  rep 1768 


I.  N.  Morris,  dem t 1944—  170 

J.  Grimshaw,  rep 1774 

Representative. 

William  Berry,  dem 1957—  192 

C.R.Hume,  rep 1765 

Sheriff. 

F.  D.  Lipe,  dem 1968—  215 

Strader,  rep 1753 

Coroner. 

J.  H.  Swigart,  dem 1941—  177 

Neff,  rep 1764 

ELECTION     1859. 

County  Clerk. 

J.  H/Baker,dem 1426—480 

J.  E.Wyne,  rep 946 

County  Treasurer. 

John  Knappenberger,  dem 1476 —  576 

Lawrence  Nihill,  rep 900 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  CODNTY. 


259 


Surveyor. 

S.  A.  Hunt,  dem 1464—  556 

Thomas  Gilmore,  rep 908 

School  Superintendent. 

J.  C.  Thompson,  dem...  1460—556 

W.  E.  Withrow,  rep 894 

ELECTION   1860. 

President. 

John  C .  Breckinridge,  dem 6 

John  Bell,  union 62 

Abraham  Lincoln,  rep 2255 

Stephen  A .  Douglas,  dem 2266 —    11 

Governor. 

James  Allen,  dem 2283 

Richard  Yates,  rep 2300—    17 

Thomas  M.  Hope,  dem. 4 

Congress. 

William  A.  Richardson,  dem 2284 

Benjamin  M.  Prentiss,  rep 2299 —    15 

Representative. 

JamesD.  Walker,  dem 2071—  127 

8.  H.  McCandless,  rep 1944 

State's  Attorney. 

Thomas  E.  Morgan,  dem 2301—    12 

J.  R.  Gordon,  rep 2289 

Sheriff. 

Harvey  T.  Gagg,  dem 2251 

Silas  J.  Hopper  rep 2315—    64 

Circuit  Clerk. 

William  T.  Head,  dem 2289 

J.  B.  Cummings,  rep 2300—    11 

Coroner. 

F.  F.  Hatch,  dem 2251 

IsaacP.  Monfort,  rep .'...' 2309—    58 

ELECTION  1861 . 

Delegate  to  State  Constitutional  Convention. 

J.  C.  Thompson,  union  dem 1946 —  414 

Carter  Van  Vleck,  rep 1532 

County  Judge. 

Thompson  Chandler,  dem : 1923—  403 

8.  A.  Hendee,  rep 1520 

County  Clerk. 

James  W.  Mathews,  dem 1958—  499 

Fred  A .  Cruser,  rep 1459 

County  Treasurer. 

John  Knappenberger,  dem 1943—  424 

Henry  C.  Twyman,  rep 1519 

Surveyor. 

Samuel  A.  Hunt,  dem :..  1925—  385 

James  W.  Brattle,  rep 1540 

School  Superintendent. 

Louis  A.  Simmons,  dem 1930—  384 

J.  W.  Blonnt,  rep 1546 

ELECTION  1862. 
State  Treasurer 

Alexander  Starne,  dem 1954 —  509 

Wm.  Butler,  rep 1443 

Congressman  at  Large. 

James  C.  Allen,  dem 1954—  513 

E .  C .  Ingersoll,  rep 1443 

Sepresentative. 

L.  G.  Reid, dem 1945—  503 

Geo.  F.  Hcndrickson,  rep 1442 


Sheriff. 

Amos  Dixon,  dem *. 

Lawrence  Nihell,  rep 


Jeremiah  Sullivan,  dem. 
W.  K.   Scott,  rep. 


Coroner. 


ELECTION    1863. 

County  Treasurer. 

John  Knappenberger,  dem 

Socrates  Stevens,  rep 

School  Superintendent. 

John  Barge,  dem 

J.  C.  Reynolds,  rep ' 

Surveyor. 

A .  J.  White,  dem 

D .  C .  Folsom,  rep 


ELECTION  1864. 

President. 


Abraham  Lincoln,  rep 

George  B.  McClelian,  dem 

Governor. 

R.  J .  Oglesby,  rep 

James  C.  Robinson,  dem 

Congress. 

Hugh  Fullerton,  rep 

Lewis  W .  Ross,  dem 

State  Senator. 

James  Strain,  rep 

Henry  K.  Pefter,  dem 


State's  Attorney. 


P.  C.  Stearns,  rep. 

T.  E.  Morgan,  dem , 

Sepresentative. 

Alexander   Blackburn,    rep 

William  H.  Neece,  dem , 

Circuit  Clerk. 

John  B.  Cummings.  rep 

John  H .  Hungate,  dem 


Sheriff. 


G.  L .  Farwell,  rep 

Lewis  F.  Smith,  dem 

Coroner. 

James  H .  Epperson,  rep 

J .  Sullivan,  dem 

Surveyor. 

James  W.  Brattle,  rep , 

J.  B.  Nickle,  dem 


J.  W.  Braftle,  rep. 
J.  E.  Morris,  dem. 


ELECTION    1864. 

Surveyor. 


School  Superintendent. 


D  .  Branch,  rep 
William  Venable 
Theodore  Kendrick,  dem 

County  Treasurer. 
W.  H.  H.  Hainline,  rep... 
J.  W.  Westfall,  dem 


ELECTION  1865. 

County  Clerk. 


William  Ervin,  rep.. 

J.  N.  Chase,  Jr.,  dem 

County  Judge. 

L.  A.  Simmons,  rep 

William  H.  Jackson,  dem 


1946—  499 
1446 


1957—  574 
1443 


1837—  19 
1818 


1827—  13 
1814 


ia33—  17 
1816 


2145 
2171—  26 


2157 
2182—  25 


2154 
2180—  26 


2153 
2181—  28 


2151 
2182—  31 


2146—  39 
2185 


2157 
2170—  13 


2169- 
2164 


2151 
2179—  28 


2148 
2176—  28 


2126—   8 
2118 

2102—  77 

21 
2025 


2098-  35 
2063 


2124—  112 
2012 


2088—  83 
2006 


260 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ELECTION  1866. 

State  Treasurer. 

George  W.  Smith,  rep 2753—  415 

Jesse  Phillips,  clem 2338 

Congress. 

Charles  E.  Lippincott,  rep 2755—  416 

Lewis  W.  Ross,  clem 2339 


A.  Hanson,  rep 2750—  410 

William  Berry,  clem 2340 

Sheriff. 

Samuel  Wilson,  rep ...  2667—  290 

F.  D.  Lipe,  dem 2377 

Coroner. 

William  W.  Head,  rep 2756—  424 

Jeremiah  Sullivan,  dem 2332 

ELECTION  1867. 

County  Treasurer. 

Rydnor  H,  Hogan,  dem 2007—    17 

Squire  A.  Epperson,  rep 1990 

Surveyor. 

S.  A.  Hunt,  dem 2055—  123 

DeWitt  C.  Folsom,  rep 1933 

ELECTION  186S. 

President. 

Horatio  Seymour,  dem 2721 

U.  S.  Grant,  rep 2935—  214 

Governor. 

John  R.  Eden,  dem 2734 

John  M.  Palmer,  rep 2933—  199 

Congress. 

Thompson  McNeely,  dem 2730 

Leonard  F.  Ross,  rep 2934—  204 

State  Attorney. 

L.W.James,  dem 2729 

C.  H.  Sweeney,  rep 2832—  203 

State  Senator. 

John  H.  Hungate,  dem 2752 

Isaac  McManus,  rep 2906—  154 

Representative. 

Henry  W.  Kreider,  dem 2753 

Humphrey  Horrabin,  rep 2897—  144 

Circuit  Clerk. 

Edgar  R.  Wright,  dem 2766 

Benjamin  F.  Pinkley,  rep 2891—  125 

Sheriff. 

William  C.  McLeod,  dem 2712 

John  E.  Lane,  rep 2930—  218 

Coroner. 

Harvy  F.  Chase,  dem 2724 

J.  U.  Epperson,  rep ...   2926 —  202 

ELECTION  1869. 

County  Judge. 

William  S.  Hendricks,  rep 2357 

J.  B.  Nickle,  dem 2374—    17 

County  Clerk. 

James  H.  Provine,  rep 2288 

Q.  C.  Ward,  dem 2449—  161 

County  Treasurer. 

Thomas  J.  Downen,  rep 2338 

S.  A.  Hunt,  dem 2392—    54 


J.  W.  Lawson,  rep. 
W.  J.Edie,  dem... 


KLtfCTION  1869. 

Surveyor. 


School  Superintendent. 

D.  Branch,  rep 

L.  H.  Copeland,  dem 


ELECTION  1870. 
Congress. 


B.  F.  Westlake,  rep.. 

T.  W.  McNeeley,  dem 

» 

State  Senator. 

H.  S.  Senter,  rep 

B.  R.  Hampton,  rep 

Thomas  B.  Cabeen,  dem 

John  S.  Bailey,  dem 


Representative. 

George  B.  Moore,  rep . . '. 

William  S.  Campbell,  rep 

W.  H.  Neece,  dem 

James  Manley,  dem 


Sheriff. 


Charles  C.  Hays,  rep . . . 

Thomas  Murray,  dem 

Coroner. 

James  H.  Epperson,  rep 

D.  W.  Campbell,  dem 


2354 
2385—  131 


2248 
2421—  173 


2285 
2410—  125 

2285 
2257 

2407—  122 
2419—  162 

2249 
2261 

2447—  198 
2403—  142 

2280 
2377 

2274 
2406—  132 


ELECTION  1871. 

Congressman  at  Large. 

J.  L.  Be veridge,  rep 

Hays,  dem 


County  Treasurer. 

John  E.  Lanej  rep 

William  M.  Lipe,  dem , 


J.  W.  Siders,  rep 

James  Shannon,  dem. 


Surveyor. 


ELECTION  1872. 

President. 

U.  S.  Grant,  rep 

Horace  Greteley,  lib 

Charles  O'Connor,  dem 


R.  J.  Oglesby,  rep 

Gustavus  Keener,  lib. 


Governor. 


Congress. 


William  H  Ray  rep 

William  H.  Neece,  lib '. . . . . . . . . '. . . . . . 

State  Senate. 

Benjamin  R.  Hampton,  rep 

Moses  A.  Lnce,  lib 


E.  K.  Westfall,  rep. 
W.  A.  Grant,  rep . . 
J.  E.  Jacksoh,  lib.. 
Alpheus  Lewis,  lib . 


Representative. 


2396 
2512—  117 


2271 
2589—  318 


2404 
2501—    87 


2797—  197 
2600 
14 

2800—    90 
2710 

2720 
2799—     79 


2755—    19 
2736 

4191  !4 
4183>/2 
4178'/i 


County  Attorney. 

Crosby  F.  Wheat,  rep 

John  S.  Bailey,  lib 


I.  N.  Pearson,  rep. 
James  A.  Mnstain,  lib. 


Circuit  Clerk. 


Samuel  Frost,  rep . . . 
Thomas  Murray,  lib. 


Sheriff. 


W.  R.  Pittman.  rep . 
Reuben  Powell,  lib. 


Coroner. 


2834—  166 
2668 


2899—  275 
2624 


2841—  244 
2597 


2795—  76 
2719 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


263 


ELECTION  1873. 

County  Judge. 

James  Irwin,  anti-monop 2241—226 

Henderson  Richie,  rep 2015 

County  Clerk.  . 

Allen  A.  Sparks,  anti-monop 2284—  195 

Asa  K.  Owen,   rep «  2089 

County  Treasurer. 

Anthony  Thornton,  anti-mouop 2229—  184 

David  Brockway,  rep 2045 

School  Superintendent. 

John  M.  Dunsworth,   anti-monop 2241 —  172 

JohnH.  Case,  rep 2069 

ELECTION  1874. 

Superintendent  Public  Instruction:       , 

William  B.  Powell,  rep 2305—    28 

Samuel  M.  Etter,  dem 2277 

Congress. 

Henderson  Ritchie,  rep 2295 —    44 

John  C.  Bagby,  dem  and  ind 2251 

George  Meador 1 

State  Senator. 

John  T.  Morgan,  rep 2293—  896 

James  5ft  Campbell,  dem 1407 

Samuel  T.  Shelton,  ind 864 

Representative. 

C.  W.  Boydston,  rep 3390 

John  E.  Jackson,  dem 4321 

A.W.King,  rep 344914 

Isaac  L.  Christy,  ind 2881^ 

Sheriff. 

J.  B.  Venarcl,  rep 2297—  938 

Isaac  Oakman,  dem 1359 

W.  H.  Ledgerwood,  ind 916 

•Coroner. 

W.  R.  Pittman,  rep .*.  2272—  862 

Thomas  Cox,  dem 1410 

Thomas  J.  Beard,  ind 893 

ELECTION  1875. 

County  Treasurer. 

J.W.  Siders,  rep 2088--  561 

P.  Irwin,  dem 1527 

Anthony  Thornton,  ind 422 

Surveyor. 

B.  F.  Howard,  rep 2130  -  580 

William  J.  Edie,   dem... 1550 

Samuel  Hunt,  ind 418 

Coroner. 

W.  H.  Wayland,  rep 2102—  534 

J.  W.  Westfall,  dem 1568 

James  Manley,  ind 390 

ELELTION  1876. 

President. 
Rutherford  B.  Hayes,  rep...  ..  2952—  141 

Samuel  J.  Tilden,  dem 2811 

Peter  Cooper,  ind 347 

Governor. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom,  rep 2958 

Lewis  Stewart,  dem 3142—  184 

Congress. 

Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  rep 2955 —  117 

John  H.  Huugate,  dem 2838 

I.R.Christie,  ind 913 


Representative. 
C.  W.  Boydston,  rep ...  . .  42254 

E.  K.  Westfall,  rep 4476 

Charles  H.  Whitaker,  dem 7605 

J.L.Epperson,   ind 1908'/£ 

County  Attorney. 

Crosby  F.  Wheat,  rep...                                  ..  3016—  198 
George  S.  Ftihr,  dem 2821 

Circuit  Clerk. 

I.  N.  Pearson,  rep 3105 —  440 

N.  H.  Jackson,  dem 2665 

L.  F.  Smith,  ind 339 

.  Sheriff. 

Charles  C.  Hays,  rep 3009—226 

Joseph  W.  Hays,  dem 2783 

Amos  Dixon,  ind 305 

Coroner. 

George  W.  Reid,  rep 2948—  180 

Thomas  Cox,  dem 2768 

W.  L.  Simpson,  ind 384 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER,  1877. 

County  Judge. 

J.  H.  Baker,  dem 2413—  382 

E.  P.  Pillsbury,  rep 2029 

J.  O.  Epperson,  ind 753 

County  Clerk. 

C.  W.  Dines,  dem 2286—  179 

J.  W.  Parks,  rep 2107 

A.  L.  Sparks,  ind 799 

Scattering 2 

Treasurer. 

John  Neff,  dem 2360—  267 

A.  Newland,  rep 2093 

J.M.Little,  ind 734 

Scattering 2 

County  Superintendent. 

H.  A.  Maxwell,  dem  2317—  197 

A.  W.  McCandiess,  rep 2120 

Max  Kennedy,  ind 726 

J.  M.  Dunsworth 18 

On  the  question  of  an  appropriation  to  complete  the 
State  Capitol. 

For 900 

Against 3783—2883 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER,  1878. 

State  Treasurer. 

E.  L.  Conkrite,  dem 2528 

John  C.  Smith,  rep 2557—    29 

E.  N.  Bates,  ind 884 

Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

S.M.  Etter,  dem...  2529 

J.  P.  Slade,  rep 2553—    24 

F.  H.  Hall,  ind 883 

Clerk  of  Supreme  Court. 

E.  A.  Snively,  dem 2529 

M.  B.  Converse,   rep '.  2551—    22 

T.  L.  Knowlee,  ind fc85 

Clerk  of  Appellate  Court. 

G.  W.  Jones,  dem 2526 

M.  M.  Duncan,  rep 2553—    27 

0.  E.  Shoaff,ind 900 

Congress. 

D.  P.  Phelps,   dem 2557 

B.  F.  Marsh,  rep 2572—    15 

A.  J.  Streator,  ind 847 


16 


264 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


State  Senator. 

W.  H.  Neece,  dem 2923—  498 

William  Venahle,  rep 242r> 

J .  G .  Madden,  ind 608 

Representative . 

M.  A.  Lewis,  dem 7152 

Henry  Black,  rep 396214 

E.  W.  Allen,  rep 3623 

John  Downen,  ind 3087'/2 

County  Attorney. 

William  Prentiss,  dem- 2815—  258 

J.  B.  McConnell,  rep 2557 

Sheriff. 

W.  II.  Taylor,  dem 253(5      33 

C.  C.  Hays,  rep 2503 

Samuel  Frost,  ind 909 

Coroner. 

T.  J .  Bowman,  dem 2541 

G.  W.  Reid,  rep 2f>60—    19 

G.  W.  Keithley,  ind 770 

On  the  prohibition  ticket  Groen  received  15  votes  in 
the  county;  Smith,  for  clerk  of  appellate  court,  16;  Kate 
Hoping,  15  for  superintendent  of  public  instruction. 

On  the  question  o/  an  amendment  to  the  constitution 
permitting  drainage. 

Tor 2729—1750 

Against 979 

SPECIAL    ELECTION,  DECEMBER  3,  1878. 

Treasurer. 

J.  W.  Westfall,  dem 2320—  305 

B.  R.  Westfall,  rep 2015 

ELECTION,    NOVEMBER,    1879 

County  Treasurer. 
W.  M.  Ragon,  rep 2360—  138 

B .  A .  Herlocker,  dem 2222 

Wilson,  greenbacker 253 

County  Surveyor. 

Cephas  Holmes,  rep 2389—  222 

W.  J.  Edie,  dem 2167 

Currens,  greenbacker 272 

ELECTION,  NOVEMBER,  1880. 

President. 

J.  A.  Garfleld,  rep 3014—  137 

W .  S .  Hancock,  clem 2877 

J.  B.  Weaver,  greenbaoker : 464 

Governor. 

S.  M.  Cullom,  rep 3006—  140 

Lyman  Trumbull,  dem 2866 

A.  J.  Streator,  greenbacker 468 

Lieutenant  Governor. 

J.  M.  Hamilton,  rep 3018—  140 

L.  B.  Parson,  dem 2879 

A.  B.  Adair,  greenbacker 464 

Secretary  of  State. 

H .  D .  Dement,  rep 3017—  13S 

J.  H.  Oberly,  dem 2879 

J.  M .  Thompson,  greenbacker 464 

Stale  Auditor. 

C.  P.  Swigert,  rep 3018—  140 

L.  C.  Slarkel,  dem 2878 

W .  T .  Ingam,  greenbacker 463 

State  Treasurer. 

Edward  Rutx,  rep 3018—  140 

T .  Bntterworth,  dem 2878 

G.  W.  Evans,  greenbacker 463 


Attorney  General. 

James  McCartney,  rep 3018—  141 

L .  Harmon,  dem 2877 

H.  L.  Whitlock,  greenbacker 463 

Scattering 1 

Congress. 

B.  F,  Marsh,  rep 3010 

Robert  Halloway,   dem 3105—    95 

George  Meador,  greenbacker 202 

Member  Board  of  Equalization. 
William  Crouch,  rep...  ..  3018—  140 

J.  D.  Stephens,  dem 2878 

R.  J .  Cabeen,  greenbacker 460 

Representative . 

S.  B.  Davis,  rep 4528U 

D.  D.  Parry,  rep 4500'i 

W.  C.  McLeod,  dem 8123(/» 

William  Birdsall.  greenbacker 18751/i 

County  Attorney. 

J.  M.   Blazer,  rep 3043 

William  Prentiss,  dem 3184—  141 

Circuit  Clerk. 

J.  E.  Wyne,  rep.. 3030—  126 

T.  Huston,  dem 2904 

J.  O.  Cowan,  greenbacker •. ..    418 

Sheriff. 

Fred  Newland,  rep ' 3022—    30 

J.  A .  Cowperthwaite,  dem 9092 

G .  W.  Baker,  greenbacker 323 

Coroner. 

C .  F.  Griffith,  rep 2997—    99 

J.  M.  Chase,  dem 2898 

James  Manley,  greenbacker 439 

On  the  question  of  an  Appropriation  to  complete  the 
State  Capitol. 

For 1737 

Against 1905—  161 

The  prohibition  ticket  for  National  and  State  officers, 
received  13  votes  in  the  county. 

•        ELECTION  NOVEMBER,    1882. 

State  Treasurer. 

John  C.  Smith,  rep 2908—    74 

Alfred  Orendorff,  dem 2834 

A.  B.  Irwin,  prohib 129 

McLaughlin,  greenbacker 194 

State  Superintendent. 

Chas.  T.  Stratton,rep 2890—    48 

Raab,  dem 2842 

Brown,  prohib 133 

Hall,  greenbacker 190 

Scattering 2 

Congress. 

B.  H.  Marsh,  rep 2523 

W.  H.  Neece,  dem 3012—  489 

Rev.  R.  Haney,  pro.  and  greenbacker 457 

State  Senator. 

Henry  Tubbs,  rep 2899—    59 

J .  Ross  Hanna,  dem 2840 

McCoy,  prohib 134 

Scisson,  greenbacker 184 

Scattering 3 

State  Representaties. 

C.  N.  Rogers,  rep 4203'/£ 

I .  N .  Pearson,  rep •  '4684% 

1. 1,.  Prart,  dem 7448% 

Logsdon,  greenbacker 1045'^ 

W.  H.  Grigsby,  prohib 674 

Scattering 3 

Covnty  Judge. 

Isaac  Weaver,  rep 2754 

J.  H.  Baker,  dem 3212—  458 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


265 


Sheriff. 

FredNewland,  rep 3197—  398 

J.  A.  Cowperthwaite,  dem 2799 

County  Clerk. 

A.  B.  Wetsel,  rep 2679 

C.  W.  Dines,  dem 3341—  662 

County  Treasurer. 

J.  C.  Cadwallader,  rep 2810 

Thomss  Sorter,  dem 3171—  361 

Scattering 1 

County  Superintendent. 

Miss  Ada  Mariner,  rep 2895 

T.  J.  Dudman,  dem 3062—  167 

Coroner. 

A .  Switzer,  rep 2934 

Richard  Lawrence,  dem 2965—    31 

On  the  question  of  appropriation  to  complete  the 
Slate  Capitol. 

For 1635 

Against 8366-1731 

On  the  question  of  ceding  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
Canal  to  the  United  States. 

For 2740—1078 

Against 1662 

On  the  question  of  McDonough  County  paying  costs  in 
Criminal  cases. 

For 3673—2520 

Against 1153 

ELECTION   NOVEMBER,  1884. 

President. 

Grover  Cleveland,  dem 3080—      1 

J.  G.  Blaine,  rep.... 3079 

B .  F .  Butler,  greenbacker , 154 

J.  P.  St.  John,  prohib 121 

Governor. 

Carter  Harrison,  dem 3121—    18 

R.  J.  Oglesby,  rep 3103 

James  B .  Hobbs,  prohib 101 

Jesse  Harper,  ind Ill 

Lieutenant-  Governor. 

Henry  Seiter,  dem 3104  -      8 

John'C .  Smith,  rep 3096 

A .  C .  Vanderwater,  ind 136 

James  S.  Ferryman,  prohib 114 

Secretary  of  State . 

M.  J.  Dougherty,  dem 3104—     8 

Henry  D.  Dement,  rep 3096 

H.  E.  Baldwin,  ind 151 

C.  W.  Enos,  prohib 104 

State  Auditor. 

WalterE.  Carlin,  dem 3098—      1 

C.  P.  Swigart,  rep 3097 

E.  F.  Reeves,  ind 142 

A.  B.  Irwin,  prohib 113 


State  Treasurer. 

Alfred  Orendorff,  dem 3100—      3 

Jacob  Gross,  rep 3097 

Benj.  W.  Goodhue,  ind 141 

Uriah  Copp,  prohib 113 

Attorney  General. 

Robt.  L.  McKinlay,  dem 3102—      7 

George  Hunt,  rep 3095 

John  N.  Gwin,  ind 141 

Hale  Johnson,  prohib 112 

Congress. 

Win.  II.  Neece,dem 3356--  278 

Alex  P.  Petrie,  rep , 2984 

Robert  II.  Broaddus,  prohib 94 

Members  of  Board  of  Equalization. 

R.  J.  Cabeen,  dem 3342—    39 

S.  B.  Dray,  rep 3091 

Almon  Kidder,  prohib 112 

Scattering 1 

•     .  State  Legislature . 

Horatio  R.  Bartleeon,  dem...  ..4486 

William  II.  Wier,  dem 4758J4 

Calvin  M .  Rogers,  rep 4514V& 

William  II.  McCord,  rep 4683% 

Joseph  S.  Allard,  ind 389V£ 

C.  C.  Secrest,   prohib 358V4 

Clerk  Supreme  Court. 

EthanA.  Snively,  dem 3125 

Thos.  L.  McGrath,  rep 3126—      1 

Scattering 5 

Clerk  Appellate  Court. 

G.  W.  Jones,  dem 3123 

L.  W.  Shepherd,  rep 3123 

Scattering 5 

Circuit  Clerk. 

C.  S.  Churchill,  dem 3242—  167 

Frank  L.  Brown,  rep 3075 

George  Mourning 79 

Stale's  Attorney. 

Thos.  J.  Sparks,  dem 3120 

H.  C.  Agnew,rep 3178—    58 

(Bounty  Surveyor. 

William  J.  Edie,  dem 3131 

Cephas  Holmes,  rep 3194—    63 

Coroner. 

John  Hindman,  dem 3155—    73 

John  E .  Hendrickson,  rep 3082 

Solomon  Hainline 106 

On  the  question  of  appropriation  to  complete  State 
JJouse. 

For 2892—  860 

Against 2032 

On  the  Question  of  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  so 
as  to  give  the  Governor  the  power  to  veto  a  portion  of 
a  bill  submitted  to  htm  and  not  the  whole. 

For . . .  2382—1035 

Against 1347 


266 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


NATIONAL,  STATE  AND  COUNTY  EEPEESENTATION. 


While  unworthy  man  may  at  any  and 
all  times  thrust  themselves  into  office, 
in  this  free  land,  still  it  cannot  but  be 
acknowledged  that  the  great  body  of  the 
office-holders  of  the  country,  especially 
the  elective  ones,  are  truly  representa- 
tive men — men  of  positive  force  and 
character.  They  are  of  the  number  of 
those  that  do  much  to  build  up  and 
strengthen  a  town,  a  county 'or  a  state. 
In  this  chapter  it  has  been  the  endeavor, 
so  far  as  is  possible,  to  give  slight 
sketches  of  all  who  have  served  the 
county  of  McDonough  in  the  nation, 
state  or  county.  That  some  of  these  are 
imperfect  is  known,  but  it  should  not  be 
laid  to  the  historian.  Some  that  are 
mentioned  have  passed  a'way  from  this 
mundane  sphere,  leaving  no  record  from 
which  a  sketch  could  be  written,  while 
others  have  removed  from  this  to  other 
localities,  and  their  present  whereabouts 
is  generally  unknown. 

CONGRESSIONAL. 

When  the  county  of  McDonough  was 
organized,  in  1830,  the  state  of  Illinois 
constituted  but  one  congressional  dis- 
trict, and  was  represented  in  the  council 
of  the  nation  by  Joseph  Duncan,  a  resi- 
dent of  Jackson  and  Morgan  counties. 
He  was  the  second  representative  from 
this  state,  succeeding  Daniel  P.  Cook,  in 


March,  1827.  He  represented  Illinois 
in  the  20th,  21st  and  22d  congress,  or 
from  1827  to  1833. 

Under  the  apportionment  act  approved 
February  13,  1831,  the  state  was  divided 
into  three  districts,  and  the  county  of 
McDonough  was  assigned  a  place  in  the 
third  district.  In  the  24th  congress  it 
was  represented  by  Joseph  Duncan,  but 
for  a  short  time,  he  resigning  the  same 
on  being  elected  governor  of  the  state, 
and  was  succeeded  by  William  L.  May, 
of  Springfield.  He,  also,  served  in  the 
25th  congress. 

The  district  was  represented  in  the 
26th  congress,  from  1839  to  1841,  by 
John  T.  Stuart,  who  was  re-elected  to 
the  27th,  serving  until  March,  1843- 
This  gentleman  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Kentucky,  November  10,  1807. 
He  was  educated  at  Danville  college, 
Kentucky,  graduating  in  1826,  and 
studied  law  under  Judge  Breck.  In 
1828  he  came  to  Springfield  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  law.  It  was  in  his 
office  that  Abraham  Lincoln  studied  for 
the  bar.  In  1838  he  ran  against  Stephen 
A.  Douglas  for  congress  and  beat  him, 
and  in  1841  was  re-elected,  as  above 
stated.  During  his  congressional  career 
he,  during  the  session  of  1841-3,  secured 
an  appropriation  for  the  harbor  at  Chi- 
cago. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


267 


By  the  act  of  March  1,  1843,  the 
state  was  divided  into  seven  districts, 
and  in  the  apportionment  McDonough 
county  was  placed  in  the  sixth  district. 
The  first  election  held  under  this  act 
was  in  August,  1843,  and  Joseph  P. 
Hoge,  of  JoDaviess  county,  was  elected. 
The  district  comprised  the  counties  of 
Stephenson,  Winnebago,  "JoDaviess, Car- 
roll, Ogle,  Lee,  Whitesides,  Rock  Island, 
Henry,  Stark,  Mercer,  Henderson,  War- 
ren, Knox,  Hancock  and  McDonough. 
Mr.  Hoge  served  in  the  28th  congress, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  29th,  serving 
until  March  4,  1847. 

Thomas  J.  Turner  was  the  next  repre- 
sentative from  the  6th  district.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  30th  congress.  He  was 
a  resident  of  Freeport. 

In  the  31st  congress  which  convened 
at  Washington  March  4,  1849,  this,  the 
sixth  district  was  represented  by  that 
noble  warrior-statesman,  E.  D.  Baker. 
He  served  in  this  congress.  In  after 
years  he  drifted  to  the  Pacific  slope,  and 
in  1861,  while  serving  as  United  States 
senator  from  Oregon,  his  adopted  home, 
raised  the  1st  California  regiment  in 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.  That 
state  refusing  to  father  the  matter  after 
this,  this  noble  body  of  men  were  turned 
over  to  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
became  the  71st  Pennsylvania  infantry, 
and  Colonel  Baker  commissioned  anew. 
He  was  soon  brevetted  brigadier-gen- 
eral, and  fell  while  gallantly  leading  his 
men  at  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1861. 

By  the  act  of  August  22,  1852,  the 
state  of  Illinois  was  re-divided  into  nine 
districts,  and  McDonough,  associated 
with  the  counties  of  Adams,  Pike,  Cal- 


houn,  Brown,  Schuyler,  Efancock  and 
Henderson,  was  erected  into  the  fifth 
district.  Under  this  act,  the  first  elec- 
tion was  held  in  November,  1852,  and 
William  A.  Richardson,  of  Quincy,  was 
elected,  and  served  in  the  house  of  rep- 
resentatives during  the  33d  congress. 
He  was  re-elected  to  the  34th  congress, 
and  served  until  August  18,  1856,  when 
he  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Jacob 
C.  Davis,  who  was  elected  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy August  25.  The  latter  served 
until  March  4,  1857. 

Isaac  N.  Morris,  a  resident  of  Quincy, 
Adams  county,  was  the  representative 
of  this  district  in  the  35th  congress,  and 
was  re-elected  to  the  36th,  serving  four 
years,  from  March  4,  1857.  He  was  an 
able  man,  and  reflected  credit  upon  his 
constituents,  who  had  sent  him  to  the 
national  council. 

William  A.  Richardson  again  was  the 
member  from  the  fifth  district  in  the 
37th  congress,  and  served  two  years  dur- 
ing the  eventful  days  of  the  early  part 
of  the  civil  war. 

By  the  census  of  1860,  it  was  found 
that  the  population  of  Illinois  had  so 
increased  as  to  be  entitled  to  fourteen 
congressmen,  and  under  the  apportion- 
ment act  of  1861,  the  state  was  re-dis- 
tricted. By  some  error  but  thirteen  dis- 
tricts were  made,  but  to  rectify  it,  one 
congressman  was  elected  from  the  state- 
at-large.  McDonough  county,  by  this 
apportionment,  became  a  part  of  the 
ninth  district,  and  had  associated  with  it 
the  counties  of  Fulton,  Mason,  Menard, 
Cass,  Schuyler,  Brown  and  Pike.  The 
district  was  represented  in  the  national 
house  of  representatives  of  the  38th 
congress  by  Levi  W.  Ross.  He  was  re- 


268 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


elected  to  the  39th  and  40th  congresses, 
serving,  in  all,  six  years. 

Lewis  W.  Boss  was  born  in  Seneca 
Falls,  New  York,  on  the  2d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1812,  and  was  the  son  of  Ossian  M. 
and  Mary  (Winans)  Boss.  In  1821,  his 
father  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Illi- 
nois, and  after  about  a  year  spent  in 
Madison  county,  removed  to  Fulton 
county.  He  laid  out  the  town  of  Lewis- 
town,  and  was  prominently  identified 
with  that  county.  He  held  the  office  of 
sheriff,  and  was  postmaster,  both  at  Lew- 
istown  and  Havana,  the  latter  the  shire 
town  of  Mason  county,  which  he  laid 
out,  also,  and  where  he  died  in  1836. 
Lewis  spent  three  years  at  Jacksonville 
college,  where  he  finished  his  education. 
He  read  law  with  Josiah  Lamborn,  at 
the  same  place,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1837,  and  for  30  years  was  a  prom- 
inent member  of  the  bar  in  Fulton 
county.  As  an  able  advocate  he  has 
had  few  peers  in  Central  Illinois,  and 
was  a  powerful  speaker,  an  adroit  de- 
bater, and  able  rhetorican.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  state  legislature  from 
1840  to  1844,  inclusive,  and  a  member  of 
two  constitutional  conventions,  and  dur- 
ing the  Mexican  war  served  one  year  as 
captain  of  company  K,  4th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, under  the  command  of  the  cele- 
brated Colonel  Et-1).  Baker.  Mr.  Boss 
has  always  been  identified  with  the  dem- 
ocratic party,  and  was  by  them  elected 
to  congress  as  above  stated.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Charleston  and  Baltimore 
conventions  in  1860,  which  nominated 
S.  A.  Douglas  for  the  presidency ;  to  the 
St.  Louis  convention,  in  1876,  which 
nominated  S.  J.  Tilden ;  and  to  the  Cin- 
cinnati convention,  of  1880,  that  resulted 


in  the  nomination  of  W.  S.  Hancock. 
After  leaving  congress,  Mr.  Boss  devoted 
himself  to  mercantile  pursuits,  but  after- 
wards abandoned  that  and  retired  from 
business  cares,  having  accumulated  a 
fine  property.  He  was  married,  June 
13,  1839,  to  Frances  M.  Simms,  and 
they  have  had  twelve  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living. 

In  the  41st  congress,  which  convened 
for  the  first  time  March  4,  1869,  the 
ninth  district  was  represented  by 
Thompson  W.  McNeely,  of  Petersburg, 
Menard  county.  He  was  re-elected  to 
the  42d  congress,  and  served  until  March 
1873.  He  was  a  native  of  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  his 
father  being  Bobert  McNeely,  and  his 
mother  Ann  Maria  McNeely — nee  Ware. 
The  date  of  Thompson's  birth  was  Oc- 
tober 5,  1835.  After  receiving  the  fund- 
amental portion  of  his  education  at  the 
district  schools  of  Menard  county, 
whither  his  father  had  moved  in  1839, 
he  spent  one  year  at  Jubilee  college,  Pe- 
oria,  and  four  years  at  the  Lombard 
university  of  Galesburg,  graduating 
from  the  latter  with  the  degree  of  bach- 
elor of  arts,  in  1856,  and  receiving  his 
master's  degree  three  years  later.  He 
studied  law  in  Petersburg,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1857,  teaching 
school  one  term  while  studying  his  pro- 
fession. He  attended  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  university  of  Kentucky  and 
graduated  therefrom  in  March,  1859. 
He  has  always  taken  a  prominent  posi- 
tion in  the  legal  profession  and  in  poli- 
tics affiliating  with  the  Democratic 
party. 

Under  the  apportionment  act  of  July 
2,  1872,  made  on  the  basis  of  the  census 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


269 


of  1870,  the  state  of  Illinois  was  divided 
into  nineteen  districts,  and  the  counties 
of  McDonough,  Mercer,  Henderson, 
Warren,  Hancock  and  Schuyler  were 
placed  in  the  tenth  district.  The  first 
election  under  this  apportionment  was 
held  in  November,  1872.  In  the  43d 
congress  the  new  tenth  district  was  rep- 
resented by  William  H.  Kay,  of  Rush- 
ville,  Schuyler  county.  He  served  one 
term  of  two  years;  and  was  succeeded 
by  John  C.  Bagby,  of  the  same  town 
and  county,  who  represented  the  district 
during  the  life  of  the  44th  congress. 

The  45th  congress,  during  the  two 
years  succeeding  March  4,  1877,  con- 
tained as  the  representative  of  the  people 
of  this  district,  Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  a 
citizen  of  Warsaw,  Hancock  county.  He 
was  re-elected  to  the  46th  and  47th  con- 
gresses. 

In  the  fall  of  1882,  William  H.  Neece, 
was  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  member 
of  congress  from  this  district  and  occu- 
pied a  prominent  place  in  the  house  of 
the  48th  congress.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1884,  and  is  the  present  representa- 
tive in  the  national  hall  of  representa- 
tives. 

William  Henry  Neece,  member  of  con- 
gress from  the  eleventh  district,  and  a 
prominent  lawyer  in  Macomb,  is  a  son 
of  Jesse  and  Mary  D.,  (Maupin)  Neece, 
and  was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  now 
a  part  of  Logan,  this  state,  February  26, 
1831.  In  April  of  that  year  the  family 
moved  into  this  county.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky;  his  mother 
of  Virginia.  They  were  members  of 
the  agricultural  class,  and  reared  their 
children  in  habits  of  industry,  their 
farm  being  two  miles  south  of  Colches- 


ter. Jesse  Neece,  the  father  of  W.  H., 
died  in  1869;  his  mother,  Mary  A.,  1837. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  engaged 
in  agricultural  pursuits  most  of  the  time, 
until  nearly  of  age,  receiving  meanwhile 
an  ordinary  English  education,  such  as 
a  country  school  could  furnish.  From 
1850  to  1852  he  had  some  experience  in 
chopping  in  the  valley  of  the  Illinois;  in 
pork  packing  at  Frederick,  and  in  break- 
ing prairie  in  this  county.  In  the  spring 
of  1852  Mr.  Neece  commenced  teaching, 
and  wound  up  his  professional  career  in 
this  line  in  the  spring  of  1853.  He  then 
started  for  the  Pacific  coast  with  his 
older  brother,  George  W.  Neece  and 
family,  crossing  the  plains  by  ox-team, 
and  reaching  Portland,  Oregon,  early  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year.  The  next  month 
William  went  to  California,  an4  failing 
as  a  miner,  became  a  cook  in  a  restau- 
rant at  Sacramento.  In  the  spring  of 
1854  he  engaged  in  mining  with  his 
brother,  near  Grass  Valley,  in  Nevada 
county,  California,  and  there  remain- 
ing until  the  spring  of  1855,  when 
he  returned  to  this  county.  In  the  au- 
tumn of  that  year  he  became  purchas- 
ing agent  for  the  firm  of  J.  H.  Baker  & 
Co.,  real  estate  dealers  in  Macomb,  and 
was  thus  employed  for  one  year.  On 
May  3$ 1857,  he  was  married  to  Janette 
Ingals,  of  this  county?  and  the  same 
year  he  commenced  the  study  of  law 
with  Hon.  John  Simpson  Bailey,  since 
judge  of  the  circuit  court,  and  in  1858, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  still  ap- 
plied himself  very  closely  to  his  legal 
studies,  and  in  a  few  years  began  to  rise 
in  his  profession.  In  1861  he  was  elected 
to  the  city  council  of  Macomb.  In  1864 
and  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  legisla- 


270 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ture.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
constitutional  convention  of  the  years 
1869-70.  He  was  the  democratic  nom- 
inee for  congress  in  the  old  tenth  dis- 
trict; was  elected  to  the  state  senate  in 
1878,  serving  four  years,  and  in  the  au- 
tumn of  1882  was  elected  to  congress  in 
a  strong  republican  district.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1884  and  was  chairman  of 
committee  on  enrolled  bills.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Neece  have  three  children;  Jesse 
T.,  William  A.,  and  Orson  B. 

GENERAL     ASSEMBLY. 

When  the  county  of  McDonough  was 
organized  in  1830,  it  was  a  part  of  a  dis- 
trict, then  without  a  number,  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Pike,  Adams,  Fulton, 
Peoria,  Schuyler,  and  Jo  Daviess,  and 
was  represented  in  the  senate  of  the 
seventh  general  assembly  by  Henry 
J.  Boss,  and  in  the  house  by  Joel 
Wright.  This  general  assembly  con- 
vened at  Vandalia,  then  the  state  capital, 
on  the  6th  of  February,  1830,  and  ad- 
journed February  16,  1831. 

The  eighth  general  assembly  met,  at 
the  same  city,  on  the  3d  of  December, 
1832,  and  adjourned  March  2,  1833. 
The  senatorial  district  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Schuyler,  Fulton,  Kiiox, 
Henry,  Calhoun,  Mercer,  Warren,  and 
McDonough  was  represented  in  the  sen- 
ate by  William  McCreery,  and  in  the 
house,  by  William  Edmonston.  The 
representative  district  was  composed  of 
the  counties  of  McDonough,  Calhoun, 
Warren,  and  Mercer. 

The  ninth  general  assembly  convened 
for  its  first  session,  at  Vandalia,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1834,  and  adjourned  February  13, 
1835;  its  second  session  commenced 


December  7,  1835,  and.  ended  January 
18,  1836.  This  county,  which  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  same  counties  as  the  last 
was  represented  in  the  senate,  by  George 
W.  P.  Maxwell,  and  in  the  house  by 
Peter  Butler.  The  latter  was  a  resident 
of  the  town  of  Monmouth,  Warren 
county,  and  during  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  was  the  captain  of  the  company  of 
mounted  rangers  that  went  from  this 
and  tlie  adjoining  county.  He  has  been 
dead  many  years,  and  is  only  remem- 
bered by  the  oldest  settlers  of  this  lo- 
cality. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1836,  a  new 
apportionment  was  made  by  which  Mc- 
Donough and  Hancock  were  made  one 
senatorial  district  and  was  represented 
by  Thomas  H.  Owens.  McDonough 
county  itself  constituted  a  representa- 
tive district  and  was  served  in  the  tenth 
general  assembly  by  William  Edmons- 
ton. This  legislature  convened  at  Van- 
dalia, December  5,  1836  and  adjourned 
the  first  session,  March  6,  1837;  a  sec- 
ond session  met  on  the  10th  of  July, 
1837,  and  adjourned,  sine  die,  July  22, 
1837.  William  Edmonston  was  a  Ten- 
nessean  by  birth  and  came  to  this  county 
in  1829,  from  Indiana,  In  about  1840 
he  removed  to  the  western  part  of  Mis- 
souri, where  he  died,  during  the  rebel- 
lion. Mr.  Edmonston  was  at  an  early 
date,  the  commissioner  appointed  by  the 
county  to  have  charge  of  the  sale  of  the 
lots  in  the  town  of  Macomb. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  1838,  the 
eleventh  general  assembly  met  at  Van- 
dalia for  the  last  time  and  continued  in 
session  until  March  4,  1839.  The  sec- 
ond session  was  convened  at  Spring- 
field, December  9,  1839,  and  adjourned 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


271 


February  3,  1840.  McDonough  county, 
together  with  Hancock,  was  represented 
in  the  senate  by  Sydney  H.  Little,  and 
still  by  itself,  in  the  house  by  •  William 
Edmonston.  Sidney  H.  Little  was  a 
resident  of  Carthage,  and  was  after- 
wards killed  by  a  runaway  horse. 

The  twelfth  general  assembly  met  in 
regular  session,  at  Springfield,  on  the 
23d  of  November,  1840,  and  adjourned 
December  5,  1840.  A  second  session 
met  December  7,  1840,  and  continued 
until  March  1,  1841.  S.  H.  Little  in  the 
senate,  still  represented  this  district. 
William  W.  Bailey,  a  citizen  of  this 
county,  was  present  as  the  delegate  in 
the  house. 

Col.  William  W.  Bailey  (deceased), 
was  among  the  pioneers  of  this  county- 
He  was  a  son  of  William  S.  Bailey,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  who  was  born  in  Cul- 
pepper  county,  in  1768,  and  who  emi- 
grated to  Kentucky  in  1816,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death,which 
occurred  in  Adair  county,  in  1829.  The 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
formerly  Betsy  Macky,  daughter  of  John 
Macky,  of  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia. 
William  W.,  was  born  in  Breckenridge 
county,  Virginia,  November  25,  1796, 
and  early  in  life  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Kentucky,  and  there  January 
19,  1819,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Wal- 
ker, daughter  of  James  Walker,  of  Adair 
county,  Kentucky.  He  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county  in  1833,  and  settled  in 
Macomb,  which  was  always  afterward 
his  residence.  Here  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising, and  his  son  George  W.,  con- 
tinues the  business  so  early  established, 
a  history  of  which  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  This  was  among  the  pioneer 


stores  of  the  place,  as  well  as  this  part 
of  the  state,  and  the  facilities  for  obtain- 
ing goods  at  that  day,  would  now  be  con- 
sidered insurmountable  by  the  mer- 
chants who  have  their  goods  brought  to 
their  very  doors  with  little  trouble  or 
expense.  Then  Mr.  Bailey  bought  goods 
in  Baltimore,  which  were  transported 
across  the  mountains  to  Wheeling,  in 
wagons.  He  continued  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  until  1862,  when  he  retired 
with  a  life  competence.  He  was  twice 
married.  His  second  wife  was  Hannah 
A.  Deane,  to  whom  he  was  married  May 
5,  1864.  She  was  a  daughter  of  Philip 
Deane,  of  Hillingly,  Connecticut.  Of 
Mr.  Bailey's  family,  James  W.,  resides 
in  Missouri,  and  William  S.  and  George 
W.,  are  in  business  in  Macomb;  Joseph 
A.,  died  in  New  York  city,  in  1854; 
Samuel  E.,  died  in  this  county  in  1852; 
Henry,  a  member  of  the  16th  Illinois 
infantry,  died  March  16,  1862,  from  ex- 
posure in  camp;  Mary,  wife  of  D.  G. 
Tunnicliff,  died  April  21,  1865.  As 
early  as  the  spring  of  1818,  Mr.  Bailey 
was  elected  captain  of  militia,  and  was 
subsequently  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
major,  lieutenant-colonel  and  colonel. 
He  was  a  worthy  gentleman,  and  a 
prominent  business  man,  was  quite  active 
in  all  matters  of  public  interest,  and 
popular  among  the  people.  He  was 
called  upon  to  fill  the  office  of  county 
commissioner  for  two  years,  and  in  1840, 
represented  this  county  in  the  state  legis- 
lature. 

On  the  5th  of  December,  1842,  at 
Springfield,  the  13th  general  assembly 
was  convened,  and  Hugh  Ervin  repre- 
sented the  county  in  the  house.  A 
new  apportionment  had  been  made  in 


272 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


February,  1841,  and  there  seems  to  have 
been  no  senator  upon  the  rolls  credited 
to  this  county,  or  rather  to  the  district  in 
which  this  county  was  included. 

Hugh  Ervin  came  to  this  county  in 
April,  1836,  from  Sangarnon  county.  He 
is  a  native  of  Augusta  county,  Virginia, 
born  August  13,  1810.  His  life  was 
mostly  spent  upon  a  farm  until  Novem- 
ber 11,  1834,  at  which  time  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  R.  Black,  also  a  native  of 
Virginia.  Soon  after  marriage  he  went 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  remained 
a  short  time,  then  came  here  as  before 
stated.  He  first  rented  land,  but  subse- 
quently purchased  a  f arm,upon  which  he 
lived  until  the  spring  of  1848,  when  he 
removed  to  Macomb,  and  engaged  in 
general  merchandizing  until  1861.  In 
July  of  that  year,  he  enlisted  in  the 
28th  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  quartermas- 
ter, and  remained  in  the  service  until 
February,  1862.  He  then  returned  to 
Macomb,  and  at  this  time  ( 1885 )  resides 
with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wilson. 

The  14th  general  assembly  convened 
at  Springfield  December  2,  1844,  and  ad- 
journed March  3,  1845.  The  district 
composed  of  the  counties  of  McDon- 
ough,  Warren  and  Henderson  was,  rep- 
resented in  the  senate  by  William 
McMillan,  and  in  the  house  William  H. 
Randolph  served  the  people  of  McDon- 
ough  county  as  representative. 

At  the  election  held  in  1844,  William 
H.  Randolph  was  chosen  to  represent 
this  district  in  the  lower  "house  of  the 
general  assembly,  and  was  re-elected  to 
the  same  in  1846.  He  was  born  in  War- 
ren county,  Ohio,  August  20,  1813,  near 
the  village  of  Lebanon.  He  was  the  son 


of  David  and  Rebecca  (Sutphen)  Ran- 
dolph, who  were  natives  of  New  Jersey, 
but  who  removed  from  the  state  of  their 
nativity  to  Kentucky,  where  they  re- 
mained but  a  short  time,  when  the  mi- 
grated to  Ohio. 

The  early  years  of  his  life  were  spent 
with  his  parents  on  a  farm,  and  in  atten- 
dance on  the  common  schools  of  the 
neighborhood.  When  16  or  17  years  of 
age  he  went  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  fuller 
or  manufacturer  of  woolen  goods,  con- 
tinuing with  the  firm  until  he  reached 
his  majority,  when  he  determined  to 
seek  other  and  greater  fields  of  labor, 
and  came  to  Rushville,  Schuyler  county, 
in  this  state,  where  he  remained  for  a 
few  months,  and  from  thence  came  to 
Macomb,  in  this  county,  where  he  resid- 
ed until  the  day  of  his  death.  His  par- 
ents desired  that  he  should  pre- 
pare himself  for  one  of  the 
learned  professions,  for  that  purpose 
having  him  take  a  regular  collegiate 
course,  but  William  thought  a  trade 
preferable,  and  therefore  learned  one,  as 
stated.  When  he  arrived  in  Macomb  he 
had  between  $300  and  $400,  which  he 
invested  in  a  small  stock  of  groceries. 
Continuing  in  that  branch  of  business 
until  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
the  county,  in  1838,  to  which  office  he 
was  twice  re-elected — in  1840  and  1842. 
In  1844  he  was  elected  as  a  member  of 
the  house  of  representative  of  the  Illi- 
nois legislature,  and  re-elected  in  1846. 
In  1848  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
circuit  clerk  of  the  county  and  re-elected 
in  1852,  serving  until  1856.  Thus  for 
eighteen  years  without  intermission  he 
held  public  offices  in  the  county,  on  each 
occasion  of  his  election  running  ahead 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


273 


of  his  ticket,  being  always  popular  with 
the  people.  He  was  never  beaten  for 
office. 

In  1854,  in  company  with  Joseph  M. 
Parkinson,  Joseph  W.  Blouiit  and  M.  T. 
Winslow,  he  opened  the  first  banking 
house  in  McDonough  county.  For  two 
years,  or  over,  this  institution  prospered 
greatly,  but  in  an  evil  hour  the  company 
was  persuaded  into  an  arrangement  with 
T.  L.  McCoy,of  Galesburg,by  which  they 
invested  some  $20,000  in  the  Nehama 
Valley  bank,issuing  a  certain  per  cent,  of 
the  amount  in  notes,  for  which  part  only 
they  were  to  be  held  responsible,  the  ar- 
Vangernent  being  that  any  banking  in- 
stitution investing  in  the  enterprise 
should  be  compelled  to  redeem  only  its 
own  issue;  but  a  further  arrangement 
was  made  with  the  different  parties  that 
all  notes  presented  at  either  of  their 
banking  houses,  whether  of  the  series 
issued  by  themselves  or  not,  might  be 
redeemed  and  sent  to  their  respective 
banks  for  final  redemption.  When  the 
crash  came  in  1858,  when  the  Nemaha 
Valley  bank  bubble  burst,  Messrs.  Ran- 
dolph  '&  Company  redeemed  their  whole 
issue,  and  over  $5,000  of  the  notes  of 
other  parties,  for  which  they  never  ob- 
tained value  received.  This  firm  would 
not  suspend  until  they  found  it  was  ut- 
terly impossible  ever  to  recover  from  the 
other  parties,  and  then,  and  not  till  then, 
did  they  close  their  doors.  The  loss  of 
Mr.  Randolph  alone,  by  reason  of  the 
failure  of  others  to  make  good  their 
promises,  was  over  $100,000.  To  his 
honor  be  it  said,  not  a  man  ever  lost  a 
dollar  by  him.  He  did  not  compromise 
with  his  creditors  for  a  few  cents  on  the 
dollar,  and  then  open  out  in  grander 


style  than  ever,  but  continued,  as  fast  as 
it  was  possible,  to  pay  off  his  indebted- 
ness, and  when  death  called  him  away, 
he  was  almost  clear  before  the  world. 
One  year  more  would  probably  have 
placed  him  in  the  same  position  he  oc- 
cupied before  the  crash  came. 

Mr.  Randolph  was  a  man  of  great 
public  spirit,  and  his  means  were  used 
not  only  to  increase  his  own  wealth,  but 
for  the  public  good.  In  1856  he  began 
the  erection  of  the  well  known  Randolph 
hotel,  and  finished  it  in  the  following 
year.  This  stands  to-day  a  monument 
of  the  public  enterprise  of  the  man. 
As  a  pecuniary  investment  it  never  paid, 
but  stands  an  honor  to  the  city,  and  a 
free  will  offering  to  the  pride  of  the 
people. 

During  the  year  in  which  the  erec- 
tion of  the  hotel  was  began,  he  laid  off 
for  a  public  cemetery  a  tract  of  land  just 
north  of  the  city,  comprising  eleven 
acres,  which  he  christened  Oakwood 
cemetery.  For  years  the  town  had  felt 
the  want  for  a  suitable  place  for  the 
burial  of  the  dead.  The  old  cemetery, 
west  of  town,  was  too  small  and  very  in- 
convenient to  the  citizens  of  the  place, 
and  with  his  accustomed  liberality  and 
public  spirit,  Mr.  Randolph  selected  the 
prettiest  and  most  eligible  spot  adjoin- 
ing the  town  for  this  "City  of  the  Dead." 

On  the  26th  day  of  January,  1837,  he 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Matilda  Jane 
Brooking,  daughter  of  the  well-known 
old  pioneer,  Thomas  Brooking,  with 
whom  he  happily,  lived  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  No  children  ever  blessed 
their  union. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Randolph  engaged  in  the 
real  estate  business,  in  company  with  J. 


274 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


M.  Parkinson,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Randolph,  Parkinson  &  Co.,  continuing 
the  same  until  November  3,  1856,  when 
the  firm  disposed  of  their  interests  to 
McLean,  Randolph  &  Co.  The  opera- 
tions of  this  company  were  confined  to 
the  region  known  as  the  Military  Tract, 
comprising  some  16  counties,  lying  be- 
tween the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers, 
and,  for  a  time,  were  very  extensive. 
Several  very  fortunate  ventures  were 
made,  in  which  were  realized  a  hand- 
some sum  of  money,  adding  materially 
to  the  wealth  of  Mr.  Randolph.  Having 
an  extensive  acquaintance  throughout 
the  section,  and  knowing  well  the  geog- 
raphy and  topography '  of  the  country, 
he  was  always  qualified  to  judge  of  the 
amount  of  risk  that  could  be  taken.  In 
this  work  he  unearthed  several  huge 
frauds  that  had  been  perpetrated  upon 
the  people,  and  restored  to  the  proper 
persons  their  rights. 

In  1858  he  took  charge  of  the  Ran- 
dolph hotel,  having  failed  in  securing  a 
suitable  tenant,  and  continued  in  charge 
until  the  day  of  his  death,  although  the 
duties  of  a  landlord  were  rather  oner- 
ous, on  account  of  the  vast  amount  of 
other  business  to  which  it  was  necessary 
that  he  should  give  his  personal  atten- 
tion. 

In  politics  Mr.  Randolph  was  always 
radical.  No  one  ever  doubted  his  posi- 
tion upon  any  of  the  great  questions  of 
the  day.  In  early  life  he  affiliated  with 
the  whig  party,  and  the  measures  of  that 
party  received  his  undivided  support. 
As  a  whig  he  was  elected  to  the  various 
county  offices  which  he  held.  On  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party,  in 
1854,  he  at  once  embraced  the  principles 


proclaimed  by  its  leaders.  "Free  press, 
free  speech  and  freedom"  had  ever  been 
with  him  a  leading  thought,  and  he  en- 
tered heartily  and  zealously  into  the 
work  of  moulding  public  opinion  for  the 
adoption  of  the  new  principles. 

His  business  affairs  on  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  party  were  such  as  to  pre- 
vent him  from  taking  the  more  active 
part  to  which  his  ardent  nature  prompt- 
ed him,  but  notwithstanding,  the  success 
obtained  in  after  years  was  greatly  the 
result  of  his  labors. 

In  the  presidential  campaign  of  1856, 
notwithstanding  his  party  was  greatly 
in  the  minority,  he  labored  hard,  and  in 
1860,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  at  the 
head  of  the  ticket,  when  victory  was  as- 
sured from  the  division  in  the  ranks  of 
the  opposition,he  ceased  not  to  labor  un- 
til the  announcement  was  made  that  the 
favorite  son  of  Illinois  should  be  the 
nation's  chief  for  the  term  of  four  years. 

When  the  southern  states  rebelled, 
and  the  call  to  arms  was  made  by  the 
president,  the  private  business  of  Mr. 
Randolph  was  such  he  could  not,  without 
too  great  personal  sacrifice,  go  forth  to 
the  tented  field,  as  he  in  his  heart  desired ; 
but  no  man  labored  more  to  secure  en- 
listments; none,  of  their  private  means, 
expended  more  to  further  the  cause  than 
he.  The  soldier  going  to  or  from  the 
field  was  ever  a  welcome  guest  at  his 
house,  and  if  they  were  possessed  of  no 
means  to  pay  their  bills,  it  mattered  not. 
Whole  companies  were  at  times  lodged 
and  fed  by  him  without  a  cent  being 
paid. 

On  the  15th  day  of  June,  1863,  without 
solicitation  or  previous  notification,  he 
received  the  appointment  of  deputy  pro- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


275 


vost  marshal  for  the  district  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  011  the  28th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1864,  he  was  re-appointed.  His 
friends  all  advised  him  not  to  accept  the 
appointment,  as  the  duties  required  were 
dangerous  to  perform,  and  there  being 
those  in  the  county  who  were  his  deadly 
and  sworn  enemies,  they  might  seek  a 
pretext  to  take  his  life.  The  very  rea- 
sons urged  for  non-acceptance  were  such 
as  to  determine  him  not  to  decline  the 
appointment;  he  would  do  nothing  that 
would  show  even  a  semblance  of  fear: 
It  was  his  desire  to  serve  his  government, 
and  he  believed  it  was  his  duty  to  do  so, 
and  the  opportunity  was  here  offered; 
the  duties  were  such  as  to  require  a  man 
of  nerve,  and  he  would  not  flinch.  His 
first  duty  was  to  make  an  enrollment  of 
the  militia,  reporting  the  names  to  the 
provost  marshal  at  Mt.  Sterling.  At  this 
time  McDonough  county  was  short  in 
the  quota,  and  a  draft  was  ordered;  and 
upon  a  certain  day  the  number  deficient 
was  drawn,  and  among  the  number  was 
one  Jolin  Bond,  of  Hire  township.  Mr. 
Randolph  at  once  notified  him  of  the 
draft,  and  ordered  him  to  report  at  Mt. 
Sterling,  which  not  being  done,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Blandinsville  for  the  purpose 
of  arresting  him.  Here  the  two  met;  a 
few  words  passed  between  them ;  Bond 
endeavored  to  escape,  when  Mr.  R.,  plac- 
ing his  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  told  him 
he  was  his  prisoner.  Bond  then  drew  a 
revolver,  and,  retreating  a  pace  or  two, 
fired  at  Randolph  and  then  fled,  followed 
by  Mr.  R.,  who  returned  the  fire.  Dur- 
ing the  firing  of  the  first  shots  they  were 
in  the  hall  of  the  hotel,  from  which 
emerging,  several  more  shots  were  ex- 
changed, two  of  them  taking  effect  upon 


Mr.  Randolph,  mortally  wounding  him, 
and  causing  death  within  24  hours. 
Everything  that  could  be  done  by  the 
best  medical  talent  in  the  county  was 
done  to  save  his  life,  but  without  avail; 
and  thus  passed  from  earth  one  of  Mc- 
Donough county's  most  honored  sons. 

Mrs.  Randolph  was  born  in  Logan 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1819,  and,  with  her 
parents,  came  to  McDonough  county, 
where  she  was  afterward  married  to  W. 
H.  Randolph,  now  deceased.  She  is  now 
the  owner  of  the  Randolph  House,  as 
also  of  a  store  building,  livery  barn,  and 
her  present  commodious  dwelling. 

The  15th  general  assembly  met  at 
Springfield  December  7,  1846,  and  ad- 
journed March  1,  1847.  William  Mc- 
Millan continued  to  serve  this  district  in 
the  senate.  In  the  house,  William  H. 
Randolph,  returned  by  a  grateful  con- 
stituency, represented  McDonough 
county. 

Before  another  general  assembly  had 
met,  the  constitution  of  1848  was  adopted, 
and  under  it  a  new  apportionment  of  the 
state  was  made,  and  McDonough  county, 
together  with  those  of  Schuyler,  Brown 
and  Highland,  were  made  the  16th  sena- 
torial district,  while  the  county  still  con- 
stituted a  representative  district.  The 
16th  general  assembly  convened  at 
Springfield,  January  1,  1849,  and  ad- 
journed February  12, 1849;  a  second  ses- 
sion met  October  22, 1849,  and  continued 
until  November  7,  1849.  This  district 
was  represented  in  the  senate  by  John  P. 
Richmond,  a  citizen  of  Schuyler  county, 
and  McDonough  county  was  represented 
in  the  house  by  Josiah  Harrison.  The 
representative  district  was  numbered  38. 

The   17th   general    assembly   met  at 


276 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Springfield,  January  6,  1850,  and  ad- 
journed February  17, 1851 ;  a  second  ses- 
sion convened  June  7,  1852,  and  contin- 
ued until  June  23, 1852.  The  16th  sena- 
torial district  was  represented  by  John 
P.  Kichmond,  a  resident  of  Schuyler 
county.  McDonough  county,  then  con- 
stituting the  38th  representative  district, 
was  served  by  John  Huston. 

John  Huston  was  born  near  Sparta, 
White  county,  Tennessee,  May  17,  1808. 
His  parents  were  Walter  and  Nancy 
(Bradshaw)  Huston,  the  former  being  a 
Virginian  by  birth  and  the  latter  a  Ken- 
tuckian.  Both  were  hard-working,  in- 
dustrious people,  poor  in  this  world's 
goods,  and  therefore  the  advantages  af- 
forded their  children  were  but  few  to  at- 
tain anything  like  a  fair  education.  John 
Huston  had  only  a  limited  knowledge  of 
his  mother  tongue,  together  with  the 
sciences  taught  in  the  schools  of  the  day, 
having  the  opportunity  of  attending  only 
such  schools  as  gave  instruction  in  the 
simple  rudiments  of  the  language.  Be- 
fore reaching  his  majority,  Mr.  Huston 
led  to  the  marriage  altar  Ann  Melvin, 
with  whom  he  happily  lived  until  sep- 
arated by  death.  They  were  married  in 
his  native  county,  on  the  second  day  of 
October,  1828,  and  twelve  days  thereaf- 
ter the  young  couple,  with  all  their 
worldly  goods,  departed  for  the  great 
West,  intending  to  make  Illinois,  with 
its  beautiful  prairies  and  grand  groves, 
their  home  for  the  future.  On  the 
eleventh  day  of  November,  1828,  they  ar- 
rived in  Morgan  county,  where  they  re- 
mained some  sixteen  months,  when  they 
came  to  this  county,  arriving  here  on  the 
fourteenth  day  of  March,  1830.  When 
they  arrived  in  the  county,  all  they  pos- 


sessed of  worldly  property  was  one  horse, 
an  old-fashioned  one-horse  cart,  a  few 
household  goods  and  fifty  cents  in  money. 
Selecting  their  claim,  a  log  house  was 
erected,  into  which  the  family  moved. 
There  being  110  door  cut,  a  log  was  re- 
moved, and  all  crawled  in.  This  wras  the 
beginning  of  their  life  in  McDonough 
county.  When  Mr.  Huston  arrived  in 
the  county  it  was  unorganized,  and  in 
the  work  of  organization  which  occurred 
some  months  after,  he  bore  an  honorable 
part,  and  was  appointed  the  first  treas- 
urer of  the  county,  which  office  he  held 
but  a  few  months,  the  duties  requiring 
his  presence  in  Macomb,  and  therefore 
could  not  be  attended  to  by  him,  without 
the  loss  of  more  time  than  he  could 
spare  from  his  private  affairs.  Other 
officers  of  minor  importance  were  thrust 
upon  him, which  he  filled  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  those  by  whom  he  was  elected. 
He  never  sought  office  at  any  time  in  his 
life;  his  personal  feelings  requiring  to 
be  sacrificed  in  accepting  public  position, 
but  in  1847,  he  received  the  nomination 
of  his  party  for  member  of  the  consti- 
tutional convention  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  amending  the  constitution  of  the 
state,  and  was  triumphantly  elected.  His 
services  in  that  body  were  such  as  to  se- 
cure his  nomination  in  1850,  for  the  of- 
fice of  representative  in  the  general  as- 
sembly. Being  elected  thereto  he  served 
his  time  and  again  was  re-nominated  in 
1852,  but  was  defeated  on  local  grounds. 
He  was  no  orator,  never  having  given 
any  special  attention  to  public  speaking, 
the  labors  of  life  being  in  tilling  the 
soil,  and  whatever  talent  he  may  have 
had  for  oratory  was  never  cultivated. 
He  was  a  man  of  but  few  words,  but  all 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


277 


that  were  said  were  direct  to  the  point, 
the  meaning  being  plain  and  manifest  to 
all.  Common  sense  was  characteristic 
of  the  man  in  all  that  he  said  or  done. 
In  politics  he  was  a  democrat  of  the 
Jackson  school,  but  his  politics  never  in- 
terfered with  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  a  public  officer.  When  Mr.  Huston 
settled  on  section  3  there  were  only 
about  six  or  eight  families  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  probably  not  more  than 
twenty-five  in  the  whole  county.  The 
first  winter  passed  in  his  new  home  was 
the  one  in  which  occurred  the  ever 
memorable  and  never  to  be  forgotten  big 
snow,  of  which  mention  is  frequently 
made  in  this  work.  The  hardships  en- 
dured by  the  family  were  such  as  were 
common  to  all,  serving  to  strengthen 
them  for  the  trials  that  should  come  af- 
ter. Mr.  Huston  was  the  father  of  eight 
children,  seven  boys  and  one  girl,  the 
latter  being  now  the  wife  of  Strawther 
Givens,  of  Abingdon,  111.  Of  the  boys, 
it  can  be  said,  all  now  living  occupy  hon- 
orable positions  in  society,  two  having 
been  called  to  their  reward.  John  Hus- 
ton departed  this  life  on  the  8th  day  of 
July,  1854,  being  46  years  and  two  months 
old.  His  loss  was  deeply  felt  by  friends 
throughout  the  whole  state,  and  his 
memory  is  yet  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance, and  will  be  while  the  life  of 
those  living  who  were  intimate  with  him 
shall  last. 

The  18th  general  assembly  convened 
for  its  first  session,  January  3,  1853,  and 
continued  until  February  14,  of  the  same 
year;  a  second  session  met  February  9, 
1854,  and  adjourned  March  4,  1854. 
J.  M.  Campbell,  of  McDonough  county, 
was  the  senator  from  this  district. 


James  M.  Randolph  was  the  repre- 
sentative from  the  38th  district.  Mr. 
Randolph  was  the  owner  of  the  mill  in 
Lamoine  township,  which  he  operated 
for.  years.  A  very  active,  enterprising 
man,  to  whose  exertions  a  part  of  the 
credit  of  the  location  of  the  Northern 
Cross  railroad  through  this  county  in 
due.  In  later  years  he  removed  to  Car- 
thage, Hancock  county,  where  he  died. 

James  Morrison  Campbell,  the  oldest 
settler  in  Macomb,  still  living  there,  is  a 
native  of  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  August  22,  1803.  His  parents  were 
John  R.  and  Margaret  F.  (Self)  Camp- 
bell. His  grandfather,  Robert  Camp- 
bell, came  to  this  country  with  his  wife, 
Nancy  Campbell,  from  Argyleshire,Scot- 
land,  in  1773,  and  when  two  years  later, 
war  with  England  commenced,  he  took 
up  arms  against  the  mother  country. 
Robert  Campbell  settled  in  Virginia, 
where  both  parents  of  James  were  born. 
They  moved  to  Kentucky,  about  the  be- 
ginning of  this  century,  and  when  the 
son  was  about  four  years  old,  the  family 
moved  from  Frankfort  to  Mecklenburgh 
county,  where  they  remained  about  two 
years. 

In  1809,  John  R.  Campbell,  who  was 
a  blacksmith  by  trade,  came  into  this 
state  and  settled  at  Shawneetown,  and 
while  there  in  1812  and  two  years  subse- 
quently, was  a  lieutenant  of  rangers, 
fighting  against  the  Indians,  whom  the 
British  had  instigated  to  raise  the  war 
whoop.  When  peace  was  declared  Lieu- 
tenant Campbell  did  not  return  imme- 
diately, and  his  wife  supposing  him  to 
be  dead,  returned  with  her  little  family 
of  three  children  to  the  old  home  in 
Frankfort.  To  her  great  joy  her  hus- 


278 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


band  soon  joined  her.  The  Frankfort 
seminary  was  then  a  popular  institu- 
tion, and  in  it  James  was  kept  for  four 
years,  under  a  first-class  disciplinarian, 
Professor  Keene  O'Hara.  In  1820, 
when  only  seventeen  years  old,  Mr. 
Campbell  was  appointed  deputy  post- 
master at  Frankfort  holding  that  posi- 
tion between  five  and  six  years  under 
James  W.  Hawkins.  Resigning  his 
place  in  the  post-office,  our  subject 
went  to  Lexington,  and  not  long  after- 
ward received  a  mail  bag  with  a  suit  of 
clothes  in  it  from  his  friend,  the  post- 
master, Not  being  successful  in  finding 
a  situation  in  Lexington,  Mr.  Campbell 
returned  to  Frankfort,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1828  went  to  Shelby  county,  Ken- 
tucky. The  next  winter  he  started  for 
Galena,  Jo  Daviess  county,  this  state, 
but  spent  that  winter  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee, reaching  the  lead  mines  in  Aug- 
ust, 1829.  His  uncle,  William  Camp- 
bell, was  then  the  general  agent  of  the 
government  as  receiver  of  the  rents  of 
the  mines  at  Galena,  and  the  nephew 
was  with  him  a  few  months,  and  then 
went  into  the  office  of  the  circuit  and 
county  clerk,  remaining  in  that  situa- 
tion until  the  spring  of  1831.  On  the 
first  day  of  April  of  that  year,  he  reach- 
ed Macomb,  which  then  had  a  popula- 
tion of  four  persons — Rev.  John  Baker, 
a  Baptist  minister,  wife  and  two  little 
daughters — Mr.  Campbell  swelling  the 
population  to  five.  Where  the  public 
square  now  stands,  ornamented  by  a 
fine  and  substantial  court  house,  the  last 
year's  grass  aud  rosin  weeds  were  six 
feet  high,  and  except  the  cabin  of  Mr. 
Baker  there  was  not  a  building  of  any 
kind  within  nearly  a  mile  of  where  Ma- 


comb  now  stands.  In  1831  there  were 
not  more  than  80  voters  in  the  county. 
Mr.  Campbell  came  here  with  commis- 
sions in  his  pocket  from  Judge  Richard 
M.  Young,  for  clerk  of  the  circuit  court, 
and  was  appointed  by  governor  John 
•Reynolds  to  the  offices  of  judge  of  pro- 
bate, county  recorder,  and  notary  pub- 
lic, and  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court  by  the 
county  commissioners  in  1831,  but  there 
was  not  much  county  business  just  then 
to  be  done,  and  he  built  a  log-house  on 
what  is  now  Jefferson  street,  and  opened 
the  first  store  in  McDonough  county. 
He  was  also  appointed  the  first  post- 
master of  Macomb.  He  was  also  ap- 
pointed the  first  notary  public  and  the 
first  judge  of  probate,  but  these  two  of- 
fices he  refused  to  accept.  The  offices 
of  circuit  and  county  clerk,  recorder 
and  post-master  he  held  for  16  years, 
except  one  interim  of  three'  months  in 
the  post-office.  Not  long  afterward  he 
became  clerk  of  the  county  commission- 
er's court,  and  held  that  office  15  years. 
During  the  Black  Hawk  war  (1832). 
Mr.  Campbell  was  in  Major  Bogart's 
battalion,  and  served  to  the  end,  the  pay 
being  86  cents  a  day,  for  himself  and 
horse  for  86  days.  In  1846  he  was  ap- 
pointed assistant  commissary,  and  as- 
signed to  the  third  regiment,  Illinois  in- 
fantry, but  he  did  only  three  months 
service  in  the  Mexican  war^  He  was  a 
member  of  the  constitutional  convention 
in  1847 ;  was  elected  to  the  state  senate, 
in  1852,  and  was  a  member  of  the  fin- 
ance committee  during  the  four  years 
that  he  served  in  that  body.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell was  originally  a  whig,  but  took  ex- 
ception to  Mr.  Clay's  speech  (1832) 


Eng"byE  GWillianra  iBra  M.v: 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUN01' 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


281 


against  the  pre-emption  of  lands  to  act- 
ual settlers,  and  has  since  voted  with 
the  democratic  party,  serving  many 
years  on  the  county  and  state  central 
committees.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
national  convention  in  1856,  when  Mr. 
Buchanan  was  nominated,  and  again  in 
1860,  when  Mr.  Douglas  was  nominated 
was  a  member  of  the  national  democra- 
tic convention  at  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  and  at  Baltimore,  Maryland. 
Mr.  Campbell  has  done  a  good  deal  of 
valuable  work  in  the  city  council,  and 
in  the  board  of  supervisors,  and  in 
many  ways  as  is  here  seen,  he  has  served 
his  constituents,  always  with  faithful- 
ness and  marked  ability. 

A  few  months  after  coming  to  Ma- 
comb,  in  August  1831,  Mr.  Campbell 
was  married  at  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  to 
Clarissa  Hempstead,  who  died  in  1842, 
leaving  one  son  and  four  daughters, 
three  of  whom,  the  son  and  two  daugh- 
ters, are  still  living.  In  1843  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Louisa  F.  Berry,  a 
daughter  of  John  Farwell  and  a  sister 
of  Captain  G.  L.  Farwell,  of  Macomb, 
he  having  by  her  three  sons  and  one 
daughter.  Mr.  Campbell's  oldest  daugh- 
ter, Mary  Eliza,  was  the  first  female 
child  born  in  the  city  of  Macomb.  It 
was  Mr.  Campbell's  pen  which  drew  the 
original  plat  of  the  town, which  was 
adopted  by  the  county  commissioners, 
and  he  named  every  street  in  the  town. 
He  is  thoroughly  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  this  city  and  county.  He  built 
the  first  store,  the  first  frame  house,  the 
first  three  school  houses  and  the  first 
public  hall  in  Macomb;  was  the  first 
post-master  in  the  county;  the  first 
county  clerk,  recorder,  and  has  been 


the  first  and  foremost  man  in  many  im- 
portant enterprises.  Although  more 
than  80  years  old,  his  mind  is  clear,  and 
he  has  a  vivid  recollection  of  early 
times  and  pioneer  days  in  this  county, 
and  the  historian  has  been  able  from 
him  to  obtain  many  facts  of  much  im- 
portance, no  where  else  obtainable. 
McDonough  county  was  extremely  for- 
tunate in  her  early  history,  in  having 
such  a  man  to  plan  and  execute,  whose 
ability  was  well  known,  and  whose  hon- 
esty was  unquestioned.  He  has  witnes- 
sed the  development  of  this  county  from 
a  state  of  natural  wilderness,  to  a  thrifty 
and  well  peopled  land,  and  in  its  transfor- 
mation he  has  contributed  more  of  time 
and  brains,  and  money  directly  and  in- 
directly, than  any  other  man,  and  can  to- 
day with  a 'good  degree  of  commendable 
pride,  point  to  his  record,  and  have  the 
satisfaction  which  comes  only  from  a 
life  well  spent,  an  honored  name  so  fairly 
won. 

The  19th  general  assembly  convened 
at  the  state  capital  January  1,  1855,  and 
adjourned  February  15,  1855.  McDon- 
ough county  having  been  changed  to  a 
place  in  the  tenth  district,  was  repre- 
sented in  the  senate  by  James  M.  Camp- 
bell. Louis  H.  Waters  represented  the 
32d  district  in  the  house.  A  sketch  of 
the  latter  gentleman  will  be  found  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  the  bar 
of  the  county,  a  profession  which  he 
graced  and  ornamented. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1857,  the  20th 
general  assembly  of  the  state  met  at 
Springfield  and  continued  in  session  un- 
til February  19,  1857.  William  C.  Gou- 
dy,  of  Fulton,  was  the  senator,  and 
George  Hire  represented  the  county  of 


17 


282 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


McDonough,  then  the  thirty-second  dis- 
trict, in  the  house. 

George  Hire  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1851,  his  son  Jesse  having  set- 
tled here  some  four  years  previously. 
He  never  owned  any  real  estate  in  the 
shape  of  farm  land.  Being  a  man  of 
means,  he  lived  on  the  interest  of  his 
money.  He  was  born  in  West  Virginia, 
but  when  quite  young  his  parents,  who 
were  of  German  descent,  removed  to 
Ohio.  He  was,  on  attaining  the  age  of 
manhood,  united  in  wedlock  with  Cath- 
erine Bryant,  a  native  of  Virginia,  by 
whom  he  had  five  children;  Jesse,  Mary 
A.,  Jefferson,  Margaret  and  Elizabeth. 
He  was  a  man  of  superior  abilities  and 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  politics  of 
this  his  adopted  county,  being  one  of 
the  leaders  of  the  democratic  party  in 
this  locality.  Hire  township  was  named 
after  him. 

The  21st  general  assembly  convened 
at  Springfield,  January  3,  1859,  and  ad- 
journed February  24,  following.  William 
C.Goudy  was  again  in  the  senate  from  this 
district,  and  in  the  house  the  county  was 
represented  by  William  Berry.  The  lat- 
ter named  gentleman  came  to  McDon- 
ough county  from  Indiana,  and  resided 
at  Macomb.  The  "colonel,"  as  he  was 
called,  died  at  this  place  a  few  years 
ago,  honored  and  respected  by  all. 

The  first  session  of  the  22d  general 
assembly  met  at  Springfield,  January  7, 
1861,  and  adjourned  February  22,  and  a 
second  session  commenced  April  23, 
1861,  and  continued  until  May  3  of  the 
same  year.  In  the  senate  William  Ber- 
ry, of  McDonough  county,  represented 
the  district.  In  the  house  of  represen- 
tatives S.  H.  McCandless  was  the  dep- 


uty from  this  county,  and  filled  the  place 
with  credit  and  honor  to  himself  and 
friends. 

The  23d  general  assembly  of  Illinois 
convened  at  Springfield,  January  5, 1863, 
and  adjourned  February  14,  1863,  until 
June  2,  1863.  On  the  latter  date  it  again 
met,  in  pursuance  to  the  adjournment, 
and  was,  on  the  10th  of  June,  prorogued 
by  the  governor,  until  December  31, 
1864,  on  which  day  it  convened  and  ad- 
journed. In  this  assembly  McDonough, 
then  a  part  of  the  14th  senatorial  dis- 
trict, was  represented  in  the  senate  by 
William  Berry,  of  this  county.  Lewis 
G.  Reid  was  the  member  of  the  house 
from  this  county. 

In  mentioning  the  prominent  men  of 
McDonough  county  in  this  volume,  we 
will  not  fail  to  speak  of  Lewis  G.  Eeid, 
attorney,  who  has  served  the  people  in 
an  official  capacity,  a  number  of  times, 
giving  supreme  satisfaction.  He  is  a 
native  Kentuckian,  and  was  born  in 
Mason  county  on  the  16th  day  of  April, 
1813,  his  parents  being  Lewis  E.  and 
Elizabeth  (Peyton)  Beid,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Virginia  state.  Lewis 
G.  was  the  eldest  child  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  and  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  his  native  county.  In  April, 
1834,  he  started  for  the  west,  on  horse- 
back, and  located  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  returning  to  his  Kentucky  home 
in  the  fall,  and  bringing  his  father's 
family  to  the  home  he  had  picked  out 
for  them.  In  1838  he  removed  to  Win- 
nebago  county,  Illinois,  and  from  there 
to  Stephenson  county,  same  state,  three 
years  later.  In  1853  he  returned  to 
Kentucky  and  remained  till  1858,  at 
which  time  he  removed  to  Lamoine 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


283 


township,  McDonough  county,  and  loca- 
ted on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
28,  where  he  improved  a  farm,  which  he 
still  owns.  In  1869  he  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  31,  where  he 
lived  until  October,  1882,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Colchester,  where  he  at  pres- 
ent resides.  In  1862  Mr.  Reid  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  McDonough  county  bar, 
but  has  never  made  a  specialty  of  this 
profession.  He  was  elected  county  super- 
visor in  1860,  and  served  as  such  for  21 
years.  He  served  the  people  of  his  dis- 
trict as  representative  in  the  general  as- 
sembly one  term,  being  elected  in  1863. 
When  the  county  court  house  was  being 
built  he  served  as  superintendent  of 
construction.  The  structure  was  finished 
in  1872,  and  gave  entire  satisfaction  to 
the  people  of  the  county,  thus  speaking 
volumes  for  Mr.  Reid.  At  present  he 
holds  the  position  of  notary  public.  His 
marriage  with  Sarah  A.  Moore,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  was  solemnized  on  Sunday, 
January  1,  1843.  Her  death  occurred  in 
the  month  of  March,  1843.  Two  chil- 
dren of  that  marriage  are  still  living — 
Anna  C.  and  Louis  N.  Mr.  Reid  was 
again  married,  in  September,  1857,  to 
Mrs.  Cyrena  Tristo,  a  widow,  Three 
children  by  this  union  are  still  living — 
Lucien,  Edward  and  Harry  L. — but  Mrs. 
Reid  died  in  1865.  Lewis  G.  Reid  and 
Lucy  Tandy  were  married  on  the  29th 
day  of  January,  1879.  Mrs.  Reid  is  a 
native  of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  but  was 
reared  in  Missouri, 

On  January  2, 1865,  the  24th  general 
assembly  met  in  regular  session,  at 
Springfield,  and  adjourned  the  16th  of 
February  following.  The  14th  district 
was  represented  in  the  senate  by  James 


Strain,  a  resident  of  Monmouth,  Warren 
county.  This  district  consisted  of  the 
counties  of  McDonough,  Henderson, 
Mercer  and  Warren,  The  29th  repre- 
sentative district,  comprising  the  county 
of  McDonough,  was  represented  by  Wil- 
liam H.  Neece,  of  Macomb.  A  sketch 
of  the  latter  named  gentleman  can  be 
found  in  connection  with  the  record  of 
congressmen. 

The  25th  general  assembly  held  three 
sessions,  the  first  commencing  January 
7,  1867,  which  adjourned  February  28; 
the  second  convened  June  11,  and  ad- 
journed June  13;  and  the  third  com- 
menced June  14,  and  adjourned  June  28, 
1867.  In  the  senate,  James  Strain  con- 
tinued to  represent  this  district,  and  in 
the  house,  Amaziah  Hanson  was  the 
member  from  McDonough  county. 

Samuel  Hanson,  grandfather  of  Ama- 
ziah Hanson,  one  of  Mound  township's 
leading  citizens,  was  reared  on  the  east- 
ern shore  of  Maryland.  He  removed 
from  there  to  Mason  county,  Kentucky, 
where  James,  father  of  Amaziah,  was 
born  November  17,  1799.  Samuel  re- 
moved to  Ross  county,  Ohio, when  James 
was  but  nine  months  old.  In  that  county 
Samuel  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days, 
dying  in  February,  1832,  aged  82  years. 
James  was  married  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
to  Elizabeth  Mackey.  She  was  a  native 
of  Centre  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1803,  and  daughter  of  James  W.  and 
Hannah  (Powell)  Mackey.  She  re- 
moved to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  with  her 
father  in  1820,  and  was  there  married. 
There  their  son  Amaziah,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born,  on  the  25th  day  of 
April,  1825.  He  was  reared  there,  and 
was  married  May  10,  1855,  to  Keturah 


284 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Clark.  While  on  a  visit  to  her  sister,  in 
Missouri,  she  died,  August  26, 1858,  Mr. 
Hanson  arriving  in  time  to  witness  her 
death.  Her  remains  were  interred  at 
Chillicothe,  Ohio.  Mr.  Hanson  was 
married  again  near  Circleville,  Ohio,  on 
the  17th  of  September,  1861,  to  Eliza 
Fryback.  The  fall  previous  Mr.  Hanson 
had  come  out  to  this  county  and  pur- 
chased land  on  section  10,  New  Salem 
township.  On  the  day  they  were  mar- 
ried he  started  with  his  wife  for  this 
county.  They  decided  not  to  locate  per- 
manently on  the  farm  just  then,  and 
coming  to  Macomb  they  lived  there  until 
March,  1862,  when  they  removed  to  the 
farm.  In  December,  1874,  Mr.  Hanson 
went  with  his  family  to  Bates  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  lived  until  October, 
1877,  when  he  returned  to  McDonough 
county  and  located  on  his  present  farm, 
which  is  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 30,  Mound  township.  The  names 
of  Mr.  Hanson's  children,  who  are  all 
the  issue  of  his  second  marriage,  are  as 
follows:  Emerson,  born  December  12, 
1864;  Ealph,  born  December  2,  1866; 
Grier,  born  June  24,  1870;  Myra,  born 
October  24,  1873;  Lettie,  born  in  Mis- 
souri, February  14,  1875,  died' August 
27,  1875;  Ivan  Mackey,  born  September 
9,  1876,  in  Missouri;  Edmund,  born 
August  15,  1879;  Katie,  born  December 
5,  1881 ;  and  Anna  Marie,  born  August  2, 
1883.  In  1866  Mr.  Hanson  was  elected 
representative  of  this  county  in  the  house 
of  representatives,  and  attended  the  ses- 
sion of  1867.  It  was  in  this  year  that 
the  14th  amendment  to  the  constitution 
was  ratified,  Mr.  Hanson  recording  him- 
self in  favor  of  it.  He  also  helped  elect 
Lyman  Trumbull  to  the  .United  States 


senate.  He  studied  law  in  Ohio,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June,  1852,  at 
Delaware,  Ohio.  He  practiced  his  pro- 
fession at  Chillicothe,  and  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  court  there  two  terms.  In 
1867  he  received  a  license  from  the  su- 
preme court  of  Illinois  to  practice  law  in 
this  state,  but  has  never  followed  the 
legal  profession  since  coming  to  Illinois. 
He  was  twice  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
in  New  Salem  township;  he  has  served 
as  school  treasurer,  and  is  now  holding 
that  position  in  Mound  township.  In 
religious  matters  he  is  also  prominent. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  at  Bardolph.  He  was  three 
times  lay  delegate  to  the  Central  Illinois 
conference,  and  is  now  president  of  the 
county  Sunday  school  convention.  So 
it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Hanson's  life 
has  been  one  of  action  and  usefulness. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  been 
twice  a  representative  to  the  grand  lodge. 
His  two  oldest  sons  are  teachers  in  the 
county.  When  Mr.  Hanson  was  a  young 
man  he  taught  school  six  years,  and  fol- 
lowed this  vocation  while  studying  law. 
He  is  a  man  highly  respected,  and  enjoys 
a  large  and  wide  acquaintance  among 
the  people  of  McDonough  county. 

The  26th  general  assembly,  which  con- 
vened at  Springfield  the  4th  of  January, 
1869,  contained  as  the  representative  of 
this  district  Isaac  McManus,  of  Keiths- 
burg,  Mercer  county,  in  the  senate,  and 
Humphrey  Horrabin,  of  Blandinsville, 
in  the  house.  The  assembly  adjourned 
April  20,  1869. 

Humphrey  Horrabin  was  born  in  Al- 
lerton,  near  Liverpool,  England,  on  the 
15th  of  December,  1817.  His  parents, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


285 


James  and  Frances  (Sharpless)  Horra- 
bin,  were  poor  in  this  world's  goods,  and 
gave  him  the. opportunity  to  attend  the 
subscription  school  of  his  native  country 
only  a  few  months.  But  he  was  in- 
structed well  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
church,  its  discipline,  etc.  In  1829, 
when  13  years  of  age,  he  was  bound  an 
apprentice  to  learn  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker, the  time  of  his  service  to  be 
seven  years.  Completing  the  required 
time  as  an  apprentice,  he  continued  at 
the  trade  as  a  journeyman  until  his  re- 
moval to  this  country,  and  for  10  years 
thereafter.  On  the  3d  day  of  October, 
1836,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Smalley,  of  England,  by  whom  he  had 
six  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now 
living.  Mrs.  Horrabin  died  at  her  home 
near  Blandinsville,  on  the  25th  of  July, 
1870,  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith,  hav- 
ing been  a  servant  of  Christ  for  many 
years  as  a  zealous  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  church.  After  working  at 
his  trade  in  the  old  country  for  18  years, 
Mr.  Horrabin  was  forced  to  the  conclus- 
ion that  no  opportunity  was  offered 
there,  even  to  the  most  industrious,  for 
any  very  rapid  advancement,  and  turn- 
ing his  eyes  toward  the  new  world,  he 
determined  on  emigrating  and  endeav- 
oring to  build  up  a  name  and  home  for 
himself  and  family.  In  the  spring  of 
1847  he  sailed  for  America,  and  on  the 
1st  of  May  arrived  in  New  Orleans, 
from  which  place  he  proceeded  to  Lew- 
istown,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Here 
he  engaged  as  a  journeyman,  and  as 
such  worked  for  some  months.  In  com- 
ing to  this  country  he  had  not  the  means 
to  bring  his  family,  therefore  it  was  his 
first  thought  to  accumulate  sufficient 


money  to  send  for  them.  In  order  to  do 
this,  he  thought  best  to  only  draw  so 
much  of  his  wages  per  week  as  would  be 
necessary  for  his  individual  wants,  and 
leave  the  balance  until  it  should  be  suf- 
ficient for  his  purpose.  When  the  sum 
had  reached  $200,  he  concluded  to  draw 
it,  but  on  calling  for  it,  he  was  informed 
by  the  firm  that  they  could  not  pay,  as 
they  were  bankrupt.  This  was  a  sad 
blow  to  him.  After  working  hard  for 
months,  and  stinting  himself  in  the  en- 
joyments of  the  many  comforts  of  this 
life,  to  be  deprived  of  all  his  hard  earn- 
ings and  the  privilege  of  again  behold- 
ing his  family  for  many  months.  He 
was  now  thrown  out  of  employment,  but 
right  here,  some  of  the  prominent  citi- 
zens of  the  place  came  to  his  assistance, 
purchasing  for  him  a  stock  of  leather, 
tools,  etc.,  and  giving  him  his  own  time 
to  pay  for  them.  He  was  thus  enabled 
to  go  on,  and  soon  had  the  satisfaction 
of  gathering  around  him  his  loved  family. 
Mr.  Horrabin  remained  in  Lewistown 
five  years,  when,  thinking  to  better  him- 
self, he  purchased  of  Charles  Chandler, 
of  Macomb,  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 14,  Blandinsville  township,  where 
he  yet  resides.  He  paid  for  the  quarter 
$300,  and  has.  since  repeatedly  refused 
$10,000  for  it.  Without  any  previous 
experience  in  farm  life  he  began  its  im- 
provement, and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county.  In  1859,  becoming 
somewhat  pressed  financially  by  the  fail- 
ure of  many  of  the  banks  of  the  country, 
and  in  order  to  relieve  himself  the  more 
speedily,  he  rented  his  farm,  and  mov- 
ing into  Tennessee,  this  county,  he  again 
returned  to  his  trade  which  he  continued 
for  five  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 


286 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


time  he  returned  to  the  farm.  In  the 
county  convention  in  1868,  he  received 
the  nomination  for  representative  to  the 
general  assembly,  to  which  position  he 
was  triumphantly  elected,  and  where  he 
served  with  honor  to  himself  and  con- 
stituents. Mr.  Horrabin's  mother  died 
in  England,  December  31, 1876,  and  was 
buried  in  St.  Michael's  churchyard, 
Garston.  Mr.  Horrabin,  although  a  poor 
man  when  he  landed  in  this  country,  has 
succeeded,  by  energy,  thrift  and  ability, 
in  amassing  a  fine  competence  and  is 
noted  among  the  foremost  citizens  of 
the  county.  In  1872,  he  paid  a  visit  to 
his  'native  land,  and  while  there  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Ockle- 
shaw,  the  daughter  of  James  and  Jane 
(Branhill)  Ockleshaw,  of  Lancashire, 
England.  They  are  the  happy  parents 
of  one  child,  a  boy,  whose  name  is  Hum- 
phrey James.  He  is  a  bright  and  indus- 
trious boy,  and  at  school  is  noted  for 
his  assiduity  in  study. 

The  first  regular  session  of  the  27th 
general  assembly  began  on  the  4th  of 
January,  1871,  and  on  the  17th  of  April 
following  it  was  adjourned  until  Novem- 
ber 15,1871.  A  special  session  commenced 
May  4, 1871,  and  lasted  until  June  22,  and 
a  second  special  session  met  October  13, 
and  adjourned  October  24.  It  again  met 
in  regular  adjourned  session  November 
15,  1871,  and  on  the  9th  of  April,  1872, 
adjourned  sine  die.  This  was  the  first 
assembly  under  the  constitution  of  1870. 
This  instrument  made  the  senate  to  con- 
sist of  50  senators,  and  the  house  of  175 
representatives.  McDonough  county,  as- 
sociated with  those  of  Henderson,  Mercer 
and  Warren  made  up  the  14th  senatorial 
district.  In  the  house,  the  minority 


representation  system  having  been 
adopted  in  the  constitution,  by  which 
three  members  from  eacG1  district  were 
entitled  to  seats,  the  county  of  McDon- 
ough, now  the  59th  district,  was  repre- 
sented by  two  gentlemen,  William  H. 
Neece  and  James  Manly,  both  of 
Macomb.  B.  R.  Hampton,  of  Macomb, 
McDonough  county,  and  Harvey  S. 
Senter,  of  Aledo,  Mercer  county,  were 
the  senators.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Hamp- 
ton may  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  the 
press  of  the  county. 

James  Manly,  a  representative  man  of 
Macomb  city,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  January  29,  1813.  His  par- 
ents were  of  Irish,  Dutch  and  Scotch 
extraction,  and  native  Pennsylvanians, 
his  father  having  been  born  in  York 
county,  and  his  mother  in  Washington 
county.  His  father  emigrated  to  Ohio, 
in  1804.  In  1843  he  came  to  Fulton 
county,  where  he  improved  a  fine  farm 
and  made  that  his  home  until  1856, when 
he  came  to  Mound  township,  took  up 
government  land  on  section  22,  320  acres. 
He  was  at  that  time  in  limited  circum- 
stances, and  could  not  for  some  time 
make  much  improvement  on  this  land. 
He  traded  in  lands  to  a  considerable  ex- 
tent, owning  at  one  time  500  acres.  He 
succeeded  at  length  in  improving  a  place 
which  made  a  beautiful  home.  In  1862 
he  rented  his  farm  and  moved  to  Bush- 
nell.  In  1872  he  removed  to  Macomb, 
where  he  now  has  a  pleasant  home. 
Meanwhile  in  1860,  March  3,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Prentiss,  who 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  of 
Scotch  descent.  She  came  to  Schuyler 
county,  in  1841,  and  in  Vermont,  Mr. 
Manly  formed  her  acquaintance.  Her 


HISTORY  OF,  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


287 


former  husband,  William  Preiitiss,was  a 
physician,  and  her  only  child  living,  is 
William  Prentiss,  of  Macomb,  a  distin- 
guished lawyer  and  a  popular  gentle- 
man. Mr.  Manly  has  been  in  public 
life  to  a  considerable  extent,  having  been 
on  the  board  of  supervisors  in  Fulton 
county,  and  in  this  county.  His  effi- 
ciency as  a  public  servant,  and  popu- 
larity as  a  citizen,  was  well  attested  in 
his  election  to  the  state  legislature  in 
1870,  where  he  remained  two  years,  and 
served  with  honor  to  himself  and  satis- 
faction to  his  constituency.  Politically 
he  may  be  called  a  greenbacker,  with 
radical  temperance  ideas.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Manly  are  both  active  Christian  people, 
and  she  is  an  indefatigable  worker  in  the 
Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

The  28th  general  assembly  convened 
at  Springfield,  January  8,  1873;  ad- 
journed May  6,  1873,  until  January  4, 
1874;  and  met  in  adjourned  session  on 
the  latter  date  and  continued  until  March 
31,  1874,  when  it  adjourned  sine  die. 
The  senatorial  districts  had  been 
changed  according  to  the  act  of  March 
1,  1872,  previous  to  the  meeting  of  this 
assembly,  and  Warren  and  McDonough 
counties  were  associated  together  as  the 
23d  senatorial  district  and  was  repre- 
sented by  B.  E.  Hampton,  of  Macomb. 
In  the  house,  the  23d  district,  composed 
of  the  counties  of  Warren  and  McDon- 
ough, was  represented  by  William  A. 
Grant,  of  Monmouth,  Warren  county; 
John  E.  Jackson,  of  Colchester,  and  E. 
K.  Westf  all,  of  Buslmell,  in  this  county. 

J.  E.  Jackson  was  for  many  years  one 
of  the  enterprising  agriculturalists  of 
this  county,  but  having  a  strong  bias 
toward  the  profession  of  law,  practiced 


some   in  Colchester,  where  he  resided, 
and  where  he  died. 

E.    K.    Westf  all,    M.    D.,    the  pres- 
ent postmaster  of  Bushnell,  is  a  native 
of    Thornton,    Boone   county,   Indiana, 
having  been  born  there  on  the  8th  of 
January,  1839.   He  is  a  son  of  Cornelius 
and  Sarah  (Davis)  Westf  all,  the  former 
of  whom  was    a    native    of    Randolph 
county,  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Tren- 
ton,   New  Jersey.     Cornelius   Westfall 
was  born  in  a  fort,  where  the  town  of 
Beverly,   Virginia  now  stands.     When 
21  years  of   age,  he  went  to  Elizabeth- 
town,  Hardin  county,  Kentucky.     Later 
he  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  taught  the 
first  school    opened  in  Dayton.     From 
there  he  removed  to  Troy,  Ohio,  which 
town  he  surveyed,  and  at  one  time  held 
all  of  the  county  offices,  and  was  circuit 
clerk  for  24  years.     In  1835  he  removed 
to  Indiana,  and,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  to 
McDoiiough  county,  Illinois,  locating  at 
Macomb  for  a  few  months,  then  moving 
onto  a  farm  about  five  miles  northeast  of 
that  city,  where  he  died  in   1855.     Dr. 
Westfall  followed  farming   and  school- 
teaching  until  April,  1861,  where  he  en- 
listed in  company  B,  16th  Illinois  vol- 
unteers, and  was  mustered  into  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  as  orderly  ser- 
geant, on  the  24th  of  May.     October  1, 
1861,  he  was  promoted   second  lieuten- 
ant,   and    April  7,  1862,   commissioned 
first  lieutenant,  which  position  he  held 
until  the  fall  of  that  year,  when  he  was 
discharged  on    account   of     disability, 
which  disabled  him  for  some   eighteen 
months    after   his    discharge.     He  had 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine  under 
his  brother,  Dr.  B.  R.  Westfall,  of  Ma- 
comb, in  1859,  and  resumed  the  same  af- 


288 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ter  his  term  of  service.  In  1865-66  he 
attended  the  Hahnemaii  medical  college 
of  Chicago,  and  in  the  spring  of  1867, 
opened  an  office  in  Bushnell,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  reside.  He  has 
built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice, 
and  as  a  physician  is  possessed  of  much, 
skill  and  good  judgement  in  the  discern- 
ment and  treatment  of  diseases.  The 
doctor  is  a  public  spirited  gentleman, 
and  takes  especial  pride  in  whatever 
tends  to  promote  the  interests  of  his 
city  and  county.  He  has  served  Bush- 
nell as  a  supervisor  and  as  a  member  of 
the  city  council.  In  1872  and  1876,  he 
represented  McDonough  county  in  the 
house  of  representatives,  and  was  an 
acknowledged  "working  member,"  doing 
much  good  in  the  committee  rooms.  He 
was  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  7th  regi- 
ment, which  he  took  an  active  part  in  or- 
ganizing, but  has  since  resigned.  Dr. 
E.  K.  Westfall  and  Emma  Curl  were 
married  in  December,  1871,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  October,  1872.  The 
doctor  was  again  married  in  1878,  to 
Irene  Wann,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  two 
children — Mary  H.  and  Clara  E.  The 
doctor  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  the  Knights  of  Honor,  and  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is 
the  representative  of  Bushnell  post,  G. 
A.  R.,  to  the  grand  encampment,  and 
is  also  the  commander  of  the  uniformed 
rank  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  29th  general  assembly  was  con- 
vened at  Springfield,  January  6,  1875, 
and  adjourned  April  15,  the  same  year. 
John  T.  Morgan,  of  Monmouth,  Warren 
county,  was  the  senator  from  this  dis- 
trict. In  the  house,  the  interests  of  this 


and  the  adjoining  county  of  "Warren, 
constituting  the  23d  district,  was  in  the 
hands  of  Isaac  L.  Christie  and  C.  W. 
Boydston,  of  Warren  county,  and  A.  W. 
King,  of  Macomb,  McDonough  county. 

The  30th  general  assembly  met  in  reg- 
ular session  at  Springfield,  January  3, 
1877,  and  adjourned  May  24  following. 
John  T.  Morgan  was  still  in  the  senate. 
In  the  house  C.  W.  Boydston,  of  Warren 
county,  E.  K.  Westfall,  of  Bushnell, 
and  Charles  H.  Whitaker,  of  Macomb, 
McDonough  county,  represented  this 
district.  Mr.  Westfall  has  been  men- 
tioned previously,  and  a  sketch  in  full 
detail  in  regard  to  Charles  H.  Whita- 
ker, will  be  found  by  the  reader  in  the 
chapter  in  relation  to  the  press  of 
McDonough  county. 

The  31st  general  assembly  convened 
at  the  state  capital,  January  8,  1879,  and 
continued  in  session  until  May  31,  fol- 
lowing, when  it  adjourned.  William  H. 
Neece,  the  present  member  of  congress, 
represented  the  district  in  the  senate, 
and  Henry  M.  Lewis  and  Edwin  W.  Al- 
len, both  of  Warren  county,  and  Henry 
Black,  of  McDonough  county,  were  the 
members  from  this,  the  23d  district. 

The  32d  general  assembly  convened  at 
Springfield  in  January,  1881,  and  the 
district  was  represented  in  the  house  by 
William  C.  McLeocl  and  Simeon  B. 
Davis,  of  this  county,  and  Daniel  D. 
Perry,  of  Warren  county.  Willliam  H. 
Neece  was  still  the  senator. 

William  C.  McLeod,  while  not  an  early 
settler  of  the  county,  has  been  called  on 
to  fill  so  many  offices  of  profit  and  trust 
in  this  county  since  his  residence  here, 
that  he  may  be  properly  classed  among 
its  foremost  people.  He  was  born  near 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


289 


New  Town,  Frederick  county,  Virginia, 
March  25,  1825,  and  is  the  the  son  of 
John  B.  and  Ann  S.  (Carson)  McLeod, 
both  natives  of  that  same  county.  The 
elder  McLeod  was  a  practicing  physi- 
cian, who  for  30  years  followed  his  pro- 
fession in  and  around  New  Town.  He 
was  a  man  of  considerable  ability,  and 
served  his  county  in  the  legislature  of 
his  native  state  for  two  years.  He  died 
in  McDonough  county,  in  1865,  while  on 
a  visit  to  his  son  William.  Dr.  McLeod 
lived  upon  a  farm  adjoining  the  village 
of  New  Town,  and  here  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  passed  his  early  life.  Until 
18  years  of  age  he  passed  his  time  in 
working  upon  the  farm  and  in  attending 
the  select  school  of  the  village,  where  he 
made  rapid  progress  in  securing  an  edu- 
cation. When  he  reached  the  above 
mentioned  age,  he  engaged  with  a  firm 
in  New  Town  to  learn  the  trade  of 
carpenter,  choosing  this  rather  than  the 
profession  that  his  parents  desired  him 
to  study.  At  this  trade  he  labored  for 
eleven  years,  becoming  quite  proficient 
in  all  its  branches.  In  1850  Mr.  McLeod 
left  his  native  state,  and  for  several 
years  resided  in  Palmyra,  Missouri. 
Here  he  continued  to  follow  his  trade, 
and  for  a  time,  in  company  with  a  Mr. 
Phelps,  under  the  firm  name  of  Phelps 
&  McLeod,  carried  on  the  business  of 
lumber  dealers  in  addition  to  contracting 
and  building.  Many  of  the  public  and 
private  buildings  of  Palmyra  were  erected 
under  his  supervision.  In  1858  Mr. 
McLeod  received  the  appointment  from 
the  governor  to  superintend  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  state  penitentiary  at  Jeffer- 
son City,  Missouri,  and  while  attending 
to  the  work,  he  received  word  of  the 


sudden  and  dangerous  illness  of  his 
wife,  who  was  then  on  a  visit  to  relatives 
in  this  county.  Leaving  the  work  in 
charge  of  another,  he  hastened  to  the 
bedside  of  his  wife,  expecting  to  return 
as  soon  as  possible  to  finish  his  contract, 
|put  circumstances  conspired  to  prevent 
this,  and  compelling  him  to  resign  the 
position.  Some  years  previous  to  this, 
he  had  visited  this  county,  and  was  im- 
pressed with  the  fertility  of  its  soil  and 
the  natural  advantages  which  it  enjoyed. 
He  now  determined  on  locating  here  and 
making  this  his  future  home.  That  de- 
cision he  has  never  since  regretted.  He 
came  to  McDonough  county  in  October, 
1858,  and  settled  upon  section  14,  Em- 
met township,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued to  reside.  Mr.  McLeod  has  been 
twice  married;  first  to  Mary  W.  Miller, 
daughter  of  Eobert  F.  Miller,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  old  McDonough  county ;  sec- 
ond to  Martha  E.  Simpson,  of  Warren 
county,  Virginia.  Eight  children  were 
the  result  of  the  first  union,  five  girls 
and  three  boys,  four  of  whom  yet  live, 
the  rest,  with  the  mother,  having  crossed 
over  the  river.  Mrs.  McLeod  died  in 
May,  1865.  The  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
McLeod  occurred  October  5,  1868.  They 
have  had  two  children,  one  living.  While 
a  citizen  of  Palmyra,  Mr.  McLeod  held 
the  offices  of  constable  and  city  marshal 
some  years.  Since  coming  to  McDon- 
ough county,  he  has  held  the  offices  of 
town  clerk,  collector  and  treasurer,  and 
for  17  years  was  a  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors,  a  great  part  of  the  time 
chairman  of  the  board.  In  the  dis- 
charge of  his  official  duties  he  brought 
to  bear  upon  his  labors  a  zeal  which, 
united  with  a  determined  will,  enabled 


290 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


him  to  accomplish  a  great  amount  of 
work.  No  man  that  has  ever  lived  in 
the  county,  took  more  interest  in  its 
affairs,  or  devoted  more  time  to  its  im- 
provement. By  the  board  of  supervi- 
sors he  was  appointed  to  superintend  the 
erection  of  the  new  jail  building  for  the 
county,  a  work  which  he  discharged  to 
the  satisfaction  not  only  of  that  body, 
but  the  people  at  large.  In  1885,  Mr. 
McLeod  removed  from  this  county,  going 
back  to  his  native  state,  Virginia.  In 
politics  Mr.  McLeod  has  always  been  a 
consistent  democrat,  the  principles  of 
that  party  being  dear  to  his  heart.  As 
a  democrat  he  has  always  been  elected 
to  office,  and  no  man  labors  more  zeal- 
ously for  the  success  of  the  general  and 
local  tickets  of  the  party. 

Simeon  B.  Davis,  one  of  McDonough 
county's  most  enterprising  men,  and  at 
this  time  a  resident  of  Hire  township, 
was  born  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 7, 1836,  a  son  of  Amos  and  Nancy 
(Crawford)  Davis.  The  former  was 
born  in  1800  and  died  in  1848,  the  latter 
born  August  25,  1807,  and  died  August 
14,  1884.  While  a  boy  in  Ohio  Mr. 
Davis  learned  the  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness, and  when  he  came  to  McDonough 
county  he  settled  in  Macomb  and  pur- 
sued the  same  vocation  for  two  years, 
when  he  located  in  Sciota  township  on  a 
farm,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
teaching  school  for  about  ten  years. 
The  year  1864  dates  his  first  purchase  of 
land,  eighty  acres  on  section  17,  being 
the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter, 
on  which  he  lived  about  three  and  a  half 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Blandinsville 
township,  and  remained  for  nearly  two 
years,  making  the  date  of  his  removal  to 


his  present  home  in  1869.  The  place 
consists  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  12 
and  east  one-half  of  northeast  quarter  of 
section  11.  This  farm  has  all  been 
brought  under  a  state  of  cultivation  by 
Mr.  Davis,  and  is  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  township.  His  occupation  has 
been  farming,  buying,  feeding  and  ship- 
ping stock.  At  present  he  is  endeavor- 
ing to  improve  somewhat  on  the  Clydes- 
dale horses.  Having  a  good  line  of  brood 
mares,  and  some  good  three-quarter 
blood  horses,  this  branch  of  industry 
will  receive  his  attention  more  fully  in 
the  future.  Mr.  Davis  was  educated  in 
Ohio,  and  was  a  very  successful  teacher 
for  a  long  time:  The  advantages  were 
few  at  that  time,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  study  at  home.  Indeed,  most  of 
his  education  was  obtained  by  his  own 
exertions,  studying  out  the  most  difficult 
problems,  and  mastering  language  in  a 
great  degree.  He  has  been  an  extensive 
reader,  and  keeps  his  mind  well  stored 
with  facts  which  are  essential  to  a  useful 
life.  He  has  been  twice  honored  with  a 
seat  in  assembly,  being  elected  in  1881  as 
a  representative  to  the  state  legislature, 
which  position  he  filled  with  credit  to 
himself  and  constituents  during  the  ses- 
sions of  1881  and  1882.  He  is  a  strong 
republican,  and  works  earnestly  in  the 
cause,  stumping  the  county  for  the  last 
two  elections  for  president,  and  doing 
effective  work,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
popular  speakers  in  the  county,  and  be- 
ing in  the  prime  of  life,  years  of  useful- 
ness await  him.  His  work  in  the  Sun- 
day schools  of  Hire  township  has  been 
of  great  good,  and  under  that  head  will 
be  found  a  recapitulation  of  the  work 
done.  His  marriage  occurred  September 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


291 


27,  1860,  when  Artemisa  Stambaugh, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Adam  Stambaugh,  be- 
came his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  but  was  reared  in  Schuy- 
ler  county.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
them,  eight  of  whom  are  living;  Emma 
and  Eva,  the  first,  were  twins,  the  former 
the  wife  of  John  Delbridge,  living  in 
Kansas,  the  latter  the  wife  of  David 
Bush,  of  the  same  state;  Margaret  N., 
wife  of  E.  T.  Dunn,  of  Macomb,  marble 
dealer;  Elsy  A.,  Stewart  A.,  Alice  D., 
Louie  May,  James  E.,  and  Stella,  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church. 

The  33d  general  assembly  convened 
January  3,  1883,  at  Springfield,  and  re- 
mained in  session  until  June  18,  follow- 
ing. This  district  was  represented  by  I. 
N.  Pearson,  of  McDonough,  and  I.  L. 
Pratt  and  C.  M.  Rogers,  of  Warren  coun- 
ties. Henry  Tubbs  was  the  senator. 

Isaac  N.  Pearson  was  born  in  Center- 
ville,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  on 
on  the  27th  of  July,  1842.  His  parents 
were  Isaac  S.  and  Lydia  (Painter) 
Pearson,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  father  was  for  many  years  engaged 
in  the  mercantile  business  and  served  in 
the  legislature  of.  his  native  state.  In 
1846,  after  bidding  his  family  good- 
bye, he  departed  for  Philadelphia  to 
purchase  goods.  While  there  he  was 
taken  sick  with  the  fever,  from  which  he 
never  recovered,  and  died  in  that  city, 
far  from  home  and  kindred,  none  of  the 
family  being-permitted  ever  to  see  his 
face  again.  He  was  buried  in  that  city 
by  the  society  of  Friends,  or  Quakers, 
as  they  are  often  called,  he  being  con- 
nected with  that  congregation  by  birth. 
The  widow,  with  her  family,  shortly 


her  husband's  death,  went  to  •  New  Cas- 
tle, Lawrence  county,  which  place  she 
made  her  home  until  the  year  1849,  when 
she  removed  to  Hancock  county,  this 
state,  settling  near  the  town  of  La 
Harpe,  where  she  resided  until  her  re- 
moval to  Macomb  in  1858.  In  this  lat- 
ter place  she  resided  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  on  the  3d  day  of  March, 
1872,  being  at  the  time  66  years  of  age, 
departing  this  life  on  the  anniversary 
of  her  birth.  Isaac  was  the  youngest 
of  seven  children  and  passed  the  first 
eight  years  of  his  life  in  a  town  and  the 
next  eight  upon  a  farm.  The  only  edu- 
cational advantages  en  joyed  by  him  were 
in  the  common  schools  and  two  years 
attendance  in  the  select  school  of  Prof. 
J.  W.  Mathews,  in  Macomb,  in  the  years 
of  1856  and  1857.  In  1861  he  entered 
the  office  of  J.  B.  Cummings,  circuit 
clerk  of  the  county,  serving  as  recorder 
until  he  became  of  age,  when  he  re- 
ceived the  appointment  from  Mr.  Cum- 
mings as  deputy  circuit  clerk,  which  po- 
sition he  filled  acceptably  until  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Cumming's  term  of 
office.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  went  to 
Buslmell  to  take  a  position  in  the  bank- 
ing house  of  Chandler  &  Cummings, 
with  whom  he  remained  until  the  fall  of 
1868,  when  he  again  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  deputy  circuit  clerk,  this 
time  from  B.  F.  Pinkley,  then  elected  to 
the  office  of  circuit  clerk  of  the  county. 
This  position  he  retained  for  the  four 
years'  term  of  Captain  Pinkley,  giving 
such  satisfaction  to  the  people  that  in 
1872  he  received  the  unanimous  nomi- 
nation by  his  party  for  the  same  office. 
Notwithstanding  some  opposition  to  him 
on  account  of  his  being  a  young  man, 


292 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


he  was  triumphantly  elected,  receiving 
a  greater  majority  than  any  man  on  the 
ticket.  In  1876  he  was  renominated  by 
acclamation,  and  again  elected  by  a  ma- 
jority greater  than  any  other,  having  300 
votes  ahead  of  his  ticket,  thus  proving 
that  the  people  believed  it  no  crime  to  be 
a  young  man,  and  that  faithful  service 
should  be  rewarded.  The  popularity  of 
Mr.  Pearson  with  the  people  is  great  in- 
deed, but  easily  accounted  for.  He  is 
always  pleasant  and  accommodating  to 
all ;  every  visitor  to  his  office,  whether  on 
business  or  not,  was  treated  in  a  gentle- 
manly manner ;  his  own  private  business 
or  the  duties  of  the  public  office  which 
he  held,  he  never  neglected.  Mr.  Pear- 
son is  a  thorough  and  consistent  repub- 
lican, the  principles  of  that  party  being 
"bred  in  the  bone;"  he  never  allowed  his 
love  of  party  to  deter  him  from  duty  as 
a  public  officer.  In  June,  1880,  he  was 
elected  cashier  of  the  Union  National 
bank,  which  position  he  held  until  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  when  he  resigned  to  fill  the 
place  in  the  general  assembly,  to  which 
he  had  been  elected,  and  served  one 
term  in  the  house.  On  his  resignation 
of  the  office  of  cashier  in  the  bank,  he 
was  elected  vice  president,  a  position 
which  he  still  honors.  Mr.  Pearson 
deals,  somewhat,  in  real  estate,  and  be- 
sides city  property  owns  a  most  excel- 
lent farm  of  135  acres  of  land.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Uni- 
ted Workmen,  Knights  of  Pythias,  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  having 
reached  the  Knights  Templar  degree, 
and  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  having  passed  all  the  chairs 
in  the  lodge  and  encampment,  has  rep- 
resented the  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge. 


The  34th  general  assembly  of  the 
state  of  Illinois  met  at  the  state  capitol, 
in  Springfield,  January  7, 1885,  and  are 
at  this  writing  still  in  session.  The  rep- 
resentatives from  this  district  in  the 
lower  house,  are  W.  H.  McCord  and  W. 
H.  Weir,  of  McDonough,  and  C.  M. 
Rogers,  of  Warren.  The  senator  is  the 
same  as  in  the  last  assembly. 

William  H.  Weir,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
present  members  of  the  state  legisla- 
ture, is  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  born  February  13,  1825. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  that 
state.  In  the  year  1850,  William  H. 
Weir  entered  Rush  medical  college,  at 
Chicago,  of  which  institution  he  is  a 
graduate.  He  was  united  in  marriage, 
January  29,  1857,  with  Ellen  R.  Purcell, 
a  native  of  Knoxville,  Knox  county,  Il- 
linois, whose  parents  were  natives,  re- 
spectively, of  Kentucky  and  Ohio. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Weir  have  had 
seven  children  born  to  them — Samuel 
G.,  who  died  June  19, 1858;  Margaretta, 
who  died  December  18,  1859;  Permelia 
E.,  wife  of  William  H.  Neece;  Luella 
M.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  teaching 
school;  Mary  C.,  Nina  and  Anna,  living 
at  home  with  their  parents.  Doctor 
Weir  came  to  Colchester,  McDonough 
county,  in  1866,  and  since  then  has  made 
this  his  home.  He  is  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  in  con- 
nection carries  on  the  drug  business. 
He  has  gained  the  reputation  of  possess- 
ing much  skill  as  a  physician,  and  enjoys 
an  extensive  and  remunerative  practice. 
The  position  which  he  at  present  holds 
as  representative  from  this  district,  is 
an  evidence  of  the  respect  and  esteem 
with  which  he  is  regarded  in  McDon- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


293 


ough  county,  and  his  fitness  for  that  re- 
sponsible office,  amply  proven  by  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituency. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  the  county  board 
of  supervisors,  in  which  office  he  is 
now  serving  his  fifth  term. 

A  sketch  of  Mr.  McCord  is  given  in 
counection  with  the  history  of  the  town 
of  Blandinsville,  with  which  he  is  prom- 
inently identified. 

COUNTY   CLERK. 

When  McDonough  county  was  organ- 
ized, in  1830,  the  office  of  county  clerk, 
while  an  important  one,  was  not  quite  as 
prominent  as  at  present.  At  that  time 
the  incumbent  of  the  office  was  appointed 
by  the  county  commissioners,  and  held 
it 'during  good  behavior.  As  a  compen- 
sation he  was  allowed  the  fees  of  his 
office,  which  were  but  a  trifle,  and  a  per 
diem  allowance  during  the  session  of 
the  commissioners'  court. 

The  first  to  fill  the  office  was  Michael 
Stinson,  who  was  appointed  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  county  court,  on  the  3d 
day  of  July,  1830.  He  acted  in  this  ca- 
pacity until  September,  when  he  re- 
signed. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Stinson,  the 
county  commissioners  appointed  John 
Baker  to  the  vacant  office.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  but  gave 
very  little  time  to  his  calling,  engaging 
in  regular  secular  pursuits.  He  came  to 
the  county  in  1829,  and  built  the  first 
house  on  the  site  of  the  present  town  of 
Macomb.  It  is  told  of  him  that  he  held 
a  membership  in  the  New  Hope  Baptist 
church,  in  what  was  then  called  the 
"Job  settlement,"  and  he  was  expelled 
from  it  for  unchristian  conduct.  In  1835 


he  left  this  part  of  the  country,  and  re- 
moved to  Missouri,  and  from  there  to 
Texas.  While  living  in  the  latter  state, 
he  wished  once  more  to  enter  the  minis- 
try, but  he  was  too  conscientious  to  do 
this  without  rehabilation  in  the  church 
from  which  he  had  been  excluded,  so  in 
1840,  he  returned  the  800  miles  that  lay 
between  his  Texan  home  and  this  place, 
coming  on  horseback  and  was  once  more 
received  into  the  bosom  of  the  New 
Hope  church,  after  due  confession.  He 
returned  to  Texas,  where  he  preached 
the  gospel  for  some  years.  He  held  the 
office  of  county  clerk  of  this  county  but 
a  short  time. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1831,  Mr.  Baker 
resigned  the  office,  and  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  appointed  James  M. 
Campbell  to  this  position.  He  had,  in 
the  December  previous,  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  circuit  clerk,  and  when  the 
vacancy  occurred  in  the  office  of  the 
county  clerk,  some  one  mentioned  Mr. 
Campbell's  name  in  connection  with  it. 
Opposition  was  at  once  raised  on  the 
score  of  that  gentleman's  being  a  Yan- 
kee. On  being  questioned,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell's reply  was  characteristic:  "Well, 
gentlemen,  "said  he,  "if  to  be  born  in 
the  city  of  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  living 
there  until  six  years  of  age,  coming  to 
the  state  of  Illinois  and  remaining  six 
years,  then  returning  to  Kentucky  and 
living  there  for  twelve  years,  and  then 
returning  to  Illinois,  constitutes  a  Yan- 
kee, then  I  am  one."  This  explanation 
being  satisfactory,  the  appointment  was 
made.  He  held  this  office  by  appoint- 
ment until  1838,  when,  the  constitution 
having  been  changed,  the  office  became 
elective,  and  Mr.  Campbell  was  elected 


294 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


by  the  people  to  fill  the  same  office,  and 
in  1843  he  was  re-elected,  and  held  the 
office  until  the  fall  of  1846.  A  sketch 
of  Mr.  Campbell  appears  in  connection 
with  the  legislative  representation,  he 
having  filled  the  office  of  state  senator, 
as  already  related. 

At  the  regular  election  of  1846,  Isaac 
Grantham,  the  democratic  nominee,  was 
chosen  by  the  majority  of  the  people  of 
the  county  to  fill  this  responsible  office. 
He  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position 
1847,  1849,  1851,  1853,  1855  and  1857, 
serving  in  all  liearly  thirteen  years,  dy- 
ing while  in  office  during  the  year  1859. 
He  was  a  very  affable  gentleman,  justly 
popular,  and  would  have,  doubtless,  held 
the  office  longer  but  for  the  hand  of 
death.  Mr.  Grantham  came  to  Macomb 
from  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

Jonathan  H.  Baker  was  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Grantham  in  the  office  of  county 
clerk,  having  been  elected  to  at  the  reg- 
ular election  of  1859,  and  filled  the  po- 
sition for  two  years.  A  sketch  of  Mr. 
Baker  is  found  under  the  head  of 
county  judges,  he  being  the  present 
occupant  of  that  office. 

In  1861  James  W.  Mathews  was  called 
upon  to  fill  the  office  of  county  clerk, 
and  served  the  people  in  this  capacity 
for  one  term  of  four  years,  the  law  hav- 
ing been  changed,  making  the  duration 
of  the  term  four  instead  of  two  years, 
as  heretofore.  Mr.  Mathews  is  believed 
to  have  been  a  Kentuckian  by  birth  and 
came  here  early  in  1853,  as  the  professor 
of  mathematics  in  the  McDonough  col- 
lege, and  served  in  that  position  until 
1855,  when  the  institution  closed  its 
doors.  Mr.  Mathews,  about  a  year  after 


the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office,  went 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  died. 

In  1865  William  Ervin  was  elected  to 
this  office  and  filled  it  for  four  years. 

Captain  William  Ervin,  druggist  of 
Macomb,  is  a  native  of  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  where  he  was  born  on 
the  27th  day  of  February,  1820.  His 
parents  were  both  Virginians  by  birth, 
and  the  father,  James  Ervin,  followed 
agricultural  pursuits.  The  captain  re- 
sided in  his  native  state  until  1841,  when 
accompanied  by  his  mother,  his  father 
having  died  when  William  was  four 
years  of  age,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  McDonough  county,  where 
Hugh  Ervin,  a  brother  of  the  captain, 
hed  settled  some  time  previous.  The 
mother  died  in  Macomb  in  1852.  When 
the  captain  came  to  Macomb  he  imme- 
diately engaged  in  the  general  mercan- 
tile business,  which  he  continued  until 
1862,  at  which  time  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany C,  84th  Illinois  infantry,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  as  captain  of 
that  company,  and  served  as  such  up  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  brev- 
ited  as  major.  While  in  the  service  he 
participated  in  all  the  engagements  in 
which  his  company  took  a  part.  Upon 
his  return  home  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  court,  which  office 
he  held  for  four  years.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  farming,  which  he  followed  for 
a  few  years.  In  1871  the  captain  en- 
gaged is  the  drug  trade,  which  he  still 
continues,  under  the  firm  name  of  Will- 
iam Ervin  &  Son.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  besides  the  office  hereto- 
fore mentioned,  he  has  been  honored 
several  times  by  local  offices.  Mr.  Ervin 
is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  and  served  as 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


295 


high  priest  of  that  order  previous  to 
offering  his  services  to  the  country. 
In  1849  Mary  McCrosky  became  his 
beloved  wife.  She  is  a  Kentuckian 
by  birth,  but  came  to  Schuyler  county, 
Illinois,  with  her  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ervin  are  the  parents  of  three  children ; 
Ella  L.,  Sarah  Alice,  now  the  wife  of 
William  Wyne,  and  James  M.,  the  part- 
ner, in  business  with  his  father. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Ervin,  in  this 
office  was  Quinton  C.  Ward,  who  was 
elected  at  the  regular  election  in  the  fall 
of  1869.  He,  also,  filled  this  office  for 
four  years. 

Q.  C.  Ward  is  a  native  of  McDonough 
county,  and  first  saw  the  light  on  the 
14th  of  February,  1838.  He  is  at  pres- 
ent a  resident  of  the  town  of  LaHarpe, 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where  he  is 
engaged,  in  company  with  J.  H.  Hun- 
gate,  in  the  banking  business,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Hungate,  Ward  &  Co. 

In  1873,  A.  L.  Sparks  was  duly  elected 
to  the  office  of  county  clerk,  and  filled 
the  same  for  four  years. 

Allen  L.  Sparks,  a  leading  citizen  of 
Bushnell  township  and  prominent  in 
McDonough  county  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
and  Sarah  (Deford)  Sparks.  His  father 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania November,  24th,  1808,  and  died 
near  Ellisville,  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
July  6th,  A.  D.  1876.  His  mother  was 
born  September  13th,  1813,  in  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  and  died  January  21st, 
1864,  near  Ellisville,  Illinois.  His  father 
was  of  Irish  descent  and  his  mother  of 
French.  Allen  L.  is  the  eldest  of  a  fam- 
ily of  11  children,  and  was  born  in  Eich- 
land  (now  Ashland)  county,  Ohio,  June 
8th,  1831.  In  the  spring  of  1835  he  em- 


igrated with  his  father  to  Clinton  county, 
Indiana,  which  was  then  called  a  wilder- 
ness, the  country  being  new  and  sparsely 
settled.  In  1845  his  father  with  his 
family  moved  to  Ellisville,  Fulton  county 
Illinois;  there  Allen  worked  and  assisted 
his  father  to  improve  a  farm  in  Deer- 
field  township. 

In  1853  a  serious  abscess  arose  on  his 
spine  and  inflammation  of  the  hip  joint 
which  for  five  years  disqualified  him  for 
hard  labor.  During  this  time  he  studi- 
ously employed  himself  in  the  acquire- 
ment of  an  English  education  and  in  or- 
der to  obtain  means  and  not  be  depend- 
ent on  his  friends  would  teach  school  in 
winter  and  pursue  his  studies  in  sum- 
mer. He  followed  teaching  as  a  profes- 
sion till  1859.  On  December  28th  1859, 
he  married  Ann  Jane  Johnson,  a  resident 
of  Prairie  City,  Illinois.  Her  parents 
Mahetable  and  Elisha  Johnson  emi- 
grated from  the  state  of  New  York  and 
settled  near  Fairview.  After  his  marriage 
he  settled  on  and  commenced  the  im- 
provement of  the  farm  he  now  lives  on, 
being  southeast  quarter  of  section  num- 
ber 29,  Bushnell  township;  he  owns  120 
acres  on  the  northeast  of  section  number 
28  in  Young  Hickory  township,  Fulton 
county.  Upon  his  farm  in  Bush- 
nell township  he  has  substantial  and 
good  improvements,  a  commodious  resi- 
dence, good  barn,  good  stock  and  all 
good  conveniences;  his  home  is  a  beau- 
tiful one  and  the  surroundings  make  it 
home  like.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sparks  have 
two  children  (boys),  Emory  Caldwell, 
the  eldest,  and  Eben  Wilson  Burrill, 
both  residing  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Sparks  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
in  BushneH  township  April  4th,  1871, 


296 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


which  office  lie  held  for  two  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1873  he  was  elected  supervisor 
of  his  town  and  held  that  till  November 
1873,  when  he  resigned,  and  in  Novem- 
ber 1873,  he  was  elected  county  clerk  of 
McDonough  county,  on  the  anti-monop- 
oly ticket,  which  office  he  held  four 
years,  and  returned  to  his  farm  in  Octo- 
ber, 1883.  At  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  he 
was  elected  grand  worthy  president  of 
the  Anti-Horsethief  association  of  Illi- 
nois, its  jurisdiction  comprising  all  the 
states  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  and 
north  of  the  Ohio.  In  politics  Mr.  Sparks 
is  an  uncompromising  national  green- 
backer  and  anti-monopolist;  is  kind  and 
generous  to  the  poor,  sympathizes  with 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  all  the  labor 
reforms  of  the  state,  is  proud  of  his  pro- 
fession as  a  farmer,  and  at  the  Bushnell 
fair  is  superintendent  of  farm  products. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sparks  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

In  November,  1877,  at  the  regular 
election,  there  were  three  candidates  for 
the  office  of  county  clerk,  Charles  W. 
Dines,  the  nominee  of  the  democratic 
party;  J.  W.  Parks,  of  the  republican; 
and  Allen  L.  Sparks,  of  the  independent. 
Mr.  Dines  was  the  successful  candidate, 
by  a  moderate  plurality.  He  was  re-el- 
ected in  1882,  and  is  the  present  incum- 
bent of  the  office. 

Charles  W.  Dines,  the  present  county 
clerk,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Todd)  Dines,  was  born  in  Missouri, 
June  12,  1842.  He  received  a  good  edu- 
cation, graduating  at  the  Selby  high 
school.  In  1862,  he  entered  the  United 
States  'service  as  clerk  in  the  office  of 
the  paymaster  of  war,  and  served  two 
years.  He  afterwards  resided  for  one 


year  at  Quincy,  Illinois.  He  then  came 
to  McDonough  county  and  settled  at 
Blandinsville,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
general  merchandise  business,  and  also 
dealt  in  grain  and  live  stock.  In  1877, 
he  was  elected  county  clerk,  was  re-elec- 
ted in  1882,  and  is  now  holding  said  of- 
fice. He  was  married,  in  1870,  to  Alta 
Hopper,  daughter  of  A.  P.  and  Cynthia 
Hopper.  They  have  six  children — Or- 
ville,  Stella,  Donna,  Adelbert,  Thomas 
A.  and  Mary  Will.  Mr.  Dines  is  a  dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  R,  Mutual  Aid,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
and  the  K.  of  P.  lodges.  He  is  a  gen- 
ial and  obliging  gentleman,  and  enjoys 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county,  and  has  just  been 
elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Macomb  by 
a  majority  of  over  100,  although  the  pol- 
itics of  the  city  is  largely  republican. 

Thomas  Dines  (deceased)  the  father 
of  Charles  W.,  was  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  Maryland,  was  born  in  1815.  He 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade,  and,  in 
1830,  he  emigrated  to  Missouri,  and, 
while  there,  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Todd,  also  a  native  of 
Maryland.  In  1865,  they  came  to  this 
state,  and  settled  at  Blandinsville,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  merchandise  trade, 
and  subsequently  retired  from  business. 
In  1880,  Mrs.  Dines  went  on  a  visit  to 
her  old  home  in  Missouri,and  there  died, 
on  the  6th  of  June.  One  year  later, 
Mr.  Dines  went  to  Missouri,  and  while 
there  he  died,  on  the  26th  of  March,  in 
the  same  house  that  his  wife  had  died 
in.  Four  sons  survived  them — C.  W., 
J.  A.,  who  is  now  in  New  Mexico;  Adel- 
bert, now  in  Fort  "Worth,  Texas,  and 
"William,  who  resides  at  Boulder,  Col. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


299 


William  P.  Barrett,  one  of  the  pion- 
eers of  1844,  is  a  native  of  England,  be- 
ing born  in  1820.  His  early  life  was  oc- 
cupied in  various  employments  in  his 
native  country,  and  in  1843  he  emigra- 
ted to  the  United  States,  settling  in 
Iowa,  but  fever  and  ague  being  almost 
an  epidemic  there  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  became  a  resident  of  Macomb.  He 
followed  farming  and  teaming,  and  in 
winter  seasons  worked  in  stores.  He 
has  held  numerous  local  offices,  and  is 
at  present  deputy  county  clerk.  He  was 
married  June  4,  1846,  to  Margaret  Bob- 
berts,  a  native  of  Wales.  Their  mar- 
riage has  been  blessed  with  nine  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living — Sarah, 
William,  Thomas,  Edward,  Maggie, 
Charles  and  Mary. 

COUNTY  JUDGE. 

In  1847,  a  state  election  was  held  for 
members  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion, which  convention  prepared  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  a  new  constitution 
which  was  adopted  by  a  large  majority. 
By  this  constitution,  in  place  of  the 
county  commissioner's  court,  a  county 
court  was  organized  in  each  county. 
This  court  consisted  of  a  county  judge, 
and,  if,  the  legislature  saw  proper  to  so 
order  it,  two  associate  justices.  This 
the  legislature  favorably  acted  upon. 
On  the  3d  day  of  December,  the  first 
regular  term  of  the  county  court  was 
held.  The  duties  of  this  court  in  a  leg- 
islative capacity,  were  precisely  the  same 
as  those  of  the  county  commissioner's 
court.  The  court  itself  consisted  of  a 
county  judge  and  two  associate  justices. 
In  addition  to  the  legislative  powers, 
the  members  of  this  court  were  permit- 


ted to  exercise  judicial  authority,  hav- 
ing all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  together  with  all 
probate  business.  James  Clarke  was 
elected  the  first  county  judge  to  serve 
four  years.  The  first  associate  justices 
w.ere  Charles  B.  Hume  and  C.  C.  Hun- 
gate. 

James  Clarke  was  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  McDonough  county,  and  for 
years  occupied  official  positions  that 
brought  him  before  the  people  as  much 
as  any  other  man  within  its  border.  He 
was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky, 
September  26,  1797.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Ann  (Whitten)  Clarke,  the 
father  being  a  soldier  of  the  revolution- 
ary war.  They  were  in  very  moderate 
circumstances,  and  when  James  was  but 
a  babe  removed  to  Washington  county, 
in  the  same  state,  engaging  in  the  occu- 
pation of  farming,  their  son  assisting 
them  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at  an  age 
when  he  could  be  of  service,  remaining 
at  home  until  eighteen  years  of  age, 
when  he  left  to  learn  the  trade  of  hatter, 
which  he  followed  for  some  years.  A 
few  months  attendance  in  the  common 
schools  was  all  the  educational  advan- 
tages that  he  ever  enjoyed,  but  that  little 
he  made  the  best  of  in  after  life.  The 
same  general  traits  of  character  for 
which  he  was  noted  for  when  more  ad- 
vanced in  life  was  observable  in  youth. 
He  was  a  quiet,  steady  and  industrious 
boy,  never  engaging  in  any  of  the  rude 
sports  of  the  time,  and  of  good  moral 
habits. 

On  the  21st  day  of  May,  1818,  a  few 
months  before  reaching  his  majority,  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Lewis,  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Kentucky,  with  whom  he 


is 


300 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


lived  happily  a  period  of  58  years,  or 
until  death  called  him  away.  Eleven 
children  were  born  unto  them,  eight 
sons  and  three  daughters,  the  latter,  with 
one  son,  the  eldest  of  the  family,  yet 
dwelling  upon  this  side  of  the  river,  the 
rest  having  passed  over. 

Realizing  the  almost  utter  impossibil- 
ity of  the  poor  ever  becoming  rich,  or 
even  obtaining  a  respectable  living  in  the 
old  states,  Mr.  Clarke  determined  on 
emigrating  to  Illinois,  and  in  the  year 
1829,  with  his  family,  removed  to  Mor- 
gan county,  in  this  state,  where  they  re- 
mained but  one  year,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1830  came  to  this  county.  When  he 
arrived  here  he  found  but  few  families, 
and  only  scattered  settlements  here  and 
there.  In  the  neighborhood  of  the  pres- 
ent city  of  Macomb,  where  he  settled, 
there  were  but  two  families,  Elias  Mc- 
Fadden,  then  living  on  the  Hunter  farm, 
south  of  town,  and  John  Baker,  living 
near  where  the  fourth  ward  school  house 
now  stands.  The  county  was  without 
organization,  all  local  business  being 
transacted  in  Schuyler  county,  and  the 
nearest  postoffice  being  in  Rushville,  of 
the  same  county.  In  the  summer  after 
his  arrival  steps  were  taken  to  organize 
the  county,  Mr.  Clarke  being  very 
active  in  the  matter.  In  the  first  elect- 
ion he  was  elected  one  of  the  county  com- 
missioners, and  was  re-elected  several 
times,  serving,  we  believe,  about  eight 
years.  He  also  served  several  years  as 
probate  justice.  When  a  change  was 
made  in  the  government  of  counties,  by 
the  constitution  of  1848,  he  was  elected 
county  judge,  which  office  he  held 
for  four  years.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  city  council  of  Macomb, 


and  for  years  was  a  justice  of  the  peace 
of  the  county.  In  the  discharge  of  his 
official  duties  he  endeavored  to  render 
satisfaction  to  all,  and  was  always  pop- 
ular with  the  people.  Mr.  Clarke  was  a 
resident  of  Macomb  until  the  day  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  upon  the  12th  of 
June,  1876. 

Charles  R.  Hume  was  born  in  Dela- 
ware county,  New  York,  on  the  1st  day 
of  January,  1814,  and  is  the  third  of  a 
family  of  ten,  five  of  whom  were  sons 
and  five  daughters.  His  parents  were 
Robert  and  Catharine  (Ross)  Hume. 
The  father  being  of  Scotch  birth,  and 
the  mother  a  native  of  New  York.  The 
elder  Hume  was  a  merchant.  He  died 
in  1858,  leaving  to  each  of  his  children  a 
fair  share  of  property.  One  son  became 
an  eminent  clergyman,  and  was  for  a 
number  of  years  missionary  in  India  and 
died  abroad.  Another  son  attained  high 
position  at  the  bar  in  California.  Charles 
R.,  has  had  a  varied  experience  in  life, 
spending  the  first  14  years  of  his  life 
with  his  parents  upon  a  farm  and  in  at- 
tendance at  school,  graduating  at  Jeffer- 
son academy,  when  18  years  of  age.  He 
spent  a  few  years  as  a  clerk  in  a  whole- 
sale dry  goods  house  in  New  York,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1837,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, purchasing  two  quarters  of  land  in 
Hire  township.  While  coming  up  the 
Mississippi  river,  the  boat  blew  up,  in- 
juring a  number  on  board,  but  Mr.  Hume 
luckily  escaped  unhurt.  After  purchas- 
ing his  land,  he  went  to  Indiana,  where 
his  parents  were  then  residing,  and  re- 
mained there  until  the  following  spring. 
Upon  his  return  he  brought  with  him  a 
liberal  amount  of  supplies,  and  he  set- 
tled upon  his  land  and  proceeded  to  cul- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


301 


tivate   it.     His  presence  was  regarded 
with   suspicion  by  the  settlers  in  that 
neighborhood,  who  were  composed  prin- 
cipally of  emigrants  from  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  and  who  disliked  Yankees, 
looking  upon  all  as  despised  who  were 
not  born  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's 
line.     He  was  ordered  to  leave,  but  with 
the  perverseness  of  the  Scotch,  and  the 
easy  "don't  careativeness"  of  the  Yankee, 
"he  reckoned  as  how  he  wouldn't  go." 
He  remained  at  his  post  and  conquered 
the  prejudices  of  his  neighbors.     The 
life  of  a  farmer  not  proving  attractive, 
after  two  years,  when  the  town  of  Blan- 
dinsville  was  laid  out,  in  company  with 
Joseph  C.  Blandin,  he  erected  a  build- 
ing and  opened  the  first  store   in  the 
place.      He  followed  this  business    in 
connection  with  milling  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  Mexican  war,  when  he  en- 
listed in   Captain  Stapp's  company   of 
mounted  men,  but  was  never  sent  to  the 
front,  being  placed  on  detached  service 
as  recruiting  officer,  with  headquarters 
at  Jefferson  Barracks,   near   St.  Louis. 
In  this  capacity  he  continued  until  the 
close  of  the   war,   being  mustered  out 
July  3,  1848.     On  his   return  from  St. 
Louis,  he  again  embarked  in  the  mer- 
cantile trade,  continuing  therein  until  the 
spring  of  1852,  when  he  went  to  Califor- 
nia, remaining  there  some  three  years, 
during  which  time,  in  the  town  of  Placer- 
ville,  he  read  law  with  his  brother  John. 
Returning  to  Blaiidinsville,  in  1855,  he 
continued  the  study  of  law,  and  in  the 
following  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  has   continued  the  practice  of  the 
law  up  to  the  present  time,  confining  his 
business  chiefly  to  collections  and  crimi- 
nal law.     Mr.  Hume  was  a  member  of 


the  old  whig  party,  but  was  one  of  the 
first  to  identify  himself  with  the  repub- 
lican party.  Although  in  a  democratic 
district,  he  has  been  frequently  honored 
by  his  friends  and  neighbors  with  public 
office.  He  was  for  nearly  four  years 
associate  justice  of  McDonough  county, 
resigning  a  short  time  before  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term,  to  go  to  California.  He 
has  also  been  notary  public  for  many 
years,  and  for  nearly  26  years  has  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  In 
1858,  when  his  party  was  largely  in  the 
minority,  he  received  a  nomination  for 
representative  in  the  legislature,  and 
made  the  race  with  entire  satisfaction  to 
his  party  friends.  Mr.  Hume  was  an 
active  participant  in  the  settlement  of 
the  Mormon  difficulties  in  Hancock 
county,  and  was  one  of  the  number  to 
escort  the  last  remnant  of  the  "Saints" 
across  the  Mississippi  river.  When  the 
war  broke  out  in  1861,  Mr.  Hume  proved 
his  loyalty  and  patriotism  by  raising  a 
company  of  as  brave  and  loyal  soldiers 
as  ever  charged  upon  an  enemy.  This 
was  company  C,  of  the  78th  Illinois  vol- 
unteers. Its  history  is  written  in  blood 
on  many  battle  fields.  Mr.  Hume  was 
mustered  with  his  company  into  the 
United  States  service,  September  1, 1862, 
and  served  as  captain  until  December 
18,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  on 
account  of  disability.  In  December, 
1862,  he  was  captured  by  the  rebel  gen- 
eral, Morgan,  and  paroled  upon  the 
battle  field,  but  not  exchanged  until 
September,  1863.  While  on  parole  he 
was  stationed  at  Benton  barracks,  near 
St.  Louis,  and  placed  in  command  of  the 
2d  battallion,  Illinois  paroled  men,  and 
was  also  made  judge  advocate  on  general 


302 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


courts  martial.  He  was  engaged  in  the 
battle  of  Mission  Eidge,  after  which  he 
participated  in  the  forced  march  to  re- 
lieve General  Burnside,  at  Knoxville. 
He  was  on  detailed  service  much  of  the 
time.  On  the  29th  of  May,  1839,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Harriet  L.  Blan- 
din,  daughter  of  Joseph  L.  Blandin,  the 
founder  of  the  town  of  Blandinsville. 
A  son  and  daughter  were  born  to  them, 
both  of  whom  are  living.  The  daughter 
is  now  the  wife  of  Joseph  Edel,  a  citizen 
of  Blandinsville,  and  a  former  member 
of  the  llth  Illinois  cavalry,  of  which 
"Bob"  Ingersoll  was  colonel.  The  son, 
E.  W.  Hume,  was  also  a  member  of  that 
regiment,  joining  the  service  when  but 
17  years  old,  and  serving  faithfully  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  out 
as  orderly  sergeant.  Captain  Hume,  as 
a  citizen  and  a  neighbor,  has  always  en- 
joyed the  respect  and  esteem  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  has  lived. 

At  the  regular  election  of  1853  Thomp- 
son Chandler  was  elected  county  judge, 
and  Samuel  Calvin  and  S.  J.  Grigsby, 
associate  justices.  These  parties  consti- 
tuted the  county  court  until  April,  1857, 
when  it  was  superseded  by  the  supervisor 
system,  adopted  by  the  people  of  the 
county,  in  accordance  with  an  act  of  the 
general  assembly,  providing  for  township 
organization.  By  this  law,  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  county  judge  was  limited  to 
probate  matters,  settlement  of  estates  of 
deceased  persons,  appointment  of  guar- 
dians and  conservators,  and  settlements 
of  their  accounts,  of  all  matters  relating 
to  apprentices,  and  in  proceedings  for 
the  collection  of  taxes  and  assessments, 
and  other  minor  matters.  Judge  Chan- 
dler occupied  this  position  until  1866, 


having  been  elected  to  the  office  in  1857, 
and  again  in  1861. 

Judge  Thompson  Chandler  comes  of  a 
hardy  race,  being  born  among  the  hills 
of  New  Hampshire,  in  the  town  of  Al- 
stead,  October  25,  1805.     His  early  life 
was  not  unlike  thousands  of  others  who 
passed  through  the  common  schools,  and 
with  a  few  months  in  the  academy  com- 
pleted their  education.     He    remained 
with  his  parents  on  the  old  homestead 
until  after  he  reached  his  majority,  thus 
showing  filial  affection  to  be  commended. 
In  the  spring  of    1832    he    left    his 
native  state  and  came  west  as  far  as  Cin- 
cinnati, where  he  remained  two  years  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  trade  with  vary- 
ing success.     On  the  expiration  of  this 
time  he  thought  to  still  better  his  condi- 
dition  by  yet  removing  still  further  Avest, 
and  in  that  new  country,  lately  opened 
to  immigration,  he  might  attain  that  suc- 
cess in  life  to  which  he  aspired:    Accord- 
ingly, in  the  spring  of   1834  he  landed 
in  Macomb,  this  county,  where  he  has 
since  continued  to  reside,  an  honored 
citizen  and  an  esteemed  friend,  exhibit- 
ing in  his  life  those  traits  of  character 
which  have  rendered  him   so  popular 
among  the  people.     For  the  first  three 
years  after  his  arrival  in  Macomb  he  en- 
gaged in  the  mercantile  trade  in  company 
with  William  Eichards,  so  well  and  fa- 
vorably  known    among    early    settlers. 
His  success  in  this  business  was  as  great 
as  could  be  expected  at  that  early  day, 
when  the  settlers  had  little-  money  and 
raised  nearly  all  they  ate  or  wore.    Short- 
ly after  his  arrival  in  Macomb  he  pur- 
chased the  southeast  quarter,  section  36, 
Emmet  township,  and  afterward  the  en- 
tire section,  part  of  which  he  obtained 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


303 


for  one  dollar  per  acre  and  the  balance 
for  three  dollars.  The  whole  of  the  south- 
east quarter  is  now  covered  by  dwelling 
houses,  from  the  humble  cottage  of  the 
laboring  man  to  the  more  palatial  resi- 
dence of  the  wealthier  class,  and  is  the 
finest  part  of  the  city  of  Macomb.  From 
1837  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of 
forty  years,  Mr.  Chandler  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming,  save  a  period  of  one 
year  while  in  California.  In  1849,  with 
many  others,  he  took  up  his  line  of  march 
to  the  new  Eldorado,  where  he  engaged 
for  one  year  in  mining  and  trading,  hav- 
ing fair  success  in  either  operation,  but 
experiencing  enough  of  the  hardships  of 
the  country  in  that  time.  On  his  return 
he  again  engaged  in  his  regular  calling, 
which,  as  remarked,  he  has  followed  to 
the  present  time.  In  addition  to  the 
regular  work  of  the  farm,  he  has  for 
many  years  been  engaged  in  raising  stock, 
and  was  probably  the  first  in  the  county 
to  take  an  interest  in  improving  the 
breed.  At  every  meeting  of  the  Mc- 
Donough  county  agricultural  association 
since  its  organization,  his  herd  of  cattle 
has  attracted  considerable  attention,  and 
almost  every  year  he  has  taken  one  or 
more  premiums  on  his  display. 

In  politics  Mr.  Chandler  is  now  and 
always  has  been  a  democrat  of  the  old 
school,  in  the  years  of  his  manhood  vot- 
ing with  and  working  for  the  success  of 
the  democratic  ticket.  Honoring  the 
party,  he  has  in  time  been  honored  by  it, 
in  receiving  the  nomination  and  election 
to  various  offices  of  trust.  He  has  filled 
in  a  satisfactory  manner  the  offices  of 
trustee  of  the  town,  alderman  of  the  city, 
justice  of  the  peace,  member  of  the  board 
of  supervisors,  and  county  judge,  in  the 


latter  office  serving  from  1853  to  1861,  a 
period  of  eight  years,  No  man  that  has 
ever  occupied  the  office  has  discharged 
its  duties  in  a  more  satisfactory  manner. 
His  popularity  on  this  account  has  ever 
been  great,  and  we  have  more  than  once 
observed  that  when  his  party  desired  an 
unexceptionable  strong  man  they  always 
brought  out  Thompson  Chandler,  and 
seldom  has  he  ever  been  defeated.  Many 
times  has  the  large  majorities  of  the  op- 
position been  overcome  or  reduced  to  an 
insignificant  amount  through  reason  of 
his  popularity. 

Judge  Chandler  was  married  on  the 
3d  day  of  February,  1831,  to  Lucy  B. 
Towne,  of  Stoddard,  New  Hampshire. 
Four  children  have  they  been  blessed 
with — three  boys  and  one  girl.  Two  are 
yet  living.  Albert  B.,  the  second  son, 
died  on  the  15th  day  of  September,  1877, 
at  the  residence  of  his  brother,  G.  C. 
Chandler,  of  Chicago.  Albert  B.  had 
been  sick  for  a  long  time  with  consump- 
tion, brought  on,  doubtless,  by  exposure. 
He  was  a  hard-working,  industrious 
young  man,  toiling  early  and  late,  with 
the  laudable  desire  of  adding  to  his  pos- 
sessions. He  was  buried  in  Oakwood 
cemetery,  near  Macomb,  the  funeral  ser- 
vices being  conducted  by  Elder  G.  W. 
Mapes.  Solon  F. ,  the  oldest,  is  also  dead ; 
Gardner  C.,  after  having  been  engaged 
in  business  in  Chicago,  is  now  living  in 
Macomb;  Mary  Almeda  is  the  wife  of 
Crosby  F.  Wheat,  a  leading  lawyer  of 
Macomb,  and  for  some  years  county  at- 
torney of  McDonough  county. 

In  1865  L.  A.  Simmons  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  county  judge,  and  occupied 
the  same  for  four  years. 

Louis  A.  Simmons  was  born  at  North 


304 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Bridgewater,  (now  Brockton),  Plymouth 
county,  Massachusetts,  March  16,  1833. 
His  parents  removed  to  the  south  part 
of  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of 
1839,  and  he  shared  the  usual  lot  of 
farmer  boys  in  pioneer  days.  With  only 
limited  advantages  for  education  he  had 
mastered  the  common  English  branches 
and  made  considerable  progress  in 
higher  mathematics  and  the  natural 
sciences  before  he  was  17,  when  he 
commenced  teaching  and  working  on  the 
farm,  and  pursuing  his  studies  during 
the  summer.  In  September,  1852,  he 
entered  the  Illinois  Liberal  institute, 
(now  Lombard  university),  at  Gales- 
burg,  and  graduated  in  June,  1856.  Re- 
turning home  he  worked  with  his  father 
and  younger  brothers  on  the  farm  until 
August,  1857,  teaching  in  the  winter,  and 
devoting  six  hours  of  each  twenty-four 
to  his  studies.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  at  Monmouth,  Illinois,  in  August, 
and  the  first  of  September,  1857,  en- 
tered the  law  department  of  the  univer- 
sity of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  where  he  graduated 
in  February,  1858.  His  severe  struggle 
had  so  impaired  his  health,  that  he  re- 
mained until  June  on  the  old  farm, 
meanwhile  looking  out  a  location  for 
practice.  In  June,  1858,  he  opened  a 
law  office  in  Macomb.  In  November  of 
the  same  year,  he  was  married  to  Linda 
G.  Bond.  In  September,  1859,  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  J.  C.  Thompson, which 
continued  three  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1860  his  wife  died  of  quick  consumption, 
her  infant  daughter  having  two  months 
earlier  departed  to  the  Summer  Land. 
He  was  elected  school  commissioner  in 
1861,  and  resigned  when  he  went  into 
the  army  in  1862.  He  was  a  member 


of  the  84th  regiment,  Illinois  infantry, 
from  its  first  organization  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  serving  a  year  as  private  and  the 
remainder  of  the  term  as  quartermaster. 
In  the  fall  of  1865  he  was  elected  county 
judge,  In  November  of  the  same  year 
he  was  married  to  M.  Theresa  Harwood, 
and  during  the  ensuing  winter  wrote 
the"History  of  the  84th  regiment,Illinois 
volunteers,"  which  he  published  the  fol- 
lowing year.  On  January  3,  1872,  his 
wife  died,  leaving  him  two  small  chil- 
dren. In  November,  1875,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jennie^  Barber.  He  devoted  his 
attention  to  law  practice  until  Septem- 
ber, 1880,  when  he  removed  to  Welling- 
ton, Kansas,  where  he  at  present  resides. 
His  son,  L.  H.,  and  surviving  daughter, 
Myrtle  T.,  are  fine  scholars  for  their  age. 
J.  B.  Nickel  was  elected  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Simmons  in  the  fall  of  1869.  He 
served  the  county  four  years.  Joseph 
Brandon  Nickel  was  born  in  Nicholas 
county,  Kentucky,  on  July  4th  1808,  and 
there  resided  during  his  youth,  remov- 
ing when  in  his  eighteenth  year  with  his 
parents  to  Shelbyville,  Shelby  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  lived  until  1843. 
During  his  residence  in  Indiana  he  rose 
to  considerable  political  prominence. 
He  was  three  times  elected  county  sur- 
veyor of  Shelby  county,  and  represent- 
ed his  district  two  terms  in 
the  lower  house  of  the  Indiana 
legislature  and  once  in  the  state 
senate,  being  elected  each  time  on  the 
democratic  ticket.  The  second  time  he 
was  a  candidate  for  representative  being 
in  the  year  1837,  he  was  opposed  by  the 
father  of  Vice  President  Hendricks,  who 
was  the  whig  candidate  and  whom  he 
defeated  by  a  handsome  majority.  Mr. 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


305 


Nickel  remained  in  Shelby  county  unti 
lie  was   35   years   of  age,   when  he  re- 
moved   to  Savannah,    Andrew    county 
Missouri.     Here  he  soon  became  a  lead- 
er  of  the   anti-Benton  democracy,  and 
was  in  1845   elected  a  member  of  the 
state    constitutional     convention    from 
Andrew  county.     One  year  later  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  senate  of    Missouri, 
representing  a  district  composed  of  the 
four    counties     of    Andrew,    Atchison, 
Holt  and     Nodaway.      He   served  the 
people   faithfully   in    this   capacity  for 
four  years,  with  great  credit    both  to 
himself   and   to  his  constituency.      He 
was    afterwards     elected    circuit    clerk 
of  Andrew  county,  a  position  which  he 
satisfactorily   filled  during  four   years. 
In   1862   he  removed  from    Savannah, 
Missouri,  ,  to  Macomb,  Illinois,  and  the 
next  year   and   again   in   1864  he  was 
elected  county  surveyor  of  McDonough 
county    on  the   democratic    ticket.     In 
1869  he  was  nominated  by  the   democ- 
racy for  county   judge,  and  elected  by 
the  people  to  fill  this  place  of  responsi- 
bility.    Since  the  expiration  of  his  term 
he  has  continued  to  reside  here,  passing 
his  declining    years    in    the   quiet  way 
suited  to  his  nature.     For  two  years  past 
his  health   has  failed  him,  and  during 
the  past  few  months  he  has  suffered  from 
disease  until  he  could  calmly  await  the 
death    angel    and    welcome    his     com- 
ing.    He  passed  away  peacefully  while 
sitting   in  his  chair,   preserving  unim- 
paired all  his  mental  faculties  to  the  last, 
on    Thursday  morning,  April  23,  1885, 
aged  76  years,  9   months   and  19  days. 
He  leaves  behind  a  wife  who  has  been  a 
worthy  and  faithful  help-meet  to  him, 
and  who  has  the  heartfelt  sympathy  of 


an  entire   community  in   her    bereave- 
ment.    He  was  in  the  highest  and  truest 
sense,   one    of    nature's    nobleman.     A 
faithful  democrat,  he  always  was  true  to 
his  party  as  long  as  his  party  was  true 
to  his  own  ideas  of  right  and  wrong.  He 
was  a  man  of  conscientious  principles 
and  of  severe  convictions  of  duty ;  and 
his  strict   sense    of  honor    guided    his 
every  action  toward  his  fellow  men.  His 
loyalty  to  his  friends  was  a  marked  char- 
acterietic  of  his  nature.      All  through 
his  life,  he  preferred  one  honest  friend 
to  a  dozen  acquaintances  of  the  hour, 
and  to  his  friends  only  did  he  reveal  the 
truest  inner    nobleness   of   his  nature. 
Many  times,  and  in  three  states,  had  he 
been  selected  by  the  people  to  fill  official 
positions  of  great  honor  and  responsi- 
bility, and  each  time  he   accepted  the 
trust,  and,  like   a  man  and  worthy  citi- 
zen, carried  with    him   into  legislative 
halls  and  into  the  other  stations,  all  of 
that  moral  probity  which  characterized 
his  dealings  with  his  fellow  man.     In 
him   the   loss   of  one    is  felt  who  will 
always  be  remembered  for  the  good  he 
has  done.      The  funeral  took  place  from 
the  family  residence,  and  was  under  the 
auspices  of.  the  Masonic  lodge,  of  which 
order  deceased  was  an  honored  member, 
His  remains  repose   in  Oakwood  ceme- 
tery. 

James  Irwin  was  the  next  county 
fudge,  having  been  elected  to  that  office 
in  1873.  He  is  a  native  of  the  state  of 
Ohio,  having  been  born  in  Knox  county, 
of  that  commonwealth,  on  the  fifth  day 
of  September,  1814.  His  father,  James 
[rwin,  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
while  his  mother,  Susan  (Holt)  Irwin, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  They  were 


306 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


in  very  moderate  circumstances  at  the 
time  of  the  birth  of  James,  who,  when 
but  five  years  of  age,  was  sent  to  a  com- 
mon district  school,  remaining  there  un- 
til old  enough  to  become  useful  on  a 
farm,  when  he  was  given  his  daily  task 
with  the  rest  of  the  family.  When  six- 
teen years  of  age  he  was  apprenticed  to 
learn  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,  which  bus- 
iness he  afterwards  followed  for  twenty- 
five  years;  endeavoring,  as  a  mechanic, 
to  do  his  duty  in  a  manner  to  receive  the 
approval  of  those  for  whom  he  labored. 
In  1842,  he  espoused  the  anti-slavery 
cause,  and  for  30  years,  until  the  ques- 
tion ceased  to  be  one  of  national  import- 
ance, he  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  the 
principles  pertaining  to  the  abolition  of 
slavery  and  the  enfranchisement  of  the 
enslaved  race.  At  the  time  he  took  his 
stand  upon  the  side  of  freedom,  the 
measure  was  not  popular  in  this  country, 
and  even  in  the  free  states  of  the  nation, 
an  abolitionist  was  regarded  as  an  unfit 
associate  of  decent  people.  No  one  could 
advocate  the  measures  of  that  party 
without  doing  so  at  the  risk  of  his  life; 
he  was  liable  to  receive  the  attack  of  an 
angry  mob,  his  property  destroyed,  and 
either  to  be  driven  from  his  home  or  suf- 
fer death.  On  more  than  one  occasion 
was  the  home  of  Mr.  Irwin  attacked,  the 
lights  in  the  windows  broken  out,  and 
the  life  of  his  wife  and  children  endan- 
gered by  those  who  professed  to  be  vir- 
tuous and  the  salt  of  the  earth.  In  pass- 
ing along  the  street  he  was  pelted  with 
eggs  and  other  missiles  in  the  name  of 
constitutional  liberty.  In  April,  1850, 
he  came  to  this  state,  settling  in  Ver- 
mont, Fulton  county,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  for  about  five  years.  He 


then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade  for 
about  four  years,  changing  the  same  for 
that  of  a  miller,  purchasing  a  half  inter- 
est in  the  East  mill,  which  business  he 
followed  for  four  years  more,  when  he 
purchased  a  farm  on  section  16,  Eldor- 
ado township,  McDonough  county,  where 
he  has  since  continued  to  reside,  except 
when  attending  to  his  official  duties  in 
Macomb.  In  1872  he  was  elected  super- 
visor of  Eldorado  township  and  re- 
elected  in  1873.  During  this  year  the 
"farmer's  movement"  under  the  name  of 
the  "anti-monopoly  party,"  had  attained 
considerable  prominence  in  this  county, 
as  elsewhere,  and  coinciding  with  the 
views  of  that  party  he  was  urged  by  his 
friends  to  permit  the  use  of  his  name  on 
the  ticket,  and  consenting,  he  was  nomi- 
nated to  the  office  of  county  judge  and 
elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  He 
held  the  position  for  four  years,  dis- 
charging the  duties  of  the  office  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  having  business  to 
transact  with  him.  On  the  13th  day  of 
August,  1835,  at  Mount  Yernon,  Ohio, 
he  led  to  the  marriage  altar  Elizabeth 
Smith,  and  for  fifty  years  they  have 
traveled  the  journey  of  life  together, 
having  been  blessed  with  three  children, 
two  of  whom  are  now  living,  the  other 
having  passed  on  to  that  home  beyond 
the  rolling  river. 

Jonathan  H.  Baker,  the  present  incum- 
bent of  this  office;  was  first  elected  in 
1877,  and  re-elected  in  1882. 

Jonathan  H.  Baker  was  born  May  8, 
1817,  at  Walpole,  Cheshire,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  is  the  son  of  Edward  and 
Anna  (Haskell)  Baker,  both  natives  of 
Massachusetts.  Jonathan  was  left  father- 
less when  only  seven  years  of  age,  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


307 


was  then  bound  out  to  a  farmer  named 
Edmund  Walker.  At  the  age  of  17,  his 
guardian  permitted  him  to  enter  the 
employ  of  a  merchant  as  clerk,  whom  he 
faithfully  served  until  he  came  west, 
then  the  "far  west,"  as  it  required  27 
days  to  make  the  journey.  Upon  com- 
ing to  Macomb,  in  1838,  he  worked  one 
month  in  a  brick  yard,  after  which  he 
engaged  as  a  clerk  with  James  M. 
Campbell,  with  whom  he  stayed  two 
years.  January,  1841,  he  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business,  in  company  with 
J.  P.  Updegraff,  and  in  1845  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  at  Macomb,  which 
position  he  held  for  four  years.  In  1846, 
he  was  also  engaged  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  with  Charles  Chan- 
dler, and  continued  in  the  business  with 
him  until  1855,  in  which  year  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real  estate  business.  In 
1858  he  was  appointed  county  clerk,  to 
fill  a  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Isaac  Grantham,  and  the  following  year 
was  elected  to  that  office  and  served  one 
term,  during  which  time  he  also  con- 
tinued his  real  estate  business.  In  1865 
he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  with 
Mr.  Neece,under  the  firm  name  of  Neece 
&  Baker,  and  in  1877  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  judge,  and  served  until 
1882,  when  he  was  re-elected  to  the  of- 
fice and  is  the  present  incumbent.  Mr. 
Baker  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  casting 
his  first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglass, 
who  was  a  candidate  for  congress  Jh 
1838.  Religiously,  he  is  a  universalist, 
being  a  member  of  that  church  in  Ma- 
comb. He  was  united  in  marriage  March 
2,  1843,  with  Isabella  Hempstead,  a 
daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stephen 
Hempstead.  She  was  born  in  Missouri, 


but  removed  with  her  parents  to  Illi- 
nois when  but  a  child.  They  have  four 
children — Clara  A.,  now  the  wife  of  C. 
V.  Chandler;  Mary  C.,  wife  of  E.  L. 
Wells;  Isabella  and  Joseph  P.  As  a 
citizen,  Judge  Baker  stands  high  in  the 
community  in  which  he  lives,  or  has 
ever  resided,  being  a  good  neighbor  and 
a  kind-hearted,  benevolent  gentleman, 
while,  as  a  jurist,  he  is  possessed  of 
much  ability  and  other  qualifications, 
which  fit  him,  in  an  eminent  degree,  for 
the  position  he  now  occupies. 

COUNTY    TEEASUEER. 

The  first  treasurer  of  McDonough 
county  was  John  Huston,  who  was  ap- 
pointed to  that  office  by  the  commis- 
sioners' court  in  September,  1830.  He 
was  required  to  give  bonds  in  the  enor- 
mous sum  of  $800.  He  discharged  the 
duties  of  the  office  until  the  17th  day  of 
March,  1831,  when  he  resigned,  it  being 
incompatible  with  his  business  interests 
longer  to  hold  it.  A  sketch  of  this  em- 
inent gentleman  appears  under  the  head 
of  members  of  the  general  assembly,  he 
having  been  honored  by  the  citizens  of 
this  district  by  election  to  that  dignity. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Huston, 
the  county  commissioners,  upon  the  6th 
of  December,  1830,  appointed  Resin 
Naylor  to  the  vacant  office.  He  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  his  office  at  once  and 
gave  universal  satisfaction.  He  was  re- 
appointed  to  the  same  office  in  1831, 
1832  and  1833,  serving  this  time  four 
years.  At  the  March,  1834,  term  of  the 
county  commissioners  court,  William 
Willis  was  appointed  treasurer,but  he  re- 
signing shortly  after  entering  the  office, 
the  same  court,  in  May  following  ap- 


308 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


pointed  Mr.  Naylor  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
He  was  again  re-appointed  in  1835  and 
1836.  In  the  fall  of  May,  1837,  the 
office  having  become  elective,  he  was 
nominated  for  the  same  office  by  the 
whig  party,  and  elected  without  opposi- 
tion, and  served  two  years  longer.  Resin 
Naylor  was  a  native  of  Adair  county, 
Kentucky,  where  he  resided  until  com- 
ing to  this  state.  He,  at  first,  located  in 
Sangamon  county,  but  in  1830  came  to 
McDonough  county  and  to  Macomb  in 
1833,  where  he  entered  upon  his  busi- 
ness of  harness  making,  which  he  fol- 
lowed when  not  holding  official  position. 
He  was  made  postmaster  of  Macomb  in 
1852,  and  served  several  years.  He  died 
in  Macomb  during  the  year  1859. 

Jesse  M.  Chapman  was  elected  to  this 
responsible  office  at  the  fall  election  of 
1839,  and  served  two  years. 

Iverson  L.  Twyman  was  the  next  to 
fill  this  position,  having  been  elected 
thereto  in  the  autumn  of  1843,  and, 
being  re-elected  in  1845,  served  four 
years. 

Iverson  Louis  Twyman,  deceased, 
came  to  this  county  in  1836  from  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born 
in  December,  1814.  He  was  therefore 
among  the  early  settlers,  and  witnessed 
the  development  of  this  county  from  a 
state  of  natural  wilderness  to  one  of 
improved  farms  and  desirable  homes. 
Upon  his  arrival  here,  he  first  clerked 
for  William  R.  Bell  in  a  general  store  in 
Macomb,  and  continued  with  him  a 
number  of  years,  or  until  Mr.  Bell  went 
out  of  business.  His  next  business  was 
ths  drug  trade,  in  which  he  was  engaged 
a  few  years,  then  sold  out  and  formed  a 
partnership  for  general  merchandizing 


with  D.  P.  Wells.     Meanwhile,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  business,  he  was  called  upon 
to  fill   the   position    of  county  assessor 
and  collector;   and  when  the  Northern 
Cross   railroad    (now   the  C.,  B.  &  Q. ) 
was   being  built,  he  was   collector  for 
that  corporation.        He  had    executive 
ability  of  a  high  order,  and  was  twice 
elected  to  the  responsible  office  of  county 
treasurer,  once   in   1843   and    again  in 
1845.      He  was  also  interested  here  in 
real  estate  business,  in  partnership  with 
different  parties.     In  company  with  D. 
P.  Wells  and  John  D.  Hail,  Mr.  Twyman 
laid  out  the  town  of  Bushnell,  in  1854. 
He  subsequently  engaged  in  the  life  and 
fire  insurance  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  December,  1882.     Mr.  Twy- 
man was  a  self-made  man,  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  during  his  youth  was 
employed  in  the  various  duties  incident 
to  agricultural  life.      His  education  was 
limited  so  far  as  obtained  at  school,  but 
by  personal  application  he  mastered  the 
various  branches  sufficiently  to  have  a 
fairly  good  business  education.     He  was 
married  in  Macomb,  February  4,  1841, 
to  Mrs.  Nancy  Means,  formerly  Nancy 
W.  Smith,  also  a  native  Kentuckian.  By 
this  marriage  there  were  nine  children, 
seven  of   whom   are    now  living — four 
boys  and  three  girls:     Willis  I.,  married 
to  Mary  Harding  and  now  living  in  Ma- 
comb, and  has  three  children,  one  boy 
and  two   girls;    Eva,  the  wife  of  C.  S. 
Churchill,  present  circuit  clerk,  who  has 
had  three  children,  one   daughter  and 
two    sons,    the    daughter   having    died 
on    March    4,   1885;     Dillard  T.,   also 
married  and  living  in  Macomb,  has  two 
children;  Zachariah  T.,  married  to  Mag- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


309 


gie  Cochrane,  living  in  Macomb,  has 
three  children,  all  boys;  Frances  M., 
married  to  Robert  J.  Gilbert,  has  one 
son;  they  are  living  in  Macomb;  Ira  B., 
now  living  in  St.  Louis,  employed  in  a 
railroad  office;  and  Martha  H.,  living 
with  her  mother  at  home,  in  the  city  of 
Macomb.  Mr.  Twyman  during  his  life 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows'  order,  and  together  with  his 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church. 

John  W.  Westfall  was  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Twyman,  in  the  treasurer's  office, 
having  been  elected  in  1847,  and  serving 
the  people  in  that  capacity  for  two  years. 

William  T.  Head  was  elected,  in  1849, 
to  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  and 
held  it  for  about  a  year,  when  he  re- 
signed it  to  accept  the  office  of  sheriff. 
A  reference  is  made  to  this  gentleman, 
to  be  found  under  the  caption  of  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court,  an  office  which  he 
filled  at  a  later  date. 

At  the  regular  election  of  1850,  the 
people  of  the  county  were  called  upon 
to  choose  a  treasurer  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Head, 
and  their  choice  fell  upon  Samuel  E. 
Taylor,  who  filled  the  office  for  one 
year. 

J.  E.  Wooley,  the  next  incumbent  of 
the  office  of  county  treasurer,  was  elected 
in  1851,  and  served  one  term  of  two 
years. 

T.  B.  McCormick  was  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Wooley  in  this  office.  He  was  elec- 
ted in  the  fall  of  1853,  and  served  but  a 
part  of  a  year. 

Theodore  B.  McCormick  was  born 
February  22,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
McCormick,  who  came  to  McDonough 


county  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  settled 
on  section  33,  Chalmers  township.  John 
McCormick  was  a  native  of  Carroll 
county,  Maryland,  where  he  was  born 
August  21, 1789.  When  John  was  four 
years  old,  his  brother,  Robert  McCor- 
mick took  the  family  to  Fayette  county, 
Kentucky,  where  John  grew  to  man- 
hood. He  located,  when  a  young  man, 
in  Sullivan  county,  of  the  same  state, 
where  he  resided  until  he  came  to  this 
county  in  1835.  He  was  married  to 
Nancy  Cox  and  by  this  union  had  seven 
children.  His  wife  died,  May  31,  1838. 
He  survived  until  December  18,  1880. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Theodore  B. 
McCormick,  came  with  the  family  to 
McDonough  county.  In  1843,  he  locat- 
ed on  section  28,  Chalmers  township. 
The  following  year  he  removed  to  his 
present  farm  on  section  17,  of  the  same 
town,  where  he  owns  130  acres  of  well 
improved  land.  In  1853,  he  was  elected 
treasurer  of  McDonough  county,  and 
served  one  year  in  that  capacity.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  town  supervisor, 
two  terms,  and  that  of  town  treasurer, 
several  terms.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 28,  1843,  to  Emily  Stevens,  daugh- 
ter of  William  Stevens,  of  this  township. 
They  have  two  children  living,  Nancy  J. 
and  Florence  L. 

To  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  treasurer's 
office  at  the  election  in  the  fall  of  1854, 
the  people  elected  Francis  D.  Lipe, 
county  treasurer  for  one  year. 

Among  the  1840  settlers  of  McDon- 
ough county  was  F.  D.  Lipe,  a  native  of 
Hawkins  county,  Tennessee.'  He  after- 
wards became  a  resident  of  Kentucky, 
and  was  married  there  to  Lucinda  Shu- 
mate, a  native  of  that  state.  Upon  com- 


310 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ing  to  McDonough  county  he  engaged 
in  farming  in  what  is  now  Chalmer's 
township,  which  occupation  he  followed 
until  about  1846,  when  he  engaged  in 
general  merchandizing  at  Middletown, 
and  resided  there  until  1854,  when  he 
was  elected  county  treasurer  as  above 
and  in  1858,  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
sheriff  of  the  county.  He  removed  to 
Macomb,  where,  after  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  office,  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business.  He  was  again  elected 
was  again  elected  as  sheriff  in  1864, 
and  served  one  term.  He  then  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business,  in  what  was  known 
as  "  Brown's "  hotel,  and  afterwards 
changed  to  the  "  Si  Elmo."  His  wife 
died  in  18 — ,  leaving  seven  children— 
W.  M.,  Elizabeth,  who  married  Gilbert 
Cheatam  and  has  since  died ;  Eliza,  who 
married  Sydney  Garrett,  removed  to 
California,  where  she  died ;  Martha,  now 
the  wife  of  James  K.  Campbell  of 
Bushnell;  Mary,  who  married  Harry 
Gordon,  and  died  in  Peru,  Illinois; 
David,  who  died  in  Macomb;  Anna,  the 
wife  of  Miles  L.  Berber,  of  Minneapo- 
lis, Minn.  Mr.  Lipe  subsequently  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Wall,  and  now  resides  in  Chi- 
cago. 

John  Knappenberger,  at  the  election 
of  1855,  was  the  choice  of  a  large  ma- 
jority of  the  qualified  voters  of  the 
county,  and  was  duly  inducted  into  the 
office  of  treasurer.  The  people  of  Mc- 
Donough, duly  appreciating  true  worth, 
and  official  integrity,  when  allied  with 
great  financial  ability,  re-elected  him 
four  several  times,  in  1857,  1859,  1861 
and  1863,  he  serving  in  this  position  for 
ten  successive  years. 

John   Knappenberger   is  a  native  of 


Pennsylvania,  having  been  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  on  the  13th  of  October, 
1829.  He  came  to  McDonough  county 
in  March,  1851,  and  settled  at  Blandins- 
ville,  where  he  followed  the  business  of 
carpentering  and  building  until  the  fall 
of  1855,  when  he  was  elected  as  above. 
In  1857,  he  removed  his  family  to  Ma- 
comb, where  he  made  a  residence  until 
July  14th,  1866,  when  he  removed  to 
Brunswick,  Chariton  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  is  at  present  en  gaged  in  the  in- 
surance and  real  estate  business.  He 
was  married  in  Blandinsville  to  Mary  J. 
Ross,  January  llth,  1853. 

The  next  to  fill  this  responsible  office 
of  treasurer  of  the  county,  was  W.  H.  H. 
Hainline,  who  was  elected  in  November, 
1865.  The  biographical  sketch  of  Mr. 
Hainline  is  given  in  connection  with  the 
Macomb  Journal,  of  which  he  is  editor, 
in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  history  of 
the  press  of  the  country. 

Sydnor  H.  Hogan,  was  the  successor 
of  Mr.  Hainline  in  the  treasurer's  office, 
having  been  elected  in  the  autumn  of 
1867,  and  occupying  that  position  for 
two  years. 

Sydnor  H.  Hogan  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  in  October,  1849,  locating 
then,  in  Eldorado  township.  He  was 
born  June  15th,  1821,  in  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard 
Hogan,  a  native  of  the  same  state.  Syd- 
nor was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  until  1849.  In  1852, 
he  was  elected  sheriff  of  this  county  and 
served  one  term,  after  which  he  served 
one  term  as  deputy  sheriff.  In  1867  he 
was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, which  he  held  two  years.  He  re- 
moved from  Eldorado  to  Macomb,  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


311 


1852,  and  in  1860,  located  on  section  5, 
Scotland  township,  ten  years  later,  he 
moved  to  the  farm  where  his  son  Frank 
now  lives,  located  on  section  19  of  the 
same  township.  Mr.  Hogan  was  mar- 
ried October  24,  1844,  to  Rebecca  Davis. 
By  this  union  there  were  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living.  He  died  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1875.  His  widow  survived  un- 
til February  18,  1884.  Frank  P.  Hogan, 
a  well  known  farmer  of  Scotland  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Sydnor  H.  Hogan,  and 
was  born  January  4,  1854,  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  where  he  has  always  re- 
sided. He  has  made  farming  his  sole 
occupation  and  for  the  past  15  years  has 
lived  upon  his  present  farm.  He  owns 
160  acres  of  well  improved  land.  He 
was  married  May  5,  1875,  to  Alice  B. 
Kelly,  a  daughter  of  John  M.  Kelly  of 
this  township.  They  have  one  child, 
George  P. 

Samuel  A.  Hunt,  was  the  successful 
candidate  for  the  office  of  treasurer  at 
the  general  election  of  1869,  and  filled 
the  office  for  two  years. 

Samuel  A.  Hunt  was  born  on  the  31st 
day  of  May,  1818,  in  Washington  county, 
East  Tennessee,  and  is  the  son  of  Joshua 
and  Nancy  (Bacon)  Hunt.  In  1831,  his 
parents  removed  to  McDonough  county 
and  made  a  settlement  in  what  is  now 
Colchester  township,  on  section  14. 
Samuel  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county 
surveyor  in  1838,  to  fill  a  vacancy,  and 
continued  in  that  office  until  1846,  when 
at  the  request  of  his  democratic  friends 
he  resigned  to  accept  the  nomination  for 
sheriff,  but  David  Lawson,  his  opponent 
for  the  office,  was  enabled  to  capture  the 
position.  In  the  spring  of  1847,  Mr.  Hunt 
removed  to  the  village  of  Milton,  Pike 


county,  where  upon  the  21st  day  of 
November,  1848,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  Heaton.  The  fol- 
lowing year  he  returned  to  this  county 
and  located  at  Middletown,  where  he  re- 
mained until  August,  1852.  He,  then, 
moved  on  a  farm,  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  34,  in  Hire  township.  In  1857, 
receiving  the  nomination  for  the  office 
of  county  surveyor  on  the  democratic 
ticket,  he  was  elected  and  continued  in 
office  for  six  years,  being  re-elected 
twice.  In  1869,  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  as  above  stated,  he  being  at  that 
time  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Bushnell, 
whither  he  had  removed  in  1864.  In 
1879,  he  removed  to  Kingman  county, 
Kansas,  where  he  now  resides,  and  is 
filling  the  position  of  county  commis- 
sioner having  been  elected  to  that  office 
in  1882.  In  the  married  relation  Mr. 
Hunt  was  to  be  envied,  until  the  death 
of  the  faithful  partner  of  his  joys,  on 
the  20th  of  December,  1882.  He  was 
the  father  of  seven  children,  of  whom 
four  are  living,  They  were  named  Cave 
J.,  John  M.,  Maryette,  Cornelia,  Samuel 
R.,  Enolia  G.,  and  Lewis  O. 

William  M.  Lipe  was  the  immediate 
successor  of  Mr.  Hunt  in  this  office.  His 
service  was  for  two  years,  also,  from  his 
election  in  the  fall  of  1871. 

W.  M.  Lipe,  one  of  the  leading  grocery 
merchants  of  Macomb,  is  the  oldest  son 
of  F.  D.  Lipe.  He  was  born  on  the  25th 
day  of  September,  1840,  in  southern  Ill- 
inois, his  birth  taking  place  in  a  mover's 
wagon  while  his  parents  were  on  their 
way  from  Kentucky  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois.  When  the  family  set- 
tled in  Macomb,  W.  M.,  then  a  small  boy, 
commenced  mercantile  life  in  the  capac- 


312 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ity  of  a  clerk  in  a  grocery  store.  When 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  rail- 
road was  being  built,  Mr.  Lipe  went  to 
Wataugua,  Illinois,  and  there  learned 
the  art  of  telegraphy,  and,  soon  took 
charge  of  the  office  at  Macomb,  he  being 
the  second  operator  at  that  point.  He 
held  this  position  until  1868,  at  which 
time  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
In  1871,  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
county  treasurer,  and  served  one  term, 
after  which  he  again  resumed  the  gro- 
cery business,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
deserved  success.  William  Lipe  and 
Harriet  Leach,  a  daughter  of  Bufus 
Leach,  were  united  in  marriage.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children — Louie, 
Ada  and  Ruth.  Mr.  Lipe  is  a  democrat 
in  politics,  and  is  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
both  subordinate  and  encampment. 

The  election  cf  1873  resulted  in  the 
elevation  of  Anthony  Thornton  to  the 
position  of  county  treasurer.  He,  too, 
served  two  years.  Anthony  Thornton 
has  been  a  man  of  considerable  promi- 
nence in  McDonough  county.  Among 
other  matters  of  public  interest  in  which 
he  has  been  particularly  interested  was 
the  "  grange  movement."  Indeed,  such 
was  his  popularity,  by  virtue  of  his  con- 
nection with  that  order,  that  in  1873  he 
was  elected  county  treasurer,  entirely 
unsolicited  by  himself.  He  served  in  that 
capacity  until  1875.  He  has  had  consid- 
erable experience  in  this  county  in  teach- 
ing, having  been  thus  employed  from 
1858  till  1862.  During  the  latter  year 
he  moved  to  Blandinsville  and  remained 
six  years,  engaged  in  manufacturing  and 
selling  furniture.  In  1869  he  returned 


to  his  farm,  on  section  36  of  Hire  town- 
ship, and  there  lived  until  1873.  In  1875 
he  engaged  in  the  book  and  stationary 
business,  and  continued  until  1881,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  living  a  compar- 
atively retired  life.  He  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,and  was  born  in  Marion  county, 
March  19,  1827.  His  father  was  Harri- 
son Payton  Thornton,  a  native  Virginian, 
of  English  origin,  who  came  to  Kentucky 
when  two  years  old.  His  mother  was 
formerly  Elizabeth  Chamberlain,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  She  died  in  1852,  and 
his  father  in  1881.  Anthony  Thornton's 
settlement  in  this  county  bears  date 
April  6, 1858.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 19, 1864,  to  Amanda  M.  Welch.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  now  living,  Mary  E.  The  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  in  which  organiza- 
tion he  is  an  elder.  He  is  a  strong  tem- 
perance man,  and  an  earnest  worker  in 
the  cause.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  and  of  the  Good  Templars.  Of  the 
latter  fraternity  he  was  representative  to 
the  grand  lodge,  in  1861,  at  Decatur;  in 
1862  at  Springfield;  in  1863  at  Quincy; 
in  1864  at  Chicago;  in  1867  at  Decatur, 
and  in  1878  at  Abingdon,  and  was  at  one 
time  state  deputy,  to  organize  lodges. 

The  next  to  fill  the  office  for  two  years 
was  John  W.  Siders,  who  was  elected  in 
the  fall  of  1875. 

Mr.  Siders  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having 
been  born  in  Highland  county,  of  that 
state,  on  the  31st  day  of  March,  1839. 
His  father,  Henry  Siders,  was  born  near 
Frederick,  Maryland,  but  at  an  early  age 
emigrated  to  Virginia,  the  native  state 
of  his  mother,  whose  maideu  name  was 
Nancy  Kidd.  The  young  couple  were 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


313 


poor  in  this  world's  goods,  but  rich  in 
faith,  and  with  a  will  and  determination 
to  dare  and  do.  Shortly  after  marriage 
they  moved  to  Ohio,  settling  in  High- 
land county,  where  they  made  their  home 
for  some  years.  Mr.  Siders  was  a  hard- 
working man,  one  that  never  shirked 
duty  in  any  respect.  It  is  said  of  him 
that  he  could  clear  more  land  of  its  tim- 
ber and  brush  than  any  man  in  the  whole 
state.  The  first  recollection  of  the  sub- 
ject of  our  present  sketch  is  in  living  in 
the  timber,  gathering  together,  piling  up 
and  burning  the  brush  from  the  fallen 
trees.  At  the  age  of  six  years  he  was 
sent  to  the  common  schools  of  the  county 
in  which  he  lived,  this  being  continued 
for  four  months  in  each  year  until  he 
was  12  years  of  age,  since  which  time  he 
had  only  forty  days'  schooling.  During 
this  last  period  duties  were  placed  upon 
him  which  the  youth  of  our  land  at  pres- 
ent would  doubtless  rebel  against.  With 
nine  others  he  was  classed  off  two  and 
two,  and  one  day  in  each  week  would 
have  to  cut  the  wood  and  build  the  fire 
in  the  old-fashioned  fire-place,  which 
was  eight  feet  wide  and  which  required 
for  one  filling  a  very  large  amount  of 
wood.  The  school  house  was  situated 
in  a  valley,  and  whole  trees  were  dragged 
down  from  the  top  of  the  high  hill  and 
piled  around  the  school  house  that  they 
might  be  cut  by  the  oldest  boys. 

In  1856,  with  his  parents,  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  settled  in  Emmet 
township,  where  he  resided  until  he  re- 
moved to  Macomb  on  his  accession  to 
the  office  of  county  treasurer  to  which 
he  had  been  elected  the  year  previous. 
All  the  best  years  of  his  life  have  been 
spent  on  a  farm,  and  for  nearly  20  years 


of  that  time  he  has  worked  on  the  farm 
in  summer  and  taught  school  in  the 
winter.  As  a  teacher  he  has  been  emi- 
nently successful.  Notwithstanding  the 
short  time  spent  in  the  schools  of  the 
county,  he  has  at  home  studied  hard  to 
prepare  himself  for  usefulness  in  life. 
He  is  a  self-educated  and  a  self-made 
man  in  every  respect.  At  present  Mr. 
Siders  resides  at  Plymouth,  Indiana, 
where  he  edits  and  publishes  the  Repub- 
lican, of  that  place. 

John  Neff,  in  1877,  was  elected  to  this 
office  by  the  democratic  party,  and  en- 
tering upon  the  duties  of  the  position, 
served  his  constituents  in  this  capacity 
for  nearly  a  year,  when  his  death  oc- 
curred. An  election  was  ordered  to  fill 
the  Vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
Mr.  Neff,  and  Dr.  B.  K.  Westfall  and  John 
W.  Westfall  were  nominated  respectively 
by  the  republican  and  democratic  par- 
ties. The  election  resulted  in  the  selec- 
tion of  John  W.  Westfall  by  a  majority 
of  over  300  to  supply  that  vacancy. 
About  the  year  1880  the  latter  removed 
to  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  where  he  died  in 
January,  1885. 

After  a  closely  contested  campaign  in 
1879,  it  was  found  that  W.  M.  Kagon, 
the  republican  candidate  for  the  office  of 
county  treasurer,  was  ahead,  and  on  the 
1st  of  January  following  he  took  upon 
himself  the  duties  of  the  office,  and 
served  for  three  years. 

William  M.  Ragon,  the  present  pro- 
prietor of  the  Eagle  pottery  works,  was 
born  in  Hamilton  county,  Tennessee, 
November  5,  1838,  being  the  son  of 
David  and  Nancy  (Faw)  Ragon.  Wm. 
M.  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  state, 
and  in  1861  removed  to  Illinois,  going 


314 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


direct  to  Blandinsville,  McDonough 
county,  where  lie  engaged  in  the  black- 
smith and  wagon-making  business,  hav- 
ing learned  those  trades  in  his  native 
state.  The  following  winter  he  removed 
to  Henderson  county,  but  one  year  later 
returned  to  Blandinsville,  and,  in  the 
fall  of  1862,  was  married  to  Nancy  For- 
rest, a  daughter  of  William  F.  Forrest. 
In  the  spring  of  1863,  William  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Emmett  township,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  26th  of  August  of  that 
year  his  corn  crop  was  destroyed  by  the 
frost.  In  February,  1864,  he  enlisted  in 
company  A,  16th  Illinois  infantry,  and 
served  up  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
then  returned  to  Blandinsville,  and  re- 
sumed work  at  his  trade,  but  soon  after- 
ward again  engaged  in  farming,  which 
he  continued  until  1879,  when  he  was 
elected  as  county  treasurer  of  this  county 
and  served  three  years.  During  his  term 
of  office  he  became  interested  in  the 
Eagle  pottery  works,  of  which  he  is  now 
the  sole  proprietor.  Politically,  Mr. 
Ragon  is  a  staunch  republican,  and  does 
much  for  the  success  of  his  party.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workingmen 
societies.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ragon  have 
been  the  parents  of  eight  children,  six  of 
whom  are  now  living — Ollie,  Stella,  Alta, 
Bertha,  Corda  and  Willie. 

Thomas  I.  Sorter,  the  present  county 
treasurer,  was  elected  in  November, 
1882,  and  has  held  it  ever  since. 

Thomas  I.  Sorter,  a  son  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Sweazy)  Sorter,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  when  a  mere  boy  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  and  in  1849 
settled  in  McDonough  county,  locating 


on  a  farm  in  what  is  now  Hire  township. 
They  had  near  neighbors,  but  on  the 
north  of  them  there  were  but  two 
houses  between  them  and  Blandinsville, 
a  distance  of  six  miles.  They  soon  re- 
moved to  Blandinsville,  and  continued 
tilling  the  soil,  their  principal  trading 
point  being  Warsaw,  a  distance  of  40 
miles.  To  take  a  load  of  grain  to  said 
market  required  four  days,  and  four  dol- 
lars was  considered  good  compensation, 
but  to  earn  this  amount  it  was  necessary 
to  bring  back  a  load  of  merchandise  for 
merchants  at  Blandinsville.  Mr.  Sorter 
followed  teaming  for  several  years,  and 
hauled  corn  during  one  winter,  for  his 
father,  to  Blandinsville,  a  distance  of 
three  miles.  At  that  time  corn  was  not 
weighed  or  measured,  and  when  it  was 
all  hauled,  the  purchaser  estimated  the 
amount  delivered,  and  concluded  that  he 
had  received  about  1,000  bushels,  and 
allowed  him  10  cents  per  bushel  for  the 
same,  at  which  price  corn  was  not  worth 
weighing.  Mr.  Sorter  learned  the  wagon 
making  trade,  but  on  acouiit  of  poor 
health  was  compelled  to  give  it  up.  He 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1872  removed  his  business  to 
Bushnell.  In  1874  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  cigars,  in  which  business 
he  continued  until  the  fall  of  1880,  when 
he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  and  re- 
moved to  Macomb.  At  that  time  he 
had  a  large  stock  of  cigars  on  hand, 
which  were  destroyed  by  fire  June  1, 
1884,  by  which  he  lost  $2,500.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  held  several 
local  offices  previous  to  his  election ,  to 
the  office  of  county  treasurer.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  K.  of  P.  lodges.  On  the  1st  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


317 


March,  1863,  he  was  married  to  Clarinda 
E.  Cherry.  Her  parents  died  when  she 
.was  very  young,  and  she  was  then 
reared  in  the  family  of  her  uncle, 
Thomas  Cherry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sorter 
have  one  son,  William  L.  Mrs.  Sorter 
has  been  a  helpless  invalid  since  Sep- 
tember, 1870,  caused  by  rheumatism. 
Mr.  Sorter  has  always  been  prominently 
identified  with  McDonough  county,  and, 
in  his  present  position,  has  proved  him- 
self to  be  an  efficient  and  trustworthy 
officer,  and  one  who  is  deserving  of  the 
respect  and  support  of  the  citizens  of 
the  county,  without  regard  to  party. 

CLERK   OF   THE    CIRCUIT   COURT. 

On  the  organization  of  the  county,  in 
1830,  John  Baker  was  appointed  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court,  pro  tern., by  Eichard 
M.  Young,  then  judge  of  the  fifth  judi- 
cial district,  and  he  acted  as  clerk  of  the 
first  term  of  the  circuit  court  ever  held 
in  this  county.  The  first  regularly  ap- 
pointed clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  how- 
ever, was  James  M.  Campbell,  who  re- 
ceived the  appointment  to  that  office 
from  Eichard  M.  Young,  judge  of  this, 
the  then  fifth  judicial  district,  in  the 
spring  of  1831.  Mr.  Campbell  held  this 
office  for  more  than  15  years,  to  the  in- 
finite credit  of  himself  and  the  satisfac- 
tion of  all  concerned.  A  sketch  of  this 
old  pioneer  and  able  man  may  be  found 
in  a  previous  part  of  this  chapter,  under 
the  heading  of  general  assembly,  he 
having  been  honored  by  being  sent  by 
the  people  of  this  district  to  represent 
them  at  the  state  capital. 

William  H.  Eandolph  was  the  next  to 
fill  this  important  office,  having  been 
elected  in  1848,  and  re-elected  both,  in 


1852  and  1854.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  men  in  the  county,  and  largely 
identified  with  the  official  life  of  the 
county.  In  1844  he  was  elected  as  a 
member  of  the  state  house  of  represent- 
atives, and  re-elected  in  1846,  and  in 
connection  with  that  office  is  written  up 
at  length. 

In  1856,  William  T.  Head  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  circuit  clerk  by  the  peo- 
ple of  the  county,  and  served  them  in 
this  capacity  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Head  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Kentucky,  on  the  16th  day  of 
February,  1816.  He  emigrated  to  Mc- 
Donough county  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of 
1834,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  November 
entered  the  office  (or  rather  offices)  of 
James  M.  Campbell,  who  then  held  the 
office  of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  clerk 
of  the  county  court,  postmaster  and 
county  recorder,  as  assistant  clerk,  in 
which  position  he  remained  until  elected 
county  recorder  in  August,  1839. 

On  the  reorganization  of  the  judiciary 
in  the  spring  of  1841,  he  met  the  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas,  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  supreme  court,  performing  circuit 
duties  in  the  fifth  judicial  circuit,  being 
the  first  court  at  which  he  presided  as 
judge.  At  that  time  a  very  large  amount 
of  business  had  accumulated  upon  the 
dockets  in  every  county  in  the  circuit,  to 
an  extent  that  it  required  great  labor  to 
dispatch  the  business  of  the  courts,  con- 
sequently it  required  more  than  an  ordi- 
nary clerical  force  to  make  up  the  rec- 
ords, and  as  there  had  been  the  year  be- 
fore (1840)  the  most  exciting  political 
contest  that  the  country  had  ever  exper- 
ienced, it  was  expected  that  a  general  re- 
moval of 'the  opposition  clerks  would  be 


19 


318 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


made  by  the  court,  and  such  was  the 
case,  In  anticipation  of  this,  Mr.  Head 
accepted  the  invitation  of  the  judge  to 
accompany  him  on  the  circuit  and  make 
the  record  for  the  new  appointees,  and 
assist  such  of  those  who  were  not  re- 
moved; as  needed  assistance.  In  conse- 
quence of  this,  he  had  charge  of  the 
records  in  McDonough  county,  where  he 
still  remained  as  deputy,  and-  of  Han- 
cock, Henderson,  Warren  and  Schuyler. 
The  arduous  duties  of  this  he  continued 
to  perform,  until  relieved  by  his  brother, 
who  was  for  many  years  afterwards  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court  of  Hancock  county, 
but  is  now  deceased. 

In  the  year  1843,  Mr.  Head  was  again 
elected  county  recorder  of  McDonough 
county,  and  was  by  the  county  court  ap- 
pointed a  commissioner  to  transcribe  the 
records  of  the  military  lands  in  McDon- 
ough county;  recorder  at  Edwardsville 
and  Pittsfield,  and  in  the  state  recorder's 
office,  and  completed  the  work  in  the  fol- 
lowing year. 

In  1847  he  was  again  elected  recorder, 
which  office  he  held  until  the  abolition 
of  the  office  by  the  constitution  of  1848. 
In  the  fall  of  1849,  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer,  but  which  office  he  resigned, 
and  in  1850  was  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county.  In  1852  he  was  an  unsuccessful 
candidate  for  the  office  of  circuit  clerk, 
but  in  1856  was  more  fortunate,  being 
chosen  to  fill  that  responsible  office  by 
the  people  of  the  county.  In  1860  he 
was  a  candidate  for  re-election  for  the 
same  office,  but  was  defeated,  as  is  said, 
by  unfair  means.  In  1864,  Mr.  Head 
entered  the  office  of  J.  H.  Hungate,  as 
deputy  to  that  gentleman  who  had  just 
been  elected  clerk.  In  1867,  Mr.  Head 


emigrated  to  Sabine  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  business,  and  re- 
mained until  January,  1874.  During  his 
stay  in  that  locality  he  had  the  honor  to 
serve  as  mayor  of  the  beautiful  city  of 
Marshall,  At  the  date  last  above  writ- 
ten he  moved  to  Quincy,  to  accept  a  po-. 
sition  in  the  office  of  the  circuit  clerk  of 
that  county,  where  he  still  remains. 

J.  B.  Cummings  was  elected  to  fill  this 
office  in  1860,  and  held  it  for  one  term 
of  four  years,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 
He  was  born  in  Cecil  county,  Maryland, 
January  17,  1824,  and  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Rachel  (Hall)  Cummings, 
both  natives  of  that  state.  His  early 
life  was  spent  upon  a  farm,  and  in  the 
private  or  select  schools  of  his  native 
state  and  Ohio,  to  which  latter  place  the 
family  removed  on  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  occurred  in  the  early  part 
of  the  year  1837.  The  family  settled  in 
Harrison  county,  of  that  state,  where 
they  remained  three  years,  going  from 
thence  to  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania. 
After  settling  up  affairs,  on  the  death  of 
his  father,  but  little  was  left,  and  the 
support  of  the  family  fell  upon  John 
and  an  older  sister,  the  latter  engaging 
as  a  teacher,  while  John  secured  a  place 
as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  and  grocery  store, 
which  occupation  he  followed  for  some 
years,  or  until  enabled  to  go  into  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Mr.  Cummings  has 
been  twice  married;  first  to  Evaline  W. 
Pearson,  of  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  3,  1847. 

By  this  union,  there  were  six  children 
five  of  whom  are  still  living — Clarence 
P.,  born  December  27,  1847,  now  en- 
gaged as  a  book-keeper  and  dealer  in 
real  estate,  in  Rio  Grande  county,  Col- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


319 


orado;  Leonidas  B.,  who  married 
Georgie  Westgate,  of  Quincy,  and  now 
resides  at  Bushnell;  James  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Matilda  J.  Perrine,  and  is  now 
a  resident  of  Bushnell,  where  he  con- 
ducts a  job  printing  office;  Chas.  C.,  who 
resides  at  home,  and  is  a  shareholder  and 
bookkeeper  for  the  Bushnell  Fire  Clay 
tile  and  brick  works;  Eva,  the  wife  of 
C.  W.  Dickerson,  of  Chicago,  at  present 
cashier  for  Lord,  Owens  &  Company, 
wholesale  druggists;  Minnie,  the  sixth 
child,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Cummings 
departed  this  life  on  the  16th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1862.  Mr.  Cummings  was  again 
married,  April  19th,  1864,  to  Mrs.  Mary 
E.  Parkinson,  nee  Chambers,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  who  was  born  near 
Lexington.  Her  parents  removed 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  the 
month  of  October,  1844.  By  her  first 
marriage,  Mrs.  Cummings  was  the 
mother  of  two  children,  now  deceased — 
Charles  Henry  and  Ann  Elizabeth. 
Her  father,  William  Chambers,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Macomb,  and  a 
sketch  of  whom  will  he  found  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cum- 
mings are  the  parents  of  one  child- 
William  C.,  who  was  born  on  the  16th 
of  January,  1865,  and  resides  at  home. 
In  1851  Mr.  Cummings  came  to 
the  "Great  West,"  as  then  called,  and 
took  up  his  residence  at  Macomb,  in  this 
county,  where  he  resided  until  his  re- 
moval to  the  city  of  Bushnell  in  1865. 
Shortly  after  coming  to  Macomb,  in 
company  with  Mr.  John  B.  Pearson,  he 
purchased  the  stock  and  good  will  of 
Messrs.  Randolph  &  Parkinson  in  the 
dry  goods  and  grocery  trade,  continuing 
the  same,  with  some  changes,  until  1857, 


when  he  retired  from  the  firm  that  he 
might  accept  the  position  as  clerk  in  the 
newly  established  banking  house  of 
Charles  Chandler  &  Co.,  which  position 
he  retained  until  his  election  to  the  office 
of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  of  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1860.  At  this  election 
he  ran  for  the  office  against  William  T. 
Head,  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in 
the  county,  receiving  a  small  majority, 
notwithstanding  the  county  had  never 
previously  given  a  majority  in  favor  of 
the  party  to  which  Mr.  Cummings  be- 
longed. Mr.  Head,  not  content  with  the 
result,  contested  the  election,  but  the 
court  before  whom  the  case  was  tried, 
decided  in  Mr.  Cummings'  favor.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he 
removed  to  Bushnell,  and  in  company 
with  Charles  Chandler,  started  a  private 
banking  house  under  the  firm  name  of 
Chandler  &  Cummings.  Mr.  Chandler 
residing  in  Macomb  and  being  engaged 
in  a  similar  enterprise,  the  business  of 
the  Bushnell  firm  was  conducted  by  Mr. 
Cummings  alone.  In  1871  a  charter  was 
obtained  for  a  national  bank,  the  firm  in- 
vested their  means  in  the  same,  and,  to- 
gether with  other  parties,  organized  the 
Farmer's  National  bank,  with  Mr.  Cum- 
mings as  cashier  and  general  manager. 
On  his  removal  to  Bushnell,  with  his 
accustomed  zeal,  Mr.  Cummings  at  once 
entered  upon  the  work  of  promoting  the 
interests  of  that  go-ahead  town — no  pub- 
lic enterprise  but  what  secured  his 
hearty  and  active  co-operation.  On  the 
organization  of  the  town  as  a  city  in 
1869,  he  was  elected  its  first  mayor,  was 
several  times  re-elected  to  the  same  of- 
fice. While  in  the  office  of  clerk. of 
the  circuit  court  he  gave  the  greatest 


320 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


attention  to  the  details  of  that  office. 
Having  business  to  transact  with  hun- 
dreds throughout  the  county,  he  treated 
all  in  a  way  to  secure  their  friendshtp 
and  good  will.  Although  beaten  for  the 
same  office  in  1864,  it  was  not  on  ac- 
count of  the  loss  of  any  personal  popu- 
larity, but  from  causes  resulting  from 
the  war.  In  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
as  mayor  of  the  city  of  Bushnell  he 
always  endeavored  to  be  impartial  in 
everything,  working  for  the  best  inter- 
ests of  that  place. 

In  1878  he  was  a  candidate  before  the 
republican  state  convention  for  state 
treasurer,  and  although  making  no  can- 
vass whatever  of  the  state,  and  making 
no  special  effort  for  the  nomination,  he 
received  unanimous  support  of  the  dele- 
gates for  the  10th  and  llth  congressional 
districts,  and  held  the  balance  of  power 
in  the  corivention,  and  it  was  by  turning 
his  support  to  Hon.  J.  C.  Smith  that  gave 
that  gentleman  the  nomination. 

John  H.  Hungate  was  the  next  occu- 
pant of  this  office,  having  been  elected 
at  the  general  election  of  1864,  although 
running  against  J.  B.  Cummings,  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  in  the  county.  He 
served  the  county  for  four  years.3 

John  H.  Hungate  was  born  in  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois,  on  the  2d  day  of 
June,  1838.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1862,  and  commenced  the  practice  of 
law.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  as  above.  In- 
1876  he. was  the  democratic  nominee  for 
congress,  in  the  tenth  congressional  dis- 
trict, and  the  nominee  of  the  same 
party  in  1880,  for  state  senator  from  the 
twenty-fourth  district.  He  is,  at  pres- 
ent, a  banker  at  LaHarpe,  Illinois. 


The  next  incumbent  of  the  office  of  clerk 
of  the  circuit  court  was  Benj.  F.  Pink- 
ley,  elected  in  November,  1868,  and  serv- 
ing one  term  of  four  years. 

At  the  November  election  of  1872, 
Isaac  N.  Pearson  was  the  successful 
contestant  for  the  official  honors  and 
emolument  arising  from  the  position  of 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court.  He  entered 
upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  and 
fulfilled  them  so  well,  that  in  1876,  he 
was  re-elected  to  the  same  office,  serving 
in  all,  eight  years.  Mr.  Pearson  is 
noticed  at  length  in  connection  with  the 
Thirty-third  general  assembly. 

Joseph  E.  Wyne  was  elected  to  this 
onerous  and  responsible  of  fice,in  Novem- 
ber, 1880,  and  served  his  constituency 
admirably  for  one  term  of  four  years. 

Joseph  E.  Wyne,  one  of  Macomb's 
prominent  retired  citizens,  is  a  native 
Kentuckiaii,  and  was  born  February  13, 
1820,  being  the  son  of  B.  F.  and  Mary 
Ann  (Doyle)  Wyne,  both  deceased,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Ireland.  Joseph 
E.,  was  left  an  orphan  when  but  a  small 
boy,  and,  in  April,  1834,  with  the  family 
of  Joseph  McCrosky,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  in  the  northern  part  of 
Industry  township,  McDonough  county. 
Here  he  tilled  the  soil  for  about  four 
years,  then  removing  to  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb,  where  he  commenced  mercantile 
life  as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  N.  P.  Tin- 
sley,  with  whom  he  remained  some  seven 
years.  He  then  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  C.  A.  Lawson,  and,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Wyne  &  Lawson,  carried 
on  a  general  store  until  1848,  at  which 
time  Mr.  Wyne  bought  the  interest  of 
his  partner,  and  continued  in  the  busi- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


321 


ness  until  1856,  when  he  sold  out  and 
entered  into  the  lumber  trade,  continuing 
the  same  for  three  years.  In  1861  he 
received  the  appointment  of  postmaster 
of  Macomb,  which  office  he  held  until 
1865.  He  again  engaged  in  the  lumber 
business  in  1866,  which  he  followed  until 
1869.  In  1870  Mr.  Wyne  was  appointed 
census-taker  of  McDonough  county,  and 
soon  afterwards  became  deputy  circuit 
clerk,  serving  as  such  until  1880,  in 
which  year  he  was  elected  clerk  of  the 
court,  which  office  he  held  one  term, 
four  years.  In  1845  Joseph  E.  Wyne 
and  Laurinda  Hays,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
•  Charles  Hays,  were  united  in  marriage. 
As  a  result  of  this  union,  they  had  10 
children  born  to  them,  eight  of  whom 
are  yet  living — Elizabeth,  wife  of  James 
A.  Hungate,  of  Washington  territory ;  J. 
W.,  H.  C.,  Lewis  E.,  a  lawyer  at  Kansas 
City;  Frank  P.,  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Qunicy  station  agent  at  Peoria;  George 
H.,  with  American  Express  Company; 
Annie,  and  Walker,  a  book-keeper  at 
Macomb.  In  politics  Mr.  Wyne  is  a 
staunch  republican,  and,  besides  the 
offices  named  above,  has  held  numerous 
local  offices.  In  fact,  his  friends  have 
kept  him  in  some  office  of  trust  about 
all  the  time,  thus  showing  his  personal 
popularity.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.. 

Cadwallader  S.  Churchill,  the  present 
incumbent  of  the  office  of  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court,  was  elected  to  that  position 
in  November,  1884. 

C.  S.  Churchill,  the  present  clerk  of 
the  court,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Ma- 
comb, April  25,  1834,  being  a  son  of 
Richard  H.  and  Sarah  A.  (Brown) 
Churchill.  His  father  died  in  1837,  af- 
ter which  the  remainder  of  his  family 


returned  to  Kentucky,  their  former 
home.  The  early  life  of  C.  S.,  was 
spent  on  a  farm,  and  he  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  private  schools,  as  they  were 
the  only  schools  in  existence  in  the 
south.  In  1856,  he  returned  to  his  nat- 
ive county  and  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  trade,  and  subsequently  also,  en- 
tered into  the  lumber  business.  He  af- 
terwards engaged  as  traveling  salesman 
for  a  wholesale  liquor  house.  In  the 
fall  of  1884,  he  was  elected  to  his  pres- 
ent office.  He  was  married  April  3, 
1860,  to  Mary  E.  Twyman,  a  daughter 
of  Iverson  L.  Twyman.  They  have 
three  children — Nannie,  Alfred  B.,  and 
Iverson  L.  Nannie,  the  eldest,  died  in 
March,  1885.  Mr.  Churchill  is  a  democrat 
in  politics  and  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason 
and  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen. 

Burchard  H.  Churchill,  father  of  C. 
S.,  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  while 
yet  a  resident  of  that  state,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  A.  Brown.  In  1833  they 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  McDon- 
ough county.  Mr.  Churchill  died  Octo- 
ber 14,  1837,  and  his  wife  with  her  fam- 
ily returned  to  Kentucky,  where  she 
died  in  1872.  They  had  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  now  living  in  this 
county — C.  S.,  and  John  W. 

SHERIFFS. 

As  has  been  already  said,  the  first 
election  in  the  county  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Elias  McFadden,  on  the  3d  of 
July,  1830,  at  which  time  the  officers  to 
perfect  the  organization  of  the  county 
were  duly  elected.  Among  these  was 
William  Southward,  the  first  sheriff  of 
McDonough  county.  These  officers 


322 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


were  chosen  to  fill  these  places  until  the 
next  election,  which  was  in  August,  fol- 
lowing, when  Mr.  Southward  was  re-el- 
ected. He  was  again  re-elected  in  1832 
and  1834.  Mr.  Southward  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  at  what  was  then 
known  as  "  Job's  settlement "  now  Blan- 
dinsville,  coming  in  the  spring  of  1826. 
After  his  term  of  office  as  sheriff  had 
expired,  he  left  this  country  and  moved 
to  Missouri  and  has  been  lost  sight  of. 

Daniel  Campbell  was  the  second  sher- 
iff of  the  county,  having  been  elected  to 
that  office  in  the  fall  of  1836.  He  was 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  where  he  resided 
until  1828,  when  he  removed  to  this 
state  and  located  in  Sangamon  county. 
He  remained  there  but  one  year  when 
he  came  to  this  county,  landing  in  Ten- 
nessee township  on  the  10th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1829.  In  the  spring  of  1830,  he  lo- 
cated on  section  10,  where  he  made  some, 
efforts  to  open  up  a  farm,  but  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year  he  moved  to  section  3, 
where  he  resided  until  1832.  In  that 
and  the  succeeding  year,  he  was  a  vol- 
unteer in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  In 
1836,  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county  as  above  stated  and  served  two 
years.  During  the  year  1841,  he  left 
his  home  and  made  a  trip  through  parts 
of  the  south,  especially  the  Red  River 
country,  and  while  returning  from  thence 
was  taken  sick  and  died  in  Green  county, 
Illinois,  on  the  9th  of  Apnil,  1842. 

William  H.  Randolph  was  the  next 
incumbent  of  this  office,  being  first  elec- 
ted in  1838,  and  re-elected  in  1840  and 
1842,  filling  this  office  therefore,  for  six 
years.  Mr.  Randolph  has  been  men- 
tioned at  length  in  connection  with  the 
position  of  member  of  the  general  as- 


sembly, an  office  which  he  filled  at  a 
later  date. 

David  Lawson,  the  next  sheriff  of 
McDonough  county,  was  elected  to  that 
office  in  1844,  and  twice  re-elected,  in 
1846  and  in  1848,  serving  in  all  six 
years. 

David  Lawson  came  to  this  county 
from  Kentucky,  in  1838,  bringing  his 
family  with  him.  He  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business  in  Macomb  and  after- 
wards added  dry  goods  to  his  stock.  In 
1844  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  sher- 
iff and  was  re-elected  as  above.  He 
took  quite  a  prominent  part  in  the  Mor- 
mon war,  and  was  with  the  volunteers 
from  this  county.  He  is  at  present  at 
Fort  Worth,  Texas,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  running  a  flour  and  feed  depot  and  is 
interested  in  stock  matters.  His  family 
are  resdents  of  Macomb. 

William  T.  Head,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
sheriff  in  1850,  resigning  the  office  of 
county  treasurer  to  take  this  position. 
He  served  the  people  of  the  county  two 
years, 

Sydnor  H.  Hogaii  was  elected  in  1852, 
to  fill  the  position  of  sheriff,  and  was  re- 
elected  to  the  same  office  in  1854,  and 
served  four  years  in  this  office.  A  notice 
of  him  may  be  found  in  connection 
with  the  office  of  treasurer,  which  he 
filled  at  a  later  date. 

George  A.  Taylor,  in  1856,  was  elected 
to  the  office  of  sheriff  and  occupied  the 
position  for  one  term  of  two  years. 

George  A.  Taylor,  one  of  McDonough 
county's  pioneers,   came  in   the  fall  of   • 
1833.     He  is  a  native  Virginian,  and  was 
born  January  16,  1809,  his  parents  being 
Josiah  and  Elizabeth   Taylor.      When 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


323 


George  was  about  eight  years  of  age,  his 
parents    removed    to    North    Carolina, 
where  he  grew  to   manhood.      He  then 
went  to  Cumberland   county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  was*  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  A.  Vawter,  in  1833,  and  soon 
afterwards    removed     to    Illinois    and 
entered     land    in   Chalmers  township, 
McDonough    county,   and    engaged    in 
farming.      He    afterwards    moved  into 
Scotland  township.     His  principal  occu- 
pation was  farming  until  1850,  when  he 
came  to  Macomb,  and  served  as  deputy 
sheriff  until  1856,  being  then  elected   to 
the  office  of  sheriff,  and  served   as  such 
for  two  years.     At  the  expiration  of   his 
term  as  sheriff,  he  purchased  a  farm  lo- 
cated about  three  miles  east  of  Macomb, 
and  again  followed  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  the  fall  of  1865   he  sold  his  farm, 
wintered  in  Macomb,  and  the  following 
spring  removed  to  the  village  of  Industry, 
and,  in  company  with  his  son,  Winslow 
H.,  carried  on  hardware  and  grocery  bus- 
iness for!4  years.  In  the  spring  of  1880, 
Mrs.  Taylor  died,  and  her  husband  then 
closed  out  the  business  and  returned  to 
Macomb,  and,  with   his   son,  purchased 
the  livery  business  which  they  now  con- 
duct.    Of  the  three  children  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Taylor,  two  are  living.  Paulina, 
now  the  wife   of  R.   H.    Morsey,   and 
Winslow  H.     Lucy  Jane,  the  eldest  of 
the  children,  became  the  wife  of  A.  C. 
Morsey,  and  settled  at  Pekin,   Illinois, 
where    she   died  in   1880,  leaving  five 
children.     Mr.  Taylor,  voted  for  Andrew 
Jackson   in   1832,  and  has   adhered  to 
democratic  principles  ever  since,  always 
voting    that   ticket    straight.      Besides 
holding  the  office  of  sheriff,  he  has  filled 
a  seat  in  the  board  of  supervisors. 


The  next  to  occupy  the  office  of  sheriff 
of  this  county  was  F.  D.  Lipe,  who  was 
elected  thereto  at  the  election  in  the  fall 
of  1858,  and  who  filled  the  same  for  one 
term  of  two  years.  Mr.  Lipe  has  been 
already  noticed  in  connection  with  the 
office  of  county  treasurer. 

At  the  general  election  in  the  fall  of 
1860,  Silas  J.  Hopper  was  chosen  by  the 
qualified  voters  of  the  county  for  the 
office  of  sheriff.  He  entered  upon  the 
duties  of  the  office  and  served  the  peo- 
pie  for  two  years. 

Amos  Dixon  was  the  10th  occupant  of 
this  office.  He  was  elected  in  the  fall 
of  1862,  and  served  two  years. 

Amos  Dixon,  who  was  elected  sheriff 
of  this  county  in  1862,  is  a  native  of 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  Jan- 
uary 10,  1826.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  receiving  a  limited  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  his  native  state. 
He  came  to  this  county  in  1852  and  first 
settled  in  Industry  township ;  there  re- 
mained until  elected  sheriff,  when  he 
moved  to  the  city  of  Macomb.  In  1852 
he  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Pyle,  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  Politically  he 
has  always  affiliated  with  the  democratic 
party. 

Next  came  G.  L.  Farwell,  who  was 
chosen  in  1864  by  the  citizens  to  fill  this 
honorable,  but  onerous,  office,  and  he, 
also,  remained  in  this  official  capacity 
two  years. 

Capt.  G.  L.  Farwell,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Macomb,  was  born  in  St. 
Charles,  Missouri,  August  30,  1818,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Abigail  ( How- 
land)  Farwell,  the  former  of  whom  died 
when  the  captain  was  only  five  years  old. 
His  mother  subsequently  married  Benja- 


324 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


min  Walker.  The  family  afterwards 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  G.  L.,  at  the  age 
of  16,  went  to  Quincy  and  engaged  as  a 
clerk,  where  he  remained  until  1842, 
when  he  came  to  Macomb  and  joined  his 
sister,  the  wife  of  Hon.  James  M.  Camp- 
bell. In  1845  Mary  W.  Cheatham  be- 
came his  wife:  '  They  have  one  child 
living.  In  1861  G.  L.  enlisted  and  was 
mustered  into  the  service  as  captain  of 
company  D,  28th  Illinois  infantry,  which 
rank  he  held  during  his  service,  being 
mustered  out  in  August,  1864.  During 
the  battle  at  Jackson,  Mississippi,  the 
captain  was  wounded,  a  rifle  ball  pene- 
trating his  right  arm  and  passing  through 
his  body.  On  his  return  home  he  was 
elected  sheriff  and  served  one  term,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  constable  and 
general  collector.  Politically,  he  is  a 
republican.  The  G.  A.  B.  and  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.  claim  him  as  a  member. 

Samuel  Wilson  was  elected,  in  1866, 
to  this  office,  and  held  it  one  term. 

Samuel  Wilson  is  the  eldest  son  of 
John  and  Jane  (McComsey)  Wilson, 
and  was  born  March  17, 1817,  at  Mechan- 
icsburg,  Champaign  county,  Ohio.  His 
father,  John  Wilson,  was  born  August 
12,  1781,  in  Greenbrier  county,  Virginia, 
and  resided  with  his  parents  until  1804, 
when  he  pushed  out  into  the  wilderness 
of  Ohio,  making  a  settlement  in  Madison 
county,  where  he  was  married.  Mrs. 
Wilson  was  a  native  of  Harrodsburg, 
Kentucky,  born  October  7,  1787,  and  re- 
moved to  Ohio  in  1808;  was  married 
December  20,  1809;  seven  children  were 
born  to  them — Melissa,  Margaret,  Sam- 
uel, John,  Eli,  Jane  and  Mary  Ann.  On 
the  1st  of  March,  1816,  John  Wilson 
moved  to  Champaign  county,  where  the 


subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  Sam- 
uel resided  with  the  authors  of  his  being 
until  September,  1835,  when  the  family 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  and,  coming  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  made  a*  settlement  in 
Bethel  township,where  John  Wilson,  the 
elder,  died  on  the  14th  of  June,  1843. 
His  aged  wife  followed  him  on  the  llth 
of  February,  1861.  Samuel  Wilson  and 
Susan  Edmonston  were  married  in  this 
county,  November  30,  1837.  Mrs.  Wil- 
son was  a  native  of  DuBois  county,  In- 
diana, born  May  20, 1822,  and  died  June 
6,  1884.  This  couple  were  the'  parents 
of  ten  children,  three  daughters  and 
seven  sons,  whose  names  are  as  follows: 
Mary  Jane,  Annie,  William,  Eli,  Zachary 
T.,  Nicholas  E.,  James  E.,  Samuel,  Laura 
Lizzie  and  Edwin  M.  Samuel  Wilson  has 
been  a  constant  resident  of  this  county 
ever  since  1835,  except  part  of  one  year, 
he  having  moved  to  Kansas  in  November, 
1872,  but  returned  to  this  place  in  the 
following  June.  His  occupation  has 
been  principally  farming,  but  he  sold 
goods'  at  Middletown,  or  Fandon,  for  a 
while.  He  was  the  county  assessor  for 
the  year  1843,  and  again  in  1851  and 
1852  he  assessed  the  south  half  of  the 
county  and  the  city  of  Macomb.  In  pol- 
itics he  was  a  whig  until  1856,  when  he 
attached  himself  to  the  free  soil,  or  re- 
publican party,  with  whom  he  still  affil- 
iates. At  the  beginning  of  the  war,  in 
April,  1861,  he  raised  a  company  and 
was  unanimously  chosen  captain.  On 
reporting  at  Springfield  he  found  that 
he  was  too  late  to  be  included  in  the  first 
call  for  volunteers,  but  on  proceeding 
with  his  company  to  Quincy,  assisted  in 
the  organization  of  the  16th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, of  which  he  was  made  lieutenant- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


325 


colonel,  and  served  with  the  regiment  un- 
til November  14, 1862,  when  he  resigned 
on  account  of  ill-health  and  disability, 
and  returned  home.  In  1866  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  as  above 
related.  On  the  14th  of  March,  1881,  he 
was  appointed  United  States  storekeeper 
for  the  fourth  collection  district  of  Illi- 
nois, and  in  January,  1884,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  fifth  district,  and  is  now  on 
duty  at  Peoria.  Although  without  the 
limits  of  the  county,  yet  Mr.  Wilson 
claims  Bethel  township,  McDonough 
county,  as  his  residence. 

John  E.  Lane  was  the  successor  of 
Mr.  Wilson  in  the  office,  having  been 
elected  in  1868. 

J.  E.  Lane  was  born  in  Russell  county, 
Kentucky,  October  1,  1834,  and  is  a  son 
of  Ghalson  and  Mary  (James)  Lane, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky.  In  the  spring 
of  1836  he  with  his  parents  removed  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Industry  town- 
ship, McDonough  county.  In  May,  1861, 
he  enlisted  as  private  in  the  16th  IlliT 
nois  volunteer  infantry,  and  served  as 
such  until  1862,  when  he  was  appointed 
first  sergeant  of  company  A,  and  served 
in  such  position  until  June  20,  1864, 
when  he  returned  to  Macomb.  He  was 
married  October  20,  1864,  to  Josie  A. 
Kendrick,  a  daughter  of  W.  H.  Ken- 
drick,  of  Macomb.  They  have  one  child 
— Frank  A.  In  May,  1865,  he  was  ap- 
pointed city  marshal,  assessor  and 
collector  and  served  two  years;  in 
December,  1866,  he  was  appointed 
deputy  sheriff  by  Colonel  Sam.  Wil- 
son, and  served  in  that  capacity  for 
two  years,  and  in  the  fall  of  1868  he 
was  elected  sheriff  of  the  county,  which 
position  he  held  for  two  years.  In  the 


fall  of  1870  he  bought  a  farm  in  Carroll 
county,  Missouri,  which  he  worked  for 
two  years.  He  returned  to  Macomb, 
December  24,  1872,  and  on  the  16th  day 
of  January,  1873,  bought  the  interest  of 
S.  L.  Babcock  in  a  grocery  store,  and 
went  into  partnership  with  Jos.  Upde- 
graff,  and  continued  in  the  business 
with  him  for  one  year,  when  Mr.  Upde- 
graff  retired,  and  he  continued  in  the 
business  alone  for  about  one  year,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  G.  W. 
Pace,  with  whom  he  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  the  fall  of  1877,  when  they 
sold  out.  He  was  elected  constable  in 
the  spring  of  1877,  and  was  re-elected  in 
the  spring  of  1881,  and  is  constable  at 
present.  In  December,  1870,  he  was  ap- 
pointed deputy  sheriff  by  Fred.  Newland, 
and  was  reappointed  in  1882,  to  serve 
four  years. 

In  1870,  Thomas  Murray  was  duly 
elected  to  fill  this  official  position,  and 
entering  upon  the  duties  thereof,  he 
served  two  years. 

Samuel  Frost,  the  sheriff  elected  in 
November,  1872,  remained  in  office  the 
regulation  two  years. 

Samuel  Frost,  the  present  secretary 
and  superintendent  of  the  Macomb  tile 
and  sewer  pipe  company,  came  to  this 
county  from  Fulton  in  1858.  He  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  October  10th  1832. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm  and  re- 
ceived a  fair  education,  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  state.  He  worked 
hard  when  a  boy  upon  farms  in  different 
neighborhoods,  making  his  father's 
house  his  home.  In  1850  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Frances  Murphy,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  He  then  left  the  old  homestead, 
but  remained  in  Ohio  engaged  in  farm- 


326 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ing  until  1852,  when  he  came  to  Fulton 
county  of  this  state,  and  followed  the 
same  business  until  1858,  when,  as  before 
stated  he  came  to  this  county.  His  first 
settlement  here  was  made  on  section  4 
of  Eldorado  township,  where  he  rented  a 
farm  which  he  afterward  purchased. 
He  lived  there  from  the  spring  of  1859 
till  1864,  then  «old  out  and  bought  an- 
other farm  in  New  Salem  township,  and 
there  remained  until  the  fall  of  1872, 
when  having  been  elected  sheriff  of  the 
county,  he  removed  to  Macomb,  rented 
the  farm  two  years  and  then  sold  it.  In 
1874  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Scotland 
township,  moved  on  to  it  and  there  lived 
six  years,  then  returned  to  Macomb. 
He  has  since  sold  that  place.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and 
continued  four  years.  In  September, 
1884,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his 
present  position.  During  the  time  of 
his  residence  in  Eldorado  township,  the 
civil  war  broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  in 
company  F,  84th  regiment,  Illinois  vol- 
unteer infantry,  and  remained  in  the 
service  about  18  months,  when,  on  ac- 
count of  disability  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  He  participated  in  various 
engagements,  among  them  the  battle  of 
Stone  rive'r,  where  he  was  wounded, 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  never 
fully  recovered.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frost 
have  had  nine  children,  six  boys  and 
three  girls,  six  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing. Celia,  married  to  Ezra  Einehart, 
and  living  in  New  Salem  township; 
George  deceased;  Charlie  married  to 
Ollie  Payne,  living  in  Odessa,  Missouri. 
Albert,  living  at  home ;  John  married 
to  Josie  Masterson  and  living  in  Ma- 
comb ;  Hattie,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Daw- 


son,  and  now  deceased;  Mary,  married 
to  Joseph  Kline  and  living  in  Scot- 
land township;  William  living  at  home, 
and  James  (deceased).  Mr.  Frost  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
of  the  G.  A.  E.  His  political  creed  is 
that  of  the  republican  party,  but  tie  may 
properly  be  classed  among  the  inde- 
pendents. 

J.  B.  Venard  was  the  next  to  fill  the  of- 
fice of  sheriff,  being  elected  in  the  fall  of 
1874.  A  sketch  of  this  gentleman  may 
be  found  in  connection  with  the  history 
of  the  city  of  Macomb,  of  which  he  is 
the  present  postmaster. 

Charles  C.  Hays  served  in  this  office 
for  two  years,  having  been  elected  in 
1876. 

The  election  of  1878  developed  a  warm 
contest  for  the  office  of  sheriff,  and 
Winslow  H.  Taylor  was  elected  by  a 
plurality  of  only  33,  his  principal  oppo- 
nent being  Mr.  Hays,  the  former  occu- 
pant of  the  office. 

Winslow  H.  Taylor,  of  the  livery  firm 
of  Taylor  &  Son,  was  born  in  Bethel 
township,  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  17th  day  of  August,  1843,  his  par- 
ents being  George  A.  and  Elizabeth 
( Vawter)  Taylor.  In  1850  the  family  re- 
moved to  the  city  of  Macomb,  and,  in 
1857,  Winslow  H.  commenced  to  learn 
the  tinner's  trade,  which  he  followed 
during  the  winters,  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  during  the  summers, 
until  the  month  of  August,  1864,  at  which 
time  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lu- 
cintha  Tatman,  a  daughter  of  Hiram 
Tatman.  In  1865  he  removed  to  the 
town  of  Industry  and  engaged  in  the 
hardware  and  grocery  business.  One 
year  later  his  father  entered  into  a  part- 


,  HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


327 


nership  with  him,  and,  under  the  firm 
name  of  George  A.  Taylor  &  Son,  carried 
on  the  business  until  1880.  In  the  fall 
of  1878,  Winslow  H.  Taylor  was  elected 
as  sheriff  of  the  county,  he  being  the 
first  democratic  sheriff  elected  for  many 
years.  He  served  one  term,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  livery 
business.  He  has  also  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  supervisors,  from  In- 
dustry. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have  been 
the  parents  of  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  yet  living — Mae,  Lizzie,  Nel- 
lie and  Stella.  Mr.  T.  is  a  member  of 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  as  is 
he  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Frederick  Newland,  the  present  sheriff 
of  McDonough  county,  was  first  elected 
to  this  office  in  1880,  and  has  been  kept 
in  that  position  by  the  people  ever  since, 
as  a  mark  of  their  appreciation  of  his 
efficiency  and  rectitude. 

Frederick  Newland  is  a  native  of 
England,  having  been  born  in  that 
country  November  5,  1836,  his  parents 
being  Abraham  and  Sarah  (Porter) 
Newland.  During  his  early  life  he 
worked  in  the  coal  mines,  and  resided 
in  his  native  country  until  1855,  at  which 
time,  accompanied  by  his  mother  and 
brothers  (his  father  having  preceded 
them),  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States  and  located  in  LaSalle  county, 
Illinois.  Two  years  later  they  removed 
to  McDonough  county,  settling  at  Col- 
chester. Here  Frederick  followed  min- 
ing until  1861,  then  responded  to  his 
country's  call  and  enlisted  in  company 
C,  16th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served 
three  years.  Upon  being  mustered  out 
of  the  service  he  returned  to  Colchester 
and  entered  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk 


with  his  brother.  While  in  that  capacity 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  of 
the  county  in  1880,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office  was  re-elected.  As 
an  able  and  efficient  officer,  Mr.  Newland 
meets  and  merits  the  approbation  of  the 
law-abiding  portion  of  the  community, 
and  has  the  respect  of  all.  Politically, 
he  is  a  republican,  but  counts  his 
friends  and  supporters  by  the  score  in 
the  opposite  political  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Macomb  lodge  of  Knight 
of  Pythias,  as  is  he  also  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  post  of  the  same 
city.  In  January,  1862,  Frederick  New- 
land  and  Sarah  E.  Ingalls,  a  native  of 
Illinois  and  the  daughter  of  Daniel  D. 
T.  Ingalls,  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony.  As  a  result  of  this  union 
they  are  now  the  parents  of  six  children, 
Jessie  M.,  William  N.  S.,  Eleanor  E., 
Emojean,  Celia  E.  and  Frederick  I. 

SUEVEYOES. 

Some  of  the  prominent  representative 
men  of  the  county  have  several  times 
been  called  upon  to  fill  the  office  of  sur- 
veyor. The  first  that  occupied  the  posi- 
tion was  Jesse  Bartlett,who  was  elected  in 
July,  1830.  He  was  succeeded  by  James 
W.  Brattle,  1832.  Many  of  the  parties  who 
have  held  the  office,  are  mentioned  in 
some  other  connection,  and  it  would  be 
useless  to  repeat  the  same  here.  A  list 
of  them  is  however  given  with  the  date 
of  their  election,  for  a  convenient  refer- 
ence: C.  W.  Bacon,  1835;  S.  A.  Hunt, 
1838-43;  H.  I.  C.  Averill,  1846-47;  J. 
W.  Brattle,  1848;  W.  H.  Rile,  1849-51- 
53;  C.  A.  Gilchrist,  1855;  S.  A.  Hunt, 
1857-59-61;  A.  J.  White,  1863;  J.  B. 
Nickel,  1864;  J.  W.  Brattle,  1865;  S.  A. 


328 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Hunt,  1867;  W.  J.  Edie,  1869;  James 
Shannon,  1871;  B.  R  Howard,  1875; 
Cephas  Holmes,  1879-84. 

CORONEES. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  those  who 
have  filled  the  office  of  coroner  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  together  with  the  date 
of  their  election:  Peter  Hale,  1830; 
Isaac  Bartlett,  1830;  John  Woodsides, 
1832;  R.  S.  Lowe,  1834;  John  P.  Head, 
1837;  C.  G.  Overton,  1838;  B.  B.  Head, 
1840-42;  W.  W.  Clayton,  1845;  John  P. 
Head,  1848;  L.  Graves,  1850;  S.  H.  Mc- 
Candless,  1852;  David  Eeece,  1854;  J. 
H.  Epperson,  1856;  J.  H.  Swigart,  1858; 
Isaac  P.  Moiitfort,  1860;  Jeremiah  Sul- 
livan, 1862-64;  W.  W.  Head,  1866;  J. 
H.  Epperson,  1868;  D.  W.  Campbell, 
1870;  W.E.  Pittman,  1872;  W.  H.  Way- 
land,  1874;  G.  W.  Reid,  1876-78;  C.  F. 
Griffiths,  1880;  R.  Lawrence,  1882;  J. 
Hindman,  1884. 

James  Wells  Brattle  was  born  in 
Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  June  16, 1795. 
His  father,  William  Brattle,  was  a  native 


of  Wethersfield,  Connecticut,  as  was 
also  his  mother,  Hannah  Wells.  His 
people  were  farmers,  but  for  many  years 
James  pursued  the  profession  of  a  sur- 
veyor. He  obtained  his  education  in  his 
native  village,  and  worked  on  a  farm  and 
studied  surveying  while  yet  a  young 
man.  In  the  fall  of  1829  he  came 
west  and  located  in  Hancock  county  near 
Nauvoo.  He  laid  out  that  town,  and 
pursued  the  occupation  of  a  surveyor  in 
that  locality  until  1831,  when  he  went  to 
Carthage,  the  county  seat,  and  was 
elected  county  surveyor.  In  1836  he 
came  to  McDonough  county,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  He  has  laid  out 
many  towns,  including  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb,  which  was  re-surveyed  and  platted 
by  him.  Mr.  Brattle  has  always  enjoyed 
good  health,  and  gives  promise  of  living 
years  to  come.  His  parents  died  while 
he  was  yet  young.  He  never  married. 
He  has  always  enjoyed  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  neighbors,  and  his 
friends  are  numerous. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


THE  COURTS  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


•  Man,  a  finite  being,  is  of  a  necessity, 
from  his  nature,  an  imperfect  creature, 
and  as  such  requires  that  laws,  both 
human  and  divine,  shall  be  enacted,  with 
the  penalties  attached  for  their  violation, 
for  his  government.  Ever  since  the  day 


when  our  first  parents,  Adam  and  Eve, 
were  placed  in  the  garden  of  Eden,  with 
the  injunction  to  let  the  fruit  of  a  certain 
tree  alone,  with  the  penalty  for  trans- 
gression attached,  man  has  had  to  have 
some  law  to  govern  him,  or  he  descends 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


329 


to  barbarism  and  rapine.  Through  a 
long  line  of  law  givers  and  legislators, 
we  trace  the  laws  of  the  present  back  to 
the  decalogue,  given  to  the  tribes  of 
Israel  when  they  wandered  in  the  deserts 
of  Arabia,  the  underlying  principles  of 
which  are  the  fundamental  basis  of  all 
modern  law.  Circumstances  and  sur- 
roundings have  changed  since  the  days 
when  that  alone  was  needed,  and  the 
present  complex  and  often  prolix  laws 
are  the  superstructure  built  upon  the 
foundation  of  the  "ten  commandments." 

The  existence  of  laws  implies  the  ex- 
istence of  courts  wherein  all  questions 
of  law  shall  be  determined  and  interpre- 
ted. This  fact,  so  patent,  being  deter- 
mined, the  framers  of  the  state  constitu- 
tion instituted  certain  courts  of  justice, 
each  with  well  defined  powers.  Changes 
have  been  made,  from  time  to  time,  in 
the  jurisdiction  of  these  courts,  but  the 
rights  of  every  citizen,  of  high  or  low 
degree,  have  ever  been  maintained. 

Among  the  men  who  took  a  part  in 
laying  the  foundation  of  this  portion  of 
the  state  of  Illinois,  there  is,  perhaps, 
no  class  that  stands  out  more  prominently 
than  the  members  of  the  bench  and  bar, 
and  McDonough  county  has  had  the 
honor  of  having  contributed  some  of 
the  ablest  men  to  this  portion  of  gov- 
ernment. Of  these,  in  their  turn,  it  is 
now  the  pleasure  of  the  historian  to  pre- 
sent a  view.  Many  of  the  sketches  of 
the  talented  men  who  have  occupied  the 
bench  in  some  of  these  courts  are  meager, 
but,  they  having  passed  from  this  arena 
of  active  life,  but  little  can  be  gathered 
respecting  them,  although  no  pains  have 
been  spared  to  make  this  chapter  as  full 
and  complete  as  possible. 


CIKCUIT   COURT. 

McDonough  county,  when  organized, 
was  a  part  of  the  fifth  judicial  circuit, 
which  included  all  of  what  was  known 
as  the  "Military  tract,"  which  covered 
the  whole  northern  part  of  the  state  of 
Illinois,  to  the  boundary  line.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization,  Richard  M. 
Young  was  upon  the  bench  as  judge  of 
the  circuit  court,  and  issued  the  order 
authorizing  the  election  of  county  offi- 
cers and  the  organization  of  McDonough. 

Before  the  newly  organized  county  of 
McDonough  had  reported  to  Judge 
Young  the  result  of  the  election  of  the 
county  officers,  the  following  document 
was  sent,by  him  to  John  Baker,  circuit 
clerk  pro  tern. : 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,     "I  «  , 
FIFTH  JUDICIAL  CIRCUIT/ 
To  all  whom  it  may  concern,  greeting: 

Know  ye  that  I,  Richard  M.  Young,  cir- 
cuit judge  of  the  fifth  judicial  district  of  the 
state  of  Illinois,  north  of  the  Illinois  river, 
and  presiding  judge  of  the  circuit  court  in 
and  for  the  county  of  McDonough  and  state 
aforesaid,  in  pursuance  of  the  power  vested 
in  me  by  virtue  of  the  tenth  section  of  the 
act  entitled  ''An  act  supplemental  to  '  an  act 
regulating  the  supreme  and  circuit  courts, 
approved  January  19,  1829,'  approved  Janu- 
ary 23,  1829,"  do  hereby  order  and  appoint 
that  circuit  court  be  held  in  and  for  the  said 
county  of  McDonough,  at  such  places  as  may 
be  selected  aud  provided  by  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  of  said  county,  on  the 
Thursday  after  the  third  Monday  in  June, 
and  the  Thursday  after  the  first  Monday  in 
October,  until  different  days  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  legislature,  or  until  I  shall 
make  another  order  to  the  contrary. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Galena, 
this  5th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1830,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  the  fifty- 
fifth  .  RICHARD  M.  YOUNG, 
Circuit  Judge  of  the  Fifth  Judicial  Circuit  of 
the  State  of  Illinois. 


330 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


On  the  opposite  page  of  the  sheet  of 
foolscap  on  which  this  is  written,  is  the 
following  letter  from  Judge  Young  to 
the  circuit  clerk  of  this  county: 

GALENA,  ILL.,  July  5, 1830. 
DEAR  SIR: — Supposing  that  the  election  of 
county  officers  in  your  county  took  place  oil 
the  3d  day  of  July,  as  directed  by  the  order 
issued  for  that  purpose,  I  send  you  herewith, 
on  the  first  page,  an  order  for  the  holding  of 
circuit  court,  for  all  legal  and  judicial  pur- 
poses, will  be  considered  as  organized  on  this 
day  (the  5th  of  July,  1830).  As  soon  as  you 
receive  this  order,  and  the  county  commis- 
sioners shall  have  provided  a  place  for  the 
holding  of  the  circuit  court,  you  will  please 
set  up  public  notices,  in  four  of  the  most  pub- 
lic places  in  the  county,  of  the  times  and 
place  of  holding  of  the  court,  that  all  persons 
interested  may  have  timely  notice  thereof. 
The  order  herewith  transmitted,  you  will 
please  file  among  the  records  of  the  court. 
All  writs  and  processes  will  be  made  return- 
able at  the  place  selected  by  the  county  com- 
missioners at  the  times  mentioned  in  the 
annexed  order. 

I  am  very  respectfully,  etc., 

RICHARD  M.  YOUNG. 

P.  S. — Please  inform  me  by  letter  at  what 
place  the  circuit  court?  will  be  held,  stating 
the  quarter  section,  section,  township  and 
range  on  which  the  house  is  located,  in  order 
that  I  may  have  some  knowledge  of  the  rel- 
ative situation  of  the  different  places  of  hold- 
ing court  in  the  new  counties;  also,  who  are 
elected  county  officers,  and  oblige. 

B.  M.  Y. 

In  accordance  with  this  order  of  the 
circuit  judge  as  above,  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1830,  the  first  term  of  the  cir- 
cuit court  was  -held  in  this  county,  at 
the  house  of  John  Baker,  in  the  town  of 
"Washington,  (now  the  city  of  Macomb), 
the  temporary  county  seat  of  McDon- 
ough  county.  There  were  present,  in 
attendance  on  the  court,  Hon.  Richard 


M.  Young,  circuit  judge;  John  Baker, 
clerk,  pro  tern.;  William  Southward, 
sheriff.  This  term  lasted  but  one  day 
and  but  little  business  was  transacted, 
The  first  grand  jury  in  the  county,  se- 
lected by  the  county  commissioners  at 
their  September  session  was  present, 
and  was  composed  of  the  following  gen- 
tlemen: William  Osborne,  Joseph  Os- 
borne,  William  Garrett,  Roland  Lee, 
George  Grace,  William  Hendry,  William 
Stephens,  Elias  McFadden,  John  Bar- 
ber, David  Troxwell,  Peter  Hale,  Nathan 
A.  McFadden,  John  Carmack,  John 
Wyatt,  Sr.,  John  Woodsides,  William  ! 
Deakins,  Wright  Riggins,  Elijah  Bris- 
tow,  Caswell  Russell,  Abraham  Gassett 
and  John  Vance.  The  petit  jury  in  at- 
tendance, also,  was  made  up  as  follows: 
Charles  Shannon,  William  Shannon, 
John  Wilson,  James  Vance,  Jr.,  John 
Bridges,  Thomas  Bridges,  Thomas  Phil- 
lips, Nimrod  Smith,  Eli  Osborne,  Nich- 
olas Campbell,  John  Massingill,  Eph- 
raim  Mitchell,  Enoch  Cyrus,  Nathan 
Bartlett,  Russell  Duncan,  Reuben  Har- 
ris, Jr.,  Ephraim  Perkins,  George  Shell, 
William  Job,  Nathan  Hume,  Noble 
Owsly,  and  Larkin  Osborne.  Neither  of 
these  juries  were  called  on  to  act,  both 
being  dismissed,  as  there  was  no  busi- 
ness to  be  brought  before  them.  The 
order  of  Judge  Young,  calling  an  elec- 
tion for  the  organization  of  the  county, 
was  ordered  spread  upon  the  records  of 
the  court,  as  well  as  an  order  in  relation 
to  the  time  of  holding  court. 

Richard  M.  Young  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  was  among  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Northern  Illinois.  In  1828, 
while  a  resident  of  Galena,  Jo  Daviess 
county,  he  was  appointed  as  judge  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


331 


the  fifth  judicial  district,  and  commis- 
sioned as  such  on  the  29th  day  of  Janu- 
ary, 1829.  He,  in  1833,  removed  to 
Quincy,  where  he  lived  for  some  years. 
He  remained  upon  the  bench  until  1837, 
when  he  resigned,  having  been  elected 
to  the  United  States  senate  for  six  years. 
After  filling  that  office  for  the  requisite " 
term,  Mr.  Young,  upon  the  4th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1843,  received  the  appointment  of 
judge  of  the  supreme  court,  and  sat  upon 
the  bench  of  this  august  tribunal  until 
January  25,  1847,-  when  he  resigned, 
having  been  appointed  commissioner  of 
the  general  land  office  by  President 
James  K.  Polk.  It  is  said  of  him,  that 
he  ranked  high  in  his  profession,  and 
his  counsels  did  much  toward  shaping 
the  policy  of  the  state,  in  his  day.  He 
was  generous  in  his  feelings  and  liberal 
in  his  views,  and  hence  stood  high  in  the 
estimation  of  all  who  knew  him.  He 
possessed  a  liberal  endowment  of  intel- 
lectual ability  and  literary  and  legal  ac- 
quirements, and  these  and  other  qualifi- 
cations admirably  fitted  him  for  the 
posts  he  was  called  upon  to  fill.  Upon 
all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact  he 
produced  a  lasting  and  favorable  im- 
pression. His  course  while  in  the  sen- 
ate and  at  the  head  of  the  department 
over  which  he  presided  was  such  as  to 
give  him  a  national  reputation,  and  his 
history  is  a  part  of  the  annals  of  the  re- 
public. 

James  H.  Ralston  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  elected  by  the  legislature 
to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  judgeship  of  the 
fifth  circuit,  caused  by  the  resignation 
of  Judge  Young.  He  was  commissioned 
February  4th,  1837,  and  remained  upon 
the  bench  until  August  31st,  1839,  when 


he  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  and 
with  the  intention  of  emigrating  to 
Texas.  After  a  short  sojourn  in  that 
state  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  locating 
at  Quincy,  resumed  his  law  practice.  In 
1840,  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate, 
and  in  1846  he  was  appointed  by  Presi- 
dent Polk,  assistant  quartermaster, 
United  States  army,  and  ordered  to  re- 
port to  the  commander  of  the  Illinois 
troops  then  en  route  for  Mexico.  Dis- 
charging his  duties  faithfully  while  in 
that  "land  of  chapparel,"  he  returned 
home,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Califor- 


nia. 


Peter  Lott  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  was  appointed  to  succeed  Judge 
Ralston,  the  date  of  his  commission 
bearing  date  of  September  9th,  1839.  He 
filled  the  position  acceptably  for  the 
time  appointed,  and  was  elected  and  re- 
commissioned  December  20,  1839,  and 
continued  in  office  until  1841,  when  he 
resigned.  He  subsequently  acted  in  the 
capacity  of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  in 
Adams  county,  where  he  remained  until 
1852.  He  then  emigrated  to  California, 
and  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
United  States  mint,  in  San  Francisco,  by 
Franklin  Pierce,  president  at  that  time, 
but  was  removed  by  James  Buchanan,  on 
his  accession  to  the  presidency  in  1856. 
Mr.  Lott  then  moved  to  Kansas,  and  died 
there  in  obscurity,  and  in  limited  cir- 
cumstances. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  elected  judge 
by  the  legislature  in  1841,  and  continued 
in  office  till  August,  1843,  when  he  re- 
signed, having  been  elected  to  congress 
from  the  fifth  congressional  district.  He 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Brandon,  Ver- 
mont, on  the  23d  of  April,  1813.  His 


332 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


father  was  a  physician,  and  died  early  in 
life,  leaving  his  widow  and  son  in  al- 
most indigent  circumstances.  Stephen 
had  but  few  opportunities  for  schooling, 
much  of  the  living  of  his  mother  and 
himself  depending  upon  the  labor  of  his 
hands.  He  devoted  this  time  of  his  life 
to  learning  the  cabinet  maker's  trade, 
and  spent  some  years  at  the  business. 
His  mother,  finally,  married  again,  and 
young  Stephen,  in  1831,  accompanied 
her  and  his  step  father,  to  Canandaigua, 
New  York.  There  he  attended  an  acad- 
emy and  remained  until  the  year  1833, 
when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  taught 
school  at  Winchester,  near  the  county 
seat  of  Scott  county.  This  was  a  sub- 
scription school.  Mr.  Douglas  employed 
his  time  evenings  and  holidays,  in  the 
study  of  law,  and  in  1834,  he  moved  to 
Jacksonville,  where  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  and  in  1834,  he  was  elected  at- 
torney general  of  the  state,  though  only 
22  years  of  age. 

He  soon  resigned  that  office  to  accept 
a  seat  in  the  legislature.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  in  that  body,  he  settled 
down  to  the  practice  of  law  in  Jackson- 
ville, where  he  remained  until  1837, 
when  he  removed  to  Springfield,  having 
been  appointed  register  of  the  land  office 
by  President  Van  Buren.  In  1839,  he 
resigned  this  office,  and  the  year  follow- 
ing, was  made  secretary  of  state.  In 
1841,  he  was  appointed,  by  the  legisla- 
ture, judge  of  this  circuit.  Mr.  Clarke, 
in  his  history  of  the  county  says:  "The 
circumstances  under  which  he  entered 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office  were  suffi- 
cient to  thoroughly  try  the  force  and 
scope  of  his  abilities.  The  circuit  was 
large— the  previous  incumbent  of  the  of- 


fice had  left  the  "docket"  loaded  with 
unfinished  "cases;"  but  he  was  more  than 
equal  to  the  task.  H§  cleaned  out  the 
docket  with  that  dispatch  and  ability 
which  distinguished  his  subsequent 
course ;  and  so  profound  was  the  impres- 
sion which  he  made  upon  the  people, 
that,  in  the  first  congressional  election 
which  occurred  after  he  was  established 
in  his  character  as  a  judge,  he  received 
the  nomination  for  member  of  the  lower 
house  of  congress,  and  was  elected  there- 
to. Through  the  distinguished  abilities 
which  he  displayed  as  a  statesman,  he 
received  the  appellation  of  the  'Little 
Giant,'  and  became  the  recognized  leader 
of  a  great  political  party.  In  1860  he 
received  the  nomination  for  the  presi- 
dency, but  owing  to  a  division  in  the 
party,  he  was  beaten  by  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, his  competitor  for  the  United 
States  senate  two  years. previous.  On  the 
inauguration  of  President  Lincoln,  and 
the  subsequent  withdrawal  of  the  south- 
ern states  from  the  Union,  and  the  war 
following,  Mr.  Douglas  took  strong  Un- 
ion ground,  and  declared  henceforth 
there  could  be  but  two  parties  in  the 
county,  patriots  and  traitors.  In  a  few 
days  thereafter  he  was  taken  sick  and 
died  on  the  3rd  of  June,  1861,  sincerely 
mourned  by  the  whole  nation." 

Judge  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  was  appointed 
to  the  vacant  bench  in  August,  1843, 
and  served  in  that  exalted  position  until 
1845,  when  he  resigned.  Shortly  after 
this,  in  1847,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
supreme  court  as  one  of  the  judges,  for 
the  unexpired  term  of  •  Judge  Young. 
He  held  this  office  until  December  4, 
1848.  A  short  time  after  this  he  died. 
He  was  a  man  of  much  culture  and  high 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


335 


legal  attainments,  and  discharged  the 
responsible  functions  that- devolved  upon 
him,  with  credit  and  honor  to  himself 
and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 

Norman  H.  Purple, was  elected  judge  of 
this  judicial  circuit,  in  1845,  and  served 
until  May,  1849,  when  he  resigned.  He 
was  a  gentleman  distinguished  for  high 
legal  ability  and  executive  talents,  and  it 
was  greatly  against  the  wishes  of  the 
people  of  the  circuit  that  he  quit  the 
bench,  but  his  professional  practice  was 
large  and  much  more  lucrative  than  the 
salary  of  the  position,  and  he  stepped 
down  and  out  to  the  regret  of  nearly  all 
who  knew  and  appreciated  his  worth. 

William  A.  Minshall,  was  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  was  elected  to  the  bench 
in  1849,  and  occupied  it  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  October, 
1851.  He  was  a  man  of  sound  attain- 
ments, and  had  attained  eminence  in  his 
profession,  'and  some  notice,  having 
served  the  people  both  in  the  general 
assembly  and  the  constitutional  conven- 
tion of  1847.  He  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  this  state. 

Onias  C.  Skinner,  was  a  sound,  able 
lawyer,  and  upright  jurist.  He,  on  the 
death  of  Judge  Minshall,  was  appointed 
his  successor,  and  served  until  1853,  in 
May  of  which  year  he  resigned.  June 
4,  1855,  he  was  commissioned  judge  of 
the  supreme  court.  While  in  this  posi- 
tion he  obtained  considerable  eminence. 
He  resigned  this  office  April  19,  1858. 

Pinkney  H.  Walker  was  born  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  June  18,  1815.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Martha 
Scott.  His  youth  was  passed  in  that 
portion  of  Kentucky,  where  labor  is  no 
more  discreditable  than  it  is  in  Illinois, 


and  until  his  seventeenth  year  he  was 
employed  upon  his  father's  farm  during 
the  summer  and  attended  school  during 
the  winter.  In  1832  he  became  a  clerk 
in  a  store  and  so  continued  until  he  left 
that  state.  In  April,  1834,  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Rushville  where 
he  was  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store.  In 
March,  1838,  he  removed  to  Macomb 
and  during  the  spring  and  summer  gave 
his  time  to  study  at  an  excellent  acad- 
emy at  that  place.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  he  commenced  legal  studies 
in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  Cyrus  Walker. 
Under  the  careful  training  of  such  a 
master  mind  he  made  rapid  progress  and 
during  the  next  year  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  after  an  examination  by  Judges 
Lockwood  and  Brown,  of  the  Supreme 
court.  He  at  once  opened  an  office  at 
Macomb  with  Thomas  Morrison,  and  in 
1840,  formed  a  partnership  with  his  un- 
cle, his  first  partner  having  removed  to 
Carthage.  This  co-partnership  ended 
in  1842  by  the  retirement  of  his  uncle 
from  practice  in  the  state.  He  continu- 
ed to  practice  by  himself  in  1848,  when 
he  returned  to  Rushville,  where  he  sub- 
sequently, in  1851,  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  Robert  S.  Blackwell.  The 
law  firm  of  Blackwell  &  Walker  was  dis- 
solved in  1853,  when  the  former  remov- 
ed to  Chicago,  and  the  latter  was  elected 
judge  of  the  fifth  judicial  district,  or 
circuit,  comprising  the  counties  of 
Schuyler,  Pike,  Brown,  McDonough, 
Cass  and  Mason.  His  first  election  was 
to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  he  was  elected  over 
his  competitor  against  heavy  odds.  In 
1855,  he  was  re-elected  without  opposi- 
tion. He  continued  in  this  position  to 
the  great  satisfaction  of  the  bar  and 


20 


336 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


people  of  circuit  until  April,  1858,  when 
Governor  Bissell  appointed  him  to  the 
supreme  bench  to  fill  the  vacancy  made 
by  the  resignation  of  O.  0.  Skinner.  In 
June,  1858,  he  was  elected  by  the  people 
to  fill  the  same  position  for  the  regular 
term  of  nine  years,  and  in  1867  was  re- 
elected.  At  both  elections  the  political 
party  to  which  he  belonged  was  in  a  very 
decided  minority,  and  the  rival  candi- 
dates were  able  men,  but  the  verdict  of 
the  people  was  an  attestation  of  his 
tried  faithfulness,  and  for  mere  political 
consideration  would  not  send  an  upright 
judge  from  the  bench.  He  was  a  third 
time  elected  in  1876,  retaining  the  confi- 
dence of  the  bar  and  the  people  to  such 
an  extent  that  he  had  no  opposition. 
He  served  as  chief  justice  from  Janu- 
ary, 1864,  to  June,  1867,  and  again  from 
June,  1874,  to  June,  1875,  and  during 
the  present  term  from  June,  1879,  to 
June,  1880. 

Judge  Walker  died  at  his  home  in 
Eushville,  on  Saturday,  February  14th, 
1885,  mourned  by  all  the  many  who 
knew  him.  He  was  married  June  2, 
1840,  to  Susan,  daughter  of  James  Mc- 
Croskey,  Esq.,  a  well-known  and  highly 
respected  merchant,  who  died  in  Bush- 
ville  in  1848.  Of  nine  children  born  to 
them,  four  having  gone  before. 

John  S.  Bailey  was  commissioned  cir- 
cuit judge  of  this  circuit,  June  24,  1858, 
to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  res- 
ignation of  Judge  Walker,  and  occupied 
the  position  until  July,  1861.  A  lengthy 
sketch  of  this  eminent  gentleman  is 
given  in  the  bar  chapter  of  this  county, 
he  being  still  in  practice  in  the  city  of 
Macomb. 

Chauncey  L.  Higbee,  was  first  elected 


in  1861,  and  was  thrice  re-elected,  and 
sat  upon  the  bench  until  his  death. 

Chauncey  Lawson  Higbee  was  born 
in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  September  7, 
1821,  and  was  the  son  of  Elias  and 
Sarah  ( Ward )  Higbee.  He  received  an 
academic  education  in  the  county  of  his 
birth,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  an  early 
day  and  read  law  with  Judge  Sylvester 
Emmens,  of  Beardstown.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  in  1843,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  moved  to  Pike  county,  where 
he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, and  was  a  citizen  of  that  county 
until  the  day  of  his  death.  He,  like 
others  of  the  legal  profession,  became 
interested  in  politics,  and,  in  1854,  was 
elected  to  the  general  assembly.  Four 
years  later  he  was  sent  to  the  state  sen- 
ate, and  while  serving  in  that  body,  was 
elected  circuit  judge.  His  first  commis- 
sion was  dated  July  1,  1861,  and  by  suc- 
cessive re-elections,  he  was  kept  in  that 
position  until  death  removed  him  to 
another  sphere.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  appellate  court.  As  a  judge  he 
is  said  to  have  had  few  peers  in  the  state. 
His  death  occurred  in  December,  1884. 

The  present  circuit  judges  are  S.  P. 
Shope  and  J.  H.  Williams. 

Simeon  P.  Shope  was  born  in  Missis- 
sippi, but  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Ohio  while  yet  an  infant.  In  the  spring 
of  1839  he  removed  to  this  state;  after- 
wards read  law  with  Judge  Purple  and 
Powell  in  Peoria,  and  on  the  llth  of 
June,  1856,  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
He  first  opened  an  office  in  Metamora, 
Illinois,  remaining  there  but  a  short 
time,  when  he  removed  to  Lewiston,  in 
Fulton  county,  in  which  place  he  yet  re- 
sides. For  many  years  he  has  had  an 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


337 


extensive  practice,  not  only  in  the  coun- 
ties of  his  own  judicial  circuit,  but 
in  Logan,  Mason,  and  Cass  counties  he 
has  had  a  large  amount  of  business  be- 
fore the  courts.  In  August,  1877,  he 
was  elected  judge  of  this  circuit  without 
opposition.  A  polished  gentleman,  of 
affable  manners,  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  law,  quick  preception  and  well  known 
unpartiality,  together  with  good  busi- 
ness tact  and  executive  ability,  he  makes 
a  model  judge,  and  has  the  entire  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  the  entire  bar. 

John  H.Williams  was  born  in  Quincy, 
Illinois,  April  12,  1833,  and  is  the  son  of 
Archibald  and  Nancy  ( Kemp )  Williams. 
His  father  came  to  Illinois  from  Ken- 
tucky in  1829,  and  settled  in  Quincy, 
where  he  entered  into  the  practice  of 
law,  attaining  much  eminence.  John 
H.  Williams  was  educated  at  the  Mis- 
souri State  University,  at  Columbia, 
Boone  county,  but  leaving  at  the  close 
of  his  junior  year.  He  read  law  with 
his  father  and  C.  B.  Lawrence,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  February,  1855, 
and  practiced  law  in  Quincy  until  the 
fall  of  1879,  when  he  was  elected  judge 
of  this  circuit.  He  is  known  as  a  sound 
lawyer  and  able  jurist  and  is  concien- 
tious,  clear-headed  and  deliberate,  and 
numbers  his  friends  by  hundreds. 

STATE'S  ATTORNEYS. 

The  gentlemen  who  have  filled  the 
office  of  state's  or  prosecuting  attorney 
for  the  district  of  whi^h  McDonough 
county  forms  a  part,  deserves  more  than 
a  passing  notice.  Like  the  judges  they 
form  a  galaxy  in  which  the  citizens  of 
the  county  may  justly  take  pride. 

The  first  incumbent  of  the  office  was 


Thomas  Ford,  who  served  from  the  or- 
ganization of  the  county  until  January, 
1835.  Possessed  of  high  and  noble 
qualities  of  manhood,  a  thorough  stud- 
ent, a  keen,  energetic,  untiring  lawyer,  of 
strict  integrity  and  high  and  laudable 
aspirations,  he  was  universally  esteemed 
and  respected.  Afterwards  became  judge 
of  the  northern  district,  and  when  he  be- 
came known  over  the  state,  he  was  chosen 
governor  by  a  spontaneous  movement  of 
the  people.  He  held  this  latter  office 
during  the  Mormon  war. 

William  A.  Richardson,  who  served  as 
states' s  attorney  from  January,  1835, 
until  1837.  Mr.  Richardson's-  personal 
merits  and  characteristics  are  too  well 
known  to  the  people  to  require  any 
delineation.  His  predominating  traits 
were  courage,  unyielding  perseverance 
and  unvarying  adherence  to  the  course 
to  which  he  was  committed.  He  had 
command  of  a  regiment  of  Illinois  vol- 
unteers, in  the  Mexican  war,  and  in  the 
battle  of  Buena  Vista,  his  cap  was  car- 
ried from  his  head  by  a  musket  ball.  At 
the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  home, 
where  his  services  were  recognized  and 
rewarded  by  a  generous  people  by  an 
election  to  congress.  He  was  re-elected 
five  times.  His  last  election  was  in  1860. 
He  was  also  appointed  governor  of  Ne- 
braska, by  President  Buchanan.  This 
post  he  resigned  after  a  year's  service. 

Henry  L.  Bryant  served  the  people  of 
this  circuit  as  prosecuting  attorney  from 
1837,  to  1839,  succeeding  Mr.  Richard- 
son. He  was  a  fine  lawyer  and  a  gentle- 
man of  many  excellent  qualities. 

William  Elliott,  the  state's  attorney, 
served  from  January,  1839,  till  January, 
18-18.  He  was  esteemed  as  a  worthy 


338 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


man,  a  warm  friend  and  a  good  lawyer. 
He  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and 
was  wounded  in  a  hand-to-hand  conflict 
with  a  single  Indian,  whom  he  killed. 
He  was  quartermaster  in  the  4th  regi- 
ment of  volunteers  during  the  Mexican 
war,  and  served  through  that  campaign. 
He  returned  to  Lewistown  after  the  war, 
and  soon  died. 

Robert  S.  Blackwell,  the  prosecuting 
attorney,  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Elliot, 
and  served  from  1848  till  1852.  Mr. 
Blackwell  was  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished lawyers  in  the  state,  and  is  the 
author  of  "Black well  on  tax  titles." 

Calvin  ^..  Warren,  was  the  next  state's 
attorney  at  this  court.  He  followed  Mr. 
Blackwell  in  the  office  and  served  from 
May,  1852,  until  August,  1853.  He  was 
a  fluent  speaker,  an  able  and  successful 
lawyer,  and  a  popular  man. 

John  S.  Bailey  the  incumbent  of  the 
office  of  public  prosecutor,succeeded  Mr. 
Warren  in  1853,  and  filled  the  same  with 
great  credit  until  September,  1858,  when 
he  was  raised  to  the  bench. 

L.  H.  Waters  was  appointed  prosecut- 
ing attorney  by  the  governor,  to  serve 
out  the  un  expired  term  of  Mr.  Bailey, 
who  had  resigned.  Mr.  Waters  served 
until  the  fall  of  1860,  giving  satisfaction 
to  the  people.  In  the  following  year  Mr. 
Waters  offered  his  services  to  the  gen- 
eral government,  and  served  a  few  months 
as  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  2.8th  regiment 
Illinois  volunteers.  Resigning,  he  was 
commissioned  to  raise  another  regiment, 
which  he  succeeded  in  doing,  and  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  colonel.  The 
84th  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  under 
his  command,  did  much  excellent  service. 
Colonel  Waters  made  a  splendid  officer, 


and  was  highly  respected  by  his  officers 
and  men.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Macomb,  where 
he  practiced  his  profession  for  about 
four  years,  when  he  removed  to  Missouri. 
He  now  resides  at  Jefferson  City,  the 
capital  of  tliat  state. 

Thomas  E.  Morgan,  the  incumbent  of 
the  office  of  state's  attorney  above,  was 
elected  in  1860.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  fine 
abilities,  and  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
bar  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  died 
on  the  22d  day  of  July,  1867. 

S.  W.  James,  the  state's  attorney,  was 
a  lawyer  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities, 
and  was  one  of  the  best  prosecutors  in 
the  circuit.  He  enjoyed  the  respect  and 
good  will  of  every  member  of  the  bar. 
His  term  of  office  expired  in  1872. 

Crosby  F.  Wheat  was  first  elected  to 
the  office  of  states  attorney  in  1872,  and 
re-elected  in  1876.  He  is  at  present  one 
of  the  prominent  attorneys  of  Macomb, 
and  a  sketch  of  him  may  be  found  in 
the  chapter  of  this  work  relating  to  the 
history  of  the  bar. 

William  Prentiss,  the  state's  attorney 
from  1881  to  1885,  is  noticed  at  length 
in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  bar  of  the 
county,  he  being  one  of  the  bright  lights 
of  that  profession  in  Macomb. 

H.  C.  Agnew,  the  present  state's  attor- 
ney, is  a  member  of  the  Macomb  bar, 
also,  and  a  sketch  of  him  is  given  in 
that  connection. 

DAEK  DEEDS. 

Several  heinous  cririies  have  been  per- 
petrated within  the  limits  of  McDon- 
ough  county.  Among  the  most  famous 
are  the  following: 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


339 


MURDEK   OF   JOHN   WILSON. 

Some  time  in  1829  or  1830  Elias  Mc- 
Fadden, his  son  David,  and  son-in-law 
Wylie  McFadden,  with  their  families 
came  to  McDonough  county  and  made  a 
settlement  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  1,  of  what  is  now  Chalmers 
township.  They  are  generally  credited 
with  being  of  a  quarrelsome,  overbear- 
ing nature,  and  nearly  always  in  trouble 
with  their  neighbors.  About  the  same 
time  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  Wilson 
settled  on  the  adjoining  farm.  Wilson 
was  a  good-natured  man,  although  gen- 
erally credited  with  being  bold  and  fear- 
less, even  to  foolhardiness.  These  men 
were  not  long  neighbors  before  the 
trouble  began  between  them  over  some 
timber  land  lying  near  both  of  them. 
Threats  passed  between  them,  and 
finally,  the  necessity  of  killing  Wilson 
having  been  seemingly  settled  on,  all 
that  was  waited  for  was  the  opportunity. 
That  this  was  a  deliberate  conclusion 
reached  by  these  parties  it  is  only  neces- 
sary to  point  to  the  evidence,  where  it 
was  shown  that  at  the  time  of  the  mur- 
der, Wylie  McFadden  was  in  Bushville 
making  inquiries  of  counsel  there  as  to 
their  liability  should  they  kill  Wilson  if 
he  trespassed  on  their  land.  Early  in 
the  month  of  November,  1834,  there  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  Wilson  Mont- 
gomery, at  that  time  deputy  sheriff  of 
the  county,  a  writ  of  execution  directing 
him  to  levy  upon  the  property  of  Wylie 
McFadden  to  satisfy  a  judgment  against 
against  him,  in  favor  of  Henton  and 
Robinson,  merchants  then  doing  busi- 
ness in  Macomb.  Montgomery,  in  the 
execution  of  his  duty,  called  upon  John 
Wilson  to  accompany  him  with  his  team, 


that  he  might  haul  away  some  corn  that 
it  was  his  intention  to  seize  under  the 
writ.  Apprehending  no  danger,  Wilson 
agreed  to  go.  On  their  arrival  at  the 
place  they  were  met  by  Elias  McFadden, 
the  father,  who  engaged  them  in  conver- 
sation. After  a  short  talk  he  walked 
with  them  to  the  north  side  of  the  house, 
and  when  he  had  got  them  in  proper 
range,  David  McFadden,  who  was  inside 
of  the  house,  shot  down  Wilson  without 
a  word  of  warning.  Mr.  Montgomery 
hurried  off  to  town  and  gave  the  alarm, 
when  a  crowd  of  excited  people  at  once 
proceeded  to  the  scene  of  the  murder, 
and  found  Elias  McFadden  coolly  re- 
pairing a  fence.  A  short  search  for 
Wilson  now  ensued  and  he  was  found 
not  very  far  away  from  the  spot  by 
Joseph  P.  Updegraff  and  others  in  a 
dying  condition.  McFadden  was  at  once 
arrested,  and  search  was  made  for  the 
then  unknown  murderer.  Searching  the 
house,  a  rifle  was  found  in  the  corner 
near  the  north  window  unloaded;  a  pane 
of  glass  was  found  broken  out  of  the 
window;  a  book  lying  upon  the  sill,  and 
the  sash  and  book  both  powder-marked. 
The  question  now  arose  who  committed 
the  deed.  Wylie  McFadden  was  sup- 
posed to  be  away,  and  David  was  not 
known  to  be  near.  Searching,  footsteps 
were  found  leading  from  the  house  in 
the  direction  of  the  residence  of  David 
McFadden,  who  lived  just  across  the 
hollow  on  the  west  side.  Following  the 
tracks  they  were  led  to  the  door  of  David 
McFadden' s  house;  and  going  in  they 
found  him  at  work  on  a  shoemaker's 
bench,  as  entirely  unconcerned  as  his 
father,  and  acting  as  innocently  as 
though  no  cold-blooded  murder  had 


340 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


taken  place.  He  was  at  once  arrested, 
and,  in  company  with  his  father,  brought 
to  town  and  placed  under  guard,  to  await 
the  result  of  the  wound  inflicted  upon 
Mr.  Wilson.  Wylie  McFadden,  coming 
home  the  same  evening,  was  likewise  ar- 
rested. 

•  Mr.  Wilson  lingered  some  days  before 
death  ensued,  but  the  wound  was  mortal, 
and  there  was  no  help  for  him.  On  his 
death  a  preliminary  examination  of  the 
prisoners  was  held  before  James  Clarke, 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  the  evidence 
above  being  elicited,  Elias,  David  and 
Wylie  McFadden  were  committed  to  the 
county  jail  to  await  the  meeting  of  the 
circuit  court.  On  account  of  the  enor- 
mity of  the  offense  the-  prisoners  could 
not  be  allowed  bail. 

On  the  15th  day  of  November,  1834, 
the  grand  jury  found  a  true  bill  of  in- 
dictment against  the  three,  and  a  few 
days  afterward  they  were  brought  before 
the  court;  a  change  of  venue  was  asked 
and  granted,  and  two  of  the  party,  Elias 
and  David,  were  taken  the  following 
spring  (1835)  to  Eushville,  Schuyler 
county,  for  trial.  Wylie  McFadden  was 
discharged  by  the  judge,  there  being  no 
evidence  against  him. 

George  Wilson,  Alfred  Evans,  Nelson 
Montgomery,  Joseph  Updegraff,  J.  W. 
Brattle,  Moses  Henton,  William  J.  Fra- 
zier,  William  Bowen,  Daniel  Bowen, 
Perry  Keys  and  James  Anderson  were 
each  placed  under  bonds  of  $300  to  ap- 
pear as  witnesses  in  the  case. 

In  May,  1835,  the  case  was  called  in 
the  circuit  court  at  Eushville,  and  Elias 
and  David  McFadden,  father  and  son, 
were  placed  upon  trial  for  their  lives. 
Eichard  M.  Young  presided  as  judge. 


Cyrus  Walker,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers 
of  this  state,  was  the  prosecuting  attor- 
ney. Upon  Judge  Minshall,  of  Eush- 
ville, who  was  the  counsel  for  the  defense, 
depended  the  task  of  trying  to  acquit  his 
clients,  and,  failing  that,  to  mitigate  the 
sentence  as  much  as  possible. 

The  trial  lasted  for  several  days ;  Mr. 
Walker  exerted  all  his  powers  to  weave 
around  the  murderers  a  chain  of  unim- 
peachable testimony.  Judge  Minshall 
defended  in  a  most  admirable  manner, 
doing  all  for  his  clients,  that  it  was  pos- 
sible for  man  to  do,  but  without  avail. 
The  latter  in  his  speech  charged  the 
judge,  the  attorney  for  the  people,  and 
the  jury,  also,  of  not  prosecuting,  but 
persecuting  his  clients. 

As  was  expected,  the  jury  brought  in 
a  verdict  of  murder  in  the  first  degree, 
and  upon  Judge  Young  devolved  the 
duty  of  pronouncing  the  sentence  of 
death.  This  was  done,  and  in  due  time, 
upon  a  scaffold,  erected  in  a  hollow  near 
the  city  of  Eushville,  Elias  and  David 
McFadden  paid  the  penalty  for  the  crime 
committed. 

The  following  verbatim  copy  of  the 
death  warrant  of  the  McFaddens  is  in- 
serted in  this  place  as  a  criminal  curios- 
ity. It  and  the  bill  of  costs  and  expenses 
are  now  on  file  in  the  court  house  in 
Macomb : 

STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,     1 
SCHUYLER  COUNTY/ 

THE  PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS  : 

To  the  Sheriff  of  said  county,  Greeting. 
Whereas,  Elias  McFaden  hath  lately 
been  indicted  of  the  crime  of  murder  by  him 
done  and  committed  in  the  circuit  court  of 
McDonough  county  and  hath  been  arraigned 
tried  and  convicted  in  the  circuit  court  of  the 
said  county  of  Schuyler,  of  the  said  crime  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


341 


due  form  of  law;  ami  whereas  judgment  hath 
been  given  in  our  said  court  tluvt  the  said 
Elias  McFadden  shall  be  hanged  by  the  neck 
until  he  is  dead,  aud  that  execution  of  the 
said  judgment  be  made  and  done  upon  the 
said  Elias  McFaden  on  Monday,  the  sixth 
day  of  July,  A.  D.  1835,  between  the  hours 
of  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  four 
o'clock  in  the  evening  of  said  day,  at  some 
convenient  place  in  the  vicinity  of  Rush- 
ville,  in  said  county,  in  the  usual  manner  of 
inflicting  punishment  in  such  cases;  and 
whereas  execution  of  said  sentence  remain 
eth  yet  to  be  •  done:  We  therefore  com- 
mand you  that  you  take  and  convey  the 
body  of  the  said  Elias  McFaden  in  safe  cus- 
tody to  the  place  of  execution  on  the  said 
day  between  the  hours  aforesaid,  and  that 
you  then  and  there  cause  execution  to  be 
done  upon  the  said  Elias  McFadden  in  your 
custody,  so  being  in  all  things  according  to 
the  said  judgment,  and  this  you  shall  in  no- 
wise omit  at  your  peril  aud  return  of  this 
writ  as  to  the  manner  you  execute  the  same. 
Witness,  the  Hon.  Richard  M.  Young, 

Judge    of   our  'Circuit    Court,    at 
[SEAL]    Rushville,  this  third  day  of  July, 

A.  D.  1835. 

HART  FELLOWS,  Clerk. 

On  the  back  of  the  paper,  Sheriff 
Haydon  made  the  following  endorse- 
ment: 


Executed  the  within  as  command- 
ed at  2  o'clock  P.  M.  July  6th,  1835. 

THOS.  HAYDON, 
Sheriff  of  Schuyler  County,  111. 


For  serving, 
Returning, 


$5  00 


Accompanying  this  is  the  following 
bill  of  costs,  each  item  marked  with  an 
"x,"  probably  indicating  payment: 


BILL  OP  COSTS. 


*  List  of  persons  acting  as  guard  to  the  jail 
in  Schuyler  county  during  the  confinement 


of  Elias  McFadin,  David  McFadin  aud  Wily 
McFadin: 

From  31st  May  to  6th  July  in  evening — 
x  Perry  Keyes,  two  days  aud  nights, 

No.   1 $    2  00 

x  Elijah  Hayden,  15  days  and  nights, 

No.  2 15  00 

x Hamilton,    three   days   and 

nights,  No.  3 300 

x  Sam'l  Green.  4  nights,  No.  4  ...       2  00 

1  50 

4  00 
3  00 

12  00 
1  00 

3  00 

1  50 

2  00 
200 
1  00 

6  00 
1  00 

7  00 

4  00 


x  C.  Smith,  8  nights,  No.  6 

x  Robert  Points,  6  nights,  No.  7  ... 
x  Wm.  N.  Traner,  12  days  and  nights, 

No.  8  , ••.... 

x Davis,  1  day  and  night,  No.  9  . 

x  Wm.  Boyd,  6  nights,  No.  10  .... 
,x  John  G.  Taylor,  3  nights,  No.  11  . 
x  James  Means,  4  nights,  No.  12  ... 
x  Thomas  Tyra,  4  nights,  No.  13  .  . 
x  John  Green,  2  nights,  No.  14  ... 
x  Silas  N.  Jones,  6  days  and  nights, 

No.  15 

x  Andrew  Shiva,   1   day  and  night, 

No.  16 

x  L,  W.  T.  Owenby,7daysand  nights 

No.  17  .   .   . 

x  Benjamin  Gray,  4  days  and  nights, 

No.  18 

x  Janus   Taylor,    1    day    and    night, 

No.  19 

x Bowen,  one  day,  No.  20  .... 

x  Mex  Mellrose,  2  nights,  No.  21  .  . 
x  Wm.  Clemens,  2  nights,  No.  22  ... 
x  Henry  Mear,  2  nights,  No.  23  ... 
x  Rufus  Elsey,  4  nights,  No.  24  ... 
x  Furgason  Graham,  4  nights,  No.  25 
x Wampler,  1  day  and  night,  No. 

26 

x  William  Munsou, 4  days  and  nights, 

No.  27 

x  John  Norvel,  1  night,  No.  28  ..  . 
x  Christ.  Johnson,  1  night,  No.  29  .  • 
x  Joseph  Haskell,  1  night,  No.  30  .  . 
x  George  W.  Penney,  1  day  and 

night,  No.  31 

x  John  Dougherty,  2  nights,  No.  32  . 
x  Theodore  Laughlin,  J  day  and 

night,  No.  33 


00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 


1  00 

2  00 
50 
50 
50 


00 
00 


1  00 


342 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


x  Edwin  Lougley,  2  nights,  No.  34  .  1  00 
x  Robert  A.  Brastleton,  1  night,  No. 

35 50 

x  Seeley  Owen,  6  nights,  No.  36  ...  2  00 
x  Luke  Owen,  7  days  and  nights,  No. 

37 7  00 

x  Wm.  Hay  den,  11  days  and  nights 

and  one  day,  No.  38 11  50 

Total ....  $102  10 

I  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a  correct 
list  of  the  names  of  the  Persons  standing 
Guard,  and  of  the  time  of  serving. 

July  6.  McDonough  county  Dr.  to 
Thos.  Hayden,  8.  8.  C.  111. 
for  the  higher  of  waggon  to 
hawlling  prisoner  to  Gal- 
lows to  be  executed  ....  $2  00 
To  hawllng  planck  &  timber 

for  gallows  ..••....  1  50 
To  making  two  shrouds  ...  1  50 
To  cords  for  hanging  ....  1  00 
To  bawling  corps  4  Miles  in 

the  country 2  00 

Gallows 12  00 

Executing  and  returning  .   .      10  25 

MURDER  OF  JAMES  DYE. 

.  On  the  evening  of  the  27th  of  May, 
1854,  it  wa8  reported  that  James  Dye,  a 
wealthy  farmer  living  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county,  had  been  murdered. 
The  neighbors  of  the  deceased,  assem- 
bled and  on  investigation  it  was  found 
that  the  report  was  true.  He  had  been 
killed  while  lying  in  bed.  An  inquest 
held  upon  the  body  by  S.  H.  McCand- 
less,  county  coroner,  resulted  in  a  verdict 
rendered  by  the  jury,  that  the  deceased 
came  to  his  death  by  violent  and  unlawful 
means,  and  that  by  the  hands  of  his 
wife,  Rebecca  Dye,  assisted  by  two  ac- 
cessories, David  B.  Burress  and  S.  P. 
Bay.  All  three  of  these  were  arrested 
and  thrown  into  the.  county  jail  to  await 
a  proper  hearing  before  the  circuit  court. 


.  On  the  10th  of  October,  following,  the 
case  was  laid  before  the  grand  jury,  who 
found  a  true  bill  of  indictment  against 
all  three  of  the  parties,  but  when  the 
case  was  called  in  the  circuit  court,  then 
in  session,  a  continuence  was  asked,  and 
granted  until  the  next  term  of  the  court. 
At  this  term  a  change  of  venue  was 
asked  that  the  case  of  Daniel  P.  Burress 
to  the  court  in  Warren  county,  and  that 
of  Mrs.  Dye  to  Fulton  county,  both  of 
which  were  granted.  -There  not  being 
sufficient  evidence  against  S.  P.  Bay,  a 
nolle  prosequi  was  entered,  in  his  case, 
and  he  was  discharged  from  custody. 

At  the  April  term  of  the  circuit  court 
in  Fulton  county,  Mrs.  Dye  was  placed 
at  the  bar  and  plead  "not  guilty."  The 
trial  lasted  nine  days,  and  was  probably 
the  most  exciting  one  that  ever  took 
place  in  that  county.  The  court  room 
was  crowded  at  every  session.  The 
counsel  for  the  prosecution,  or  the  "peo- 
ple" as  the  court  terms  it,  were  among 
the  ablest  of  this  section  of  country, 
consisting  of  Messrs  Goudy,  of  Fulton 
county;  Wheat,  of  Adams;  and  Schofield 
and  Macli  of  Hancock.  No  less  able  were 
those  of  the  defense,  Messrs.  Manning, 
of  Peoria;  Kellogg  and  Boss,  of  Fulton; 
and  Cyrus  Walker,  of  McDonough. 

William  C.  Goudy  opened  the  case, 
in  an  able  manner,  for  the  people.  A 
full  account  of  this  speech  would  be 
interesting,  but  space  forbids  its  inser- 
tion here.  He  said  to  the  jury:  "You 
are  called  upon  to  discharge  the  most 
solemn  duty  that  ever  devolved  upon 
man,  in  the  discharge  of  which  involved 
the  life  or  death  of  a  human  being.  The 
evidence  they  had  to  offer  was  purely 
circumstantial.  No  living  being  was 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


343 


known  who  saw  the  inhuman  crime  com- 
mitted. But  circumstantial  evidence,  in 
many  cases,  was  better  than  positive 
testimony — the  guilty  mind  always  acts 
inconsistent  with  its  innocence,  and  this 
marks  out  its  own  accusation.  This  is 
one  of  God's  marks  upon  crime.  To 
hunt  out,  follow  up,  and  arrest  a  crim- 
inal are  its  daily  uses.  By  its  aid  the 
police  of  our  cities  are  constantly  bring- 
ing to  light  and  arresting  the  perpetrat- 
ors of  evil  deeds,  who  would  otherwise 
continue  their  crimes  unmolested.  The 
prisoner  before  you  is  indicted  for  the 
murder  of  her  own  husband.  The  de- 
ceased came  to  his  death  by  a  blow  upon 
the  head  from  an  ax  or  hammer,  or  from 
a  slung-shot  in  the  breast,  or  from  both. 
Three  persons  are  named  in  the  bill  of 
indictment,  but  you  have  only  to  inquire 
as  to  the  guilt  of  the  prisoner  before 
you.  We  expect  to  show  acts  and  words 
between  Burress  and  the  prisoner  that 
will  show  their  connection  with  the  mur- 
der, and  bring  to  your  mind  uncontro- 
vertable  evidence  of  the  prisoners  guilt. 
Should  we  do  so,  you  have  but  one 
duty  to  yerform,  and  that  we  shall  ex- 
pect at  your  hands." 

The  opening  for  the  defense  was  made 
*by  Cyrus  Walker,  of  Macomb,  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  lights  that  illumed  the  bar 
of  this  county.  His  remarks  were  sub- 
stantially as  follows,  which  will  show  the 
gist  of  the  whole  case : 

"The  arrangement  has  been  made  by 
the  counsel  for  the  defense  that  I  should 
make  the  opening  statement.  I  agree 
with  the  gentlemen  that  this  is  an  im- 
portant case.  You,  gentlemen,  are  to  de- 
cide a  momentous  question.  The  Em- 
peror of  the  Eussias  possesses  no  more 


power  over  the  life  of  his  subjects  than 
you  have  over  the  life  of  that  lady.  Her 
life  is  in  your  hands.  You  can  hang  her 
up  between  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
or  you  can  send  her  home  to  her  chil- 
dren, from  whom  she  has  been  torn  by 
the  iron  rule  of  the  law.  You  must  ex- 
pect the  case  will  be  somewhat  tedious; 
the  issues  involved  are  such  it  cannot  be 
otherwise.  "  That  woman  before  you, 
whose  life  you  hold  in  your  hands,  is  ac- 
cused of  an  unnatural  crime.  The  dif- 
ference between  murder  and  manslaugh- 
ter has  been  fully  and  accurately  stated 
to  you  by  my  friend,  and  it  is  in  your 
province  to  find  her  guilty  of  either,  if 
the  evidence  should  thus  convince  you. 
Certainty,  beyond  a  reasonable  doubt,  is 
required  in  all  criminal  cases — the  law 
rejects  preponderance.  James  Dye,  the 
deceased,  was  a  man  between  70  and  80 
years  of  age,  He  was  married  twice. 
By  his  first  wife  he  had  twelve  children. 
Six  years  ago -he  was  married  to  the  ac- 
cused, by  whom  he  had  three  children, 
one  at  the  breast  at  the  time  of  his  mur- 
der. On  Saturday,  the  27th  of  May  last, 
he  was  found  dead  in  his  bed,  shot 
through  the  breast,  and  his  skull  frac- 
tured just  above  the  left  eye.  As  is  very 
natural  in  such  a  case,  there  was  much 
anxiety  to  find  out  the  perpetrators  of  tHe 
deed.  Suspicion  took  the  smallest  cir- 
cumstance and  magnified  it;  and  the  nat- 
ural disposition  in  every  community  to 
find  out  the  cause — that  restless,  eager 
energy  that  seizes  every  point — directed 
attention  toward  the  accused.  I  warn 
you,  gentlemen,  against  such  restless 
eagerness,  against  that  suspicion  that 
blights  without  investigation,  and  con- 
demns without  proof.  There  is  no  con- 


344 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


test  here,  but  as  to  who  murdered  Dye. 
James   Dye  was  a  large  farmer,  a  hard 
working  man.     I  am  bound  to  do  justice 
to  the  living.   I  must  speak  of  the  faults 
of  the  dead.     The  deceased  was  an  hon- 
est,  industrious  man,  but  he  sadly  neg- 
lected the  education  of  his  children — 
their  moral  and  intellectual  training  was 
unprovided  for;  while  his  great  aim  was 
to  accumulate  property.     He  had  fre- 
quent quarrels  with  his  sons,  fights  and 
law  suits.     These  engendered   a  bitter 
feeling  between  them,  which  often  led  to 
violence.     After  the  old  man's  death,  the 
boys  were  active  to  show  the  prisoner's 
guilt — they  charged  her  with  the  mur- 
der and  hinted  of  circumstances  to  cast 
suspicion  upon  her.     The  old  man  died 
intestate.  There  was  a  large  dower  com- 
ing to  the  prisoner.     They  had  various 
motives  to  induce  them  to  be  forward  in 
settling  opinions   against  the  accused. 
Knowing  their   previous  quarrels,  they 
sought  to  divert  suspicion  from  them- 
selves, and  have  sought  every  means  to 
throw  the  guilt  upon  the  prisoner.     The 
prosecution  has  stated  the  rules  of  evi- 
dence.    I  wish  only  to  add,  as  the  enor- 
mity of  the  crime  increases,  so  the  char- 
acter of  the  proof  should  be  more  cer- 
tain.    There  never  was  a  greater  error 
committed  than  that  from  the  pen  of  Dr. 
Paley,  when  he  said  that  circumstantial 
-evidence   could  not  lie.     It  was  a  fine 
theory,  and  having  received  the  sanction 
of  so  great  a  mind,   has  been  handed 
down  as  incontrovertible.     One  ounce  of 
sober  sense  upon  such  a  point  is  better 
than  the    speculative    wisdom    of    the 
world.     Remember,   you   are  not  to  en- 
quire who  murdered  James  Dye,  nor,  if 
she  didn't,  who  did  ?    You  are  only  to 


decide  as  to  the  prisoner's  guilt."  This 
speech  was  considered  one  of  his  best 
efforts. 

Some  80  or  90  witnesses  who  had  been 
summoned  were  examined  and  cross-ex- 
amined. As  outlined  by  the  above  re- 
marks of  the  attorney  for  the  prosecution, 
it  was  endeavored  to  prove  criminal  in- 
tentions between  Mrs.  Dye  and  Burress, 
and  that  they,  to  carry  out  their  designs, 
or  to  shield  themselves,  made  way  with 
the  old  man.  They  succeeded  in  making 
out  a  very  strong  case  against  the  ac- 
cused. The  defense,  on  the  other  hand, 
brought  forward  witnesses  to  prove  the 
good  character  of  their  client,  showing 
how  she  many  times  acted  as  peace-ma- 
ker between  the  old  man  and  his  sons; 
how  the  old  man  regarded  her  as  worthy 
of  all  confidence,  giving  her  all  the 
money  she  wished  for,  and  making  her 
his  "banker,"  as  he  said;  how  that,  in 
nature,  he  could  live  but  a  little  while, 
and  that  his  intention  was  to  leave  all  his 
property  to  the  accused  and  her  chil- 
dren; that  the  supposed  facts,  as  set 
forth  by  the  prosecution,  was  entirely  in- 
consistent with  the  state  of  affairs  as 
they  existed.  The  witnesses  having  been 
all  examined  and  all  the  evidence  laid 
before  the  court,  the  case  was  ably  ar-* 
gued  by  the  opposing  counsel  with  all 
the  forensic  eloquence  that  was  at  their 
command,  and  the  case  given  to  the  jury, 
who,  after  being  out  some  fifteen  hours, 
brought  in  a  verdict  of  guilty,  but  as  at 
first  they  had  stood  four  for  acquittal, 
and  eight  for  conviction,  they  compro- 
mised by  sentencing  the  prisoner  to  five 
years  in  the  penitentiary. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Dye  was  removed  to  the 
state  penitentiary,  but  was  pardoned  out 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


345 


by  the  governor  of  the  state  before  the 
larger  half  of  her  sentence  had  been 
served,  on  account  of  uniform  good  con- 
duct; and  on  the  recommendation  of  the 
warden  of  the  prison.  She  returned  to 
this  county,  and  taking  up  her  residence 
in  Macomb,  lived  there  until  her  death, 
which  occurred  in  1874. 

KILLING   OF   WILLIAM   H.    RANDOLPH. 

On  the  1st  day  of  November,  1864,  oc- 
curred one  of  the  most  terrible  tragedies 
recorded  in  the  annals  of  McDonough 
county.  In  July  of  that  year  the  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  issued  his 
proclamation  for  an  additional  number 
of  men  for  the  United  States  service; 
and  further  ordered  that  if  the  call  was 
not  complied  with  by  volunteers  within 
50  days  from  date  of  said  call,  drafting 
should  be  resorted  to.  Each  state  in  the 
Union  was  divided  into  districts  and 
sub-districts,  and  to  each  was  assigned 
their  just  quota.  A  record  of  all  enlist- 
ments heretofore  made  had  been  kept 
and  each  district  properly  credited  with 
all  volunteers  reporting  therefrom.  Mc- 
Donough county  was  in  the  ninth  dis- 
trict, and  Captain  B.  F.  Westlake,  of 
Mount  Sterling,  Brown  county, was  made 
provost  marshal.  On  the  15th  day  of 
June,  1863,  William  H.  Randolph,  of 
the  city  of  Macomb,  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  deputy  provost  marshal, 
and  was  re-appointed  September  28, 
1864,  commission  to  date  from  Septem- 
ber 15,  1864.  About  this  time  notice 
was  given  to  the  various  sub-districts  in 
the  county  that  upon  the  6th  day  of 
October,  the  draft  for  the  townships  of 
Eldorado,  Emmet,  Hire,  Sciota,  Indus- 
try, Bethel,  Lamoine,  Chalmers,  Scot- 


land, Mound,  Walnut  Grove  and  New 
Salem,  would  take  place  at  Mount  Ster- 
ling, and  requested  that  committees 
should  be  appointed  from  each  township 
to  attend  the  drawing  to  see  that  it  was 
fairly  conducted.  According  to  notice, 
the  draft  took  place  and  a  list  of  drafted 
men  immediately  forwarded  to  Captain 
Randolph.  Upon  that  list  appeared  the 
name  of  John  Bond,  of  Hire  township. 
Mr.  Bond  was  duly  notified,  and  failing 
to  report  according  to  the  statute  made 
and  provided,  was  considered  a  deserter, 
and  it  became  the  duty  of  Captain  Ran- 
dolph to  arrest  him  as  such.  Accord- 
ingly on  the  morning  of  the  1st  day  of 
November,  1864,  he  proceeded  to  Blan- 
dinsville  for  that  purpose,  arriving  there 
a  little  before  daylight.  About  sunrise, 
he  met  Bond  in  the  saloon  of  Chris. 
Sappington,  and  to  him  he  had  come  for 
him,  and  asked  him  to  go  peaceably  with 
him  to  Mount  Sterling.  This  Bond  re- 
fused to  do,  saying  that  he  would  not  go 
and  fight  for  the  niggers,  and  that  the 
quota  of  his  township  was  full,  and  it 
was  unnecessary.  Mr.  Randolph  told 
him  he  must  go.  Bond  went  out  of  the 
saloon,  followed  by  Randolph,  going 
over  to  the  hotel  of  his  brother  James. 
Here  they  were  met  by  Miles,  another 
brother  of  John,  who  said  to  him, 
"Your  horse  is  ready;  it  is  time  to  take 
a  ride."  Mr.  Randolph  then  placed  his 
hand  upon  John's  shoulder  and  told  him 
he  was  his  prisoner.  Upon  this,  Bond 
drew  his  pistol,  fired  at  Randolph,  and 
then  ran.  The  latter  returned  the  fire, 
•and  followed  him  out  the  door,  where 
they  were  again'  met  by  Miles,  who  also 
fired  at  him.  Randolph  then  turned, 
and  the  Bond  brothers  jumped  on  their 


346 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


horses  and  fled  the  country.  Randolph 
was  shot  in  four  places,  two  mortal 
wounds  being  inflicted.  He  was  taken 
to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Hudson,  where  he 
died  in  about  eighteen  hours  after  being 
shot.  Drs.  Emery  and  Durant,  of  BJan- 
dinsville,  and  Jordan,  of  Macomb,  were 
called  in,  and  all  that  could  be  done  for 
his  relief  was  attended  to,  but  all  in  vain. 
Coroner  Sullivan  held  an  inquest  on  the 
remains  on  the  3d  of  November,  the  jury 
returning  a  verdict  that  he  came  to  his 
death  at  the  hands  of  John  Bond  and 
Miles  Bond,  aided  by  James  Bond  and 
Tyler  Ray,  and  that  the  act  was  without 
sufficient  justification.  The  next  day, 
the  4th,  the  remains  were  taken  to 
Macomb,  and  interred  in  Oakwood  cem- 
etery, being  followed  to  the  grave  by  a 
large  procession  of  sincerely  mourning 
relatives  and  friends. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Randolph  the 
citizens  of  the  county  offered  a  re- 
ward of  $5,200  for  the  arrest  of  the 
four  accomplices  in  the  murder,  viz  : 
John  Bond,  Miles  W.  Bond,  James 
Bond,  and  Attilla  Ray.  Of  this  amount 
Mrs.  Randolph  was  to  give  the  sum  of 
$2,000.  At  the  March  term  (1865)  fol- 
lowing of  the  circuit  court  the  grand 
jury  found  a  bill  of  indictment  against 
the  four  above  named  persons  implicated 
by  the  coroner's  jury.  The  indictment 
against  Ray,  we  believe,  was  afterwards 
quashed. 

As  remarked,  after  having  shot  Captain 
Randolph,  the  Bonds  fled  the  country, 
and  the  attempt  made  to  capture  them 
at  the  time  was  unsuccessful.  Nothing 
reliable  as  to  their  whereabouts  was 
learned  by  the  public  for  several  years. 
Frank  E.  Fowler,  of  Macomb,  afterwards 


of  Galesburg,  Illinois,  then  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  government  as  United  States 
detective,  determined,  if  possible,  to  ef- 
fect their  capture.  The  following  is  the 
account  of  the  capture  of  Miles  Bond, 
given  by  a  letter  from  him: 

"On  Saturday,  June  13,  1868,  I  ar- 
rested Miles  W.  Bond,  near  the  town  of 
Sonora,  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  for 
the  murder  of  deputy  provost  marshal 
William  H.  Randolph,  on  the  first  day 
of  November,  1864.  I  had  been  on  the 
track  of  Bond  about  three  years,  but 
when  about  ready  to  capture  him  'he 
wasn't  there.' 

"  Some  three  weeks  before  the  arrest 
I  located  Bond  at  the  above  mentioned 
place,  and  proceeded  to  arrange  for  mak- 
ing his  arrest,  which  had  to  be  done  very 
cautiously,  as  he  had  many  relatives  and 
friends  watching  my  every  movement. 
So  I  gave  out  that  I  was  going  to  Massa- 
chusetts to  visit  relatives.  The  next  you 
heard  was  a  telegraphic  dispatch  from 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  that  the  arrest  had 
been  made. 

"  On  arriving  at  Louisville,  Bond  being 
a  desperate  man,  I  secured  the  co-opera- 
tion of  an  officer,  and  together  we  pro- 
ceeded to  the  place  of  capture.  Bond 
had  just  left  his  house  and  was  crossing 
the  road,  at  about  5  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  we  came  upon  and  immedi- 
ately seized  him  and  clasped  the  irons 
upon  him,  without  giving  him  any  time 
to  make  the  least  resistance.  He  was 
immediately  hurried  off,  and  arrived  in 
Macomb,  Tuesday  morning,  June  16, 
1868,  just  three  years  four  months  and 
fourteen  days  from  the  day  of  the  mur- 
der. 

"Since   the  murder,   Bond  has  been 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


347 


wandering  all  over  the  country,  his  occu- 
pation being  that  of  farmer,  barber,  mil- 
ler, carpenter,  etc.  He  took  his  arrest 
as  coolly  as  could  be  expected.  At  first 
he  had  not  much  to  say,  but  before  ar- 
riving at  Macomb  he  became  quite  talk- 
ative, giving  all  the  information  in  regard 
to  his  life  since  he  left  the  county.  He 
had  been  living  under  the  name  of  Sam- 
uel S.  Walker.  Shortly  after  arresting 
him  I  called  him  by  the  name  of  Miles, 
his  given  name,  and  he  remarked  to  me : 
'That  is  the  first  time  in  over  three  years 
that  anybody  has  called  me  by  that 
name.'  " 

At  the  October  term,  1868,  the  case  of 
Miles  W.  Bond  was  called,  and,  on  mo- 
tion of  his  attorneys,  a  change  of  venue 
was  taken  to  Schuyler  county,  and  his 
trial  had  at  the  May  term  of  the  circuit 
court  of  that  county.  L.  W.  James,  pros- 
ecuting attorney,  assisted  by  D.  G.  Tun- 
nicliff,  C.  F.  Wheat,  L.  H.  Waters  and 
J.  C.  Bagby  conducted  the  prosecution, 
while  S.  C.  Judd,  S.  P.  Shope,  W.  H. 
Neece,  Robert  Walker  and  Henry  Metz 
appeared  for  the  defense.  A  number  of 
witnesses  were  examined  on  both  sides, 
and  the  case  ably  argued  by  the  attor- 
neys. The  fact  of  the  killing  of  Ran- 
dolph by  the  Bonds  was  clearly  proven, 
and  not  denied  by  the  defense;  in  fact, 
the  defendant  himself  did  not  deny  the 
charge  against  him,  and  in  the  trial  of 
his  brothers,  John  and  James,  some  two 
years  afterwards,  at  Macomb,  swore  to 
the  fact.  The  attorneys  for  the  defense 
made  the  following  points:  First,  There 
is  no  record  of  a  draft  having  been  made. 
Second,- At  the  time  of  the  arrest  of  John 
Bond  the  draft  was  filled.  The  object 
of  the  conscript  law  was  to  raise  soldiers, 


and  consequently  the  force  and  object  of 
the  law  was  attained  when  the  quota  was 
full;  after  that  the  provost  marshal  had 
no  right  to  arrest  alternates  who  would 
have  been  dismissed  if  they  had  reported. 
Third,  In  attempting  to  arrest  John 
Bond,  he  transcended  his  duties,  and 
Bond  was  justified  in  resisting  arrest. 
Fourth,  Miles  Bond,  seeing  the  life  of 
his  brother  in  danger,  by  the  law  was 
justified  in  shooting  his  antagonist. 

The  case  was  ably  managed  upon  both 
sides,  and  after  a  patient  hearing,  it  was 
submitted  to  the  jury,  who  brought  in  a 
verdict  of  "not  guilty." 

About -the  beginning  of  the  year  1870, 
two  men  came  to  Macomb,  having  in 
charge  John  and  James  Bond,  claiming 
to  have  captured  them  in  Missouri,  and 
claiming  the  reward  offered  for  their 
apprehension.  Doubt  was  entertained 
as  to  their  story,  it  being  generally  be- 
lieved it  was  a  "put  up  job,"  the  Bonds 
desiring  to  surrender,  and  had  arranged 
with  these  men  to  come  and  deliver 
them  up  and  divide  with  them  the 
amount  of  the  reward  offered.  It  was 
therefore  refused,  and  they  only  received 
about  $50  to  pay  their  expenses. 

At  the  March  term,  1871,  the  case  of 
John  and  James  Bond  was  called,  but 
on  account  of  the  absence  of  two  im- 
portant witnesses,  the  state's  attorney, 
L.  W.  James,  obtained  a  continuance  till 
the  next  term.  At  the  special  term,  held 
in  July  following,  the  case  was  again 
called,  but  in  consequence  of  the  sudden 
and  violent  illness  of  Captain  B.  F.  West- 
lake,  a  material  witness,  a  continuance 
was  again  granted  to  the  people.  At 
the  September  term  all  were  found 
ready,  and  on  Tuesday,  the  26th  day  of 


348 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  month,  the  trial  began,  Judge  Sib- 
ley,  of  the  Adams*  district,  presiding. 
Only  two  jurors  were  accepted  out  of 
the  regular  panel.  Ninety-two  others 
were  summoned  and  examined  before 
the  twelve  could  be  obtained.  On  the 
completion  of  the  regular  number,  the 
trial  proceded.  For  the  people  appeared 
L.  W.  James,  prosecuting  attorney,  as- 
sisted by  C.  F.  Wheat  and  D.  G.  Tunni- 
cliff.  The  defense  was  represented  by 
Messrs.  Judd  &  Neece.  The  trial  lasted 
for  three  days.  Twelve  witnesses  were 
examined  for  the  people,  and  five 
for  the  defense.  Upon  the  points 
where  both  were  examined  there  was 
no  apparent  difference  in  their  testi- 
mony. The  attorneys  for  the  defense 
did  not  deny  the  fact  of  the  killing,  but 
based  their  whole  argument  upon  the 
question  of  the  illegality  of  the  action 
of  Mr.  Kandolph  in  the  attempted  ar- 
rest. They  claimed  that  no  such  an 
officer  as  deputy  provost  marshal  was 
recognized,  by  the  United  States  govern- 


ment; that  Mr.  Randolph  was  acting 
without  due  authority,  consequently  he 
was  a  trespasser,  and  in  laying  his  hand 
upon  John  Bond  he  committed  an 
assault,  and  therefore  the  killing  was 
justifiable  in  law.  Mr.  James,  the  prose- 
cuting attorney,  showed  from  the  evi- 
dence that  Randolph  was  recognized  by 
the  government,  that  he  received  pay  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties;  that  Bond 
thought  him  an  officer;  that  the  com- 
munity all  acknowledged  his  authority; 
and,  even  if  authority  was  denied,  the 
murder  was  not  justifiable  and  could  not 
be.  The  judge  read  quite  a  lengthy 
charge  to  the  jury,  and  they  retired 
about  four  or  five  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. About  four  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing word  was  sent  to  the  judge  that  a 
verdict  was  agreed  upon,  when  he  imme- 
diately called  the  court  to  order.  The 
prisoners  were  sent  for,  and  at  this  un- 
reasonable hour  a  verdict  of  "not  guilty" 
was  rendered,  and  John  and  James  Bond 
were  allowed  their  liberty. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


RAILROADS. 


No  factor  in  all  the  world's  machinery 
has  contributed  more  to  the  onward 
stride  of  civilization  than  the  building 
of  railroads;  before  the  rush  of  the  iron 
horse  on  his  road  of  iron  and  and  steel, 
that  which  was  desert  wilderness  and 


arid  plain  becomes,  as  if  by  magic,  fertile 
garden  and  blooming  orchard,  the  camp 
of  the  aborigine  gives  way  to  the  city  of 
his  more  progressive  brother;  the  smoke 
curling  from  his  wigwam  door  is  re- 
placed by  that  rising  from  the  tall  chim- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


349 


ney  of  the  white  man's  factory;  and 
human  toil  and  drudgery  becomes  less 
and  less  necessary  to  maintain  a  bare 
existence,  as  the  railroad,  with  its  long 
trains  winding  o'er  the  prairies,  brings 
to  the  pioneer  who  has  preceded  it,  the 
welcome  machinery  which  shall  there- 
after assist  in  the  toil  his  poor  hands 
have  been  forced  to  do  unaided. 

And  though  more  than  a  score  of 
years  had  passed  over  the  heads  of  Mc- 
Donough  county's  first  settlers  ere  the 
first  railroad  pierced  through  her  woods 
and  prairies,  yet  her  real  prosperity  and 
rapid  advancement  dates  from  that  event. 

Previously  the  settlers,  or  those  who 
sold  to  them,  were  compelled  to  haul 
their  goods  from  points  so  remote  that 
it  seems  incredible  at  the  present  day, 
when  goods  are  ordered  and  delivered  at 
our  doors  from  wholesale  points  within 
a  few  short  days.  And  to  market  the 
stock  and  products  of  the  soil  required 
such  lengthy  drives  and  long  hauling,  as 
often  render  the  small  remuneration  then 
received  scarcely  worth  the  trouble. 

But  McDonough  county  of  to-day, 
like  many  other  Illinois  counties,  does 
not  want  for  railroad  facilities.  Thir- 
teen out  of  the  18  townships  of  the 
county  are  penetrated  by  this  greatest 
of  all  enterprises,  and  the  balance  have 
an  easily  accessible  market  for  the  pro- 
ductions of  the  soil  at  but  a  few  miles 
distant.  Three  lines  of  railroads  cross 
the  county — the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  & 
Pacific,  and  the  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis 
and  Galesburg  and  Quincy  branches  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  rail- 
road. , 

This  latter  road,  then  known  as  the 
Northern  Cross  railroad,  was  completed 


from  Quincy  to  Galesburg  in  the  fore 
part  of  the  year  1856,  and  was  the  first 
line  of  road  to  be  constructed  in  Mc- 
Donough county.  As  early  as  1851,  the 
subject  of  its  construction  occupied  the 
minds  of  those  who  were  favorable  to 
the  project,  as  a  charter  had  been  granted 
by  the  state  for  the  erection  of  the 
same.  It  was  proposed,  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  charter,  to  build  a  branch 
of  the  road  through  McDonough  county, 
having  its  terminus  at  Clayton,  in  Adams 
county.  However,  the  terminus  was  af- 
terwards changed  to  Quincy.  During 
the  days  of  railroad  excitement,  the  fol- 
lowing extract  is  taken  from  a  paper 
called  the  Independent,  published  at 
Macomb,  by  George  W.  Smith,  as  a  cri- 
terion of  the  earnest  work  put  forth  by 
the  friends  of  the  project:  "  What  is  to 
be  done  in  regard  to  the  proposed  road 
from  Quincy  to  Macomb,  and  from  here 
to  Galesburg?  The  time  for  stopping 
to  consider  the  policy  of  such  an  enter- 
prise has  passed  away;  and  the  benefits 
to  be  derived  from  such  means  of  com- 
munication are  held  to  be  too  self-evi- 
dent to  need  any  additional  argument 
advanced  in  their  favor,  for  who,  say  we, 
cannot  see  in  the  advanced  price  of  land, 
in  the  advantage  of  a  ready  market,  in 
the  increased  facilities  of  communica- 
tion, in  the  spread  of  general  intelli- 
gence, in  the  cheapened  and  quickened 
mode  of  transportation,  a  sufficient  in- 
ducement to  wish  such  an  undertaking 
success,  and  say  that  its  benefits  are  be- 
yond dispute?  Perhaps,  the  facts  of 
these  truths  being  so  plain  and  undenia- 
ble, has  led  to  the  lethargy  and  inaction 
of  our  people.  But  we  must  awake  from 
our  stupor;  measures  must  be  taken  for 


350 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  securing  of  stock,  of  having  the 
county  become  a  stockholder  to  a  liberal 
amount;  of  getting  individuals,  who 
need  only  the  solicitation  of  some  active 
friend  of  the  road,  to  become  deeply  in- 
terested in  its  completion.  Then,  Mends 
of  the  road,  be  up  and  doing;  farmers 
of  McDonough,  your  interests  are  at 
•  stake,  see  that  you  neglect  them  not; 
merchant  and  mechanic,  your  welfare, 
too,  is  bound  up  in  this  scheme — with  it 
will  come  your  prosperity,  without  it 
you  must  lose  immensely!  Then,  again 
say  we,  let  us  all  at  work!  Let  our  un- 
tiring zeal  and  determined  efforts  show 
that  we  desire  what  we  need,  and  must 
have  a  RAILROAD." 

Mr.  Clarke,  in  his  history  of  McDon- 
ough county,  has  the  following  in  regard 
to  the  construction  of  the  first  railroad 
through  this  county: 

Meetings  were  held  for  the  purpose  of 
creating  an  interest  in  the  proposed  rail- 
road. On  Wednesday  evening,  Novem- 
ber 5th,  1851,  Hon.  Calvin  A.  Warren, 
of  Quincy,  and  General  Darnell,  of 
Hancock  county,  addressed  the  citizens 
of  Macomb  npou  this  important  sub- 
ject. A  committee  was  appointed  to 
confer  with  the  directors  of  the  road, 
and  at  an  adjourned  meeting  the  next 
evening  it  was  resolved  to  ask  the  county 
court  to  appoint  an  election  at  some 
siiitable  time,  at  which  the  people  could 
vote  on  the  question  of  taking  stock  in 
the  road  to  the  amount  of  $50,000,  At 
another  meeting  held  December  1,  sub- 
stantially the  same  proposition  was 
adopted,  and  on  the  second  day  of  De- 
cember, Hon.  B.  K.  Hampton  appeared 
before  the  county  court  and  presented 
the  following  resolution* 


Resolved,  That  we  respectfully  request  the 
honorable  county  court  in  and  for  the  county 
of  McDonough  and  state  of  Illinois,  to  submit  to 
the  people  of  said  county  a  proposition  to  vote 
for  or  against  the  county  of  McDonough  taking 
stock  to  the  amount  of  $50,000  in  the  proposed 
railroad  from  Clayton  to  Galesburg,  and  that  they 
be  solicited  to  fix  upon  the  third  Monday  in  the 
month  of  March,  A.  D.,  1852,  for  the  purpose 
of  taking  said  vote. 

The  court  thereupon  made  the  follow- 
ing order: 

Therefore  it  is  ordered  by  the  court  that  the 
said  proposition  be  submitted  to  the  citizens  of 
McDonough  as  requested  in  said  resolution, 
and  that  the  clerk  of  this  court  order  an  election 
to  be  held  at  the  several  election  precincts  in 
said  county,  on  the  third  Monday  in  the  month 
of  March  next,  to  take  the  vote  of  the  county  for 
and  against  the  county  taking  stock  in  said 
railroad  to  the  amount  of  $50,000 ;  and  that  the 
clerk  issue  the  notices  of  said  election  in  the 
time  and  manner  required  by  law ;  and  that  said 
election  be  held  and  conducted  in  all  respects  as 
other  general  and  special  elections  required  by 
the  statutes  are  held  and  conducted.  It  is 
further  ordered  that  the  resolutions  and  pro- 
ceedings of  said  meetings  be  filed  by  the  clerk. 

The  work  now  began  in  earnest.  Hon. 
James  M.  Campbell,  Dr.  J.  B.  Kyle,  B. 
R.  Hampton,  J.  P.  Updegraff,  L.  H. 
Waters,  and  others  favorable  to  the  road 
at  once  began  the  canvass.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell and  Dr.  Kyle  traveled  together, 
making  speeches  in  nearly  every  school 
house  in  the  county.  Being  in  the  dead 
of  winter,  travel  was  almost  impossible, 
and  had  to  be  done  on  horseback.  Still 
they  were  undaunted,  and  bound  to  se- 
cure the  road,  if  possible.  The  oppo- 
nents of  the  road  were  not  idle  in  the 
meantime,  but  used  every  means  in  their 
power  to  influence  the  people  against  it. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  "Industry,  ad- 
dressed by  Dr.  Kyle  and  Mr.  Camp- 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  PF 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


353 


bell,  an  opportunity  was  given  in  which 
to  hear  objections,  when  the  Hon.  Cyrus 
Walker  boldly  took  a  stand  against  the 
road,  and,  not  content  with  that  followed 
the  gentleman  to  Pennington's  Point, 
and  in  a  speech  of  an  hour's  length,  en- 
deavored to  show  the  fallacies  of  the  ar- 
guments advanced  in  favor,  and  made 
many  objections  against  the  proposed  im- 
provement. The  recollection  of  the  gigan- 
tic failures  of  the  state  in  its  system  of 
public  improvement  had  not  been  for- 
gotten, and  Mr.  Walker  endeavored  to 
show  what  might  be  the  consequence 
should  our  county  be  so  unwise  as  to 
vote  the  proposed  aid.  In  answer  to  this 
plea,  Dr.  Kyle  reminded  him  of  the 
story  of  the  woman  who  sent  her  little 
girl  out  to  attend  the  fire  in  the  oldf  ash- 
ioned  brick  oven,  while  she  prepared  the 
dough  for.  baking.  Not  returning,  the 
mother  became  alarmed  and  went  out  to 
look  for  her.  The  fire  was  burning 
brightly  in  the  oven,  but  no  child  was  to 
be  seen.  Hearing  a  cry  of  distress 
around  the  other  side  of  the  house,  the 
alarmed  mother  hastened  to  the  place, 
supposing  her  child  to  be  in  great  dan- 
ger. She  found  her  weeping  bitterly, 
and  hastily  inquired:  "My  daughter, 
what  is  the  matter?"  "O,  mother,"  said 
she,  "I  was  just  thinking  if  I  was  a 
great  big  woman,  just  like  you,  and  was 
married,  and  had  a  little  girl,  just  like 
me,  and  while  I  was  in  the  house  mak- 
ing bread,  I  should  send  her  out  to 
fix  the  fire,  and  she  should  come  out, 
with  a  smile  upon  her  face,  and  crawl 
right  into  the  fire,  and  get  all  burned 
up,  what  a  terrible  thing  it  would  be!" 
At  another  meeting  held  in  Industry, 
as  an  illustration  showing  the  flimsiness 


of  the  opposition  against  railroads  and 
other  improvements,  the  doctor  told  how 
certain  Germans  and  others  living  on 
the  line  of  a  proposed  canal  opposed  it 
on  the  ground  that  they  had  a  large 
amount  of  money  invested  in  horses  and 
wagons,  and  if  the  canal  should  be  built, 
there  would  be  no  employment  for  them. 
The  canal  was  built,  and  they  found 
they  could  obtain  just  as  much  employ- 
ment as  before,  and  at  better  prices. 
Mr.  Walker,  in  reply,  spoke  of  the  doc- 
tor taking  to  water,  and  boasted  of  driv- 
ing him  into  the  Miami  canal,  and  stated 
that  he  would  acknowledge  that  canals 
were  a  public  benefit,  but  not  so  rail- 
roads. He  was  then  asked  why  it  was 
that  no  canals  were  now  being  built  and 
railroads  were  being  made  throughout 
the  whole  land.  This  was  not  answered. 
At  a  public  meeting  in  Macomb,  held 
in  the  court  house,  Mr.  Walker  remarked 
that  he  had  been  informed  by  a  couple 
of  prominent  merchants  in  the  town  that 
one  train  of  cars  could  carry  away  all 
the  surplus  products  of  McDonough 
county  raised  in  one  year,  or  that  David 
Rail  and  Harry  Perry,  two  well  known 
teamsters  in  the  town,  could  likewise  re- 
move all  its  surplus  produce,  carry  it 
forty  miles  to  a  market  and  return  it 
with  all  the  merchandise  required  by  the 
inhabitants.  Such  being  the  case,  said 
Mr.  W.,  what  use  have  we  for  a  railroad; 
of  what  benefit  will  it  be?  He  further, 
if  the  audience  desired  to  know  the 
names  of  the  two  merchants  he  could 
give  them ;  they  were  Jonathan  H.  Baker 
and  John  W.  Westfall.  Mr.  Baker  was 
a  very  strong  opponent  of  the  road,  and 
in  March,  1852,  contributed  an  article  to 
the  McDonough  Independent  relating  to 


21 


354 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  pretended  conversation  overheard  in 
the  postoffice  between  farmer  Bangs  and 
one  of  the  committee  appointed  to  can- 
vass the  county  in  aid  of  the  proposed 
road,  in  which  the  farmer  has  the  best  of 
the  argument,  of  course. 

At  Blandinsville  one  of  the  speakers 
compared  this  section  of  country  with  that 
between  Chicago  and  Galena,  the  latter 
country  having  a  railroad,  the  former 
none.  In  one  year  from  the  time  the 
railroad  was  completed  between  Chicago 
and  Galena  the  country  lying  along  its 
route  increased  in  population  300  per 
cent,  and  in  wealth  400  per  cent,  and 
asked  if  it  could  be  accounted  for  in  any 
other  way  than  on  account  of  her  rail- 
roads. Del.  Martin,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  the  place,  suggested  it  might  be 
on  account  of  that  country  being  settled 
by  the  Yankees.  Ever  afterward  the 
speaker  made  good  use  of  Mr.  Martin's 
reply  to  his  question.  When  in  a  neigh- 
borhood composed  principally  of  those 
emigrating  from  the  south  he  would  ask 
them  if  they  would  acknowledge  such  a 
conclusion  was  correct  "Have  these 
Yankees,"  said  he,  "more  enterprise 
than  you?"  Is  that  the  way  you  ac- 
count for  this  prosperity?  No,  sir;  it 
all  results  from  their  having  the  ad- 
vantages afforded  by  a  railroad."  When 
in  a  Yankee  settlement,  he  would  ask 
them  if  they  could  not  see  the  force  of 
Mr.  Martin's  reply.  "  These  Yankees," 
said  he,  "understand  fully  the  laws  of 
trade,  and  naturally  go  where  they  will 
be  sure  of  a  good  market  for  their  pro- 
ducts. In  this  they  show  their  shrewd, 
common  sense.  Will  you  not  follow  and 
profit  by  their  example?  " 

As  the  day  of    election  drew  near, 


those  favoring  the  road  were  fearful  of 
the  result.  The  county  had  not  been 
thoroughly  canvassed,  and  the  people 
were  slow  to  vote  aid  for  any  purpose. 
If  the  question  could  be  brought 
squarely  before  them  in  order  that  they 
might  see  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
in  the  building  of  the  proposed  road, 
there  could  be  no  doubt  of  securing  a 
majority  of  votes  in  aid  of  its  construc- 
tion. It  was  therefore  resolved  by 
friends  to  secure,  if  possible,  a  postpone- 
ment of  the  election.  A  petition  to  that 
effect  was  presented  to  the  county  court, 
and  that  body,  on  the  6th  day  of  March, 
1852,*  revoked  their  former  order  for  an 
election  on  the  third  Monday  in  that 
month,  and  made  order  for  an  election 
Saturday,  May  22,  for  or  against  taking 
$50,000  stock  in  the  Northern  Cross 
railroad. 

Renewed  efforts  were  now  made  by 
the  friends  of  the  road,  who  worked  day 
and  night,  for  its  success.  As  a  result 
there  were  817  votes  cast  for,  and  644 
against  issuing  the  bonds,  a  majority  in 
its  favor  of  173.  The  McDonough  Inde- 
pendent, in  speaking  of  this  vote,  says: 
"It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  old 
McDonough  polled  200  more  -votes  than 
at  any  former  election.  This  vote  should 
stimulate  to  action  every  citizen  of  Mc- 
Donough, for  it  is  a  sure  and  certain  in- 
dex of  the  growing  prosperity  of  our 
county.  We  venture  the  prediction  that 
in  10  years  from  this  date  we  will,  in 
number,  almost  double  the  vote  just 
polled.  '  So,  look  out  for  the  cars  when 
the  bell  rings.'"  This  prediction  was 
more  than  fulfilled  in  eight  years,  viz: 
In  1860  the  vote  of  the  county  was  4,638, 
or  more  than  three  times  the  number  in 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


355 


1852.  This  shows  the  value  of  the  road. 
A  year  or  more  passed  away,  and  still 
no  road.  Its  friends  were  almost  in 
despair,  and  its  enemies  jubilant,  the 
soothing  phrase,  "I  told  you  so,"  was 
repeated  over  and  over  again  to  the 
friends  of  the  road  until  it  became 
almost  monotonous.  The  difficulty  in 
securing  eastern  capital  was  the  only  im- 
pediment in  the  way,  capitalists  could 
not  realize  it  would  be  for  them  a  judi- 
cious investment.  The  president  of  the 
road,  Hon.  N.  Bushnell,  made  repeated 
visits  east  to  secure  this  aid,  but  without 
success.  The  first  contract  made  by  the 
road  with  this  county  was  to  the  effect 
that,  in  its  corporate  capacity,  it  should 
subscribe  $50,000  to  its  stock,  issuing 
therefor  its  bonds,  having  30  years  to 
run,  and  bearing  six  per  cent,  interest. 
We  presume  arrangements  were  made 
with  other  counties  on  the  proposed  line 
of  the  road  upon  the  same  conditions. 
Mr.  Bushnell  found  it  utterly  impossible 
to  obtain  money  to  complete  the  road 
upon  such  terms.  The  question  now 
arose  as  to  what  should  be  done.  Must 
the  road  be  allowed  to  fail  ?  Its  friends 
said  "No;"  its  enemies  said,  "How  can 
you  help  it?"  Individual  subscriptions 
to  the  amount  of  $52,500  had  been 
secured  in  this  county  for  the  building 
of  the  road,  thus  showing  that  our  citi- 
zens felt  a  great  interest  in  the  success 
of  the  enterprise.  It  must  be  borne  in 
mind  that  at  this  time  there  was  not  to 
exceed  8,000  inhabitants  in  the  county, 
and  they  were  of  the  poorer  class,  and  to 
them  this  was  a  large  sum. 

Arrangements  were  finally  made  with 
eastern  capitalists  upon  conditions 
thought  favorable  by  Mr.  Bushnell,  and 


upon  the  29th  day  of  June,  1853,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
road,  held  in  the  city  of  Quincy,  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  were  passed  and  cer- 
tified to  the  county  court  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  at  a  special  session  held 
in  Macomb  July  6,  1853: 

Resolved,  That  in  locating  and  constructing 
the  railroad  from  Quincy  to  Galesburg,  the  faith 
of  the  company  is  hereby  pledged  that  the  loca- 
tion shall  be  so  made  as  to  make  Macomb,  in 
McDonough  county,  a  point  on  the  line. 

Resolved,  That  in  case  McDonough  county 
will,  in  its  corporate  capacity,  in  lieu  of  the 
$50,000  already  voted,  subscribe  $75,000  to  the 
capital  stock  of  the  company,  payable  in  bonds 
bearing  eight  per  cent,  interest,  the  company 
will  agree  to  pay  until  the  road  is  put  in  opera- 
tion the  whole  distance  from  Quincy  to  Gales- 
burg,  all  the  interest  which  may  accrue  on  said 
bonds,  over  and  above  the  $3,000  annual  interest 
which  would  accrue  on  the  bonds  already  voted, 
so  that  no  additional  tax  will  be  required  in  con- 
sequence of  this  increase  of  the  county  sub- 
scription. The  interest  thus  advanced  and  paid 
by  the  company  to  be  hereafter  refunded  out  of 
the  surplus  dividends  which  may  be  declared 
on  the  county  stock,  after  providing  for  the  in- 
terest thereafter  accruing  on  the  bonds. 

The  board  thereupon  passed  the  fol- 
lowing order : 

Whereas,  by  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the 
state  of  Illinois,  entitled  "An  act  supplemental 
to  an  act  entitled  'An  act  to  provide  for  a  general 
system  of  railroad  incorporations,'  approved 
November  6,  1849,"  the  several  counties  in  the 
state  are  authorized  in  the  manner  therein  pro- 
vided to  subscribe  to  the  capital  stock  of  any 
railroad  company  then  organized  or  thereaf- 
ter to  be  organized  under  any  law  of  this  state, 
to  an  amount  not  exceeding  $100,000: 

And  whereas,  the  court  has  been  requested  by 
a  large  number  of  respectable  citizens  and 
voters  of  this  county  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
to  procure  the  vote  of  this  county,  at  the  earliest 
practicable  period,  for  or  against  the  subscrip- 


356 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tion  by  the  said  county  of  $75,000  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Northern  Cross  railroad  company, 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the  construction  of 
"the  railroad  of  said  company  from  the  city  of 
Quincy,  on  the  Mississippi  rivea,  to  the  town  of 
Galesburg,  in  Knox  county. 

And  whereas,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  court, 
and,  as  they  believe,  of  a  large  majority  of  the 
citizens  and  voters  of  the  county,  that  the  early 
completion  of  said  railroad  is  of  paramount  im- 
portance for  the  future  growth,  improvement 
and  prosperity  of  the  county ;  and  that  it  is  their 
interest  and  duty  to  aid  by  all  reasonable  means 
and  to  the  extent  of  their  ability,  in  raising  the 
means  necessary  to  secure  the  success  of  this 
important  enterprise. 

It  is  therefore  by  the  court  ordered,  unani- 
mously, that  Isaac  Grantham,  Esq.,  the  clerk  of 
this  court,  be  directed  to  give  such  notice  as 
shall  be  lawful,  of  an  election,  to  be  held  in  the 
usual  place  of  voting  in  the  several  precincts  of 
said  county,  on  Saturday,  the  20th  day  of  Aug- 
ust, A.  D.  1853,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
the  wishes  of  citizens,  voters  of  said  county,  in 
reference  to  the  subscription  of  said  county  of 
$75,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  Northern 
Cross  railroad  company ;  for  the  purpose  of  aid- 
ing the  construction  of  said  railroad  from  Quincy 
to  Galesburg;  said  subscription  to  be  paid  in  the 
bonds  of  said  county  at  their  par  value ;  and 
payable  20  years  after  their  respective  dates  to 
the  Northern  Cross  railroad  company,  or  bearer, 
with  interest  at  the  rate  of  8  per  cent,  per  an- 
num, payable  semi-annually,  according  to  inter- 
est coupons  to  be  thereto  annexed ;  both  princi- 
pal and  interest  being  payable  in  the  city  of 
New  York ;  and  said  bonds  4»  be  issued  to  the 
said  railroad  company  from  time  to  time,  in  dis- 
charge of  the  regular  assessments  made  on 
stock  subscription,  as  they  may  fall  due.  Said 
election  to  conform  to  the  provisions  of  the  act 
mentioned  in  the  foregoing  preamble ;  and  to  be 
held  and  conducted  in  other  respects,  and  the 
yotes  counted  and  returns  thereof  made,  by  the 
judges  and  clerks  of  said  election,  as  in  elec- 
tions for  state  and  county  officers. 

And   it  is  also  further  unanimously  ordered, 
that  in  case  the  citizens  and  voters  of  the  county 


at  said  election  shall  duly  authorize  a  subscrip- 
tion by  the  county  of  the  said  $75,000,  to  the 
capital  stock  of  said  railroad  company,  for  the 
purposes  aforesaid,  that  the  former  vote  of  the 
county  to  subscribe  $50,000  to  the  stock  of  said 
company,  shall  thereby  be  revoked,  cancelled 
and  annulled. 

The  friends  of  the  road  went  immedi- 
ately to  work,  the  result  being,  when  the 
vote  was  counted  upon  the  evening  of 
August  20th,  there  were  1,145  votes  for 
and  285  against  the  stock.  The  city  of 
Quincy,  but  a  few  days  before,  by  a  vote 
of  1,132  to  3,  voted  an  additional  $100,- 
000,  making  a  total  amount  for  that  city 
of  $200,000. 

By  the  contract  with  the  Northern 
Cross  railroad,  the  bonds  and  coupons 
given  in  aid  of  the  said  road,  were  made 
payable  in  New  York.  At  the  Septem- 
ber term,  1859,  of  the  board  of  supervis- 
ors, it  was  ordered  that  the  coupons,  due 
the  following  January,  should  be  paid  as 
usual.  At  the  December  term  this  or- 
der was  rescinded,  in  consequence  of  a 
decision  having  been  rendered  by  the 
supreme  court  of  the  state  declaring  that 
cities  and  counties  have  no  right  to  make 
bonds  issued  in  aid  of  railroads  payable 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  that  coun- 
ties and  cities,  by  such  decision,  are  not 
legally  bound  on  contracts  to  pay  mon- 
eys anywhere  else  than  at  the  city  or 
county  treasury.  Contracts  made  to  pay 
such  indebtedness  elsewhere  than  at  said 
treasury  are  void,  as  the  statutes  of  the 
state  of  Illinois  do  not  authorize  cities 
and  counties  to  make  a  contract  payable 
at  any  other  place  than  at  their  treasury. 

In  March,  1860,  in  the  supreme  court, 
or  the  United  States  district  court,  suit 
was  commenced  by  Van  Hoffman  et.  al. 
against  the  county.  At  the  June  term 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


357 


of  the  board  of  supervisors  Hon.  James 
M.  Campbell  was  authorized  to  employ 
counsel,  and,  in  the  name  of  the  county, 
to  defend  this  suit.  Mr.  Campbell  em- 
ployed Messrs.  Goudy  &  Waite,  of  Chi- 
cago, to  take  charge  of  the  case.  Before 
a  trial  was  had  the  supreme  court  of  the 
state,  in  a  trial  between  Johnson  vs. 
Stark  county,  in  a  great  measure  over- 
ruled and  revised  the  above  decision.  On 
learning  this,  Messrs.  Goudy  <fe'Waite 
advised  Mr.  Campbell  to  pay  the  judg- 
ment which  would  be  rendered  against 
the  county  in  the  case,  and  it  was  accord- 
ingly done. 
In  the  fall  of  1855  the  iron  horse  made 


its  first  appearance  in  the  county,  and  by 
January,  1856,  the  road  was  completed 
to  Galesburg,  where  connections  were 
made  with  the  Central  Military  Tract 
railroad  to  Chicago.  From  this  date 
McDonough  county  has  continued  to 
make  rapid  progress,  and  we  are  fully 
convinced  that  no  one  regrets  the  aid 
rendered,  though  by  the  foreclosure  of 
the  mortgage  on  the  road  the  entire 
amount  of  stock  taken  by  the  county, 
and  by  individual  citizens,  was  lost. 
Property  advanced  rapidly  in  price,  em- 
igration poured  in,  new  farms  were 
opened,  and  a  market  was  obtained  for 
all  surplus  produce  raised. 


CHAPTKR    ,XVI. 


AGRICULTURAL,   OLD  SETTLERS  AND  OTHER  SOCIETIES. 


The  subject  of  the  organization  of  a 
county  agricultural  society  began  to  be 
agitated  quite  early  in  1854;  but  it  was 
not  until  the  following  year  that  the 
same  was  consummated.  On  the  16th 
of  April,  1855,  several  of  the  citizens  of 
the  county,  who  were  interested  in  the 
agricultural  and  mechanical  arts,  met  at 
Macomb,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  an 
organization,  having  for  its  object  im- 
provement in  the  same.  W.  J.  Merritt 
was  called  to  the  chair,  and  S.  K.  Pedrick 
,  appointed  secretary.  Remarks  were 
made  by  various  persons,  and  the  feasi- 
bility and  importance  of  the  proposed 


organization  discussed.  A  constitution 
and  by-laws  were  then  adopted,  and  the 
following  officers  elected  for  one  year: 
Thompson  Chandler,  president;  Joseph 
Lownes,  William  Brooking  and  S.  K. 
Pedrick,  vice-presidents;  L.  H.  Waters, 
corresponding  secretary;  Joseph  E. 
Wyne,  secretary;  arid  Joseph  P.  Upde- 
graff,  treasurer.  An  executive  commit- 
tee was,  also,  appointed,  and  books 
opened  for  membership.  All  these  en- 
tered upon  their  duties  at  once,  and  the 
success  being  assured,  a  fair  was  an- 
nounced to  be  held  on  the  second  Thurs- 
day in  October,  to  continue  two  days, 


358 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  a  list  of  awards  made  out.  Thomas 
Camp,  a  practical  farmer  of  the  county, 
was  engaged  to  deliver  the  address.  The 
old  college  grounds  were  obtained  for 
the  purpose  of  holding  the  fair.  In 
speaking  of  the  exhibition,  the  Mucomb 
Enterprise,  of  October  25,  says: 

"  Our  county  fair  exceeded  our  most 
sanguine  expectations.  The  weather  was 
delightful,  and  the  attendance  on  both 
days  was  very  large.  What  surprised 
us  most  was  the  number  of  articles  on 
exhibition."  Then  followed  a  descrip- 
tion of  some  of  the  most  important, 
among  which  was  Cy.  Lawson's  800 
pound  pig,  Broaddus'  plows,  Barker's 
hay  rake,  Price's  washing  machine,  Har- 
ris' churn,  some  "  'orful'  pumpkins,  po- 
tatoes, wheat,  and  the  handiwork  of  some 
of  McDonough's  fair  daughters."  The 
officers  were  all  continued,  and  a  fair  an- 
nounced for  Thursday  and  Friday,  Octo- 
tober  9  and  10,  1856.  This  exhibition 
was  an  improvement  upon  the  other,  and 
it  has  been  remarked  that  all  exhibitions 
since  have  continued  to  improve.  The 
exhibition  was  held  at  the  same  place  as 
the  year  before,  but  the  ground  was 
found  entirely  too  small  for  the  purpose. 
Thomas  E.  Brannen  delivered  a  most 
excellent  address,  and  all  were  well 
pleased  with  the  success  of  the  society. 
The  next  year,  1857,  the  fair  was  held  in 
the  pasture  of  Thompson  Chandler,  in 
the  northwest  part  of  the  town.  Like 
those  previously  held,  the  fair  was  a  suc- 
cess in  almost  every  respect,  and  it  was 
determined  that  renewed  efforts  should 
be  made  to  make  the  society  efficient  and 
permanent.  The  grounds  were  leased 
from  Thompson  Chandler,  fenced  and 
cleared  for  the  purpose  of  holding  the 


annual  exhibitions,  in  which  the  people 
all  manifested  considerable  interest.  The 
fourth  annual  fair  was  held  on  these 
grounds,  which  are  now  known  as  the  old 
fair  grounds,  and  was  well  attended. 

For  the  first  four  or  five  years  two 
days  was  all  sufficient  to  exhibit  the  few 
articles  placed  on  exhibition.  After  this 
the  society  required  three,  then  four, 
then  five  days,  and  after  that  the  entire 
week  was  required  to  satisfy  the  thou- 
sands who  annually  attended  the  Mc- 
Donough  county  fair. 

The  society  has  been  uniformly  fortu- 
nate in  its  choice  of  officers.  Thompson 
Chandler,  the  father  of  it,  exerted  him- 
self nobly  to  make  its  exhibitions  suc- 
cessful, and  great  credit  is  due  to  him 
for  carrying  it  through  the  first  years  of 
its  existence.  Messrs.  Joseph  Lownes, 
J.  P.  Updegraff,  William  Pointer,  Amos 
Dixon,  and  E.  C.  Knapp  have  each 
labored  to  promote  the  best  interests  of 
the  society.  Joseph  Burton,  as  secre- 
tary, was  an  indefatigable  worker,  spend- 
ing a  great  amount  of  time  and  money 
to  bring  the  society  up  to  its  present 
high  standard. 

In  1867  the  society  purchased  their 
present  grounds  just  south  of  the  city,  on 
which  they  have  made  improvements, 
including  price  of  land,  of  over  $10,000. 
They  now  own  the  finest  and  most  con- 
venient grounds  .in  the  state,  and  year 
by  year,  as  their  means  will  warrant, will 
continue  to  improve  them. 

For  the  past  nine  years  the  society 
has  been  singularly  unfortunate,  as  all 
their  fairs  have  been  drowned  out  by 
rains.  Six  times  they  were  held  in  the 
last  week  in  August,  and  twice  in  the 
first  week  in  September,  to  avoid  this 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


359 


but  six  times  it  commenced  raining 
Tuesday  afternoon,  of  each  fair  week, 
just  after  everything  had  been  placed 
upon  the  ground.  The  society,  of  course, 
had  all  the  premiums  to  pay,  as  they 
have  done  every  year.  During  the  most 
of  the  time  of  the  rainy  fairs,  Dr.  W.  O. 
Blaisdell  was  president  of  the  association, 
and  they  thinking  perhaps  he  was  the 
Jonah,  O.  V.  Chandler  was  chosen  in  his 
place,  but  it  is  said  that  year  it  rained 
worse  than  ever.  This  of  course  would 
not  do,  so  another  gentleman  was  chosen, 
a  strong  church  man,  and  no  wheels  of 
fortune  or  other  gambling  games  were 
allowed  upon  the  ground.  But  Jupiter 
Pluvius  proved,  again,  unpropitious  and 
the  rains  descended  worse  than  ever. 

The  society  have  paid  all  premiums 
in  full  every  year  until  1884,  and  owing 
to  their  ill  fortune  are  considerably  in 
debt,  but  the  managers  are  enterprising 
and  plucky  and  hang  on  with  the  hope 
of  making  it  a  success.  The  present  of- 
ficers are  as  follows:  J.  B.  "  Venard, 
president;  George  W.  Barker,  vice  pres- 
ident; W.  H.  Hainline,  secretary;  andC. 
V.  Chandler,  treasurer;  G.  W.  Reed, 
Joseph  W.  Mclntosh,  A.  V.  Brooking, 
James  T.  Rexroat  and  W.  O.  Blaisdell, 
directors.  At  the  last  meeting  some  dis- 
cussion was  had  as  to  the  price  of  the 
gate  fee.  W.  S.  Taylor  favored  25  cents, 
Dr.  Blaisdell  insisted  on  it  being  kept 
at  40  cents.  Captain  Sam  Frost  made  a 
speech  favoring  25  cents,  Captain  Reed 
also  favored  the  lower  rate,  J.  W.  Mcln- 
tosh had  heretofore  favored  the  higher 
rate  but  now  he  felt  disposed  to  favor  25 
cents.  Gardner  Chandler  also  favored 
the  lower  rate;  A.  K.  Lodge  was  the  next 
gentleman  to  speak,  and  he  insisted  that 


25  cents  was  the  proper  sum  at  which  to 
fix  gate  fee.  W.  H.  Hainline  spoke  on 
the  pending  question  but  did  not  indi- 
cate his  preference  as  to  the  amount  to 
be  charged ;  George  W.  Barker  expressed 
himself  in  favor  of  the  25  cent  admission 
fee.  A  vote  was  taken  and  it  was  de- 
cided to  make  the  gate  fee  25  cents. 

MC  DONOUGH    COUNTY  STOCK  ASSOCIATION. 

In  1870,  the  McDonough  county 
stock  association  was  regularly  incor- 
porated, and  held  its  first  exhibition  in 
July  of  that  year.  Exhibitions  were  also 
held  in  1871  and  1872.  In  1873  the  asso- 
ciation failed  to  have  an  exhibition,  and 
the  following  year  it  united  its  fortunes 
with  the  agricultural  society,  and  the 
two  combined  are  now  known  as  the 
McDonough  county  agricultural  and 
stock  association. 

BUSHNELL    AGRICULTURAL   AND    MECHAN- 
ICAL  ASSOCIATION. 

During  the  summer  of  1879,  several 
gentlemen  feeling  that  a  fair  for  the  ex- 
position of  agricultural  productions,  and 
for  mechanical  implements  more  or  less 
connected  with  husbandry,  could  be  suc- 
cessfully operated  at  Bushnell,  after  a 
due  canvass  of  the  matter  proceeded  to 
effect  an  organization,  under  the  name 
of  the  Bushnell  Agricultural  and  Me- 
chanical association.  The  following 
gentlemen  were  chosen  as  the  first  offi- 
cers: Louis  Kaiser,  president;  S.  A. 
Epperson  and  George  W.  Solomon,  vice- 
presidents;  J.  E.  Chandler,  treasurer; 
D.  F.  Chidester,  secretary;  S.  A.  Hen- 
dee,  C.  C.  Morse,  D.  N.  Wisherd,  M.  L. 
Walker,  I.  Hanks  and  James  A.  Gardi- 
ner, directors.  Grounds  were  at  once 


360 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


procured  and  fitted  up,  and  all  prepara- 
tions made  for  holding  their  inaugural 
fair.  This  took  place  on  September  23, 
24,  25  and  26, 1879,  and  was  a  pronounced 
success.  The  rate  of  admission  being 
fixed  at  the  popular  price  of  25  cents, 
caused  many  to  attend  that  would  not 
had  it  been  higher.  Everything  passed 
off  as  pleasantly  as  possible,  and  this, 
the  first  fair  of  the  association,  will  long 
be  remembered.  From  the  very  start 
the  fairs  have  been  a  success,  but  from 
the  time  when  J.  E.  Chandler  was  made 
president,  he  with  his  push  and  enter- 
prise more  than  doubled  the  interest  in 
its  welfare.  Each  year  witnessed  the 
annual  gathering  of  the  worthy  agricul- 
turists, artisans,  merchants  and  profes- 
sional men  of  the  county,  and  each  year 
all  pronounced  the  fair  superior  to  its 
predecessors.  The  sixth  annual  exposi- 
tion was  given  on  September  29  and  30, 
and  October  1,  2  and  3,  1884,  which  was 
largely  attended.  The  following  is  a 
list  of  the  officers  for  the  last  year:  J. 
E.  Chandler,  president;  A.  H.  Roman, 
general  superintendent;  Ira  Applegate, 
marshal;  S.  Raymond,  superintendent 
of  cattle;  M.  L,  Walker,  of  horses;  D. 
M.  Bethard,  of  sheep;  A.  J.  Tiger,  of 
swine;  W.  C.  Pinkley,  of  poultry;  J.  C. 
Cadwalader,  agricultural  implements; 
J.  J.  Campbell,  of  mechanic  arts;  A.  L. 
Sparks,  of  farm  products;  T.  F.  Seibert, 
of  manufactures;  H.  T.  Clarke,of  needle- 
work; E.  K.  Westfall,  of  merchan- 
dise; J.  B.  Cummings,  of  fruits  and 
flowers;  B.  F.  Pinkley,  of  wines,  dairy 
and  culinary;  Ed.  C.  Pierce,  of  fine  art 
collections;  P.  R.  Perrine,  of  birds  and 
baby  class.  This  fair  was  the  most  suc- 
cessful of  any  yet  held. 


OLD  SETTLERS'  ASSOCIATION. 
One  of  the  most  enjoyable  affairs  is 
the  reunion  of  the  pioneers  of  any  given 
locality.  For  the  purpose  of  providing 
for  stated  meetings,  associations  of  old 
settlers  have  been  formed  in  almost 
every  county  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  land ;  especially  is  this  true 
in  all  the  states  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains ;  states  that  have  been  settled 
within  the  present  century.  These  asso- 
ciations have  done,  and  are  doing  much 
for  the  preservation  of  historical  events, 
and  as  such  are  surely  commendable. 
The  lessons  of  the  past  teach  us  the  du- 
ties pertaining  to  the  future.  The  fires 
of  patriotism,  -the  love  of  country  or  of 
home,  is  strengthened  by  a  narration  of 
such  important  events  as  tend  to  stir  the 
blood  or  quicken  to  life  those  divine  af- 
fections in  man.  Many  a  youth  has 
chosen  the  life  of  a  soldier  from  reading 
the  accounts  of  the  great  battles  and 
glorious  deeds  of  an  Alexander,  a  Han- 
nibal, a  Napoleon,  a  Wellington,  or  our 
own  brave  and  noble  Washington,  The 
lists  of  statesmen  have  been  augmented 
by  the  example  of  a  Pitt,  a  Webster,  a 
Clay  or  a  CalhoUn.  Patriotism  and  love 
of  country  have  been  awakened  by  read- 
ing the  sublime  utterances  of  Patrick 
Henry,John  Adams,  Thomas  Jefferson, 
Abraham  Lincoln  and  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las. The  love  of  home,  love  of  parents  and 
kindred  have  been  strengthened  by  oft- 
told  tales  of  aged  fathers  or  mothers,  es- 
pecially of  that  pioneer  father  or  mother 
who  toiled  early  and  late,  hard  and  long, 
in  order  to  give  their  descendants  the 
priceless  boon  of  a  home  of  plenty  and 
of  peace,  of  refinement  and  love  for  God 
and  humanity. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


361 


The  pioneers,  in  gathering  together  in 
these  annual  re-unions,  seem  to  live  over 
again  the  early  days.  Their  eyes  spar- 
kle and  they  grow  young  as  the  fading 
reminiscences  of  other  days  are  recalled. 
As  well  stated  by  a  speaker — himself  a 
pioneer — at  a  meeting  in  a  neighboring 
county: 

"  You  come  together  with  varied  emo- 
tions. Some  of  you,  almost  at  the  foot 
of  life's  hill,  look  back  and  upward  at 
the  path  you  have  trod,  while  others, 
who  have  just  reached  life's  summit, 
gaze  down  into  the  valley  of  tears  with 
many  a  hope  and  fear.  You,  gray- 
headed  fathers,  have  done  your  work; 
you  have  done  it  well;  and  now,  as  the 
sunset  of  life  is  closing  around  you,  you 
are  given  the  rare  boon  of  enjoyment, 
the  fruits  of  your  own  labor.  You  can 
see  the  land  won  by  your  own  right  arm, 
from  its  wilderness  state,  and  from  a 
savage  foe,  pass  to  your  children,  and 
your  children's  children — literally  "  a 
land  flowing  with  milk  and  honey;'  a 
land  over  which  hovers  the  white-robed 
angels  of  religion  and  peace;  a'  land 
fairer  and  brighter  and  more  glorious 
than  any  other  land  beneath  the  blue 
arch  of  Heaven.  You  have  done  your 
work  well,  and  when  the  time  of  rest 
shall  come,  you  will  sink  to  the  dream- 
less repose  with  the  calm  conciousness 
of  duty  done." 

Pursuant  to  a  notice  published  in  the 
papers,  a  number  of  the  old  settlers  of 
.  McDonough  county  assembled  at  Camp- 
bell's hall  in  Macomb  on  the  15th  of 
July,  1869,  for  the  purpose  of  renewing 
acquaintances,  talking  over  old  times, 
and  organizing  an  Old  Settler's  associa- 
tion for  McDonough  county. 


The  meeting  was.  called  to  order  by 
James  M.  Campbell,  and  on  his  motion 
Major  John  M.  Walker  was  called  to 
the  chair.  L.  A.  Simmons  was  appointed 
secretary,  pro  tern.  Mr.  Campbell  stated 
the  object  of  the  meeting,  and  offered 
the  following  resolution,  which  was 
adopted,  without  debate: 

Resolved,  that  each  old  settler  of 
McDonough  county,  now  present,  give 
to  the  secretary  his  name,  place  of  nat- 
ivity, age,  the  date  of  his  settlement  in 
McDonough  county,  and  the  place  of 
his  present  residence. 

William  S.  Bailey  offered  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  which  was  on  motion, 
adopted : 

Resolved,  That  all  persons  living  in 
McDonough  county,  who  have  lived  in 
this  state  33  years,  may  become  mem- 
bers of  the  Old  Settlers'  society. 

The  following  gentlemen  then  came 
forward  and  presented  their  names,  to- 
gether with  the  information  desired: 

J.  M.  Walker,  J.  H.  Campbell,  W.  C. 
McKamy,  Samuel  McKamy,  Orsemus 
Harrington,  Levi  Hamilton,  James  M. 
Campbell,  James  B.  Kyle,  John  Clarke, 
W.  W.  Bailey,  J.  W.  Westfall,  S.  A. 
Knott,  Loven  Garrett,  Silas  Creel,  Eli- 
sha  Ferguson,  Willis  B.  Gordon,  R.  H. 
Broaddus,  J.  W.  Brattle,  H.  T.  Gilfrey, 
W.  E.  Withrow,  James  R.  Simpson. 
Joshua  Simmons,  W.  W.  McCord,  B.  F. 
Naylor,  William  Pennington,  Charles 
Creel,  William  Cannon,  B.  F.  Martin, 
C.  W.  Dunsworth,  John  Friend,  J.  H. 
Atkinson,  William  S.  Bailey,  Joseph  P. 
Updegraff,  W.  H.  Hays,  M.  C.  Archer, 
Joseph  E.  Wyne,  David  Clarke,  James 
Clarke,  J.  A.  Creel,  James  Willis,  James 
Chamberlain,  Samuel  Dodds,  Samuel 


362 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Wilson,  Joseph  McCroskey,  and   Abner 
E.  Barnes. 

On  motion  of  James  M.  Campbell  it 
was 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  from 
each  township  in  McDonough  county  be  ap- 
pointed, to  report  at  the  next  meeting,  a  list  of 
old  setilers  of  this  county,  in  their  respective 
townships,  the  nativity  and  age  of  each ;  when 
they  settled  in  the  county,  and  their  present  res- 
idence. The  said  lists  to  contain  the  names  of 
all  persons,  male  and  female,  who  settled  in  Mc- 
Donough county  prior  to  July  15,  1836. 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  res- 
olution, the  chairman  appointed  the  fol- 
lowing named  gentlemen  as  the  com- 
mittees: 

Eldorado  township  —  Thomas  Ausberry,  H. 
Foster  and  William  S.  Campbell. 

New  Salem —  Salem  Woods,  J.  E.  D.  Hemin- 
over  and  Richard  Penuington. 

Mound— Thomas  J.  Creel,  David  Kepple  and 
William  Jackson. 

Bushnell — Samuel  A.  Hunt,  William  Hamil- 
ton and  J.  L.  Anderson. 

Prairie  City— D.  R.  Hamilton  and  G.  T.  Liv- 
ingston. 

Walnut  Grove— W.  W.  Stewart,  D.  Campbell 
and  John  McSperritt. 

Macoinb  city  and  township  —  U.  S.  Hamilton, 
J.  M.  Campbell,  J.  B.  Kyle  and  J.  A.  Creel. 

Scotland— J.  M.  Walker,  J.  H.  Campbell  and 
James  Willis. 

Industry — T.  J.  Pennington,  G.  A.  Taylor  and 
D.  M.  Creel. 

Bethel — Samuel  Wilson,  Jaines  Archer  and 
John  Dunsworth. 

Chalmers  —  C.  W.  Dunsworth,  T.  B.  McCor- 
mick  and  John  Friend. 

Eminett— H.  S.  Head,  B.  T.  Naylor  and  George 
G.  Guy, 

Sciota — W.  B.  Clarke,  John  Logan  and  John 
S.  Campbell. 

Blandinsville — Harrison  Hungate,  R.  Grigsby 
and  Q.  C.  Ward, 

Hire— Vandeveer  Banks,  Charles  Martin  and 
C.  Hungate. 


Tennessee — J.  H.  Atkinson,  J.  J.  Lawyer  and 
S.  Cockerham. 

Lamoine — John  Weir,  Charles  Hill  and  John 
Twidwell. 

A  motion  was  made  that  the  chair  ap- 
point a  committee  of  five  to  draft  a  con- 
stitution for  the  Old  Settlers'  association, 
together  with  appropriate  resolutions, 
with  the  request  that  they  report  at  the 
next  meeting.  This  being  carried,  the 
chairman  appointed  James  M.  Camp- 
bell, James  B.  Kyle,  James  W.  Brattle, 
William  S.  Bailey  and  Joseph  Upde- 
graff  as  members  of  the  committee. 

Joseph  E.  Wyne  was  elected  secretary 
of  the  society,  a  collection  was  taken  up, 
and  the  assembly  adjourned,  to  meet,  in 
the  same  place,  August  14,  next  follow- 
ing, at  1  o'clock  P.  M. 

On  the  day  appointed,  many  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county  appeared  at  the 
county  seat,  and  after  taking  part  in  the 
ceremony  of  laying  the  corner  stone  of 
the  new  court  house,  assembled  at  the 
hall  and  were  called  to  order.  The  com- 
mittee appointed  at  the  last  meeting  for 
the  purpose  presented  the  following 
draft  of  a  constitution,  which  was  unani- 
mously adopted: 

Article  1.  All  citizens  of  McDonough  county, 
who  have  resided  therein  33  years,  or  who  have 
resided  in  the  state  of  Illinois  33  years,  and  who 
are  now  residents  of  said  county,  by  giving  their 
names,  place  of  birth,  age,  and  residence,  become 
members  of  this  association. 

Article  2.  The  officers  of  the  association  shall 
be  a  president,  a  vice  president  for  each  town- 
ship, a  secretary  and  treasurer — whose  duties 
shall  be  such  as  usually  pertain  to  those  offices — 
who  shall  be  elected  by  a  majority  of  the  mem- 
bers present  at  each  annual  meeting,  and  shall 
hold  their  offices  for  one  year,  and  until  their 
successors  are  elected  and  qualified. 

Article  3.  The  above  named  officers  shall 
constitute  an  executive  board,  who  shall  have 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


363 


power  to  call  special  meetings  of  the  associa- 
tion, to  fill  vacancies  in  the  offices,  when  any 
occur,  and  shall  have  power  to  transact  any  busi- 
ness in  the  name  of  the  association  which  they 
may  deem  necessary  during  recess. 

Article  4.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  fair 
record  of  the  proceedings  of  the  association  and 
executive  board,  in  a  book  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose, and  therein  to  enter  the  full  names  of  each 
member,  place  and  date  of  birth,  age,  date  of 
residence  in  Illinois,  and  date  of  residence  in 
the  county,  present  place  of  residence  and  occu- 
pation ;  he  shall  give  public  notice  of  all  meet- 
ings of  the  association. 

Article  5.  The  treasurer  shall  hold  all  mon- 
ies of  the  association,  and  shall  pay  the  same 
only  on  the  order  of  the  executive  board,  at- 
tested by  the  secretary,  and  shall  annually  re- 
port the  same  to  the  association. 

Article  6.  The  vice  president  in  each  town- 
ship shall  be  a  a  committee  to  present  the  claims 
of  the  association  to  the  old  settler  citizens,  and 
obtain  their  names  and  forward  for  record  of 
membership  to  the  secretary. 

Article  7.  Any  five  members  of  the  executive 
board  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do  business 
after  notice  duly  given  of  a  call  meeting  of  said 
association. 

Article  8.  The  meetings  of  the  association 
shall  be  held  annually  on  the  29th  of  September, 
but  the  executive  board  shall  have  power  to  call 
special  meetings  at  such  times  and  places  as  thev 
may  determine. 

Article  9.  The  executive  board  shall  desig- 
nate a  badge  of  membership  to  be  worn  by  each 
member  at  all  meetings  of  the  association. 

Article  10.  This  constitution  may  be  amended 
at  any  annual  meeting  of  the  association,  or  an 
adjourned  meeting  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

After  the  adoption  of  the  above  con- 
stitution, balloting  for  officers  took  place, 
resulting  in  the  choice  of  the  following: 
President,  John  M.  Walker;  vice  presi- 
dents, Daniel  Stockton,  Frank  Hammer, 
Robert  Kepple,  Charles  Cheesbro,  S.  A. 
Hunt,  D.  M.  Creel,  J.  H.  Campbell, 
James  M.  Campbell,  Daniel  Crabb, 


David  Campbell,  William  Venard,  J. 
Sullivan,  William  Naylor,  W.  B.  Clarke, 
Charles  Hills,  Larkiii  C.  Bacon,  Vande- 
ver  Banks  and  William  Hardesty ; 
Charles  Chandler,  treasurer;  Joseph  E. 
Wyne,  secretary. 

For  many  years  annual  meetings  of 
the  association  were  held,  and  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  was  the  result  of  these 
reunions.  Of  late  years,  for  some  cause 
or  other,  these  have  been  entirely  sus- 
pended and  the  society  has  been  allowed 
to  slumber.  The  increasing  years  of  its 
founders,  the  many  removals  by  death 
of  its  members  have  all  doubtless  con- 
tributed to  this  end,  but  some  hopes  are 
entertained  of  its  revival  in  the  near 
future. 

THE   PATRONS   OF   HUSBANDRY. 
[By  W.  H.  Greene.] 

This  order,  which  was  instituted  for 
the  social,  mental,  moral  and  material 
improvement  of  the  agriculturist,  and 
has  accomplished  so  much  for  the  farm- 
ers of  the  nation,  and  is  still  strong  and 
nourishing  in  many  localities,  met  with 
severe  reverses  in  this  county,  in  its 
business  features,  causing  an  indiffer- 
ence and  neglect  in  maintaining  the 
local  organizations,  and  consequently 
that  of  the  county.  Many  of  the  lead- 
ing farmers  of  the  county  were  active 
workers  in  this  order  and  refer  with 
pleasure  to  its  prosperous  days,  to  the 
early  associations  for  social  and  mutual 
benefit,  the  many  meetings  of  the  sub- 
ordinate and  county  granges  and  the 
great  mass  meeting  celebration  held  at 
the  fair  grounds  in  Macomb  July  4, 
1873,  which  was  the  largest  meeting  of 
any  kind  ever  held  in  the  county — so 


364 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


said  the  Prairie  Farmer.  The  proces- 
sion extending  for  four  miles.  Here 
10,000  people  listened  attentively  to  ad- 
dresses from  C.  C.  Buell,  W.  H.  Greene, 
A.  Hanson  and  William  Hunter  upon 
the  objects  of  the  order  and  the  benefits 
of  united  action.  This  immense  dem- 
onstration was  viewed  with  wonder  and 
amazement  by  the  people,  and  as  a 
source  of  power  by  the  politician  who 
sought  to  gain  favor  or  capture  the  new 
organization  for  his  party.  As  an  order, 
its  principles  prohibit  the  discusssion  of 
or  interference  with  either  partisan  poli- 
tics or  religion.  Still  many  of  its  mem- 
bers, as  individuals,  and  very  unfortun- 
ately for  the  order,  were  in  favor  of  the 
new  anti-monopoly  party  ;  and  while 
many  of  the  leaders  of  the  old  political 
parties  knew  better,  some  were  sincere, 
and  the  cry  was  raised  to  break  down  or 
capture  the  Grange.  The  new  anti- 
inonopoly  party,  then  mainly  formed 
from  the  farmers'  clubs,  got  the  ascend- 
ency by  an  alliance  with  the  democracy 
who  were  persuaded  to  drop  their  party 
organization  for  the  time,  and  the  new 
party  elected  its  officers  in  this  county, 
among  which  were  some  grangers.  At 
once  it  encountered  the  hostility  of  the 
republican  party,  and  no  doubt  many 
sincerely  believed  the  grange  was  polit- 
ical and  secretly  aiming  to  control 
politics.  As  master  of  the  county  grange 
for  four  years,  and  also  of  the  local 
grange,  I  never  allowed  any  discussion 
of  partisan  politics  or  religious  sects. 

The  first  grange  was  organized  at  In- 
dustry in  the  winter  of  1872-3  with  John 
Downen,  master.  He  was  the  first  dep- 
uty in  the  county;  and  soon  followed 
Mound,  Bushnell,  Adair,  Oakwood, 


Friendship,  Wiley,  Bardolph,  Maple 
Grove,  Eldorado,  Walnut  Grove,  Fan- 
don,  Hire,  Scotland,  Pennington's  Point, 
&c. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1873,  14 
granges  met,  through  delegates,  at  In- 
dustry, and  organized  the  central  asso- 
ciation P.  of  H.,  of  McDonough  and  ad- 
joining counties.  W.  H.  Greene  was 
chosen  master,  and  Mr.  Halliday,  secre- 
tary. The  next  meeting  of  the  associa- 
tion was  held  at  Bushnell,  in  Union  hall, 
in  the  summer  of  1873,  and  was  repre- 
sented by  forty-two  granges  from  this 
and  every  adjoining  county,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers:  W.  H.  Greene,  master; 
O.  Crossan,  secretary;  executive  com- 
mittee, D.  D.  Pearce,  Bushnell ;  Thomas 
Seaburn,  Adair,  and  George  Meadows, 
Industry.  The  association  met  quarterly, 
and  after  the  Bushnell  meeting,  all 
others  were  held  at  the  court  house  in 
Macomb,  and  so  continued  through  1873 
and  '4  until  1875,  when  the  change  in 
the  national  and  state  grange  by-laws 
formed  the  county  or  fifth  degree,  Po- 
mona Grange. 

A  good  and  strong  organization  was 
made  from  the  association  to  the  county 
grange,  which  existed  from  1875  to  1879, 
holding  its  regular  quarterly  meetings, 
similar  to  the  old  association,  but  more 
systematic  &c.,  forming  a  link  between 
the  local  and  state  orders.  Officers  were 
elected  annually.  W.  H.  Greene  was 
elected  and  continued  as  master,  and 
Wm.  Hunter  treasurer,  during  the  exis- 
tence of  the  organization  which  ended 
in  1879,  when  the  incorporated  stock 
company,  called  the  McDonough  county 
Grange  and  Commercial  agency,  sus- 
pended on  account  of  loss  of  funds  by 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


365 


its  agent,  T.  J.  Beard,  who  was  unable, 
we  believe,  to  account  for  some  $1,500  or 
$2,000,  in  his  hands  as  manager.  W. 
M.  Kirkpatrick,  George  W.  Reid  and  T. 
C.  Kirkpatrick,  were  secretaries  during 
the  time. 

The  county  grange,  composed  of  del- 
egates and  members  from  the  various 
local  organizations  in  the  different  town- 
ships, numbering  at  one  time  forty-two, 
met  quarterly  in  the  court  house,  at  Ma- 
comb,  for  the  discussion  of  various  top- 
ics. From  the  programmes  of  Decem- 
ber, 1873  and  December,  1874,  I  note 
the  following:  Cheap  transportation, 
L.  F.  Smith.  Shall  we  keep  an  account 
of  our  business?  G.  W.  Reid.  Ought 
our  farmers  work  more  than  ten  hours 
per  day?  T.  L.  Bo  wen.  Equality  of 
prices,  Thomas  Bailey.  What  fruits 
shall  we  cultivate?  D.  D.  Pearce.  The 
encouragement  of  home  manufactures, 
W.  H.  Greene.  How  shall  we  guard 
our  interests  against  rings  and  monopo- 
lies? Jas.  Manley.  Farm  management 
in  rotation  of  crops,  W.  M.  Kirkpatrick. 
Essay,  the  cultivation  of  the  vegetable 
and  flower  garden,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Greene. 
I  make  a  record  of  our  work  so  the 
reader  in  future  years  may  see  the  real 
work  of  the  order  in  educating  the 
farmer,  it  being,  really,  a  farmer's  in- 
stitute. The  stock  company,  was  char- 
tered Jan.  31, 1876,  under  the  laws  of  the 
state  of  Illinois,  on  the  application  of 
the  following  commissioners,  selected  by 
the  county  grange,  viz;  Wm.  Hunter, 
G.  Furchtbar,  Daniel  Ferster,  Jas.  F. 
Bradford  and  William  H.  Greene,  with 
a  capital  stock  of  $3,080  with  the 
privilege  of  increasing  is  to  $20,000. 
The  purpose  for  which  it  was  formed  is 


set  forth  in  the  charter  as  follows:  "The 
object  for  which  it  is  formed  is  for  the 
purpose  of  dealing  in  agricultural  im- 
plements, general  household  •  supplies 
and  goods,  dealing  in  and  storing  and 
shipping  grain,  dealing  in  live  stock  and 
shipping  the  same,  and  with  power  to 
sue  and  be  sued. 

The  amount  of  each  share  shall  be 
$10.  The  number  of  shares  shall  be 
308  with  the  privilege  'of  increasing  it  to 
2,000. 

James  Mauley,  E.  N.  Hicks,  L.  F. 
Smith,  W.  H.  Greene  and  Wm.  Hunter, 
were  the  first  directors.  John  Myers 
was  elected  the  second  year  in  place  of 
L.  F.  Smith,  and  the  others  re-elected 
each  year.  On  the  organization  of  the 
board,  February  12,  1876,  Jas.  Manley 
was  chosen  president,  W.  H.  Greene, 
secretary,  and  Wm.  Hunter,  treasurer, 
J.  T.  Beard  was  appointed  agent.  The 
company  handled  agricultural  imple- 
ments, groceries,  hardware,  &c.  Dur- 
ing the  first  eight  and  one-half  months, 
a  business  of  $20,000  per  annum  was 
transacted,  and  the  directors  declared  a 
dividend  of  10  per  cent,  on  stock  and 
stockholder's  purchases. 

The  second  year  the  agent  reported 
sales  about  as  large  as  the  previous  year, 
but  could  not  account  for  some  $1,500, 
and  with  failing  health  and  at  his  own 
request,  was  discharged,  and  C.  H.  Friend 
appointed  agent.  With  some  bad  debts 
made  by  the  first  agent,  the  business  of 
the  company  was  badly  crippled.  The 
directors  individually  furnished  $500 
cash  to  continue  the  business,  but  found 
it  impossible,  and  on  March  15, 1879,  an 
assignment  was  made.  Thus  closed  an 
agency  which  had  saved  many  hundreds 


366 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


of  dollars  to  the  farmer,  and  might,  un- 
der an  efficient  agent,  have  continued. 
Mr.  Beard's  loss  and  making  bad  ac- 
counts so  crippled  the  company  that  the 
new  agent,  although  efficient  and  strictly 
honest  in  the  management,  could  only 
keep  the  business  alive. 

The  McDonough  county  grange  was 
among  the  first  to  send  relief  to  the 
starving  people  of  Kansas  in  December, 
1874,  having  collected  three  car  loads  of 
flour,  meal,  meat,  beans,  dried  fruit,  etc./ 
and  sent  their  own  men  with  the  stuff, 
who  arranged  the  distribution  of  the 
same,  viz:  W.  H.  Greene,  Thomas  Fulk- 
erson  and  G.  G.  Venard.  On  their  ar- 
rival at  Topeka,  Kansas,  and  reception 
by  Gov.  Stover  and  the  state  relief  com- 
mittee, they  reported  three  car  loads  of 
provisions  for  the  sufferers.  The  gover- 
nor's office  was  filled  with  applicants 
from  various  counties  for  immediate  re- 
lief, and  great  was  the  enthusiasm  and 
joy  expressed  on  that  occasion.  This 
was  most  opportune,  arriving  early,  be- 
fore the  bulk  of  aid  was  received.  It 
was  a  scene  never  to  be  forgotten,  and 
occurred  while  the  committee  were  de- 
vising plans  to  relieve  the  hungry  and 
needy  sufferers.  Expressions  of  grati- 
tude were  made,  and  applause,  loud  and 
long,  when  Mr.  Greene  had  finished  his 
remarks,  reporting  the  donation  of  Mc- 
Doiiough  county  grange,  Illinois.  Every 
heart  was  full  to  overflowing,  and  the 
audience,  for  the  time  being,  seemed 
melted  in  tenderness  and  in  love  and 
sympathy.  We  felt  that  it  was  indeed 
"  more  blessed  to  give  than  receive," 
and  though  the  order  seems  to  have  fin- 
ished its  work  here,  it  has  educated  the 
mind  and  prepared  the  people,  perhaps, 


for  something  to  follow,  we  trust,  and, 
like  the  Washingtonians,  Sons  of  Tem- 
perance, &c.,  passed  away,  to  let  early 
ideas  crystalize  and  form  higher  and  en- 
larged efforts  for  the  progress  of  truth 
and  right.  I  cannot  close  this  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  noble  brothers  and  sisters 
of  the  order  here  without  congratulation 
for  the  good  work  done  and  regrets  for 
its  close,  and  assure  them  of  my  sincere 
love  and  regard  for  every  true  patron, 
and  will  here  record  the  names  of  some 
of  the  earliest  and  most  active  workers 
in  the  order:  Foremost  of  them  is  John 
Downen,  for  four  years  overseer  of  the 
Illinois  State  Grange;  William  Hunter, 
James  Manley,  H.  L.  Ross,  E.  N.  Hicks, 

F.  F.  Myers,  R.  McClure,  M.  F.  Worley, 

G.  W.  Reid,   T.  C.  Kirpatrick,  W.  M. 
Kirkpatrick,D.R.  Ferster,Milton  Knight, 
L.  F.  Smith,  J.  Greene,  Squire  Logsdon, 
Job  Marshall,   G.   G.  Venard,  Thomas 
Fulkerson,  L.  B.  Mourning,  Joseph  Sul- 
livan, Joseph  Hindman,  Ross  Manly,  J. 
W.   Swartzbaugh,    G.    Furchtbar,    and 
many  others  who  have  been  pillars  in  the 
order  in  this  county,  and  have  worked 
nobly  to  assist  their  fellow  farmers,  re- 
membering that  amid  all  that  is  good  and 
beautiful  in  nature,  there  is  nothing  that 
blooms  with  such  lustre,  there  is  no  per- 
fume on   earth  fraught  with  such  fra- 
grance as  the  flowers  of  good  works  and 
the  sweet  smelling   savor  of  that  pity 
which  feels  the  wants  and  relieves  the 
distresses  of  others. 

NATIONAL   GEAND  ORDER  ANTI- HORSE 
THIEF  ASSOCIATION. 

In  September,  1863,  a  few  citizens  of 
Clark  and  Scotland  counties,  Missouri, 
and  one  other,  from  Iowa,  met  at  Luray, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


367 


Clark  county,  Missouri,  and  framed  the 
first  constitution  and  by-laws  and  ad- 
journed to  meet  at  Millport,Knox  county, 
Missouri,  in  October  following,  at  which 
time  a  number  of  influential  citizens  of 
Scotland,  Clark,  Knox  and  Lewis  coun- 
ties of  Missouri,  and  also  of  Lee,  Van 
Buren  and  Davis  counties  of  Iowa,  not 
more  than  twenty  in  all,  were  present. 
The  constitution  and  by-laws  framed  at 
Luray,  were  adopted  at  this  meeting;  the 
first  election  of  grand  officers  of  the  A. 
H.  T.  A.  was  had,  and  were  as  follows: 
Major  David  McKee,  G.  W.  P.;  William 
Beach,  G.  W.  V.  P.;  William  Everhart, 
G.  W.  S.;  Wm.  Grant,  G.  W.  T.;  H.  L. 
McKee,  G.  W.  M.  The  meetings  of  the 
grand  order  were  held  at  Memphis,  Mis- 
souri, till  October,  1871,  when  they  met 
at  Bonaparte,  Iowa;  sub-orders  repre- 
sented, 21;  membership,  627;  October, 
1873,  at  Farmington,  Iowa;  sub-orders 
represented,  18;  membership,  571.  At 
this  meeting  Brother  George  Sansom 
was  elected  G.  W.  P.,  and  served  six 
years  without  intermission;  October, 
1875,  at  New  London,  Iowa;  orders  rep- 
resented, 40;  membership,  1,176;  Octo- 
ber, 1876,  at  LaBelle;  orders,  64;  mem- 
bership, 1,932;  October,  1877,  at  Au- 
gusta, Illinois;  96  orders;  membership, 
2,370;  October,  1878,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa; 
113  orders;  membership,  2,720;  October, 
1880,  Keokuk;  176  orders;  membership, 
4,042;  October,  1881,  Keokuk,  Iowa;  the 
order  was  divided  into  state  grand  or- 
ders, the  G.  W.  P.' s  of  the  several  states 
forming  a  national  grand  order  which 
met  at  Palmyra,  Missouri,  September  20, 
1882. 

The  Illinois  state  grand  order  sprung 
from  the  above  national  grand  order,  and 


has  jurisdiction  over  Michigan,  Indiana 
and  all  territory  south  of  the  Ohio  and 
east  of  the  Mississippi  rivers.  In  Octo- 
tober,  1881,  the  grand  order,  as  it  then 
was,  had  become  too  large  to  transact, 
with  the  proper  dispatch,  the  business 
that  necessarily  came  before  it.  This, 
with  the  fact  that  it  was  of  a  necessity 
too  remote  from  many  of  the  orders,  in- 
deed, it  became  necessary  to  change  the 
grand  order  into  district  or  state  grand 
orders.  The  first  annual  session  of  the 
Illinois  state  grand  order  was  held  at 
Bushnell,  in  October,  1882,  with  G.  W. 
Hays,  of  No.  44,  G.  W.  P. ;  J.  C.  Mariner, 
of  No.  44,  G.  W.  S. ;  sub-orders  repre- 
sented, 27.  At  which  meeting  the  fol- 
lowing officers  were  elected: 

G.  W.  P.,  A.  L.  Sparks,  No.  44,  Bush- 
nell. 

G.  W.  V.  P.,  Wm.  Patterson,  No.  158, 
Jacksonville. 

G.  W.  Y.  P.,  G.  W.  Eose,  No.  1,  So- 
nora. 

G.  W,  S.,  L.  B.  Sperry,  No.  124,  Bush- 
nell. 

G.  W.  T.,  J.  C.  Cadwalader,  No.  44, 
Bushnell. 

G.  W.  M.,  M.  W.  Green,  No.  45,  Eush- 
ville. 

G.  W.  D.,  Jacob  Money,  No.  44,  Bush- 
nell. 

Delegate,  W.  C.  Carlin,  No.  58,  Jack- 
sonville. 

The  second  annual  session  of  the  grand 
order  was  held  in  circuit  court  room,  at 
Jacksonville,  October  10,  1883,  where 
the  following  officers  were  elected: 

A.  L.  Sparks,  No.  44,  G.  W.  P.,  Bush- 
nell. 

Wm.  Patterson,  No.  158,  G.  W.  V.  P., 
Jacksonville. 


368 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


L.  B.  Sperry,  No.  124,  G.  W.  S.,  Bush- 
nell. 

J.  C.  Cadwalader,  No.  44,  G.  W.  T., 
Bushnell. 

S.  D.  Brown,  No.  6,  G.  "W.  M.,  As- 
sumption. 

G.  W.  Rose,  No.  1,  G.  W.  D.,  Sonora. 

Sub-orders  represented,  32. 

The  next  meeting  of  the  grand  order 
will  be  on  the  second  Wednesday  in  Oc- 
tober, 1885,  at  10  o'clock,  a.  m.,  at  Eush- 
ville,  Schuyler  county. 

No.  124,  A.  H.  T.  A.,  is  located  at 
Sperry 's  school  house,  Mound  township, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois.  In  1878- 
79,  horse  thieves,  house  thieves,  tramps, 
and  cut  throats  got  so  bold  and  numer- 
ous in  this  vicinity  that  the  law  abiding 
citizens  were  almost  compelled  to  take 
the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  mete 
out  summary  justice  as  law  abiding  men 
do,  when  the  right  authorities  fail  topro- 
tect  their  homes  and  property.  As 
many  as  ten  or  eleven  horses  were  stolen 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood,  in  the 
space  of  a  year  and  no  one  brought  to 
account;  houses  broken  into  and  women 
in  their  daily  work,  insulted  or  ordered 
around  at  the  sweet  will  of  the  tramp. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  things,-  when 
William  Stines,  Jacob  Daney,  D.  B. 
Sperry,  H.  H.  Nance,  Milton  Shrieves, 
John  Smick,  Jacob  Zimo,  David  Doner, 
J.  W.  MqDonough,  Clarke  Sperry,  E.  A. 
Adams,  A.  M.  Sperry  and  others  banded 
together  and  organized,  under  a  state 
charter,  what  is  now  known  as  Subordi- 
nate Order  No.  124,  which  now  numbers 
upwards  of  50  of  the  best  citizens  of 


the  Mound  and  adjoining  townships,  and 
it  is  a  significant  fact  that  not  a  single 
animal  has  been  stolen  from  any  mem- 
ber since  the  organization  of  the  order. 
The  order  broke  into  an  old  nest  of 
thieves  for  thieving  done  before  the  or- 
der existed,  and  one  of  the  gang  is  now 
serving  a  four  years  term  at  Joliet,  and 
another  was  pardoned  out  in  1881.  But 
members  of  that  same  gang  said  they 
would  rather  have  all  the  constables  of 
the  state  after  them  than  a  single  order 
of  anti-horse  tliieves,  as  they  never  give 
up  or  compromise,  and  so  perfect  and 
simple  is  their  organization  by  means  of 
national  grand  order,  state  grand  orders 
and  subordinate  orders,  that  within  two 
hours  after  a  theft  has  been  committed, 
men  (honest  old  farmers)  may  be  put 
to  work,  or  on  the  lookout,  with  full  in- 
structions in  almost  every  township, 
county  and  state,  in  the  Union,  and  it  is 
only  a  question  of  time,  when  it,  com- 
bined with  the  other  detecting  associ- 
ates will  make  thieves  and  other  law 
breakers  seek  other  occupations. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  first 
officers  of  No.  124:  William  Stephens, 
W.  P.;  Jacob  Daney,  W.  V.  P.;  H.  H. 
Nance,  W.  S.;  L.  B.  Sperry,  W.  F.  S.; 
E.  A.  Adams,  W.  T.;  E.  W.  King,  W. 
M.;  D.  L.  Donner,  W.  D.  K. 

The  officers  of  the  association  for 
1884-5  are  as  follows:  E.  H.  Sperry, 
W.  P.;  C.  E.  Sperry,  W.  V.  P.;  William 
Sperry,  W.  S.;  L.  B.  Sperry,  W.  F.  S.; 
A.  Hoagland,  W.  T.;  P.  W.  Moore,  W. 
M.;  J.  W.  Emick.  W.  D.  K. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


371 


CHAPTBR    XVII. 


EDUCATIONAL. 


Schools,  of  some  sort,  were  estab- 
lished many  years  ago  ;  but  the  eye  of 
history  has  furnished  no  lens  sufficiently 
powerful  to  enable  us  to  determine  when 
or  where  the  first  one  was  located.  It 
appears  like  a  fixed  star,  which  is  lost  in 
the  nebulae  of  mythology,  and  obscured 
from  our  vision  in  the  vista  of  distance. 
Schools  of  astronomy  were  in  operation 
in  Babylon  over  3,300  years  B.  C.  An 
academy  of  scribes  and  philosophers 
was  an  existing  institution  in  China  a 
thousand  years  later.  Schools  of  archi- 
tecture, astronomy  and  magic  were  in 
operation  in  the  time  of  Moses,  among 
the  Egyptians,  and  he  was  educated 
therein.  Schools  of  philosophy  flour- 
ished in  Judea  2,000  years  B.  C.  The 
schools  of  Greece  date  back  to  the  siege 
of  Troy.  The -first  Roman  school  was  a 
military  academy,  established  667  years 
B.  C.  How  these  schools  were  con- 
ducted, we  have  but  little  means  of 
knowing.  In  many  countries  they  were 
state  institutions  for  the  benefit  of  the 
royal  court.  The  magic  wise  men,  sooth- 
sayers and  prophets  of  those  ancient 
countries  were  not  ignoramuses,  es- 
pecially gifted  as  many  suppose,  but 
were  educated  men  —  learned  in  the 
knowledge  of  their  age  —  so  as  to  fit 
them  for  royal  counsellors.  Most  of 
these  schools  were  kept  secret  from  the 
masses,  and  as  much  mystery  and  won- 


der were  thrown  around  their  inmates  as 
possible.  These  were  seats  of  the  ora- 
cles and  court  prophets,  without  whose 
sanction  kings  rarely  commenced  or 
prosecuted  any  great  enterprise.  In  the 
more  republican  nations,  teachers  gath- 
ered their  students  in  groves,  temples,  • 
market  places,  porches,  or  by  the  sea, 
and  taught  them  by  conversational  lec- 
tures. Books  were  unknown.  The  art 
of  printing  slumbered  in  the  then  dis- 
tant future.  Even  letters  had  not  been 
born  out  of  hieroglyphic  characters. 
Education  was  confined  to  the  royal  reti- 
nue. The  masses  were  ignorant,  and 
purposely  kept  so,  in  order  to  insure 
subordination.  It  was  realized  many 
years  ago  that  ignorance  only  would  de- 
mand and  submit  to  despotism. 

After  the  discoveries  of  Gallileo,  edu- 
cation made  rapid  strides  toward  popu- 
larization. He  being  repudiated  and 
persecuted  by  the  royal  authorities,  be- 
came the  people's  educator ;  and  the 
progressive  ideas  by  him  promulgated, 
caused  America  and  the  Pacific  isles  to 
be  discovered  and  settled — brought  forth 
the  art  of  printing,  unfolded  the  pro- 
testant  religion  and  infused  a  general 
spirit  of  research  throughout  Europe. 
After  this  the  graded  system  began  to 
be  introduced  into  academies  and  col- 
leges ;  but  the  common  schools  received 
but  little  benefit  therefrom  until  within 


22 


372 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  last  half  century,  when  Prussia  took 
the  lead  in  the  enterprise.  A  committee 
appointed  by  the  crown  reported  that  "it 
was  advisable  to  educate  all  classes,  for 
the  encouragement  of -piety  and  religion, 
in  order  to  lessen  the  police  force  of  the 
nation."  Public  schools  were  accord- 
ingly established  for  all  classes.  The 
common  people  flocked  in,  and  it  became 
necessary  to  erect  new  and  more  com- 
modious buildings,  and  to  provide  an  in- 
creased number  of  teachers.  To  meet 
this  demand  the  graded  system  was 
adopted.  It  was  found  that  where  one 
teacher  had  but  one  grade  of  pupils,  he 
could  give  instruction  to  about  twice%the 
usual  number — be  more  thorough,  and 
advance  them  much  faster  than  by  the 
ungraded  method. 

The  German  states,  Switzerland,  Po- 
land and  Massachusetts  rapidly  changed 
from  the  ungraded  to  graded  system, 
especially  in  towns.  In  Switzerland  and 
some  other  of  these  European  nations, 
children  are  required  to  attend  the 
public  schools  regularly  ;  in  default  of 
which  they  are  taken  from  their  parents 
by  the  state,  educated  and  bound  out  to 
learn  a  trade,  or  are  put  into  the  army. 
In  some  of  the  countries  it  has  been 
found  that  the  decrease  in  the  cost  of 
criminal  prosecutions  since  education 
has  been  popularized,  more  than  defrays 
the  entire  expenses  of  their  public 
schools.  In  our  own  country,  the  his- 
tory of  education  has  been  varied.  Mas- 
sachusetts and  Rhode  Island  established 
public  schools  at  an  early  day.  In  many 
places  it  was  considered  as  necessary  to 
build  a  house  for  their  teacher  as  for 
their  pastor.  Situations  were  not  put 
up  at  auction  and  knocked  down  to  the 


lowest  bidder,  as  is  done  in  quite  too 
many  cases  at  the  present  time;  but  the 
most  discreet  persons  were  selected  and 
invited  to  take  vacant  places.  In  most 
of  the  colonies,  no  system  of  public 
schools  were  adopted.  Here  and  there  a 
private  school,  patronized  by  the  rich, 
were  all  that  could  be  boasted  of.  But 
in  those  colonies  where  public  schools 
were  sustained,  and  where  education  was 
most  generally  diffused  throughout  the 
masses,  there  liberty  raised  its  first  voice, 
and  there  the  largest  per  cent  of  soldiers 
volunteered  for  the  revolutionary  army. 
It  is  a  clear  proposition  that  the  Ameri- 
can independence  was  the  outgrowth  of 
schools;  yet  strange  to  say,  that  after 
our  fathers  had  endured  every  privation, 
after  the  bones  of  thousands  of  their  sons 
and  brothers  had  been  left  to  bleed  upon 
the  hills  and  plains,  where  they  fell  in 
battle — when  they  came  to  form  a  con- 
stitution, they  neglected  to  do  anything 
toward  fostering  the  very  cause  which 
gave  birth  to  their  desire  to  become  free, 
and  which  alone  is  able  to  foster,  sustain 
and  perpetuate  free  institutions !  Instead 
of  placing  the  superscription  of  the 
liberty  they  had  gained  upon  their  school 
houses  and  colleges,  which  gave  it  birth, 
it  was  placed  upon  the  copper  cent!  A 
proposition  to  establish  a  national  uni- 
versity was  voted  down  in  the  constitu- 
tional convention. 

A  naval  and  military  school  were  es- 
tablished by  the  general  government 
soon  after  the  adoption  of  the  constitu- 
tion, where  students  are  carefully  taught 
the  explosive  power  of  gun-powder,  and 
the  precise  distance  a  Christian  can  shoot 
at  his  follow  Christian  and  be  sure  to  hit 
him,  without  a  waste  of  ammunition! 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


373 


Only  three  of  the  13  original  states  made 
any  provision  in  their  first  constitution 
for  sustaining  education.  We  must  not 
neglect  to  mention  the  fact,  that  our  gen- 
eral government  has  not  always  remained 
idle  upon  the  subject  of  education.  At 
the  earnest  request  of  our  first  presi- 
dents, section  16  of  all  new  states  was  at 
length  appropriated  by  congress  for  a 
perpetual  endowment  of  public  schools; 
and  large  grants  of  swamp  lands  were 
donated  to  many  for  university  and 
school  purposes.  Many  of  the  states 
adopted  systems  of  public  schools  for 
the  free  education  of  all  children  of  a 
suitable  age.  Still,  in  many  other  states, 
no  system  of  free  schools  has  been 
adopted. 

In  the  early  history  of  our  country  it 
was  thought  sufficient  for  males  to  learn 
to  read  and  write,  and  for  females  to 
learn  to  read.  In  1778,  a  teacher  was 
driven  from  Connecticut  for  teaching 
girls  to  write,  lest  they  form  runaway 
matches.  The  great  idea  seemed  then 
to  enable  all  classes  to  read  the  scrip- 
tures. But  as  this  country  has  advanced, 
as  knowledge  has  increased,  it  has  been 
found  necessary -to  increase  the  sphere 
of  the  people's  wisdom.  It  was  found 
that  unless  education  was  made  to  keep 
pace  with  the  rapid  and  ever-expanding 
progress  of  the  country,  vice  and  crime 
would  keep  pace  with  that  progress. 
The  pulpit  has  been  found  powerless  to 
effect  any  permanent  reformation  in 
such  a  country  as  this,  unless  the  heads 
of  its  people  be  educated  as  well  as  their 
hearts.  It  was  found  that  the  parents, 
ignorant  parents,  must  be  brought  to 
move  in  this  matter;  hence  legislation 
has  been  necessary,  and  lectures  and 


publications,  and  earnest  working  teach- 
ers. By  the  persistent  efforts  of  these 
agents  graded  schools  have  been  estab- 
lished in  most  of  our  towns,  and  to  a 
limited  extent  in  some  portions  of  the 
"country;  still,  at  the  present  time,  it 
would  be  easier  to  establish  a  mint,  or 
even  practical  religion,  than  graded 
schools  in  townships  of  the  rural  dis- 
tricts. 

Says  one  of  the  county  superintend- 
ents of  this  state,  in  his  report:  "In  the 
United  States,  nearly  one  person  out  of 
.every  5,000,  is '  annually  convicted  of 
crime;  and  among  200  convicts  in  1856, 
only  73  could  read  or  write.  Thus 
while  six-sevenths  of  our  adults  canTead 
and  write,  three-fifths  of  our  criminals 
can  do  neither.  By  careful  investiga- 
tion, it  is  found  that  of  every  21  who  can- 
not read  and  write,  one  is  convicted  of 
crime,  four  are  received  as  paupers, 
seven  are  habitual  drunkards,  and  the 
proportion  of  gamblers,  rioters,  etc.,  is 
still  greater;  while  only  one  criminal 
adult  out  of  214,  and  but  one  pauper  out 
of  400,  who  can  read  and  write  is  found 
as  an  average.  By  pushing  these  statis- 
tics further,  it  is  found  that  in  this  state, 
but  a  very  small  per  cent,  of  the  children 
at  our  state  reform  school,  ever  attended 
school  punctually  or  regularly,  if  at  all. 
Thus,  it  will  be  seen  that  parents,  who 
allow  children  to  grow  up  in  ignorance, 
or  to  attend  school  at  unseasonable 
hours,  and  at  odd  days,  when  no  work  or 
amusement  presents  itself  to  keep  them 
at  home,'  are  training  these  children  for 
houses  of  correction,  for  jails,  for  poor 
houses  and  for  gambler's  dens!  They 
are  instilling  into  these  youthful  minds, 
unsteady  habits,  and  preparing  them  for 


374 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  reception  of  all  sorts  of  vices,  which 
swarm  all  portions  of  the  country,  like 
devouring  wolves,  seeking  ever  for  their 
unsuspecting  and  unguarded  prey. 

Not  only  is  it  necessary  to  establish 
public  schools,  and  for  parents  to  cause 
their  children  to  attend  regularly  and 
punctually,  but  the  best  and  cheapest 
system  of  schools   should  be  adopted. 
The  experience  of  many  of  the  most  en- 
lightened nations  show  the  graded  sys- 
tem to  be  the  cheapest  and  the  best  yet 
devised,  and  hence  ought  to  be  adopted. 
As  many  grades  as  the  number  of  chil- 
dren  in  any   locality  will    warrant,   is 
found  to  be  the  best  and  cheapest.     In 
the  rural  districts,  but  one  grade  at  pres- 
ent could  be  made   profitable.     Here  let 
schools  be   established  for  the  primary 
and  intermediate  pupils,   for   eight  or 
nine  months  in  the  year.     Parents  gen- 
erally are  willing  to   spare  children  of 
these  grades,  and  they   had  better  be  at 
school.       In    most  rural    districts,  the 
larger  ones   can   only  be   spared  from 
three  to  five  months  per  year.  Let  gram- 
mar schools  be  established  for  these,  for 
that  number  of  months  during  the  colder 
season.     One  such  school  to  every  four 
or  six  districts  would  be  found  sufficient. 
The  cost  would  be  far  less  than  under 
the  present  plan,  and  pupils  would  learn 
much  faster.     In  towns,  tne  graded  sys- 
tem is  pretty  generally  adopted.     The 
following  seem  to  be  some  of  the  princi- 
pal points  in  its  favor:     It  is  the  most 
thorough  and  rapid  system;  it  promotes 
the  most  perfect  discipline,  hence  culti- 
vates more  correct  habits   in  pupils;  it 
permits  the  selection  of  teachers  pecu- 
liarly fitted  to  each  grade,  which  renders 
it  the  cheapest  system;  it  adopts  a  uni- 


form system  of  text-books  and  course  of 
tudy;  it  commands  more  respect  from 
parents  and  pupils ;  it  discourages  irreg- 
ular attendance  at  school ;  it  gathers  a 
larger  number  of  the  same  grade  to- 
gether and  creates  more  emulation  in 
pupils;  it  gives  more  dignity  to  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching:  it  does  more  toward 
preventing  crime  and  immorality,  and 
lays  a  foundation  for  usefulness  in  the 
after-life  of  students. 

Many  persons  object  to  any  system  of 
public  schools,because  they  say  the  child- 
less rich  have  to  pay  taxes  to  educate  the 
poor  man's  children.  "Let  every  man 
educate  his  own  children,"  they  say. 
Let  us  see:  Government  is  instituted  to 
protect  life,  liberty  and  property — aye, 
to  enhance  the  value  and  security  of 
these,  and  to  encourage  goodness,  virtue 
and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  It  has 
already  been  shown  that  ignorance  leads 
to  crime  and  all  sorts  of  vice,  under- 
mines free  institutions,  puts  life  in 
jeopardy,  and  renders  property  compar- 
atively valueless.  Now  the  wealthy  man 
is  indebted  to  the  public  schools  for  his 
wealth;  strike  these  and  their  effects 
down,  and  his  wealth  would  fall.  The 
rich  land  owned  by  the  Ethiopian  or  the 
Apache  is  nearly  valueless,  while  the 
sandy  hills  of  Wisconsin  and  Massachu- 
setts are  worth  many  dollars  per  acre; 
now  it  is  the  ignorance  of  the  people  that 
renders  the  one  valueless,  and  education 
which  renders  the  other  of  great  value. 
Should  the  poor,  who  toil  for  their  scanty 
subsistence,  pay  for  the  security  and  the 
means  of  rendering  valuable  the  posses- 
sions of  the  rich? 

The  opulent  constitute  about  one-third 
part  of  the  community — and  it  has  been 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


375 


demonstrated  that  to  educate  their  chil- 
dren in  select  schools  would  cost  as  much 
as  to  educate  all  classes  in  public  schools ; 
besides,  how  can  the  wealthy  expect  their 
children  to  retain  their  moral  or  social 
purity,  unless  they  are  surrounded  by  a 
moral  community.  Would  they  rather 
pay  the  taxes  that  these  poor  children 
may  be  educated  and  grow  up  to  be  use- 
ful citizens,  or  pay  the  same  taxes  to  aid 
in  prosecuting  and  punishing  criminals, 
and  live  in  a  community  of  outlaws  and 
vagabonds  ?  In  which  community  would 
their  property  be  most  secure?  A  cer- 
tain congregation  built  a  splendid  church, 
with  a  beautiful  spire  towering  high,  and 
significantly  pointing  the  people  to  Him, 
who  dwelleth  in  immensity,  and  loveth 
and  ruleth  the  vast  infinity.  They 
adorned  it  within  and  without — carpeted 
its  aisles,  painted  its  pews,  its  sides  and 
its  spire — but  felt  "unable"  to  pay  for  a 
ten-dollar  lightning-rod,  which  an  in- 
genious inventor  offered  to  construct  for 
them  to  protect  it  from  the  elements; 
but  when  the  storm-god  sent  a  thunder- 
bolt down  that  spire,  shattering  the  struc- 
ture to  its  very  foundation,  they  found 
themselves  fully  able  to  expend  several 
hundred  dollars  in  repairs;  in  like  man- 
ner these  persons  object  paying  a  two- 
mill  tax  that  their  society  may  be  pro- 
tected from  the  inroad  of  vice,  and  their 
property  from  the  thief  and  the  burglar, 
but  are  ever  ready  to  pay  a  ten-dollar 
tax  to  prosecute  or  execute  criminals, 
who  have  become  so  for  the  want  of  an 
education,  or  a  moral  community  to  live 
in.  The  public  then  should  educate  all 
children  at  public  expense,  for  the  benefit 
of  the  public.  These  children  will  soon 
be  men  and  women,  will  be  good  or  bad 


citizens,  just  in  proportion  as  they  are 
educated  or  left  in  ignorance. 

The  pioneer  school  houses  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  as  was  common  in  all  new 
countries,  were  built  of  logs,  and  in  some 
cases  yet  stand,  rough  cradles  of  learning 
that  many  distinguished  men  recall  in 
the  glamour  that  memory  throws  around 
their  boyhood's  days,  as  their  only  alma 
mater.  These  days  are  past  and  gone, 
and  now,  on  every  hill-top,  the  white 
frame  school  house  rears  itself,  inviting 
the  reluctant  youth  to  follow  the  road  to 
knowledge. 

COMMISSIONERS  OF  SCHOOL   LANDS. 

When  the  county  of  McDonough  was 
organized,  in  1830,  the  office  of  superin- 
tendent of  schools  had  not  been,  as  yet, 
created.  The  only  officer  connected  with 
the  schools  under  the  constitution  of  1818 
was  the  commissioner  of  the  school  lands, 
who  had  charge  of  the  funds  arising 
from  the  sale  of  the  sixteenth  sections 
donated  in  each  congressional  township 
for  educational  purposes.  This  officer 
was  appointed  by  the  county  commission- 
ers' court,  who  were  empowered  to  fix  the 
compensation  of  the  same. 

The  first  one  to  occupy  this  position 
was  James  Vance,  Sr.,  who  was  duly  ap- 
pointed by  the  commissioners,  at  their 
meeting  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  Sep- 
tember, 1830.  He  was  reappointed  to 
the  same  office  in  September,  1831,  and 
was  instructed  to  loan  all  the  money  un- 
der his  control  at  not  less  than  12  per 
cent.  He  held  this  office  until  in  the 
latter  part  of  1835,  when  he  was  called 
upon  to  pay  the  debt  of  nature.  A  sketch 
of  him  occurs  elsewhere,  and  a  repetition 
here  is  needless. 


376 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


On  the  death  of  Mr.  Vance  the  com- 
missioners of  the  county,  at  a  meeting 
held  on  the  7th  day  of  December,  1835, 
appointed  Benjamin  Nay  lor  to  the  office 
of  school  commissioner.  This  gentleman 
held  the  position  for  several  years.  Mr. 
Naylor  was  identified  with  the  official 
life  of  the  county,  and  was  one  of  its 
prominent  citizens. 

Some  change  in  the  law,  in  1841,  al- 
tered this  from  an  appointive  to  an  elect- 
ive one,  and  in  the  election  of  that  year 
Isaac  Grantham  was  chosen  to  fill  this 
office.  He  held  the  office  for  two  years. 
Mr.  Grantham  having  held  the  more  im- 
portant office  of  county  clerk,  is  noticed 
in  that  connection. 

In  1843,  Josiah  P.  Gates  was  the  next 
to  fill  the  office,  which  he  did  but  a  short 
time. 

In  1844,  Charles  Chandler  was  elected 
by  the  people  of  this  county  to  this  re- 
sponsible office,  and  so  well  did  he  fulfill 
its  duties,  and  to  such  degree  were  his 
efforts  appreciated,  that  he  was  re-elected 
in  1845  and  1847,  filling  the  same  five 
years.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Chandler  occurs 
in  the  history  of  the  city  of  Macomb, 
further  on. 

At  the  election  in  1849  J.  O.  C.  Wilson 
was  chosen  to  fill  the  office  of  school 
commissioner,  and  in  1851  was  re-elected. 
He  served  the  people  in  this  capacity  for 
four  years. 

John  O.  C.  Wilson,  (deceased),  was 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  and 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Macomb  at  an 
early  day.  He  was  born  in  Philadel- 
phia, July  12, 1804.  When  quite  young 
he  learned  the  trade  of  hatter,  and 
worked  at  that  business  in  different 
places.  In  1827,  ht  went  to  Kentucky 


and  settled  at  Lebanon,  Marion  county 
and  there  followed  his  trade.  In  1833 
he  came'  to  this  county  and  bought  a 
farm  near  Macomb,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  The  purchase  consisted  mostly 
of  unimproved  land,  having  on  it  a 
small  cabin.  With  characteristic  energy 
he  went  to  work  to  improve  this  place, 
and  there  lived  18  months.  He  then 
rented  it  for  a  time  and  afterward  sold 
it,  the  purchaser,  among  other  improve- 
ments, erected  a  saw  mill,  but  was  un- 
able to  make  the  necessary  payments  on 
the  land,  and  it  reverted  to  Mr.  Wilson. 
He  meanwhile  removed  to  the  town  of 
Macomb,  and  there  a  part  of  the  time 
worked  at  his  trade.  The  people  soon 
ascertained  that  Mr.  Wilson  was  the 
right  kind  of  material  for  public  places 
of  honor  and  trust,  and  consequently  he 
was  called  upon  to  fill  many  offices  in 
the  gift  of  the  people.  He  was  a  num- 
ber of  times  elected  justice  of  the  peace 
and  school  commissioner,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  Macomb  as  a  city,  was 
chosen  its  first  mayor.  He  was  thus 
quite  active,  and  prominent  during  the 
earlier  days  of  Macomb.  He  died  March 
18,  1880.  Mr.  Wilson  was  married 
May  12,  1829,  to  Adeline  Purdy,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky.  By  that  union  there 
were  10  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Cincinnattus,  married  to  Lucy 
Lane  and  living  in  Macomb;  Lizzie  A. 
who  was  married  to  O.  F.  Clark,  (now 
deceased),  now  living  with  her  mother. 
Cornelia  who  was  married  to  Isaac  Sell- 
ers, (deceased),  who  also  lives  with  her 
mother.  Robert  Henry,  married  to  Sal- 
lie  Gray,  and  living  at  Lebanon,  Ken- 
tucky; and  Samuel  P.,  married  to  Hen- 
rietta Ervin,  and  living  'in  Macomb. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


377 


The  widow  occupies  the  old  homestead, 
in  the  city  of  Macomb,  which  is  a  fine 
residence,  and  enjoys  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  all. 

J.  R.  Simpson,  was  elected  commis- 
sioner of  schools  in  1853  and  held  the 
office  two  years. 

Mr.  Simpson  was  succeded  by  T.  E. 
Brannen,  who  was  elected  in  November, 
1855,  and  who  held  that  position  for  one 
term.  He  was  an  attorney  of  the  city 
of  Macomb  where  he  practiced  for  some 
years.  In  about  1857,  he  left  that  city, 
going  to  Missouri. 

At  the  election  held  in  November, 
1857,  J.  C.  Thompson  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  commissioner.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  the  office  of 

SUPERINTENDENT   OF  SCHOOLS. 

was  created  in  1859,  ^IMr.  Thompson  was 
chosen  to  fill  that  office  and  held  it  un- 
til the  1st  of  January,  1862.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son was,  also,  an  attorney,  partner  for 
a  time  with  L.  H.  Waters.  A  short 
notice  of  him  occurs  in  the  history  of 
the  bar  of  the  county. 

L.  A.  Simmons  was  the  next  to  occupy 
the  office  of  superintendent  of  schools, 
being  elected  to  the  same  in  November, 

1861,  and  serving  until  September   11, 

1862,  when  having  removed  from  the 
county,  the  office  was  declared  vacant, 
and  a  successor  appointed.    As  this  gen- 
tleman is  already  noticed  under  the  head 
of  county  judges,  it  is  needless  to  repeat 
in  this  connection. 

John  Barge  succeeded  Mr.  Simmons, 
having  been  appointed  in  September, 
1862,  by  the  board  of  supervisors,  to  fill 
the  vacancy.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  he  was 
elected  to  the  same  office  and  filled  out 


the  term.  Mr.  Barge  is  now  engaged  in 
teaching  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  Ill- 
inois, where  he  has  achieved  considera- 
ble success. 

D.  Branch  was  the  next  incumbent  of 
the  office  of  school  superintendent,  occu- 
pying the  office  for  four  years.  He  was 
elected  in  1865,  and  re-elected  in  1867. 
Mr.  Branch  came  to  this  county  in  about 
1861,  locating  at  Prairie  City,  where  he 
and  his  wife  taught  school.  On  his  elec- 
tion he  moved  to  Macomb,  where  he  af- 
terwards run  the  Macomb  normal  school, 
for  which  see  further  on  in  this  chapter. 

In  1869,  L.  H.  Copeland  was  elected 
to  this  office,  by  a  majority  of  173,  and 
held  the  same  for  one  term  of  four  years. 
Mr.  Copeland  is  still  a  resident  of  this 
county,  living  in  Macomb  township. 

John  M.  Dunsworth  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  superintendent  in  1873.  He  was 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  born  October  29, 
1821".  In  an  early  day  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  in  Green  county,  where  he 
remained  for  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
turned to  his  native  state.  After  some 
years  spent  there,  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
coming  direct  to  McDonough  county  and 
settling  on  a  farm  in  Bethel  township. 
Here  he  remained  till  1850,  when  he 
went  to  California,  and  while  there  en- 
gaged in  mining.  In  1853,  he  returned 
to  this  county,  and  bought  a  farm  on 
section  8,  in  Bethel  township.  He  was 
married  in  July,  1869,  to  Mary  Wallace, 
a  native  of  Missouri,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Ira,  now  living  on  the  farm. 
Mr.  Dunsworth  held  several  prominent 
positions  in  the  county,  among  which 
was  that  of  supervisor.  On  the  29th  of 
December,  1884,  Mr.  Dunsworth  was 
called  on  to  cross  the  dark  and  troubled 


378 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


river  of  death,  and  his  remains  are  in- 
terred in  the  cemetery  in  the  township 
of  Bethel. 

H.  A.  Maxwell  was  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  county  superintendent  in  Novem- 
ber, 1877,  and  served  the  people  in  that 
position  for  five  years. 

Henry  A.  Maxwell  was  born  near 
Cadiz,  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  October 
28,  1845.  His  father,  Thomas  Maxwell, 
died  in  February,  1857.  Two  years  af- 
ter the  death  of  his  father,  the  mother, 
Ann  Maxwell,  removed  with  her  family 
of  seven  children  to  Industry,  in  this 
county,  where  her  parents,  John  and 
Mary  Baymiller  resided. 

Henry  A.  Maxwell  received  a  good 
common  school  education.  From  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  until  he  was 
18  years  of  age,  he  labored  on  a  farm, 
contributing  from  his  wages  to  the  sup- 
port of  his  widowed  mother  and  her 
family.  In  the  mean  time  he  vigorously 
pursued  his  studies,  and  in  1863  secured 
a  certificate  to  teach  school,  teaching  his 
first  term  during  the  winter  of  1863  and 
and  the  spring  of  1864,  at  what  is  known 
as  the  Coloma  school  house  in  Eldorado 
township.  He  taught  at  various  points 
within  the  county  and  located  in  Bar- 
dolph  in  1874,  where  he  still  resides. 
His  success  as  a  teacher,  together  with 
the  great  interest  he  manifested  in  the 
institute  and  other  educational  work  of 
the  county,  gave  him  prominence  as  an 
educator,  and  in  1877  he  was  elected 
county  superintendent  of  schools  of  this 
county.  Having  served  his  term  of  four 
years,  he  was  unanimously  appointed  by 
the  board  of  supervisors  to  serve  the 
odd  year  occasioned  by  the  change  in 
the  law  relative  to  the  time  of  electing 


county  superintendents."  His  adminis- 
tration of  the  office  was  quite  successful 
and  the  educational  interests  of  the 
county  were  greatly  advanced. 

In  1883  he  represented  Macomb  town- 
ship on  the  board  of  supervisors  and  is 
now  town  clerk  of  his  township.  He 
also  occupied  the  positions  of  village 
clerk  and  police  magistrate  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Bardolph,  and  in  addition  is  a 
notary  public.  Mr.  Maxwell  was  mar- 
ried in  September,  1867,  to  Mary  E.  Kee. 
Mrs.  Maxwell  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  January  17,  1845,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Kee, 
who  emigrated  to  McDonough  county  in 
1855.  Her  father  died  in  July,  1882, 
and  her  mother  resides  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Eldorado  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maxwell  have  nine  chil- 
dren— Ella  G.,  born  June  15, 1869;  Inez 
A.,  born  January* 27,  1871;  Thomas, 
born  January  22,  1873;  Frederic,  born 
February  6,  1875;  William  A.,  born 
January  9,  1877;  Walter  Kee,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1879;  Harry  V.,  born  January 
9,  1881;  Anna  M.,  born  April  4,  1882, 
Bessie  B.,  born  February  14,  1884. 

T.  J.  Dudman,  the  present  incumbent 
of  the  office,  was  elected  in  November, 
1881. 

T.  J.  Dudinan,  who  is  now  holding  the 
responsible  position  of  superintendent  of 
schools  of  McDonough  county,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois,  having  been  born  in  Han- 
cock county  on  the  19th  day  of  Septem- 
ber, 1850.  His  parents  were  Kobert  and 
Phoebe  (Mills)  Dudman,  the  former  of 
whom  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Indi- 
ana, and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  T. 
J.  Dudman' s  early  life  was  spent  on  a 
farm  and  in  attending  the  district 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


379 


schools  in  his  locality.  He  subsequently 
attended  the  high  school  at  Bo  wen,  in 
Hancock  county,  after  which  he  went  to 
Carthage,  Missouri,  where  he  completed 
his  education.  After  his  graduation,  he 
engaged  in  his  profession  both  in  Mis- 
souri and  this  state.  He  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county  in  1879,  teaching  his 
first  school  here  at  Colchester.  Subse- 
quently, he  was  engaged  in  the  schools 
at  Industry,  and  two  years  later  found 
him  principal  in  the  normal  college  at 
Macomb.  In  1881,  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  superintendent  of  schools. 
His  efforts  toward  the  improvement  of 
the  schools  of  the  county,  is  duly  appre- 
ciated by  the  people  generally.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  to  Mr.  Dudman's 
unceasing  efforts  is  largely  due  the  high 
position  which  the  schools  of  the  county 
have  attained.  In  politics  he  is  a  staunch 
democrat,  as  is  he  also  a  member  of  the 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
Also  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen.  In  the  fall  of  1874, 
Mr.  Dudman  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Marietta  Landson,  and,  as  a  result 
of  this  union,  they  have  been  blessed 
with  five  children — W.  Ernest,  Lewis  A., 
Clarence  A.,  George  A.  and  Robert  Loyd. 
Mr.  Dudman  is  a  very  pleasant,  genial 
gentleman,  and,  although  a  resident  of 
McDonough  county  a  comparatively 
short  time,  he  has  made  numerous 
friends. 

DEVELOPMENT. 

McDonough,  like  nearly  all  new  coun- 
ties, in  its  infancy  was  not  blessed  with 
public  or  district  schools,  and  the  rising 
generation  was  limited  to  draw  what 
knowledge  they  did  attain  from  spas- 
modic attempts  at  subscription  schools, 


that  were  established  wherever  the  pop- 
ulation was  large  enough  to  warrant  the 
attempt,  and  which  sprang  up,  and  died 
out,  with  surprising  regularity.  The 
rude  log  cabin,  now  viewed  by  so  many 
of  the  eminent  men  of  this  country,  with 
the  glamour  that  memory  throws  around 
boyhood's  halcyon  days,  was  the  only 
alma  mater  of  many  of  them,  and  the 
foundations  of  the  education  of  most  of 
the  members  of  the  older  resident  fami- 
lies was  laid  in  these  rude  cradles  of 
learning.  The  16th  section  of  land  in 
each  congressional  township,  had,  in- 
deed, been  granted  to  each  county  for 
educational  purposes,  but  there  was  lit- 
tle or  no  sale  for  land  and  the  govern- 
ment price,  $1.25  per  acre,  was  all  that 
could  be  derived  from  it,  and  the  income 
was  therefore  but  small.  For  some  years 
the  subscription  schools  flourished,  but 
in  1837,  a  public  school  was  opened  in 
the  city  of  Macomb,  and  under  the  tui- 
tion of  Ellen  Overton,  served  as  the  fore- 
runner of  the  fine  system  of  education 
for  which  McDonough  county  is  well 
known.  For  many  years  the  advance 
was  slow  toward  public  instruction,  but 
gradually  it  won  its  way  into  the  estima- 
tion of  the  people. 

In  1876,  there  were  in  the  county  un- 
der 21  years  of  age,  14,890  persons.  Of 
these,  10,878  are  between  the  ages  of  6 
and  21,  or  of  school  age.  There  were 
enrolled,  during  that  year,  8,059  pupils 
in  the  various  schools,  showing  that 
2,819  or  a  little  more  than  one-fourth  of 
the  number  of  those  of  school  age  were 
kept  altogether  from  the  schools;  but 
notwithstanding  this,  there  were  but 
14  females  and  13  males  between  the 
ages  of  12  and  21  that  were  unable  to 


380 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


read  or  write.  There  were  156  school 
houses  having  a  total  value  of  $160,420. 
There  was  raised  for  all  school  purposes 
during  that  year  $98,237,  of  which 
$55,566  was  paid  to  teachers; 
$5,520  for  new  school  houses;  repairs 
and  improvements,  $4,763;  school  furni- 
ture, $1,933;  fuel  and  incidental  ex- 
penses, $6,550;  for  bonds,  $6,219;  in- 
terest on  bonds,  $1,030;  and  a  sum  for 
other  expenses  which,  added  to  the 
above,  makes  a  total  expenditure  for 
school  purposes  of  $84,454,  or  an  aver- 
age of  $10.48  for  each  pupil  enrolled. 
The  average  wages  paid  male  teachers 
outside  of  Macomb,  Bushnell  and  Prai- 
rie City  was  about  $43  per  month,  and 
female  teachers  $33.  The  highest  salary 
paid  any  male  teacher  was  $135  per 
month,  the  lowest  salary,  $25.  The  high- 
est paid  any  female  teacher  was  $50;  the 
lowest  $20  per  month.  The  number  of 
first  grade  certificates  granted  during 
1876  was  6;  of  the  second  grade,  352.- 
There  were  721  applicants  for  certifi- 
cates, of  whom  416  were  females. 

From  the  last  report  of  the  county 
superintendent,  T.  J.  Dudman,  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  a  number  of 
items  have  been  compiled,  which  will 
best  show,  in  tabulated  form,  the  present 
condition  of  educational  matters  in  Mc- 
Donough  county: 

Number  of  males  in  the  county  be- 
tween the  ages  of  6  and  21 4,757 

Number  of  females 4,634 

Number  of  districts  in  the  county 147 

Number  of  graded  schools.            11 

Number  of  ungraded  schools 140 

Number  of  male  teachers  employed..  79 

Number  of  female  teachers  employed  225 
Number  of  male   pupils   enrolled   in 

graded  schools 1,192 


Number  of  females  ., 1,378 

Number  of  males    enrolled    in    un-  • 

graded  schools 2,522 

Number  of  females 2,297 

Whole  number  enrolled 7,399 

Whole  number  of  public  high  schools  2 

Number  of  brick  school  houses 9 

Number  of  frame  school  houses 142 

Number  of  school  houses  built  during 

the  year 4 

Number  of  districts  having  libraries..  7 

Number  of  volumes  in  same 327 

Average  monthly  wages  paid  male 

teachers $  47  44 

Average  for  female  teachers 29  80 

Amount    of    district    tax    levy  for 

schools 62,772  83 

Estimated  value  of  school  property...  181,552  00 
Estimated  value  of  school  libraries...  740 
Estimated  value  of  school   apparatus  3,000 
Number  of  first  grade  teachers'  cer- 
tificates issued 10 

Memb'er  of  second  grade 143 

Number  of  teachers'    certificates  to 

males 39 

Number  to  females 114 

Number  of  male  applicants  rejected..  15 

Number  of  females 32 

First  grade  certificates  renewed  dur- 
ing the  year 2 

Second  grade  certificates 24 

Number    of    days  spent  in   institute 

work    20 

Number  of  teachers'  institutes  held  in 

the  county 15 

Number  of  teachers  attending  all  in- 
stitutes    185 

FINANCIAL  STATISTICS. 

As  to  the  financial  condition  in  school  matters, 
below  is  presented  the  account  of  the  various 
township  treasurers  with  the  school  districts,  for 
the  year  ending  June  30,  1884 : 

RECEIPTS. 

Balance  on  hand  June  30,  1882 $32,950  94 

From  distribution  of  trustees 11,584  39 

Special  district  taxes  received 57,918  69 

From  loans  paid  in 356  14 

Tuition  fees . .  166  50 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


381 


From  sale  of  school  property 27  00 

From  district  bonds  for  building 1,310  00 

From  treasurers  of  other  townships. .  817  25 

Fees  of  transferred  pupils 14  00 

Rent 17  60 

Borrowed 1,379  57 

Delinquent  tax  and  interest 250  60 

Total $106,792  68 

EXPENDITURES. 

Amount  paid  male  teachers  in  graded 

schools $7,715  70 

Amount  paid  male  teachers  in  un- 
graded schools 11,194  19 

Amount    paid      female     teachers   in 

graded  schools T5,054  45 

Amount  paid  female  teachers  in  un- 
graded schools 19,510  33 

Paid  for  new  school  house  built  or 

purchased  . .  / 3,531  96 

Paid     for    school    house    sites    and 

grounds 15  41 

Paid  for  repairs  and  improvements  . .  6,804  52 

Paid  for  school  furniture 1,131  91 

Paid  for  school  apparatus 78  45 

Paid  for  books  for  poor  children 13  20 

Paid  for  books  for  district  libraries. .  59  15 

Paid  for  fuel  and  incidental  expenses  7,824  12 

Amount  paid  clerks  of  district  boards  194  40 
Amount  of  interest  paid   on    district 

bonds . .  283  33 

• 

Amount  paid  of  principal  of  district 

bonds 2,111  64 

Paid  tuition  of  pupils  transferred •  67  97 

Amount  paid  treasurers  of  other  town- 
ships    391  90 

Amount  of  extra  service,  incidentals 

and  interest 371  14 

Paid  borrowed  money,  etc 863  13 

Total $77,218  90 

Balance  on  hand  June  30, 1884 29,320  78 

Outstanding  loans  of  district  funds  . .  253  00 

Total $106,792  68 

M'DONOUGH  COLLEGE. 
The  first  steps  taken  toward  the  insti- 
tution of  learning,  that  was  known  by 
the  above  name,  was  taken  in  1835,  when 


the  idea  of  establishing  a  college  where 
more  advanced  scholars  could  receive 
instruction,  began  to  agitate  the  public 
mind.  Under  the  leadership  of  some  of 
the  progressive  people  of  the  county  the 
project  began  to  assume  shape,  and  at 
the  session  of  1835-36  the  general  as- 
sembly was  presented  with  a  petition, 
numerously  signed  by  the  citizens  of 
this  county,  praying  for  the  passage  of 
an  act  incorporating  an  educational  in- 
stitution to  be  known  as  the  McDonough 
College.  In  pursuance  with  this  the 
necessary  act  was  passed  by  the  legis- 
lature, and  was  approved  by  Governor 
Duncan  on  the  12th  of  January,  1836. 
The  act  of  incorporation  named  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  as  trustees  of  the  col- 
lege: William  W.  Bailey,  Charles  Hays, 
Moses  Henton,  William  Proctor,  James 
McCroskey,  Joseph  Gilmore  Walker, 
George  Miller,  John  M.  Walker,  Saun- 
ders  W.  Campbell  and  Alexander  Camp- 
bell. These  gentlemen  commenced 
work  in  1835  by  erecting  the  building, 
which  was  soon  completed.  A  full  col- 
lege course  was  not  established  then,  but 
schools  of  a  high  grade  were  held  in  the 
building.  Rev.  James  M.  Chase  and 
Rev.  Stafford  occupied  the  building 
for  several  years  with  a  select  school,  as 
the  Schuyler  presbytery,  who  were  to 
have  the  control  and  supervision  of  the 
college,  did  not  feel  warranted  in  organ- 
izing the  college  course.  In  1848  a 
judgment  was  obtained  by  McGinnis  & 
Banks  against  the  trustees  of  the  col- 
lege for  work  performed  on  the  building, 
and  under  this  the  edifice  was  sold.  The 
Masonic  lodge  of  Macomb,  knowing  that 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons  of  Illinois 
had  in  contemplation  the  foundation  of 


382 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  Masonic  college,  purchased  the  build- 
ing with  the  intention  of  offering  it  to 
the  order  as  an  inducement  for  them  to 
locate  the  college  at  Macomb.  At  the 
annual  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  in 
the  same  year,  Dr.  J.  B.  Kyle,  in  behalf 
of  Macomb  Lodge  No.  17,  made  a  tender 
of  it  to  that  body,  but  it  was  declined 
with  thanks,  the  Grand  Lodge  having 
decided  that  it  would  not  engage  in  the 
enterprise,  deeming  it  unwise  and  haz- 
ardous. It  was  then  tendered  to  the 
Schuyler  Presbytery  on  condition  that 
that  body  would  establish  and  maintain 
therein  a  school  of  high  grade,  which 
proposition  was  entertained  and  ac- 
cepted. The  old  charter  having  lapsed 
or  been  forfeited,  a  new  one  was  then 
obtained,  in  which  James  M.  Chase, 
William  F.  Ferguson,  William  K.  Stew- 
art, T.  S.  Vail  and  W.  E.  Talbott  were 
named  as  trustees.  The  Masonic  lodge 
of  Macomb  then  nominated  Rev.  Ralph 
Harris  to  a  professorship  in  the  college, 
which  was  ratified  by  the  board  of  trus- 
tees on  condition  that  Mr.  Harris  would 
take  charge  of  the  school  and  receive  the 
the  tuition  fees  as  his  salary. 

Dr.  Harris,  who  was  both  a  clergy- 
man and  physician — although  he  did 
not  practice  the  latter  profession — ac- 
cepted the  offer,  and  the  school  was 
opened  on  the  fourth  Monday  in  Novem- 
ber, 1849.  and  continued  for  two  years 
under  his  control.  He  was  ably  assisted 
in  his  labors  by  Miss  Ellen  Phelps. 

In  the  early  part  of  1851  it  was  de- 
termined to  inaugurate  a  full  collegiate 
course,  and  on  the  llth  of  June,  Rev. 
William  F.  Ferguson,  D.  D.,  was  unani- 
mously chosen  by  the  trustees  to  fill  the 
office  of  president  of  the  college.  He 


was  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  office 
at  the  beginning  of  the  fall  term  in  Sep- 
tember, at  a  salary  of  $700  per  annum. 
A  full  college  course  was  adopted,  and 
the  following  gentlemen  chosen  as  the 
faculty  :  Rev.  William  F.  Ferguson,  D. 
D.,  president  and  professor  of  mental 
and  moral  philosophy,  political  economy 
and  evidences  of  Christianity ;  Rev. 
Ralph  Harris,  A.  M.,  professor  of 
languages;  Thomas  Gilmore,  tutor. 

In  September,  1851,  therefore,  the 
faculty  entered  upon  their  educational 
work,  although  President  Ferguson  was 
not  formally  inaugurated  until  the  fol- 
lowing March.  One  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  students  were  enrolled  in  all  the 
departments,  during  the  first  year.  Mr. 
Ferguson  occupied  his  chair  until  the 
day  of  his  death,  which  occurred  March 
15,  1853.  Rev.  Ralph  Harris,  was,  by 
the  trustees,  appointed  president  ad  in- 
terim, until  the  next  regular  meeting  of 
the  board,  and  James  W.  Mathews  was 
made  teacher.  At  the  regular  meeting 
Rev.  Ithamer  Pillsbury  was  chosen  pres- 
ident, and  J.  W.  Mathews,  professor  of 
mathematics.  On  account  of  •  business 
engagements,  it  was  impossible  for  Mr. 
Pillsbury  to  take  charge  at  once,  so 
Rev.  -John  C.  King  was  appointed  pres- 
ident, pro  tern.  The  latter  entered  upon 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  and  contin- 
ued therein  for  a  few  months  when  he 
made  way  for  the  regular  appointee. 
Under  Professor  Pillsbury 's  administra- 
tion for  a  time,  the  college  prospered 
fairly,  but  the  synod  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian church  refusing  to  extend  a  helping 
hand  to  the  institution  as  had  been  ex- 
pected, it  was  found  beyond  the  power 
of  those  interested,  to  carry  it  on,  and 


ZUOO  HOTJOXOa 
HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


383 


in  1855  it  closed,  its  doors,  and  the  pror>- 
erty  reverted  to  the  Masons,  thus  end- 
ing the  career  of  a  highly  useful  insti- 
tution. The  building  after  this  passed 
into  the  hands,  of  Dr.  Beverly  B.  West- 
fall,  by  purchase.  It  was  sought  after 
by  several  parties  who  wanted  it  for 
residence  purposes,  but  the  doctor  hav- 
ing the  interests  of  education  at  heart, 
would  not  part  with  it  unless  it  was  to 
be  used  for  an  academy  or  high  grade 
school.  In  pursuance  with  this  idea  he 
disposed  of  it,  in  1865,  to  Professor  D. 
Branch,  for  $500  less  than  he  was  offered 
by  other  parties,  under  the  condition 
that  Mr.  Branch  would  hold  a  collegiate 
school  in  the  edifice  for  ten  years.  The 
professor  agreed  to  the  terms  and  in  the 
same  year  a  charter  was  obtained  from 
the  general  assembly  for  the  organiza- 
tion of 

THE  MCDONOUGH  NOEMAL  AND  SCIENTIFIC 
COLLEGE. 

Mrs.  Branch  took  hold  of  the  school, 
while  her  husband  attended  to  the  duties 
of  county  superintendent  of  schools,  and 
it  throve  apace.  On  the  expiration  of 
his  terms  of  office,  Mr.  Branch  gave  it 
his  personal  attention  and  it  became 
justly  celebrated  throughout  a  wide  ex- 
tent of  country  for  the  high  rank  taken 
by  its  graduates.  In  1878,  Professor 
Branch  disposed  of  the  school  and  re- 
moved from  this  state. 

The  school  is  now  under  the  supervis- 
ion and  control  of  Professor  Whitty. 

WESTERN  NORMAL  COLLEGE,  BUSHNELL. 

•    ' 

In  the  spring  of  1881, 1.  E.  Wilson  and 
C.  F.  Holcomb,  being  desirous  of  found- 
ing a  normal  college  somewhere  in  the 


state  of  Illinois,  visited  several  large 
towns  in  the  state  for  the  purpose  of  find- 
ing ,  a  suitable  location.  Among  the 
many  places  visited  was  Bushnell,  and 
after  taking  into  account  all  of  its  ad- 
vantages, including  the  fact  of  its  being 
a  railroad  center,  which  was  easily  ac- 
cessible from  all  directions,  it  was  fin  ally 
settled  upon  as  the  future  site  of  the 
Western  normal  college. 

There  was  no  college  building,  but  the 
citizens  generously  secured  and  donated 
the  use  of  the  south  public  school  build- 
ing, then  vacant,  afterwards  destroyed 
by  lightning  in  1882;  also  three  halls  in 
Cole's  block,  which,  together  with  the 
Christian  church,  formed  the  college 
buildings.  This  was  done  with  the  un- 
derstanding that  if  the  college  proved  a 
success  that  they  would  give  it  substan- 
tial aid  toward  erecting  a  college  build- 
ing. The  college  was  a  private  enter- 
prise and  therefore  did  not  have  the 
good  will  and  nourishing  care  of  any 
church  or  corporation,  but  notwithstand- 
ing this,  the  school  opened  July  20th, 
1881,  with  about  15  pupils  and  four 
teachers  in  attendance.  The  number  of 
pupils  in  attendance  before  the  close  of 
the  term  was  about  20.  The  teachers 
were,  I.  E.  Wilson,  J.  A.  Lyons,  E.  P. 
Farr  and  W.  E.  Vaughan.  Those  not 
familiar  with  the  circumstances,  can 
hardly  realize  the  difficulties  under 
which  the  college  labored,  but  before  the 
year  closed  it  had  enrolled  about  300  dif- 
ferent students.  About  this  time  the 
proprietor,  concluded  to  locate  else- 
where, and  the  school  was  taken  in  hand 
by  J.  E.  Chandler,  and  sometime  in  the 
latter  part  of  1882,  the  present  site  was 
purchased  and  the  building  begun,  but 


384 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


owing  to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  the 
walls  were  raised  to  but  two  stories  that 
fall.  Early  the  next  spring  the  work 
was  taken  up  and  the  building  was  com- 
pleted the  following  fall.  To  the  erec- 
tion of  this  building,  the  citizens  again 


contributed  several  thousand  dollars. 
The  college  building  proper  is  a  com- 
modious three-story  brick,  containing  a 
chapel,  a  reading  room,  public  and  pri- 
vate offices,  six  recitation  rooms,  besides 
a  chemical  laboratory  and  20  dormitory 


Oollegfe,     a,t 


rooms.  The  upper  floor  of  the  Chandler 
block  is  occupied  by  the  business,  art 
and  music  departments.  These,  together 
with  other  buildings,  under  the  control 
of  the  college  give  it  ample  room  for  the 
accommodation  of  a  large  attendance. 
The  school  sustains  10  courses,  includ- 
ing classic,  scientific,  teacher's,  business, 
preparatory,  music,  fine  art,  penmanship, 


phonographic  and  telegraphic.  One 
feature  about  the  college,  and  one  likely 
to  increase  its  patronage  largely,  is  the 
fact  that  it  owns  and  controls  boarding 
halls,  where  board  is  put  at  actual  cost, 
the  design  being  to  make  it  merely  pay 
expenses.  In  this  respect  it  is  working 
quite  a  reform,  and  is  bringing  the  cost 
of  an  education  within  the  reach  of  all. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


385 


During  the  present  year  (1885)  the  ave- 
rage enrollment  has  been  about  100  stu- 
dents, and  the  college  is  in  an  exception- 
ally healthy  condition,  and  bids  fair  to 
become  one  of  the  foremost  institutions 
of  the  state.  There  are  now  seven  mem- 
bers in  the  faculty,  J.  A.  Lyons  being 
the  principal.  The  community  and  all 
those  interested  in  the  welfare  and  suc- 
cess of  the  institution  are  deeply  in- 
debted to  J.  E.  Chandler,  who  contrib- 
uted of  his  own  private  fortune  and  sus- 
tained it  while  passing  through  its  early 
existence,  and  is  but  jnst  beginning  to 
reap  his  reward  by  seeing  it  break  forth 
into  a  healthy  growth. 


A  detailed  account  of  the  various 
public  schools  throughout  the  county  are 
given  under  their  proper  head  in  the  his- 
tories of  the  townships,  towns  and  cities, 
further  on,  to  which  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred. 

In  early  -days  schools  were  rare  and 
poorly  supported,  but  in  these  days  the 
county  is  plentifully  supplied  with  neat 
school  houses,  some  of  them  elegant  edi- 
fices, and  a  high  grade  of  teachers  are 
employed,  and  McDonough  county  can 
justly  point  with  pride  to  her  system  of 
public  schools,  as  the  truest  index  of  the 
intellectual  cast  of  her  best  people. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


THE  BAB. 


Horace  Greeley  once  said  that  the 
only  good  use  a  lawyer  could  be  put  to 
was  hanging,  and  a  great  many  other 
people  entertain  the  same  opinion.  There 
may  be  cause  for  condemning  the  course 
of  certain  practitioners  of  the  law,  but 
the  same  may  be  said  within  the  ranks 
of  all  other  professions.  Such  men 
should  not  be  criticized  as  lawyers,  doc- 
tors, or  the  like,  but  rather  as  individuals 
who  seek,  through  a  profession  that  is 
quite  essential  to  the  welfare  of  the  body 
politic  as  the  science  of  medicine  is  to 
that  of  the  physical  well  being,  or  theol- 
ogy to  the  perfection  of  moral  nature,  to 


carry  out  their  nefarious  and  dishonest 
designs,  which  are  usually  for  the  rapid 
accumulation  of  money,  although  at  times 
for  more  evil  and  sinister  purposes,  and 
which  are  the  instincts  of  naturally  de- 
praved and  vicious  natures.  None  of  the 
professions  stand  alone  in  being  thus 
affected.  All  suffer  alike.  The  most 
holy  and  sacred  offices  have  been  prostL 
tuted  to  base  uses.  And  it  would  be  quite 
as  reasonable  to  hold  the  entire  medical 
fraternity  in  contempt  for  the  malprac- 
tice and  quackery  of  some  of  its  unscru- 
pulous members,  or  the  church,  with  its 
thousands  of  sincere  and  noble  teachers 


386 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  followers,  in  derision  for  the  hypoc- 
risy and  deceit  of  the  few,  who  simply  use 
it  as  a  cloak  to  conceal  the  intentions  of 
a  rotten  heart  and  corrupt  nature,  as  to 
saddle  upon  a  profession  as  great  as 
either,  the  shortcomings  of  some  of  its 
individual  members. 

By  a  wise  ordination  of  Providence, 
law  and  order  govern  everything  in  the 
vast  and  complex  system  of  the  universe. 
Law  is  everything — lawyers  nothing. 
Law  would  still  exist,  though  every  one 
of  its  professors  and  teachers  should 
perish  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  And 
should  such  a  thing  occur,  and  a  new  race 
spring  up,  the  first  instinctive  desire  of 
its  best  men  would  be  to  bring  order  out 
of  chaos  by  the  enactment  and  promul- 
gation of  wise  and  beneficial  laws.  Law 
in  the  abstract  is  as  much  a  component 
part  of  our  planet  as  are  the  elements, 
earth,  air,  fire  and  water.  In  a  concrete 
sense,  as  applied  to  the  government  of 
races,  nations  and  peoples,  it  plays  al- 
most as  important  a  part.  Indeed,  so 
grand  is  the  science,  and  so  noble  are 
the  objects  sought  to  be  accomplished 
through  it,  that  it  has  inspired  some  of 
the  best  and  greatest  men  of  ancient  and 
modern  times  to  an  investigation  and 
study  of  its  principles;  and  in  the  long 
line  of  great  names  handed  down  to  us 
from  the  dim  and  shadowy  portals  of  the 
past,  quite  as  great  men  will  be  found 
enrolled  as  members  of  the  legal  profes- 
sion as  any  other,  and  owe  their  great- 
ness to  a  sound  knowledge  of  the  princi- 
ples of  law,  and  a  strict  and  impartial 
application  of  them.  Draco,  among  the 
first  and  greatest  of  Athenian  law-givers, 
was  hailed  by  the  people  of  that  province 
as  a  deliverer,  because  of  his  enacting 


laws  and  enforcing  them,  for  the  prevent- 
ing of  vice  and  crime,  and  looking  to  the 
protection  of  the  masses  from  oppression 
and  lawlessness.  It  is  true,  that  many 
of  the  penalties  he  attached  to  the  viola- 
lation  of  the  laws  were  severe  and  even 
barbarous,  but  this  severity  proceeded 
from  an  honorable  nature,  with  an  honest 
desire  to  improve  the  condition  of  his 
fellow  man.  Triptolemus,  his  contem- 
porary, proclaimed  as  laws:  "Honor 
your  parents,  worship  the  Gods,  hurt  not 
animals."  Solon,  perhaps  the  wisest 
and  greatest  of  all,  a  man  of  remarkable 
purity  of  life  and  noble  impulses,  whose 
moral  character  was  so  great  and  convic- 
tion as  to  the  public  good  so  strong,  that 
he  could  and  did  refuse  supreme  and 
despotic  power  when  thrust  upon  him, 
and  thus  replied  to  the  sneers  of  his 
friends : 

Nor  wisdom's  plan,  nor  deep  laid  policy, 

Can  Solon  boast.    For,  when  its  noble  blessing 

Heaven  poured  into  Iris  lap,  he  spurned  them 

from  him. 

Where  were  his  sense  and  spirit,  when  inclosed 
He  found  the  choicest  prey,  nor  deigned  to  draw 

it? 

Who  to  command  fair  Athens  but  one  day 
Would  not  himself,  with  all  his  race,  have  fallen 
Contented  on  the  morrow? 

What  is  trua  of  one  nation  or  race  in 
this  particular  is  true  of  all,  viz :  that  the 
wisest  and  greatest  of  law-makers  and 
lawyers  have  always  been  pure  and  good- 
men,  perhaps  the  most  notable  exceptions 
being  Justinian  and  Tribonianus.  Their 
great  learning  and  wisdom  enabled  them 
to  rear  as  their  everlasting  monuments 
the  Pandects  and  the  Justinian  Code, 
which,  however,  they  sadly  defaced  by 
the  immoralities  and  excesses  of  their 
private  lives.  Among  the  revered  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


387 


modern  nations  will  be  found,  conspicu- 
ous for  their  great  services  to  their  fel- 
lows, innumerable  lawyers.  To  the 
Frenchman  the  mention  of  the  names  of 
Tronchet,  LeBrun,  Portalis,  Eoederer 
and  Thibaudeau,  excites  a  thrill  of  pride 
for  greatness  and  of  gratitude  for  their 
goodness.  What  Englishman,  or  Amer- 
can,  either,  but  that  takes  just  pride  in 
the  splendid  reputation  and  character  of 
the  long  line  of  England's  loyal  lawyer 
sons  ?  The  Bacons,  father  and  son,  who, 
with  Lord  Burleigh,  were  selected  by 
England's  greatest  queen  to  administer 
the  affairs  of  state,  and  Somers,and  Hard- 
wicke,  Cowper,  and  Dunning,  Eden, 
Blackstoiie,  Coke,  Stowell  and  Curran, 
whoi,  with  all  the  boldness  of  a  giant  and 
eloquence  of  Demosthenes,  struck  such 
vigorous  blows  against  kingly  tyranny 
and  oppression;  and  Erskine  and  Mans- 
field, and  a  score  of  others. 

These  are  the  men  who  form  the  cri- 
terion by  which  the  profession  should 
be  judged.  And  in  our  own  country, 
have  we  not  names  among  the  dead  as 
sacred,  and  among  the  living  as  dear? 
In  the  bright  pages  of  the  history  of  a 
country,  founded  for  the  sole  benefit  of 
the  people,  who,  more  than  our  lawyers, 
are  recorded  as  assisting  in  its  formation, 
preservation,  and  working  for  its  per- 
petuity ? 

The  American  will  ever  turn  with  es- 
pecial pride,  to  the  great  Daniel  Web- 
ster, Henry  Clay,  Jo  Daviess,  Eufus 
Choate,  William  Wirt,  Taney,  Marshall, 
and  hundreds  of  others,  who  reflected 
the  greatest  honor  upon  the  profession 
in  our  own  country.  Among  the  truest 
and  best  sons  of  this  state  are  her  law- 
yers, and  even  in  this  county,  some  of 


her  most  highly  esteeemed  and  most  re- 
sponsible citizens  are  members  of  this 
noble  profession. 

LAWYEES  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

The  first  resident  lawyer  to  locate 
within  the  limits  of  McDonough  county 
was  undoubtedly  William  W.  Chapman, 
who  came  to  Macomb  in  1832.  He  re- 
mained in  the  then  little  village  some 
two  or  three  years,  when  he  took  up  his 
line  of  march  westward,  going  to  Flint 
Hills,  as  Burlington,  Iowa,  was  then 
called.  He  was  afterwards  the  first  ter- 
ritorial delegate  to  congress  from  the 
newly  organized  territory  of  Iowa. 

The  next  attorney  to  locate  in  the 
county  was  Cyrus  Walker.  He  was 
born  in  Eockbridge  county,  Virginia, 
May  14,  1791.  He  was  taken,  when  an 
infant  to  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  where 
he  resided  until  1833,  when  he  removed 
to  Macomb,  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  resided  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  which  took  place  December  1, 
1875,  at  the  residence  of  Benjamin 
Simpson,  in  Scotland  township.  When 
the  family  first  went  from  Virginia  to 
Kentucky,  settlers  for  20  miles  had  to 
assist  each  other  in  house  raising  and 
log  rolling,  and  for  three  years  the  father 
of  Cyrus  acted  as  a  ranger,  watching 
the  movements  of  the  Indians  and  warn- 
ing settlers  of  approaching  trouble.  His 
circuit  embraced  several  hundred  miles 
of  wild,  unsettled  country,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  live  almost  entirely  on 
game,  and  camp  out  at  night.  Several 
of  the  uncles  of  Cyrus  Walker  were  sol- 
diers in  the  revolutionary  war.  The  old 
stocks  were  both  Irish  Presbyterians,  all 
of  them  learned  in  the  scriptures,  and  of 


388 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


stern,  unyielding  wills.  Cyrus  was 
mainly  self-taught,  there  being  no 
schools  in  that  section  of  the  country  at 
that  day,  and  from  his  admission  to  the 
bar  he  took  high  position  as  a  lawyer. 
At  that  time,  in  that  part  of  Kentucky, 
the  lawyers  traveled  the  circuit  on  horse- 
back, and  were  a  merry  mess.  They 
were  getting  ready  to  attend  the  Burks- 
ville  court  when  Billy  Owens,  a  man  of 
large  ability,  kind  heart  and  a  good  law- 
yer, but  rough  and  rather  dissipated, 
saw  that  Walker  was  not  with  them, 
when  he  hunted  him  up,  and  inquired 
the  reason,  Walker  told  him  that  he 
had  no  money.  Owens  at  once  gave  him 
$15,  and  Walker  went  along,  and  was  so 
successful  that  he  paid  expenses  and 
took  home  $37,  a  larger  sum  than  he  had 
ever  at  one  time  possessed;  and  as  long 
as  he  remained  in  Kentucky,  he  was  the 
leading  lawyer  of  that  county.  Several 
years  later,  when  Walker  was  at  the 
head  of  the  bar,  Owens,  being  partially 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  made  a 
bitter  attack  on  Walker,  during  the  trial 
of  an  important  case,  to  .which  Walker 
made  no  reply,  although  at  that  day 
rather  disposed  to  readily  resent  an  in- 
sult. Some  of  his  friends  inquired  the 
reason.  Walker  told  them  of  the  kind 
assistance  of  Owens  when  he  so  much 
needed  help,  and  when  it  did  him  so 
much  good;  remarking  that  nothing 
Owens  could  say  that  did  not  affect  his 
integrity  would  be  resented  by  him.  The 
next  morning  Owens  made  an  apology 
to  the  court  for  his  unjust  remarks  to 
Walker.  Walker's  motto  through  life 
was  to  never  forget  a  friendship  nor  do 
injustice  to  any  one.  Mr.  Walker  was 
heard  several  times  say  that  he  regretted 


the  prosecution  of  the  unfortunate 
young  man  that  was  tried,  con- 
victed and  hung  for  a  murder  commit- 
ted by  him  in  Frederick,  on  the  Illinois 
river.  He  always  believed  he  could  have 
saved  the  life  of  the  young  man  if  he  had 
defended  him;  and  while  the  case  was 
an  aggravated  one,  still  Mr.  Walker  said 
that  nothing  could  ever  induce  him  to 
prosecute  another  man  for  murder,  and 
he  never  did;  but  he  defended  and  got 
clear  a  good  many  that  deserved  to  be 
hung. 

Mr.  Walker  removed  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death.  He  never  moved  to 
Iowa,  but  he  practiced  there  for  several 
years.  The  partiality  of  Judge  Douglas 
against  him,  as  he  believed,  was  the 
cause  of  his  going  to  Iowa,  and  his  large 
practice  retained  him  there  for  several 
years.  Mr.  Walker  had  no  taste  for 
office.  He  served  two  terms  in  the  Ken- 
tucky legislature  during  the  great  excite- 
ment between  the  "old  court"  and  "new 
court,"  because  he  was  the  most  popular 
man  on  the  old  court  side  in  the  county, 
and  was  forced  by  his  friends  in  the  con- 
test on  their  ticket,  and  carried  the 
county  by  a  majority  of  222,  when  no 
other  man  on  his  side  could  have  carried 
it.  After  the  formation  of  congressional 
districts  in  Illinois,  based  on  the  census 
of  1840,  the  JoDaviess  district  was 
largely  whig  with  the  Mormon  vote,  but 
a  debatable  district,  the  Mormon  vote 
going  to  the  democrats.  Nearly  all  the 
counties  in  the  district  had  whigs  who 
wanted  to  be  candidates,  but  they  were 
willing  to  give  way  to  Mr.  Walker,  if  he 
would  only  consent  to  be  a  candidate. 
Walker  was  then  in  Iowa,  attending  the 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


389 


courts,  the  last  one  being  in  Lee  county, 
lasting  several  weeks.  His  trunk  was 
full  of  letters  from  all  parts  of  the  dis- 
trict, urging  him  to  allow  the  use  of  his 
name  for  congress.  Amongst  the  letters 
were,  at  least  two,  from  Joe  Smith,  and 
several  from  George  Miller,  then  a  Mor- 
mon bishop,  but  who  had  formerly  lived 
at  Macomb,  and  was,  while  there,  a 
brother  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
with  Mr.  Walker.  All  these  letters 
urged  Mr.  Walker  to  be  a  candidate  to 
save  the  district  for  the  whigs.  Smith, 
in  his  letters,  pledged  the  Mormon  vote 
to  Walker,  if  he  would  allow  his  name 
to  be  used,  but  would  not  agree  to  vote 
for  any  other  whig.  Mr.  Walker  had 
steadily  refused  to  be  a  candidate,  until 
he  felt  that  his  duty  to  the  noble  whig 
party  required  him  to  make  the  sacri- 
fice; but  when  he  entered  into  the  con- 
test, he  was  terribly  in  earnest  and  went 
into  the  fight  with  a  will.  It  was  well 
understood  by  Walker  and  his  friends, 
that  the  democracy  would  not  give  up 
the  Mormon  vote  without  a  great  effort. 
One  of  the  Backinstose's  was  sheriff,  and 
the  other  clerk  of  the  Hancock  circuit 
court,  and  Douglas  was  a  candidate  for 
congress  in  the  Adams  district. 

Mr.  Walker  went  to  Nauvoo.  The 
next  morning  he  called  on  Joe  Jmith, 
and  told  him  that  he  released  him  from 
the  pledges  to  give  him  the  Mormon  vote, 
but  in  turn  asked  honest  dealing,  tell- 
ing Smith  that  if  it  was  necessary  for 
their  (the  Mormons)  safety  from  arrest 
by  the  state  authorities  that  he  should 
vote  for  Hoge,  that  he  would  tell  him  so, 
and  in  that  event  he  would  at  once  go  to 
Galena,  and  spend  the  balance  of  time 
before  the  election  in  the  northern  part 


of  the  district.  Joe  said,  with  great  ve- 
hemence: "I  promised  you  the  support 
of  this  church,  and  you  shall  have  it. 
You  stay  here  and  meet  Hoge  on  Thurs- 
day." Mr.  Walker  was  worn  out  in  the 
canvass,  and  not  well,  and  he  stopped 
with  Joe.  The  joint  discussion  between 
the  candidates  took  place,  and  every- 
thing indicated  that  Mr.  Walker  would 
get  the  united  vote  of  the  church.  On 
Saturday  the  voters  of  the  church,  in 
city  and  county,  were  called  together  in 
the  grove  near  the  temple,  where  Hiram 
Smith  made  a  speech  of  about  one  hour, 
urging  the  voters  to  vote  for  Hoge.  It 
was  a  regular  democratic  speech,  and 
appeared  to  have  no  influence.  He  was 
followed  by  Wilson  Law  in  a  bold,  tell- 
ing, whig  speech  in  favor  of  Walker, 
and  from  the  commencement  until  the 
end,  he  was  cheered  by  the  entire  Mor- 
mon audience.  At  the  close  of  the 
speech,  Hiram  arose,  black  and  furious, 
stretching  himself  to  his  full  height,  and 
extending  his  arm  its  full  length,  said: 
"Thus  saith  the  Lord,  if  this  people  vote 
against  Hoge  for  congress  on  Monday, 
a  greater  curse  would  befall  them  than 
befell  them  in  Missouri.  When  God 
speaks,  let  men  obey,"  and  immediately 
left  the  stand;  the  whole  audience  dis- 
persed in  silence.  When  Walker  heard 
of  Hiram's  speech  he  was  indignant, 
and  was  for  leaving  Joe's  house,  but 
Joe  stopped  him,  professing  to  be  fur- 
iously mad  at  Hiram,  saying  that  he 
would  hinjself  make  a  speech  to  the  peo- 
ple on  Sunday  morning,  and  he  again 
repeated  the  pledge  that  Mr.  Walker 
should  have  the  Mormon  vote.  The 
next  morning  Joe  did  speak  to  the  peo- 
ple just  one  hour,  and  no  hour's  speech 


390 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ever  had    closer    attention.        In    that 
speech  Joe  passed  the  highest  eulogy  on 
Walker  that  was  ever  heard  from  man. 
He     denounced     politicians — declaring 
that  Walker  was  not  a  politician,  but  an 
honest  and  a  true   man,  that  had  been 
forced  to  be  a  candidate  against  his  will. 
He  denounced  in  the  most  bitter  terms 
any  member  of  the  church  who  would 
consult  the  Lord  about  who  they  should 
vote  for,  and  declared  that  if   any  one 
should  do  it,  he  should  be  cut  off  from 
salvation;  said  that  he  would  vote  for 
his  friend  Cyrus  Walker,  and  commanded 
all  to  vote  for  the   man  of  their  choice 
without  reference  to  what  any  one  said; 
but  in  his  hour's  praise  of  Walker,  and 
denunciation  of  any  one  that  would  con- 
sult the  Lord  about  who  they  should 
vote  for,  he  said:  "Brother  Hiram  is  the 
elder    brother;"  "Brother  Hiram  never 
has  deceived  his  people;"  "Brother  Hi- 
rom  loves  this  people;"  "When  the  Lord 
commands,  the  people  must  obey,"  etc, 
The  next  day  Joe  did  vote  for  Walker, 
and  the  balance  of  the  Mormons  voted 
for  Hoge  and  elected  him,  as  the  Lord 
had  commanded. 

This  is  the  real  history  of  that  cam- 
paign, so  far  as  Mr.  Walker  was  con- 
cerned. It  was  to  him  a  campaign  of 
mortification  from  the  start.  He  was 
forced  into  it  contrary  to  his  wishes,  and 
forced  into  it  largely  to  get  the  Mor- 
mon votes;  but  after  entering  the  con- 
test he  was  denounced  by  whigs  all  over 
the  district  for  trying  to  get  the  Mormon, 
and  really  lost  more  whig  votes  in  the 
district  than  would  have  elected  him, 
simply  because  it  was  supposed  that  he 
could  get  the  Mormon  vote. 

Cyrus  was  the  eldest  of  a  large  family, 


and  contributed  largely  to  the  education 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  to  start- 
ing them  in  business.  Probably  no  man 
ever  gave  a  larger  share  of  his  earnings 
than  did  Cyrus  Walker  to  the  education 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters  and  relations, 
to  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  and 
to  benevolent  purposes. 

In  1833  or  4,  H.  L.  Bryant  came  to 
the  incipient  city  of  Macomb,  and  opened 
an  office  for  the  transaction  of  legal  busi- 
ness. He  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  quite  an  able  man,  although  young. 
In  1837  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
state's  attorney  and  served  two  years. 
In  1844  or  5,  he  left  here,  and  having 
married  a  Miss  Sanders,  of  Lewistown, 
settled  in  that  town,  where  he  at  present 
resides.  He  had  a  brother  here  with 
him  at  one  time,  who  was  deputy  clerk 
under  James  M.  Campbell,  who  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  never  practiced. 
He  was  a  dissipated  sort  of  man,  and 
some  time  afterwards  killed  himself  by 
jumping  out  of  a  window,  at  Lewistown, 
while  in  a  fit  of  delirium,  brought  on  by 
drink. 

Judge  Pinkney  H.  Walker,  was  for 
many  years  a  resident  lawyer  of  this 
county.  In  1838  he  came  to  Macomb, 
and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  entered  the 
office  of  his  uncle,  Cyrus  Walker,  to  en- 
gage in  the  study  of  law.  'He  made 
rapid  progress,  and  late  in  the  year  1839, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  opened  an 
office  and  remained  in  Macomb  in  prac- 
tice until  1846,  when  he  removed  to 
Rushville,  but  in  the  spring  of  1848,  re- 
turned, and  remained  until  October, 
1848,  when  he  finally  left  to  take  up  his 
residence  in  Rushville.  Judge  Walker 
held  the  position  of  circuit  judge  from 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


391 


1855  to  1858,  in  this  circuit,  and  is 
noticed  at  length  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  the  courts  of  the  county. 

J.  C.  Thompson,  now  of  Quincy,  was 
for  many  years  a  resident  of  Macomb, 
and  practiced  law  quite  successfully. 
He  came  there  in  about  1852  or  3. 

Louis  H.  Waters  came  to  Macomb 
during  the  year  1849,  and  opened  a  law 
office. 

Louis  H.  Waters  was  born  December 
22,  1828,  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1830,  his  father  and  family  removed 
to  Kentucky.  From  Kentucky,  the  fam- 
ily in  the  spring  of  1838,  removed  to 
Fort  Madison,  Wisconsin  territory. 
Louis  read  law  at  Fort  Madison,  in  the 
office  of  Miller  &  Williams,  and  in  1848 
was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  in  1849  re- 
moved to  Macomb,  McDonough  county, 
where  he  opened  a  law  office.  For  the 
first  two  years  of  his  residence  at  Ma- 
comb he  taught  school  most  of  the  time, 
practicing  his  profession  as  opportunity 
offered.  From  1851  until  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  Mr.  Waters  gave  his 
whole  time  to  his  profession  and  built 
up  an  extensive  practice.  In  1858,  he 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Bissell,  pros- 
ecuting attorney  of  the  fifth  judicial  cir- 
cuit, and  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties 
added  to  his  reputation  as  a  lawyer. 
Upon  the  inauguration  of  President  Lin- 
coln, Mr.  Waters  was  offered  the  posi- 
tion of  U.  S.  attorney  for  the  territory 
of  Nebraska,  and  visited  Omaha  with 
the  intention  of  making  arrangements 
to  settle  in  that  city,  but  on  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  rebellion  in  1861,  he 
deemed  it  his  duty  to  go  into  the  army. 
Governor  Yates  tendered  him  a  commis- 
sion in  the  2nd  cavalry  regiment  as  ma- 


jor, which  Mr.  Waters  declined,  but  en- 
tered the  service  as  captain  of  company 
D,  28th  infantry  regiment.  In  August 
1861,  he  was  commissioned  as  lieuten- 
ant-colonel of  that  regiment.  In  the 
spring  and  summer  of  1862,  he  organ- 
ized the  84th  regiment  infantry  volun- 
teers, of  which  he  was  colonel,  was  ap- 
pointed commandant  of  the  camp  of  in- 
struction at  Quincy.  On  the  23d  of 
September  1862,  his  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  was 
assigned  to  a  brigade  in  Buell's  army, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Grose,  36th  Ind- 
iana. He  was  with  his  regiment  at  the 
battles  of  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Missionary  Ridge,  and  at  every  engage- 
ment from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta.  He 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  right  shoul- 
der at  Franklin  on  the  30th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1864,  and  nearly  lost  the  use  of  his 
arm  thereby.  The  colonel  was  mustered 
out  with  his  regiment  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
ceived a  commission  as  brevet-brigadier 
general.  After  the  war  he  resumed  his 
practice  of  his  profession  and  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Morgan  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Oglesby,  prosecuting  attorney 
for  the  fifth  circuit.  In  1869  he  re- 
moved to  Carrolton,  Missouri,  where  he 
soon  enjoyed  an  extensive  practice.  In 
1878,  he  was  appointed  by  President 
Hayes,  U.  S.  attorney  of  the  western 
district  of  Missouri,  which  position  he 
held  from  February,  1878,  until  May, 
1882.  He  resided  at  Jefferson  City  un- 
til the  fall  of  1879,  when  he  moved  to 
Kansas  City  where  he  now  resides. 
Colonel  Waters  has  been  a  republican 
since  the  organization  of  that  party. 


392 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


He  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the 
Illinois  legislature  in  1854  as  a  whig. 
The  colonel  has  been  twice  married. 
His  first  wife  was  Cordelia  T.  Pearson, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  three  of 
whom,  a  son  and  two  daughters  are  liv- 
ing. His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Annie 
E.  Wylie  to  whom  he  was  married  in 
Covington,  Kentucky. 

Among  the  more  prominent  lawyers 
who  have  graced  the  bar  of  McDonough 
county,  perhaps  there  has  been  but  few 
in  the  past  the  superior  of  Louis  H. 
Simmons,  who  came  to  the  city  of 
Macomb  in  June  1858,  and  opened  an 
office.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  formed  a 
copartnership  with  J.  C.  Thompson, 
which  lasted  three  years,  or  until  Mr. 
Simmons  entered  the  army.  Mr.  Sim- 
mons was  identified  with  the  official  life 
of  this  county  and  is  noted  at  length  in 
connection  with  the  office  of  county 
judge,  which  position  he  held  for  four 
years. 

BAE   OF   THE   PRESENT. 

The  present  members  of  the  bar  of 
McDonough  county,  who  are  in  active 
practice,  are  recognized  throughout  the 
state  as  among  the  leading  representa- 
tives of  their  profession.  Indeed,  some 
of  them  occupy  exalted  positions  and 
have  national  and  state  reputations  for 
astuteness  and  legal  acumen.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  those  who  ornament 
the  profession  in  question:  William  H. 
Neece,  Damon  G.  Tunicliff,  William 
Prentiss,  James  H.  Bacon,  H.  M.  Shan- 
non, W.  A.  Twaddle,  Byron  Pontious, 
Crosby  F.  Wheat,  Charles  I.  Imes,  H. 
C.  Agnew,  Jacob  L.  Baily,  James  M. 
Blazer,  S.  B.  Vose,  L.  Y.  Sherman,  John 
S.  Bailey,  of  Macomb  ;  Abner  E. 


Barnes,  Solon  Banfill,  J.  T.  Sanders,  T. 
J.  Sparks,  George  Fox,  E.  W.  McKiii- 
ney,  of  Bushnell;  and  Charles  R.  Hume 
and  Frank  Fuhr,  of  Blandinsville. 

William  H.  Neece  is  the  present  rep- 
resentative from  this  district  in  the 
national  halls  of  congress,  and  is  noticed 
in  full  under  that  head  in  the  represen- 
tation chapter. 

Charles  R.  Hume,  of  Blandinsville,  is 
mentioned  at  length  in  the  chapter  en- 
titled, national,  state  and  county  repre- 
sentation, to  which  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred. 

D.  G.  Tunnicliff,  in  point  of  practice 
the  oldest  attorney  at  Macomb,  is  a 
native  of  Herkimer  county,  New  York, 
having  been  born  on  the  20th  of  Aug- 
ust, 1829.  His  father,  George  Tunni- 
cliff was  a  native  of  New  York  state,  and 
his  mother,  Marinda  (Tilden)  of  Con- 
necticut, the  former  of  whom  was  a  far- 
mer and  owner  of  several  mills.  Mr. 
Tunnicliff  remained  on  a  farm  with  his 
parents  until  after  reaching  his  15th  year 
and  then,  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk,  be- 
gan a  mercantile  life.  In  1849,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  located  at  Vermont,  Fulton 
county,  and  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dising. In  1853,  he  commenced  read- 
ing law,  subsequently  going  to  Chicago, 
where  he  read  under  Blackwell  &  Beck- 
with,  but  had  previously  been  admitted 
to  the  bar  at  Rushville.  In  1854,  he  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  locating 
in  Macomb,  and  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  Cyrus  Walker  &  C.  L.  Higbee 
which  continued  until  1861,  when  Mr. 
Higbee  was  elected  circuit  judge.  Mr. 
Tunnicliff  then  practiced  alone  until 
1865,  when  he  formed  a  co-partnership 
with  Asa  A.  Matteson,  under  the  firm 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


393 


name  of  Tunnicliff  &  Matteson,  and  they 
continued  to  practice  together  for  about 
ten  years,  when  Mr.  Matteson  removed 
to  Galesburg,  Illinois,  after  which  Mr. 
Tunniclitf  remained  without  a  law  part- 
ner till  in  November,  1879,  he  became 
associated  with  James  H.  Bacon,  his 
present  partner.  The  firm  of  Tunni- 
cliff  &  Bacon  is  one  of  the  leading  firms 
of  the  county,  and  does  a  general  law 
and  collection  business.  They  have  the 
largest  law  library  in  Maconib.  Mr. 
Tunnicliff  has  been  twice  married.  His 
first  wife,  Mary  E.  Bailey,  a  daughter  of 
Colonel  W.  W.  Bailey,  died  in  1865. 
leaving  five  children — Mary  E,,  wife  of 
W.  L.  Parotte,  of  Omaha;  Bailey, 
George  D.,  W.  W.,  and  Henry,  since  de- 
ceased. November  4,  1868,  Sarah  A. 
Bacon,  a  daughter  of  Larkin  C.  Bacon, 
became  his  wife.  By  this  marriage, 
three  daughter  have  been  born  to  them 
— Helen,  Sarah  and  Ruth.  Politically 
Mr.  Tunnicliff  is  a  republican.  He  has 
110  political  aspirations,  and,  although 
his  friends  have  elected  him  to  local  of- 
fices, he  has  steadfastly  refused  to  qual- 
ify. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
council.  He  was  an  elector  on  the 
Grant  presidential  ticket  in  1868,  and 
on  the  16th  of  February,  1885,  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Oglesby,  one  of 
the  justices  of  the  Supreme  court  of  Ill- 
inois, to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  the 
late  Pinkiiey  H.  Walker,  deceased,  a  po- 
sition he  yet  holds.  The  term  will  ex- 
pire on  the  1st  of  July,  A.  D.,  1885. 
He  is  a  candidate  for  election  for  the 
full  term,  but  the  district  being  largely 
democratic,  and  his  opponent  having  re- 
ceived the  nomination  of  his  party,  the 
result  is  uncertain. 


William  Prentiss  and  Jacob  L.  Baily 
were  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Springfield, 
at  the  same  class,  in  June,  1878,  and  im- 
mediately formed  a  law  partnership, 
which  is  to-day  second  to  none  in  the 
county.  They  practice  in  all  the  courts 
of  the  state,  and  the  district  and  circuit 
courts  of  the  United  States.  William 
Prentiss  was  born  in  Davenport,  Iowa, 
September  19,  1848,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Gapen)  Pren- 
tiss. His  great-grandfather,  Staunton 
Prentiss,  served  as  wagonmaster  to  Gen- 
eral Lafayette  during  the  Revolutionary 
war  and  was  honored  by  a  visit  from  that 
nobleman  when  he  was  on  a  visit  to 
America,  in  1824.  William  Prentiss, 
the  elder,  was  a  native  of  Pickaway 
eounty,  Ohio,  born  on  1815,  and  died  at 
Vermont,  Fulton  county,  this  state,  in 
January,  1854.  His  wife  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  William  Prentiss  at- 
tended the  common  district  schools  of 
this  and  adjoining  counties,  during  the 
winters  and  farmed  during  the  summer 
months  until  he  had  reached  the  age  of 
15  years.  He  attended  the  seminary  at 
Cherry  Grove,  near  Abingdon,  Illinois, 
a  term  or  two,  after  which  he  entered 
the  Normal  school,  near  Bloomington, 
intending  to  take  a  full  course  in  the 
model  department,  but  broke  down  in 
health  in  two  months,  and  was  obliged 
to  give  it  up.  Not  long  after,  however, 
he  entered  Knox  college,  Galesburg,  fol- 
lowing the  scientific  course,  with  the  ad- 
dition of  the  latin  language.  It  was  his 
intention,  at  the  time,  to  pursue  a  full 
collegiate  course,  but  after  two  years  of 
study,  his  health  again  gave  way,  and  he 
was  again  compelled  to  suspend  his  la- 
bors. In  the  spring  of  1869,  having  but 


394 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  seeming  slight  chance  of  regaining 
his  health,  he  removed  to  Mankato,  Blue 
Earth  county,  Minnesota.  He  pur- 
chased some  wild  land  in  Cottonwood 
county,  and  opened  a  farm,  and  during 
the  winters  taught  school.  While  there 
he  was  county  school  superintendent 
some  three  years.  He  also,  commenced 
the  study  of  law,  without  a  teacher  or 
advisor.  He  continued  his  labors  upon 
the  farm  until  late  in  the  fall  of  1875, 
and  the  following  winter  taught  school 
and  the  next  spring,  having  recovered 
his  health,  he  returned  to  McDonough 
county.  He  now  entered  the  office  of 
J.  S.  Bailey,  of  Macornb,  with  whom  he 
read  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  as 
above  stated.  Mr.  Prentiss  is  by  nature, 
studious  and  ambitious,  and  men  of  that 
character  are  bound  to  suceeed  in  life, 
if  health  will  hold  out  under  the  strain 
brought  to  bear  upon  it.  He  has  been 
already  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens 
with  several  offices  which  from  the  way 
in  which  he  has  filled  them,  gives  prom- 
ise of  much  better  things  in  the  future. 
In  November,  1878,  he  was  elected 
state's  attorney  to  fill  a  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  C.  F.  Wheat,  and 
was  re-elected  in  1880.  In  May,  1881, 
he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb,  under  circumstances  that  reflect 
great  credit  upon  him.  The  By-Stan- 
der,  of  May,  4,  1881,  in  speaking  of  it 
says:  "  William  Prentiss,  who  has  been 
elected  mayor  of  this  city,  is  a  young 
lawyer  of  excellent  ability,  and  at  pres- 
ent, state's  attorney  for  the  county.  He 
is  a  man  of  much  personal  popularity, 
and  of  the  most  steady  habits,  and  one 
who  has  the  capacity  to  make  a  good 
mayor.  He  made  a  splendid  race  in 


which  he  won  contrary  to  the  expecta- 
tions of  nearly,  if  not  quite  all  voters  of 
the  city.  When  Mr.  Prentiss  takes  the 
office  of  chief  magistrate  of  this  city, 
he  will  be  the  first  democratic  mayor 
Macomb  has  had  for  the  past  21  years, 
and  the  second  it  ever  had."  December 
24,  1872,  Mr.  Prentiss  and  Elizabeth 
Helen  McCaughey,  of  Fulton  county, 
were  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony 
and  the  result  of  this  union  has  been 
three  sons,  James  Manly,  Jackson  Mc- 
Caughey and  William.  Mr.  Prentiss  is 
a  Mason,  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge 
and  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  and  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In 
politics  he  is  a  democrat,  and  was  a 
presidential  elector  upon  that  ticket  in 
the  campaign  of  1884.  Mr.  Prentiss 
was  a  candidate  before  the  judicial  con- 
vention of  the  sixth  judicial  circuit  as  a 
candidate  for  judge,  carrying  with  him 
the  entire  delegation  of  McDonough 
county,  failed  in  getting  the  nomination 
by  but  five  votes,  although  the  real 
choice  of  the  people  of  the  district. 

James  H.  Bacon,  late  of  the  law  firm 
of  Tunnicliff  &  Bacon,  is  a  son  of  Larkin 
C.  Bacon,  and  was  born  in  Tennessee 
township,  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  12th  of  August,  1856.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  McDonough 
county  public  schools,  and  also  took  a 
commercial  course  at  Eastman's  College, 
Poughkeepsie,  New  York.  It  being  his 
intention  to  engage  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness, he  accepted  the  position  of  clerk 
with  George  Bailey,  at  Macomb,  but  his 
health  failing  him  for  a  time,  he  was 
obliged  to  give  up  the  business.  James' 
brother-in-law,  Mr.  Tunnicliff,  suggested 
that  he  come  into  his  office  and  read 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


395 


law.  He  acted  on  this  suggestion  and 
was  so  well  pleased  with  the  study  that 
he  continued  to  a  finish,  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  1879,  ever  since  which 
time  he  has  given  his  attention  to  that 
profession,  as  a  member  of  the  late 
firm.  On  the  17th  of  November,  1881, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Louise 
M.  Holland,  a  daughter  of  Leonard  Hol- 
land, formerly  a  banker  in  the  city  of 
Macomb.  Politically,  Mr.  Bacon  is  a 
republican,  and  has  served  as  city  attor- 
ney of  Macomb  for  two  terms.  He  is  a 
genial,  obliging  gentleman,  and  has  the 
reputation  of  being  one  of  the  foremost 
members  of  the  McDonough  county 
bar.  As  city  attorney  he  gave  entire 
satisfaction  to  the  law-abiding  people  of 
the  community.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Knight  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Macomb. 

H.  M.  Shannon,  one  of  Macomb's 
prominent  legal  lights,  is  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  (Miller)  Shannon.  He 
is  a  native  of  Illinois,  having  been  born 
on  the  6th  of  March,  1848,  in  Industry 
township,  McDonough  county,  where  he 
was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  received  a 
good  common  school  education  and  sub- 
sequently followed  the  profession  of  a 
school  teacher.  For  sixteen  consecutive 
winters  he  taught  school,  and  during  the 
summer  season  was  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  law  in  1876,  and  continued  the 
same  at  intervals  until  the  year  1880,  at 
which  time  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  Being  a 
faithful  and  conscientious  worker,  he 
has  succeeded  in  gaining  a  large  prac- 
tice, which  is  constantly  on  the  increase. 
In  1869  H.  M.  Shannon  and  Sarah 


Brown,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Brown,  of 
Industry,  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony.  Politically,  Mr.  Shan- 
non is  a  democrat,  always  working  with 
that  party,  but  having  no  wish  for  polit- 
ical preferment.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  is  he 
also  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows'  lodge  of  Macomb. 

Among  the  prominent  members  of  the 
legal  profession  of  McDonough  county, 
we  will  mention  William  H.Twaddle,who 
has  been  engaged  in  the  law  practice  at 
Macomb  since  1876.  A  son  of  WTilliam 
and  Hannah  (Hooten)  Twaddle,  he  was 
born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
2d  day  of  June,  1833.  His  parents  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  1844,  and  settled  in 
McDonough  county.  After  reaching  a 
suitable  age,  William  helped  his  father 
till  the  soil,  and  received  a  good  common 
school  education.  He  resided  with  his 
parents  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of 
25  years,  when  he  purchased  a  farm  in 
Bethel  township,  which  he  improved  and 
still  owns.  He  continued  the  occupation 
of  a  farmer  until  the  fall  of  1869,  at 
which  time  he  removed  to  the  city  of 
Macomb,  and  commenced  reading  law. 
He  continued  his  studies  for  several 
years,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1876,  and  has  ever  since  given  his  atten- 
tion to  the  legal  profession,  now  having 
a  very  extensive  practice,  which  keeps 
constantly  increasing.  He  is  a  very 
pleasant  gentleman,  and  has  many  warm 
friends,  both  in  Macomb  and  throughout 
the  county.  In  politics  he  affiliates  with 
the  democratic  party,  and  has  been 
elected  to  local  offices  at  various  times. 

Occupying  a  high  position  in  the  bar 
of  McDonough  county  is  Byron  Pon- 


396 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tious,  of  Macomb,  who  was  born  in  Boss 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  25th  of  May,  1851. 
In  1853  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois, 
first  settling  in  Fulton  county,  where 
they  resided  for  two  years,  thence  re- 
moving on  to  a  farm  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship, McDonough  county,  where  they 
still  reside.  Byron  assisted  his  parents 
on  the  farm,  and  attended  the  common 
schools  until  reaching  his  20th  year. 
He  then  attended  Lombard  university, 
at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  one  year,  after 
which  he  engaged  in  the  drug  trade  at 
Adair,  which  he  carried  on  from  1873  to 
1878.  In  1876,  however,  he  commenced 
the  study  of  law,  being  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1880,  and  has  since  given  his 
entire  attention  to  the  practice  of  his 
chosen  profession,  being  located  in  Ma- 
comb.  Although  still  a  young  man,  he 
ranks  high  in  the  bar  of  the  county,  and 
enjoys  a  very  lucrative  practice.  Byron 
Pon tious  and  Ambrosia  Woods,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Morillo  Woods,  were  united  in 
marriage  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1873. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them,  a 
daughter  and  a  son.  The  daughter, 
Arah,  died  at  the  age  of  15  months,  and 
the  son,  Balph,  is  still  living.  In  poli- 
tics Mr.  Pontious  is  a  Democrat,  but  has 
had  no  political  aspirations.  He  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

C.  F.  Wheat,  the  senior  of  the  firm  of 
Wheat  &  Imes,  of  Macomb,  is  one  of 
the  leading  and  most  successful  mem- 
bers of  the  bar  of  McDonough  county, 
and,  in  regard  to  practice,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  lawyers  in  the  county.  He  is  a 
native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  having 
been  born  in  Cayuga  county,  on  the  llth 
day  of  April,  1835.  His  parents,  Lu- 


ther and  Elmira  (Marvin)  Wheat,  were 
both  natives  of  the  New  England  states. 
Luther  Wheat  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  thus  C.  F.,  was  reared  as  a 
farmer.  But  this  occupation  was  not  to 
his  liking,  and,  in  1858,  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois, first  stopping  at  Quincy,  where  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law.  He 
made  rapid  strides  toward  mastering  the 
intricacies  of  his  profession,  and,  in  May, 
1860,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1861, 
he  removed  to  McDonough  county,  and 
located  at  Macomb,  where,  in  1862,  he 
commenced,  and  has  ever  since  con- 
tinued, practicing  law,  meeting  with 
good  success.  On  the  15th  of  October, 
1882,  he  entered  into  his  present  part- 
nership, and  the  firm  has  a  practice 
second  to  none  other  in  the  county. 
February  1,  1865,  C.  F.  Wheat  and  Mary 
A.  Chandler,  a  daughter  of  Thompson 
Chandler,  were  united  in  marriage. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  three 
children — Lucy  A.,  Mary  E.  and  Thomp- 
son. In  politics,  Mr.  Wheat  affiliates 
with  the  republican  party,  and  has 
served  the  people  as  state's  attorney  and 
city  attorney.  Besides  these,  he  has 
filled  various  local  offices,  at  different 
times,  always  with  credit  to  himself  and 
satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  The 
Knight  of  Pythias  lodge  of  Macomb, 
counts  him  among  its  honored  members. 
Charles  I.  Imes,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Wheat  &  Imes,  although  a  young  man, 
is  one  of  Macomb' s  leading  attorneys. 
He  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  and  was  born 
in  Macomb  on  the  4th  day  of  May,  1853, 
his  parents  being  William  L.  and  Ann 
(Ferguson)  Imes.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  of  Macomb, 
after  which  he  followed  the  profession 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


397 


of  a  teacher  for  nine  terms.  He  also 
served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  black- 
smith shop  conducted  by  his  father. 
Charles  afterwards  attended  school  at  the 
Chicago  Union  college  of  law,  and 
graduated  from  that  popular  institution 
in  June,  1882.  October  15,  1882,  he 
formed  a  law  partnership  with  C.  F. 
Wheat,  and  has  since  given  his  entire 
attention  to  his  chosen  profession.  The 
firm  of  which  he  is  a  member,  has  been 
eminently  successful,  and  now  enjoys  a 
lucrative  practice.  Mr.  Imes  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  republi- 
can party,  and  is  at  present  serving  his 
second  term  as  a  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors. 

Henry  C.  Agnew,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Mary  (Wilson)  Agnew,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 4,  1852,  in  Bethel  township,  McDon- 
ough  county.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  McDonough 
and  Warren  counties.  From  1870  to 
1876  he  engaged  in  teaching.  In  the 
fall  of  1876  he  entered  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  Iowa  State  university  at 
Iowa  City,  where  he  graduated  in  June, 
1877,  and  subsequently  taught  school, 
but  since  1879  has  followed  his  profes- 
sion at  Macomb.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he  was 
elected  city  attorney  of  Macomb,  which 
position  he  held  one  year.  In  the  fall  of 
1884  he  was  elected  state's  attorney, 
which  office  he  now  holds.  Mr. 
Agnew  is  a  man  of  no  small  abil- 
ity, being  a  close  student,  logical  rea- 
soner,  and  forcible  speaker.  Com- 
mencing life  a  poor  boy,  he  has, 


by  industry  and  perseverance,  acquired 
a  good  education  and  established  a  well- 
merited  reputation  as  an  upright,  able 
and  successful  lawyer.  Samuel  Agnew, 
deceased,  father  of  Henry  C.,  was  born 
near  the  city  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  July 
12,  1820.  He  came  to  the  state  of 
Illinois  in  1847,  locating  in  Rush- 
ville,  Schuyler  county.  In  1852  he  re- 
moved to  Bethel  township,  McDonough 
county,  and  continued  to  reside  in  said 
county  nearly  all  the  time  until  the  date 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Macomb 
November  7,  1879.  He  was  a  stone 
mason  by  trade,  at  which  employment 
he  worked  during  the  most  of  his  life. 
At  the  time  of  the  building  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  he 
was  the  master  mason  on  the  section  be- 
tween Plymouth  and  Avon.  Mr.  Ag- 
new, the  elder,  was  married  at  Industry, 
Illinois,  December  the  16th,  1849,  to 
Mary  Wilson,  a  native  of  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio.  The  fruits  of  this  union 
were  eight  children,  four  of  whom,  Mil- 
ton P.,  Henry  C.,  George  T.,  and  Josie 
A.,  are  living.  Mrs.  Agnew  lives  in  Ma- 
comb, and  is  now  63  years  of  age. 

Lyman  B.  Vose,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Vose  &  Sherman,  is  the  son  of  James 
and  Julia  (Munger)  Vose,  and  was  born 
in  McHenry  county,  Illinois,  February 
16,  1853.  He  came  with  the  family  to 
McDonough  county  in  1871,  and  settled 
at  Prairie  City,  where  he  taught  school. 
In  1878  he  commenced  reading  law  in 
the  office,  and  under  the  instruction  of 
Hon.  William  H.  Neece,  of  Macomb, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883,  at 
Springfield.  He  has  since  followed  his 
chosen  profession  as  a  member  of  the 
above  firm,  which  was  formed  in  1882. 


398 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


In  1879  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Nettie  McCandless,  daughter  of  T.  H. 
McCandless,  and  they  have  one  daugh- 
ter, lone. 

Lawrence  Y.  Sherman,  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm,  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  7th  of  November, 
1859.  Shortly  after  his  birth  the  family 
moved  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  where  he  was  reared  until 
1867,  when  they  removed  to  Effingham 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until 
1878,  when  he  entered  the  McKendree 
college,  at  Lebanon,  in  the  law  depart- 
ment, from  which  he  graduated  in  June, 
1882.  He  then  came  to  Macomb,  and 
the  present  firm  was  formed. 

James  M.  Blazer,  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Montgomery)  Blazer,  was  born 
March  1,  1852,  in  the  town  of  Industry, 
Industry  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  where  his  father  now  resides. 
His  early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's 
farm.  He  attended  the  district  schools, 
afterward  attended  school  at  Macomb, 
and  subsequently  took  a  collegiate  course 
at  the  Illinois  Western  university,  at 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  where  he  gradu- 
ated in  1874.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  for  about  two  years,  and  assisted 
his  father  in  tilling  the  soil.  In  No- 
vember, 1875,  he  commenced  the  study 
of  law,  with  C.  F.  Wheat  as  preceptor, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  after  pass- 
ing an  examination  of  the  supreme  court, 
at  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois,  in  June,  1877, 
and  has  since  practiced  law  at  Macomb. 
Since  January,  1883,  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Neece  &  Blazer. 
Mr.  •  Blazer  was  married  November  20, 
1878,  to  Allie  Laughlin,  of  Bloom- 
ington, Illinois.  They  have  one  daugh- 


ter, Mary.  Mr.  Blazer  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  and  served  three  years  as  city 
attorney. 

Jacob  L.  Baily,  of  the  law  firm  of 
Prentiss  &  Baily,  of  Macomb,  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Nancy  (Bottenburg)  Baily, 
and  was  born  in  Vermont  township, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  on  the  29th  day 
of  August,  1851.  His  parents  removed 
to  McDonough  county  in  1855,  and  set- 
tled in  Eldorado  township,  where  Jacob 
L.  helped  till  the  soil,  and  attended  the 
common  schools,  until  reaching  his  19th 
year,  when  he  taught  school  for  one 
year.  In  1871  he  entered  Oberlin  col- 
lege, at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  one  year 
later  attended  the  Northwestern  univer- 
sity, at  Evanston.  After  one  year's  at- 
tendance at  the  university,  he  again  re- 
sumed teaching,  which  profession  he 
followed  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
attended  a  law  school  at  Lincoln  one 
year,  and  then  read  law  under  William 
H.  Neece.  In  June,  1878,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  has  ever  since 
been  associated  in  practice  with  William 
Prentiss,  who  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
the  same  time,  and  they  have  been  emi- 
nently successful  in  their  chosen  pro- 
fession. Mr.  Baily  affiliates  with  the 
Democratic  party,  but  has  had  no  aspir- 
ations for  political  preferment.  In  the 
month  of  August,  1876,  Jacob  L.  Baily 
and  Lois  C.  Foster,  a  daughter  of  J.  N. 
Foster,  were  united  in  the  holy  bonds 
of  matrimony.  As  a  result  of  this  union 
they  have  had  one  daughter  born  to 
them,  Jessie  P.,  a  bright,  winsome  lass. 
Mr.  Baily  is  a  Eoyal  Arch  Mason,  and 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  of  Macomb,  in  each  of 
which  he  takes  an  active  interest. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


399 


Jesse  T.  Neece,  a  practising  lawyer  at 
Macouib,  is  the  eldest  son  of  Hon.  Wil- 
liam H.  Neece,  and  was  born  in  this 
county,  June  27,  1858.  He  graduated 
in  1874,  at  the  high  school  in  the  city 
of  Macomb,  after  which  he  spent  two 
years  in  attending  the  Northwestern 
university  at  Evanston.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Macomb,  and  in  1879  began 
the  study  of  law,  in  the  office  of  his 
father.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by 
the  supreme  court,  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, June  12,  1883,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  connection 
with  Neece  &  Blazer,  at  Macomb.  Mr. 
Neece  is  a  promising  young  lawyer  and 
undoubtedly  has  before  him  a  successful 
career. 

The  leading  characteristics  in  the 
career  of  Major  Abner  E.  Barnes,  a 
prominent  member  of  the  McDonough 
county  bar,  have  been  his  untiring  in- 
dustry and  application  in  his  legal 
studies  and  professional  business,  and 
his  upright  and  honorable  course  in  all 
his  dealings.  To  these  qualities  he  owes 
the  success  that  has  attended  his  profes- 
sional labors.  He  was  born  in  Lewis- 
town,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  on  the 
26th  of  March  1822.  His  father,  Col. 
David  W.  Barnes,  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  Fulton  county.  He  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  in  1795,  and  came  to 
Fort  Clarke  (now  Peoria),  Illinois,  in 
June,  1820.  He  served  his  country  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  also  during  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  being  one  of  the  party 
who  drove  that  noted  Indian  chief  into 
Iowa.  After  a  busy  and  useful  career, 
departed  this  life  at  his  home,  mourned 
by  a  large  circle  of  friends.  Major 
Barnes  was  the  first  white  child  born 


in  Fulton  county,  and  was  there  reared 
and  educated.  In  1855,  he  began  read- 
ing law  under  Judge  Kellogg,  at  Can- 
ton Illinois,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1857.  He  then  came  to  McDonough 
county  and  located  near  Bushnell,  and 
has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  (with  the  excep- 
tion of  his  military  life),  and  now  en- 
joys a  very  lucrative  practice,  which 
keeps  constantly  increasing.  Becoming 
imbued  with  patriotism,  he  enlisted  in 
company  I,  72d  Illinois  infantry,  and 
was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  but 
shortly  afterwards  was  promoted  to  the 
captaincy,  he  having  had  command  of 
the  company  almost  from  the  first.  He 
was  connected  with  the  army  of  the 
Mississippi,  serving  in  the  14th  army 
corps,  and  was  under  General  John  A. 
Logan.  In  April,  1863,  he  was  appoint- 
ed major  by  President  Lincoln,  and 
after  an  unusually  brilliant  military 
career  Major  Barnes  received  his  dis- 
charge in  April,  1865.  He  then  re- 
turned to  McDonough  county  and  lo- 
cated in  Bushnell,  now  being  one  of  the 
oldest  attorneys,  in  point  of  practice,  in 
that  city.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
city  council  of  Bushnell  almost  contin- 
ually since  the  organization  of  that  city, 
and  served  two  terms  in  the  county 
board  of  supervisors.  At  present  he  is 
acting  as  one  of  the  building  committee 
for  the  new  alms-house,  and  has  done 
much  toward  forwarding  the  completion 
of  that  charitable  institution.  On  the 
14th  of  August,  1850,  Major  Barnes  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Pumyea,  nee  Davis,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, but  who  was  reared  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  She  was  a  true  wife,  a 


400 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


loving  mother,  and  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Baptist  denomination,  and  her 
demise,  which  occurred  on  the  1st  of 
April,  1884,  was  truly  mourned  by  her 
family  and  a  large  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barnes 
reared  a  family  of  three  children — Mrs. 
Zerelda  Doughty,  Mrs.  Serena  Ward 
and  Mrs.  Kate  Michaels.  The  major  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  as  is 
he  also  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He 
has  a  genial  disposition  and  is  well  cal- 
culated to  make  friends.  By  close  atten- 
tion to  his  profession  and  good  manage- 
ment he  has  made  a  success  of  life.  He 
has  always  sustained  a  reputation  for 
integrity  and  morality,  and  it  is  to  such 
men  that  the  prosperity  of  our  state  is 
attributable. 

Solon  Banfill,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  leading  attorneys  of  Bushnell,  lo- 
cated in  that  city  in  1868,  and  engaged 
as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  He 
followed  that  profession  in  Bushnell  for 
two  years,  in  Table  Grove,  Fulton  county, 
for  one  year,  in  Eldorado  township,  in 
this  county  one  year,  and  in  New  Salem 
township  one  year.  Returning  to  Bush- 
nell in  1873,  he  commenced  reading  law 
in  the  office  of  J.  B.  McConnell,  which 
he  continued  for  three  years.  He  was 
compelled  to  labor  and  teach  at  inter- 
val to  procure  the  money  necessary  for 
him  to  continue  his  studies.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  September,  1876, 
and  for  one  year  practiced  law  with  Mr. 
McConnell.  The  succeeding  two  years 
he  practiced  alone.  From  1879  to  1881, 
he  was  a  partner  with  E.  E.  Chesney. 
In  1881,  he  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business  in  addition  to  the  practice  of 


law.  From  June,  1883  to  May,  1885,  he 
was  of  the  firm  of  Banfill  &  Morse,  col- 
lection and  insurance  agents,  in  addition 
to  his  law  practice.  Mr.  Banfill  was 
born  of  American  parents  on  the  4th  of 
September,  1844,  while  they  were  tem- 
porarily residing  in  Canada  East,  now 
Quebec.  The  family  afterward  settled 
on  the  Canada  side,  a  few  miles  north 
of  the  state  of  Vermont.  Solon,  having 
purchased  his  time  of  his  father,  left 
the  parental  roof  at  the  age  of  19  and 
came  to  the  state  of  Vermont,  where  he 
resided  for  three  years  as  a  farm  laborer 
in  summer  and  attended  school  in  win- 
ter. He  taught  school  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  the  winter  of  1865,-6;  came  to 
DeKalb  county,  Illinois,  in  May,  1866 
where  he  taught  school  for  two  years 
and  then  came  to  Bushnell  as  heretofore 
mentioned. 

Among  McDonough  county's  leading 
attorneys,is  Joseph  T.  Sanders,of  the  firm 
of  Sanders  &  Chalmers,  of  Bushnell.  He 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  15th  of  February,  1812,  his 
parents  being  Frederick  and  Margaret 
(Eubanks)  Sanders,  the  former  of  whom 
was  a  native  of  England,  and  the  latter 
of  Wales.  They  reared  a  family  of  seven 
children,  Joseph  T.,  being  the  fifth  child. 
In  1817,  his  father  died  and  he  was  re- 
moved to  Washington  county,  New  York, 
where  he  was  reared  by  his  uncle  to  man- 
hood and  received  a  good  common  school 
education.  During  the  years  1833  to 
1835,  he  attended  Lafayette  college,  at 
Easton,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1843  began 
reading  law  under  George  Miller,  of 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  having  removed 
to  that  county  the  previous  year.  He 
remained  under  Mr.  Miller  for  two  years, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


401 


being  then  admitted  to  the  bar,  after 
which  he  practiced  his  profession  in  that 
county  until  1846,  in  which  year  he  re- 
moved to  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  He  remained 
there  four  years,  meeting  with  good  suc- 
cess, then  located  in  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  and  six  years  later  returned  to 
Fulton  county.  In  April,  1862,  he  came 
to  this  county  and  located  at  Bushnell, 
being  the  first  attorney  in  that  city.  He 
has  ever  since  remained  there,  and  has 
built  up  a  good  practice  in  the  county. 
July  4,  1835,  Joseph  T.  Sanders  and  Isa- 
bella McCrackin  were  united  in  marriage 
in  Easton,  Pennsylvania.  She  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  death 
occurred  in  August,  1837.  Mr.  Sanders 
was  again  married,  June  27,  1839,  to 
Dinah  H.  Beck,  a  native  of  Ohio.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  with  four  child- 
ren. Mary  H.,  Samuel  F.,  Ruth  L,  and 
Joseph  M.  Mr.  Sanders  is  a  local  dea- 
con of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
having  been  a  member  of  that  denomi- 
nation for  over  50  years.  During  the 
years  of  1872  and  1873,  he  served  Bush- 
nell as  its  city  attorney. 

Thomas  J.  Sparks  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  16th  of  August, 
1843.  His  father,  Joseph  Sparks,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in 
1808.  After  Joseph  had  attained  the 
age  of  12  years,  his  parents  removed  to 
Ohio,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
wheelwright.  He  then  went  to  Indiana, 
remaining  until  1845,  and  then  removed 
to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he  died 
July  6,  1876.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
in  Ohio,  with  Sarah  DeFord,  a  native  of 
that  state  but  of  French  descent,  being 
a  second  cousin  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte. 
She  departed  this  life  on  the  21st  of 


January,  1864,  in  Fulton  county.  Thomas 
J.  Sparks  was  reared  in  Fulton  county, 
where  he  obtained  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation. In  1866-7  he  attended  Lombard 
university,  at  Galesburg,  and  in  1867-8, 
attended  Howe's  academy,  at  Mi  Pleas- 
ant, Iowa.  He  began  teaching  school 
when  a  young  man,  and  followed  that 
profession  for  some  years.  He  first  be- 
gan study  with  a  view  of  entering  the 
legal  profession,  in  1864,  having  S.  C. 
Judd,  then  of  Lewistown,  Illinois,  now 
of  Chicago,  as  his  preceptor,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1872.  He  then 
went  to  Central  City,  Nebraska,  where 
he  followed  his  profession  for  four  years, 
meeting  with  good  success.  He  then 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  located 
in  Bnshnell,  where,  in  1878,  he  resumed 
practice,  and  has  a  large  and  increasing 
business.  He  has  been  city  attorney 
continuously  since  1881.  On  the  21st  of 
March,  1871,  Thomas  J.  Sparks  and 
Aggie  Patton,  of  Wheeling,  West  Vir- 
ginia, were  united  in  marriage,  and  now 
have  one  daughter,  Maud  S.  Mr.  S.  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 

Robert  W.  McKinney,  attorney,  of 
Bushnell,  has  been  engaged  in  practice 
for  some  40  years,  and  since  1876  has 
been  located  at  Bushnell.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  Franklin,  Ohio, 
where  he  first  began  practicing  his  pro- 
fession. Three  years  later,  in  1845,  he 
went  to  Canton,  Illinois,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  for  one  year. 
From  there  he  removed  to  Nauvoo,  and 
in  1876  came  to  Bushnell  as  before 
stated.  He  was  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  February  5,  1817,  and  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mary  S.  Peck  on  the 
15th  of  May,  1841.  They  are  now  the 


402 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


parents  of  five  children  —  Hannah  E., 
Elizabeth  K,  William  C.,  Charles  E. 
and  Robert  M.  Mrs.  McKinney  died  in 
March,  1882. 

George  Fox,  attorney  and  notary  pub- 
lic of  Bushnell,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  in  1850.  When  he  was  15 
years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to 
McDonough  county.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  June  5,  1877,  at  Mt.  Vernon, 
Illinois,  and  then  began  practicing  his 
profession  in  Bushnell.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  On 
June  12,  1873,  Alice  D.  Finley  became 
his  wife. 

George  S.  Doughty,  of  the  firm  of 
Barnes  &  Doughty,  attorneys,  is  a  native 
of  Atlantic  county,  New  Jersey,  and  was 
born  February  11,  1846.  By  trade  he 
was  a  carpenter,  which  he  followed  until 
1871,  when  he  began  reading  law  under 
Barnes  &  Sanders.  He  graduated  from 
the  law  department  of  the  state  univer- 
sity, at  Albany,  New  York,  and  was  there 
admitted  to  the  bar.  The  same  year  he 
was  admitted  to  the  McDonough  county 
bar,  and  one  year  later  returned  to  his 
trade.  In  1880  he  became  a  member  of 
the  before  mentioned  firm,  and  has  con- 
tinued practice  ever  since.  October  31, 
1875,  he  was  married  to  Zerilda  Barnes, 
a  daughter  of  A.  E.  Barnes. 

George  S.  Fuhr,  practicing  lawyer, 
located  in  Blandinsville,  December  24, 
1875.  He  is  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  May  28, 
1849.  He  came  to  this  county  when  11 
years  old.  He  obtained  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  supple- 
mented it  by  a  course  at  the  high  school 
in  Macomb.  He  began  reading  law  in 


that  city  and  after  five  years  study,  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Springfield,  in 
January,  1874.  Since  coming  to  Blan- 
dinsville, he  has  been  editor  and  pro- 
prietor of  what  is  now  the  Democrat, 
but  is  now  devoting  his  time  entirely  to 
the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Robert  S.  Randall  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1863,  while  a  resident  of  Bush- 
nell, having  studied  that  profession  in 
the  office  of  W.  H.  Neeca,  of  Macomb, 
and  practiced  for  many  years  in  the 
town  of  Bushnell.  He  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Missouri,  born 
March  18,  1831.  He  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  some  19  years  of  age,  when 
he  moved  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
This  was  in  1850.  He  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school  and  farming  while  there, 
and  in  1857,  came  to  this  county,  locat- 
ing in  Bushnell,  and  studying  for  his 
profession  as  above  stated.  He  has  en- 
tirely retired  from  practice  at  this  date, 
and  devotes  time  to  looking  after  his 
opera  house  and  other  investments.  He 
was  married  July  8,  1858,  to  Abbie 
Miner,  and  has  one  son — Henry  L. 

David  Chambers,  of  the  firm  of  San- 
ders &  Chambers,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  November  22,  1846.  When  but 
seven  years  old,  his  parents  removed  to 
near  Marietta,  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm  till  1864. 
At  this  time  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States,  in  company  D,  127th 
Illinois  infantry.  In  August,  he  was 
captured  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  and 
was  incarcerated  in  the  rebel  prison  till 
March,  1865,  at  which  time  he  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  at  Springfield. 
He  returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school.  He  attended 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


405 


the  State  Normal  school  at  Bloomington 
two  years,  after  which  he  engaged  in 
teaching  till  1881,  at  this  time  he  en- 
tered the  State  university  at  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  completing  a  law  course  there,  and 
received  degrees  in  1882.  Returning  to 
Illinois,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
the  Springfield  supreme  court,  Judge 


John  Scofield  presiding.  His  first  prac- 
tice was  in  Astoria  for  about  six  months, 
when  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  T. 
J.  Sanders,  as  above  stated.  He  was 
married,  to  Mary  Bevins,  December  31, 
1873,  and  two  children — John  M.  and 
Nellie,  have  blessed  the  union. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 


THE    MEDICAL    PROFESSION. 


Voltaire  has  said  that  a  physician  is 
the  most  unfortunate  of  men,  as  he  is 
expected  to  cure  men,  and  keep  them 
well,  when  they  violate  the  very  laws  of 
their  existence,  every  hour  of  their  lives. 
Hence  the  life  of  the  active  practitioner 
in  the  healing  art  is  no  sinecure,  at  the 
best,  as  any  one  who  has  followed  the 
profession  can  testify.  Twenty-five  to 
thirty  years  ago  it  was  rather  a  serious 
matter  to  be  a  physician  and  to  make 
the  long  and  toilsome  rides,  through 
this  then  newly  and  sparsely  settled 
country,  when  there  were  scarcely  any 
roads,  and  no  bridges,  and  the  adven- 
turous disciple  of  Galen  was  frequently 
lost  on  the  wide  prairie,  and  aften  floun- 
dered through  sloughs.  Often  in  the 
muddy  days  of  spring  or  fall,  he  found, 
on  emerging  from  'some  particularly 
miry  place,  that  his  girth  was  broken,  or 
some  equally  important  part  of  the  har- 
ness damaged,  and  alone  on  the  wide 


expanse  of  wind  swept  prairie,  with 
night  coming  on,  he  must  stop  and  re- 
pair it,  with  fingers  numbed  with  the 
cold  and  energies  exhausted  by  a  hard 
day's  labor. 

The  medical  profession  is  an  honor- 
able one  if  conducted  in  an  honorable 
manner.  John  Quincy  Adams  called  it 
"the  most  honorable  of  the  professions." 
And  one  of  our  eminent  physicians  in 
speaking  of  it,  uses  the  following  words: 

"The  doctor  certainly  feels  proud  to 
relieve  the  pain  and  distress  of  his  pa- 
tients; to  soothe  the  dying  pillow,  and  to 
comfort  the  afflicted  friends.  But  the 
people  are  sometimes  imposed  upon  by 
pretenders,  who  claim  to  cure  all  the 
'ills  flesh  is  heir  to,'  and  to  raise  the 
dead,  but  we  think  the  days  of  miracles 
have  passed — are  there  too  many  doc- 
tors, or  has  the  profession  lost  all  honor? 
The  people  seem  to  be  growing  weaker 
and  wiser,  but  at  the  expense  of  vigor- 


406 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ous  health — the  system  of  cramming  in 
school  does  not  fit  the  young  man  for  a 
useful  life,  nor  the  young  woman  to  be  a 
good  staunch  helpmate.  Was  the  boy 
bright  and  clever,  that  was  sufficient  rea- 
son for  the  forcing  and  cramming  him — 
so  far,  however,  as  that  goes,  the  boys 
have  a  certain  conservatism  about  them 
that  prevents  them  from  committing  sui- 
cide by  excessive  brain  work.  The  poor 
girls,  with  their  finer  organizations  are 
the  unfortunate  victims.  How  often  does 
the  doctor  have  interesting  lady  patients, 
who  talk  beautifully,  as  they  recline 
upon  the  sofa,  but  who,  when  married 
and  mothers  of  a  single  child,  probably 
are  unequal  to  the  task  of  a  household, 
or  the  care  of  a  family. 

"Our  great  grandmothers  got  their 
schooling  during  winter  months,  and  let 
their  brains  lie  fallow  for  the  rest  of  the 
year.  They  knew  less  of  Euclid  and 
the  classics,  than  about  housekeeping, 
and  about  how  housework  should  be 
done,  but  they  made  good  wives  and 
mothers,  and  bore  sturdy  sons  and  buxom 
daughters,  and  plenty  at  that. 

"From  the  age  of  eight  to  fourteen  our 
daughters  spend  most  of  their  time, 
in  the  unwholesome  air  of  the  recita- 
tion room,  or  poring  over  their  books, 
when  they  should  be  at  play.  When  re- 
leased from  school,  within  a  year  it  may 
be  she  becomes  engaged  to  some  unwary 
youth,  who,  bewitched  by  her  face,  and 
charmed  by  her  intelligence,  sees  not  the 
frail  body  and  butterfly  down,  he  weds 
her,  to  find  she  has  brought  him  a  dower 
of  ill-health,  with  a  large  outfit  of  head- 
aches and  spineaches.  Unequal  to  the 
task,  she  at  first  tolerates,  and  then 
loathes  the  domestic  ties;  the  trouble 


follows,  both  are  unhappy  whether  they 
remain  together  or  not,  or  obtain  di- 
vorces, and  change  mates,  the  doctor  be- 
ing a  perpetual  witness  to  the  vices  and 
follies,  and  their  fatal  results.  Some 
may  say  doctors  are  opposed  to  educa- 
tion. Not  so.  But  we  do  not  believe  in 
educating  the  mind  at  the  expense  of 
the  body,  thereby  producing  a  weak  and 
effeminate  race  of  people.  Therefore, 
less  cramming  in  school,  more  out-door 
exercise,  and  riding  on  horseback  and 
walking,  also  invigorates  the  body,  de- 
velops the  muscular  system,  strengthens 
the  nerves,  promotes  the  health  and  ap- 
petite, and  is  a  great  pleasure  to  the  per- 
sons so  inclined.  Planting  trees,  shrub- 
bery, and  otherwise  beautifying  our 
homes,  than  which  nothing  can  be  more 
pleasing  and  satisfactory  to  ourselves, 
and  to  those  who  admire  such  things — 
and  who  does  not?" 

The  people  owe  certain  duties  to  the 
physician,  and  the  physician  owes  cer- 
tain duties  to  the  people,  and  the  way 
these  duties  are  performed,  stamps  the 
standing  both  of  the  practitioner  and  the 
people. 

In  all  ages  of  the  world,  among  civil- 
ized and  uncivilized  people,  the  medical 
profession  has  been  held  in  high  esteem. 
Whether  it  be  the  learned  prof  essor, who 
has  studied  the  science  of  medicine  in 
all  of  its  branches,  or  the  "great  medi- 
cine man"  of  the  untutored  savages,  who 
from  actual  experience  has  made  discov- 
eries of  the  healing  powers  of  herbs  and 
roots,  honor  awaits  him  upon  every 
hand,  while  the  life  and  death  of  every 
human  being  is  virtually  placed  in  his 
keeping.  The  weary  patient  lying  upon 
a  bed  of  pain,  and  the  no  less  weary 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


407 


watcher  by  his  side,  wait  anxiously  for 
the  coming  of  the  "good  doctor,"  and,  on 
his  arrival,  note  his  every  movement 
and  every  expression  of  countenance  for 
a  ray  of  hope. 

The  medical  fraternity  of  McDonough 
county  have,  with  few,  if  any  exceptions, 
been  an  honor  to  the  profession.  They 
have  ever  been  ready  to  respond  to  the 
call  of  duty.  The  winter's  cold,  the 
summer's  heat,  or  the  rains  of  spring 
and  autumn,  could  not  keep  them  back 
when  the  cry  of  distress  reached  their 
ears.  Not  a  physician  in  the  county, 
especially  among  those  who  settled  here 
at  an  early  day,  but  has  experienced 
sufferings  that  would  have  deterred 
those  in  any  other  profession,  in  re- 
sponse to  a  summons  to  attend  the  bed- 
side of  a  sick  and  suffering  one.  They 
have  been  compelled  to  cross  trackless 
prairies,  to  face  blizzards  from  the  north, 
often  with  no  hope  of  fee  or  reward,  but 
only,  if  possible,  to  relieve  those  Avho 
plead  for  their  care.  All  this  has  been 
done  by  the  physicians  of  McDonough 
county  without  complaint.  If  the  good 
deeds  of  the  profession  are  not  remem- 
bered by  those  who  have  received  aid,  a 
time  will  come  when  they  will  be  rec- 
ollected. 

In  the  following  review  of  the  medical 
profession  in  the  various  towns  and  cities 
of  the  county,  some  of  the  most  promi- 
nent doctors,  who  have  practiced  only 
for  a  short  time,  will  be  noticed  first,  and 
then  the  representatives  of  the  profes- 
sion in  1885. 

PHYSICIANS  OF  MACOMB. 

The  first  disciple  of  the  healing  art 
that  came  to  Macomb  to  locate,  was  a 


Doctor  J.  L.  Shuff,  who  was  also  the  first 
in  the  county.  He  came  here  either  in 
the  fall  of  1831,  or  the  spring  of  1832. 
He  was  of  the  old  allopathic  school,  a 
regular  graduate  of  Transylvania  univer- 
sity, of  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  a  fair 
practitioner.  This  country  proving  en- 
tirely too  healthy  for  him  he  only  re- 
mained a  short  time,  leaving  here  in  the 
spring  of  1833. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Jason  Dun- 
can, a  man  of  good  attainments,  who  is 
now  practising  his  profession  in  Knox- 
ville,  Illinois. 

Dr.  Charles  Hays,  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  the  practitioners  of  the  earlier 
days  of  the  county,  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1833,  purchasing  a  farm  in 
what  is  now  Scotland  township.  In 
1835,  he  removed  to  Macomb,  and  open- 
ing an  office,  entered  upon  the  duties  of 
his  profession,  and  for  nearly  40  years 
practiced  in  that  village  and  city.  This 
was  no  sinecure,  for  often  he  had  to 
make  long  journeys  across  the  prairies 
to  see  some  suffering  wretch,  amid  storm 
and  snow,  or  rain  and  mud.  He  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  born  in  1790,  but 
early  in  life  moved  to  Kentucky,  where 
he  studied  medicine  under  some  of  the 
best  physicians  of  that  time  and  state. 
He  practiced  some  years  in  Kentucky, 
but  came  to  this  locality  directly  from 
there.  He  is  spoken  of  as  somewhat 
rough  in  his  manner,  but  a  most  excel- 
lent physician.  He  died  in  Macomb,  on 
the  21st  of  September,  1870. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Huston  was  a  native  of  In- 
diana, and  came  to  McDonough  county 
at  a  very  early  date.  He  located  first  at 
Blandinsville,  but  in  1862  came  to  Ma- 
comb, and  entered  into  practice.  In 


408 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


June,  1864,  he  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  government,  as  surgeon 
of  the  137th  infantry,  and  died  on  the 
25th  of  June  of  the  same  year,  at  Mem- 
phis, Tennessee,  just  20  days  after  the 
date  of  his  commission. 

Among  the  early  physicians  of  the 
county  was  Doctor  Meredith  C.  Archer. 
His  father  settled  in  Bethel  township  in 
1832,  where  the  future  doctor  worked  at 
the  anvil  as  a  blacksmith.  He  was  born 
in  Casey  county,  Kentucky,  in  March, 
1818.  While  engaged  at  his  work,  he 
studied  hard  and  finally  fitted  himself 
for  his  profession.  In  1860,  he  married 
Caroline  Hotchkiss.  He  opened  an  of- 
fice in  Colchester,  but  removed  to  Ma- 
comb  some  time  in  the  early  thirties. 
He  died  in  the  latter  city  June  22,  1882. 
The  first  physician  of  the  homoeopathic 
school  to  locate  in  the  city  of  Macomb 
was  Dr.  B.  H.  McFarland,  who  came 
there  about  1854.  After  practicing  there 
for  a  time  he  removed  to  Prairie  City, 
where  he  resided  until  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war,  when  his  sympaties  being 
with  the  confederate  government,  he  re- 
moved to  Kentucky,  his  native  state.  He 
is  now  a  resident  of  Florida. 

Following  him,  the  next  to  practice 
medicine  by  the  rules  of  this  school  was 
Dr.  Beverly  B.  Westf  all.  He  was  born 
in  Troy,  Ohio,  August  11, 1824.  In  1846, 
his  parents  removed  to  this  county  and 
located  upon  a  farm  in  Macomb  town- 
ship. Beverly  came  to  Macomb  the  same 
year,  where  he  taught  school,  and  at  the 
same  time  studied  medicine.  In  1847, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Ellen 
Hays,  daughter  of  Dr.  Charles  Hays,  one 
of  the  leading  physicians  of  the  county, 
and  returned  to  Thornton,  Indiana, 


where  he  had  once  lived  and  practiced 
medicine    according    to    the   allopathic 
school.     In  1848,   he   returned  to  Ma- 
comb, and  practiced  as   an  old  school 
physician,  attending  the  Bush  medical 
college,   of   Chicago,  at  the   same  time, 
and  obtained  a  certificate  of  graduation. 
In  1855,  after  having  given  the  subject 
much  thought  and  a  thorough  investi- 
gation of  the  principles  governing,  the 
doctor  changed  his  course  of  treatment, 
adopting  the  homeopathic  method,  which 
for  many  years  he  successfully  practiced 
in  Macomb,  having  a  practice  second  to 
but  few  in    the    state,   and    extending 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties. 
As  a  physician  he  met  with  remarkably 
good  success,  especially  after  he  adopted 
the  homeopathic  method  of  treatment, 
and  no  physician  in  this  part  of  the  state 
ranks  higher  in  the  profession,  or  among 
the  masses   of  the  people.     In  order  to 
perfect  himself  in  the   surgery  and  be- 
come   more    thoroughly  posted  in  the 
great  improvements  being  made  in  the 
medical  world,  in  1867  he  attended  a 
course  of  lectures   in   Hahneman  medi- 
cal college,  Chicago,  and  from  that  in- 
stitution received  a  diploma  of  doctor 
of  medicine. 

Bealizing  the  necessity  existing  for 
the  improvement  of  our  stock,  especially 
the  farm  horse,  Dr.  Westf  all  was  the  first 
from  the  county  to  engage  in  the  im- 
portation of  blooded  horses  from  the  old 
world.  In  1870,  he  crossed  the  ocean 
to  France,  and  in  that  country  secured 
four  as  fine  animals  as  were  ever  im- 
ported into  the  country.  In  securing 
these  horses,  he  experienced  the  good 
fortune  in  having  them  purchased  and 
placed  upon  the  vessel  just  a  day  or  two 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


409 


before  the  Emperor  Napoleon  issued  his 
order  forbidding  any  further  exporta- 
tion, and  just  before  the  war  occurred 
which  occasioned  the  overthrow  of  the 
empire.  Again,  in  1873,  the  doctor  re- 
turned to  .Europe,  securing  three  more 
equally  as  fine  and  perfect  as  those  first 
imported.  In  this  we  have  the  begin- 
ning of  the  importation  of  fine  stock  from 
the  old  world,  and  an  enterprise  which 
has  been  taken  up  by  others  until  Mc- 
Donough  county  now  ranks  among  the 
first  in  the  state,  with  respect  to  blooded 
stock. 

In  the  summer  of  1884,  Dr.  Westfall 
and  family  removed  to  Spokane  Falls, 
Washington  territory,  on  account  of  the 
ill  health  of  his  daughter.  He  is  a  res- 
ident of  that  place  still. 

The  third  was  a  Doctor  M.  J.  Chase, 
who  remained  here  about  two  or  three 
years,  when  he  left.  He  is  now  engaged 
in  practice  in  Galesburg,  this  state. 

The  next  was  a  Doctor  Baker,  who 
came  from  St.  Louis.  His  stay  was  not 
protracted,  he  remaining  but  a  short 
time,  going  to  Adrian,  Michigan. 

Doctor  W.  O.  Blaisdell  was  the  next 
in  this  school  to  locate  in  Macomb,  and 
is  still  a  resident  of  that  beautiful  city. 

Dr.  James  B.  Kyle,  (deceased),  was 
among  the  early  physicians  of  the 
county,  having  come  here  January  10, 
1835.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was 
born  in  Miami  county,  September  20, 
1808,  which  at  that  time  was  a  frontier 
county,  of  a  frontier  state.  His  advan- 
tages for  obtaining  an  education  were 
limited,  for  at  that  early  day,  the  public 
school  system  was  not  the  same  as  is 
now  enjoyed.  He  nevertheless  through 
industry,  perseverance  and  personal  ap- 


plication, managed  to  acquire  a  good 
English  education,  so  that  he  became, 
before  arriving  at  his  majority,  a  com- 
petent school  teacher,  and  found  em- 
ployment as  such,  by  means  of  which  he 
was  enabled  to  pay  his  expenses,  while 
preparing  for  the  medical  profession  to 
which  he  devoted  his  life.  He  read 
medicine  for  three  years  with  Uriah 
Farquhar,  at  New  Carlisle,  Clark  county, 
Ohio  ;  attended  lectures  at  the  Ohio 
medical  college  at  Cincinnati;  gradu- 
ated at  Kemps  college,  St.  Louis,  Mis- 
souri; practiced  one  year  at  Carlisle,  and 
then  came  to  this  county.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Sarah  P.  Eice,  July  19,  1836. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Rice,  of 
Greene  county,  Kentucky.  They  had 
six  children,  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters. July  24,  1862,  he  was  appointed 
surgeon  of  the  84th  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  and  remained  in  the  service 
until  his  regiment  was  discharged,  June 
17,  1865.  Such  was  his  skill  as  a  phy- 
sician, that  during  his  term  of  service, 
he  was  detailed  both  as  brigade  and 
division  surgeon,  and  at  one  time  had 
charge  of  one  of  the  general  hospitals  at 
Nashville.  With  the  exception  of  the 
time  that  he  was  in  the  army,  and  a 
short  time  at  Monmouth,  he  resided,  and 
practiced  medicine  in  this  county,  and 
was  esteemed  as  a  first-class  practicioner. 
Dr.  Kyle  was  a  kind  hearted  man,  ever 
ready  to  minister  to  the  afflicted.  When 
called  to  the  bedside  of  the  sick  he  stop- 
ped not  to  inquire  as  to  the  probability 
of  getting  paid  for  his  services.  He 
went  wherever  and  whenever  humanity 
called,  and  the  rich  and  poor  fared  alike 
at  his  hands.  By  this  kind  and  humane 
course,  pursued  in  his  practice,  he 


410 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


doubtless  lost  many  more  thousand  of 
dollars,  than  his  estate  was  worth  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  yet  he  always  had 
enough,  and  to  spare  of  this  world's 
goods,  and  he  left  his  family  a  hand- 
some property.  For  43  years,  he  was 
an  energetic  citizen  of  Macomb,  always 
taking  an  active  part  in  every  enterprise 
which  promised  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  county.  In  1852  he  made,  with 
others,  an  active  canvass  in  favor  of  the 
railroad,  making  speeches  in  every  pre- 
cinct of  the  county,  and  the  success  of 
that  measure  was,  in  a  great  degree, 
owing  to  the  able  manner  in  which  he 
presented  the  matter  to  the  people.  In 
political  matters  he  always  took  an  active 
interest,  and  was  governed  by  his  con- 
victions of  right,  rather  than  by  motives 
of  policy  or  pecuniary  benefit.  He 
came  to  this  state  a  whig,  and  continued 
to  act  with  that  party  until  it  was  dis- 
banded in  1856,  at  which  time  he  gave 
his  influence  to  the  support  of  Fillmore, 
and  was  a  candidate  of  that  party  for 
congress.  He  subsequently  became  a  re- 
publican, and  continued  to  support  the 
measures  of  that  party  through  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  In  1861  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Macomb, 
and  some  years  afterward  represented 
the  city  on  the  board  of  supervisors,  and 
was  a  member  when  the  new  court 
house  was  built.  Thus  it  may  be  seen 
that  Dr.  Kyle  was  a  man  of  considerable 
influence  in  this  city  and  county,  and  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  1,  1878,  was 
mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
He  was  buried  in  Oakwood  cemetery 
with  Masonic  honors,  having  been  a 
member  of  that  order  many  years.  His 
widow  still  survives  him,  and  at  this 


writing  ( April,  1885, )  resides  in  the  city 
of  Macomb. 

Doctor  Richard  D.  Hammond  came  to 
Macomb  in  November,  1862,  and  prac- 
ticed his  profession  for  several  years. 
He  was  born  in  Claiborne,  Monroe 
county,  Alabama,  on  the  24th  of  July, 
1826.  In  1840  the  family  moved  to 
Ohio,  and  in  1841  Richard  entered  the 
Marietta  college,  of  that  state,  graduat- 
ing therefrom  four  years  later.  After 
that  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  locating  at 
Monmouth,  Warren  county,  entered 
upon  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr. 
Young.  Afterward,  entering  the  med- 
ical department  of  the  University  of 
Missouri,  he  graduated  with  honors  in 
1852.  He  opened  an  office  in  the  village 
of  Greenbush,  Warren  county,  but  in 
1853  removed  to  Blandinsville,  where  he 
engaged  in  practice  until  coming  to 
Macomb.  After  several  years'  labor  in 
this  field  he  returned  to  Blandinsville. 
In  1876  he  met  with  a  severe  accident, 
being  thrown  from  his  horse  which 
caused  his  death  in  a  few  years. 

The  medical  prof ession  is  represented 
in  Macomb  at  present  by  the  following 
practitioners:  Drs.  Edgar  Bolles,  I.  M. 
Martin,  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  B.  I.  Dunn,  W. 
F.  Bayne,  P.  H.  Garrettson,  R.  Harris 
and  E.  S.  Cooper. 

Edgar  Bolles,  M.  D.,  is  a  native  of 
Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  born  January 
12,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  William  K.  and 
Sarah  (West)  Bolles,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  New  London,  Connecticut,  and 
the  latter  a  native  of  Hillsdale,  Colum- 
bia county,  New  York.  They  were  both 
born  in  the  year  1807,  there  being  but  a 
few  months  difference  between  their 
ages.  When  Edgar  was  but  six  weeks 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


411 


old,  thinking  it  for  their  best  interest, 
his     parents     emigrated    to    Lagrange 
county,  Indiana,  traveling  the  entire  dis- 
tance in  an  old-fashioned  lumber  wagon 
drawn    by    oxen.      In    1852,,  suffering 
greatly  from  chills  and  fever,  character- 
istic of  many  districts  throughout  that 
malarious  state,  the  family  returned  to 
the  native  county  of  Mrs.  Bolles.     Here 
they  remained  about  a  year,  when  they 
came  west  to  Illinois  in  1853,  settling  in 
Blandinsville   township,  and  afterward 
removed  to   Emmet  township  in  1866. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  passed  his 
boyhood  and    youth  upon  his  father's 
farm,   acquiring  strength   of  body  and 
mind,  which  fit  him  for  the  discharge  of 
the    duties  of    his    chosen    profession. 
From  the  time  he    was    old  enough  he 
labored  upon  the  farm  during  the  agri- 
cultural season  and  attended  the  district 
school  in  the  winter  time.     As   soon  as 
he  attained  his  majority  he  at  once  made 
preparations  to  attend  the  seminary  at 
Blandinsville,   an    institution    of   some 
promise  at  that  time.     Here  he  pursued 
his  studies  for  two  years  and  afterward 
engaged  in  teaching  and  other   employ- 
ment   until    he    had    obtained     means 
whereby  he  might  prosecute  the  princi- 
pal object  he  had  in  view  from  the  first 
— the  study  of  medicine.      In   August, 
1863,  he   began    to  read  medicine  with 
Huston  and  Hammond,  in  Macomb.     In 
the  spring  of  1868,  he  attended  lectures 
at  Long  Island  college  hospital,  Brook- 
lyn, New  York,  where  he  remained  dur-  | 
ing  the  term.     He  next  entered  the  De- 
troit medical  college,  which  was  a  more 
thorough  and  suitable  institution,  from 
which  he  received  the   degree  of  doc- 
tor of    medicine    and    surgery,   in  the 


spring  of  1869.       On  graduating,  he  re- 
turned   home,   taught    school     another 
term   and    returned  to  Detroit  in   the 
spring   of    1870,    assisting     Professors 
Weber  and  Jenks    during   the  college 
term,  in  the  chairs  of  anatomy  and  dis- 
eases of  women  and  children.      At  the 
close  of  the  term  he  concluded  to  re- 
main a  short  time  in  Detroit,  and  entered 
the  office  of  Dr.  Jenks   as  assistant,  re- 
ing  with  him  some  months  obtaining  the 
benefit  of  his  experience.     He  then  re- 
turned to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1870,  and 
located  at  Pennington's  Point,  in  this 
county,  where  he  continued  practice  until 
July,  1881,  when  he  removed  to  Macomb, 
where  he   yet  remains.      By  his  many 
years  of  successful  and  continued  prac- 
tice he  has  attained  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion of  being  one   of  the  foremost  and 
leading    practitioners    of    McDonough 
county,  calling  into  demand  his  services 
almost  night  and  day.     The  doctor  was 
married  May  15,  1872,  to   Fannie   Pen- 
rose,  of  Macomb.     Two    children    have 
been  born  to  them,  one  of  whom   is   de- 
ceased; the  other,  a  son — Howard   W. 
Mr.  Bolles  has  always  been  exceedingly 
kind  to  his  parents.      During  the   sick- 
ness previous  to  his  mother's  death,  she 
desired  to  remove  to  Macomb,  so  that 
she  might  be  near  her  son  for  treatment, 
and   accordingly  the   doctor  purchased 
a    neat  residence  for  her  comfort.      A 
short  time  before  her  removal,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1882,  the  hand  of  death  removed 
her  to  the  other  shore,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  75  years.     Four  children  survive 
her.     Elizabeth,  Louise,  now  the  widow 
of  Mr.    E.   B.  Hammond;    Edgar,   and 
Margaret,  wife  of  L.  B.  Colling.      Mr. 
Bolles,  Sr.,  now  resides  in  Macomb,   at 


412 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  place  purchased  by  his  son,  Edgar. 
In  politics  Mr.  Bolles  affiliates  with  the 
republicans,  having  held  several  local 
offices  of  trust,  but  does  not  aspire  to 
office,  his  practice  requiring  his  constant 
attention.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  In  the  career  of 
Dr.  Bolles  there  is  an  excellent  lesson 
for  young  men.  Inheriting  not  a  dollar, 
and  at  the  age  of  21  without  a  penny  to 
begin  life,  he  worked  his  way  for  two 
years  through  a  good  high  school,  ob- 
taining an  education  to  fit  himself  for  a 
teacher,  which  profession  he  adopted  as 
a  temporary  expedient  to  enable  him  to 
obtain  means  to  pursue  a  course  of  study 
for  the  medical  profession.  Entering  a 
medical  college,  he  soon  graduated  with 
high  honors,  and  is  now  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leading  physicians  in  the 
county.  To  enable  him  to  accomplish 
all  this  he  spent  about  $2,000,  every  dol- 
lar of  which  he  secured  by  hard  labor. 
And  yet  there  are  hundreds,  thousands, 
of  young  men  who  utterly  bewail  their 
fate,  and  say  they  can't  advance.  As  a 
man  he  enjoys  the  respect  of  all  who 
are  acquainted  with  him;  his  social 
qualities  commend  him  to  all  alike,  and 
in  the  home  circle  he  is  kind  and  gentle 
in  the  extreme. 

Dr.  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  one  of  the  most 
prominent  physicians  of  McDonough 
county,  is  a  native  of  the  town  of  Orland, 
Hancock  county,  Maryland,  and  was 
raised  on  a  farm.  In  1851,  while  yet  a 
young  man,  he  went  to  California  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  his 
affiliation  for  his  old  home  in  his  native 
state  at  the  other  end  of  the  nation, 
caused  him  to  leave  California  five  years 
later.  After  a  few  months  spent  in  his 


old  home  he  again  turned  his  steps  west- 
ward, going  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine. 
After  undergoing  a  thorough  course  of 
study,  he  left  Cincinnati  and  went  to 
Mississippi,  and  also  visited  several  other 
cities  in  the  South  in  1859.  Dr.  Blais- 
dell knew  there  was  a  rebellion  brewing 
in  the  air,  and  being  a  strong  union  man 
he  came  North  and  located  in  McDon- 
ough county,  Illinois,  in  1860,  and  ten 
years  later  moved  to  Macomb,  where  he 
has  since  been  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
his  profession,  and  has  met  with  marked 
success.  The  doctor  keeps  well  up  in  his 
profession,  and  has  the  reputation — well 
deserved — of  being  the  leading  homeo- 
pathic physician  in  McDonough  county. 
In  the  year  1865,  Dr.  W.  O.  Blaisdell  and 
and  Ella  M.  Stilson,  a  native  of  Water- 
ville,  Maine,  were  united  in  marriage. 
Her  death,  which  occurred  in  1876,  was 
mourned  by  the  family  and  a  large  num- 
ber of  acquaintances.  She  left  one  child, 
Walter  S.,  who  still  lives  with  his  father. 
Politically,  the  doctor  is  an  ardent  re- 
publican, but  does  not  aspire  to  politi- 
cal preferment. 

Dr.  I.  M.  Martin,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent physicians  of  Macomb,  and  the 
present  city  clerk  of  that  city,  is  a  son  of 
J.  M.  and  Henrietta  G.  (Westfall)  Mar- 
tin, and  was  born  in  the  city  of  Macomb 
on  the  9th  of  September,  1853.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  Macomb  high  school  in 
the  class  of  1870,  and  the  following  year 
commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  hav- 
ing Dr.  B.  E.  Westfall  as  his  preceptor. 
He  continued  reading  medicine,  and  also 
taught  school  during  the  winter  seasons, 
until  1875,  in  which  year  he  entered  the 
Hahnemann  medical  college,  at  Chicago. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


413 


The  following  year  lie  went  to  Eyota, 
Minnesota,  where  he  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  and 
met  with  good  success.  Here  he  remain- 
ed for  two  years,  then  returned  to  his 
native  county,  and,  subsequently,  again 
attended  the  Hahnemann  medical  col- 
lege, from  which  popular  institution  he 
graduated  with  honors  in  the  spring  of 
1881.  He  then  returned  to  Macomb,  and 
engaged  in  practice,  and,  although  the 
youngest  member  of  his  profession  in 
that  city,  Dr.  Martin  has  a  very  large 
practice,  which  keeps  constantly  increas- 
ing. On  the  5th  day  of  September,  1883, 
Dr.  I.  M.  Martin  and  Elsie  Taylor,  a 
daughter  of  Colonel  Samuel  E.  Taylor, 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony. As  a  result  of  that  union,  they 
are  now  the  parents  of  one  son,  Morris 
C.  The  doctor  affiliates  with  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  is  the  present  city  clerk, 
this  being  his  third  term.  He  has  faith- 
fully and  honestly  discharged  the  duties 
of  his  office,  and  has  succeeded  in  gain- 
ing for  himself  the  encomiums  of  the  ad- 
herents of  both  political  parties.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workingmen  lodges  of  Macomb. 
R.  Harris,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Macomb,  is  a  native  of  Virginia, 
born  in  Charlotte  county,  April  6,  1812. 
His  parents  were  Robert  and  Mary 
(Bailey)  Harris,  both  of  whom  died 
when  the  object  of  this  sketch  was  a 
child.  In  1830  he  went  to  Kentucky,  in 
which  state  he  received  his  classical  and 
medical  education,  by  personal  applica- 
tion, supplemented  by  a  course  of  in- 
struction at  Hahneman  college,  Chicago, 
from  which  institution  he  is  a  graduate. 


He  came  to  this  county  in  October,  1849, 
and  engaged  in  the  ministry,  taking 
charge  of  McDonough  college,  of  which 
school  he  was  principal  a  number  of 
years.  He  was  subsequently  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  for  a  time.  In 
1855  he  removed  to  Missouri,  and  re- 
turned, to  this  county  in  1861.  In  1862 
he  went  into  the  service  as  chaplain  of 
the  84th  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  but  in 
consequence  of  poor  health,  came  home. 
During  his  stay  in  Missouri  he  met  with 
an  accident  which  crippled  him  for  life 
and  was  unable  to  endure  the  life  inci- 
dent to  the  army.  In  1864  he  practiced 
medicine  at  Warsaw,  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  and  subsequently  at  Pittsfield, 
Mt.  Sterling  and  other  places.  He  re- 
turned to  this  county  in  1878,  locating 
first  at  Colchester.  He  is  now  by  reason 
of  age  and  infirmity  unable  to  practice 
to  any  extent.  He  was  first  married  to 
Martha  P.  Hughs  who  died  shortly  after- 
ward leaving  one  child — Ella  A.,  now 
living  in  Macomb.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried to  Mary  P.  Wilson,  May  31,  1837. 
By  the  second  marriage  there  were  ten 
children — James  H.,  living  in  Macomb; 
William  T.,  living  in  Iowa;  Martha  P., 
living  at  home;  Ralph  E.?  living  in  Ma- 
comb; John  G.,  (deceased),  Mary  E., 
living  in  Iowa;  Charles  S.,  living  in 
Prairie  City;  Sarah  C.,  living  at  Mt. 
Sterling;  and  Dollie  B.,  at  home. 

William  F.  Bayne,  M.  D.,  the  oldest 
practising  physician  in  Macomb,  located 
there  in  1854,  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  In  1861,  he  went 
to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  assisted  in 
raising  company  B,  10th  Missouri  in- 
fantry, and  was  mustered  into  service  as 
captain  of  said  company.  He  partici- 


414 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


pated  in  the  battles  of  luka,  Corinth, 
Jackson,  Champion  Hill,  and  the  siege 
of  Vicksburg,  besides  numerous  skir- 
mishes. He  served  nearly  two  years 
when  he  resigned  on  account  of  impaired 
health.  Eeturning  to  Macomb,  he  went 
from  there  to  the  Rocky  Mountain  region 
where  he  staid  several  months  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health.  In  the  fall  of  1864 
he  resumed  his  practice  at  Macomb  and 
still  continues  the  same.  He  was  born 
in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  January  2, 
1827,  his  parents  being  William  and 
Barbara  (Blankenbaker)  Bayne.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  she  being 
a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Blankenbaker,  a 
soldier  of  the  revolutionary  war.  The 
family  came  to  Illinois  in  1831,  and  set- 
tled in  Adams  county,  and  followed 
farming.  Mr.  Bayne  spent  his  early 
life  on  his  father's  farm  and  attended 
such  schools  as  the  county  afforded.  At 
the  age  of  21  years  he  left  home,  and  for 
two  years  worked  at  the  carpenter's 
trade,  then  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine,  and  also  pursued  his  trade 
during  the  summer  seasons.  In  1853, 
he  entered  the  Eclectic  medical  insti- 
tute at  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  took 
one  course  of  lectures,  after  which  he 
practiced  at  Macomb.  In  1869  he  at- 
tended a  course  of  lectures  at  the  Electic 
medical  college  of  Pennsylvania,  from 
which  college  he  graduated.  Dr.  Bayne 
has  been  married  twice.  In  June  1851, 
to  Martha  A.  Herndon,  who  died  in 
March  1852,  leaving  one  child  which 
died  soon  after;  and  in  October,  1854,  to 
Lydia  J.  Fream,  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. By  this  marriage  seven  children 
have  been  born,  two  of  whom  are  now 
living — George  G.,  and  Nellie.  He  is  a 


republican  in  politics,  and  has  held  sev- 
eral local  offices,  and  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W. 
orders. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Irvin  Dunn,  one  of 
Macomb' s  prominent  and  successful 
physicians,  is  a  native  of  Madison 
county,  Kentucky,  and  was  born  July  21, 
1822.  His  father,  Nathaniel  A.  Dunn, 
was  also  a  native  of  Kentucky;  by  trade 
a  tanner,  but  his  principal  occupation 
was  farming.  The  doctor's  mother  was 
formerly  Sophia  W.  Irvin,  a  native  of 
Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  and  the 
daughter  of  a  Presbyterian  minister.  In 
the  fall  of  1825  his  parents  removed 
from  Kentucky  to  Crawfordville,  In- 
diana, then  a  small  brush  town  with  In- 
dians all  around,  where  they  lived  many 
years  and  died.  Ten  children  were 
born  unto  them,  seven  of  whom  still 
survive  (1885),  two  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters. The  doctor  was  reared  on  a  farm 
and  attended  such  schools  as  the  country 
afforded  at  that  early  day.  Subsequently 
he  attended  Wabash  college,  from  which 
he  graduated  in  1845.  Upon  leaving 
college,  his  health  being  somewhat  im- 
paired, he  returned  to  his  native  state 
and  engaged  in  teaching  school  for  a 
time.  Though  offered  strong  induce- 
ments by  his  friends  to  remain  with 
them,  being  conscientiously  opposed  to 
living  where  the  people  claimed  the 
right  to  hold  their  fellowmen  in  bond- 
age, he  returned  to  his  home  in  Indiana 
and  commenced  the  study  of  medicine 
in  1848,  with  Dr.  James  G.  McMechan  as 
his  preceptor.  In  1850  he  entered  Rush 
medical  college  at  Chicago,  from  which 
institution  he  subsequently  graduated 
and  entered  upon  his  life  work  with  his 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


415 


old  preceptor  at  Crawf  ordsville.  In  1852 
he  concluded  to  look  up  a  new  location, 
and  with  horse,  buggy  and  medicine, 
shingle,  etc.,  he  faced  westward  ready  to 
settle  at  such  place  as  might  offer  suc- 
cess in  business.  Stopping  a  few  days 
in  Macomb,  his  attention  was  called  to 
Middletown  (now  Fandon),  where  he 
commenced  business.  The  result  proved 
the  wisdom  of  his  choice,  as  his  prac- 
tice increased  rapidly.  In  March,  1854, 
he  removed  to  Macomb  and  engaged  in 
the  drug  business  with  J.  D.  Yeiser  un- 
til the  17th  of  May,  when  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Lucy  J.  Craig,  of  Dan- 
ville, Kentucky,  who  was  here  on  a  visit 
with  her  sister  Mrs.  Mary  V.  Yeiser.  In 
the  fall  of  1854  he,  in  partnership  with 
Isaac  P.  Monfort,  bought  the  drug  store 
of  J.  D.  Yeiser  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness for  the  next  four  years  in  connec- 
tion with  his  practice;  then,  selling  his 
interest  in  the  drug  business  to  Dr. 
David  Bice,  continued  his  practice  until 
May,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier 
in  the  service  of  his  country  in  company 
C,  137th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served  as 
hospital  steward  and  as  assistant  surgeon 
at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  where,  August 
21,  he  was  captured  by  rebel  General 
Forrest,  and  being  left  in  charge  of  the 
rebel  sick  and  wounded,  was  released 
and  permitted  to  return  to  his  regiment. 
At  the  expiration  of  enlistment  ( October 
30),  he  returned  home  with  his  health 
greatly  impaired,  but  resumed  practice 
as  soon  as  able,  which  he  still  continues 
as  health  permits.  The  doctor  is  zeal- 
ously interested  in  the  Holstein  breed 
of  cattle,  being  the  first  to  introduce  the 
stock  into  McDonough  county.  The 
doctor  is  also  a  strong  advocate  of  tem- 


perance, as  was  also  his  father  and  all  of 
the  family.  He  considers  his  temper- 
ance work  with  as  great  satisfaction  as 
any  other  effort  of  his  life.  The  doctor 
is  also  a  staunch  republican  in  politics. 
He  is  an  earnest  comrade  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  post  103,  Ma- 
comb, Illinois.  He  was  from  infancy 
carefully  taught  in  the  Presbyterian 
faith,  with  which  church  he  and  his 
household  are  connected.  They  have 
had  ten  children  born  to  them,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living  (1885),  Charles  A.. 
Carrie  C.,  Anna  M.,  Eddie  I.,  Erne  L., 
Mabel  V.  and  Lucy  H. 

Dr.  P.  F.  Garrettson  is  a  native  of  Ill- 
inois, and  was  born  in  1847.  He  com- 
menced reading  medicine  under  Dr. 
John  L.  White,  after  attending  college 
in  Alton,  this  state.  He  afterwards  at- 
tended the  St.  Louis  medical  college, 
and  graduated  therefrom  in  1869.  In 
April  of  that  year,  he  located  at  Macomb, 
where  he  has  since  followed  his  profes- 
sion. Elizabeth  Van  Pelt  became  his 
wife  in  1869.  He  is  a  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
son, a  member  of  the  I,  O.  O.  F.,  K.  P., 
and  A.  O.  U.  W. 

PHYSICIANS   OF   COLCHESTER. 

Lewis  Jeffries  was  the  first  physician 
to  locate  at  Colchester.  He  came  from 
Bethel  township  to  this  place,  in  1857. 
His  father  was  an  old  settler  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Jeffries  remained  here  un- 
til 1867,  when  he  removed  to  Macomb. 
The  present  members  of  this  honored 
profession  are  Drs.  W.  H.  Weir,  B.  F. 
Johnson,  Chas.  Howell  and  C.  W.  Fugate. 

Dr.  W.  H.  Weir,  is  one  of  the  pres- 
ent members  of  the  general  assembly, 
and  is  treated  of  in  that  connection. 


416 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Dr.  B.  F.  Johnson,  of  Colchester,  was 
born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois.  In 
1865  his  parents  removed  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  settling  near  Colchester. 
The  doctor  begau  the  study  of  medicine 
in  1873,  under  Dr.  W.  E.  Pitner,  of  Ten- 
nessee, this  county.  He  attended  Keo- 
kuk  medical  college  two  terms,  graduat- 
ing there.  He  began  practicing  in  Col- 
chester in  October,  1879.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  June,  1875,  to  Mary  F.  Irwin. 

The  firm  of  Fugate  &  Howell,  M.  D's 
of  Colchester,  was  formed  March  24, 
1884.  Charles  Howell,  of  the  firm,  was 
born  in  Scott  county,  Illinois,  August  10. 
1851.  During  1,881  and  1882,  he  at- 
tended the  Keokuk  college  of  physi- 
cians and  surgeons.  March  12, 1884,  he 
graduated  from  the  college  of  physicians 
and  surgeons  at  Chicago,  and  a  few 
days  later  became  a  member  of  the 
above  firm.  He  is  married  to  Hattie 
Young,  of  this  county,  and  has  one 
child. 

C.  W.  Fugate,  the  other  member  of 
the  firm,  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Illi- 
nois, August  27,  1840.  He  graduated 
from  Rush  medical  college,  Chicago,  in 
1864.  He  began  practice  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Illinois,  but  only  remained  there  six 
months.  He  came  to  Colchester,  Mc- 
Donough  county,  in  1877,  and,  in  1884, 
formed  his  present  partnership,  and  has 
a  very  good  practice.  July  12,  1865,  he 
was  married  to  Rebecca  Baker,  of  Adams 
county,  this  state.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Lena  E.,  and  Ada  S. 

PHYSICIANS   OF   BUSHNELL. 

The  first  medical  practitioner  to  locate 
in  the  city  of  Bushnell,  was  Dr.  George 
Scroggs,  who  came  here  in  1855.  He  re- 


mained for  many  years,  and  enjoyed  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice.  He  is  now 
living  in  Missouri. 

Dr.  Albert  S.  Clark,  at  one  time  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  Bushnell,  came  to 
that  place  in  1856,  when  it  was  a  strag- 
gling village,  where  he  run  a  drug  store 
in  connection  with  his  practice.  He  is  a 
native  of  Northampton  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, born  July  31st,  1823.  In  1844,  he 
began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  R. 
Boyington,  of  Belvidere,  New  Jersey. 
He  then  attended  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  university  of  New  York, 
from  which  he  is  a  graduate.  He  came 
to  Bushnell,  as  above,  being  the  second 
doctor  in  the  town,  and  where  he  still  re- 
sides, although  he  has  to  a  great  extent 
given  up  practice. 

Dr.  L.'M.  Markham  was  the  next,  com- 
ing to  Bushnell  during  the  winter  of 
1856-7.  He  also  remained  in  practice 
here  some  time,  dying  while  a  resident 
of  this  place. 

He  was  closely  followed  by  Dr.  F.  S. 
Secor,  who  made  his  appearance  here  in 
1857.  He  soon  made  quite  a  practice, 
and  resided  here  until  1865.  when  he  re- 
moved from  the  place,  dying  at  Odin,  in 
this  state,  at  a  later  date. 

Dr.  D.  T.  Morgan  was  the  next  to  la- 
bor in  this  profession,  which  he  most 
successfully  did  until  overtaken  by  death 
himself  while  a  citizen  of  Bushnell. 

Bushnell  can  now  boast  of  a  fine  array 
of  medical  talent,  prominent  among 
whom  are  the  following  gentlemen: 
Doctors  W.  T.  Beadles,  James  Kay,  W. 
E.  Haines,  George  Cowgill,  H.  M.  Har- 
rison and  E.  K.  Westfall.  The  lat- 
ter named  gentleman  having  been  elected 
and  served  as  a  member  of  the  state  leg- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


417 


islature,  has  been  treated  of  in  that  con- 
nection. 

William  T.  Beadles,  one  of  the  leading 
physicians  of  McDonough  county,  began 
practice  in  Bushnell,  in  March,  1866, 
where  he  has  since  practiced  his  profes- 
sion. He  is  a  native  of  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  and  was  born  January  23,  1836, 
his  parents  being  Joel  and  Thely  (Mc- 
Gee)  Beadles,  the  former  of  whom  was 
a  native  of  Danville,  Kentucky,  and  the 
latter  of  Harrodsburg,  same  state.  Joel 
Beadles'  death  occurred  during  the  year 
1843,  and  his  wife  died  in  1852.  Dr. 
Beadles  was  reared  in  Fulton  and  neigh- 
boring counties,  and,  from  1857  to  1859, 
attended  the  Michigan  university  at  Ann 
Arbor,  the  latter  year  of  which  time  was 
spent  in  the  medical  department  of  that 
institution  A  part  of  the  above  time  he 
returned  to  Lewistown,  Illinois,  and  read 
medicine  under  Dr.  E.  B.  McDowell,  of 
that  city,  for  some  eighteen  months.  But 
during  that  time  he  also  attended  Mc- 
Dowell's medical  college  at  St.  Louis, 
from  which  popular  institution  he  grad- 
uated on  the  29th  of  February,  1860. 
He  then  began  practice  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  and  18  months  later,  in  the 
spring  of  1862,  entered  the  service  of  the 
United  States  as  assistant  surgeon  4th 
regiment,  Illinois  cavalry.  After  remain- 
ing with  that  regiment  eighteen  months, 
he  was  assigned  as  assistant  surgeon  of 
1st  battalion  of  4th  Illinois  cavalry, 
which  battalion  was  detailed  as  an  escort 
for  General  Grant.  After  the  fall  of 
Vicksburg,  the  doctor  was  commissioned 
as  surgeon,  and  during  the  latter  part  of 
his  service  was  surgeon  in  chief  of  cav- 
alry forces  of  the  district  of  West  Ten- 
nessee, with  headquarters  at  Memphis. 


He  was  honorably  discharged  January 
26th,  1866.  In  the  month  of  March,  fol- 
lowing, he  located  at  Bushnell,  as  before 
stated.  At  present  he  is  one  of  the  sur- 
geons for  the  Wabash  railway  company, 
his  territory  extending  from  Canton  to 
La  Harpe,  and  for  the  past  18  years  has 
served  as  a  United  States  pension  sur- 
geon. The  doctor  held  the  office  of 
mayor  of  Bushnell  during  1877,  and  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  ed- 
ucation. In  the  performance  of  the  du- 
ties of  the  various  offices  to  which  he 
has  been  called,  he  gave  entire  satisfac- 
tion to  the  people  he  represented.  On 
the  26th  of  August,  1865,  Dr.  W.  T. 
Beadles  and  Tabitha  Leeper,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  were  united  in  marriage. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children — 
Charles  H.  and  Luana  E.  His  wife  died 
March  28th,  1885. 

Dr.  James  Kay,  of  Bushnell,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  medical  department  of 
the  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan  university. 
He  located  at  Bushnell,  in  November, 
1865,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged 
in  practice.  He  is  a  native  Kentuckian, 
and  was  born  in  August,  1829.  His 
marriage  with  Nettie  B.  Bane,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  was  solemnized  in  August,  1856. 
He  is  at  present  the  president  of  the 
school  board,  and  is  a  deacon  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

William  E.  Haines,  M.  D.,  located  in 
Bushnell  as  a  practitioner  in  April,  1880, 
and  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  very 
good  practice.  He  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  was  born  July  2,  1839.  In 
the  spring  of  1861,  he  came  to  Vermont, 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  the  following  Octo- 
ber in  company  I,  llth  Illinois  cavalry. 
His  discharge  dates  July  14,  1865.  In 


418 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1867  and  1868,  he  attended  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  Pennsylvania 
university,  graduating  thereform  in 
March,  1868.  He  then  returned  to  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  practiced  until 
1880,  then  removing  to  Bushriell.  Mary 
A.  Starr,  of  Pennsylvania,  became  his 
wife  in  March,  1868.  They  have  two 
children — Mary  E.  and  Jennie. 

George  J.  Cowgill,  M.  D.,  of  Bush- 
nell,  came  to  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1854,  and  located  at  Bardolph, 
where  he  practiced  until  1866,  then  re- 
moving to  Bushnell.  He  is  a  native  of 
Orange  county,  Virginia,  and  was  born 
in  1805.  In  1840  and  1841,  he  attended 
the  Columbus,  Ohio,  medical  collage, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  in 
the  last  named  year.  He  was  ordained 
a  minister  of  the  M.  E.  church,  in  1842. 
In  May,  1827,  Anna  Gray  became  his 
wife,  and  they  now  have  two  children — 
Hannah  and  John  F.  Mr.  Cowgill  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order 
since  1838. 

Dr.  H.  M.  Harrison,  of  Bushnell,  is  a 
native  of  Licking  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  July  26,  1852.  In  1854,  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
and  two  years  later  returned  to  Ohio. 
They  again  removed  to  Fulton  county, 
in  1856,  where  the  doctor  was  reared. 
He  began  reading  medicine  when  15 
years  of  age,  and  graduated  from  the  St. 
Louis  medical  college,  in  1872,  locating 
at  Bushnell  some  years  later,  where  he 
has  since  followed  his  profession. 

PHYSICIANS   OF   BLANDINSVILLE. 

Among  the  early  medical  men  of  this 
town,  none  stand  out  as  prominently  as 
Drs.  W.  A.  Huston  and  John  Hardesty. 


The  former  of  these  afterwards  removed 
to  Maconib,  and  is  treated  of  in  that  con- 
nection. 

Dr.  John  Hardesty  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, May  13,  1793.  His  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Nancy  Fowler,  her 
family  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  this 
state  and  having  a  number  of  represent- 
atives now  living  in  this  county.  Dur- 
ing the  early  life  of  John  he  lived  and 
worked  with  his  parents  on  a  farm  and 
in  the  common  or  subscription  schools 
of  his  time  laid  the  foundation  of  an  ed- 
ucation secured  in  after  years  by  self- 
application. 

When  war  with  Great  Britain  was 
proclaimed  in  1812,  the  patriotic  feeling 
inherited  from  his  sire  caused  him  to  en- 
roll his  name  among  his  country's  de- 
fenders, and,  although  young  in  years, 
he  went  forth,  and  during  the  entire 
campaign  bore  himself  as  become  a  hero. 
In  May,  1811,  Mr.  Hardesty  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Hungate, 
daughter  of  Colonel  John  Hungate,  of 
Kentucky,  by  whom  he  had  nine  sons 
and  three  daughters.  In  1818,  he,  with 
his  family,  left  his  Kentucky  home  for 
Illinois,  and  for  six  years  resided  in 
Hamilton  county,  removing  from  thence 
to  Adams  county,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  when  he  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  arriving  here  on  the  3d 
day  of  April,  1830,  and  securing  for  a 
home  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  9, 
in  what  is  now  Blandinsville  township 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  well-known 
"Job's  settlement."  With  the  excep- 
tion of  some  three  years  spent  in  Mis- 
souri, he  lived  in  this  neighborhood  un- 
til death  called  him  away.  Mr.  Hard- 
esty came  to  this  county  before  it  was 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


419 


organized,  and  at  the  first  election  was 
one  of  three  elected  to  fill  the  office  of 
county  commissioner,  to  which  office  he 
was  several  times  re-elected.  As  one  of 
the  county  commissioners,  he  assisted 
in  laying  off  the  town  of  Macomb. 
While  a  citizen  of  Missouri,  Mr.  Hard- 
esty  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Johnson, 
of  Savannah,  in  that  state,  and  during 
his  residence  there,  built  up  a  large 
practice.  On  returning  to  McDonough 
county  he  continued  to  practice  for  some 
years.  In  this  field  of  usefulness  he 
achieved  some  success,  bringing  to  bear 
upon  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
profession  rare  common  sense  in  the  dis- 
cernment of  disease.  Dr.  Hardesty  was 
called  to  his  long  home  on  the  3d  day  of 
September,  1875,  and  was  buried  near 
Hillsborough  church,  of  which  body  he 
had  long  been  a  member.  Elder  J.  H. 
Delano,  of  Blandinsville,  delivered  the 
furneral  sermon,  and  his  body  was  laid 
away  to  await  the  summons  on  the  res- 
urection  morn. 

The  medical  fraternity  is  represented 
at  present  by  Doctors  J.  H.  Emery,  W. 
M.  Huston,  J.  M.  Duncan,  S.  Thomp- 
son, and  J.  R.  Gamble,  sketches  of  whom 
are  here  appended. 

J.  H.  Emery,  M.  D.,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1834,  in  Richland  county,  Ohio. 
He  is  the  second  son  of  Henry  and  Olive 
(Jacobs)  Emery,  who  moved  from  Ohio 
to  this  state  in  an  early  day  and  settled 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  J.  H.  Emery 
lived  on  a  farm  with  his  father  until  he 
was  of  age,  then  he  began  teaching 
school  and  followed  that  profession  for 
six  years,  giving  good  success  as  a 
teacher.  He  came  to  McDonough  couny 
in  1861,  taught  school  six  months  near 


Bushnell,  then  six  months  at  Good  Hope, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  Dr. 
Duncan.  Studied  medicine  with  him 
one  year.  He  then  attended  medical 
lectures  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  came  to 
Blandinsville  in  1863,  where  he  has  since 
resided,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  med- 
icine. In  the  year  1864,  he  opened  a 
drug  store,  and  still  carries  on  that  bus- 
iness in  connection  with  his  practice. 
He  has,  also,  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock-raising  to  a  considerable  extent, 
and  has  a  good  farm  admirably  adapted 
to  the  latter,  located  three  and  a  half 
miles  west  and  south  of  Blandinsville, 
and  contains  220  acres.  He  has  several 
head  of  thoroughbred  short-horn, grades, 
and  other  stock  cattle  on  his  farm.  Dr. 
Emery  was  married  in  1865  to  Rhoda 
Hardesty,  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
and  has  by  this  union  seven  children. 
Olin  P.,  James  H.,  Otto,  Roscoe  D., 
Lois  E.,  Daisy  R.,  and  Mamie.  Dr. 
Emery  has  been  successful  both  as  a 
medical  practitioner,  druggist  and  as  a 
stock  raiser,  Politically  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  democratic  party,  as  a  cit- 
izen, he  is  popular  and  highly  reputed. 
William  M.  Huston,  M.  D.,  one  of  the 
most  popular  and  experienced  medical 
practitioners  of  McDonough  county,  was 
born  August  6,  1829,  near  the  city  of 
Jacksonville,  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois. 
In  1830  his  parents  removed  to  this 
county  and  located  on  a  farm.  William 
remained  at  home,  engaged  in  working 
upon  the  farm  and  attending  the  district 
school  until  he  reached  the  age  of  18 
years.  He  was  then  sent  to  school  in 
Macomb  one  year  and  subsequently,  in 
Galesburg  two  years.  In  1850  he  com- 
menced studying  medicine  and  after- 


420 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


wards  attended  the  Eclectic  medical  col- 
lege at  Cincinnati,  taking  two  courses  of 
lectures.  In  1853  he  went  to  Monmouth, 
Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  there  began 
his  career  as  a  physician,  thence  to  Mex- 
ico, Missouri,  where  he  remained  18 
months,  then  returned  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Rushville.  He  continued 
there  practicing  his  profession,  from 
1857  till  1861,  then  removed  to  Hender- 
son county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  connection  with  his  medical  prac- 
tice, remaining  there  until  1870,  when  he 
came  to  McDonough  county  and  located 
at  Blandinsville.  He  has  been  a  resi- 
dent here  since  that  time  ..during  which 
he  has  won  a  wide  and  enviable  reputa- 
tion for  skill  in  his  profession  and  has 
had,  and  is  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  an 
extensive  and  remunerative  practice. 
He  was  married  June  19,  1855,  to  Sarah 
Coleman,  a  native  of  Hopkinsville, 
Christian  county,  Kentucky.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living  at  home.  Doctor  Huston  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
politically  a  democrat. 

J.  M.  Duncan,  physician  in  Blandins- 
ville, was  born  in  this  county,  three 
miles  northwest  from  the  village,  April 
8,  1859.  His  parents  were  John  and 
Margaret  (Wright)  Duncan.  The  for- 
mer died  March  4,  1873,  in  this  county, 
and  was  buried  in  "Old  Liberty"  ceme- 
tery. The  latter  died  in  1856  and  was 
buried  in  the  same  place.  J.  M.  re- 
mained at  home  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  21  years  of  age.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  the  county, 
and  has  taught  school  in  this  state  and 
Iowa  and  Missouri.  In  1862  he  enlisted 
in  Captain  Hume's  company,  78th  Illi- 


nois volunteers,  and  ,served  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  among  those 
of  his  company  who  were  captured  at 
Muldrose's  Hill,  Kentucky,  was  paroled, 
and  spent  nearly  a  year  at  Benton  Bar- 
racks, St.  Louis,  before  being  exchanged. 
During  his  service  he  was  for  nearly  one 
year  hospital  steward  at  Nashville,  Ten- 
nessee. He  also  served  for  a  time  as 
quartermaster's  clerk  on  Gen.  Sherman's 
staff.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was 
married  to  Mary  J.  Cranshaw,  of  Hen- 
derson county.  In  February,  1866,  he 
went  to  Texas  and  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  and  returned  in  Novem- 
ber, 1868,  and  was  with  Dr.  Butler,  of 
.LaHarpe,  for  one  year.  He  then  entered 
a  medical  college  at  Keokuk,  and  gradu- 
ated February  21,  1870.  He  then  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine  in  Ad- 
ams county,  this  state,  and  in  1871  and 
1872  he  attended  a  full  course  of  medical 
lectures  in  St.  Louis,  and  graduated  with 
the  highest  degree.  He  continued  to 
practice  in  Adams  county  until  October, 
1879,  when  he  located  in  Blandinsville, 
where  he  has  remained.  In  connection 
with  his  practice  he  has  a  drug  store. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  his  fam- 
ily, four  of  whom  are  living.  Arthur  Q. 
was  born  August  14,  1866;  Alta  Belle, 
July  30,  1872;  James  Melvin,  June  7, 
1880;  Sura  Wilmerth,  December  10, 1882. 
Euby  Mary,  died  July  25,  1871,  at  Mar- 
celline,  Adams  county.  The  father  of  J. 
M.,  John  Duncan,-  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  the  county,  having  emigrated 
from  White  county,  Tennessee,  in  1832, 
and  settled  in  Blandinsville  township, 
and  followed  farming  until  the  day  of  his 
death.  The  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children,  nine  boys  and  two  girls:  Mary 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


421 


Jane,  born  October  5,  1825;  Thomas  B., 
born  June  18, 1828;  Elizabeth,  born  July 
20, 1830;  Charles,  born  February  5, 1832; 
William,  born  .December  27,  1833;  Joel, 
born  October  6,  1835;  John,  born  Sep- 
tember 15,  1837;  James  M.,  born  April 
8, 1839;  Benjamin  F.,  born  July  15, 1841; 
Harrison  H.,  born  December  11,  1844; 
Samuel  B.,  May  6, 1846.  Of  these,  eight 
are  now  living.  Charles  died  in  the 
mines  of  California,  May  27, 1853;  Joel 
died  in  this  county  June  20, 1857;  Eliza- 
beth died  in  June,  1879.  James  M.  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

Dr.  B.  A.  Duncan,  well  known  through- 
out the  county  as  an  able  physician,  came 
to  McDonough  county  in  1849,  and  lo- 
cated on  the  site  of  the  present  village  of 
Industry,  where  he  remained  in  full 
practice  for  28  years,  with  the  exception 
of  the  few  months  spent  in  the  service  of 
the  general  government, .  as  private  and 
hospital  steward  in  the  128th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, a  100-day  regiment.  Dr.  Dun- 
can was  born  in  Frankfort,  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  6,  1825.  He 
at  first  studied  medicine  under  the  cele- 
brated Dr.  Alexander  McCandless,  of 
Pittsburg,  and  later  at  the  medical  col- 
lege, of  the  same  city,  and  of  which  he 
was  a  gradute.  He  was  married  in  1845, 
to  Julia  Standard,  who  died  November 
1,  1863.  The  doctor  on  the  8th  of  No- 
vember, 1864,  married  Martha  Merrick. 
On  the  31st  of  March,  1877,  Dr.  Duncan 
left  this  world  of  trouble,  for  a  better 
one,  leaving  a  mourning  family. 

Dr.  Sylvester  Thompson,  practicing 
physician,  came  to  this  county  in  1867. 
He  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  March 
27th,  1845.  His  parents  were  Nathaniel 


and  Rebecca  (Spangler)  Thompson. 
Sylvester  remained  at  home  working 
upon  a  farm  until  he  was  about  17  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Abingdon  col- 
lege, where  he  remained  some  three 
years.  He  studied  medicine  with  t  Dr. 
Reece,  of  Abingdon,  for  a  time,then  went 
to  a  medical  school  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich- 
igan, and  then  to  Rush  medical  college, 
Chicago,  graduating  from  that  institu- 
tion February  3d,  1869.  After  receiving 
his  diploma  he  went  to  Missouri,  prac- 
ticed medicine  some  four  years,  and  then 
took  another  course  of  lectures  at  the 
Missouri  medical  college,  and  returned 
to  Blandinsville,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. He  was  married  September  17th, 
1878,  to  Olive  A.  Alexander.  They  have 
four  children. 

Dr.  John  R.  Gamble  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  in  Knox  county,  March  26, 
1837.  He  came  to  this  county  in  De- 
cember, 1876.  His  parents  are  John  R. 
and  Lavina  ( Collins )  Gamble.  He  lived 
with  his  parents  upon  a  farm  until  16 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  to  Douglas 
county,  in  this  state,  where  he  remained, 
farming,  trading,  etc.,  until  1860,  when 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in 
the  university  of  Michigan,  and  after- 
wards at  Bellevue  hospital,  New  York. 
He  practiced  medicine  at  first  in  Ohio, 
but  since  1876  he  has  practiced  in  this 
county.  He  was  married  May  24,  1866. 
to  Martha  J.  McVey.  They  have  had 
six  children,  four  now  living,  and  all  at 
home. 

OTHER  PHYSICIANS  IN  THE  COUNTY. 

Throughout  the  county,  both  in  the 
smaller  towns  and  villages  and  in  some 
entirely  rural  districts,  are  located  phy- 


25 


422 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


sicians,  some  of  most  excellent  ability, 
and  all  of  them  able  to  cope  with  disease 
and  death.  Among  these  may  be  men- 
tioned, Drs.  E.  N.  Campbell,  Abraham 
Hull,  James  B,  Hull  and  S.  F.  Sanders, 
of  Good  Hope;  Dr.  V.  Stookey,  of  Fan- 
don;  Dr.  B.  F.  Irish,  of  Hire  township; 
Drs.  J.  B.  Knapp  and  H.  B.  Sikes,  of 
Bardolph;  Drs.  D.  M.  Creel  and  G.  G. 
Shannon,  of  Industry;  Dr.  J.  B.  Le- 
Matty,  of  New  Philadelphia;  Drs.  Henry 
and  W.  L.  Kreider  and  A.  M.  Westf  all, 
of  Prairie  City:  and  Dr.  W.  E.  Pittman. 
Ebenezer  N.  Campbell,  M.  D.,  a  prac- 
ticing physician  at  Good  Hope,  is  a  son 
of  David  Campbell,  and  was  born  Janu- 
ary 8,  1849,  in  Walnut  Grove  township. 
He  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  the  farm  of 
his  birth,  and  attended  the  district 
schools.  At  the  age  of  19  he  went  to 
Macomb  and  attended  the  Branch  col- 
lege, after  which  he  spent  one  year  at 
home.  He  then  went  to  Good  Hope  and 
^spent  a  year  studying  and  teaching 
music,after  which  he  went  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  and  attended  the  National 
normal  school,  then  returned  to  Good 
Hope  and  engaged  in  teaching.  The 
following  summer  he  attended  another 
normal  school  at  Binghamton,  New 
York,  then  returned  to  Good  Hope  and 
followed  teaching.  Two  years  later  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  his  father 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
which  he  continued  two  years,  then  sold 
out.  He  soon  after  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  the  office  of  Drs.  Wright  & 
Hull,  at  Good  Hope.  During  the  win- 
ter of  1877-78  he  attended  his  first  course 
of  lectures  at  the  college  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  cbntinu- 
ing  his  studies  at  Good  Hope  the  follow- 


ing summer.  He  returned  to  Keokuk 
in  the  fall  of  1878,  and  graduated  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1879.  He  began  the  practice 
of  medicine  April  17,  1879,  at  Walnut 
Grove  station,  McDonough  county, where 
he  remained  until  September,  1880.  At 
that  date  he  removed  to  Good  Hope, 
where  he  has  since  been  practicing  his 
profession.  Doctor  Campbell  has  been 
very  successful  in  his  practice,  and 
has  .already  won  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion for  his  skill  in  battling  with  dis- 
eases. He  has  an  extensive  and  increas- 
ing business.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 11,  1873,  to  Sidney  Monger,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  who  was  born  September  11, 
1855,  and  died  April  7,  1875.  Novem- 
ber 5,  1879,  Dr.  Campbell  was  married 
to  Emily  F.  Armstrong,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  who  was  born  August  3, 1852. 
'  By  this  latter  union  there  are  two  chil- 
dren, vix:  Homer  M.  and  Winnifred  F. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Good  Hope. 
He  is  a  republican  politically  and  has 
held  the  office  of  postmaster  and  other 
local  offices.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  Milan  lodge,  No. 
617,  and  as  a  gentleman  and  citizen  is 
popular  and  much  esteemed. 

Dr.  Samuel  F.  Sanders,  located  in  the 
village  of  Good  Hope,  is  a  native  of 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  born  April  16, 
1845,  and  is  a  son  of  J.  T.  Sanders,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  now  resides 
in  Bushnell,  this  county.  The  doctor  is 
the  second  of  four  children,  and  received 
his  literary  education  at  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois, at  the  Hedding  college.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  college  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  in  1868, 
when  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


423 


settling  at  Good  Hope,  where  he  is  still 
engaged  in  active  practice.  He  also 
graduated  from  the  Missouri  medical 
college  in  1872,  and  took  a  post-graduate 
course  at  Rush  medical  college,  Chicago, 
in  the  spring  of  1881.  Dr.  Sanders  was 
married,  in  May,  1871,  to  Matilda  A. 
Morris,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Morris, 
an  old  settler  of  Good  Hope.  They 
have  been  blessed  in  the  birth  of  three 
children:  Ula  M.,  Frederick  M.  and 
Boy  A. 

Abraham  Hull,  M.  D.,  also  of  Good 
Hope,  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio, 
April  2,  1815,  where  he  received  his  edu- 
cation, and  attended  the  Granville  college 
about  two  years.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  in  1839,  with  Dr.  Green,  now  a 
resident  of  Decorah,  Iowa,  and  Dr.  Flow- 
ers, of  Perry  county,  that  state,  remain- 
ing with  each  about  a  year.  In  1842  he 
began  practice  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
and  two  years  later  entered  the  medical 
department  of  Kemper  college,  gradu- 
ating from  that  institution  in  the  spring 
of  1844.  He  then  returned  to  Fulton 
county,  and  later  went  to  Kansas  City, 
Missouri,  returning  to  Fulton  county 
again  in  1875,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  locating  at  Good  Hope,  where  he 
has  since  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Dr.  Hull  was  married  on 
December  25,  1858,  to  Caroline  Hezlep- 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them — 
James  E.  and  Libbie  C. 

Doctor  James  E.  Hull,  a  resident  of 
Good  Hope,  was  born  in  Peoria  county, 
Illinois,  May  3,  1860.  He  entered  the 
office  of  his  father  for  the  study  of  med- 
icine, and  in  1877  attended  to  courses  of 
lectures  at  the  Keokuk,  Iowa,  medical 


college,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1880.  He  settled  in  the  village  of  Sciota, 
this  county,  where  he  practiced  three 
years,  when  he  went  to  Good  Hope  and 
engaged  in  practice  witli  his  father, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  was  married, 
September  9,  1880,  to  Chloe  B.  Warner. 
They  are  the  parents  ot  two  children — 
Carrie  B.  and  Fred  W. 

D.  V.  Stookey,  M.  D.,  Faiidon,  is  a 
native  of  Lamoine  township,  this  county, 
born  August  19,  1851.  He  is  a  son  of 
Benjamin  Stookey,  and  was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm.  He  attended  com- 
mon school  at  Plymouth  and  business 
college  at  Quincy.  He  also  attended  the 
South  Abingdon  college  for  a  short  time. 
He  began  the  study,  of  medicine  under 
Dr.  D.  J.  Fugate,  and  attended  the  col- 
lege of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  at  Keo- 
kuk in  1881  and  1882,  graduating  there 
in  1883.  He  was  a  partner  of  Dr.  Fu- 
gate for  18  months  after  returning  from 
school.  He  was  married  in  1878  to 
Sarah  Cecil.  They  have  three  children. 

Benjamin  F.  Irish  came  to  McDon- 
ough county  in  1853,  and  settled  near 
Fandon,  and  practiced  medicine  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Colchester,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing four  years,  but  lived  about  Colches- 
ter from  1856  to  1872.  He  now  lives  on 
the  farm  of  Ebenezer  Hicks  and  con- 
trols about  470  acres.  His  farm  lies  in 
Bethel  township,  where  he  owns  one- 
half  section  of  land.  B.  F.  Irish  was 
born  and  raised  in  Michigan  and  studied 
medicine  with  his  father,  Thomas  Irish, 
who  was  then  a  practicing  physician  in 
Ann  Arbor.  He  studied  in  the  eclectic 
schools  and  has  always  practiced  under 
that  form  of  practice.  At  present  he 


424 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


does  not  do  much  in  this  line,  only  go- 
ing on  occasional  visits  among  the  neigh- 
bors as  necessity  compels.  Mr.  Irish 
has  been  twice  married,  the  latter  union 
being  With  Mary  F.  .Hicks,  a  daughter 
of  E.  N.  Hicks,  of  Hire  township. 

Dr.  James  B.  Knapp  was  born  in  Cam- 
eron, Steuben  county,  New  York,   Feb- 
ruary 15,  1836,  and  is  the   son  of  Wil- 
iam  and  Ann  E.  ( Osborn )  Knapp.     His 
father  was  a  farmer  in  Steuben  county ; 
he  died  in  1875.      His   mother  died  in 
1865.     His  early  life  was   spent  in  his 
native  state,  where  he  was  educated.     In 
1857  he  went  to   Shelby  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  he  taught  school  for  about 
two  years,  when  he  returned  to  his   old 
home  and  commenced  the  study  of  med- 
icine,  with   Dr.    S.  Mitchell,   who  was 
then  a  practicing  physician  at  Cameron 
Mills,  teaching  school,  however,  during 
the  first  two  years,  he  prosecuted  his 
studies.    In  July,  1862,  he  came  to  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  and  in  August,  1862,  he 
entered  the  army,  enlisting  as  a  private 
in  the  102d  Illinois  infantry.      In  Jan- 
uary, 1864,    at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  he 
was  made  hospital   steward,  and  while 
engaged  in  front  of  Atlanta  in  carrying 
the  wounded  of  his  regiment  off  the  field, 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  thigh  by  a 
piece  of  shell,  which  he  still  keeps  as  a 
memento.     After  receiving  his  wound, 
he  was  sent  to  hospital  No.  2,  at  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee,  where,  when  he  became 
convalescent,  he  was  assigned  to  the  dis- 
pensary and  acted  as  pharmacist.    There 
were  5000  sick  and  wounded  receiving  at- 
tention  at    the    hospital   at  this  time. 
Upon  the  surrender  of  Lee,  he  secured 
his  discharge,  and  returned  to  the  state 
of  New  York.     He  had  previously   vis- 


ited his  old  home  while  on  furlough,  and, 
in  February,  1864,  was  married  to  Nancy 
J.  Cronkrite,  a  native  of  Tyrone,  Schuy- 
ler  county,  New  York,  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Catherine  (McDowell)  Cronkrite. 
In  the  fall  of  1865  he  entered  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  university  of  Buf- 
falo, where  he  prosecuted  his  studies  for 
five  months,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866 
he  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Townsend,  Schuyler  county,  New 
York.  He  remained  there  but  six 
months,  when  he  went  to  Odessa,  in  the 
same  county,  and  while  residing  there 
he  continued  his  medical  studies  at  Buf- 
falo, graduating  February  22,  1870.  He 
continued  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Odessa  until  1872,  when  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  settling  in  Bar- 
dolph,  where  he  has  since  continued  in 
practice.  In  1876,  though  having  a 
large  practice,  ill-health  compelled  him 
to  relinquish  his  profession  in  part,  and 
with  S.  W.  Dallum  he  bought  out  Gard- 
ner &  Porter.  In  1882  Dallum  sold  his 
interest  to  George  Curry,  and  the  firm 
became  Curry  &  Co.  They  carry  a  stock 
of  about  $2,000,  consisting  of  drugs, 
groceries,  and  a  small  amount  of  hard- 
ware. He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  G.  A.  K.  He 
has  four  children:  Melville  C.,  Char- 
lotte S.,  James  B.  and  George  B.;  the 
latter  are  twins. 

"VV.  L.  Kreider,  M.  D.,  practicing  phy- 
sician at  Prairie  City,  is  a  son  of  George 
and  Barbara  (Brown)  Kreider,  natives 
of  Pennsylvania.  George  Kreider  was 
a  son  of  Christian  Kreider,  also  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  1849,  aged 
92  years.  W.  L.  Kreider  was  born  Jan- 
uary 31, 1832,  in  Washington  county,  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


425 


the  same  state,  and  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois  in 
1835.  They  located  on  section  25,  Union 
township.  In  the  spring  of  1856,  Dr. 
Kreider  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  settled  in  Prairie  City.  He  was 
married  May  14,  1857,  -to  Louisa  C. 
Weaver,  daughter  of  Jonathan  "Weaver, 
of  Prairie  City.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are 
living — Carrie  L.,  wife  of  Edward  John- 
son, of  Ohio;  Nettie  M.  and  O.  Winnie, 
living  with  their  parents.  The  two 
others  are  dead.  Mrs.  Kreider  and  her 
daughters  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Dr.  Kreider  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  Hush  medical  college,  at  Chicago ; 
and  is  well  qualified,  both  by  nature 
and  education,  for  his  responsible  duties 
as  a  physician.  He  is  popular  and  suc- 
cessful, and  has  an  extensive  practice. 
He  is  liberal  in  politics. 

Henry  W.  Kreider,  M.  D.,  an  early 
settler  and  prominent  citizen  of  McDon- 
ough county,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  24,  1818. 
He  came  to  this  state  with  his  parents, 
George  and  Barbara  (Brown)  Kreider, 
in  October,  1835,  and  settled  in  Fulton 
county,  where  he  remained  until  March, 
1856.  At  that  date  he  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  located  at  Prairie 
City,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine.  He  was  married  January  20, 
1848,  to  Abigail  C.  Chatterton,  daughter 
of  Cornelius  Chatterton,  of  Ohio,  and  by 
this  union  had  one  child,  Ella  M.,  now 
the  wife  of  L.  C.  Hamilton,  of  Clarinda, 
Iowa.  Dr.  Kreider  was  the  first  physi- 
cian to  locate  in  Prairie  City,  and  is  yet 
in  the  enjoyment  of  an  entensive  prac- 
tice. He  is  a  graduate  of  Bush  medi- 


cal college,  at  Chicago.  He  has  been 
for  many  years  a  leading  citizen  of  Prai- 
rie City,  and  also  of  McDonough  county. 
He  was  instrumental  in  raising  the  sub- 
scription for  building  the  Prairie  City 
academy,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee,  and 
also  a  member  of  the  executive  commit- 
tee having  that  institution  in  charge. 
He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the 
Pekin  &  Mississippi  railroad  company. 
He  held  that  office  two  years,  and  dur- 
ing that  time  raised  $260,000,  local  aid, 
to  carry  on  the  building  of  said  road; 
also  secured  the  right  of  way  for  60 
miles,  and  contracted  for  its  construc- 
tion, but  on  account  of  the  panic  of  1872, 
the  enterprise  had  to  be  abandoned.  He 
was  president  of  the  First  National 
bank  of  Prairie  City  two  years.  He 
also  established  the  first  bank  in  this 
place.  Thus  has  he  ever  been- foremost 
in  enterprise  and  public  spirit,  and  has 
done  much  toward  building  up  the  edu- 
cational and  business  interests,  not  only 
of  Prairie  City,  but  of  this  portion  of 
McDonough  county,  a  fact  which  is  duly 
appreciated  by  all. 

Joseph  B.  LeMatty,  practicing  physi- 
cian in  New  Philadelphia,  is  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  born  August  18,  in  the 
year  1846.  His  mother  died  in  New 
Jersey,  but  his  father,  Joseph  LeMatty, 
is  now  living  at  Nauvoo.  In  early  life 
he  worked  upon  a  farm ;  in  1867  he  came 
to  Bushnell  and  established  himself  in 
the  business  of  a  barber.  While  pursu- 
ing this  business,  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  A.  L. 
Hoover,  and  in  1875,  went  to  St.  Louis 
and  attended  the  Missouri  medical  col- 
lege, and  graduated  in  all  the  branches 
of  surgery  and  medicine.  He  com- 


426 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


menced  practice  in  New  Philadelphia,  in 
the  summer  of  1877,  and  has  ever  since 
continued  to  receive  good  patronage. 
He  married  Mary  B.  Clark,  a  daughter 
of  John  A.  Clark,  a  well  known  citizen 
of  the  county.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren— Minnie  M.,  Annie  and  Daisy.  Dr. 
LeMatty  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge  at  Vermont,  Fulton  county,  where 
for  a  brief  period  he  resided. 

George  G.  Shannon,  M.  D.,  practicing 
physician  at  Industry,  was  born  in  that 
town,  October  26,  1850.  His  parents 
were  William  and  Mary  (Miller)  Shan- 
non, natives  of  Tennessee.  William 
Shannon  died  in  the  spring  of  1866,  in 
this  township.  His  widow  still  survives 
him.  George  G.,  remained  with  his 
parents  and  worked  upon  the  farm  until 
23  years  old.  He  then  entered  the 
medical  department  of  the  university  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  where  he  was  a 
student  three  years,  graduating  from 
that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1875, 
after  which  he  located  in  Youngstown, 
Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  con- 
tinued there  18  months,  then  removed 
to  his  native  town  where  he  has  since 
remained,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
months  in  1880,  which  he  spent  in  at- 
tending lectures  at  the  Chicago  medical 
college.  In  1879  he  opened  a  drug  store 
in  Industry,  which  business  he  still  car- 
ried on  in  connection  with  his  medical 
practice.  Although  still  young,  Dr. 
Shannon  has  won  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion as  a  physician,  and  has  an  exten- 
sive and  remunerative  practice.  He  was 
married  in  December,  1875,  to  Ella 
Beaver,  and  has  by  this  union,  two  chil- 
dren— Maud  A.  and  Frankie. 


D.  M.  Creel,  M.  D.,  is  a  son  of  Dur- 
ham and  Mary  (Smith)  Creel,  native 
Kentuckians,  who  formed  an  attachment 
for  each  other  while  schoolmates  in 
their  native  state.  That  mutual  feeling 
of  regard  soon  ripened  into  love,  and  at 
age  of  19  years  they  united  their  desti- 
nies by  marriage.  Ten  children  blessed 
the  union,  seven  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters— Charles,  Malinda,  James,  Marta- 
tie  F.  Cager,  Silas,  D.  M.,  John,  John 
and  Sarah  J.  The  doctor  lived  with  his 
parents  until  of  age — then  attended 
school  until  23  years  old  at  Cherry 
Grove  seminary,  Knox  county,  and  then 
taught  school  for  six  years.  He  was 
married  in  1850  to  Mary  E.  Standard  of 
Industry  township.  He  there  engaged 
in  farming  and  was  thus  occupied  until 
May,  1855,  when  his  wife  died  leaving 
two  children.  He  then  commenced 
reading  medicine  with  Dr.  B.  A.  Dun- 
can, and  subsequently  attended  medical 
lectures  at  Keokuk,  Iowa.  He  was  the 
second  time  married  July  4,  1857,  to 
Mary  C.  Adkinson,  and  in  1858  com- 
menced the  practice  of  medicine  in  In- 
dustry— where  he  is  now  engaged  in  his 
chosen  profession. 

A.  M.  Westfall,  M.  D.,  was  born  Aug- 
ust 29, 1844,  in  the  state  of  Iowa.  The 
following  year,  his  parents,  Fielding  L., 
and  Malinda  ( Stapleton )  Westfall,  came 
to  McDonough  county  and  settled  in 
Macomb  where  they  resided  until  1857, 
In  that  year  they  removed  to  Prairie 
City.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
was  reared  and  educated  in  this  county. 
He  studied  medicine  with  his  father 
who  was  a  physician.  In  1864,  he  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Murray,  a  daughter 
of  William  Murray,  of  Fulton  county, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


427. 


They  have  three  children — Minnie  A., 
Willard  L.,  and  Frank  K.  Dr.  West- 
fall  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fratern- 
ity and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Dr.  William  R.  Pittinan  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  this  state,  March  15th, 
1832.  He  taught  school  and  studied 
medicine  at  intervals  until  1856,  when 
he  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion which  he  has  continued  ever  since. 
March  12,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Mar- 
tha E.  Bacon,  who  died  May  10,  1876, 


and  June  12,  1877,  he  was  married  to 
Sadie  Gridley.  The  doctor  is  the  father 
of  six  children,  Alice,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy ;  William,  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years;  James  P.  and  Larkin  B.,  both  liv- 
ing; Edith  and  Maud,  by  the  last  mar- 
riage, both  living  at  home. 

A  sketch  of  Dr.  H.  B.  Sikes,  of  Bar- 
dolph,  will  be  found  in  the  history  of 
that  town,  it  not  having  been  returned  to 
us  in  time  for  insertion  in  this  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


ECCLESIASTICAL. 

"You  raised  these  hallowed  walls,  the  desert  smiled, 
And  Paradise  was  opened  in  the  wild." 


In  touching  upon  the  religious  his- 
tory, whether  the  field  of  the  chronicler 
be  extended  to  the  broad  expanse  of  the 
universe,  or  confined  to  the  narrow  lim- 
its of  a  state  or  county,  there  stands  out 
on  every  page,  predominant,  the  fact 
that  the  religion  of  any  nation,  of  any 
people,  of  any  age,  is  the  foundation  of 
its  institutions,  the  source  of  its  customs, 
and  the  one  thing  nearest  the  popular 
heart. 

Let  us  go  back  no  further  than  the 
dawn  of  the  Christian  era — though  the 
same  conditions  appear  as  clearly  be- 
fore as  after  that  date;  we  find  that  for 
many  generations  after  the  birth  of 
Christ,  the  records  of  religion  comprise 


the  history  of  the  times ;  later  on,  we 
find  the  religious  wars  of  the  crusades 
upsetting  the  equilibrium  of  the  whole 
civilized  world.  Later  still,  we  find  the 
people  of  the  old  world,  fleeing  from  re- 
ligious persecution,  flocking  to  Amer- 
ica's gladsome  shores,  the  one  object 
urging  them  on  to  the  casting  of  their 
lots  in  unexplored  climes,  being  the  de- 
sire and  firm  determination  to  worship 
God  according  to  their  own  belief. 

Thus  we  see,  as  early  as  1562,  the 
Hugenots,  finding  the  practice  of  their 
religious  belief  in  France  impossible, 
settling  Carolina's  shores  for  no  other 
purpose  than  to  carry  out  this  one  pre- 
eminent trait  of  human  character — free- 


428 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


dom,  at  least  for  one's  own  religion; 
then,  for  like  reasons,  the  Pilgrim 
Fathers  taking  up  their  abode  on  New 
England's  rock-bound  coast;  then  the 
Calverts  and  their  followers,  fleeing  from 
the  ban  in  England,  are  found  in  1634, 
peopling  Maryland,  and  taking  up  again, 
where  it  was  broken  off  in  their  native 
land,  the  thread  of  their  religion;  and 
lastly,  in  our  retrospect,  we  can  see  the 
Quakers,  that  peaceful  sect,  unable  to 
worship  in  their  quiet  fashion  at  home, 
following  the  guidance  of  William 
Penn,and  settling  on  that  pleasant  Penn- 
sylvania grant  which  his  foresight  and 
wisdom  had  provided  for  them  in  the 
promised  land — the  new  world.  And  is  it 
any  wonder  that  at  this  later  day,  and  in 
this  land  of  freedom,  the  descendants  of 
those  people  still  hold  an  elevated  opin- 
ion of  that  for  which  their  ancestors 
fought  and  bled,  suffering  the  afflictions 
of  martyrdom  and  banishment?  Right 
here,  among  our  own  people,  with  all  the 
rough  edges  of  conflicting  creeds  worn 
away  by  the  contact  of  years,  it  is  not 
difficult  to  note  the  fact  that  a  man's  re- 
ligion, or  the  want  of  it,  is  the  underly- 
ing trait  of  his  character,  if  his  senti- 
ments be  fully  aroused  on  that  point. 

So,  mindful  of  this  fact,  in  giving  the 
ecclesiastical  history  of  McDonough 
county,  it  will  be  the  endeavor  to  treat 
of  each  sect  independently,  instituting 
no  comparisons,  but  showing  historical 
events  as  they  occurred,  and  leaving  it 
to  the  reader  to  draw  his  own  conclusions 
and  inferences.  i 

PBESBYTEEIAN    CHURCH   OF   MACOMB. 

The  following  excellent  sketch  of  the 
history  of  this  church,  was  prepared 


for  Clarke's  "History  of  McDonough 
county,"  by  Rev.  Josiah  Moore,  at  that 
time  the  pastor  of  the  church.  We 
make  no  apology  for  presenting  it  here, 
as  it  contains  the  whole  matter. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Macomb 
was  the  first  of  this  body,  and  was  or- 
ganized June  9,  1832,  two  years  after 
the  county  seat  was  located  at  Macomb, 
then  a  wild  prairie. 

As  evidence  that  the  hardships  of  the 
wilderness  did  not  bleach  the  "true 
blue"  Presbyterians,  it  is  said  that  Rev. 
Romulus  Barnes,  then  presiding  at 
Lewistown,  proposed  to  assist  in  the  or- 
ganization, but  some  objected  because 
they  feared  he  was  not  sound  in  the 
faith;  and  so  they  sent  to  Morgan 
county  for  Rev.  William  J.  Frazer. 
Here,  no  doubt,  is  the  first  step  which 
resulted  afterward  in  the  church  becom- 
ing Old  school. 

The  organization  took  place  in  the  old 
log  court  house  that  stood  near  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  square.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  names  of  the  original  mem- 
bers, five  men  and  nine  women :  Thomas 
and  Jane  Grant,  Alexander  Campbell 
and  wife,  John  arid  Jane  Harris,  Patsey 
Naylor,  Elizabeth  Anderson,  Ruth  Wil- 
son, Jane  and  Mahala  Campbell,  San- 
ders Campbell  and  wife,  and  Margaret 
Walker.  The  first  elders  were  John 
Harris,  Thomas  Grant,  Alexander  Camp- 
bell and  Sanders  Campbell.  This  church 
at  first  included  the  fields  now  occupied 
by  the  prosperous  churches  at  Camp 
Creek,  Bardolph,  Ebenezer  and  Good 
Hope,  all  of  which  are  from  six  to  eight 
miles  distant. 

Services  were  held  in  the  log  court 
house  until  1834,  when  the  first  brick 


HISTOEY.  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


429 


court  house  was  erected  in  the  center  of 
the  square.  This  was  used  until  a 
church  building  was  erected,  which  was 
in  1835,  or  1836,  and  on  the  site  of  the 
present  edifice,  xm  East  Carroll  street. 
This  was  a  brick  building,  which  in  a 
few  years  had  become  so  small  that  it 
was  removed  and  a  frame  building 
erected,  which  was  first  occupied  Janu- 
ary 10,  1853,  at  three  o'clock  P.  M.  In 
1867,  this  house  was  enlarged  and  re- 
modelled at  a  cost  of  $700,  and  in  1870, 
the  entire  structure  was  rebuilt  and  en- 
larged to  its  present  dimensions,  at  a 
cost  of  $4,458.  The  building  is  a  frame, 
built  in  Gothic  style,  with  two  spires, 
one  on  each  of  the  front  corners;  it  is 
entered  by  a  vestibule,  in  the  center  of 
the  front  end.  A  very  good  bell,  weigh- 
ing 900  pounds,  hangs  in  the  main  spire, 
which  rises  from  the  southwest  corner. 
The  audience  room  is  neat  and  commo- 
dious, well  furnished  and  tastefully  fres- 
coed, and  is  capable  of  seating  about 
400  persons.  The  value  of  the  church 
structure  is  $8,000,  and  the  value  of  the 
parsonage,  which  is  located  on  East 
Jackson  street,  about  $1,600. 

For  want  of  documents  we  can  only 
give  statistics  from  1865,  or  for  about 
one-fourth  of  the  church's  existence. 
The  membership  in  1866,  was  200. 
Since,  175  have  united  on  profession 
and  120  by  certificate.  Removals  and 
deaths  leave  the  present  membership 
300.  Adults  baptized,  41;  infants,  80. 
Contributions  as  follows  :  home  mis- 
sions, $746;  foreign  missions,  $715;  edu- 
cating ministers,  $526;  publishing  and 
colporter  work,  $185;  building  churches, 
$370;  disabled  ministers  and  their  fami- 
lies, $180;  freedman's  mission, 


sustaining  permanent  pastorates,  $54; 
commissions  to  assembly,  $163;  con- 
gregational work — pastor's  salary,  sex- 
ton, repairs,  etc.,  $20,052  ;  miscellane- 
ous— American  bible  society,  Sabbath 
school  union,  public  charities,  etc., 
$1,629.  Total,  $24,703,  or  an  average  of 
$2,245.73  per  year. 

About  a  year  after  the  organization, 
Rev.  W.  J.  Frazer  became  stated  supply 
for  this  and  other  points  •  in  the  county 
until  1836,  when  Eev.  William  K.  Stew- 
art, of  Vandalia,  Illinois,  was  called  as 
pastor.  Mr.  Frazer,  and  some  of  the 
people  not  satisfied  with  this  move,  at- 
tempted to  get  up  a  rival  organization, 
but  after  a  year  or  so,  the  effort  failed. 

Mr.  Stewart  remained  as  pastor  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  19th 
day  of  April,  1852 ;  aged  52  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  noble  worth;  an  able  min- 
ister of  the  gospel;  a  devout  Christian, 
and  a  valuable  citizen.  During  the  last 
year  or  two  of  Mr.  Stewart's  ministry, 
and  owing  to  failing  health,  he  was  as- 
sisted by  Rev.  Ralph  Harris,  a  professor 
in  McDonough  college,  who,  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Stewart,  became  stated 
supply,  and  September  17,  1853,  was 
elected  pastor,  at  a  salary  of  $500  per 
year.  He  resigned  the  pastorate  Janu- 
ary 20,  1855,  and  Rev.  Ithamar  Pills- 
bury,  president  of  McDonough  college, 
was  elected  stated  supply  March  7, 1855, 
and  February  23,  1856,  he  was  elected 
pastor,  at  a  salary  of  $700  a  year.  April 
10,  1859,  he  resigned  the  pastorate,  but 
acceded  to  the  request  of  the  session 
May  2,  to  remain  as  stated  supply  till 
the  election  of  a  successor,  which  took 
place  January  25,  1860,  when  Robert  F. 
Taylor  was  elected  as  stated  supply. 


430 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Pillsbury  returned  to  Andover, 
Illinois,  the  first  field  of  his  labors  in 
the  west,  where,  after  a  short  illness, 
and  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  1862,  he 
died,  being  in  the  68th  year  of  his  age. 

Mr.  Taylor,  failing  in  health,  resigned 
before  the  close  of  the  year.  In  1862  he 
went  out  as  chaplain  of  the  78th  Illinois 
infantry.  In  January,  1861,  Rev.  Joseph 
Warren,  D.  D.,  was  elected  stated  supply 
on  a  salary  of  $800.  Mr.  Warren  had 
returned  from  the  foreign  mission  work 
in  India.  Rev.  John  H.  Woods  was  en- 
gaged as  stated  supply  November  5, 1862. 
October  29, 1863,  Mr.  Nesbitt  was  chosen 
stated  supply.  He  commenced  his  labors 
about  the  first  of  February,  1864,  but , 
was  soon  elected  pastor  at  a  salary  of 
$800,  and  installed  May  28th.  April  llth, 
1868,  his  salary  was  fixed  at  $1,000  per 
year  and  a  parsonage. 

Rev.  Peter  Hathaway  K.  McComb,  of 
Bloomfield,  Pennsylvania,  was  chosen 
pastor  February  28,  1870,  at  a  salary  of 
$1,000.  He  resigned  May  11,  1873,  and 
on  the  18th  of  May,  Dr.  J.  Jamieson,  by 
the  direction  of  the  presbytery,  preached 
and  declared  the  pulpit  vacant.  June  1, 
1873,  Rev.  J.  Moore,  of  Canton,  Illinois, 
occupied  the  pulpit  for  the  first  time, 
and  June  16,  he  was  chosen  stated  sup- 
ply, and  October  2,  1874,  was  chosen 
pastor  with  a  salary  of  $1,000  and  the 
use  of  the  parsonage. 

S.  T.  Davis  was  the  next  pastor,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  H.  S.  Beavis. 
The  following  are  the  present  officers  of 
the  church:  A.  Blackburn,  William 
Hunter,  J.  E.  Wyne,  J.  H.  Provine,  M. 
H.  Case  and  J.  H.  Cummings,  elders ;  O. 
F.  Piper,  A.  P.  Wetherhold,  H.  R.  Bar- 
tleson,  J.  H.  Fuhr  and  G.  W.  Bailey, 


deacons;  Geo.  Reid,  J.  B.  Venard  and 
John  McElrath,  trustees. 

The  Sabbath  school  attached  to  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Macomb,  has  an 
average  attendance  of  150.  A.  P.  Weth- 
erhold is  the  superintendent.  Jt  was  or- 
ganized at  the  same  time  that  the  church 
was,  and  has  a  continuous  existence 
ever  since,  a  creditable  showing  that 
manifests  the  interest  of  the  congrega- 
tion in  this  "nursery"  of  the  church. 

Rev.  Horatio  S.  Beavis,  the  present 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  at 
Macomb,  is  a  native  of  Canada,  born  at 
Guelph,  in  1848.  He  came  to  the  United 
States  during  the  year  1857,  and  since 
then  has  made  it  his  home.  He  entered 
the  ministry  in  1870,  the  first  four  years 
being  connected  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  communion,  but  at  the  expir- 
ation of  that  time  he  transferred  his  al- 
legiance to  the  Presbyterian  church.  He 
has  been  pastor  of  churches  at  Vermont, 
Peoria  and  El  Paso,  prior  to  coming  to 
this  place,  whither  he  was  called  in  Oc- 
tober, 1883.  Mr.  Beavis  is  a  highly  ed- 
ucated, intelligent  gentleman,  a  most 
consistent  Christian,  and  a  zealous  worker 
in  his  Master's  vineyard.  The  church, 
under  his  fostering  care,  is  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition,  and  largely  attended,  both 
by  the  members  of  the  congregation,  and 
strangers  in  the  city.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  at  Hamilton,  Canada,  October 
20,  1881,  with  Emma  Young,  of  that 
city. 

BU8HNELL  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 
[By  A.  H.  McGahan.] 

The  first  organization  of  Presbyterians 
occurred  in  1856,  but  as  the  records  are 
not  at  hand,  the  exact  date  of  the  formal 
organization  of  the  church  can  not  be 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


431 


stated.  The  minutes  of  Schuyler  pres- 
bytery ( O.  S. )  show  that  at  the  meeting 
at  Monmouth,  October  14,  1856,  "a  peti- 
tion from  certain  persons  residing  in 
Buslmell  and  vicinity,  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  a  church,  was  read,  when,  on  mo- 
tion, Revs.  J.  C.  King  and  Thompson, 
and  Elder  S.  H.  McCandless  were  ap- 
pointed to  organize  said  church,  if  the 
way  be  clear,  and  report  at  the  next 
meeting  of  the  presbytery."  At  Mt. 
Sterling,  April  3,  1857,  "the  committee 
nominated  to  organize  a  church  at  Bush- 
nell,  reported  that  two  of  the  members 
met  on  the  day  appointed,  and  organized 
a  church  at  that  place  with  thirteen 
members  and  two  ruling  elders."  At 
North  Henderson,  October  17,  1859,  the 
minutes  of  the  presbytery  show  that 
"the  church  at  Bushnell,  having  become 
extinct,  was.  stricken  from  the  rolls.  It 
seems  that  by  the  advice  of  certain 
members  of  the  presbytery,  the  strug- 
gling church  resolved  to  abandon  their 
organization,  and  cast  in  their  lot  with 
the  Reformed  church,  which  was  organ- 
ized the  same  year,  as  both  churches 
would  be  very  weak  if  separate  organi- 
zations were  kept  in  the  field.  This  state 
of  things  continued  till  the  spring  of 
1868,  when  it  was  deemed  expedient  by 
a  number  of  Presbyterians,  already  con- 
nected with  the  Reformed  church,  and 
others,  who  had  not  been  connected  with 
any  Bushnell  church,  to  again  attempt 
the  organization  of  a  Presbyterian 
church,  believing  that  there  was  an 
"open  door"  for  the  new  church  to  enter 
in,  and  do  service  in  the  Master's  vine- 
yard. Accordingly,  a  petition  was  sent 
to  the  spring  meeting  of  the  presbytery 
of  Warren  (O.  S.),  at  Monmouth,  asking 


for  such  an  organization.  This  petition 
was  signed  by  about  thirty  persons,most 
of  whom  were  at  that  time  members  of 
the  Reformed  church.  The  presbytery 
appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  R.  C.  Matthews,  D.  D.,  of  Mon- 
mouth; Rev.  C.  Leavenworth,  Rev. 
George  Norcross,  of  Galesburg,  and 
Elders  Wier,  of  Monmouth,  and  Jack- 
son, of  Galesburg,  to  visit  the  field  and 
organize  a  church,  "if  the  way  be  clear." 
The  first  two  members  of  this  committee 
have  since  gone  to  their  reward,  and  the 
third  is  now  pastor  of  the  church  in  Car- 
lisle^ Pennsylvania.  The  committee  was 
composed  of  exceptionally  strong,  pru- 
dent, cautious,  devoted  men,  who  sur- 
veyed well  the  surroundings,  and  de- 
cided that  the  Master's  cause  would  un- 
doubtedly be  advanced  by  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  new  church. 

April  25,  1868,  was  the  day  appointed 
for  the  formal  organization.  The  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  Baptist  church, 
which  was  rented  for  one  year — to  be 
used  Sabbath  afternoons,  and  at  such 
other  times  as  not  needed  by  their  own 
people.  Twenty-one  persons  presented 
a  certificate  in  a  body  from  the  Reformed 
church,  of  Bushell,  and  seven  from  other 
Presbyterian  churches,  making  twenty- 
eight  in  all. 

The  church  building  was  dedicated 
August  29,  1869,  the  dedication  sermon 
being  preached  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Magill, 
then  of  Lewistown,  Illinois.  The  church 
property  originally  cost  about  $7,000. 
During  the  fall  of  1882,  $1,000  was  spent 
in  repainting,  replastering,  papering,  &c, 
and  the  next  year  a  neat  and  convenient 
lecture  room  was  added  at  a  cost  of 
$725. 


432 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  church  has  had  five  pastors— 
Eev.  K,  T.  McMahon,  of  the  Wythe 
church,  in  Hancock  county,  was  first  in- 
vited to  take  charge  of  the  church.  He 
continued  stated  supply  for  two  years, 
his  services  ending  September  1,  1870. 
After  a  vacancy  of  a  few  months,  Rev. 
Matthew  Bigger,  of  Hamilton,  Illinois, 
was  called  to  the  pastorate,  and  he  re- 
mained until  called  up  higher  by  the 
Master  he  served — falling  dead  in  his 
study,  December  21, 1872.  Eev.  Thomas 
Stephenson,  of  Farmingtou,  Illinois,  as- 
sumed charge  of  the  church  April  1, 
1873,  and  remained  its  pastor  until  May 
1,  1877.  The  church  was  without  a  pas- 
tor until  January  1,  1878,  when  Eev.  S. 
H.  Parvin,  of  New  Salem,  Illinois,  be- 
came pastor,  and  remained  until  April 
1,  1884.  On  the  1st  day  of  September, 

1884,  the  present  pastor,  Eev.  Harold  J. 
Frothingham   commenced  his  labors  in 
this  field.     The  reverend  gentleman  was 
a  licentiate  when  he  took  charge  of  the 
church,  and  at  a  called  meeting  of  the 
presbytery  of   Schuyler,    December  10, 

1885,  was  ordained  to   the  full  work  of 
the  gospel  ministry,  'and  installed  pastor 
of  the  church. 

The  original  board  of  ruling  elders,  or 
church  session  consisted  of  Eobert  A. 
Adams,  Eobert  Eea,  Eobert  M.  Scott 
and  A.  H.  McGahan.  John  C.  Cadwal- 
ader  was  added  to  the  session  May  7, 
1871,  E.  W.  Wheeler  December  7,  1873, 
and  W.  A.  Posey  December  14,  1873. 
Mr.  Posey  was  dismissed  September  21, 
1881,  with  three  others  to  assist  in 
forming  the  new  Presbyterian  church  of 
Walnut  grove.  The  session  now  con- 
sists of  Eobert  A.  Adams,  John  C.  Cad- 
walader,  E.  W.  Wheeler  and  A.  H. 


McGahan.  The  following  brethren  were 
elected,  deacons  May  18,  1873:  D.  A. 
McDonald,  Wm.  Tiedrick,  F.  M.  Deuel 
and  E.  W.  Wheeler.  In  August,  1876, 
W.  E.  Fowler  was  added  to  the  board. 
November  2,  1879,  the  following  addi- 
tional deacons  were  elected:  Eichard 
Hire,  B.  F.  Pinkley  and  Frank  Sample. 
Messrs.  Deuel  and  Fowler  have  removed 
from  Bushnell,  and  Mr.  Wheeler  trans- 
ferred to  the  board  of  elders,  leaving 
the  other  brethren  named  as  the  present 
board  of  deacons.  June  29,  1868,  the 
first  board  of  trustees  was  elected  as 
follows:  E.  M.  Scott,  Joseph  Neff  and 
A.  H.  McGahan.  The  present  board 
consists  of  J.  C.  Cadwalader,  D.  A.  Mc- 
Donald and  A.  H.  McGahan. 

The  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in 
the  fall  of  1869,  as  soon  as  the  new 
church  was  occupied.  A.  H.  McGahan 
was  the  first  superintendant  and  cashier, 
and  has  been  re-elected  each  year  since. 
The  present  membership  is  about  175. 
The  present  membership  of  the  church 
is  150,  death  and  removals  having  been 
almost  equal  to  the  present  membership. 
The  original  membership  consisted  of 
the  following  persons :  *  John  W.  Adams, 
fMrs.  Minerva  F.  Adams,  Eobert  A. 
Adams,  Mrs.  Carolina  Adams,  fPriscilla 
Adams,  Mrs.  Carrie  Anderson,  fD.  H. 
Bodine,  fMrs.  Harriet  S.  Bodine,  fMrs. 
Maria  C.  Hesler,  A.  H.  McGahan,  Mrs. 
Alice  W.  McGahan,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Mc- 
Gahan, fMrs.  Lydia  A.  Moore,  *  Joseph 
Neff,  Mrs.  Mary  Neff,  fMrs.  Jennie 
Odell,  *Eobert  Eea,  *Mrs.  Hannah 
Eea,  Frank  Sample,  Mrs.  Eebecca  Sam- 
ple, fR.  M.  Scott,  Mrs.  A.  K.  Scott, 
fMrs.  E.  A.  Sieber,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J. 
Sperry,  ^m.  Tiedrick,  *Mrs.  C.  Tied- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


433 


rick,  fH.  S.  Wells,  fMrs.  Frances  Wells. 
Those  marked  *  are  deceased — those 
marked  f  have  removed,  leaving  only  12 
of  the  original  members  still  on  the 
roll  of  the  church. 

The  church  property  cost  in  the 
neighborhood  of  $7,000,  and  is  generally 
regarded  as  the  neatest  church  in  Bush- 
nell ;  it  was  erected  under  the  superin- 
tendency  of  F.  A.  Cooley.  The  plaster- 
ing was  done  by  Shafer  &  Kuhn;  the 
painting  by  Adams,  Barrett  &  Travis; 
the  frescoing  by  Jevin  &  Almini,  of 
Chicago,  and  the  stained  glass  windows 
by  Geo.  A.  Misch  &  Bro.,  of  the  same 
city. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,    GOOD   HOPE. 

At  the  fall  meeting,  in  1868,  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Warren,  a  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  Rev.  B.  C.  Mat- 
thews, D.  D.,  Eev.  E.  T.  McMahan,  and 
Euling  Elder,  M.  Lichenthale,  to  visit 
Good  Hope  and  organize  a  church,  if  the 
way  be  clear.  Accordingly,  said  com- 
mittee, except  the  elder,  met  at  Good 
Hope,  January  30,  1869,  and  after  a  ser- 
mon by  Eev.  McMahan,  the  chairman 
stated  the  object  of  the  meeting.  After 
consultation  the  committee  proceeded  to 
organize  the  church.  There  were  re- 
ceived as  follows:  From  the  Shiloh 
Presbyterian  church — James  A.  McClel- 
land, Mary  C.  McClelland,  Warren  S. 
Bruce,  James  M.  Hummer,  Helen  Ann 
Hummer,  David  Campbell,  Mrs.  Winni- 
fred  Campbell,  Ebenezer  Campbell  and 
Mrs.  E.  Duel;  from  the  church  at  Ma- 
comb  were  the  following — Joseph  Eol- 
lins,  Mrs.  Harriet  Eollins,  Mrs.  Jane  M. 
Painter,  Miss  I.  Ella  Eollins,  Aaron 
Bennett,  and  Mrs.  Eosellaf  Bennett; 


from  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  at  Walnut  Grove — Mrs.  Eebecca 
Brawdy,  Miss  Catherine  Brawdy  and 
Mrs.  Matilda  Morris.  J.  A.  McClelland 
and  Aaron  Bennett  were  elected  ruling 
elders,  Joseph  Eollins  and  J.  M.  Hum- 
mer, deacons;  F.  Cruzer,  clerk  and 
treasurer.  In  the  fall  of  1869  he  was 
elected  ruling  elder,  but  was  not  in- 
stalled. Eev.  Thomas  M.  Hench  was 
the  first  stated  supply,  and  was  subse- 
quently chosen  pastor,  but  was  not  in- 
stalled. He  was  succeeded  by  Eev.  A. 
F.  Ashley,  who  supplied  the  church 
about  two  years,  commencing  in  1870. 
In  December,  1873,  Eev.  I.  T.  Whitte- 
more,  took  charge  of  the  church,  and 
in  October,  1874,  was  installed  pastor. 
The  present  pastor,  Eev.  L.  C.  Littel,  of 
Eushville,  holds  services  every  two 
weeks.  The  present  officers  of  the 
church  are  John  Cochran,  Allan  Walker, 
W.  J.  Edie  and  P.  Yan  Pelt,  elders;  M. 
H.  Bush,  J.  A.  Cochran  and  J.  A.  Brown 
deacons;  J.  A.  Brown,  A.  A.  Walker 
and  W.  J.  Edie,  trustees;  P.  Yan  Pelt, 
clerk. 

The  system  of  rotary  eldership  was 
adopted  in  December,  1875.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1869,  and  is  located 
on  block  one,  lot  six.  It  is  a  good  frame 
structure,  40x60  feet  in  ground  area,  and 
cost  about  $4,000,  with  a  seating  capac- 
ity of  about  300.  There  is  also  a  Sun- 
day-school in  connection  with  the 
church. 

CAMP   CREEK   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

The  first  services  held  by  the  Presby- 
terians in  this  locality  was  during  the 
year  1832,  and  were  held  in  log  cabins, 
barns  or  in  the  open  air.  In  1839, 


434 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


measures  were  taken  to  organize  a 
church,  which  met  with  the  success  the 
subject  deserved.  At  the  request  of  the 
members  of  the  Macomb  church,  resid- 
ing on  Camp  Creek,  the  Schuyler  pres- 
bytery appointed  the  Revs.  William  K. 
Stewart  and  Samuel  Wilson  to  organize 
the  church.  In  pursuance  of  this  they 
called  a  meeting,  and  on  the  25th  of 
May,  they  met  at  the  barn  of  Joseph 
McCroskey,  and  the  congregation  organ- 
ized with  the  following  members: — 
Saunders  W.  Campbell,  Cynthia  Camp- 
bell, Mary  Jane  Campbell,  John  W. 
Walker,  Catherine  Walker,  Jane  Til- 
ford,  Jane  Walker,  Sarah  Scott,  Wil- 
liam Scott,  Walton  Scott,  Allen  Walker, 
Amelia  Walker,  John  Clark,  Nancy  Clark, 
Hugh  McLary,  Elizabeth  McLary,  Har- 
riet McLary,  William  McLary,  Alexan- 
der Provine,  Jane  Walker,  George 
Provine,  Mary  Provine,  Mary  McCros- 
key, Mary  Walker,  Maria  Walker  and 
Samuel  McKamy. 

On  organization,  Saunders  W.  Camp- 
bell, John  Clark  and  Alexander  Pro- 
vine  were  elected  ruling  elders.  Session 
then  met  and  was  constituted  with  prayer 
by  the  Rev.  James  Staffort,  moderator. 
David  Watson  and  Jane,  his  wife,  pre- 
sented letters  and  applied  for  member- 
ship, and  were  enrolled  among  the 
original  members  of  the  church,  as  were 
Samuel  G.  and  Jane  Henderson.  On 
the  10th  of  November,  following,  Alex- 
ander Provine  was  appointed  clerk  of 
the  session. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  January,  1843,  it 
was  determined  to  invite  Rev.  J.  M. 
Hoge  to  preach  to  them,  which  invita- 
tion he  complied  with,  in  the  March  fol- 
lowing, and  was  then  called  to  the  pul- 


pit, to  devote  one-half  of  his  time.  He 
was  installed  on  the  first  Thursday  in 
October,  1843.  At  a  meeting  held  at  the 
cabin  of  Joseph  Walker,  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1843,  it  was  agreed  to  build  a 
house  of  worship,  30x35  feet  in  size  on 
the  ground,  and  12  feet  high  in  the  clear. 
One  acre  of  ground  was  donated  for  a 
site  by  Joseph  McCroskey.  The  build- 
ing was  to  be  erected  by  subscription, 
but  on  account  of  lack  of  money,  most  of 
the  subscribers  paid  in  labor  or  mate- 
rial. It  was  almost  entirely  built  of 
native  lumber.  Basswood  logs  were 
then  split  and  legs  put  into  them  and 
they  were  put  into  the  house  for  seats. 
The  hardware  used  in  the  construction 
was  a  donation  from  the  two  merchants 
of  Macomb,  W.  W.  Bailey  and  N.  P. 
Tinsley.  The  members  furnished  wheat, 
which  was  taken  to  Rushville,  by  John 
Clark,  and  traded  for  stoves  to  warm  the 
house.  In  this  house  the  presbytery  of 
Schuyler  held  its  regular  session,  in 
1844.  In  1846,  Rev.  Mr.  Hoge  removed 
to  Arkansas,  leaving  the  pulpit  vacant. 
The  first  Sabbath  School  was  organized 
in  this  church  in  1844,  by  E.  Spring.  On 
the  removal  of  Mr.  Hoge,  the  church 
was  supplied  by  Rev.  James  M.  Chase, 
and  in  1847,  by  Rev.  William  K.  Stewart. 
In  January,  1848,  Rev.  James  M.  Chase 
was  employed  to  supply  the  church 
three-fourths  of  the  time,  and  continued 
to  do  so  until  November,  1851. 

The  congregation  and  membership 
having  increased  largely,  in  1850  an  ad- 
dition 12  feet  wide  and  35  feet  long  on 
the  west  side  of  the  building  was  erected. 
November  1,  1851,  Rev.  William  F.  Fer- 
guson was  employed  as  pastor.  On  the 
27th  of  September,  1857,  the  congrega- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


435 


tion  extended  a  call  to  Rev.  C.  Leaven- 
worth,  at  a  salary  of  $550,  with  a  par- 
sonage and  stable  on  a  lot  containing 
three  acres.  The  parsonage  was  then 
built,  on  his  accepting.  It  was  a  neat, 
comfortable  building  containing  six 
rooms,  and  had  on  the  same  lot  a  good 
stable.  Mr.  Leavenworth  was  installed 
pastor  of  the  church  on  the  29th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1857.  This  year  the  church  deter- 
mined to  elect  deacons  instead  of  trust- 
ees, and  Robert  McNair,  Alexander 
McLary  and  James  C.  Watson  were  the 
first  elected.  In  1859,  Rev.  Joseph 
Platt  succeeded  Mr.  Leavenworth.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry  a  schism  arose  in  the 
church,  that  for  a  time  threatened  the 
integrity  of  the  congregation,  but  was 
finally  ad  justed  by  a  portion  of  the  mem- 
bers withdrawing  and  forming  a  new 
congregation.  In  1861,  the  present 
church  edifice  was  built,  on  section  27, 
Scotland  township,  at  a  cost  of  $1,800. 
It  is  36x48  feet  in  ground  area.  The 
The  old  one  was  sold  for  $40. 

It  is  beneath  the  dignity  of  history  to 
descend  to  an  account  of  the  squabbles 
that  will  often  arise  in  any  body  of  peo- 
ple; suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  contest 
which  arose  in  the  church  commenced 
in  a  dispute  over  the  site  of  the  proposed 
new  church  building,  fomented  by  over- 
zealous  partisans  of  both  factions.  Some 
forty-two  members  separated  from  this 
church.  After  the  separation,  the  first 
elders  of  Camp  Creek  church  were  John 
G.  McGaughy,  Alexander  McMillan  and 
Cyrus  "Walker.  The  latter  gentleman 
was  soon  after  chosen  clerk.  Rev.  James 
G.  Bliss  was  elected  as  stated  supply,  to 
succeed  Mr.  Platt,  at  a  meeting  held 
May  10, 1863,  and  nearly  a  year  later,  on 


the  3d  of  April,  1864,  the  church  decided 
on  calling  that  gentleman  as  pastor, 
which  was  accordingly  done.  At  this 
time  the  church  had  in  full  communion 
some  67  members.  Mr.  Bliss  remained 
in  the  pastoral  relation  with  this  church 
until  May,  1866,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  John  Giffen.  Under  his  minis- 
trations the  church  throve  and  grew,  so 
that  in  1868,  there  were  72  members  in 
communion,  although  it  had  but  50  when 
he  came  here.  He  remained  until  Octo- 
ber, 1869,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  W.  H.  Goodeson,  who  remained 
about  one  year,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
P.  W.  Thompson,  who  entered  upon  his 
labors  as  stated  supply,  September  1, 
1870.  He  was  duly  elected  pastor  April 
2,  1871,  and  fulfilled  that  office  until  the 
fall  of  1875.  On  the  7th  of  November 
of  that  year,  Rev.  J.  G.  Condit  became 
the  stated  supply,  and  afterwards  became 
the  regular  pastor.  In  the  latter  part  of 

1879,  he  removed  elsewhere,  and  for  a 
short  time  the   church  was  without  a 
minister;  but  on  the  1st  of  December, 

1880,  Rev.  B.  Wall  entered  upon  his  du- 
ties  as   stated    supply,  and  closed    his 
labors   November    18,    1883.     He    was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  D.  G.  Bruce,  Janu- 
ary 13,  1884,  who  is  the  present  incum- 
bent of  the  pastorate. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  DODDSVILLE. 

The  following  sketch  of  this  branch 
of  the  church  militant  was  originally 
prepared  by  Henry  Black,  and  published 
in  a  former  history  of  the  county: 

By  request,  Schuyler  presbytery  ap- 
pointed Rev.  William  K.  Stewart,  James 
M.  Chase  and  Elder  Briscoe  a  committee 
to  visit  Doddville,  and,  if  the  way  was 


436 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


clear,  to  organize  a  church.  Accordingly, 
these  brethren  visited  Doddsville,  held 
services  in  the  house  of  Andrew  Walker, 
in  that  village,  on  the  29th  day  of  July, 
1843,  and  proceeded  to  organize  a  church 
of  17  members.  The  names  of  the  orig- 
inal members  are  as  follows:  Andrew 
Walker,  Ann  Walker, Charles  W.Walker, 
Eachel  Walker,  John  M.  Clark  and 
Mirah  Clark,  Margaret  Hodge,  Kebecca 
Clugston,  Isabella  Clugston,  Jane  Clug- 
ston,  Hettie  McCoy,  John  Scott,  Rachel 
Scott,  Sarah  Black,  Maria  Black,  Thomas 
Shannon  and  Elizabeth  Shannon.  An- 
drew Walker  was  elected  ruling  elder. 
The  next  day,  Sabbath,  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  supper  was  administered,  and 
the  church  established.  Of  the  original 
members,  eleven  were  from  near  Gettys- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  four  from  near  Ur- 
bana,  Ohio,  and  two  from  Virginia.  On 
the  17th  of  September,  about  seven 
weeks  after  the  organization,  Andrew 
Walker,  elder,  was  called  to  his  long 
rest.  The  following  named  ministers 
have  served  as  supplies  to  the  church: 
Revs.  John  Hoge,  James  M.  Chase,  John 
Marshall,  Cyrus  B.  Bristow,  Joseph  H. 
Marshall,  James  T.  Bliss,  George  A. 
Hutchison,  Henry  C.  Mullen,  Preston 
W.  Thompson,  and  now,  the  Rev.  H.  C. 
Mullens.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Davis,  a  mis- 
sionary of  the-  New  School  branch  of  the 
church,  also  preached  a  short  time. 
These  were  all  stated  supplies,  except 
Rev.  Joseph  H.  Marshall,  who  was  a  reg- 
ularly installed  pastor.  The  following 
persons  were  elected  and  served  in  the 
eldership:  Andrew  Walker,  John  M. 
Clark,  John  G.  McGoughy,  David  R. 
Hindman,  James  McDavett,  Elijah  Hind- 
man,  John  McMillan,  Hugh  L.  Mc- 


Goughy,Thomas  Conner,Thomas  McCoy, 
Henry  Black,  William  Pollock,  and  John 
Colleasure.  James  Colleasure  was 
elected,  and  would  have  accepted,  but 
died  before  ordination.  The  following 
named  persons  were  elected  and  served 
as  deacons  of  the  church :  George  Bair, 
Williajn  H.  Black,  Samuel  C.  Hoge, 
John  H.  McGrath  and  James  Colleasure. 
The  old  church,  vacated  in  1876,  was 
built  in  1851,  as  far  as  inclosing  was  con- 
cerned, when  it  was  taken  possession  of, 
but  was  not  completed  until  the  summer 
of  1855,  four  years  after,  consequently  it 
was  never  dedicated  as  a  house  of  wor- 
ship. It  cost  about  $900.  The  first  re- 
vival was  in  February  and  March  of  1858, 
under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  Mar- 
shall, when  28  members  were  received — 
22  on  profession  and  six  on  certificate. 
The  second  was  under  the  ministry  of 
the  Rev.  James  T.  Bliss,  in  January, 
1867,  when  11  members  were  received — 
nine  on  profession  and  two  on  certificates. 
The  third  was  under  the  ministry  of  Rev. 
George  A.  Hutchison,  December,  1867, 
when  11  members  were  received  on  ex- 
amination. The  fourth  was  under  the 
ministry  of  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Mullens,  in 
union  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Garner,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  when  six 
members  were  received  on  profession  of 
their  faith.  This  was  in  March,  1873. 
The  fifth  was  in  October,  1874.  This 
meeting  was  under  the  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Neil  Johnston,  an  Evangelist, when 
God  was  pleased  to  pour  out  his  spirit 
most  copiously,  35  being  received  to 
membership  on  the  profession  of  their 
faith  in  Christ.  The  church  was  organ- 
ized with  17  original  members.  At  the 
close  of  the  Rev.  John  Marshall's  minis- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


439 


try  the  number  was  70;  run  down  again 
by  deaths  and  removals  until  only  46 
actual  members  remained.  After  the 
revival  of  1874  there  were  reported  80 
members  to  the  presbytery,  which  was 
the  highest  number  the  church  ever  at- 
tained— 70  being  the  present  member- 
ship. As  near  as  can  be  ascertained, 
about  200  is  the  full  number  of  member- 
ships ever  belonging  to  the  church  since 
the  organization. 

SHILOH   PEESBYTEEIAN   CHURCH,   WALNUT 
GROVE   TOWNSHIP. 

Shiloh  Presbyterian  church  was  organ- 
ized at  the  residence  of  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, on   section   16,  in   1839,   by  Rev. 
James  Chase,  with  23  members,  and  was 
a  branch  of  the  Macomb  church.      For 
several  years  meetings  were   held  alter- 
nately at  the  residences  of  J.  G.  Walker 
and  Alexander    Campbell.      In  1852  a 
large  school  house,  22x32,  was  erected  on 
section  8  of   Walnut  Grove  township, 
which  has  subsequently  been  used  for 
church  purposes.     When   the  township 
was  re-districted  into   school  districts, 
two  miles  square,  the  congregation  pur- 
chased the  building.     The  reason  given 
for    no    church    building     ever    being 
erected  before  this  is,  that  the  member- 
ship was  so  scattered  that  no  point  con- 
venient for  all  could  be  selected.     Mem- 
bers were  living  in  Macomb  township, 
as  far  north  as  the  county  line,  and  east 
and  west  several   miles.       At  one  time 
the  church  was  prosperous,  and   had  a 
large   and  interested  membership,  but 
when  towns  sprang  up  here  and  there  in 
the  surrounding  country  and  new  con- 
gregations organized,  the  members  re- 
siding near,  of  course,  left  Shiloh  and 


united  with  the  new  church,nearer  home. 
When  the  Bushnell  church  was  organ- 
ized, the  members  living  east  and  near 
the  town  united  there;  when  Bardolph 
was  started,  those  living  south  left  Shi- 
loh and  united  there;  and  when  Good 
Hope  church  was  organized,  but  few  re- 
mained in  Shiloh  church,  so  that  in  the 
spring  of  1863,  the  membership  being 
so  small,  the  society  disposed  of  their 
church  building  to  John  Pennell,  for 
$87,  and  united  with  the  society  at  Wal- 
nut Grove,  under  the  name  of  Walnut 
Grove  and  Shiloh  Presbyterian  church. 
Meetings  are  held  in  the  hall  over  Fair- 
man's  store.  The  first  elders  of  the 
Shiloh  organization  were  Alexander 
Harris,  J.  G.  Walker  and  Alexander 
Campbell.  Among  the  first  preachers 
were  James  Chase,  Isaac  B.  Moore, 
David  Monfort,  P.  W.  Thompson  and 
Joseph  Platt. 

PRAIRIE   CITY   PRESBYTERIAN   CHURCH. 

This  society  was  organized  at  the 
house  of  George  Kreider,  on  the  19th  of 
September,  1841,  by  a  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  Peoria  presbytery,  con- 
sisting of  Rev.  William  J.  Frazier  and 
Elder  Parnack  Owen. 

The  first  members  were:  George 
Kreider,  Barbara  Kreider,  Celinda 
Woods,  Jane  Jackson,  Phebe  Woods, 
James  Reed,  Samuel  Mourning,  Thomas 
Boyd,  Mary  Moore,  Sophronia  Schofield 
and  Catherine  Mourning. 

The  first  officers  were:  George  Krei- 
der, elder;  Samuel  Mourning,  deacon. 
Meetings  were  generally  held  at  the  barn 
of  George  Kreider  in  those  days. 
When  the  school  house  was  built  at  Vir- 
gil, services  were  held  there,  and  so  con- 


440 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tinned  until  Prairie  City  was  laid  out. 
At  that  time  they  had  lumber  and  ma- 
terial on  the  ground  at  Virgil  for  a 
church.  This  was  all  removed  to  Prairie 
City,  and  the  structure  erected  there, 
changing  the  name  to  Prairie  City 
church.  The  building  cost  about  $3,000. 
The  regular  pastors  from  the  organiza- 
tion to  the  present  time  have  been:  Pres- 
ton W.  Thompson,  commenced  in  1854; 
John  S.  Robertson,  in  1868;  John  D. 
Howey,  in  1871;  Clark  Salmon,  in  1877; 
Wm.  L.  Boyd,  in  June,  1880.  In  No- 
vember, 1884,  Kev.  H.  Mag;ll  took  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  congregation,  and  has 
continued  to  the  present  time. 

The  present  officers  of  the  church 
are:  M.  K.  Sweeney,  Chas.  H.  Kellough 
and  James  H.  Wilson,  elders;  John  E. 
Dunham,  deacon.  The  trustees  are:  W. 
Kreider,  Thomas  Laird  and  Chas.  H. 
Kellough.  The  present  membership  of 
the  church  is  about  105,  and  the  society 
is  in  a  highly  flourishing  condition. 

There  is  a  Sabbath  school  in  connec- 
tion with  the  church,  with  over  a  hun- 
dred attending  members.  It  was  organ- 
ized in  1856,  and  was  for  a  time  a  union 
school,  of  the  Congregational  and  Pres- 
byterian societies,  held  at  the  church  of 
the  latter.  After  a  few  years,  the  Con- 
gregationalists  withdrew,  and  it  has  since 
been  conducted  solely  by  the  Presby- 
terians. The  first  superintendent  of  the 
union  school  was  J.  M.  Chapman.  After 
the  Congregationalists  withdrew,  J.  H. 
Wilson  became  the  superintendent.  He 
has  continued  in  that  capacity,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year,  up  to  the  present 
time,  and  is  the  present  superintendent. 
There  are  nine  classes  in  the  Sabbath 
School,  with  the  following  teachers :  Rev. 


A.  Magill,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Bates,  Mrs.  S.  E. 
Dunham,  Mrs.  S.  A.  Morrow,  Mrs.  A.  E. 
Forsman,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Marshall,  Julia  E. 
Wilson,  Mary  C.  Evert  and  Jessie  Fors- 
man. 

The  church  has  an  organ,  purchased 
at  a  cost  of  $140.  Mrs.  M.  S.  Marshall 
is  the  organist  of  the  church,  and  Sadie 
Wilson  of  the  Sabbath  school. 

EBENEZEB   PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,    SCOT- 
LAND  TOWNSHIP. 

The  church  known  by  the  above  name 
was  formed  in  the  early  part  of  1861,  by 
a  large  number  of  those  who  had  seceded 
from  the  Camp  Creek  congregation.  For 
a  time  after  the  rupture  there  were  no 
meetings  held,  but  an  organization  was 
soon  formed,  containing  the  following 
members:  George  W.  Provine,  J.  A. 
Provine,  Mary  Provine,  F.  Campbell, 
Lucinda  Knowles,  Jane  Allison,  James 
Walker,  Nancy  Walker,  Jeremiah  Sulli- 
van, Mary  Sullivan,  Jonas  Lindsay,  J.  T. 
Lindsay,  Margaret  Cochran,  A.  H.  Hill, 
M.  C.  Cochran,  James  Hill,  Robert  Mc- 
Nair,  James  McNair,  Janet  McNair  Sr., 
Mary  C.  McNair,  Elizabeth  McNair, 
Milton  Knight,  Anna  M.  Knight,  Sam- 
uel G.  Henderson,  Mary  A.  Henderson, 
Elizabeth  A.  Henderson,  John  Clark, 
Nancy  Clark,  S.  K.  Clark.  Annie  M. 
Clark,  Jane  Watson,  E.  F.  Watson,  M. 
C.  Watson,  J.  F.  Watson,  M.  H.  Camp- 
bell, James  Clark,  Margaret  Clark,  James 
Littleson,  Janet  McNair  Jr.,  Margaret 
Buchanan,  Elizabeth  Sullivan,  Elizabeth 
Bailey,  Alexander  M.  Campbell  and  John 
Littleson. 

George  W.  Provine,  John  Clark,  Jere- 
miah Sullivan  and  Robert  McNair  were 
chosen  ruling  elders,  and  G.  W.  Provine, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


441 


clerk  of  the  session.  On  the  3d  of  Au- 
gust, 1861,  a  meeting  of  the  members 
was  held,  at  which  it  was  determined  to 
build  a  church,  and  they  went  at  it  with 
a  will,  all  giving  according  to  their  cir- 
cumstances. On  the  13th  of  the  same 
month  the  contract  was  let  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  building  56x36,  and  18  feet  to 
the  square.  A  vestibule  and  gallery  11 
feet  wide  across  the  west  end  was  pro- 
vided for.  The  price  agreed  upon  was 
$2,000,  and  the  building  was  finished  in 
the  first  part  of  November,  of  the  same 
year.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  service  of 
God,  on  the  21st  of  December,  1861,  and 
Rev.  James  M.  Chase  elected  to  fill  the 
pulpit  of  the  little  flock  temporarily.  In 
January,  1862,  James  Walker,  James 
Clark  and  J.  A.  Provine  were  chosen 
deacons.  On  the  25th  of  September, 
1862,  Kev.  Mr.  Chase  was  duly  installed 
as  regular  pastor  of  the  church,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  relation  until  his  death 
on  the  10th  of  February,  1865.  In  the 
April  following,  James  T.  Bliss  was 
elected  stated  supply,  and  occupied  the 
pulpit  until  May,  1868,  during  which 
time  a  revival  was  held,  and  30  members 
were  added  to  the  church. 

In  1866,  the  society  secured  an  addi- 
tion to  the  church  lot  and  erected  a  par- 
sonage, two  stories  high,  containing  six 
rooms,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  A  barn  was 
afterwards  added,  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of 
$200.  May  8,  1868,  Kev.  H.  C.  Mullen 
was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church,  at 
a  salary  of  $800  per  annum,  and  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1880.  In  1874,  there 
was  another  great  revival  and  39  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  fold.  In  1880, 
Kev.  J.  B.  Baker  succeeded  Mr.  Mullen 
as  pastor,  and  remaining  but  one  year, 


was  followed  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Rankin,  the 
present  pastor.  With  a  full  membership 
of  80,  the  church  is  in  a  highly  prosper- 
ous condition,  and  is  accomplishing  a 
good  work  in  this  community  among  the 
people  of  this  denomination. 

Kev.  John  G.  Rankin,  pastor  of  Ebeii- 
ezer  church,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  East  Tennessee,  March  31,  1821. 
At  the  age  of  15  he  removed  with  his 
father's  family  to  southern  Indiana,  and 
three  years  later  entered  Mill  Creek 
academy  and  commenced  a  course  of 
study,  with  the  ministry  in  view.  After 
two  years  the  family  removed  to  Iowa, 
and  for  one  year  he  studied  with  the 
Episcopal  clergymen  of  Burlington, 
Iowa.  In  1843  he  entered  the  sophmore 
class  in  the  Mission  institute,  established 
by  Dr.  David  Nelson,  near  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois. He  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion in  April,  1845 ;  entered  Lane  theol- 
ogical seminary  in  September,  of  the 
same  year,  and  graduated  May,  1848. 
He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  pres- 
bytery of  Cincinnati,  May  5,  1847,  and 
was  ordained  by  the  presbytery  of 
Schuyler,  September  13,  1849.  He  was 
first  settled  over  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Warsaw,  Illinois,  in  September,  1848, 
and  remained  in  that  relation  nearly  18 
years.  He  was  also  in  Carrollton,  Greene 
county,  Illinois,  10  years,  and  at  Monti- 
cello  seminary,  near  Alton,  between 
two  and  three  years.  One  year  at  Fer- 
guson, a  suburb  oTE  Si  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  one  year  pastor  in  Centralia,  Illi- 
nois. He  commenced  preaching  to  Eb- 
enezer  church  in  May,  1882,  removed 
his  family  into  the  parsonage  in  Novem- 
ber, 1882,  and  has  since  ministered  to 
the  church  and  is  still  its  pastor. 


442 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CUMBERLAND       PRESBYTERIAN       CHURCH, 
MACOMB. 

The  church  of  the  above  denomina- 
tion in  the  city  of  Macomb,  was  organ- 
ized at  a  meeting  held  on  the  7th  of  No- 
vember, 1851,  by  Rev.  W.  S.  Campbell, 
in  conjunction  with  Elders  Levi  Ham- 
ilton and  John  B.  Stapp,     At  that  time 
the  following  persons  came  forward  as 
members  of  other  churches,  and  signi- 
fied their  wish  to  form  a  church  of  this 
communion:      William    Stapp,    Hiram 
Russell,  Elizabeth  Russell,  Sarah  An- 
derson, Mary  Cannon,  Jerusha  Garrett, 
Ann   Jones,  Margaret  Hale   and  Mary 
Smithers.      On    due    organization    the 
congregation  held  services  until  Satur- 
day, June  19,  1852,  when  at  a  meeting 
held  for  the  purpose,  William  Stapp  and 
Hiram  Russell  were  elected  to  the  office 
of  elders.     The  former,  who  lacked  or- 
dination, had  that  rite  administered  by 
the  Rev.  W.  C.  McKamy,  and  received 
their  charge  from  that  gentleman.     The 
first  meetings  were   held  in  the  court 
house.       Among    the    clergymen    that 
ministered    to  this    congregation  were 
many  in  its  first  years  as  irregular  sup- 
plies, but  in  July,  1858,  the  congrega- 
tion procured  the  service  of  Rev.  E.  Can- 
aday,  a  regularly  ordained  minister,  as 
regular    pastor,       This    gentleman    re- 
mained with  the  church,  in  the  minis- 
terial capacity,  until  October  16,  1859, 
when  he  resigned.     Brother  J.  H.  Bate 
was   employed  by  the   congregation  to 
preach  to  them  once  in  four  week,  in 
March,  1860.     After  about  a  year  this 
service  ceased  and  the  church  depended 
on  the  various  supply  preachers  until  in 
March,  1862,  when  Rev.   Samuel  Rich- 
ards was  called  to  the  pastorate.     This 


entleman  was  soon  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  W.  Stapp.    In  1866  Rev.  J.  W.  Cleaver 
was  the  pastor.     The  church  flourished 
greatly  up  to  this  time,  but  from  some 
unexplained  cause  the  congregation  di- 
minished in  numbers   and  finally  dis- 
banded.     The  congregation  had   erect- 
ed a  neat  and  commodious  church  edi- 
fice in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1857-58, 
which  was  dedicated  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ing, March  28,  1858.     The  record  of  the 
church  says,  in  speaking  of  this  inter- 
esting occasion:     "The  house  was  filled 
to  overflowing,  and  many  persons  left 
for  want  of  room.     Before  the  sermon 
there  was  money  enough  raised  by  sub- 
scription and  cash  to  pay  off  all  debts 
against  the  church  house.     The  dedica- 
tion sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  S.  T. 
Stewart.      The    dedicatory   prayer  was 
offered  by  Rev.    John   B.   Hubbard;  a 
solemn  time.      The    sacrament  of    the 
Lord's   supper  was   administered   at   3 
o'clock  p.  m.     The  attendance  was  very 
large,   and    great    solemnity    prevailed 
over  the  entire  congregation.     The  ses- 
sion met  and  invited  Rev.  S.  T.  Stewart 
to  act  as  moderator    pro .  tern."      The 
elders  at  that  time  present,  were  J.  A. 
Chapman,  Hiram  Russell  and  P.  Ham- 
ilton.    When  the  congregation  finally 
broke  up  in  1866  or  1867,  the  house  was 
sold,    and    the    denomination    had    no 
church    in    Macomb    for    many  years. 
The   church  was  reorganized  in  'May, 
1884,  as  the  record  states:     "After  our 
harps  had  been  hanging  on  the  willows 
for   over  20  years,   during  which   time 
many  of  the  members  of  this  congrega- 
tion had  removed  from  the  field,  while 
others  had  gone  to  their  rewards  above, 
leaving  a  few  who  would  make   spas- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


443 


moclic  efforts  for  life."  Eev.  B.  W.  Mc- 
Donald,of  Lebanon,  Tennessee,preached 
two  weeks  during  the  month  of  March, 
1884,  but  having  to  go  away,  Eev.  Thomas 
Potter  came  by  request,  and  continued 
preaching  some  seven  weeks,  when  he 
was  regularly  employed  as  pastor.  In 
November,  1884,  he  was  succeeded  by 
Rev.  E.  W.  Norris,  who  is  the  present 
pastor.  The  present  officers  of  the 
church  are:  E.  W.  Norris,  moderator; 
Hiram  Eussell,  T.  J.  Caldwell,  Loven 
Garrett  and  Anthony  Thornton;  and  A. 
Thornton,  clerk. 

CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH   OF 
ARGYLE. 

This  church  was  organized  January 
19,  1834,  by  Eev.  0.  P.  Jewel.  The  or- 
ganization took  place  at  the  residence  of 
John  Me  Cord  in  the  southwestern  part 
of  Emmet  township.  The  first  ruling 
elders  were  John  McCord  and  E.  Du- 
rant.  Wm.  McCord  was  appointed  clerk 
of  the  session.  The  ministers  who  first 
supplied  this  congregation  with  preach- 
ing were  men  who  were  willing  to  make 
sacrifice  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  often 
traveling  many  miles  from  different  parts 
of  the  state  to  reach  their  places  of 
preaching. 

Until  recently  this  congregation  was 
known  as  Bersheba  but  it  is  now  changed 
on  the  presbyterial  record  to  that  of 
Argyle.  The  first  camp  meeting  was 
held  near  the  place  where  the  church  was 
organized,  in  the  year  1838,  and  was  con- 
ducted by  Eev.  Peter  Downey,  Cyrus 
Haynes,  John  Crawford  and  William 
McKamy.  The  church  held  its  meet- 
ings at  the  place  of  organization  until 
the  year  1854,  when  it  was  transferred 


to  Argyle,  its  present  location,  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  Hire  township.  The 
church  edifice  which  was  erected  in 
1853,  was  held  for  several  years  jointly 
by  the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  and 
Baptist's,  but  now  belongs  to  the  former. 
G.  W.  Welch,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Illinois,  did  more  than  any  one  else 
for  the  construction  of  this  house  of 
worship.  Knowing  well  the  value  of 
religious  influences  in  a  community,  he 
gave  of  his  means  liberally  for  the  build- 
ing fund,  and  also  for  the  support  of  the 
Gospel.  He  was  one  of  the  ruling  eld- 
ers and  held  this  office  until  his  death. 
He  also  superintended  the  first  Sabbath 
school,  organized  in  the  spring  of  1855, 
at  Argyle,  in  the  new  church.  James 
C.  Bowles,  who  came  from  the  state  of 
of  Tennessee,  and  located  near  the  church 
was  the  second  superintendent  of  the 
Argyle  Sabbath  school.  He  held  this 
position  for  a  number  of  years  and  was 
an  efficient  worker  both  in  the  Sabbath 
school  and  church. 

Among  the  numerous  ministers  who 
have  labored  at  this  place  we  mention 
here  the  names  of  T.  K.  Eoach,  Eev. 
Carter,  J.  W.  Cleaver,  John  Crawford, 
J.  L.  Crawford,  Milo  Hobart,  Frederick 
Naunce.  Eev.  J.  W.  Stapp  was  pastor 
of  the  church  most  of  the  time  for  20 
years  and  was  instrumental  in  doing 
great  good.  He  was  very  successfnl  in 
revival  work,  and  also  in  pastorial  work. 
Many  were  converted  under  his  ministry 
at  Argyle  and  at  various  other  points  in 
Eushville  presbytery.  His  life  and 
work  will  live  on  to  the  end  of  time  and 
his  name  will  long  be  remembered  by 
those  who  knew  him,  to  be  a  true  servant 
of  the  Lord. 


444 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Rev.  David  Hogan  took  charge  of  the 
congregation  March  1,  1875,  and  re- 
mained for  four  years  in  which  time  the 
parsonage  was  built.  C.  P.  Duvall  had 
the  pastorate  of  this  congregation  in 
1883.  Rev.  J.  L.  Riley  was  the  last  min- 
ister who  had  charge  of  this  congrega- 
tion; he  began  preaching  in  November, 
1883,  and  continued  until  January,  1885. 
The  present  ruling  elders  of  the  church 
are  Allen  Murray,  A.  T.  McCord,  John 
W.  Russell  and  Scott  Rodgers ;  deacons, 
E.  A.  Welch  and  Albert  Welch.  Just 
east  of  the  church  edifice  the  cemetery 
is  located  where  many  loved  ones  are 
quietly  resting  in  the  silent  city  waiting 
the  resurrection,  at  the  last  day.  The 
old  time  honored  church  house  is  grow- 
ing older  still  and  needs  to  be  replaced 
with  a  new  building,  which  we  believe 
will  be  erected  at  no  distant  day.  Many 
precious  memories  of  the  past  are  linked 
in  with  the  history  of  old  Argyle.  The 
pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel  have  been 
extensively  preached  here  and  a  wave  of 
influence  has  been  set  in  motion  that  is 
destined  to  go  on  through  all  time. 

Rev.  McKamy  is  the  only  one  of  the 
old  preachers  now  living.  He  lives  in 
Industry  township. 

Rev.  J.  T.  Murray,  of  this  church,  was 
born  in  Marion  county,  Kentucky,  on 
the  29th  day  of  April,  1847,  and  when 
but  one  year  of  age,  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  father.  He  was  educated  in 
the  rudimental  branches  in  the  district 
schools,  and  labored  on  the  farm  until 
1867,  when  he  entered  Lincoln  univer- 
sity, Logan  county,  Illinois.  In  the 
spring  of  1868,  he  returned  to  the  farm, 
where  he  stayed  until  in  October,  of  the 
same  year,  when  he  began  teaching 


school.  The  school  where  he  played  the 
pedagogue  for  the  first  time  was  in  Ten- 
nessee township.  In  February,  1869, 
he  made  a  trip  through  Kansas  and 
Missouri,  returning  to  his  home  in 
March,  about  a  week  previous  to  the 
death  of  his  brother,  W.  D.  In  the  fall 
of  1869,  he  entered  the  Normal  school, 
at  Macomb.  In  the  spring  following,  he 
resumed  his  labors  on  a  farm  and  in  the 
school  room,  being  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  the  summer,  and  in  the 
winter  teaching  school.  He  entered  the 
ministry,  joining  the  presbytery  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  of 
Rushville,  in  August,  1877,  and  was 
licensed  by  that  body  in  February,  1881, 
to  preach  the  gospel.  He  took  charge 
of  the  Point  Pleasant  congregation, 
Warren  county,  March  1,  1880,  and  con- 
tinued preaching  there  for  four  years. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  the  missionary 
work,  a  branch  of  church  work,  which  he 
entered  upon  in  the  spring  of  1884.  Mr. 
Murray  has  enjoyed  considerable  liter- 
ary reputation,  having,  in  1876,  written 
the  "Voyage  of  Life,"  in  four  parts,  viz: 
Childhood,  Youth,  Manhood  and  Old 
Age.  He  has  also  written  and  published 
in  the  various  county  papers,  several 
meritorious  poems,  among  which  are 
those  entitled,  "Life  on  the  Farm," 
"The  Pilgrim  Fathers,"  "The  Bright 
Side  of  Farm  Life,"  and  "The  Messenger 
Bird."  "Meditations  in  the  Graveyard," 
and  the  "Home  of  Love,"  were  contri- 
butions of  his  two  religious  journals. 

WEST    PRAIRIE     CUMBERLAND    PRESBYTE- 
RIAN CHURCH. 

This  congregation  was  originally  or- 
ganized at  "Sixteen"  school  house,  where 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


445 


meetings  were  held  until  the  erection-  of 
the  church.  Meetings  were  also  held  in 
the  school  house  of  district  number 
three,  Eldorado  township,  by  another 
little  band.  At  the  close  of  the  rebel- 
ion,  Rev.  Jaines  Russell,  who  had 
served  as  a  chaplain  in  the  army,  was 
employed  by  these  and  other  congrega- 
tions, and  by  his  earnest  labor,  he  united 
them,  and  urged  the  building  of  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  done  in  1867,  at  a  cost 
of  $3,300.  The  building  is  a  neat  frame, 
about  33x50.  It  is  located  upon  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  9,  Eldorado 
township.  Rev.  James  Russell  was  the 
first  pastor.  He  was  followed  by  Rev. 
McClellan.  The  present  is  Rev.  J.  M. 
Crawford. 

INDUSTRY     CUMBERLAND      PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH. 

This  congregation  was  organized  at 
the  house  of  Thomas  Adkisson,  Novem- 
ber 3, 1843,  with  the  following  members : 
Nathan  Compton,  Sarah  Compton,  John 
Compton,  Sarah  Adkisson,  William  C. 
McKamy,  Mrs.  O.  H.  McKamy,  Jane 
P.  McKamy,  Elizabeth  McKamy,  John 
McKamy,  Margaret  Campbell,  Tom 
Pollock,  Elizabeth  Osborn,  A.  J.  Os- 
born,  Stephen  Cockerham,  Rachel 
Cockerham,  -Martha  Bridges,  Walter 
Mean,  Joseph  Peck,  Martha  M.  Berry, 
and  A.  H.  Berry.  Nathan  Campbell 
was  then  elected  elder.  The  congrega- 
tion was  first  named  Grindstone.  Shortly 
after  the  organization,  meetings  were 
held  in  S.  Cockerham' s  house.  After 
this  the  camp  grounds  were  used,  which 
were  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Wash- 
ington Vail.  In  1845,  a  union  church 
house  was  erected,  which,  at  present 


stands  unoccupied  one  mile  and  a  half 
east  of  Industry.  This  building  was 
used  until  the  one  occupied  at  present 
was  erected.  This  structure  is  36x51 
feet  in  dimensions,  and  was  built  in 
1857,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  It  is  located 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Hickory  and 
Downing  streets.  This  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated in  1859.  The  first  occupant  of  the 
pulpit  was  Rev.  John  Carter.  The 
trustees  at  that  time  were :  T.  J.  Pen- 
nington,  Dr.  B.  A.  Duncan,  J.  C.  Bridges, 
U.  Begthol,  and  M.  Baymiller. 

GOOD   HOPE,    CUMBERLAND   PRESBYTERIAN 
CHURCH. 

The  society  bearing  this  name  was  or- 
ganized on  the  28th  day  of  April,  1838, 
at  the  house  of  Levi  Hamilton,  on  sec- 
tion 5,  Macomb  township,  by  Revs. 
Peter  Downey  and  Cyrus  Haynes,  and 
Elder  John  McCord,  who  constituted  the 
committee  of  Rushville  conference,  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose.  Meetings 
were  held  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Hamilton 
for  several  years,  until  a  church  build- 
ing was  erected,  not  far  from  his  house, 
about  2^  miles  southeast  of  Good  Hope. 
It  was  then  known  as  Walnut  Grove 
church.  The  original  members  were 
Cyrus  Haynes,  Mahala  Haynes,  A.  H. 
Berry,  M.  M.  Berry,  Michael  Vincent, 
Levi  Hamilton,  Malinda  Hamilton,  Mary 
Stapp,  J.  B.  Stapp,  Corger  Creel,  Char- 
les Creel,  Parthena  Creel,  John  Camp- 
bell and  wife,  Durham  and  Mary  Creel. 
For  about  twenty  years  its  ministers 
served  as  stated  supplies.  Prominent 
among  these  were  Rev.  Cyrus  Haynes, 
Peter  Downey,  Rev.  Wier,  William  S. 
Campbell,  E.  Knowles,  T.  K.  Roach  and 
J.  W.  Stapp.  In  1859,  Rev.  J.  W.  Car- 


446 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ter  was  installed  pastor,  and  served  for 
nine  years.  Following  him  were  T.  S. 
McClure,  Rev.  Richardson,  J.  H.  Mor- 
gan, J.  D.  Foster.  The  first  church 
building  erected  was  burnt  down,  prob- 
ably the  work  of  an  incendiary. 
Another  structure  was  erected  on  the 
same  site.  This  building  was  removed 
to  Good  Hope  in  1875.  Rev.  J.  Riley, 
of  Danvers,  was  the  last  minister  of 
the  gospel  who  officiated  here.  At 
present  the  congregation  has  no  preacher 
There  are  about  50  members  enrolled  on 
the  church  books.  There  is  a  Sunday 
school  of  about  60  scholars,  of  which 
Andrew  Allison  is  superintendent.  The 
value  of  churchproperty  is  about  $3,500. 

SUGAR   CREEK,     CUMBERLAND     PRESBYTE- 
RIAN  CHURCH. 

Meetings  of  this  congregation  were 
held  in  the  Foster  neighborhood  as  early 
as  1836.  In  that  year,  at  the  residence 
of  A.  J.  Foster,  the  Rev.  William  C. 
McKamy  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  being  the  first  minister  ordained 
in  the  county.  Meetings  were  held  off 
and  on  in  groves,  dwellings  and  school 
houses  until  1865  or  '66,  when  the  pres- 
ent church  structure  was  erected.  It  is  a 
good  frame,  about  36x48  feet,  and  cost 
$3,000.  It  stands  on  section  2,  of  Eldo- 
rado township.  The  elders  are  Wm.  D. 
Foster  and  Samuel  J.  Foster.  I.  N.  Fos- 
ter is  clerk.  The  membership  at  present 
is  about  60.  The  present  preacher  is  J.  S. 
Crawford. 

FIRST      METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH, 
MACOMB. 

In  1832,  the  famous  pioneer  of  Meth- 
odism in  Illinois,  Peter  Cartwright, 


preached  the  first  sermon  in  Macomb, 
according  to  the  tenets  of  belief  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  denomination. 
The  same  year  he  succeeded  in  organiz- 
ing a  society  in  that  place,  which  is  yet 
in  existence. 

Meetings  were  held  in  the  old  court 
house  until  1835,  when  a  very  respecta- 
ble brick  building  was  erected  on  ground 
given  by  Hon.  James  M.  Campbell,  on 
the  site  of  the  present  church  edifice, 
on  Lafayette  street,  north  of  Carroll. 

In  1847  the  church  building  blew 
down,  when  services  were  held  con- 
jointly with  the  Presbyterians,  in  their 
church  building.  A  very  earnest  union 
revival  was  held  by  the  two  congrega- 
tions, in  this  church,  which  resulted  in 
bringing  many  into  it.  The  church 
building  was  rebuilt  in  1848. 

In  1854,  the  circuit  heretofore  rather 
large,  was  divided,  leaving  Macomb  only 
two  appointments,  viz. :  Wolf  Grove  and 
Spring  Creek.  During  this  year  the 
church  building  again  blew  down,  but 
the  faithful  members  were  not  discour- 
aged, only  the  more  determined,  and 
soon  set  about  to  erect  another  and  lar- 
ger building.  One  40x70  feet  was  built 
this  time  and  dedicated  in  1857.  T.  M. 
Eddy,  editor  of  the  Northwestern  Chris- 
tian Advocate,  delivered  the  dedicatory 
sermon.  During  the  interval  spent  in 
rebuilding,  services  were  held  in  the. 
Christian  church  and  in  the  court-house. 

By  1858,  the  congregation  had  become 
so  large  as  to  require  the  undivided 
time  of  the  pastor,  and  consequently 
Macomb  was  set  off  as  a  separate  sta- 
tion. 

The  church  building  in  1875  was  re- 
built and  refitted  at  a  cost  of  $4,076.  A 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


447 


very  tall  and  beautifully  proportioned 
steeple  towered  far  above  the  building, 
but  not  long  after  the  new  edifice  had  been 
dedicated — Bishop  Simpson  preaching 
the  dedicatory  sermon — and  during  a 
most  violent  storm  the  spire  was  blown 
down,  causing  some  damage  to  the  front 
walls.  Immediately  the  debris  was 
cleared  away,  aud  a  cupola  of  less  pre- 
tensions was  erected.  The  value  of  the 
church  building,  which  is  a  neat  and 
commodious  brick  structure,  is  $10,000. 
A  large  bell  is  swung  in  the  cupola. 

On  the  corner  of  Lafayette  and  Cal- 
houn  streets,  and  just  to  the  north  of  the 
church,  is  the  parsonage,  a  good  frame 
residence  worth  $1,200.  The  following 
gentlemen  have  served  as  presiding  el- 
ders in  this  circuit  since  the  organization 
of  the  church:  Revs.  Peter  Cartwright, 
Michael  Taylor,  Peter  Atkins,  N.  G.  Ber- 
ryman,  John  S.  Barger,  R.  Haney,  John 
Morey,  Milton  Bourne,  H.  Summers,  A. 
Magee,  W.  H.  Hunter,  W.  D.  Under- 
wood, Henderson  Ritchie,  G.  M.  Irwin, 

B.  E.  Kaufman,   G.  J.  Luckey,   J.  G. 
Bowlin,  and  the  present  incumbent,  M. 

C.  Bowlin.     The  following  is  the  correct 
list  of  the  various  pastors  who  have  had 
charge  of  this  church:     Rev.  H.  Sum- 
mers, T.  N.  Ralston,  P.  R.  Boring,  Wil- 
liam Window,  D.  B.  Carter,  Enos  Thomp- 
son, John  R.  Richmond,  Chauncey  Ho- 
bart,  E.  Tracy,  John  Morey,  R.  W.  Clark, 
William  Hindall,  Freeborn  Haney,  Sam- 
uel Pillsbury,  H.  Hadley,  George  White- 
more,  Seth  Ford,  B.  Courtwright,  B.  C. 
Swartz,  B.  H.  Courtwright,  J.  B.  Quinly, 
William  M.  Clark,   S.  S.  Robinson,  W. 
H.  Jackson,  James  Taylor,  C.  P.  Brooks, 
Allen  Head,  W.  S.  Smith,  W.  J.  Beck, 
Milton  Bourne,  Benjamin  Applebee,  An- 


drew Miller,  P.  T.  Rhodes,  William  Wil- 
son, G.  R.  Palmer,  A.  D.  McCool,  Wil- 
liam Watson,  J.  H.  Rhea,  J.  C.  Rybolt, 
Henderson  Ritchie,  Peter  Warner,  Mr. 
Zimmerman,  B.  D.  Dennis,  L.  B.  Kent, 
M.  A.  Head,  G.  W.  Arnold,  C.  W.  Ail- 
ing and  H.  A.  Tullis,  the  present  pastor. 
The  present  officers  of  the  church  are 
the  following  mentioned:  S.  Smith  and 
Alexander  M'Kown,  class-leaders;  R.  H. 
Broaddus,  J.  T.  Adcock,  P.  McClellan, 
H.  K.  Smith,  James  Venable,  C.  W.  Slade, 
D.  H.  Hampton,  G.  E.  Kelley  and  Amos 
Scott,  stewards;  James  Venable,  secre- 
tary; H.  K.  Smith,  treasurer;  Alexander 
Holmes,  A.  T.  Vawter,  B.  D.  Ingram,  A. 
K.  Lodge,  A.  Munger,  S.  Smith,  and  C.' 
W.  Slade,  trustees. 

In  connection  with  this  church  is  a 
large  and  thriving  Sabbath  school,  of 
which  the  following  is  a  list  of  the  offi- 
cers: M.  Kennedy,  superintendent;  A. 
K.  Lodge,  assistant  superintendent ;  Mrs. 
G.  E.  Kelley,  lady  superintendent;  Sadie 
Knapp,  secretary ;  S.  Smith,  treasurer. 

SECOND  M.  E.  (COLORED)  CHURCH,  MACOMB. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  by  Rev.  Jacob,  of  Galesburg, 
with  the  following  members :  Alexander 
Garner,  Mrs.  Shoots,  Miss  Rachel  An- 
derson, Miss  Walker  and  Milton  Daniels. 
For  some  time  meetings  were  held  in  the 
old  Baptist  church  on  North  Lafayette 
street. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH   OF  PRAI- 
RIE  CITY. 

This  class  was  organized  in  1856.  Ser- 
vices were  held  at  first  at  the  residences 
of  Thomas  Brinks  and  John  Griffin. 
Then  a  school  house  was  erected  just 


448 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


south  of  where  the  Presbyterian  church 
now  stands.  Rev.  George  Havermail 
was  the  first  pastor  who  preached  in 
this  place.  The  flock  at  first  consisted 
of  the  following  members  :  David, 
Catharine  and  Margaret  Griffin,  Thomas 
and  Nancy  Brink,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  W. 
Goldsmith,  Ebenezer  and  Sarah  Sanf ord, 
D.  K.  Hardin  and  wife,  Rufus  and 
Samantha  Benedict,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elijah 
Hoyt,  John  Carrier  and  wife,  Erastus 
Carrier  and  wife,  Andrew  Burr  and  wife, 
Sylvester  Davey  and  wife,  and  James 
Dickinson.  Rev.  Havermail,  the  first 
preacher,  was  a  young  man,  who  took 
his  tools  with  him  when  he  went  to  col- 
lege, and  worked  at  his  trade  of  carpen- 
ter while  gaining  his  education.  From 
1856  to  1860,  besides  Havermail,  Revs. 
Alexander  Fisher,  William  Watson,  N. 
Lewis  and  Jesse  Craig  served  as  pastors. 
Mr.  Fisher  was  a  popular  minister,  but 
he  did  not  remain  long  in  the  pastorate. 
Mr.  Watson  was  a  young  man,  a  faithful 
worker,  and  was  much  respected.  Mr. 
Lewis  did  not  serve  long.  Jesse  Craig 
was  a  pleasant,  agreeable  man  to  all. 
He  is  now  in  Vermont,  Fulton  county. 
William  Underwood  came  in  1861.  He 
was  well  known  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  He  was  followed  in  October, 
1864,  by  John  C.  Rybolt.  He  served 
one  year,  and  was  followed  by  A.  Bower. 
He  is  still  in  this  conference.  He  was 
a  pleasant  man,  and  a  logical  speaker. 
W.  J.  Beck  came  in  1867.  He  was  a 
good  preacher,  and  well  liked.  He  is 
now  connected  with  the  DesMoines, 
Iowa,  conference.  He  was  succeeded  by 
J.  D.  Heckard.  Mr.  Heckard  was  prob- 
ably the  most  eloquent  preacher  who 
ever  presided  over  the  congregation,  and 


wasj  besides,  a  very  jovial  man.  While 
at  Watseka,  afterwards,  he  was  kicked 
by  a  cow  while  milking,  and  died  from 
his  injuries.  D.  S.  Main  took  pastoral 
charge  in  1869.  He  is  still  in  this  con- 
ference. He  was  succeeded  by  A.  Magee, 
in  October,  1872.  A  sketch  of  him  will 
appear  in  the  history  of  Prairie  City. 
A.  S.  Atherton  was  next,  coming  in  1875. 
He  has  since  retired  from  the  ministry, 
and  is  farming  in  Missouri.  G.  Wiley 
Martin  came  in  1877.  He  is  now  a  pre- 
siding elder  in  a  thinly  settled  portion 
of  Nebraska.  The  next  pastor  was  E. 
C.  Wayman.  He  is  now  in  Kankakee 
district,  and  has  Zion  and  Verona 
churches  in  charge.  J.  H.  Sanders  be- 
came pastor  here  in  October,  1881.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  near  Iowa 
Falls,  Iowa,  having  been  incapacitated 
from  preaching  on  account  of  throat 
troubles.  S.  P.  James,  the  present  pas- 
tor, succeeded  Mr.  Sanford,  coming  in 
October,  1883.  The  church  building  was 
erected  in  1858,  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,500. 
The  amount  was  raised  mostly  by  sub- 
scription. Among  those  donating:  Moses 
Hand  gave  $200;  D.  K.  Hardin,  $200; 
David  Griffin,  $200;  Alexander  Fisher, 
$200;  Rufus  Benedict,  $150;  Ebenezer 
Sanford,  $200;  Sylvester  Davey  paid,  in 
work  and  money,  about  $50.  The  amount 
first  raised  was  not  sufficient,  and  the 
donors  increased  their  subscriptions, 
Mr.  Hand  giving  altogether  about  $400. 
The  ladies  also  raised  money  by  holding 
entertainments  and  giving  suppers,  and 
paid  a  great  deal  towards  the  furnishing 
of  the  church.  The  parsonage  was 
erected  in  1859,  at  a  cost  of  about  $800. 
It  is  located  across  the  street  from  the 
church.  The  tax-title  to  the  land  on 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


449 


which  it  stands,  was  donated  to  the 
society  by  Moses  Hand.  The  first  trus- 
tees were:  Moses  Hand,  Andrew  Burr, 
L.  I.  Washburn,  D.  K.  Hardin  and 
Alexander  Fisher.  The  officers  at  pres- 
ent are:  A.  Mead,  Milton  Hay,  S.  Davey, 
Jqhn  Kreider  and  J.  N.  Belleville,  trus- 
tees; A.  Mead,  A.  Magee,  John  Kreider 
and  S.  Davey,  stewards;  A.  B.  Cooper, 
class-leader.  The  church  has  hardly  as 
many  members  as  formerly,  though  a 
good  degree  of  interest  is  manifested. 
A.  Magee  and  A.  Mead  are  local 
preachers,  and  speak  alternate  Sundays, 
the  regular  pastor  only  preaching  at 
night.  A  Sabbath  school  was  organized 
a  short  time  after  the  building  of  the 
church  edifice.  Ebenezer  Sanford  was 
its  first  superintendent.  A.  Mead  now 
holds  that  position,  and  has  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  has  the  school  in  good 
condition. 

Rev.  S.  P.  James,  who  now  fills  the 
pulpit  at  the  M.  E.  church,  of  Prairie 
City,  was  born  in  Baltimore  county, 
Maryland,  November  9,  1842,  and  is  a 
son  of  A.  F. -  W.  and  Rebecca  C.  (Price) 
James.  His  father  removed  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1869,  and  died  in  Sciota 
township  in  1880.  S.  P.  spent  his  boy- ' 
hood  days  in  Maryland,  and  in  1861 
went  to  Washington,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  quartermaster's  department  of  the 
army.  He  was  thus  employed  until  1864, 
when  he  came  to  this  county,  where 
many  of  his  relatives  resided.  He  lo- 
cated at  Bushnell,  and  commenced  the 
study  of  dentistry  with  his  brother,  J.  A. 
After  becoming  proficient  in  the  profes- 
sion, he  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother.  In  January,  1866,  he  went  to 
Vermont,  Fulton  county,  and  opened  a 


dentistry  office.  He  became  a  local 
preacher  there,  and  decided  to  give  up 
his  profession.  He  was  a  local  preacher 
from  1870  to  1875,  and  in  the  latter  year 
served  as  supply  to  the  Macomb  circuit. 
His  ordination  as  elder  occurred  on  Oc- 
tober 4,  1880,  at  Fairbury,  Bishop  Hurst 
presiding.  His  first  charge,  after  filling 
the  supply  on  the  Macomb  circuit,  was 
at  Pleasant  Mound,  this  county.  He  was 
next  assigned  to  Rarita,  Henderson 
county.  After  this  he  served  at  Good 
Hope  until  coming  to  Prairie  City,  in 
October,  1883.  He  was  married  in  Bal- 
timore, Maryland,  on  July  12,  1866,  to 
Martha  E.  Lynch.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren— William  A.  and  Walter  G. 

GEEENWOOD  METHODIST  CHUECH,  MACOMB 
TOWNSHIP. 

The  people  of  this  denomination  in 
this  vicinity  first  met  for  worship  at  the 
Scottsburg  church,  in  1857.  At  that 
time  they  were  under  the  supervision  of 
Blandinsville  circuit.  In  1858,  they 
were  taken  into  the  Pleasant  Mound, 
circuit,  and  began  to  hold  meetings  in 
the  school  house  of  District  No.  2.  Ser- 
vices were  held  in  that  building  till  1875, 
when  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren 
was  erected.  They  worshipped  in  that 
edifice  until  their  own  was  completed, 
later  in  the  same  year.  On  Sunday,  De- 
cember 19,  1875,  the  dedication  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Evans,  presi- 
dent of  Hedding  college,  Abingdon.  The 
building  is  32x48  feet  in  ground  area, 
and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,836.07. 
The  first  trustees  were:  Abram  Switzer, 
D.  Chidester,  J.  B.  Bieber,  A.  C.  Ford, 
H.  H.  McElvain  and  L.  H.  Shriver.  The 
first  preacher  was  Rev.  Benjamin  F. 


450 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Applebee,  a  minister  of  good  ability  and 
highly  esteemed.  He  formed  the  class, 
consisting  of  15  members,  and  labored 
one  year  with  the  flock.  Since  his  time 
the  following  have  preached:  C. 
Springer,  George  Havermail,  William 
Underwood,  William  Frizzell,  Peter 
Warner,  H.  H.  Crozier,  —  — Mark,  Jacob 
Mayhews,  D.  S.  Mains,  A.  Bowers,  B.  C. 
Dennis,  J.  Ferguson,  J.  W.  Frizzell,  B. 
E.  Kaufman,  H.  K.  Metcalf,  J.  Pugh,  J. 
E.  Taylor,  Peter  Garrison,  Thomas  J. 
Pearson,  J.  A.  Sandess  and  Melton 
Haney.  T.  P.  Henry  is  the  present  min- 
ister. O.  M.  McElvain  has  taken  the 
place  of  J.  B.  Bieber  as  trustee. 

M.  E.  CHURCH,  EMMET  TOWNSHIP. 

The  building  of  this  congregation  is 
located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 19,  and  was  erected  in  1865,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,500;  size,  26x50  feet  in  ground 
area.  The  church  was  dedicated  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1866.  The  society  was  organized 
and  held  regular  meetings  in  groves  and 
school  houses  some  15  years  previous. 
The  land  on  which  the  present  building 
is  located  was  generously  donated  to  the 
society  by  George  Guy.  The  first  regu- 
lar pastor  of  the  congregation  was  Rev. 
Stephen  Brink,  who  staid  about  two 
years.  The  following  were  among  the 
first  members:  George  G.  Guy  and  wife, 
James  Guy,  Catharine  Duncan,  David 
G.,  B.  F.,  Martha,  Rebecca  J.,  Harrietta 
and  A.  E.  Guy,  Eli  Murray  and  wife, 
John  B.  Murray  and  wife,  Ingabo  and 
Martha  Carmack,  Riley  P.  Pennington 
and  wife,  James  Bradley,  Francis  At- 
kinson, James  Griffith  and  wife,  Mrs. 
Emily  Wilson  and  Mary  J.  Newell. 
George  G.  Guy  was  the  first  class  leader, 


and  held  that  position  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  resigned  in  1876,  since  which 
time  his  son,  B.  F.,  has  been  class  leader. 
The  present  pastor  is  V.  C.  Randolph. 
A  Sunday  school  has  been  carried  on 
during  the  summer  seasons,  until  recent 
years,  since  which  time  they  meet  both 
summer  and  winter.  George  G.  Guy 
was  the  first  superintendent,  who  was 
followed  successively  by  Eli  Murray, 
William  Knight  and  the  present  incum- 
bent, R.  T.  Ballew. 

STICKLE   METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

The  congregation  in  Emmet  township 
known  by  the  above  name  was  organized 
in  1845,  with  the  following  members: 
Abram  Stickle,  Sr.,  Susan  Stickle,  Jacob 
Stickle  and  wife,  George  Stickle  and 
wife,  William  Stickle  and  wife,  Abram 
Stickle,  Jr.,  and  wife,  William  Twitchell 
and  wife,  Nicholas  Post  and  wife,  An- 
drew Wyatt  and  wife,  George  Eyre  and 
wife,  Robert  Fleetmiller  and  wife,  Mrs- 
Mary  Henley,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  McCrary 
and  Robert  Stickle.  They  worshipped 
for  about  ten  years  in  the  school  house, 
near  the  site  of  the  present  church  edi- 
fice, which  was  erected  in  1854  or  1855, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  11. 
The  building  is  30x45  feet  in  ground  area, 
and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,700.  It 
was  named  in  honor  of  Abram  Sickle, 
Sr.,  now  deceased,  who  was  the  prime 
mover  in  the  organization  of  the  same. 
There  is  a  present  membership  of 
about  50. 

BLANDINSVILLE   M.    E.    CHURCH. 

The  first  religious  services  of  a  pub- 
lic character  that  occurred  in  what  is 
now  Blandinsville  township  were  held 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


451 


at  the  Hays  school  house,  three  miles 
east  of  the  city  of  Blandinsville.  Peter 
Akers,  John  S.  Barger,Chauncey  Hobart, 
John  Morey,  David  Oliver,  J.  Kirkpat- 
rick,  J.  B.  Quinby,  W.  J.  Smith,  U.  J. 
Giddings  and  others  held  services  here 
at  various  times.  The  first  preaching  in 
the  town  of  Blandinsville  was  in  a  school 
house,  since  moved,  and  now  occupied  as 
the  post  office.  It  was  at  the  Hays 
school  house,  however,  that  the  first  so- 
ciety of  this  denomination  was  formed. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  various  pas- 
tors who  have  filled  the  pulpit  of  this 
charge,  from  the  organization  of  the 
church,  in  1854.  J.  S.  Cummings,  1854; 
W.  J.  Beck  and  J.  Cowden,  1855;  B.  E. 
Kaufman,  1856;  H.  Presson  and  B.  E. 
Kaufman,  1857;  H.  Presson,  1858;  G. 
W.  Miller,  1859-60;  B.  B.  Kennedy  and 
V.  M.  Dewey,  1861;  B.  B.  Kennedy,  1862; 
H.  H.  Crozier,  1863;  S.  Brink,  1864^65- 
66;  J.  C.  Millington,  1867;  John  Luccock, 
1868-69;  B.  E.  Kaufman,  1870;  B.  E. 
Kaufman  and  T.  J.  Pearson,  1871;  B.  F. 
Tallman,  1872;  B.  F.  Tallman  and  G.  N. 
Dorsey,  1873;  B.  F.  Tallman  and  A.  C. 
Calkins,  1874;  G.  B.  Snedaker  and  W.  B. 
Alexander,  1875-76-77;  T.  P.  Henry, 
1878-79-80;  B.  C.  Dennis,  1881;  C.  W. 
Ayling,  1882;  W.  W.  Carr,  1883;  C. 
Springer,  1884-85. 

There  is  a  membership  of  nearly  300 
at  this  time  connected  with  Blandinsville 
charge.  The  church  edifice  in  Blandins- 
ville is  a  beautiful  structure,  in  good 
repair,  and  reflects  credit  upon  the  con- 
gregation and  community. 

THE   M.    E.    CHURCH   OF   BARDOLPH. 

This  church  was  first  known  as  that  of 
Wolf's  grove,  and  was  organized  at  the 


house  of  Jacob  Kepple,  in  the  spring  of 
1837,  by  the  Kev.  Mr.  Thompson,  through 
the  influence  of  William  H.  Jackson,  a 
local  preacher,  one  of  those  sturdy  pio- 
neers who  not  only  desired  to  open  up 
this  beautiful  country  for  settlement,  but 
to  sow  the  good  seed  of  the  Gospel  in 
the  hearts  of  his  neighbors  and  friends. 
The  church  or  class,  as  originally  formed, 
contained  but  five  members:  W.  H. 
Jackson,  Ann  Jackson,  Margaret  Kepple, 
Elizabeth  Kulp  and  Harriet  Vincent. 
Mr.  Jackson  was  elected  class  leader. 
Preaching  was  held  at  the  log  cabin  of 
Jacob  Kepple,  once  in  four  weeks,  on 
week  days,  as  the  circuit  was  so  large  that 
the  preachers  had  to  preach  every  day 
in  the  week,  and  often  twice  a  day,  to 
make  their  rounds  in  four  weeks.  It  was 
very  often  a  very  long  time  between  ap- 
pointments, but  these  self-sacrificing  cir- 
cuit riders  rode  horseback  or  traveled  on 
foot,  carrying  their  saddle-bags  contain- 
ing their  library  and  wardrobe.  Their 
salary  was  very  small,  $100  being  the 
usual  salary  allowed  them,  and  often  half 
of  this  was  never  obtained. 

Religious  services  were  held  at  the 
cabin  of  Mr.  Kepple  for  some  two  or  three 
years,  and  after  that  for  six  or  eight  years 
at  the  house  of  Wm.  H.  Jackson.  After 
that,  services  were,  at  first,  held  in  the 
school  house,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  the  present  site  of  Bardolph. 
After  a  few  years  the  meeting  place  was 
removed  to  the  school  house  on  the  south- 
'west  quarter  of  section  24,  in  Macomb 
township.  Here  it  remained  until  about 
1855,  when  Bardolph  being  laid  out,  the 
church  was  removed  to  the  newly  erected 
school  house  in  that  place,  where  it  re- 
mained about  a  year  or  so.  Its  name 


452 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


was  changed  about  this  time  to  that  of 
Bardolph  Methodist  .Episcopal  society. 
The  school  directors,  having  objections 
to  the  holding  of  services  in  the  build- 
ing, a  room  in  the  village  was  rented  by 
the  society,  for  the  purpose  of  having 
services.  This  they  held  for  a  few  months, 
when  the  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  tendered  them  the  use  of  their 
church  building,  which  they  gladly  ac- 
cepted. 

In  the  autumn  of  1866,  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterians  and  this  congrega- 
tion united  in  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  known  by  their  united 
names,in  which  services  were  held  on  al- 
ternate Sundays.  For  10  years  this  con- 
tinued, and  finally,  in  1883,  the  Metho- 
dist congregation  purchased  the  interest 
of  the  Presbyterians  in  the  structure, 
and  now  own  and  occupy  it  themselves. 
The  building  is  a  neat  and  commodious 
specimen  of  church  architecture.  Like 
all  other  old  churches  of  this  denomina- 
tion, they  have  had  a  number  of  pastors, 
but  it  is  believed  that  the  following  is  a 
complete  list,  with  the  date  of  service,  the 
first,  however,  being  circuit  preachers, 
with  appointments  at  this  place.  Begin- 
ning with  the  first,  we  have  Rev.  Mr. 
Thompson,  who  served  one  year;  Rev. 
Mr.  Mobley,  one  year;  Rev.  C.  Hobart, 
two  years;  Rev.  Mr.  Pitner,  one  year; 
Rev.  Mr.  Troy,  one  year;  Rev.  J.  Wal- 
ters, one  year;  Rev.  C.  J.  Houts,  one 
year;  Rev.  T.  J.  Oliver,  one  year;  Rev. 
B.  F.  Applebee,  one  year;  U.  J.  Ged- 
dings,  two  years;  Rev.  Mr.  Hiadle,.  a 
part  of  a  year  which  was  finished  out  by 
Rev.  Freeborn  Haney;  Rev.  W.  J.  Beck, 
one  year;  Rev.  B.  F.  Swarts,  one  year. 
The  next  was  Rev.  Barton  Cartwright  and 


Rev.  J.  B.  Quimby,  who  together  had  ap- 
pointments on  this  circuit.  They  were 
succeeded  by  Rev.  John  Morey,  who 
served  one  year;  Rev.  Milton  Brown,  one 
year;  Rev.  James  Taylor  and  Rev.  John 
P.  Brooks,  one  year;  Rev.  W.  H.  Jack- 
son and  Rev.  Sharrod  Robinson,  one 
year;  Rev.  Mr.  Hadley,  one  year;  Rev. 
W.  J.  Beck,  one  year;  Rev.  Mr.  McCool, 
one  year;  Rev.  B.  F.  Applebee,  one  year; 
Rev.  W.  F.  Steward,  one  year;  Rev.  John 
Windsor,  one  year;  Rev.  Creighton 
Springer,  one  year,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Brown, 
one  year.  This  brings  it  down  to  the 
building  of  the  church  in  1867.  From 
that  time  forward  the  pulpit  has  been 
filled  by  Revs.  B.  E.  Kaufman,  D.  S. 
Main,  James  Ferguson,  A.  P.  Hull,  Ja- 
cob Mathews,  John  Reed,  P.  S.  Garret- 
son,  J.  W.  Frizzell,  T.  J.  Pearson,  H. 
K.  Metcalf,  J.  A.  Souders,  B.  C.  Dennis 
and  T.  P.  Henry,  the  present  pastor. 

Special  revivals  have  been  held  at  va- 
rious times  with  wonderous  results, 
among  which  may  be  mentioned  some  of 
the  principal  ones.  One  was  held  in  the 
school  house  south  of  the  site  of  Bar- 
dolph, in  the  winter  of  1851,  by  Rev. 
James  Taylor,  the  pastor,  assisted  by 
Revs.  John  P.  Brooks  and  W.  H.  Jack- 
fon.  Some  50  or  60  conversions  were 
reported.  A  union  revival  was  held 
therein  shortly  after  the  erection  of  the 
church  building,  by  Revs.  H.  C.  Mullen, 
John  Windsor  and  W.  H.  Jackson,  which 
resulted  in  some  70  making  a  profession 
of  faith.  In  1872,  a  revival  held  by  Rev. 
Jacob  Mathews  resulted  in  adding  75 
more  to  the  fold.  In  1880,  a  powerful 
wave  of  religious  feeling  swept  through- 
out the  community,  and  a  revival  at  that 
time,  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  T.  J. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


453 


Pearson  resulted  in  the  conversion  of 
130  souls.  A  revival  in  1883,  also,  re- 
sulted in  30  more  coming  into  the  church. 
The  officers  of  the  society  are  at  present, 
the  following  mentioned:  J.  E.  Hen- 
drickson  and  George  Switzer,  class  lead- 
ers; J.  E.  Hendrickson,  John  W.  Booth, 
Mrs.  J.  Knapp,  John  G.  Smith  and  John 
M.  Jackson,  stewards;  Dr.  J.  B.  Knapp, 
A.  Hanson,  H.  A.  Maxwell,  J.  W.  Jack- 
son, J.  W.  Booth,  J.  E.  Hendrickson  and 
J.  M.  Jackson,  trustees.  John  M.  Jack- 
son, superintendent  of  Sabbath  school. 
The  church  is  in  an  excellent  condition, 
and  has  a  membership  of  105  at  the  pres- 
ent writing,  (1885.) 

SCOTT'S  M.  E.  CHUKCH,  BETHEL  TOWNSHIP. 

The  congregation  of  this  name  was  or- 
ganized in  1837.  Rev.  Tray,  deceased, 
was  the  first  pastor  of  the  church.  The 
first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1836, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30, 
and  was  also  used  for  school  purposes. 
It  was  a  log  structure,  12x15  feet  in  di- 
mensions. The  growth  and  prosperity 
of  the  church  has  been  gradual  and  sub- 
stantial, and  at  present  there  is  a  mem- 
bership of  50  or  60.  Rev.  Powell,  the 
present  pastor,  has  been  laboring  in  the 
work  and  interest  of  the  church  at  dif- 
ferent periods  for  the  past  30  years. 
There  is  also  a  flourishing  Sunday  school 
in  connection,  with  a  membership  of  be- 
tween 150  and  200. 

THE    METHODIST    EPISCOPAL    CHUECH    OF 
BUSHNELL. 

During  the  year  1856,  although  the 
people  of  the  village  were  but  few,  the 
place  having  but  just  started,  still  there 
were  some  that  wanted  to  found  a  church 


of  this  denomination.  After  some  dis- 
cussion, in  that  year;  a  class  was  formed 
of  the  following  members:  J.  Cole  and 
wife,  E.  Aller  and  wife,  Herman  Diltz 
and  wife,  Jacob  Miller  and  wjfe,  and 
Isaac  Tharke  and  wife.  This  little  knot 
of  Christians  formed  a  nucleus  around 
which  gathered  quite  a  congregation. 
They  worshipped  for  a  time  in  the  build- 
ing erected  by  the  German  Methodists, 
in  harmony  with  that  body,  but  in  1863, 
they  felt  convinced  that  they  should 
have  a  house  of  their  own,  so  set  to  work 
and  built  one  of  frame,  36x56  in  ground 
area,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  This  they  used 
until  the  spring  of  1883,  when  it  was  de- 
molished, and  on  its  site  was  erected  the 
present  stately  edifice  they  use  for  wor- 
ship. This  beautiful  building  is  brick, 
58x70  feet  in  dimension,  well  and  sub- 
stantially built,  elegantly  finished  and 
beautifully  fitted  up.  Its  cost  was  about 
$12,000,  and  it  was  dedicated  to  sacred 
uses  in  May,  1884  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  250. 

THE  GERMAN    METHODIST   EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH  OF  BUSHNELL. 

In  July,  1857,  a  congregation  of  this 
denomination  of  Christians  was  formed 
at  the  rising  town  of  Bushnell,  with  the 
following  members:  Henry  Weiser  and 
wife,  Michael  Miller  and  wife,  George 
Ludwig  and  wife,  Andrew  Ludwig  and 
wife,  Henry  Bertz  and  wife,  Henry  Wil- 
masshans  and  wife,  Christ.  Wiseman  and 
wife  and  John  Ewald  and  wife.  The 
first  minister  was  Rev.  Peter  Hehner. 
No  sooner  was  the  society  formed  than 
they  began  to  look  around  for  means 
with  which  to  erect  them  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, and  with  this  end  in  view  elected 


454 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  following  gentlemen,  a  board  of  trus- 
tees to  urge  the  matter:  Henry  Meiser, 
George  Ludwig,  Michael  Miller,  Andrew 
Ludwig  and  Henry  Bertz.  They  at  once 
set  to  work  and  before  cold  weather  set 
in  had  the  church  in  which  they  now 
meet,  erected  and  finished.  It  is  of 
frame,  25x40.  Rev.  Mr.  Hehner  was 
succeeded  in  the  pastorate  by  Rev.  C. 
Johnson,  and  he  by  Rev.  John  Saiser. 
There  is  now  a  membership  of  60,  in 
full  communion,  under  the  ministration 
of  Rev.  John  C.  Rapp,  the  present  pas- 
tor, and  a  great  good  is  wrought  by  their 
work  in  the  community.  The  present 
officers  are:  Henry  Rogers,  elder;  C. 
Nessel,  deacon;  C.  Goeppinger,  John 
Oblander  and  Frank  Kramer,  trustees. 
There  is  a  flourishing  Sabbath  school  in 
connection  with  the  church,  which  was 
organized  at  the  same  time  as  the  church, 
with  Michael  Miller  as  its  first  superin- 
tendent. The  present  membership  is 
about  70,  with  C.  Nessel  as  superintend- 
ent, and  John  Oblander  as  secretary. 

Jacob  Miller,  former  pastor  of  the 
German  M.  E.  church  at  Bushnell,  was 
a  native  of  Clayborn,  Alsace,  born  Janu- 
ary 13,  1815.  When  he  was  small  his 
parents  died,  leaving  him  under  the 
guardianship  of  his  grandparents.  He 
was  brought  up  under  religious  influ- 
ences, and  when  his  grandfather  died 
the  latter  asked  Jacob  to  lead  a  good 
life.  In  his  17th  "year  he  came  to  New 
York.  He  was  married  in  1835  to  Mag- 
dalena  Walter.  Two  years  after  that  he 
came  west,  stopping  at  Quincy,  Illinois. 
There  he  joined  the  Lutheran  church  in 
1843.  He  afterward  joined  the  Congre- 
gational church,  but  finally  became  con- 
nected with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


church.  In  1848  he  obtained  license  to 
preach.  Two  years  later  he  was  sent  to 
Pekin,  Illinois.  There  he  remained  one 
year.  In  1850  he  went  to  Jackson,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  remained  two  years.  His 
next  appointments 'were  Alton,  Red  Bud, 
then  Staunton,  Vandalia  and  Highland, 
Illinois.  His  health  failed  him  in  1857, 
and  he  was  superannuated.  He  then 
retired  to  his  farm,  where  he  lived  seven 
years.  He  next  took  up  religious  work 
near  Staunton.  In  1860  he  had  charge 
at  Alton.  In  1868,  he  had  charges  at 
Alton,  Vandalia  and  Staunton.  Thence 
he  came  to  Bushnell,  this  county,  where 
he  was  stationed  and  built  a  house.  He 
Vas  sent  out  again  in  1869,  and  worked 
in  Petersburg  one  year.  He  was  then 
sent  to  Bushnell  again,  where  he  worked 
in  the  Lord's  vineyard  six  months,  before 
his  death  occurred.  A  few  days  before 
he  died  he  talked  about  his  soul's  con- 
dition. The  maiden  name  of  the  wife 
whom  he  left  behind  was  Magdelena 
Walter.  The  names  of  their  children 
were — Jacob  and  Joshua  and  the  wife 
of  Henry  Rogers.  The  funeral  services 
of  Rev.  Miller  were  held  in  the  Ameri- 
can M.  E.  church  at  Bushnell,  conducted 
by  Rev.  David  Huene. 

INDUSTRY  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

This  society  was  organized  by  Rev.  E. 
Montgomery  in  1855,  with  the  following 
members:  John  Reed  and  wife,  Henry 
Robeley  and  wife,  M.  Merrick  and  wife, 
Mrs.  Vance,  Fannie  Bridges  and  Polly 
Shannon.  The  church  edifice  is  situated 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Main  and 
Sullivan  streets.  It  is  a  frame  building, 
and  is  32x50  feet  in  ground  area.  Before 
the  church  building  had  reached  com- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


455 


pletion,  Rev.  John  Wiarson  preached  to 
the  congregation.  The  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated, in  July,  1866,  by  Rev.  Reuben 
Andrews,  of  Quincy.  It  cost  about 
$2,000.  '  The  first  trustees  were:  J.  C. 
McLetton,  J.  W.  Leach,'  M.  Merrick, 
John  Blazer  and  B.  F.  Botchlett: 

LINN  GROVE  M.  E.  CHURCH,  WALNUT 
GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Septem- 
ber, 1865,  by  Rev.  Peter  Warner,  in  the 
grove  in  Jesse  Hageman's  dooryard. 
The  following  were  among  the  original 
•members :  Jesse  Hageman,  William  M. 
Hageman,  Samuel  Arthur  and  wife,  Asa 
J.  Tiger  and  wife,  Thomas  Foster.  Asa 
J.  Tiger  was  the  first  class  leader.  The 
church  house  stands  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  24,  and  was  erected  in 
1868,  at  an  outlay  of  $2,400.  It  is  a  good 
frame  building,  32  feet  wide  by  48  feet 
long.  The  first  pastor  was  Rev.  M.  C. 
Bowlin,  while  the  present  minister  is 
Rev.  J.  N.  Clarke.  They  only  have  a 
membership  of  22  at  present,  but  have 
numbered  as  high  as  92  members.  The 
present  officers  are:  Amanda  Chidster, 
leader;  Asa  J.  Tiger  and  Mrs.  Porter, 
stewards ;  A.  Chidster,  A.  J.  Tiger,  J.  O. 
Porter,  Clinton  Gossard  and  Mary  J. 
George,  trustees. 

GOOD-  HOPE  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

Good  Hope  was  formerly  a  part  of 
Blandinsville  circuit,  but  in  the  fall  of 
1878  Good  Hope  circuit  was  organized. 
It  is  composed  of  Stickle' s,  Linn  Grove, 
Burnsville,  Maple  Grove  and  Spring 
Creek.  The  succession  of  pastors  are: 
G.  W.  Miller,  S.  P.  James,  David  Lasker 
and  the  present  minister,  V.  C.  Ran- 


dolph. The  church  building  was  first 
erected  one  mile  northwest  of  the  village, 
but  when  the  town  was  started,  it  was 
removed  to  its  present  location  at  Good 
Hope.  Upon  its  removal  it  was  thor- 
oughly repaired,  the  steeple  constructed 
and  a  bell  purchased;  it  is  now  valued 
at  about  $2,500.  The  parsonage  is  well 
located  on  a  good  lot  in  the  village,  and 
is  valued  at  $800.  The  membership  at 
present  numbers  55,  and  about  145  in 
the  entire  charge. 

M.  E.  CHURCH,   CHALMERS    TOWNSHIP 

The  building  used  by  this  denomina- 
tion is  situated  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  14,  and  was  completed  in 
July  1872  by  the  Methodist  and  Lutheran 
societies  of  this  township,  who  erected 
and  own  it  jointly.  The  size  of  the 
building  is  28x40, feet;  it  was  completed 
at  a  cost  of  $1,600.  The  Methodist  con- 
gregation was  organized  by  Rev.  Lyman 
B.  Kent,  in  July,  1872.  The  first  mem- 
bers were:  John  Saffell  and  wife,  Sam- 
uel Scroggs  and  wife,  George  A.  Cover 
and  wife,  Mrs.  Saul,  Mrs.  William  Bar- 
rett, Duncan  Lyons  and  wife,  Nathaniel 
Dicker  and  wife.  The  ministers  who 
have  presided  over  the  church  are :  Revs. 
James,  Head,  Freland,  Frizzell  and  Bow- 
Ian.  The  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Tullis, 
of  Macomb,  who  preaches  every  other 
Sabbath.  The  present  membership 
numbers  about  30.  S.  A.  Cover  is  class 
leader. 

METHODIST    EPISCOPAL   CHURCH,  OF   TEN- 
NESSEE. 

The  first  meetings  of  this  denomina- 
tion held  in  the  neighborhood  of  Ten- 
nessee, were  at  the  residence  of  Janres 


27 


456 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Fulkerson,  near  Hill's  Grove,  in  1832. 
This  locality  is  known  as  "Old  Metho- 
dist Stamping  Grounds."  These  meet- 
ings were  held  by  missionaries,  Rev. 
Carter,  Levi  Springer  and  Henry  Sum- 
mers. In  1851,  a  society  was  organized 
south  of  Tennessee,  at  what  was  called 
the  brick  school  house.  The  Eevs. 
James  Taylor,  J.  P.  Brooks,  William 
Smith,  and  J.  B.  Quinby,  served  as 
preachers. 

N  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
original  members:  John  Jarvis,  Mrs. 
Jarvis,  Garrett  Jarvis,  William  Delay, 
Absolam  Parker,  Mary  Parker,  C.  L. 
Davis,  Maria  Davis,  William  Clayton, 
Louisa  Clayton,  L.  C.  Bacon,  Honor 
Bacon,  Lewis  Mourning,  Ann  Mourning, 
and  Sarah  Lawyer. 

After  a  few  years,  the  society  was 
transferred  from  the  Macomb  district  to 
that  of  Blandinsville,  and  the  following 
ministers  preached  to  this  little  flock, 
during  the  succeeding  years:  Eevs. 
Joseph  Cummings,  G.  W.  Erwin,  James 
Cowden,  John  Beard,  B.  E.  Kaufman, 
and  H.  Presson. 

In  1857,  the  class  at  the  school  house 
was  moved  to  Tennessee,  and  about  the 
same  time  the  class  at  Hill's  Grove,  also, 
moved  to  the  same  place,  both  uniting, 
Eev.  B.  E.  Kaufman  preaching  the  first 
sermon  there  in  the  school  house.  The 
church  is  now  a  part  of  the  Colchester 
work,  and  is  presided  over  by  the  minis- 
ter of  the  latter  place. 

The  church  structure  was  erected  in 
in  1864,  under  the  supervision  of  John 
McElroy,  William  Clayton,  and  William 
Latimer,  building  committee.  It  is  a 
good  frame  building,  28x40  feet,  and  cost 
$2,000. 


The  first  trustees  were  John  McElroy, 
William  Clayton,  J.  Jarvis,  William 
Latimer,  and  Thomas  Fulkerson. 

ROCK    CHEEK     METHODIST    CHURCH,    HIRE 
TOWNSHIP. 

The  congregation,  which  is  known  by 
the  above  appellation,  was  duly  organ- 
ized during  the  year  1850,  with  some  22 
members,  among  whom  were  several 
members  of  the  Hainline  family.  These 
met  in  the  various  school  houses  in  the 
district,  in  the  vicinity,  until  1875,  when 
they  erected  the  neat  church  building, 
which  they  now  occupy,  on  the  south-' 
west  quarter  of  section  17,  in  Hire  town- 
ship. This  edifice,  which  is  30x46  feet 
in  size,  was  put  up  at  an  expense  of 
$2,000,  and  is  substantially  built,  and 
well  furnished. 

FRIENDSHIP    M.    E.     CHURCH,     TENNESSEE 
TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  among  the  oldest  religious  or- 
ganizations of  the  county.  As  early  as 
1833,  Eev.  Cord,  a  missionary,  preached 
to  the  congregation  at  the  house  of  John 
Hunt,  now  owned  by  John  J.  Kirk. 
During  the  winter  of  1835-36,  a  class 
was  organized  at  the  house  of  John 
Kirk,  by  Eev.  Carter,  and  services  were 
held  there  for  about  two  years,  when  a 
school  house  was  erected  on  section  5, 
where  their  church  now  stands.  The 
house  was  a  small  affair,  16x20  feet  in 
size,  of  frame  construction,  and  was 
used  by  this  denomination  until  it  was 
replaced  by  the  present  church,  which 
was  erected  by  the  society  in  the  spring, 
or  early  summer,  of  1852.  It  is  30x40 
in  dimensions,  and  has  a  seating  capac- 
ity of  250  persons.  The  lumber  for  the 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


457 


building  was  cut  and  sawed  on  Crooked 
Creek,  in  Hancock  county,  some  six 
miles  distant.  The  original  members 
were  Robert  and  Nancy  Cook,  Mrs. 
Penny  and  daughter,  Esther  Hunt, 
Malinda  Hunt,  Mr.  Justice  and  wife, 
John  and  James  Hammer,  John  and 
Nancy  Kirk,  John  and  Margaret  Lyon, 
Vandever  Banks  and  wife,  James  Ren- 
shaw  and  wife.  Mrs.  Banks  is  probably 
the  only  surviving  member  of  the  little 
band,  who  assisted  in  the  organization  of 
this  society.  The  ground  on  which  the 
church  stands,  was  deeded  to  the  society 
by  Dodson  Siebalds,  for  a  Methodist 
camp  meeting  ground,  and  originally 
consisted  of  two  acres,  but  in  1874,  John 
B.  Eakel  deeded  half  an  acre  for  ceme- 
tery purposes.  The  first  camp  meeting 
held  in  the  Military  Tract  was  at  Friend- 
ship, in  1833.  People  came  from  Quincy, 
Jacksonville,  Beardstown,  Burlington, 
and  other  points  equally  distant.  The 
present  pastor  of  the  church  is  H.  C. 
Cady,  of  Colchester,  who  preaches  every 
two  weeks.  The  membership  at  present 
numbers  about  30,  with  the  following 
officers:  Arthur  Chapman,  George  and 
Clarence  Bartlett,  R.  "W.  Lyon,  Sherman 
Kirk,  trustees;  Sherman  Kirk  and  Clar- 
ence Bartlett,  stewards. 

MAPLE    GEOVE    METHODIST     CHURCH, 
EMMET   TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  about  the 
year  1850,  and  for  many  years  worshiped 
in  the  groves,  and  school  houses,  in 
primative  style.  In  1865,  they  erected 
a  neat,  substantial  church  edifice  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  19,  Emmet 
township.  The  building  is  26x50  feet  in 
ground  area,  and  cost  in  the  neighbor- 


hood of  $2,500.  Among  many  of  those 
who  have  been  prominently  identified 
with  this  church,  have  been  Eli  Murray, 
B.  F.  and  G.  G.  Guy,  James  Griffith  and 
D.  T.  and  J.  C.  Guy. 

MOUND  CHAPEL  METHODIST  CHURCH, 
MOUND  TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1854,  at 
the  residence  of  E.  Dyer,  with  eight  or 
ten  members.  They  continued  to  wor- 
ship in  the  dwellings  of  the  members, 
school  houses,  etc.,  until  in  1868,  when 
they  erected  the  church  edifice  which 
they  now  own.  This  is  35x55  feet  in 
size  upon  the  ground,  and  was  built  at 
an  expense  of  $3,200.  It  is  situated 
upon  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
22,  of  Mound  township.  The  building 
is  a  handsome,  substantial  frame,  and 
the  site  and  its  surroundings  are  truly 
beautiful.  Prominent  among  its  mem- 
bers have  been  John  Holmes,  Joseph 
Melvin,  J.  Gardner,  Edward  Mitchell, 
Amos  Hippskey,  Ross  Manly,  J.  Manly, 
Cyrus  Head,  A.  Flemming,  John  and 
Isaac  Sheely  and  William  Anderson. 

PLEASANT   GROVE   METHODIST  CHURCH  OF 
INDUSTRY   TOWNSHIP. 

A  church  with  the  above  title  is  located 
upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
26.  The  edifice  was  erected  in  1857,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  is  36x40  feet  in 
ground  area.  Among  those  who  have 
been  prominent  in  church  matters  here, 
have  been  John  Bennett,  Marion  Skiles, 
Joseph  McLean,  M.  Springer,  George 
Bennett  and  George  Meadors. 

LIBERTY   METHODIST   CHURCH   OF 
BLANDINSVILLE. 

The  congregation  who  worship  in  the 
building  which  bears  the  above  name, 


458 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


have  one  of  the  best  rural  churches  in 
the  county.  It  is  a  beautiful  structure 
which  stands  upon  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  13,  Blandinsville  township. 
It  is  valued  at  something  like  $2,500. 

COLCHESTER  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

A  church  society  of  this  denomination 
was  first  organized  at  this  place  on  the 
1st  of  February,  1858,  under  the  direc- 
tion and  through  the  instrumentality  of 
the  Revs.  H.  Presson  and  B.  E.  Kauf- 
man,  with   21   members,   whose  names 
were  as  follows:     Joseph  Taylor,  Mary 
Taylor,    Abraham    Pearson,    Elizabeth 
Pearson,  Richard  Musson,  Rebecca  Mus- 
son,  James  Roberts,  Cecilia  Roberts,  A. 
B.  Doan,  Sarah   Doan,   Mary  Bechtel, 
Margaret  Musson,  John  Pearson,  Abra- 
ham   Newland,  Jr.,    Thomas    Pearson, 
William  Cowan,  David  Sherbine,  Mary 
A.  Sherbine,  Sarah  E.  Biell,  Philip  Law- 
rence and  John  Level.     Meetings  were 
held  in  school  houses  and  other  build- 
ings until  the  year  1861,  when  a  neat 
brick  edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,200.     It  is  32x46  feet  in  ground  area, 
and  has  a  good  seating  capacity.  Among 
those  prominent  in  this  church,  have 
been    Abraham    Newland,   Jr.,     James 
Roberts,   John  Pearson,  Richard  Wil- 
liams,  James  Underbill,  William  Hul- 
son,  David  Reece,  John  Parnell,  Richard 
Musson  and  John  James.     The  growth 
of  the  church  was  for  many  years  very 
great,  but  of  late  has  decreased  in  num- 
bers on  account  of  so  many  removal 
and  numerous  deaths ;  but  still  they  are 
prosperous,    and    have    a    good    active 
membership.  The  value  of  church  prop- 
erty is  $2,000.     A  most  excellent  Sab- 
bath school   is   attached  to  this  church, 


which   is  well   attended.     The   present 
pastor  is  Rev.  Charles  T.  Cady,  who  has 
occupied  the  pulpit  since  October,  1884. 
Rev.   Charles   T.  Cady  is  the   son  of 
Curtis  and  Abegail  Cady,  and  was  born 
April    30,   1855,   in    Briinfield,    Peoria 
county,   Illinois.      His   early  education, 
was    received    at    the    Brimfield    high 
school.      At  the  age  of    18  he  taught 
school,  continuing  in  this  occupation  for 
two  years.     In  the  fall  of  1876  he  was 
enrolled  as  a  student  at  Hedding  college, 
Abingdon,  Illinois,  and  graduated  in  the 
spring  of  1881,  receiving  the  degree  of 
A.  B.,  and  three  years  later  the  degree 
of  A.  M.     He  was  married  to  Eunice  A. 
Hiner,  of  Abingdon,  Illinois,  on  the  9th 
of  March,   1881.      One    child,    George 
Raymond,   is  the   fruit  of   this   union, 
born  February  6,  1884,  at  Raritan,  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois.     Mr.  Cady  was 
admitted  on  trial  as  a  minister  in  the 
central  Illinois  conference,  in  the  fall 
of  1881,  and  was  stationed  at  Vermont, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.     The  following 
year  he  removed  to  Raritan,  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  two 
years.     In  the  month  of  October,  1884, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  church  at  Col- 
chester, Illinois,  where  he   is    now   in 
charge    as    pastor    of     the     Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

WILLOW    GROVE    M.    E.    CHURCH,    OF    HIRE 
TOWNSHIP. 

A  class  with  the  above  name  was 
organized  during  the  year  1864  or  1865, 
and  for  some  years  worshipped  in  what 
was  called  Prosperity  hall,  in  Emmet 
township,  but  now  meets  in  the  church 
owned  by  the  Willow  Grove  United 
Brethren,  on  section  1,  of  Hire  town- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


459 


ship,  meeting  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  It 
has  a  membership  of  about  40.  Among 
those  prominent  in  this  church  have 
been  W.  B.  Alexander  and  S.  B.  Davis. 
A  history  of  the  Sabbath-  school  in 
connection  with  this  church,  see  further 
on. 

NEW   HOPE    METHODIST    CHURCH,   OF 
BETHEL  TOWNSHIP. 

In  this  neighborhood  about  50  years 
ago,  Bethel  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
was  organized,  and  about  the  year  1845, 
a  building  was  erected  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  7.  This  house  was 
burned  in  1863,  being  set  on  fire  by  an 
incendiary.  For  a  few  years  the  church 
ceased  its  existence,  but  in  1866  a  new 
organization  was  formed  under  the  name 
of  the  New  Hope  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  The  following  year  the  present 
church  structure  was  erected.  It  is  a 
good  frame,  32x45  feet  in  size,  and  cost 
$1,600.  The  membership  at  that  time 
was  near  70,  at  present  but  40.  Rev. 
James  McElroy  was  the  first  pastor. 
The  annual  contribution  is  about  $700. 
Among  those  prominent  in  this  church 
have  been  James  C.  Archer,  George  Bar- 
clay, James  Depoy,  J.  N.  N.  Horrell  and 
Thomas  Hanthorn.  The  building  is  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  4,  Bethel 
township. 

THE  ADAIR    M.    E.    CHURCH    OF    NEW 
SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1875, 
and  the  same  year  the  present  church 
structure  was  erected  and  dedicated  in 
October.  It  was  built  by  general  con- 
tribution, of  all  the  denominations,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,000.  It  is  a  good,  neat,  frame 
edifice.  The  original  members  were 


Washington  Williams,  Lafayette  Wil- 
liams, Jacob  Eeady,  Mrs.  Wm.  Lance, 
Josephine  Porter  and  Martha  Epperson. 
Rev.  J.  E.  Taylor  was  the  first  pastor. 
Among  those  prominent  in  church 
affairs,  besides  those  mentioned  above, 
have  been  Stephen  Blackstone,  Thorn- 
ton Randolph  and  Joseph  E.  Porter. 
The  church  is  located  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  11,  New  Salem  town- 
ship. 

PLEASANT  MOUND  M.  E.  CHURCH. 

Pleasant  Mound  church  is  situated 
upon  section  6,  of  Prairie  City  township 
on  the  McDonough  and  Warren  county 
line,  at  the  corners  of  Swan  Creek, 
Greenbush,  Walnut  Grove  and  Prairie 
City  townships.  The  first  record  of 
this  church  bears  the  date  of  July  6, 
1859,  and  is  as  follows:  "Pleasant 
Mound  church  was  built  in  the  spring 
and  summer  of  1859,  and  dedicated 
July  4, 1859.  The  building  cost  $1,500. 
The  money  is  all  secured  and  the  church 
has  no  indebtedness."  This  is  signed 
by  the  following  members  of  the  board 
of  trustees:  William  McMahill,  Jtmn 
W.  King,  Thomas  King,  Giles  F.  Liv- 
ingston, William  Young  and  H.  H. 
Hewitt.  From  what  can  be  gathered 
from  the  records  and  from  information 
gathered  from  the  church  fathers, 
these  persons  who  composed  this  first 
board  of  trustees,  were  the  men  who 
were  foremost  in  its  organization  and 
erection.  The  Rev.  F.  M.  Chaffee,  of 
the  Central  Illinois  conference  aided 
materially  in  its  organization.  The 
church  was  dedicated  by  one  of  the 
leading  pioneer  preachers,  the  late 
Henry  Summers.  The  parsonage  was 


460 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


built  in  the  summer  of  1865,  at  a  cost 
of  some  $400,  all  of  which  was  in  hand 
at  the  time.  A  most  efficient  board  of 
trustees  has  always  had  the  control  of 
matters  here,  as  is  evidenced  by  the 
church  never  having  any  debt  hanging 
over  it.  There  are  four  out  of  the  seven 
original  trustees  living  at  the  present: 
Thomas  King,  William  Young,  H.  H. 
Hewitt,  and  Burris  A.  Eeed;  and  three 
dead:  John  W.  King,  G.  F.  Livingston, 
and  William  McMahill.  Thomas  King 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees since  the  organization,  or  for  the 
last  26  years.  The  church  edifice  is 
32x48.  Eev.  N.  G.  Clark  is  the  present 
pastor  and  J.  E.  King  recording  steward. 

MOUND  CHAPEL  M.  E.  CHURCH,  MOUND 
TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  in  the 
spring  of  1854,  at  the  residence  of  E. 
Dyer,  with  the  following  original  mem- 
bers: Edward  Dyer  and  wife,  Edward 
Mitchell  and  wife,  James  E.  Fleming 
and  wife,  Andrew  J.  Fleming  and  wife, 
C.  M.  Melvin,  Elizabeth  Melvin. 
Meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of  Ed- 
ward Dyer  until  the  following  summer, 
when  the  school  house  known  as  the 
"  Old  sixteen  "  was  built,  and  services 
were  then  held  there  until  the  erection 
of  a  church  building  in  1869,  which  is 
located  on  section  22.  It  is  a  good,  sub- 
stantial frame  structure.  36x40  feet  in 
size,  and  was  completed  at  a  cost  of 
$1,200.  On  Christmas  day,  1869,  it  was 
dedicated  by  Eev.  Andrews,  of  Quincy, 
assisted  by  William  Eutledge  and  B.  E. 
Kaufman,  the  latter  gentleman  being 
pastor  of  the  church  at  that  time.  The 
lot  on  which  the  church  stands  consists 


of  one  acre,  and  was  sold  to  the  society 
by  A.  J.  Fleming  for  $50.  The  present 
officers  of  the  church  are  John  W. 
Sheely,  class  leader;  J.W.  Swartzbaugh 
and  A.  J.  Fleming,  stewards;  W.  A.  An- 
derson, J.  W.  Sheely,  Joseph  Melvin,  J. 
W.  Swartzbaugh  and  A.  J.  Fleming, 
trustees.  At  the  same  time  the  society 
was  formed  a  Sunday  school  was  organ- 
ized with  Edward  Dyer,  superintendent, 
and  C.  M.  Melvin,  chorister,  which  has 
been  continued  ever  since. 

ADAIR  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH 

This  society  was  organized  in  1875, 
and  the  same  year  the  present  church 
structure  was  erected,  and  dedicated  in 
October.  It  was  built  by  general  con- 
tribution, of  all  denominations,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000.  It  is  a  good,  neat,  frame  edi- 
fice. The  original  members  were  Wash- 
ington Williams,  Lafayette  Williams, 
Jacob  Eeady,  Mrs.  William  Lance, 
Josephine  Porter  and  Martha  Epperson. 

PENNINGTON'S    POINT    M.   E.  CHURCH 
OF  NEW  SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  organizations 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  McDonough 
county.  The  class  was  organized  in 
1836,  by  Eev.  David  Carter,  at  the  house 
of  John  Greenup,  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  30.  The  first  pastor  who 
officiated  here  was  Eev.  Francis  M. 
Chaffee.  They  had  no  regular  church 
building  until  1856,  when  one  was  erected 
at  the  Point,  and  dedicated  in  that  year 
by  Eevs.  Jesse  B.  Craig  and  William 
Eutledge.  That  structure  was  used  un- 
til 1876,  when  a  new  one  was  built,  and 
dedicated  by  Eev.  Evans,  in  the  fall  of 
that  year.  The  cost  of  the  new  church 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


461 


was  nearly  $3,000.  In  the  fall  of  1881, 
the  building  was  badly  wrecked  by  a 
tornado,  and  the  damage  done  necessi- 
tated an  outlay  of  about  $300  in  repairs. 
It  is  located  about  the  center  of  the  west 
line  of  section  30.  The  present  pastor 
is  J.  H.  Shover. 

CENTENNIAL    M.   E.  CHURCH    OF  NEW 
SALEM   TOWNSHIP. 

This  class  was  organized  in  1871  by 
Rev.  C.  Atherton.  They  met  at  the 
school  house  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  25  until  their  church  was  erected. 
It  was  built  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $1,800, 
and  dedicated  on  July  2,  of  that  year. 
Rev.  William  Rutledge  preached  the 
dedication  sermon.  The  building  com- 
mittee was  J.  M.  Wilcox,  Josiah  McDon- 
ald, Solomon  Ritter  and  George  E.  Por- 
ter. Solomon  Ritter  was  the  first-class 
leader,  and  Robert  Jeffrey  was  the  first 
steward,  Rev.  Henry  is  the  present  pas- 
tor. The  trustees  are  John  Wilcox, 
Solomon  Ritter  and  George  E.  Porter. 

METHODIST  CHURCH  AT  TENNESSEE. 
This  organization  erected  a  church 
edifice  in  the  village  of  Tennessee,  in  the 
spring  of  1864.  It  was  24x60  feet  in 
dimensions,  and  had  a  seating  capacity 
of  over  300.  Rev.  B.  Frazell  held  the 
first  services  in  the  building,  the  organi- 
zation having  a  membership  of  about 
45.  The  first  trustees  of  the  church  were 
Thomas  Fulkerson,  L.  C.  Bacon,  and 
James  Jarvis.  Those  who  have  served 
as  pastors  of  the  church  since  its  organi- 
zation, are  as  follows:  B.  Frazell,  two 
years;  S.  D.  Main,  two  years;  William 
Haney,  one  year;  T.  Poole,  one  year; 
Mr.  Thalman,  one  year;  George  Luekey, 
one  year;  Mr.  Atherton,  one  year;  T.  P. 


Henry,  three  years;  Mr.  Alexander,  two 
years;  Mr.  Smith,  one  year;  J.  A.  Sou- 
ders,  one  year;  Mr.  Calkins,  two  years. 
Rev.  Cady  is  the  present  pastor,  and 
resides  at  Colchester.  Since  the  organ- 
ization of  the  church,  services  have  been 
held  every  two  weeks.  In  1876,  Rev.  S. 
D.  Main  held  the  first  revival  in  the 
church,  and  70  converts  were  the  result 
of  his  labors.  Rev.  T.  P.  Henry  held  a 
very  successful  revival  in  1875,  convert- 
ing 26.  Rev.  Calkins  held  two  revivals 
during  the  year  1884,  and  converted,  in 
all,  32.  At  present,  the  church  has  a 
membership  of  35.  The  present  trus- 
tees are  F.  F.  Meir,  J.  A.  Jenkins,  and 
B.  F.  Thompson. 

FIRST   BAPTIST   CHURCH,   MACOMB. 

The  First  Baptist  church  of  Macomb 
was  organized  in  1857  by  Rev.  D.  D. 
Gregory.  The  congregation  purchased 
the  Macomb  female  seminary  building 
on  North  Lafayette  street,  now  occupied 
by  the  Second  Baptist  church,  and  con- 
tinued to  worship  there  until  their  new 
church  edifice  was  erected,  which  was  in 
1869.  It  is  on  Carroll  street,  west  of 
Lafayette  street,  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  expensive 'church  structures  in 
the  county.  The  architectural  design  of 
the  building  is  rather  imposing,  of  good 
proportion,  and  pleasing  to  the  eye.  A 
very  tall  steeple,  132  feet  high,  rises  from 
the  center  of  the  building,  over  the  front 
and  main  entrance,  and  is  beautifully 
designed  and  proportioned.  The  pres- 
ent value  of  the  structure  is  about  $8,000, 
although  it  cost  the  congregation  several 
thousand  dollars  more  to  erect  it.  Real 
estate,  material  and  labor  were  much 
higher  than  at  present.  The  following 


462 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


are  the  names  of  the  original  members: 
D.  D.  Gregory,  J.  Pemiington,  T.  Axford, 
J.  W.  Blount,  M.  T.  Winslow,  Mrs.  Bice, 
Mrs.  McCabe  and  Mrs.  Summers.  The 
congregation  has  grown  gradually,  until 
the  membership  at  present  numbers 
about  95.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  the  various  pastors  since  the  organi- 
zation: Eevs.  L.  M.  Whitman,  J.  O. 
Metcalf,  C.  W.  Palmer,  J.  L.  Benedict, 

C.  B.  Eoberts,  Hill,  J.  L.  M.  Young,  W. 

D.  Clark  and  J.  S.  Douglas.     The  church 
has  no  regular  pastor  at  present,  but 
services  are  held  occasionally.     A  Sun- 
day school  is  held  regularly  every  Sun- 
day, and  has  an  average  attendance  of 
about  65. 

SECOND  BAPTIST  (COL.)  CHURCH,  MACOMB 

This  congregation  was  organized  by 
Elder  Doling,  of  Quincy,  J  C.  Graves, 
Galesburg,  J.  W.  Harrington,  Sciota, 
and  A.  Blackburn,  Macomb,  May  9, 1875. 
The  following  were  the  original  mem- 
bers :  Andrew  Pleasant,  Hattie  Pleasant, 
David  and  Emma  Hammond,  Winnie 
Fields,  Matilda  Mayweather,  Wisten 
Jackson  and  Maria  Sanf  ord.  The  church 
has  had  two  revivals,  at  which  13  were 
added  to  the  church,  making  a  member- 
ship at  present  of  25.  The  church  build- 
ing is  situated  on  North  Lafayette  street, 
and  »as  formerly  owned  by  the  First 
Baptist  church,  but  purchased  from  them 
in  1876,  $400  being  the  consideration. 
The  annual  contribution  is  about  $240. 
The  pastor's  salary  for  one-half  his  time 
is  $120  per  year. 

NEW  HOPE  BAPTIST  CHUECH. 
[By  Elder  W.  McNutt,  Pastor.] 

The  Blandinsville  Baptist  church  is  a 
separate  and  distinct  organization,  hav- 


ing a  history  peculiar  to  itself.  Yet, 
some  have  thought  that  it  is  a  mere  con- 
tinuation of  the  old  New  Hope  Baptist 
church,  which  was  organized  near  this 
place  years  ago,  and  which  eventually 
became  extinct.  Hence  it  becomes  nec- 
essary in  order  to  have  a  true  history, 
that  the  history  of  each  church  be  given. 
New  Hope  church,  according  to  the 
most  reliable  records  now  available,  was 
organized  by  Elder  John  Logan  and 
Deacons  Thomas  Matthews  and  Thomas 
Burnett,  two  and  a  half  miles  northeast 
of  Blandinsville,  in  October,  1830,  with 
a  constituent  membership  of  seven.  The 
house  erected  was  called  a  union  house, 
was  built  mainly  by  Baptists  and  Ee- 
formers,  called  Campbellites.  Very  soon, 
great  dissatisfaction  was  experienced  by 
the  Baptists,  which  lead  to  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  union  house,  and  they  built 
a  house  south  of  Blandinsville  one-half 
mile,  known  by  the  name  of  New  Hope 
church.  Around,  and  near  this  church 
building  became  a  prominent  burying 
ground,  and  since  the  burning  of  the 
house  the  place  is  known  as  the  South 
grave  yard.  This  pioneer  church  was 
the  religious  home  of  Elder  John  Logan 
during  the  last  years  of  his  pilgrimage. 
He  died  a  worthy  member  of  New  Hope 
church  January  29th,  1851,  having  been 
its  pastor  for  more  than  13  years.  He 
also  had  the  honor  of  organizing  the 
Salem  Baptist  association,  which  held  its 
first  session  with  the  New  Hope  church 
in  1834.  This  church,  in  its  day,  was  a 
beacon  light  in  the  "Military  Tract," 
particularly  in  McDonough  county.  It 
is  to  be  regarded  as  a  kind  of  mother 
church,  as  many  other  congregations 
seem  to  have  grown  out  of  this  pioneer 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


463 


church.  At  one  time  this  society  num- 
bered as  high  as  140  members.  But  in' 
the  slow  movement  of  sluggish  years,  the 
house  became  old  and  somewhat  dilapi- 
dated and  shared  an  evil  fate  at  the 
hands  of  some  one  who  had  more  respect 
for  the  bible  of  God  than  for  the  house 
that  contained  it,  and  when  the  house 
had  fallen  to  ashes,  the  bible  was  found 
in  good  shape,  laying  on  a  stump  in  the 
yard.  This  burning  seems  from  the  best 
evidences  now  among  us  to  have  been  on 
the  night  of  March  22, 1868.  There  has 
been  no  record  kept  that  shows  the  burn- 
ing, or  date.  The  only  direct  evidence 
we  have  as  to  the  time,  is  that  a  well 
known  citizen  died  on  the  night  of  the 
burning  and  was  buried  in  that  grave- 
yard next  day.  His  tombstone  says: 
March  22,  1868.  This  church,  though  in 
a  depressed  condition,  in  its  latter  years 
kept  up  its  meetings  and  was  represented 
in  the  association  until  1868,  or  1869. 
The  minutes  of  1868,  is  not  at  hand;  but 
1869  says:  "no  letter."  We  are  informed 
that  there  was  a  meeting  called  at  a  pri- 
vate house  for  the  purpose  of  giving  out 
letters  to  those  who  wished  them.  This 
seems  to  have  been  the  death  struggle  of 
New  Hope  church.  The  line  of  pastors 
so  far  as  we  have  means  of  knowing,  were  : 
Elders  John  Logan,  Joseph  Botts,  J.  L. 
Trower,  W.  F.  Forrest,  W.  Welch  and  J. 
Ray.  So  ends  the  history  of  New  Hope 
church,  and  we  now  proceed  to  the  history 
of 

BLANDINSVILLE  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

By  reference  to  the  minutes  of  Salem 
Baptist  association  for  1870,  we  get  sight 
at  the  organization. 

"Rev.  S.  Pickard,  during  the  month  of 


June,  came  among  us  and  held  a  series 
of  meetings  which  resulted  in  our  organ- 
ization. By  the  blessing  of  the  Great 
Head  of  the  church,  saints  were  revived 
and  sinners  made  to  bow. 

"We  were  organized  as  the  Baptist 
church  of  Blandinsville,  on  the  24th  of 
June,  1870,  by  Elders  S.  Pickard  and 
W.  Hobbs,  and  publicly  recognized  as 
the  Baptist  church  of  Blandinsville,  by 
a  regular  council  called  for  that  purpose. 
We  now  ask  admission  in  your  body  as 
a  member  of  the  same.  We  have  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, which  we  expect  to  complete  before 
winter. 

"Have  preaching  every  alternate  Thurs- 
day evening  by  Elder  J.  J.  W.  Place, 
and  occasionally  by  Elder  N.  Parks,  of 
Raritan,  on  Sunday." 

The  constituent  members  who  went 
into  the  organization  of  the  Blandins- 
ville church  were:  Harriet  Harmon, 
Mary  A.  Ward,  Helen  Gruber,  Eliza 
Faigley,  Edith  Porter,  Jane  Bay,  Pau- 
lina Logan,  Eleseph  Ray,  James  C. 
Faigley,  Matilda  Seybold,  Isaac  H.  Bo- 
zarth  and  Henry  Harmon. 

The  recognizing  council  met  the  first 
Thursday  in  August,  1870.  The  churches 
represented  were:  Sciota,  Elm  Grove, 
Bushnell,  Independence,  Hillsborough, 
Raritan,  and  St.  Mary's.  Was  organized 
by  electing  Elder  J.  G.  Ward,  moderator, 
and  E.  Rogers,  clerk.  During  the  first 
year  the  membership  increased  to  34. 

The  house  was  located  on  Maple  street, 
on  the  east  end  of  town*,  but  was  not  fin- 
ished as  anticipated  in  the  report  to  as- 
sociation in  1870.  It  was  then  thought 
that  the  house  would  be  finished  by  the 
coming  winter,  but  the  association  min- 


464 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


utes  of  1871,  show  some  reverses  that 
retarded  the  work.  "Our  church  build- 
ing which  was  in  course  of  erection,  and 
upon  which  we  had  expended  some 
$1,200,  was  blown  down  by  the  severe 
storms  of  last  spring."  Consequently, 
the  house  did  not  reach  its  completion 
until  1872.  That  year  the  Salem  Bap- 
tist association  met  with  the  Blandins- 
ville  church,  September  14,  15,  16,  1872. 
At  which  time  we  get  the  following: 
"Blandinsville — We  welcome  the  dele- 
gates and  visiting  brethren  to  our  house 
of  worship,  and  to  our  homes,  etc.  Have 
succeeded  in  completing  our  house  of 
worship;  have  paid  on  it  $2,256,  leaving 
a  balance  of  $850,  yet  due."  Elder  J.  M. 
Harrington,  then  of  Kentucky,  had  been 
written  to,  to  be  present  at  this  associa- 
tion and  dedicate  the  new  church  house. 
He  complied  with  the  request.  Held  a 
series  of  revival  meetings  in  which  the 
church  was  greatly  strengthened  and 
dedicated  the  house  free  from  debt.  At 
this  time  Elder  Wm.  Hobbs  was  pas- 
tor, preaching  once  a  month  for  the 
church.  The  house  was  of  good  size, 
frame,  without  any  gaudiness  in  appear- 
ance, or  style. 

The  grounds,  house  and  church  prop- 
erty, has  been  estimated  at  $4,000,  with- 
out including  its  recent  improvements. 

The  line  of  pastors,  as  the  record 
shows  is  as  follows :  Elder  J.  H.  Delano 
was  called  to  the  care  of  the  church  in 
March,  1871,  and  served  but  a  short 
time,  as  it  appears  that  Elder  Hobbs  be- 
came his  successor,  February,  1872. 
After  which,  Elder  Delano  was  recalled 
in  1873,  and  resigned  in  1876.  After  this 
resignation,  Rev.  G.  E.  Eldridge  served 
for  a  while.  Eldridge  was  followed  by 


Elder  J.  Wood  Saunders,  who  came  to 
the  pastorate,  August,  1877,  and  resigned 
July,  of  the  year  following.  "  Next  was 
Elder  T.  W.  Jones,  who  served  but  a 
short  time  and  resigned.  Elder  S.  J. 
McCormick  was  successor  to  Jones,  and 
resigned  in  November,  1881.  Elder  W. 
McNutt,  then  of  Indiana,  was  called  to 
the  church  in  December,  1881,  for  one 
year,  to  serve  Blandinsville  and  Hills- 
borough  churches  for  a  salary  of  $1,000. 
At  the  expiration  of  the  year,  the  call 
was  made  for  time  indefinite,  for  the 
Blandinsville  church,  each  party  having 
the  right,  upon  three  months  notice,  to 
sever  the  relation  of  pastor  and  church. 
During  the  last  year,  1884,  the  church 
has  had  many  improvements  made,  both 
inside  and  out,  until  it  now  compares 
favorably  with  any  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  Among  the  improvements  may 
be  mentioned  the  additional  building  of 
ample  dressing  rooms  and  baptistry,  all 
beautifully  constructed,  with  a  vestibule 
in  front,  having  appropriate  doors  of  en- 
trance. The  outside  of  the  house  is 
deeply  painted  in  stone  color,  while  the 
inside  is  finely  papered  after  the  most 
approved  style  of  church  work.  These 
improvements  cost  about  $800. 

The  present  membership  is  about  135. 
As  a  class  of  citizens,  the  Baptists  of 
Blandinsville  will  not  suffer  in  contrast 
with  any  other  people,  in  point  of  wealth 
or  intelligence.  The  church  is  in  sym- 
pathy with  all  of  their  great  denomina- 
tional interests,  schools,  colleges,  mis- 
sions, etc.  The  officers  are:  W.  H. 
Grigsby,  S.  J.  Grigsby,  H.  K.  Prather 
and  James  N.  Pennington,  deacons;  J. 
V.  M.  Hardesty,  A.  Pennington  and 
O.  P.  Pennington,  trustees;  James  B. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


465 


Ward,  church  clerk;  and  W.  H.  Grigsby, 
church  treasurer. 

On  the  3d  of  January,  1885,  Elder 
McNutt  offered  his  resignation  as  pas- 
tor, to  take  effect  the  last  of  March  fol- 
lowing. 

Preaching  is  held  every  Sunday,  morn- 
ing and  evening;  covenant  meeting  Sat- 
urday before  first  Sundays,  at  2  p.  m. ; 
prayer  meetings  every  Thursday  night, 
and  Sabbath  school  every  Sunday  morn- 
ing- 
Elder  Wm.  McNutt  was  born  in  the 
eastern  division  of  the  state  of  Tennes- 
see, March  19,  1823.  He  professed  faith 
in  Christ  Jesus,  August  22,  1847,  and 
and  was  baptized  by  Elder  "W.  F.  For- 
rest, then  of  McMinn  county,  Tennessee, 
but  whose  mortal  remains  now  rest  in 
the  city  cemetery  at  Macomb.  Mr.  Mc- 
Nutt was  baptized  into  the  fellowship  of 
New  Friendship  Baptist  church,  in 
Bradley  county,  Tennessee.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  of  Christ 
by  the  New  Friendship  Baptist  church, 
on  the  6th  of  April,  1850,  and  ordained 
on  the  3d  of  August  following,  by  order 
of  New  Friendship  Baptist  church,  un- 
der the  hands  of  Elders  Isaac  Chrisman 

> 

James  Scarbury  and  J.  H.  Cawood,  who 
constituted  the  presbytery.  He  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Gatewood,  of  Polk 
county,  Tennessee,  March  17,  1853.  He 
removed  to  Indiana  in  August,  1864,  and 
from  that  state  to  Blandinsville,  McDon- 
ough  county,  in  April,  1882.  He  is  still 
a  resident  there,  and  the  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

Elder  John  Logan  was  born  in  Rock- 
bridge  county,  Virginia,  February  14, 
1793.  His  father,  Samuel  Logan,  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  who  emigrated  to  this 


country  when  about  20  years  of  age,  and 
was  married  about  the  year  1789  to  Ann 
Wylie.  A  short  time  after  the  birth  of 
John,  his  parents  removed  to  Garrett 
county,  Kentucky,  making  the  journey 
with  two  pack  horses,  on  which  all  their 
worldly  goods  were  borne.  He  was  a 
self-made  man  in  every  sense  of  the 
word.  On  account  of  the  extreme  pov- 
erty of  his  parents,  he  only  obtained 
such  education  as  the  common  schools 
of  that  early  day  afforded,  but  he  had  a 
thirst  for  knowledge,  and  read  with  avid- 
ity every  book  he  could  get,  thus  storing 
his  mind  with  information  that  was  of 
service  to  him  in  after  years  in  the  pro- 
clamation of  the  gospel.  On  the  28th 
of  November,  1816,  he  was  married  to 
Nancy  Newell,  in  Simpson  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  at  once  removed  to  Sumner 
county,  Tennessee,  where  he  lived  for 
five  years.  It  was  here,  under  the 
preaching  of  Elder  Lee  Allen,  that  he 
was  converted  to  Christ,  and  where  he 
and  his  estimable  wife  were  buried  in 
baptism  on  the  3d  day  of  October,  1819, 
and  on  the  first  Sunday  in  November  of 
the  same  year  they  united  with  the  New 
Hope  Baptist  church,  in  Simpson  county, 
Kentucky.  From  the  time  of  his  con- 
version he  began  the  proclamation  of 
the  gospel.  In  October,  1823,  he  removed 
to  Dubois  county,  Indiana,  where  he  re- 
mained for  four  years.  When  he  first 
settled  here  he  thought  to  engage  no 
more  in  the  preaching  of  the  gospel, 
imagining  his  labors  were  fruitless.  He 
had  been  in  the  neighborhood  but  a 
short  time  when  he  attended  a  religious 
service  at  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  when 
the  following  dialogue  occurred:  "John, 
did  you  ever  preach?"  "I  don't  know." 


466 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


-"Did  you  ever  try?"  He  had  to  admit 
that  he  had.  "Why,  don't  you  know  the 
Lord  will  kill  you  if  you  don't  do  His 
work?  Now,  we  must  have  preaching, 
and  you  must  do  it."  A  load  was  lifted 
from  his  mind,  and  never  after  that  did 
he  fail  to  preach  as  an  opportunity 
offered. 

He  was  regularly  ordained  by  Elders 
Graham,  Charles  Harper  and  David 
Hornaday,  and  in  the  spring  of  1828 
moved  to  this  county,  and  settled  near 
the  present  town  of  Industry,  living  one 
season  in  the  old  block  house,  of  which 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  these 
records.  The  block  house  at  this  time 
was  the  property  of  William  Carter, 
who  learning  Elder  Logan  was  coming 
to  the  neighborhood  to  live,  was  watch- 
ing for  him,  and  when  he  made  his  ap- 
pearance with  the  two-horse  team,  with 
his  family  and  entire  household  goods 
packed  therein,  he  was  hailed  by  Mr. 
Carter,  who  asked  him  where  he  was 
going  to  live.  He  replied  that  he  had  ar- 
ranged with  a  family  in  the  neighborhood 
to  occupy  a  part  of  their  house.  Mr. 
Carter  then  said:  "Now,  see  here,  Mr. 
Logan,  I  have  lived  long  enough  in  this 
world  to  know  that  no  house  is  large 
enough  for  two  women.  There  is  that 
old  block  house  over  there,  if  that  will 
suit,  you  can  take  it  and  use  it  as  long 
as  you  like,  and  it  shan't  cost  you  a  cent." 
The  offer  was  thankfully  received,  and 
the  place  was  soon  made  ready  for  the 
use  of  the  family.  Here  they  lived  until 
fall,  when  they  moved  into  a  more  com- 
fortable house,  where  they  remained  un- 
til the  following  year,  when  another 
move  was  made  to  Schuyler  county, 
which  place  was  made  their  home  until 


the  fall  of  1835,  when  they  again  re- 
turned to  McDonough,  this  time  settling 
near  the  present  town  of  Blandinsville, 
and  where  they  lived  until  the  day  of 
Mr.  Logan's  death.  While  living  in  the 
old  block  house  he  preached  in  the  neigh- 
borhood, and  organized  the  first  Sunday 
school  ever  held  in  the  county.  As  a 
preacher,  Elder  Logan  was  energetic  and 
earnest  in  the  extreme — an  •  off-hand 
speaker,  never  writing  his  sermons,  and 
seldom  using  notes.  His  whole  heart 
was  in  his  Master's  work,  and  he  labored 
earnestly  and  zealously  in  the  field  in 
which  he  was  called  upon  to  occupy.  In 
the  spring  of  1832  he  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  missionary  from  the  Home 
Missionary  society  of  Boston,  Massa- 
chusets.  For  this  he  was  excluded  from 
the  Spoon  River  association  in  the  Sep- 
tember following.  Previous  to  this  he 
was  what  is  known  as  a  Regular  Baptist, 
a  branch  of  the  Baptist  family  opposed 
to  missionary  societies  and  salaried 
preachers,  but  which,  we  believe,  up  to 
this  time  had  never  made  the  same  a 
test  of  fellowship.  His  exclusion  from 
the  association  did  not  cause  him  to  lose 
interest  in  the  work,  but  rather  made 
him  the  more  zealous,  and  we  find  him 
preaching  everywhere  in  the  region 
known  as  Military  Tract,  the  unsearch- 
able riches  of  God,  and  his  work  seems 
to  have  been  specially  blessed  to  the  sal- 
vation of  many.  As  a  citizen  he  was 
eminently  a  man  of  peace;  a  Christian 
father  and  husband,  ever  teaching  his 
children  that  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the 
beginning  of  wisdom.  While  living  in 
Schuyler  county  he  was  elected  justice 
of  the  peace,  but  held  .the  office  but  a 
short  time,  believing  it  incompatable 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


467 


with  his  duties  as  a  minister  of  Christ. 
The  result  of  his  union  with  Nancy 
Newell  was  the  birth  of  13  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  BUSHNELL. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1862,  a  little 
knot  of  the  people  of  Bushnell,  who 
were  of  the  Baptist  denomination,  gath- 
ered together,  and  effected  an  organi- 
zation of  a  society.  Elder  H.  S.  Warren 
acted  as  moderator  of  the  meeting,  and 
John  F.  Smith,  as  clerk.  The  original 
members  of  the  infant  church,  that  gave 
in  their  allegiance  at  that  meeting,  were : 
J.  F.  Smith,  Jonathan  Greene,  William 
Greene,  H.  S.  P.  Warren,  Mary  A. 
Smith,  Lucy  P.  Greene,  Jane  Fuson, 
Angeline  Kinyon,  William  S.  Hummel, 
Moses  Wilson,  Esther  Adams,  and 
Laura  J.  Warren.  It  was  recognized  as 
a  church  on  the  16th  of  April,  1862,  and 
Rev.  H.  S.  P.  Warren  installed  as  pas- 
tor. Meetings  were  held  for  a  time  in 
the  German  Methodist  church,  and  in 
Andrew's  and  Smith's  halls.  In  1866, 
the  society  erected  a  church,  a  neat 
structure,  36x44  feet  in  size,  at  a  cost  of 
$2,700.  It  has  since  been  enlarged  to  66 
feet  in  length,  and  is  valued  at  about 
$3,500.  The  growth  of  the  church  has 
been  gradual,  mostly  by  members  mov- 
ing in  from  other  places,  and  in  the  con- 
version of  the  children  and  friends  of  its 
members.  The  church  has  had  several 
revivals  of  religion,  but  no  very  exten- 
sive work.  The  present  membership  is 
150. 

As  has  been  already  mentioned,  Rev. 
H.  S.  P.  Warren  was  the  first  pastor.  He 
retained  that  relation  with  the  church 
until  1865,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 


Rev.  William  T.  Bly,  who  remained  one 
year.  Rev.  E.  Russ  served  from  in  1866 
to  1868,  when  he  was  followed  by  Rev. 
William  T.  Hill,  who  preached  for 
about  two  years.  In  1870,  Rev.  J.  J.  W. 
Place  was  called  to  this  pulpit,  and  re- 
mained with  this  people  a  short  time. 
Following  him  was  Rev.  G.  P.  Gyle,  and 
he  by  Rev.  Niles  Kinney.  Rev.  Charles 
Cross  served  one  year  in  the  pulpit  of 
the  church,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  J. 
C.  Hart,  who  remained  until  1879.  Rev. 
R.  C.  Ray  became  pastor  of  the  church 
during  the  year  1881. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH  AT  TENNESSEE. 

The  Baptist  church  at  Tennessee  was 
erected  in  the  fall  of  1865,  and  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  W.  R.  Welch,  with  a 
class  of  about  25.  The  edifice  is  a  frame 
structure,  40x60  feet  in  dimensions.  E. 
Corfield  has  held  service  in  the  church 
for  the  past  two  years  and  a  half,  every 
four  weeks.  The  present  deacons  of  the 
church  are  M.  Stewart  and  A.  T.  Salis- 
bury, having  served  in  that  capacity  for 
about  four  years.  M.  Stewart,  S.  Moore, 
and  A.  T.  Salisbury,  act  as  trustees  of 
the  church  at  present,  and  have  also 
retained  that  position  for  four  years 
past.  The  present  membership  num- 
«bers  about  20. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  SCIOTA. 

The  First  Baptist  church,  of  Sciota, 
was  organized  February  16,  1870,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  the  Christian  church,  by 
J.  L.  Benedict,  D.  D.  The  first  mem- 
bers of  the  organization  were  J.  M.  For- 
rest and  wife,  Misses  L.  E.  and  T.  E. 
Forrest,  James  Russell  and  wife,  Mary 
Buckhart,  John  Seybold,  and  R.  N. 


468 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Henderson.  The  first  regular  pastor 
was  Rev.  Joseph  Delano,  and  A.  M. 
Newton  was  the  first  clerk  of  the  church. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  Christian 
church  until  a  church  edifice  of  their 
own  was  erected,  which  was  in  1871.  It 
is  a  good,  plain  church  structure,  about 
30x40  feet,  with  a  well  proportioned 
spire  rising  from  the  center  of  the  front, 
which  contains  a  good-toned,  ordinary- 
sized  bell.  The  building  cost  $1,950. 
The  present  membership  is  about  90, 
and  the  contributions  are  about  §700  per 
annum.  The  first  sermon  preached  by 
a  Baptist  minister  in  Sciota,  was  by 
Elder  Sutton,  in  the  year  1868.  The 
succession  of  pastors  to  the  pulpit  of 
this  church,  are  J.  M. .  Harrington,  G. 
T.  Calvin,  James  Eone,  J.  E.  Todd,  E. 
C.  Bay,  and  Jacob  Cornelius,  the  latter 
serving  as  pastor  at  present.  There  is 
also  a  Sunday  school  in  connection  with 
the  church. 

INDEPENDENT   BAPTIST   CHURCH,   OF 
EMMET  TOWNSHIP. 

The  church  building  of  this  congre- 
gation is  located  upon  section  10,  of 
Emmet  township,  and  was  erected  in 
1858  or  1859.  The  organization  was 
originally  perfected  July  4,  1847,  with  a 
membership  of  eight,  and  until  the> 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship,  met  in 
a  school  house.  Among  the  first  mem- 
bers were  William  Pennington  and 
wife,  Mrs.  Eliza  Hardin,  Jacob  Clem- 
mer  and  wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Simmons, 
William  Drain  and  wife  and  Eliza 
Hardin.  Eev.  J.  Owen  was  the  first 
pastor.  The  church  continued  to  grow 
slowly  for  a  time  until  the  Evangelist, 
Freeman  came,  when  it  prospered  quite 


rapidly,  and  at  one  time  had  a  member- 
ship of  220,  and  church  property  to  the 
amount  of  $600.  Some  of  the  members 
died,  a  large  number  were  dismissed  by 
letter,  and  several  others  were  excluded, 
and  the  congregation  is  no  longer  in 
existence. 

HILLSBOROUGH   BAPTIST   CHURCH,  OF 
BLANDINSVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  congregation  was  organized  in 
1849,  and  in  the  year  following  a  good 
frame  house  of  worship  was  erected,  at 
a  cost  of  $2,000.  It  is  located  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  18.  The 
house  at  present  is  in  good  repair.  The 
membership  is  about  100.  The  follow- 
ing persons  have  served  as  pastors: 
Elder  J.  G.  Ward,  William  Forrest,  John 
Eay,  and  Elder  William  Hobbs,  who 
came  among  this  people  in  1868. 

BAPTIST  CHURCH,  PRAIRIE  CITY. 

The  Baptist  church  of  Prairie  City 
was  organized  November  9,  1856,  by 
Elder  E.  J.  Lockwood,  with  the  follow- 
ing 14  members:  Alonzo  Barnes,  Mar- 
tha L.  Barnes,  William  Davis,  Susan 
Davis,  Kate  Smith,  J.  B.  Eobinson  and 
wife,  Ann  Legg,  M.  Heminover,  Martha 
Macomb,  T.  C.  Luther,  Porter  J.  Jack, 
Euth  H.  Bell  and  Eebecca  Barnes. 
Meetings  were  held  in  the  school  house 
until  1850.  when  a  good  frame  church 
edifice  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000. 
It  is  32x48  feet,  with  a  spire  containing 
a  fair-sized  bell.  It  is  situated  on  Smith 
street,  near  Main.  The  first  deacons 
chosen  were  M.  Heminover  and  Alonzo 
Barnes.  Mr.  Barnes  was  also  chosen 
clerk.  The  following  have  served  this 
church  as  pastors:  S.  A.  Kingsbury,  H. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


469 


S.  P.  Warren,  C.  Hutchins,  E.  J.  Lock- 
wood,  Danforth  C.  A.  Hewett,  A.  J.  Col- 
ville  and  S.  H.  D.  Vaughn. 

CEDAR    CREEK    BAPTIST    CHURCH,    OF 
WALNUT   GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  church  structure  is  located  on 
section  22.  It  is  a  good  frame  building, 
26x46  feet,  and  was  erected  in  1872,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500. 

UNION  REGULAR  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF 
BETHEL  TOWNSHIP. 

While  the  Old  School,  Regular  Bap- 
tists, are  strong  in  numbers,  influence 
and  respectability  in  some  other  parts  of 
this  state,  and  more  particularly  in  some 
of  the  other  states,  and  have  some  very 
ably  edited  papers,  yet,  in  all  McDon- 
ough  county  they  make  but  a  poor  show 
as  to  numbers,  and  as  to  their  standing 
and  influence  in  civil  society  they  claim 
only  their  proportionate  part  with  the 
rest  of  the  community. 

In  the  month  of  November,  1831, 
Elder  Logan  and  Elder  Stephen  Strick- 
land constituted  a  Baptist  church  in 
Bethel  township,  named  Union,  com- 
posed of  10  members,  four  males  and 
six  females:  John  Gibson,  Nancy  Gib- 
son, William  Stephens,  Sarah  Stephens, 
James  Edmondston,  Polly  Edmondston, 
Richard  Morris,  Abigal  Ferguson,  Cass- 
anda  Morris  and  Sarah  C.  Palmer. 
Elders  Logan  and  Strickland  do  not  ap- 
pear to  have  met  with  this  little  church 
often  after  they  organized  her,  but  in 
July,  1832,  Thomas  H.  Owen,  a  licen- 
tiate, visited  and  preached  to  them. 
Owen  located  in  Hancock  county,  and 
was  afterward  ordained  a  minister,  and 
became  a  man  of  ability.  He  repre- 
sented his  county  in  the  general  assem- 


bly of  Illinois  one  or  more  terms,  then 
emigrated  to  Zem  Zem,  California,  where 
he  still  lives,  and  is  able  to  preach  and 
write  some  to  the  edification  of  the 
saints.  John  Gibson,  one  of  the  consti- 
tuents of  this  church,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  in  the  county,  and  located 
at  an  early  date  on  the  road  from  Ma- 
comb  to  Quincy,  where  he  resided  till 
his  death,  April  22,  1869.  Uncle  John 
Gibson  was  as  well  known  among  the 
Baptists  of  the  surrounding  country  as 
any  other  private  member.  He  had 
much  intercouse  with  them,  his  doors 
always  open  to  receive  them,  and  on  two 
occasions  of  the  annual  associations 
being  held  near  him,  he  fed  over  200 
persons,  and  also  lodged  them  in  his 
house  and  in  his  barn,  often  telling  his 
brethren,  in  his  jovial  way,  that  the  "soft 
side  of  a  board  was  good  enough  for  a 
Hardshell  Baptist." 

In  1832  the  church  called  Elder  Wil- 
liam Bradley  to  the  pastoral  care  of  the 
same.  Early  in  the  fall  of  1832,  this 
church  sent  messengers  to  the  Spoon 
River  Association,  and  was  received  into 
her  correspondence  and  fellowship,  al- 
though she  was  composed  of  "Regular" 
Baptist  churches,  associated  together  for 
mutual  edification  and  correspondence. 
The  little  church  of  Union,  in  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year,  considered  the 
propriety  of  changing  the  name  by 
which  she  was  known  from  United  to 
Regular  Baptist,  and  the  change  was 
made  by  unanimous  consent.  Her  rea- 
sons for  dropping  the  name  United,  and 
assuming  the  name,  Regular,  she  be- 
lieved to  be  of  sufficient  importance  to 
warrant  the  change  <5f  this  qualifying 
appellative  attached  to  what  was  origi- 


470 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


nally  the  Baptist  church.  First,  she 
found  that  the  articles  of  faith  of  the 
Association  of  the  Regular  Baptist 
churches  were  substantially  the  same  as 
her  own;  secondly,  she  had  learned  to 
her  deep  sorrow  and  grief  that  many 
bearing  the  name  of  United  Baptist 
churches  had,  as  she  verily  believed,  de- 
parted from  the  faith  and  practice  of  the 
gospel,  and  hence  she,  for  the  sake  of 
consistency,  harmony  and  good  order, 
took  the  name  of  Regular  Baptist  by 
mutual  consent.  In  doing  this,  however, 
she  did  not  change  a  single  article  of 
her  faith,  or  a  single  clause  in  her  rules 
of  decorum.  And  what  is  here  said  of 
the  Union  church  in  dropping  the  United 
and  assuming  the  name  Regular  Baptist, 
may  be  said  of  many  similar  ones 
throughout  the  south  and  west,  and  even 
elsewhere. 

In  1833,  Elder  Micajah  B.  Rowland 
joined  the  Union  church  by  letter,  and 
soon  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and 
was  released  from  it  in  1835.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  Iowa  and  continued  to 
preach  until  he  was  worn  out  with  old 
age. 

In  1835,  Samuel  L.  Dark,  a  licentiate, 
was  received  by  letter,  and  was  ordained 
in  1840.  He  now  resides  near  Brooklyn, 
Schuyler  county,  and  is  still  busily  en- 
gaged in  proclaiming  the  gospel  far  and 
near.  There  is  something  very  peculiar 
in  the  conversion  of  this  man.  In  1831 
he  was  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  under 
General  Duncan,  and  being  from  Schuy- 
ler county,  and  being  unsurpassed  for 
wit,  humor  and  fun,  he  was  called  the 
"  Schuyler  County  Fool-Killer,"  gener- 
ally among  the  camps ;  and  having  a  won- 
derful memory  and  a  great  tact  at  nrim- 


icry,he  was  frequently  engaged  in  preach- 
ing the  funeral  of  dead  horses  and  mules. 
While  encamped  in  the  bottom  where 
the  city  of  Rock  Island  stands,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  funeral  services  of  a  de- 
funct rnule;  and  during  his  solemn  ap- 
peals to  heaven,  amidst  a  crowd  of  sol- 
diers, he  was  suddenly  seized  with  strong 
convictions  for  his  sins  and  blasphemies, 
and  never  found  rest  until  he  found  it  at 
the  feet  of  Christ.  Elder  D.  has  preached 
so  much  in  this  county,  and  for  a  while 
resided  in  it,  that  we  feel  justified  in  giv- 
ing this  remarkable  incident  in  his  life. 
Tbe  little  band  steadily  increased  in  num- 
bers, holding  their  meetings  in  private 
houses,  until  finally  they  were  enabled 
to  build  a  house  a  few  miles  southeast  of 
Middletown. 

In  1838,  Elder  Robert  Mays  joined 
them  by  letter,  and  was  for  a  while  pastor 
of  the  church. 

In  1838,  Elder  John  Driskill  joined 
them  by  letter  and  became  their  pastor, 
and  remained  with  them  till  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1857  or  1858. 

Elder  George  Tracy,  of  Hancock 
county,  was  pastor  of  the  church  for  a 
few  months,  and  on  the  27th  of  May,  1858, 
he  dropped  dead  at  the  saw  mill  at  Tucker 
town.  He  was  a  worthy  man,  and  much 
missed  after  his  decease. 

In  September,  1858,  Elder  J.  K  Van 
Meter  became  the  pastor  of  this  little 
band  of  Christians,  and  sustained  that 
relation  for  nearly  a  score  of  years,  as- 
sisted, however,  for  the  last  few  years 
by  Elders  Jacob  Castlebury  and  T.  N. 
Frazee. 

Elder  Frazee,  who  was  an  able  and 
worthy  brother,  died  in  March,  1873. 

The  church  has  met  in  the  village  of 


Continental  Hisfl   Cn 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


473 


Middletown  for  many  years,  and  in  1875 
built  a  new  house  of  worship.  It  has 
never  numbered  at  any  one  time,  per- 
haps, over  35  or  40  members,  but  has  dis- 
missed by  letter,  from  time  to  time, 
enough  members  to  form  another  re- 
spectable church  or  two,  who  have  moved 
out  of  its  bounds.  Enough  of  its  mem- 
bers have  left  the  militant  state  and  gone 
to  the  church  triumphant  to  form  a  good 
sized  congregation,  as  it  has  been  orga- 
nized over  50  years.  It  has  now  37  com- 
municants, all  in  peace. 

The  building  of  this  denomination  is 
located  on  section  8,  and  was  erected  in 
1875,  at  a  cost  of  $2,200,  and  is  36x52 
feet  in  size.  It  is  a  good,  substantial 
structure,  and  was  dedicated  in  1876  by 
Rev.  Harry  Taylor,  of  California.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  Saunders,  of 
Littleton,  Illinois,  who  holds  services 
every  two  weeks. 

ANTIOCH  CHURCH,  REGULAR  BAPTIST, 
MIDDLETOWN. 

This  little  church  was  organized  in  Mid- 
dletown in  February,  1841,  at  which  time 
the  Union  church  held  its  meetings  a 
few  miles  southeast  of  there.  Elders  T. 
H.  Owen  and  Moses  Frazee  officiated  in 
the  constitution  of  this  church.  But 
four  persons  were  ready  to  go  into  the 
organization  at  the  time  as  a  nucleus 
around  which  others  were  expected  soon 
to  gather.  The  constituents  were  John 
McCormick,  Parthena  McCormick,  Wil- 
liam D.  Stevens  and  Holly  Edmonston. 
Immediately  after  they  were  organized 
six  others  were  added  to  their  number, 
and  they  afterward  made  a  reasonable 
growth.  In  April  of  the  same  year  Elder 
Owen  became  pastor  of  the  church,  and 


the  same  year  she  connected  herself  with 
the  Salem  association  of  churches,  which 
included  parts  of  Hancock,  Adams  and 
Brown  counties.  In  1843  she  built  a 
house  of  worship  in  Middletown,  where 
she  held  her  regular  meetings,  attended 
by  Elder  Owen  and  occasionally  by  Elder 
Frazee.  Finally,  however,  they  found 
themselves  deprived  of  a  pastor,  and  be- 
coming satisfied  that  the  labors  of  one 
could  not  be  secured,  they  consulted  to- 
gether and  mutually  agreed  to  dissolve 
the  organization  by  giving  each  other 
letters  of  dismission  to  join  other 
churches.  This  was  done  in  October, 
1849,  since  which  the  members  have 
united  elsewhere,  the  most  of  them  join- 
ing the  Union  church,  now  meeting  in 
Middletown. 

Besides  these  two  organizations,  there 
have  been  one  or  more  churches  con- 
stituted, which  had  similar  articles  of 
faith  to  those  of  the  present  regular,  or 
Old  School  Baptists,  but  have  since  gone 
with  the  New  School  party. 

The  regular  Baptists  have  now  but 
one  church,  which  meets  regularly  within 
the  county. 

FREE     WILL     BAPTIST      CHURCH,     OF 
PRAIRIE   CITY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  Septem- 
ber, 1857,  by  Elder  John  B.  Fast,  assis- 
ted by  Elders  S.  Shaw  and  P.  Christian. 
The  first  members  were  as  follows: — 
Elder  J.  B.  Fast  and  Sarah  Fast,  his 
wife;  John  J.  Fast,  Samuel  Nestlerhode, 
and  Catharine,  his  wife;  William  Nest- 
lerhode, William  Bolin,  Adeline  Tainter, 
and  Belch  Mary  White.  John  J.  Fast 
was  the  first  clerk  of  the  church. 

In  the  summer  and  fall  of  1866,  a 
church  building,  40x60  feet  in  ground 


474 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


area,  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$5,000.  At  that  time  there  were  about 
125  members.  After  Mr.  Fast,  the  pas- 
tors have  been  as  follows: — J.  Phillips, 
who  came  in  1860;  Milton  McDonald, 
in  1861;  M.  S.  Hubbell,  in  May,  1862; 
J.  Reeve,  'in  December,  1863;  H.  G. 
Woodworth,  in  1865;  E.  D.  Lewis,  in 
1869;  J.  J,  Weadge,  in  1871;  H.  Black- 
mar,  in  1873;  H.  G.  Woodworth,  in 
March,  1874;  he  staid  until  January, 
1875,  after  which  there  was  a  vacancy  of 
several  months;  J.  S.  Dinsmore  was  the 
next  pastor,  and  after  he  departed  there 
was  another  vacancy  for  some  time.  S. 
J.  Weed  came  in  October,  1882.  H.  G. 
Woodworth,  the  present  pastor,  was 
called  here  in  January,  1884. 

The  present  officers  are:— J.  Vose,  L. 
B.  Sanford,  A.  Record,  S.  T.  Dodge,  and 
J.  W.  Closson,  trustees;  A.  Record, 
clerk;  Mrs.  J.  Vose,  treasurer.  The 
church  now  has  a  membership  of  76. 
Twenty-seven  members  have  been  taken 
in  during  the  past  winter,  and  43  in  the 
last  year.  The  condition  of  the  church 
is  prosperous.  There  is  a  Sunday 
school  in  connection  with  the  church, 
with  about  70  members.  The  superin- 
tendent is  J.  W.  Closson.  The  Woman's 
Missionary  society  is  auxiliary  to  the 
church,  and  has  officers  as  follows:  Miss 
Anna  Record,  president;  Mrs.  H.  G. 
Woodworth,  vice-president,  Mrs.  Zacha- 
riah  Foster,  secretary;  Mrs.  Mantania, 
treasurer.  This  society  supports  a 
native  zenana  teacher  in  Orissey,  Hin- 
doostan.  This,  however,  is  extra  work. 
They  send  money  to  different  missions, 
and  this  is  their  regular  work.  There 
is  also  a  Children's  Mission  band,  with 
the  following  officers:  Miss  Mary  Yose, 


directress;  Miss  Kittie  Closson,  presi- 
dent; W.  S.  Woodworth,  secretary; 
Miss  Myra  Everly,  treasurer. 

Simon  J.  Weed,  present  pastor  of  the 
Cottonwood  Free  Will  Baptist  church, 
is  a  native  of  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  born 
March  11,  1854.  He  grew  to  manhood 
there,  and  followed  teaching  for  a  time. 
In  1877  he  entered  Rio  Grande  college, 
Ohio,  and  attended  two  years.  During 
the  time  spent  in  college  he  had  a  pas- 
torate at  Harris,  Ohio,  which  he  held 
until  1881,  when  he  went  to  Somerset 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  remained 
there  until  coming  to  his  present  loca- 
tion, which  was  in  1882.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Gallia  county,  Ohio,  May  15, 
1878,  to  Sarah  R.  Allison.  She  died 
July  23,  1884,  leaving  one  child,  which 
died  September  27,  1884. 

GERMAN  BAPTISTS  OR  BUNKERS. 

The  following  account  of  this  denom- 
ination was  prepared  by  A.  G.  Black,  a 
minister  of  this  church  and  is  believed 
to  convey  the  correct  and  authentic  in- 
formation in  regard  to  this  branch  of 
Christians: 

In  all  their  periodicals  and  records 
this  sect  is  known  as  German  Baptists, 
but  always  among  themselves  as  Breth- 
ren, and  are  better  known,  perhaps,  by 
others  by  their  nickname,  Dunkers.  This 
denomination  claims  to  have  reorganized 
the  church,  with  all  of  its  primitive  rites, 
in  1708  in  Germany.  The  awakening 
that  followed  Luther's  reformation 
caused  many  to  seek  after  true  "primi- 
tive Christianity,"  who,  from  their  chris- 
tian  association  together  and  fidelity  to 
the  teachings  of  their  Master,  were  called 
"Pietists."  Their  zeal  aroused  the  in- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


475 


dignation  of  the  priesthood,  who,  by  the 
relentless  hand  of  persecution,  drove 
them  for  protection  to  Witgenstein. 

They  still  held  to  the  name  of  Pietists, 
but  not  withstanding  much  difference  of 
opinion  among  themselves,  they  called 
each  other  brothers  and  labored  together. 
It  was  found  necessary  to  have  a  form 
of  regular  church  government.  A  con- 
vention for  this  purpose  was  held,  which 
resulted  in  partial  failure.  There  were 
eight  souls  who  here  covenanted  with 
God  in  Christ  Jesus — to  take  the  bible 
as  their  man  of  council,  and  the  gospel 
of  their  blessed  Savior  for  their  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  ignoring  all  creeds 
and  discipline  of  human  invention,  but 
resolved,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  make 
all  things  according  to  the  pattern  shown 
to  them  on  Mount  Zion.  There  were 
eight  present  at  this  convention.  The 
little  band  made  considerable  headway 
for  several  years,  when  again  they  were 
driven  from  their  homes  by  persecution. 
They  sought  shelter  under  the  king  of 
Prussia,  and  still  further  persecution 
followed,  when  they  resolved  to  go  to 
America,  and  in  1719  the  first  party 
landed,  and  in  1729  the  remainder  arriv- 
ed, and  settled  in  German  town,  Pennsyl- 
vania. From  this  point  they  have  spread 
all  over  the  nation,  numbering  at  pres- 
ent about  150,000,  with  1,466  ministers, 
with  140  in  Illinois. 

Mr.  A.  G.  Black,  a  minister  of  the 
Washington  arm  of  the  church,  located 
in  the  county  of  Kosciusko,  Indiana, 
came  to  this  county  in  1864,  and  after 
visiting  the  members  residing  here  and 
in  the  western  part  of  Fulton  county, 
concluded  to  organize  a  church  in  this 
county,  and  on  June  2d,  1865,  through 


the  kindness  of  the  friends  in  school  dis- 
trict No.  8,  in  Mound  township,  were 
permitted  to  meet  in  their  school  house. 
There  were  14  present:  John  Pool  and 
wife,  Henry  Zuck  and  wife,  John  Crowl 
and  wife,  Joseph  Rinker  and  wife,  Mar- 
tin Myers  and  wife,  Isaac  Crosswait  and 
wife,  A.  G.  Black  and  wife,  and  some 
foreign  brethren.  After  the  usual  solem- 
nities of  such  occasions,  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  John  Pool  and  Henry  Zuck 
were  already  authorized  deacons,  and  A. 
G.  Black  a  minister  in  the  second  degree. 
The  members  present,  on  being  examin- 
ed separate  and  apart  from  the  official 
members,  agreed  to  accept  them  in  their 
official  capacity  in  the  new  organization. 
After  the  elders  had  dedicated  them  to 
their  Lord  and  Master  in  solemn  prayer 
to  God,  the  organization  was  given  the 
name  of  the  Bushnell  arm  of  the  church. 
Since,  30  members  have  moved  within 
the  boundary  of  the  congregation,  and 
34  joined  by  baptism,  while  16  have  re- 
moved— leaving  a  total  of  62. 

In  1867,  John  L.  Myers  and  Jacob 
Burgard,  who  is  now  deceased,  were  cho- 
sen to  the  ministry,  and  in  the  same  year 
Hiram  Morrison  and  P.  Carson  were 
elected  deacons,  and  in  1875  John  Pool, 
Jr.,  was  chosen  to  the  ministry  and  Wil- 
liam Cook  as  deacon. 

The  tenets  of  the  church  are,  in  brief, 
as  follows :  They  consider  faith,  repent- 
ance and  baptism  as  essential  to  church 
membership,  also  valid  Christian  baptism 
to  be  performed  by  "triune  immersion," 
Matthew  28:  19;  members  are  to  observe 
all  things  Christ  has  commanded  them, 
Matt.  28:  20;  they  are  not  to  engage  in 
carnal  warfare,  Isa.  2:  4;  Matt.  16:  52 
and  5:  38-47;  they  are  not  to  take  an 


476 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


oath,  Matt.  5:  33-37,  James  5:  12;  they 
are  to  wash  one  another's  feet,  as  com- 
manded in  John  13;  and  are  to  salute 
one  another  with  the  kiss,  as  commanded 
five  times  by  the  apostles,  and  observe 
plainness  of  dress  as  commanded  in  I. 
Peter  3,  and  other  places. 

Another  church  of  this  faith  is  located 
in  Bethel  township.  The  church  edifice 
is  situated  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  18.  It 
is  a  well-built  and  finished  structure, 
30x40  feet  in  ground  area,  and  was  com- 
pleted in  1883,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  by 
Pious  Carson.  Rev.  Mr.  Gibson  offici- 
ated at  the  dedicatory  services.  The 
church  at  present  is  in  a  healthy  and 
prosperous  condition,  with  a  member- 
ship of  about  30  persons.  Rev.  John  L. 
Myers  is  the  present  pastor. 

CHRISTIAN  CHURCH  AT  MACOMB. 

The  first  discourse  ever  delivered  by 
a  Disciple  in  Macomb,  was  by  Elder  Livy 
Hatchitt,  at  the  house  of  David  Clarke, 
in  the  year  1835.  Elder  H.  came  to 
Macomb  and  endeavored  to  get  the  use 
of  some  public  building,  but  was  refused 
on  account  of  his  supposed  heterodoxy. 
Mr.  Clarke,  who  had  read  much  of  the 
writings  of  Alexander  Campbell,  and 
who  subscribed  generally  to  his  views, 
offered  his  house,  which  was  accepted. 
No  special  results  followed  the  preach- 
ing, but  it  was  supposed  the  "good 
seed"  was  sown,  which  brought  forth 
fruit  in  after  years. 

By  1845  quite  a  number  of  Disciples 
had  gathered  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Macomb,  and  they  resolved  to  organize, 
if  possible.  They  sent  for  Elder  Daven- 
port, of  Walnut  Grove,  now  Eureka, 


Illinois,  who,  not  being  able  to  come, 
sent  A.  J.  Kane,  now  a  resident  of 
Springfield,  but  then  a  young  evange- 
list. Elder  Kane  came,  and  securing 
the  court  house,  preached  with  such 
force  and  power  as  to  turn  29  souls  to 
the  Lord.  Dr.  Young  organized  the 
congregation  September  16,  1845,  with 
17  members,  which,  adding  to  the  29 
obtained  under  Elder  Kane's  preaching, 
made  a  band  of  46  earnest  disciples. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
original  17  members:  Benjamin  F. 
Martin,  William  H.  Franklin,  James  S. 
Palmer,  James  Clarke,  William  B.  Pile, 
Hannah  B.  Pile,  William  Maxwell,  Lucy 
Maxwell,  Elizabeth  G.  Palmer,  George 
Booth,Isabella  Booth,  Lucy  Beard,  Mar- 
garet Broaddus,  Emily  J.  Sweeney, 
Sarah  Bacon,  Rachel  Hampton,  Maria 
J.  Franklin.  The  following  officers  were 
chosen :  B.  F.  Martin  and  W.  H.  Frank- 
lin, elders;  James  S.  Palmer  and  James 
Clarke,  deacons. 

No  regular  preaching  was  had  for 
some  months,  but  the  congregation  met 
regularly  upon  the  Lord's  day  to  break 
bread.  In  1845,  a  church  building  was 
erected,  on  Carroll  street,  east  of  Lafay- 
ette, which  was  in  use  until  in  1877, 
when  they  erected  the  present  house  of 
worship,  on  West  Jackson  street.  This 
edifice  is  38x78  feet  in  ground  area,  and 
was  built  at  an  expense  of  $4,400,  includ- 
ing the  price  of  the  lot.  The  following 
named  have  served  as  pastors  of  the 
congregation:  Elders  Livy  Hatchett, 
W.  W.  Hopkins,  W.  P.  Shockey,  W.  O. 
Miller,  Samuel  Lowe,  J.  C.  Reynolds 
(about  11  years),  J.  H.  Garrison;  P.  K. 
Dibble,  J.  H.  Smart  and  G.  W.  Mapes. 
Several  successful  revivals  have  been 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


477 


enjoyed  by  the  church  under  the  preach- 
ing of  such  men  as  A.  J.  Kane,  William 
Brown,  Ziba  Brown,  William  J.  Hous- 
ton, Dr.  Hopkinson,  John  S.  Sweeney, 
Samuel  Lowe,  J.  C.  Reynolds,  Dr.  Dun- 
keson,  D.  R.  Lucas,  P.  K.  Dibble  and  J. 
H.  Smart.  Since  the  organization  nearly 
1,000  persons  have  united  with  this 
church,  and  the  present  membership  is 
aboiit  200.  A  Sabbath  school  has  been 
kept  up  by  this  congregation  for  at  least 
35  years,  and  is  well  attended. 

THE  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,  COLCHESTER. 

The  denomination  of  protestants 
known  by  the  name  of  Christian,  have  a 
church  and  congregation  at  Colchester. 
This  was  organized  during  the  month  of 
March,  1867,  with  the  following  original 
members:  David  Blazer  and  wife; 
Daniel  McKinley  and  wife ;  James  Hood 
and  wife ;  Mrs.  Samuel  Parks  and  one  or 
two  others.  About  the  first  of  the  next 
month  following  its  inception,  a  revival 
was  held  under  the  charge  of  the  first 
minister,  Rev.  C.  Ades,  who  was  assisted 
by  J.  C.  Reynolds.  This  meeting  was 
held  for  six  weeks,  and  a  great  awaken- 
ing occurred,  and  117  members  were 
added  to  thejiew  church.  This  placed 
the  church  on  a  firm  footing.  The  first 
officers  were  S.  Stevens,  Daniel  McKin- 
ley, M.  Stookey,  John  Patrick  and  David 
Blazer,  elders;  James  Dickinson  and 
Thomas  Honn,  deacons;  S.  Stevens,  M. 
Stookey,  J.  Patrick,  James  Dickinson 
and  D.  McKinley,  trustees.  The  church 
edifice,  which  is  a  neat,  substantial  frame 
structure,  was  erected  in  1868.  It  is  36x 
56  feet  upon  the  ground  and  cost  some 
$3,400  to  build.  The  present  member- 
ship of  the  church  is  about  fifty.  S.  D. 


Mills  and  William  Morrison  are  the 
present  elders;  John  H.  Stevens  and 
Adam  Taylor,  deacons;  J.  H.  Stevens  is 
the  clerk,  and  Mrs.  A.  J.  Stevens,  treas- 
urer. The  present  minister  is  Rev.  J. 
S.  Gash.  A  Sabbath  school  is  held  in 
connection  with  the  church,  over  which 
S.  D.  Mills  presides  as  superintendent. 

BLANDINSVILLE    CHRISTIAN   CHURCH. 

We  are  indebted  to  M.  P.  Hayden,  the 
present  pastor  of  this  church,  for  the 
following  account  of  the  congregation 
under  his  care: 

This  is  the  oldest  church  ,of  this  de- 
nomination in  the  county.  It  was  for- 
merly known  as  Liberty  church,  the 
place  of  meeting  being  two  miles  north 
of  town.  It  was  organized  in  1832.  In 
1849,  it  was  decided  to  change  the  place 
of  worship  to  Blandinsville.  A  new 
meeting  house  was  built  in  the  town, 
which  was  finished  in  1852.  Since  that 
time,  the  church  has  experienced  various 
fortunes,  sometimes  enjoying  prosperity, 
sometimes  enduring  adversity.  During 
the  war,  the  church  was  somewhat 
divided,  and  feelings  of  animosity  en- 
gendered on  account  of  disturbances  and 
political  strifes  incident  to  that  period. 
The  following  persons  have  served  as 
pastors  of  the  church:  James  K.  Knox, 
Uriah  Long,  A.  J.  Kane,  James  D.  Eads, 
John  Rigdon,  J.  M.  Dodge,  James  R. 
Ross,  Dr.  Bacon,  Cornelius  Ades,  Patrick 
Murphy,  Bedford  Murphy,  J.  M.  Mar- 
tin, Robert  Lieurance,  J.  H.  Coffee,  S. 
K.  Hallam,  H.  R.  Trickett,  J.  R  Leek, 
T.  H.  Goodnight  and  G.  R  Adams. 
Through  t"he  labors  of  G.  R  Adams,  who 
was  pastor  of  the  church  from  Decem- 
ber, 1879,  to  June,  1884,  the  church  was 


478 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


greatly  strengthened  in  numbers  and  in- 
fluence, so  that  the  membership,  at  one 
time,  was  over  four  hundred.  This  num- 
ber, however,  has  been  diminished  by 
deaths,  removals  and  other  causes,  until 
its  present  membership  is  about  three 
hundred  and  fifty. 

In  1881,  a  new  house  of  worship  was 
erected.  It  is  an  attractive  wooden  edi- 
fice, worth  about  $5,000.  It  is  rieat  and 
commodious,  and  complete  in  all  its  ar- 
rangements. M.  P.  Hayden,  the  pres- 
ent pastor  of  the  church,  began  his 
labors  in  October,  1884,  and  is  an  able 
disciple  of  the  Master.  The  church  has 
a  live,  successful  Sunday  school,  with 
T.  H.  Williams  as  its  efficient  superin- 
tendent. The  meetings  of  the  church 
are  well  attended,  and  the  church,  in  all 
its  departments  of  work,  is  in  a  healthy, 
prosperous  condition.  The  present 
officers  of  the  church  are  as  follows: 
Elders,  M.  P.  Hayden,  William  Camp- 
bell, Preston  Huston,  James  P.  Hitch; 
deacons,  W.  P.  Welch,  Byers  Hensley, 
George  Russell,  Frank  Fuhr;  trustees, 
Howard  Campbell,  E.  G.  Griffin,  Byers 
Hensley,  George  Russell  and  James  P. 
Hitch. 

MOUND    CHRISTIAN   CHURCH,    MOUND 
TOWNSHIP. 

This  church  was  organized  in  1857,  by 
Elder  J.  B.  Royal,  with  the  following 
original  members:  Nelson  and  Eliza- 
beth McManamie,  Samuel  and  Sophia 
Henry,  Emeline  Harris,  Daniel  W.  and 
Ann  Wilson,  Henrietta  Thomas,  Nar- 
cisses  Langsford,  Daniel  Boughman, 
Jonathan  Yocum,  Thomas  Simmons, 
James  H.  Langsford,  Burton  Wilson  and 
wife,  Ann  Wilson,  B.  B.  Wilson,  Eliza- 


beth Wilson,  Lucinda  Simmons,  Joseph 
W.  and  Mary  S.  James,  William  Sim- 
mons, Thomas  and  Elizabeth  McKenzie, 
Mary  Honeycutt,  Diana  Jones,  Char- 
lotta  James,  Jerusha  Pumphrey,  George 
Walters,  Elmira  Harris,  Simpson  Mer- 
rill. Jonathan  Slocum,  Simpson  Mer-» 
rill  and  Samuel  Henry  were  chosen  as 
elders.  Nelson  McManamie  was  the 
first  deacon,  and  Samuel  Henry  was  the 
first  clerk.  Meetings  were  held  regu- 
larly in  school  houses  until  1864,  when 
the  present  church  structure  was  com- 
pleted. It  is  located  on  section  14,  and 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  It  is  a 
good  frame  building,  30x45  feet  in  size. 
At  one  time  the  membership  numbered 
100,  but  many  have  since  moved  away. 
The  succession  of  pastors  since  the  or- 
ganization, have  been  J.  B.  Royal,  Elder 
Smart,  David  Thompson,  Thomas  Dun- 
canson,  Alpheus  Brown,  H.  C.  Little- 
ton, J.  B.  Royal,  H.  C.  Littleton  and 
Thomas  Weaver.  This  latter  gentleman 
completed  his  labors  with  the  Church  in 
1881,  since  which  time  the  society  has 
been  without  a  regular  pastor,  although 
services  are  still  held  occasionally. 

NEW  SALEM  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  congregation  known  *by  the  above 
name,  was  organized,  April  8,  1859,  by 
Rev.  J.  B.  Royal,  of  Vermont,  Fulton 
county,  in  what  was  known  as  the  Wet- 
sel  school  house,  with  the  following  list 
of  members :  William  A.  Griffin,  Francis 
Epperson,  James  D.  Swartz,  Daniel 
Wilson,  Hugh  Chapman,  William  Kel- 
ley,  Jane  Kerr,  Julia  Ann  Chapman, 
Sarah  Swearingen,  Almira  Hays,  Josiah 
Herlocker,  Margaret  Herlocker,  Mary  J. 
Griffin,  George  Kerr,  Caleb  Hipsley, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


479 


America  McVey,  and  Jane    Chapman. 
Francis   Epperson,  W.  A.  Griffin,  and 
Daniel   Wilson,  were  appointed  elders. 
For  some  years  previous  to  this,  how- 
ever, services   were  held  in   the  school 
house  by  these  same   people,  but  no  or- 
ganization was  formed  until   the  above 
date.     The  following  is  the  covenant  of 
organization   entered    into:     "We,    the 
undersigned,    disciples    of    Christ,    in 
obedience  to   the    Great  Head  of    the 
church,  do  now   solemnly  and  joyfully 
agree  with  each  other,  to  walk  together 
in  the  Lord  with  brotherly  love,   as  a 
church  of  Christ,  and  do  also  take  the 
bible  as  our  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 
Done  in  Wetsel  school  house,  in  New 
Salem  township,  April  8,  1859."     A  fine 
church  edifice   was  erected  by  this  con- 
gregation in  the  fall  of    1867,   on    the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  34,  at  a  cost 
of  $2,200.     It  is  a  well  built  structure, 
32x45  feet  in  size,  and  well  finished  in- 
side and  out.     For  the   first  nine  years 
of  its  existence,  Rev.  Joseph   B.   Royal 
labored  in  this  vineyard,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  John  Reynolds,  and  others. 
Rev.   Alexander  Johnson  dedicated  the 
church  buikiing,   December,  1867,  and 
preached  here  for   about  one  year.     He 
was  followed  by  Rev.  Henry  Smither,  A. 
P.  Aten,  and  others.     The  committee  on 
building  the  church  were  W.  A.  Griffin, 
W.  B.  Swango,   William  Hodgen,   and 
William   Beckwith.     The    elders,  were 
W.   A.  Griffin   and  Samuel   Frost.     In 
1871,  these  resigned,  and  Stewart  Piles 
and  W.  B.  Swango,  were  appointed  in 
their  place,  but  the   latter    refused    to 
serve,  and  in  1881,  Mr.  Piles  emigrating 
to  Kansas,  the   office  of  elder  has  been 
discharged    by    Richard     Pennington, 


alone.  The  church  has  a  present  mem- 
bership of  about  35,  and  is  in  a  good, 
healthy  condition. 

BEDFORD  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH,    BLAN- 
DINSVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

This  congregation  was  organized,  April 
7,  1850,  by  Elder  Milton  Dodge,  with 
the  following  members :  Richard  Bright- 
well,  Eliza  Brightwell,  Elizabeth  Bright- 
well,  Charles  Bradshaw,  John  Gibson, 
Elizabeth  Johnson,  Benjamin  Moore, 
Margaret  Moore,  Robert  McCaully,Mar- 
garet  McCaully,  Noble  Ousley,  Naoma 
Ousley,  William  and  Grace  Pennington, 
McKamy  Ruddle,  Rachel  Spikers, 
Peter  Shelly,  William  and  Silva  Arnold, 
James  and  Margaret  Cyrus,  Elizabeth 
Duncan,  Margaret  Emerson,  Walter 
Huston,  Sr.,  Walter  Huston,  Jr.,  James 
and  Harriet  Hamilton,  Joel  B.  and  Cath- 
arine Huston,  Waney  Huston,  Sr.,  Waney 
Huston,  Jr.,  Zelpha  Huston,  David  Shel- 
ley, Elizabeth  Shelley,  Eliza  Spiker, 
Horatus  and  Eliza  Weston. 

The  following  persons  have  served  as 
pastors:  Elders  Dodge,  Patrick  Mur- 
phy, Bedford  Murphy,  Reynolds,  Kern, 
Ades,  Ross,  Lieurance,  Coffee,  Lucy, 
Fisher,  Wallace,  Huston,  Goodnight, 
James  McGuire. 

The  church  building  is  located  upon 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  5,  Blan- 
dinsville  township,  and  is  valued  at 
$1,500.  The  parsonage  is  -valued  at 
$1,200.  Salary  of  pastor,  $800.  Pres- 
ent membership  about  200,  the  annual 
contribution  being  about  $1,200.  The 
average  attendance  in  Sunday  school  is 
about  100,  with  an  annual  collection  of 
about  $90,  and  much  genuine  interest  is 
displayed. 


480 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


SCIOTA  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH. 

The  church  structure  of  this  congre- 
gation was  erected  in  1869,  before  the 
organization  of  the  church.  It  is  a  good 
frame  building,  32x46  feet,  and  cost 
$2,250.  William  H.  Franklin  was  the 
prime  mover  in  this  work.  The  building 
committee  consisted  of  W.  H.  Franklin, 
John  Dew,  and  J.  M.  Russell.  Before 
the  building  of  the  church,  meetings 
were  held  in  a  shed,  built  for  the  pur- 
pose, on  ground  near  the  church.  Here 
Elders,  J.  C.  Reynolds  and  Coffee  held 
a  meeting,  the  first  of  this  denomination 
in  the  town.  Elder  J.  B.  Royal  preached 
the  first  sermon  in  the  church,  while 
Elder  J.  H.  Garrison  delivered  the  dedi- 
catory sermon.  Elder  S.  K.  Hallam 
was  the  first  pastor,  J.  H.  Seaton,  the 
second.  The  first  elders  were  Larkin 
Osborn  and  William  Smith;  deacon, 
Silas  Woodside.  The  congregation, 
which  had  run  down  considerably,  was 
reorganized,  January  27,  1876,  with 
seven  members,  and  at  present,  is  in 
good  running  order,  with  a  fair  member- 
ship. 

NEW  BRADFORD    CHRISTIAN   CHURCH, 
WALNUT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  church  edifice  stands  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section,  7,  and  was  erected 
in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  The  size  is 
32x56  feet.  It  is  one  of  the  neatest  country 
churches  in  the  county,  and  an  honor  to 
any  community.  The  society  was  orga- 
nized by  Elder  J.  H.  Breeden,  with  14 
members,  in  November,  1871.  John 
Huston  and  J.  H.  Painter  have  also  acted 
as  pastors  since  the  organization,  and 
have  done  excellent  work  in  this  com- 
munity and  congregation. 


TRINITY     EVANGELICAL      LUTHERAN 
CHURCH,  MACOMB. 

The  Evangelical  Lutherans  date  their 
organization  from  October  31, 1517, when 
Luther  nailed  95  theses  (or  protests) 
against  the  church  door  of  Wittenberg, 
which  he  proposed  to  defend;  they  being 
directed  against  the  papal  abuses.  In 
1530  the  adherents  of  Luther,  in  defense 
of  their  faith,  laid  before  the  Diet  at 
Augsburg  a  summary  of  their  doctrines, 
which  has  been  known  as  the  "Augsburg 
Confession,"  and  which  has  formed  the 
foundation  for  all  Protestant  confessions. 
These  adherents  to,  and  defenders  of,  the 
pure  bible  doctrine  wished  to  be  known 
simply  as  Evangelical  Christians,  but 
they  were  constantly  called  Lutherans  in 
derision;  and  since  Luther  restored  the 
gospel  to  the  people,  they  finally  ac- 
cepted the  name  as  an  honor,  and  joined 
it  to  their  "  Evangelical "  designation. 
Doctrinally,  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
church  glories  in  being  "the  church  of 
the  world,"  maintaining  the  duty  of  sim- 
ple faith  in  the  word  of  God  without  re- 
gard to  human  philosophy  or  logic.  She 
insists  on  the  careful  indoctrination  of 
her  young  people  in  Luther's- catechism, 
a  summary  of  bible  doctrines  through 
her  pastors.  In  theological  literature 
the  Lutheran  church  stands  pre-emi- 
nently front  in  the  ranks. 

Her  researches  are  acknowledged  as 
the  most  profound,  and  many  of  her 
writers  are  the  indispensable  aids  of  ev- 
ery Christian  scholar.  Her  progress  in 
this  country  was  much  retarded  on  ac- 
count of  the  less  demonstrative  character 
of  her  people  when  compared  with  the 
puritanic  element  coining  from  England, 
and  also  by  the  transition  from  the  vari- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


481 


ous  foreign  tongues  to  the  English  lan- 
guage. For  the  last  35  years,  however, 
she  has  increased  at  a  much  greater  ratio 
than  any  other  Evangelical  denomina- 
tion. In  this  county  the  first  organiza- 
tion was  effected  April  7,  1871,  by  the 
Rev.  G.  H.  Schnurr,  who  located  at 
Bushell  at  that  time.  This  organization 
took  place  at  the  Jerusalem  chapel,  three 
miles  northwest  of  Bardolph,  and  was 
known  as  the  Mount  Pisgah  congrega- 
tion. In  the  space  of  a  few~years  sev- 
eral families  having  removed  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Jerusalem  chapel  to  the 
vicinity  of  Macomb,  the  question  of 
transfer  of  the  congregation  to  Macomb 
was  agitated.  The  proper  arrangements 
having  been  made,  a  meeting  for  that 
purpose  took  place  at  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  in  Macomb,  January 
11,  1875,  where  the  congregation  re-or- 
ganized under  the  name  and  title  of  Trin- 
ity Evangelical  Lutheran  church. 

At  the  time  of  this  re-institution  and 
establishment  of  Trinity  church  a  con- 
stitution was  adopted  according  to  the 
usage  of  the  church:  Charles  Kline,  C. 
H.  Rahe,  Matilda  Rahe,  Charles  Filbert, 
Charles  Host,  Christian  Senn,  Elizabeth 
Senn,  H.  W.  Ferster,  Lydia  Filbert, 
Carrie  Clarke,  Helen  A.  Swana,  A.  P. 
Swana,  Andrew  Haynes,  D.  M.  Crabb, 
Helen  Crabb,  Heinrich  Hadem,  Mrs.  H. 
Hadem,  David  McNelly,  Cal.  McNelly, 
Daniel  R.  Ferster,  Lydia  Ferster,  Albert 
Hosier,  Susan  Hosier. 

The  congregation  purchased  the  old 
Congregational  church  edifice  and  re- 
paired it,  at  a  total  cost  of  about  $1,000, 
and  dedicated  it  anew  as  a  place  of  divine 
worship.  The  church  was  under  the 
ministry  of  Rev.  G.  H.  Schnurr  until 


April,  1879,  when  the  pulpit  became  va- 
cant, and  so  remained  until  July  16  of 
the  same  year, when  Rev.  William  Rosen- 
stingel  assumed  the  pastorate.  He  con- 
tinued at  this  post  until  February  15, 
1880,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S. 

E.  Smith.     In  April,  1882,  it   became 
pastorless,  and  remained  so  until  the  fol- 
lowing November,  on  the  12th  of  which 
month  the  Rev.  Professor  E.  F.  Barthol- 
omew, of  Carthage,  assumed  charge,  and 
served  one  year.     When  his  time  had 
expired  the  church  extended  a  call  to 
Rev.  A.  R.  Height,  of  Fairview,  Fulton 
county.     He  accepted  it,  and  is  serving 
as  pastor  at  the  present  writing  (1885). 

LUTHERAN  CHURCH,  CHALMERS  TOWNSHIP. 

The  building  used  by  this  denomina- 
tion is  situated  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  14,  and  was  completed  in  July, 
1872,  by  the  Lutheran  and  Methodist 
societies,  of  this  township,  who  erected 
and  own  it  jointly.  The  size  of  the 
building  is  28x40  feet  and  was  completed 
at  a  cost  of  $1,600.  The  Lutheran  soci- 
ety was  organized  in  July,  1872,  by  Rev. 
George  H.  Schnurr.  The  original  mem- 
bers of  the  organization  were  William 

F.  Steckel,    August     Plassmann,   Wil- 
liam Fry,  George   Krause,   Peter  Ehr- 
dard,   Joseph   Pemrose.      Rev.  George 
Schnurr  was  the  minister  in  charge  until 
1878,  when  he  was   succeeded  by  Rev. 
Samuel  Smith,  until  1881.     Then  came 
Rev.  E.  F.  Bartholemew,  who  remained 
one  year,  since  which  time  Rev.   E.  K. 
Height,   the   present  pastor,    has    had 
charge.       The  present  membership   of 
the  church  numbers  about  35.     It  was 
mainly  through  the  efforts  of  George  F. 
Steckel  and  Rev.  George  Schnurr,  that 


482 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  organization  of  the  church  was  af- 
fected, and  to  these  gentlemen  rightly 
belong  great  credit  for  their  untiring 
labor  in  placing  the  church  upon  its 
present  flourishing  and  successful  foun- 
dation. 

CONGREGATIONAL     CHURCH, 
MACOMB. 

The  Congregational  church,  of  Ma- 
comb,  was  organized  in  1858,  with  the 
following  original  members : — Hector 
McLean  and  wife,  Harvey  Chase,  J.  P. 
McCandless  and  wife,  James  L.  Ander- 
son and  wife,  Lorenzo  Clisby  and  wife, 
Z.  T.  Trull,  Mrs.  Mary  Bartleson, 
Thomas  Gilmore  and  wife,  Mary  Smith, 
John  McLean  and  wife,  Isabella  Mc- 
Lean, Reid  and  family,  and  Mrs.  S. 
Beardsley.  From  1863  to  1867  no  reg- 
ular pastor  was  employed,  and  no  relig- 
ious advancement  was  made.  In  1867 
the  Rev.  G.  L.  Granger  was  called  as 
pastor,  and  spent  two  years,  when  the 
Rev.  Lemuel  Jones  was  called  to  the 
pastorate.  Rev.  Z.  K.  Hawley  was  the 
first  pastor.  In  187&  and  1873,  the  con- 
gregation erected  a  neat  church  edifice 
on  Carroll  street,  east  of  Randolph 
street,  at  a  cost  of  $6,500.  After  Lem- 
uel Jones,  the  following  served  as  pas- 
tors: Ira  Norris,  A.  R.  Dodd,  H.  M. 
Burr,  and  H.  M.  Perkins.  In  Novem- 
ber, 1883,  the  society,  which  consisted 
of  about  70  members,  united  for  one 
year  with  the  Baptist  church.  There 
has  been  no  pastor  of  the  church  since 
that  time  and  about  a  year  since,  the 
building  was  leased  to  the  Episcopal 
society  for  a  term  of  three  years.  No 
services  are  held  at  present,  although 
the  society  has  not  disbanded,  but  still 


sustain  their  officers.  The  first  officers 
of  the  church  were  Hector  McLean, 
James  L.  Anderson  and  Lorenzo  Clisby, 
deacons;  Lorenzo  Clisby,  clerk. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH,  PRAIRIE   CITY. 

The  First  Congregational  church,  of 
Prairie  City,  was  organized  at  Virgil, 
Fulton  county,  October  1,  1842.  The 
Rev.  Levi  Spencer,  who  was  laboring  at 
Canton,  had  held  a  series  of  meetings 
at  this  place,  and  his  conversions  formed 
a  nucleus  out  of  which  this  congrega- 
tion was  organized,  and  consisted  of  the 
following  11  members:  Ezra  D.  Smith, 
Cynthia  Smith,  A.  G.  Andrews,  Freder- 
ick R.  Andrews,  George  S.  Smith,  Al- 
mon  Tainter,  Levi  Curtis,  Nancy  Smith, 
Sarah  Schofield,  Laura  Gorham  and 
Chloe  Andrews.  This  church  was  de- 
pendant on  the  Home  Missionary  soci- 
ety until  November  15,  1845;  then  for 
ten  years  it  received  aid  from  the  Knox 
presbytery.  After  that,  and  until  1868, 
aid  came  from  the  Home  Missionary 
society.  The  church  was  removed  to 
Prairie  City,  October  9,  1858,  and  those 
called  to  labor  with  the  church  since  as 
pastors,  were  Revs.  Samuel  Dilley,  B.  F. 
Worrell.  A.  Y.  Drake,  L.  Jones,  and  H. 
B.  Swift.  Initiatory  steps  were  taken 
October  5,  1860,  toward  erecting  a  house 
of  worship.  The  building  was  com- 
pleted and  dedicated  September  27,  1865. 
It  is  a  good,  substantial  frame  building, 
costing  $3,000.  The  present  member- 
ship is  about  35. 

UNIVERSALIST  CHURCH,  MACOMB. 

This  denomination  has  never  made 
any  special  effort  to  evangelize  in  this 
county,  and  therefore  do  not  number 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


483 


very  largely,  having  only  one  congrega- 
tion, which  is  located  at  Macomb.  The 
first  sermon  ever  preached  in  Macomb 
was  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Gardner,  in 
1846.  In  1853  a  congregation  was  or- 
ganized by  Rev.  I.  M.  Westfall.  The 
following  named  persons  were  among 
the  original  members:  R.  M.  Bonham, 
J.  W.  Westfall,  J.  M.  Martin,  John  S. 
Smith,  Orsamus  Walker,  J.  L.  N.  Hall, 
William  D.  Penrose,  R  L.  Westfall,  D. 
D.  Roll,  Green  C.  Lane,  H.  H.  Burr, 
John  Q.  Lane,  John  L.  Henton,  and  J. 
H.  Baker.  Services  were  held  in  the 
court  house  until  1855,  when  the  present 
church  structure  was  erected.  It  is  lo- 
cated on  east  Jackson  street,  near  the 
square,  and  is  a  good  frame  building.  It 
is  35x50  feet  in  size  and  cost  including 
the  lot,  about  $4,000.  Those  that  have 
served  as  pastors  for  this  congregation 
are:  Revs.  L  M.  Westfall,  Gregg,  T.  J. 
Carney,  Wm.  Livingston,  John  Hughes, 
S.  S.  Hebbard,  T.  H.  Tabor,  D.  R.  Bid- 
dlecome,  Chas.  P.  West,  B.  N.  Wiles,  J.  B. 
Gilman,  Arthur  Beavis,  Edgar  Leavitt. 
They  have  had  no  regular  pastor  since 
October,  1884,  when  Edgar  Leavitt  quit. 
The  first  officers  of  the  society  were  R. 
M.  Bonham,  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  and  William 
D.  Penrose,  trustees;  J.  W.  Westfall, 
clerk.  The  membership  at  present  num- 
bers about  50,  with  the  following  officers: 
Thomas  Farley,  C.  I.  Imes,  G.  W.  Pace, 
trustees;  I.  M.  Martin,  clerk. 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST 

is  the  title  of  the  church  which,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century,  grew  out 
of  the  religious  awakening  of  Philip 
William  Otterbein.and  a  number  of  his 
friends.  Philip  William  Otterbein,  the 


leader  of  this  movement,  was  a  distin- 
guished divine  and  missionary  of  the 
German  Reformed  church,  who  was  sent 
by  the  synod  of  Holland,  in  1752,  from 
Dillenburg,  Germany,  to  America.  As 
a  young  man  he  preached  with  great 
power  and  learning.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, till  after  his  settlement  at  Lancas- 
ter, Pennsylvania,  his  first  charge  in 
America,  that  Otterbein,  after  much 
prayer,  realized  that  God  had  poured 
upon  him  the  spirit  of  grace  and  power. 
He  began  to  urge  the  necessity  of  a  new 
birth  and  of  experimental  godliness. 

Rev.  Martin  Boehm,  a  zealous  Men- 
nonite,  having  himself  experienced  a 
similar  change  of  heart,  was  engaged  in 
a  different  field  in  the  same  work.  At  a 
"great  meeting"  held  about  1766,  in 
Isaac  Long's  barn,  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  both  these  ministers,  with 
many  others,  were  present.  At  the  close 
of  a  very  earnest  sermon  by  Mr.  Boehm, 
Mr.  Otterbein  arose  and  embraced  the 
preacher,  crying,  "We  are  brethren!" 
These  words  suggested,  a  number  of 
years  later,  the  name  for  the  new  denom- 
ination which  finally  sprung  from  this 
meeting.  For  the  purpose  of  of  uniting 
and  establishing  the  believers  in  the  new 
life  a  conference  of  the  ministers  was 
held  in  1789,  at  Baltimore.  In  1800,  the 
societies  interested  in  the  movement 
united  and  formed  the  "United  Brethren 
in  Christ,"  with  Mr  Otterbein  and  Mr. 
Boehm  as  bishops. 

The  first  general  conference  met  June 
6,  1815,  near  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pennsylva- 
nia. Fourteen  ministers  were  present, 
from  four  states.  The  confession  of 
faith  was  adopted  and  a  book  of  disci- 
pline. In  1845  there  were  about  500 


484 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ministers  and  36,000  members.  The 
church  has  an  extensive  publishing 
house  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  is  actively 
engaged  in  the  educational  and  mission 
work.  In  1884  there  were  13,036  itiner- 
ants, with  166,000  members,  contribut- 
ing about  a  million  of  dollars  for  church 
work.  ' 

The  church  is  not  an  off-shoot  from 
any  denomination,  its  founders  having 
held  in  view  the  accomplishment  of  a 
special  mission.  It  did  not  arise  from 
differences  in  doctrine,  for  it  presents 
no  new  doctrines  of  any  kind.  Its 
beliefs  are  those  of  other  evangelical 
churches,  and  its  theology  is  Arminian. 
It  enjoins  the  ordinances  presented  by 
the  scriptures  and  followed  by  the 
Christian  churches  in  general.  Its  found- 
ers united  to  emphasize  the  need  of  con- 
secration of  soul  to  God,  and  this  has 
been  its  spirit.  In  its  administration  it 
is  distinguished  as  a  body  in  which  the 
power  is  almost  equally  divided  between 
the  ministry  and  the  people.  All  officers 
hold  their  place  by  consent  of  the  mem- 
bers, expressed  by  vote,  either  directly 
or  by  representatives.  The  people  choose 
the  local  church  officers,  who  form  the 
official  board,  in  many  conferences,  a 
lay  delegate  to  the  annual  conference, 
and  the  delegates  to  each  general  con- 
f erance.  The  annual  conference  chooses 
its  presiding  elders  and  its  other  officers. 
The  general  conference  elects  all  the 
officers  and  boards  of  the  church.  But 
one  order  of  ministers  is  recognized — 
that  of  elder.  Bishops  and  presiding 
elders  are  chosen  from  among  the  elders 
simply  as  superinteiidants.  In  supply- 
ing the  congregations  with  ministers, 
the  "itinerant  system "  is  the  adopted 


method.  All  pastors  are  subject  to  set- 
tlement and  change  as  determined  by  the 
committee  chosen  by  each  annual  con- 
ference. A  minister  may  not  remain 
upon  a  charge  more  than  three  years 
without  consent  of  two-thirds  of  -the 
annual  conference. 

In  form  of  worship,  the  church  seeks 
directness  and  simplicity.  She  has  no 
liturgy  and  does  not  enforce  uniformity 
in  service,  each  congregation  deciding  the 
method  for  itself.  The  meetings  of  the 
church  include  the  regular  Sabbath 
preaching  of  God's  word,  the  weekly 
prayer  and  class  meetings  and  the  Sun- 
day school,  with  such  others  as  each 
congregation  may  determine.  Four 
times  during  the  year  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  each  charge  is  held  by  the 
presiding  elder,  at  which  time  the  gen- 
eral business  of  the  charge  is  trans- 
acted, the  communion  service  usually 
being  held  upon  the  Sabbath. 

A  natural  result  of  the  principles 
which  led  to  the  formation  of  the  church, 
has  been  to  require  of  its  members 
devotion  to  Christ,  simplicity  of  faith, 
purity  of  life,  and  uprightness  of  con- 
duct. Upon  all  questions  of  morality, 
the  position  of  the  church  has  always 
been  decided.  No  compromise  with 
evil  has  been  suggested.  The  law  of  the 
church  forbids  the  sale  or  use  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors  by  its  members;  and  the 
renting  of  property  to  liquor  dealers,  or 
signing  a  petition  favoring  them,  is  con- 
sidered immoral.  The  members  are 
always  found  active  in  every  movement 
for  the  growth  of  temperance.  Against 
the  use  of  tobacco  the  sentiment  is 
strong.  Many  conferences  refuse  to 
admit  to  the  ministry  those  who  use  it 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


485 


in  any  way.  Slavery  was  always  thought 
to  be  a  sin,  and  in  1821,  was  entirely 
forbidden,  the  holding  of  slaves  being 
made  a  misdemeanor.  This  position 
has  never  been  changed.  Many  mem- 
bers in  former  days  suffered  severely  in 
defense  of  this  principle.  The  church 
has  always  held  that  secret  societies  are 
evil  in  their  nature  and  tendency;  that 
union  with  them  is  inconsistent  with 
Christian  life.  Its  laws,  therefore,  for- 
bid its  members  to  hold  connection  with 
such  societies,  and  provide  stringent 
rules  for  the  violation  of  these  pro- 
visions. 

The  authority  of  the  civil  government 
is  recognized,  and  the  members  are  en- 
joined to  obey  its  laws;  and  while  dis- 
approving warfare,  the  church  acknowl- 
edges the  obligation  of  every  citizen  to 
protect  and  preserve  the  government  in 
time  of  treason  and  invasion. 

On  the  questions  of  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath,  of  divorce,  of  the  true 
rights  of  man,  the  position  of  the  church 
is  undoubted.  Its  principles  and  its 
practice  can  not  fail  to  lead  to  high 
Christian  life. 

GOOD  HOPE  CIRCUIT. 

This  charge  consists  of  four  churches, 
all  in  the  northern  part  of  McDonough 
county,  viz:  Center,  Jerusalem,  Willow 
Grove  and  Pleasant  Gale. 

CENTER   U.   B.  CHURCH. 

In  1863,  the  Illinois  conference  estab- 
liahed  Deer  Park  mission,  in  the  north- 
east part  of  this  county,  afterwards 
called  Good  Hope  circuit,  and  appointed 
Rev.  J.  Slutts  in  charge.  Mr.  Slutts 
established  an  appointment  at  Center 


school  house,  and  held  a  meeting  of  some 
interest,  and  organized  Center  class. 
Some  of  the  first  members  were  Henry 
Radenbaugh,  Mrs.  Margaret  Raden- 
baugh,  L.  Laney,  Moses  and  Mrs.  Hait. 

In  1867  the  place  of  meeting  was 
changed  to  Linn  Grove  school  house, 
two  miles  east.  After  a  varied  experi- 
ence of  some  years,  in  1875  they  returned 
to  Center  school  house,  Win.  P.  Pease 
being  pastor.  A  meeting  held  by  Mr. 
Pease  resulted  in  awakening  considerable 
religious  interest,  and  in  the  conversion 
and  accession  of  a  number  of  persons, 
when  the  church  was  reorganized  with 
the  following  members:  John  Snook, 
Thomas  Brooks,  Henry  Radenbaugh, 
Andrew  J.  Hyde,  George  B.  Hastings, 
Edith  Snook,  Sarah  Brooks,  Elias  R. 
Smith,  Cyntha  Arbogast,  Mary  M.  Has- 
tings, Richard  H.  Paugh,  Edwin  M. 
Smith,  Belle  Smith,  Eva  Smith,  John 
Snapp,  Barbara  C.  Snapp,  David  Hyde, 
Eliza  Hyde,  James  C.  Booth,  Sarah 
Booth,  George  W.  Hudson,  Rebecca 
Hudson,  Simon  Rutledge,  Mercy  Rut- 
ledge,  R.  G.  Carter,  Mattie  Carter, 
Matthew  M.  Boden,  Francis  Boden, 
Jacob  Van  Doren,  Margaret  Van  Doren, 
Catharine  Van  Doren,  Henry  Raden- 
baugh, Joseph  Arthur,Elizabeth  Arthur, 
Henry  Hudson  and  J.  W.  Buckley. 

Feeling  the*  need  of  a  suitable  and 
permanent  place  of  worship,  measures 
were  taken  to  build  a  house.  In  1876, 
H.  Radenbaugh,  George  B.  Hastings, 
Quintus  Walker,  Simeon  Rutledge  and 
T.  J.  Brooks  were  elected  a  board  of 
trustees.  A  subscription  was  circulated. 
The  more  liberal  doners  were  T.  J. 
Brooks,  Peter  Rutledge,  M.  Boden  and 
George  Hastings.  The  trustees  procured 


486 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  lot  from  George  Hastings,  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  14,  in  the 
geographical  center  of  Walnut  Grove 
township,  and  proceeded  to  erect  a  house 
36x44  feet,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000, 
which  was  dedicated  in  December  of  the 
same  year,  Rev.  W.  J.  Hott,  of  Dayton, 
Ohio,  officiating.  The  present  officers 
are  as  follows:  J.  P.  Paul,  leader;  T.  J. 
Brooks,  steward;  T.  J.  Brooks,  superin- 
tendent of  Sunday  school;  George  B. 
Hasting,Ahaz  Bryan,  J.  P.  Paul,  George 
Wetsel,  T.  J.  Brooks,  trustees. 

PLEASANT  GALE  U.  B.  CHUECH. 

In  1868,  Rev.  J.  Dunham,  of  Blandins- 
ville,  at  the  request  of  some  friends,  held 
a  series  of  meetings  at  'Pleasant  Gale 
school  house,  which  resulted  in  the  or- 
ganization of  Pleasant  Gale  church. 
Some  of  the  first  members  were:  Sam- 
uel Rush,  Mrs.  E.  Rush,  M.  Elwell,  Mrs. 
Elwell,  Eunice  Purkey.  Mr.  Elwell 
was  elected  leader,  and  Samuel  Rush 
steward. 

In  1872,  A.  Worman,  pastor,  con- 
ducted a  series  of  meetings  which  re- 
sulted in  a  number  of  conversions,  and 
acceptions  and  in  awakening  a  desire  for 
a  more  suitable  place  of  worship.  C. 
Aten,  Samuel  Rush,  and  William  Aten, 
were  appointed  a  board  of  trustees,  and 
in  the  following  year  a  subscription  was 
circulated.  The  more  liberal  donors 
were  Wm.  Aten,  S.  Bush,  B.  K.  Purkey, 
C.  Aten,  Thomas  Killough.  A  lot  was 
procured  from  Thomas  Killough,  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  section  8,  Sciota 
township,  upon  which  a  house  30x40, 
with  a  neat  belfry  was  built,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $2,100.  This  was  dedicated  in 
December  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  J. 


Wagner  being  pastor.  Mr.  Wagner's 
pastorate  resulted  in  strengthening  the 
church.  Within  the  past  few  years 
quite  a  number  have  removed  to  the 
west.  The  society  though  somewhat  re- 
duced in  numbers,  is  active,  healthy  and 
hopeful.  Pleasant  Gale  is  four  miles 
north  of  the  village  of  Sciota.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are  the  following:  Ahaz 
Bryan,  leader,  John  Rush,  steward,  Jos- 
eph Briner,  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school.  The  trustees  are:  William 
Aten,  Ahaz  Bryan,  Joseph  Briner. 

WILLOW   GEOVE   U.  B.  CHUECH. 

The  first  religious  services,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  United  Brethren  church, 
were  held  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Snyder,  of 
Blanclinsville  circuit,  in  1867,  at  the 
Good  Templars'  hall.  In  1870,  this  ap- 
pointment was  added  to  Good  Hope  cir- 
cuit, Rev.  N.  A.  Walker,  preacher  in 
charge.  During  this  year  a  society  was 
formed.  Some  of  the  first  members 
were,  Alfred  Brown,  Sarah  Brown,  Wm. 
Watts  and  family,  A.  M.  Hainline,  T.  A. 
Hainline.  Alfred  Brown  was  elected 
leader,  and  Wm.  Watts,  steward. 

A  union  Sunday  school  was  conducted 
at  this  place  for  a  number  of  years  prior 
to  this. 

In  1872,  A.  Worman,  preacher  in 
charge,  conducted  a  meeting  which  re- 
sulted in  some  conversions  and  acces- 
sions. Feeling  the  need  of  a  house  of 
worship,  Alfred  Brown,  William  Watts, 
John  Isom,  A.  Hainline,  and  Quincy 
Hainline,  was  elected  a  board  of  trustees. 
A  lot  was  procured  from  Alfred  Brown, 
in  the  center  of  section  1,  Hire  town- 
ship, upon  which  a  house  30x40  was 
erected  at  an  expense  of  about  $1,800, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


487 


and  was  dedicated  October  8,  1873, 
Bishop  D.  Edwards  officiating.  The 
present  officers  are  the  following:  Al- 
fred Brown,  leader,  Q.  Hainline,  steward. 

JERUSALEM  U.  B.  CHURCH. 

In  1865,  Eev.  J.  L.  Condon,  of  Pilot 
Grove  circuit,  held  the  first  religious  ser- 
vices under  the  United  Brethren  aus- 
pices, in  this  community,  at  the  Collins 
school  house.  In  1866,  this  appointment 
was  added  to  Deer  Park  mission,  and 
Rev.  N.  A.  Walker  placed  in  charge.  In 
the  early  part  of  the  year  Mr.  Walker 
conducted  a  series  of  meetings  of  consid- 
erable religious  interest  and  organized  a 
society,  consisting  of  the  following  eight 
members :  Abraham  Switzer,  John  Dob- 
bins and  wife,  Wm.  Earley  and  wife, 
Polly  Spangler,  Alice  Wilson  and  An- 
gelie  Markham.  Abraham  Switzer  was 
elected  leader,  and  John  Dobbins,  stew- 
ard. The  following  year,  Rev.  D.  J.  B. 
Ross,  pastor,  was  one  of  religious  inter- 
est, a  number  being  added  to  the  church. 
As  the  place  of  meeting  seemed  straight- 
ened, A.  Switzer,  J.  B.  Conley,  E.  Span- 
gler, J.  C.  Dobbins  and  Wm.  Early  were 
elected  a  board  of  trustees  to  build  a 
house.  A  lot  was  procured  from  Nicho- 
las Combs,  on  section  11,  Macomb  town- 
ship, and  through  the  liberality  of  A. 
Switzer,  E.  Spangler,  J.  B.  Conley,  A.  L. 
Bryan,  Levi  Shriner  and  others,  a  house 
28x36  was  erected  upon  it,  and  dedicated 
December  22,  1867,  Rev.  D.  J.  B.  Ross 
officiating. 

The  house  was  refitted  in  1876,  princi- 
pally through  the  liberality  of  A.  L. 
Bryan.  This  church  is  located  in  the 
midst  of  an  intelligent  and  enterprising 
people.  A  number  of  interesting  meet- 


ings have  been  held  here,  notably  one 
conducted  by  Rev.  J.  Wagner,  in  1874. 
The  present  officers  are:  George  Wet- 
sel,  leader;  John  S wisher,  steward;  Geo. 
Wetsel,  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school,  and  A.  L.  Bryan,  E.  Wetsel,  Geo. 
Wetsel,  trustees..  Under  the  itinerant 
system,  pastors  are  frequently  changed. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  work,  the 
folio  wing,  ministers  have  been  in  charge: 
Revs.  J.  Slutts,  S.  Austin,  J.  Deardorf, 
J.  L.  Condon,  J.  Dunham,  N.  A.  Walker, 
J.  Wagner,  W.  P.  Pease,  I.  Valentine, 
D.  C.  Martin,  J.  B.  King,  M.  Douglass 
and  A.  Worman,  the  present  incumbent 
of  the  pastoral  charge. 

UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH,  OF  BLANDINS- 

VILLE. 
[By  Rev.  J.  Dunham.] 

This  article  being  written  entirely  from 
a  memory  extending  back  over  a  space 
of  30  years,  and  relying  mainly  on  gen- 
eral information  for  facts  previous  to 
that,  are  necessarily  brief  and1  imperfect, 
and  the  writer  craves  pardon  for  any 
omissions  or  errors  that  may  creep  in. 
The  traditions  of  this  church  state  that 
in  or  about  the  year  1846,  Revs.  Daniel 
Porter,  Josiah  Terrell  and  others  com- 
menced preaching  in  Blandinsville,  and 
formed  a  small  society,  consisting  of 
Francis,  John  and  Wesley  Freeland,  and 
their  wives.  William  Blandin  and  others 
united  with  the  congregation  shortly  af- 
terwards. This  little  band  continued  to 
hold  services  and  thrive,  having  a  con- 
siderable religious  influence.  In  1852, 
the  Illinois  annual  conference  deter- 
mined to  build  an  institution  of  learning 
at  this  place,  and,  in  furtherance  of  the 
scheme,  appointed  five  trustees  for  the 


488 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


purpose.  In  that  and  the  ensuing  year, 
they  erected  a  house  in  the  village  and 
gave  it  the  name  of  the  Blandinville 
seminary.  In  1855  a  school  was  opened 
with  a  faculty  composed  of  Professor 
Keller,  of  Indiana,  president,  and  J.  C. 
Boss,  professor  of  mathematics.  This 
helped  to  strengthen  the  infant  society, 
and  when  in  1854  the  annual  conference 
convened  at  this  place  it  had  a  good  in- 
fluence on  the  status  of  the  church  of 
Blandinsville.  At  this  conference  it  was 
determined  to  place  at  this  station  or 
mission,  the  Rev.  J.  Dunham,  and  un- 
der his  ministry  the  congregation  throve 
and  grew  until  it  numbered  100  mem- 
bers. The  congregation  worshipped  in 
the  chapel  of  the  seminary  until  1868, 
when  the  seminary  building  passed  into 
the  hands  of  the  township  officers,  and 
has  been  used  for  public  educational 
purposes  ever  since.  The  congregation, 
thus  deprived  of  a  house  of  worship,  im- 
mediately set  about  the  erection  of  a 
proper  church  building,  and  soon  it  was 
completed  and  dedicated  to  the  service  of 
the  Almighty  God.  The  number  of  mem- 
bers increased  under  the  different  pas- 
tors that  from  time  to  time  supplied  its 
pulpit,  until  death,  the  spirit  of  emigra- 
tion, and  other  causes,  commenced  to 
weaken  the  ranks  of  this  company  of  the 
Christian  army.  The  church,  owing  to 
its  discipline  prohibiting  the  reception  of 
individuals  who  are  members  of  any  se- 
cret society,  has  become  quite  small,  but 
still  keeps  up  its  organization.  Rev.  J. 
Dunham  is  the  present  pastor,  and  Rev. 
O.  F.  Smith,  the  presiding  elder. 

Rev.  Joshua  Dunham,  pastor  of  the 
United  Brethren  church  in  Blandins- 
ville, is  a  native  of  Ohio,  having  been 


born  in  Harrison  county,  September  16, 
1820.  His  parents  were  William  and 
Mary  (Chanly)  Dunham,  both  of  whom 
are  deceased.  Joshua  is  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  11  children,  only  three  of 
whom  are  now  living.  His  father  was  a 
farmer  and  Joshua  remained  at  home 
and  attended  school  until  he  was  14 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  learn  the 
tailor's  trade,  and  continued  in  this  oc- 
cupation until  he  was  23  years  of  age, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  set- 
tled in  Pike  county,  near  Pittsfield,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  connection  with 
farming.  In  April,  1845,  he  was  licensed 
to  preach,  and  in  1847  he  joined  the  an- 
nual conference;  in  1.852  was  ordained. 
In  1854  he  sold  his  possessions  in  Pike 
county  and  moved  to  Blandinsville,  and 
bought  some  town  property  and  entered 
the  Held  as  an  itinerant  minister  of  the 
gospel,  which  profession  he  has  contin^- 
ued  to  follow  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  always  enjoyed  a  large  share  of  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  his  church,  and 
has  been  honored  with  many  trusts. 
He  has  been  presiding  elder  at  different 
times,'  agent  of  the  Blandinsville  semi- 
nary, and  has  been  elected  three  times 
to  general  conference,  appointed  to  cir- 
cuits and  districts  which  have  necessi- 
tated much  travel  in  his  ministerial  la- 
bor all  over  the  Military  Tract  as  well  as 
central  and  eastern  portion  of  the  state 
of  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1858,  he  again 
bought  a  farm  in  Pike  county,  and 
moved  back,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1863,  when  he  was  travel- 
ing as  presiding  elder  east  of  the  Illinois 
river.  Sold  his  farm  in  Pike  county, 
Illinois,  and  moved  to  Blandinsville. 
In  the  fall  of  1864,  his  health  failing, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


489 


he  discontinued  preaching  and  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  the  village  of  Blaii- 
dinsville,  which  he  continued  for  two 
years.  During  this  time  he  was  elected 
police  magistrate  and  served  four  years. 
Before  his  term  as  magistrate  expired, 
he  resumed  preaching  on  Blandinsville 
circuit,  and  was  again  elected  presiding 
elder.  In  1872  he  went  to  southwest 
Kansas  and  entered  the  cattle  trade, 
thinking  to  improve  his  health.  Upon 
his  return  he  was  again  elected  presid- 
ing elder,  but  was  in  poor  health.  In 
1884,  he  was  again  called  to  the  Blan- 
dinsviile  circuit,  and,  although  in  fail- 
ing health  continues  his  good  and  noble 
work. 

UNITED  BKETHEEN  CHURCH,  OF   HIRE 
TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  erected  a  fine  church  edi- 
fice, 26x36  feet  in  ground  area,  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  15,  during  the  summer  of 
1867.  The  building,  when  completed, 
cost  about  $1,400.  Israel  Null,  with  his 
characteristic  generosity,  donated  10 
acres  for  a  church  lot.  Isaac  Null,  and 
family,  were  among  the  first  members  of 
the  organization.  The  church  was  quite 
thriving  and  prosperous,  and  at  one  time 
had  a  membership  of  about  70,  although 
at  present  the  membership  numbers 
only  about  20, — some  sleeping  the  sleep 
that  knows  no  wakening,  while  others 
have  gone  to  the  land  of  the  setting  sun. 
The  first  pastor  of  the  church  was  John 
Wyatt,  who  presided  over  the  little  flock 
for  a  year.  The  church  has  had  a  number 
of  pastors  since,  but  is  without  an  ex- 
pounder of  biblical  doctrine  at  present. 
A  Sabbath  school  has  been  conducted 


during  the  summer  months,  since  the 
erection  of  the  church  building,  in 
which  considerable  interest  has  been 
manifested,  and  generally  has  a  good 
attendance.  Israel  Null  was  the  pioneer 
superintendent  of  the  school. 

UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH,  OF  SCOTLAND 
TOWNSHIP. 

This  society  was  organized  in  1860,  in 
a  school  house,  which  formerly  stood 
near  the  present  site  of  the  church,  on 
section  13,  Scotland  township.  Rev. 
John  Wyatt  was  the  organizer.  The 
first  members  were,  Solomon  Walker 
and  wife,  James  M.  Bexroat  and  wife, 
Mrs.  M.  Bexroat,  Martha  Isaacs,  Jane 
Bear,  and  Steven  Tolen,  Meetings  were 
held  in  the  school  house  mentioned  for 
some  time,  Bev.  John  Wyatt  serving  as 
pastor  for  two  years.  The  church  edi- 
fice was  erected  in  the  spring  of  1881,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,800.  It  is  36x44  feet  in 
ground  area.  The  present  pastor  is  Bev. 
E.  O.  Norvel,  who  resides  at  Adair,  Illi- 
nois. 

PILOT  GROVE  UNITED  BRETHREN  CHURCH, 
OF  NEW  SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 

The  building  used  by  this  society  was 
erected  in  1868,  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  section  11.  It  is  34x46  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and  cost  $1,000.  The  dedication 
sermon  was  preached  by  Bev.  Davis. 
The  first  trustees  were  C.  P.  McDonald, 
William  Nebergall,  and  William  Bitter. 
William  G.  Wilkins  -and  James  Wil- 
son were  added  to  this  list  in  1883. 
The  present  pastor  is  Bev.  E.  O.  Norvel. 

BUSHNELL  REFORMED  CHURCH. 
This  church  was  organized,  October 
19, 1856,  by  a  committee,  consisting  of 


490 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Kev.  A.  Wilson  and  S.  B.  Ayers.  The 
original  members  were  Frederick  Cruser, 
Thomas  Plotts  and  wife,  Aaron  Sper- 
ling, and  D.  M.  Wyckoff.  The  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1860  or  '61,  and 
dedicated  May  1,  1861.  It  is  a  good 
frame  building,  and  is  on  the  corner  of 
Church  and  Crafford  streets.  It  is  val- 
ued at  $5,000,  and  the  parsonage  at 
$1,600.  The  first  meetings  of  the  society 
were  held  in  a  school  house,  and  after- 
ward in  a  carpenter  shop,  which  was 
purchased  and  fitted  up  as  a  chapel. 
The  present  resident  membership  is  104. 
The  first  consistory  was  composed  of 
Elders  John  Wyckoff,  Thomas  Plotts, 
and  Frederick  K.  Cruser;  Deacons  D. 
M.  Wyckoff,  and  Aaron  Sperling.  The 
church  has  lately  been  newly  papered, 
painted,  etc.,  and  is  now  one  of  the  neat- 
est in  the  place.  It  also  sustains  one  of 
the  best  choirs  in  the  county. 

ST.       THOMAS       EPISCOPAL      CHURCH, 
BUSHNELL. 

This  congregation  was  organized  on 
the  27th  of  April,  1883,  by  Eev.  John 
W.  Elliott,  with  the  following  members: 
Charles  A.  Dickinson,Mrs.  G.  J.  Spooks, 
and  Mrs.  W.  Z.  Boyington.  After  about 
three  months'  service,  Kev.  Elliott,  the 
rector,  left,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
J.  M.  D.  Davidson,  the  present  incum- 
bent. There  are  now  some  40  commun- 
icants in  the  church,  and  it  is  a  very 
popular  one,  and  is  growing  as  rapidly 
as  a  healthy  growth  will  permit.  The 
officers  of  the  society  are  the  following 
mentioned  gentlemen:  Rector,  J.  M.  D. 
Davidson;  T.  J.  Sparks,  senior  warden; 
J.  W.  Z.  Boyington,  junior  warden  and 
secretary;  C.  A.Dickinson,  treasurer;  J. 


C.  Young,  J.  C.  McGowan,  C.  A.  Dick- 
inson, M.  Cassidy,  S.  T.  Henry,  and  C. 
T.  Gram,  vestrymen.  They  occupy,  for 
a  place  of  worship,  what  was  formerly 
known  as  Union  hall,  which  they  have 
fitted  up  in  an  elegant  manner. 

CATHOLIC  CHURCH,  MC  DONOUGH  COUNTY. 

[By  Rev.  Father  John  Larmer,  Montello,  Marquette 
county,  Wisconsin.] 

The  history  of  the  Catholic  church  in 
McDonough  county  is  inseparable  from 
from  its  social  and  political  history,  as 
will  appear  further  on  in  these  pages. 
As  early  as  1832,  Catholic  settlers  ijnmi- 
grated  into  McDonough  county — some 
from  Maryland,  others  from  Kentucky, 
and  a  few  from  Ireland,  almost  direct. 
Among  the  earliest  settlers  was  the  Mc- 
Kay family,  from  Baltimore;  the  pa- 
rents, however,  were  born  in  Ireland. 
This  family  located  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  county,  and  their  hum- 
ble home  became  the  regular  place 
where  the  Catholic^  priests  period- 
ically held  divine  services.  In  the  west- 
ern portion  of  the  county,  Joseph 
Reilly  and  others  settled,  they  coming 
from  Kentucky.  Joseph  Reilly  proba- 
bly came  in  1833,  and  at  his  home  and 
Mr.  John  Hardesty's,  Catholic  priests 
from  Missouri,  for  years,  ministered  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  Catholics  in 
their  neighborhoods.  In  the  southeast 
portion  of  the  county,  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Carlin  settled  not  far  from  Table 
Grove;  this  family  was  subsequently 
joined  by  other  brothers  and  relations; 
these  Carlins  originally  came  from  Ire- 
land. 


Nauvoo,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  was 
the  residence    of    the  priests    who  at- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


491 


tended  the  Catholics  in  the  northern, 
middle  and  southern  portions  of  McDon- 
ough  county.  The  Catholics,  as  above 
stated,  of  the  western  portion,  were  at- 
tended principally  by  priests  from  Mis- 
souri. It  probably  will  surprise  the 
present  generation  of  young  Catholics, 
and  others,  that  the  now  second  city  in 
Illinois,  Peoria,  less  than  40  years  ago 
was  of  so  little  importance  that  it  re- 
ceived just  the  same  spiritual  attendance 
from  the  priests  stationed  at  Nauvoo,  in 
its  turn,  that  the  few  Catholics  received 
at  the  home  of  John  McKay,  in  the 
northern  portion  of  McDonough  county. 
The  writer  had  this  fact  from  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Kennedy,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  resident  pastors  of  Nauvoo.  He 
stated  it  was  his  custom  to  start  on  horse- 
back from  Nauvoo  monthly;  visit  the 
Catholic  settlers  in  the  territory,  includ- 
ing Hancock  and  Henderson  counties, 
and  reach  McKay's,  in  McDonough 
county,  say  mass,  rest,  and  change  his 
horses,  then  proceed  to  St.  Augustine, 
Fulton  county,  hold  Catholic  services 
there,  then,  with  occasional  stops,  go  to 
Peoria,  do  the  same,  and  return  by  the 
end  of  the  month  to  Nauvoo.  This  was 
the  usual  routine  for  years,  of  other 
priests,  until  the  development  of  the 
country,  made  other  arrangements  neces- 
sary, by  placing  resident  pastors  at 
Peoria  and  elsewhere.  The  citizens  as 
well  as  the  Catholics,  need  not  blush, 
but  may  be  proud  of  the  Catholic  priests 
who  early  ministered  spiritually  in  Mc- 
Donough county;  some  of  them  were 
distinguished  for  learning  and  piety,  and, 
to  a  man,  were  zealous  for  the  spread  of 
the  gospel,  and  by  their  presence  and 
counsel,  quietly  given  without  fee  or  re- 


ward, assisted  in  the  development  and 
material  prosperity,  not  only  of  McDon- 
ough, but  neighboring  counties.  Some 
of  them,  as  will  be  seen  further  on,  be- 
came distinguished,  and  will  live  in  the 
history  of  Missouri,  Illinois,  principally 
the  great  city  of  Chicago,  and  the  state 
of  Michigan. 

First  Missionaries,  or  Early  Priests. 

As  I  am  limited  in  space  in  this  chap- 
ter, I  will  partly  dispense  with  dates, 
for  to  be  accurate  to  a  month  or  year,  in 
some  instances,  would  require  much 
more  research,  probably  without  re- 
sult, than  the  writer  can  spare  time. 
But  this  will  not  impair  the  accuracy  of 
any  statement  set  down  in  this  work. 
The  writer  was  well  acquainted  with 
nearly  all  the  priests  set  down  here,  and 
had  what  he  writes  from  their  own  lips, 
indeed,  some  of  the  priests  were  dear 
friends;  such  friendship,  strange  as  it 
may  seem,  arises  between  the  old  and 
the  young.  The  first  priest  who  minis- 
tered in  McDonough  county  since  its 
settlement,  in  this  century,  whom  there 
is  any  tradition  or  record  of,  was  Rev. 
Peter  Paul  LeFevere.  There  is  certain 
evidence  that  he  officiated  in  McDon- 
ough county,  on  his  way  to  the  church 
of  St.  Augustine,  in  Fulton  county,  in 
1834.  Father  LeFevere' s  residence  was 
in  Missouri.  There  is,  however,  no 
doubt  but  that  earlier  than  that  year  he 
visited  the  scattered  Catholics  in  Mc- 
Donough and  neighboring  counties. 
This  priest  was  a  very  distinguished 
man,  humble  and  learned.  He  was  con- 
secrated Catholic  bishop  of  the  state  of 
Michigan,  November  21,  1841,  and  died 
March  4,  1869. 


492 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  next  was  Rev.  John  George  Alle- 
man.     Father  Alleman  is   still  remem- 
bered by  the  oldest  settlers.     He  was  a 
most  learned  and  pious,  but  funny  man. 
Although  a  Frenchman,  the  writer  never 
met  an  Irishman  who  could  excel  him 
in  wit  and  practical   good  humor.     He 
loved  the  writer  as  a  son,  and  the  mis- 
sionary  spirit  he   infused  into  him  in 
early  years  by  example  and  instruction 
braced  him   up   against  every  impedi- 
ment to  develop  the  good  work  he  and 
others  began.     Father   Alleman' s  resi- 
dence was  at   Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  and 
his  labors  in  McDonough  and  neighbor- 
ing counties  covered  the  time  the  Mor- 
mons were  in  Nauvoo.     Strange  to  re- 
late, Joseph  Smith  and  the  leading  Mor- 
mons, at  all  times  professed  the  greatest 
respect    and    friendship    for     the    big 
French  priest,  as  they  called  him.  Father 
Alleman  once  related  to  the  writer  that 
he  had  no  means  of  getting  across  the 
Mississippi  river  to  attend  a  sick  Catho- 
lic in  McDonough  county,  but  the  Mor- 
mons,  having  made   known  to  Joseph 
Smith  that  the  priest  wished  to  cross, 
the  latter  not  only  had  him  ferried  over, 
but  furnished  him  a  conveyance  to  the 
sick  man.     Smith  telling  Father  Alle- 
man   that  next  to  the   Mormons,    the 
Catholics  were  the  best  of   all  religions. 
"For,"  continued  Smith,  "the  priests  at- 
tend to  their  people  faithfully  and  mind 
their  own  business,  whereas  the  other 
preachers  are  continually  bothering  the 
Latter  Day   Saints."     Father  Alleman 
wittily    remarked  with  thanks,    "there 
was  a  diversity  of  opinion  on  that  sub- 
ject."     Father    Alleman   died  of   apo- 
plexy in  the  Sisters'  hospital  in  St.  Louis, 
September  10,  1866. 


After  the  Mormons  left,  the  French 
philosophical  sect,  socialists,  Monsieur 
Cabat  being  their  founder  and  leader, 
took   possession  of   Nauvoo.     This  sect 
has   no   affinity  to  latter  day  socialism. 
Cabat's  system  consisted  in  a  commu- 
nity of  goods  and  social   perfectionism. 
He  and  his  community  were  mere  theo- 
rists, unpractical   in  all   that   concerns 
daily  life;   therefore,  when   an   attempt 
was  made  to  reduce  these  theories  to 
practice,   the    community  failed    hope- 
lessly and  broke  up;  some  remaining  at 
Nauvoo,    others    going  to   Warsaw,   in 
Hancock  county,  and  a  few  went  to  Iowa, 
and  established  the  village  of  Arcadia. 
These  circumstances  strange  as  it  may 
appear,  brought  about  the  better  develop- 
ment of  the  Catholic  church  in  McDon- 
ough and  the  neighboring  counties.  The 
eyes   of  the  civilized    world    were    on 
Cabat's  system,  as  he  had  taught  it  in 
colleges  in  France,  and  was  a  writer  of 
marked  ability,  and  when  it  fell  hope- 
lessly   through,    the     members    being 
French  and  ought  to  be  Catholics,  the 
serious  attention  of  the  archbishop  of 
St.  Louis,  and  others  were  directed  to 
save   and  reclaim   Cabat's  deluded,  but 
honest  dupes.     Rev.  John  St.  Cyr,  who 
had  been  the  first  priest  who  said  mass 
in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  who  built  the 
first    church    in    it.     After    successful 
pastoral   labors  in  that  city,  had  been 
recalled  to  Missouri;  and  from  Northern 
Missouri,    from   time  to  time,   crossed 
over  the  Mississippi  to  Warsaw,  in  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois,  and   organized  a 
Catholic  congregation,  bringing  back  to 
the   Catholic   church  nearly  all   of  the 
disbanded  socialists  he  found  in  that  sec- 
tion.    Father  St.  Cyr,  also,  extended  for 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


493 


a  time  regularly,  liis  pastoral  labors  to 
the  western  portion  of  McDonough 
county.  Father  St.  Cyr  will  be  men- 
tioned again  in  the  chapter  on  Tennes- 
see congregation.  He  died  at  the  Sisters' 
convent,  in  St.  Louis,  of  which  he  had 
been  chaplain  for  years,  on  February  21, 
1882,  being  over  80  years  of  age.  He 
was  a  mild  and  scholarly  man,  gentle  as 
a  lamb,  as  the  old  settlers  used  to  say, 
and  full  of  zeal  for  the  spread  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ.  Sketches,  if  not  a  full 
history  of  him,  have  been  published  by 
the  Historical  Society,  of  Chicago. 

A  house  being  purchased  in  Nauvoo, 
which  formerly  been  a  residence  and  a 
store  of  a  Mormon,  Father  Thomas  Ken- 
nedy was  located  there,  he  using  the 
store  for  a  church  and  the  other  portion 
of  the  building  as  a  residence.  This 
then  was  the  first  attempt  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Mississippi  to  locate  a  perma- 
nent resident  priest  and  give  McDonough 
county,  and  the  county  east  of  it,  includ- 
ing Peoria,  a  permanent  pastor,  to,  at 
least,  visit  the  principal  stations  once  a 
month,  McKay's  in  the  northern  portion 
of  McDonough  county  being  looked  on 
as  the  center  of  Father  Kennedy's  dis- 
trict. Rev.  Thomas  Kennedy  was  not 
what  could  be  called  a  learned  man,  yet 
he  was  a  fine  classical  scholar  and  a 
mathematician  of  no  mean  repute,  but 
he  was  better  than  a  scholar,  he  was  an 
humble  but  vigorous  servant  of  Christ. 
In  his  zeal  in  preaching  the  word  of  God 
he  would  frequently  weep,  hence  the 
irreyerent  called  him  "the  crying  priest," 
but  he  had  enough  of  the  Irishman 
about  him,  which  he  was,  to  correct  with 
a  heavy  hand,  and  even  his  boot,  those 
who  dared  insult  the  priesthood  in  his 


person.  After  nearly  30  years  arduous 
labor  in  the  ministry  in  Illinois,  he  died 
in  Hyde  Park,  Cook  county,  Illinois,  in 
1873. 

Rev.  Father  Griffin  probably  succeed- 
ed Rev.  Thomas  Kennedy.  Little  of  his 
history  is  known  to  the  writer.  He  was 
carried  off  in  the  prime  of  life,  a  martyr 
to  his  Master's  cause,  he  wishing  to  give 
double  service  at  distant  points,  caught 
malarial  fever,  on  Christmas  day  and 
died  suddenly.  Certain  it  is  he  was  a 
faithful  clergyman  and  beloved  by  his 
people,  as  they  had,  we  think,  a  praise- 
worthy rivalry  which  congregation  would 
have  the  honor  of  his  body  in  their 
midst.  Nauvoo  people  wanted  and  did 
bury  him  there,  but  the  members  of  St. 
Augustine's  congregation  and  others 
from  McDonough  county  went,  and  by 
force,  disinterred  his  body,  and  brought 
it  to  St.  Augustine,  Fulton  county,  and 
there  his  remains  lie  buried. 

The  building  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  railroad  forced  a  change 
on  the  ecclesiastical  authorities  as  to  the 
manner  of  attending  the  spiritual  wants 
of  the  Catholics  in  McDonough  county. 

In  the  preceding  lines  it  was  a  pleas- 
ure to  the  writer  to  give  the  facts  stated 
and  preserve  from  oblivion  the  labors  of 
worthy  pioneer  clergymen  who  suffered 
untold  hardships  in  those  early  days  for 
Christ's  sake.  Some  things  will  now  be 
related  with  great  reluctance,  but  if  the 
history  of  a  locality  is  worth  writing 
it  should  be  done  well  and  frankly  or  not 
at  all.  To  omit  facts  which  had  a  direct 
bearing  on  the  future  would  be  to  give 
an  egg  shell  without  the  meat.  A  his- 
torian is  not  a  respecter  of  persons,  their 
feelings  or  their  prejudices,  but  a  narra- 


494 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tive  of  facts  for  the  information  and  in- 
struction of  posterity. 

Before  the  building  of  railroads 
through  McDonough  county  the  Catho- 
lics, nearly  to  a  man,  were  farmers,  who, 
with  their  families,  as  a  rule  squared 
their  lives  with  the  maxims  of  the  gos- 
pel. The  priests  had  only  to  instruct, 
exhort,  aud  rarely  correct,  for  evil  doers 
were  few,  consequently  between  the 
priests  and  the  farmers,  making  up  their 
religious  assemblies,  an  affection  existed 
between  them  which  conferred  happi- 
ness on  the  people,  and  had  the  most 
consoling  and  beneficial  effect  on  the 
priests.  With  the  advent  of  railroads 
some  farmers,  it  is  true,  came,  but  an- 
other and  not  desirable  class,  either  as 
citizens  or  church  members,  spread  them- 
selves over  the  incipient  towns  growing 
up  on  such  railroads.  The  Catholic 
church,  being  the  mother  of  all  her  chil- 
dren, never  neglects  recalling  the  erring, 
if  they  give  her  half  a  chance,  therefore 
to  look  after  this  class  the  bishop  of  Chi- 
cago, who  had  at  that  period  the  super- 
vision of  the  Catholic  church  of  all  Illi- 
nois, located  a  pastor  at  Galesburg,  with 
McDonough  county  within  his  pastoral 
jurisdiction.  Rev.  Fra.  Fitnam  was, 
probably,  the  first  appointed  priest  under 
the  change.  Father  Fitnam  attended 
the  Catholics  in  Macomb  and  its  vicinity 
in  halls  or  private  houses.  With  this 
clergyman  came  the  first  trouble  and  sor- 
row to  the  Catholics.  The  writer  will 
now  clear  up  the  circumstances  of  his 
case,  really  known  to  the  community  for 
the  first  time,  as  Fra.  Fitnam  kept  his 
own  counsel  first  and  last.  Everybody 
seemed  to  know  all  about  his  case,  yet  no 
one  of  the  people  really  knew  what  they 


were  talking  about.  Father  Fitnam  had 
simply  a  misunderstanding  with  Anthony 
O' Regan,  then  bishop  of  Chicago,  about 
some  business  transactions  of  Fitnam's 
beyond  the  church.  Fitnam  claimed  the 
bishop  had  no  business  to  meddle  in  his 
private  business  transactions,  and  Bishop 
O'Regan,  instanter,  branded  him  as 
"  contumacious,"  and  "removed  him  from 
the  active  ministry.  This,  then,  was  all 
there  was  in  this  scandal.  Subsequent 
events  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  matter 
further  than  making  the  breach  wider. 
Father  Fitnam  had  hopes  of  the  bishop 
relenting,  but  he  then  did  not  know  the 
manner  of  man  the  bishop  was.  He  at- 
tended mass,  kneeling  at  the  door,  the 
last,  as  it  were,  of  his  people,  when  ids 
successor  was  officiating,  and  he  only 
stopped  going  to  church  when  the  rude- 
ness and  babbling  of  his  former  mem- 
bers became  unbearable.  The  writer 
has  this  fact  from  a  trustworthy  and  in- 
telligent witness.  Such  is  the  world. 
The  Jews  spread  their  garments  and 
palm  branches  in  the  way  for  Jesus,  cry- 
ing hosannas,  and  three  days  afterwards 
changed  their  tune,  and  shouted  "  Cru- 
cify him,"  "  The  disciples  cannot  expect 
better  treatment  than  the  Master." 

I  dwell  on  this  case  because  to-day, 
even,  it  is  not  forgotten  in  McDonough 
and  neighboring  counties.  Bishop  O'Re- 
gan, who  removed  Father  Fitnam,  had 
been  only  a  few  years  from  an  ancient 
but  rural  college  in  Ireland;  he  had  no 
experience  in  missionary  life ;  knew  little 
about  America,  and  treated  priests  as  if 
they  were  school  boys.  These  things 
being  presented  to  Cardinal  Barnabo 
and  Pius  IX.,  he  was  called  to  Rome 
and  received  a  most  terrible  castigating 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


495 


from  the  pope,  and  ordered  to  resign. 
The  writer  had  it  officially  from  Bishop 
O'Regan's  successor  that  if  Father  Fit- 
nam  had  presented  himself  with  the 
proper  dispositions  he  would  have  been 
restored.  Whether  it  was  the  ingrati- 
tude and  cruelty  of  the  people,  and  feel- 
ing the  injustice  done  him,  made  him 
lose  the  spirit  of  his  priesthood,  certain 
it  is,  he  drifted,  from  step  to  step,  further 
away  from  the  Catholic  church,  and  after 
a  long  time  became  tired  of  a  secular  life 
and  retirement,  joined  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  church,  and  is  now  in  that 
communion,  serving  a  church  in  South- 
ern Minnesota. 

Next  came  Father  O'Neil,  the  elder,  as 
he  was  called.  This  clergyman  did  not 
stay  long.  He  had  been  a  professor  in 
Fordham  College,  New  York,  under  the 
famous  Archbishop  Hughes,  therefore 
roughing  it  on  the  prairies,  among  a  rural 
people,  was  too  much  of  a  change  for 
him,  and  he  was  removed  to  St.  Patrick's 
church,  Chicago,  where  he  died.  This 
Father  O'Neil  had  a  national  reputation 
as  a  scholar,  and  on  account  of  his  exten- 
sive erudition  and  wonderful  memory, 
was  nicknamed  the  "walking  library." 

Father  O'Neil,  the  younger,  succeeded 
the  elder  priest  at  Galesburg.  He  was 
no  relation  of  his  predecessor.  He  had 
been  educated  in  Ireland  and  Canada, 
and  was  an  innocent  and  good  man.  He 
brought  his  mother  and  two  sisters  to 
live  with  him  at  Galesburg,  which,  as 
as  subsequent  events  proved,  was  a  great 
misfortune  to  them.  They  sold  their 
little  patrimony  in  Canada,  supposing 
they  would  have  protection  and  a  per- 
manent home  with  their  brother,  the 
priest.  The  priest's  sisters  were  very 


young  and  thoroughly  educated;  the 
writer  knows  them  well ;  but  the  average 
Catholic,  then,  of  a  railroad  town,  being 
only  the  dregs  of  their  countrymen  and 
church,  soon  began  to  create  disturb- 
ance, and  could  see  no  merit,  only  vice, 
in  education  and  respectability,  even  in 
a  priest's  family.  Then,  as  the  hand  car 
of  the  railroaders  was,  as  the  saying  is, 
a  free  horse,  and  on  the  go  Sundays,  the 
meddling  of  snch  people,  who  would 
kiss  the  priest's  hand,  and  slander  him 
and  his  nearest  relatives  when  his  back 
was  turned,  spread  their  idle  tales  that 
his  family  was  getting  rich  at  their 
expense,  etc.,  over  the  whole  section  of 
the  country,  impairing  Father  O'Neil's 
usefulness.  Father  O'Neil  was  a  zeal- 
ous missionary  priest,  and  the  frequent 
exposure  on  the  prairies  in  McDonough 
and  Warren  counties,  brought  on  a  fit 
of  sickness  which  impaired  his  physical 
strength  and  mental  faculties.  He  was 
a  very  sensative  man  and  not  calculated 
to  wrestle  with  the  habits  of  low  char- 
acters which  it  were  necessary  to  cor- 
rect, and  therefore  never  recovered  his 
mental  balance,  and,  of  course,  had  to 
be  replaced.  With  Father  O'Neil,  the 
pastoral  relation  of  McDonough  county 
terminated  with  that  of  Galesburg.  His 
insanity,  if  it  can  be  called  such,  con- 
sisted in  the  belief  that  he  was  unworthy 
to  exercise  the  sacred  ministry,  and  that 
all  drinking  of  intoxicating  liquor,  for 
he  was  strictly  temperate  himself,  was  a 
sin.  Poor  O'Neil,  were  you  now  in 
America  instead  of  old  Ireland,  many 
would  call  you  a  wise  man,  and  your 
mania,  if  reduced  to  practice,  would 
save  the  country  from  acrimonious  re- 
criminations on  the  temperance  ques- 


496 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tion,  and  a  great  deal  of  expensive  leg- 
islation in  the  northwest.  Father  O'Neil's 
mother  and  sisters,  of  course,  now  had 
no  home,  beggary  and  worthlessness 
always  takes  pleasure  in  the  sorrows 
and  humiliations  of  the  virtuous  and 
respectable,  so  in  this  case;  the  people 
'turned  on  them,  but  Bishop  Duggan,  of 
Chicago,  to  his  honor,  saw  justice  done 
these  lone  and  afflicted  females,  as  far  as 
was  in  his  power.  Here  is  a  lesson  for 
afflicted  women,  in  the  future  in  Mc- 
Donough  county.  These  sisters  of  the 
priest,  who  was  no  longer  able  to  pro- 
tect them,  after  their  first  sorrow,  did 
not  repine  and  throw  themselves  on 
others.  Well  educated  as  they  were, 
genteel,  Irish  girls,  no  other  course  was 
open  for  them  but  service;  they  went 
where  they  were  not  known  and  to  large 
towns,  where  people  were  not  afflicted 
with  detestable  curiosity,  and  quietly 
worked  for  a  living,  faithfully  attending 
to  their  duties  as  Christians,  until  they 
settled  down  in  life.  The  writer  being 
in  Ireland  during  the  summer  of  1875, 
met  Father  O'Neil  and  was  able  to  ren- 
der him  an  incalculable  service;  he  is 
now  living  on  the  charity  of  his  poor 
friends,  in  his  native  country,  Kilkenny, 
Ireland,  which  is  a  lasting  reproach  to 
the  Catholic  church  of  Illinois,  as  the 
canon  law  of  the  church  provides  for 
the  respectable  support  of  invalid,  as 
well  as  unfortunate  priests. 

We  now  come  to  the  history  of  the 
church  in  Macomb,  proper.  Rev.  Philip 
J.  Albrecht  was  appointed  to  take  charge 
of  Macomb,  Warsaw  and  Oquawka;  he 
finally  established  his  residence  at  Ma- 
comb, officiating  in  an  old  house  which 
was  used  as  a  church,  it  being  on  prop- 


erty bought  from  Birch  Maury's  family. 
Father  Albrecht  was  on  the  Macomb 
district  for  four  years.  He  was  then 
transferred  to  a  German  church  in  Chi- 
cago, and  is  now  Catholic  pastor  of  a 
church  in  Kranzburg,  Dakota. 

In  February  2,  1865,  Rev.  John  Lar- 
mer  was  transferred  from  St.  Patrick's 
church,  Chicago,  to  take  charge  of  Ma- 
comb and  the  missionary  districts  in  the 
surrounding  eight  counties,  and  to  or- 
ganize them  into  regular  parishes  and 
build  churches,  so  that  pastors  could  be 
placed,  to  reside  in  them — all  of  which 
was  done.  The  people  of  Macomb  were 
in  the  hands  of  unscrupulous  politic- 
ians, as  the  parties  were  nearly  equally 
divided,  a  few  votes  being  the  balance 
of  power  in  McDonough  county.  This 
gave  Rev.  John  Larmer  a  great  deal  of 
unnecessary  trouble,  as  the  politicians 
looked  on  the  members  of  his  church  as 
political  prey.  Really,  this  was  a  last- 
ing injury  to  Macomb.  He  repaired  and 
raised  the  old  house  and  made  it  a  pas- 
toral residence,  at  an  expense  of  over  a 
$1,000,  in  the  summer  of  1865.  For  this 
improvement  he  never  received  a  cent, 
and  the  congregation  should  remember, 
for  this  and  other  indebtedness,  St. 
Paul's  epistle  to  the  Thessalonians: 
"  Let  no  man  overreach  or  circumvent 
his  brother  in  business,  for  the  Lord  is 
the  avenger  of  all  these  things." 

In  repairing  the  old  house,  as  there 
was  a  dispute  among  the  old  settlers 
which  was  the  oldest  house  on  the  west 
side,  Rev.  John  Larmer  hunted  for  some 
evidence,  and  in  taking  down  the  high 
old-fashioned  chimney,  he  found  on  the 
first  layer,  a  limestone  three  inches 
thick,  and  18  square,  with  "  C.  Jack- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


497 


son,  February  2,  1832"  marked  upon 
it.  That  date  went  back  farther  than 
any  of  the  disputants  opined. 

In  1867,  Rev.  John  Larmer  built  the 
Catholic  church  in  Macomb,  after  much 
trouble  and  labor.  It  cost  between  four 
and  five  thousand  dollars— material,  it 
is  true,  was  over  60  per  cent,  dearer 
than  subsequently.  The  Protestants 
of  Macomb  subscribed  liberally;  but  the 
politicians  who  had  made  so  many  prom- 
ises of  what  they  would  do  when  the 
Catholics  would  build  their  church, 
with  a  few  exceptions,  backed  square 
out.  The  citizens  of  Macomb  had  reas- 
onable hopes  that  the  building  of  the 
Catholic  church  would  have  an  influence 
to  increase  its  population,  and  so  it 
would  have,  had  the  politicians  minded 
their  own  business  and  not  considered 
the  Catholics  as  legitimate  prey  to  help 
them,  too  often  unworthy,  into  office. 
Then  there  was  no  encouragement  given 
to  strangers,  who  came  to  seek  locations 
for  manufacturing  purposes,  by  men  who 
held  their  properties  higher  than  water 
fronts  could  be  bought  in  the  city  of 
Chicago,  and  yet  these  properties  were 
used  for  calf  pastures.  Finally  the  cit- 
izens, although  warned  that  their  nor- 
thern trade,  which  extended  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi river,  would  be  cut  off  and  lost, 
and  a  host  of  little  towns  grow  up  if 
they  did  not  secure  the  Peoria  &  War- 
saw railroad  to  pass  through  Macomb. 
Yet  they  made  no  real  united  efforts  un- 
til it  was  too  late,  therefore  the  same 
causes  which  dwarfed  the  Catholic 
church,  dwarfed  Macomb  and  took  away 
those  reasonable  hopes  which  its  advan- 
tages and  surrounding  fertile  country 
gave  a  right  to  expect  a  greater  growth. 


The  Catholics  buried  their  dead  west 
of  Macomb,  but  through  negligence  had 
no  road  to  their  grave  yard,  and  when 
they  tried  to  get  a  road,  the  men  they 
put  in  office  did  as  they  always  had  done 
— only  when  they  asked  a  ticket  to  vote 
—looked  on  them  as  unreasonable  and 
left  them  to  help  themselves.  A  lot 
therefore  was  bought  of  Joseph  Burton, 
opposite  the  city  grave  yard,  and  the 
Catholic  dead  removed.  The  history  of 
this  purchase  is  not  a  creditable  one — 
sufficient  it  is  to  say,  Rev.  John  Larmer 
had  to  come  as  usual  to  the  rescue  or 
Mr.  Burton  would  have  had  to  take  it 
back  again. 

The  Catholics  of  Prairie  City  were 
attached  to  St.  Augustine,  Fulton  county, 
until  the  church  of  Avon  was  built 
which  was  done  under  Rev.  John  Lar- 
mer's  pastorate. 

The  Catholics  of  Bushnell  from  time 
to  time  endeavored  to  get  property  for  a 
future  site  of  a  church,  but  up  to  the 
time  Rev.  John  Larmer  terminated  his 
pastorate,  had  not  acquired  any — simply 
because  they  were  few,  and  none  of  them 
had  resolved  to  remain  permanently  in 
Bushnell.  They  were  attached,  how- 
ever, to  the  Catholic  congregation  of 
Macomb. 

In  regard  to  the  church  in  Tennessee, 
to  Joseph  Reilly  and  a  few  others  be- 
longs the  honor  of  having  built  the  first 
Catholic  church  in  McDonough  county, 
Mr.  Bowman  donating  the  lot.  The 
church,  however,  was  merely  closed  in, 
and  Rev.  John  Larmer  had  the  lot 
fenced  and  the  church  finished  as  well 
as  the  means  and  circumstances  of  the 
congregation  would  permit.  Tennessee 
Catholic  congregation  was  made  up 


498 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


partly  out  of  one  of  the  four  divisions 
Kev.  John  Larmer  made  of  the  Foun- 
tain Green  Catholic  congregation.  There 
was  an  excellent  set  of  Christians,  and 
consequently  good  citizens  in  Tennessse 
congregation.  Joseph  Eeilly  and  wife  first 
of  all,  the  Camerons,  Hardestys,  and  last 
Patrick  McCune  and  wife,  who  lived  in 
the  town  of  Tennessee,  and  others,  yet 
there  were  some — as  the  writer  learned 
when  in  Ireland, — who  received  their 
parish  priest's  blessing  on  condition  that 
he  would  not  return. 

Joseph  Reilly,  at  the  request  of  Eev. 
John  Larmer,  donated  the  grave  yard 
to  the  Catholic  congregation  of  Tennes- 
see, and  had  it  fenced  in,  and  Joseph 
Reilly  himself,  was  the  first  buried  in  it. 
He  was  an  exemplary  Christian,  humble, 
frank,  and  honest  to  a  fault. 

Rev.  John  Larmer  resigned  his  pas- 
toral charge  February  22,  1872,  being 
seven  years  on  the  mission  in  McDon- 
ough  and  surrounding  counties.  His 
resignation  had  been  tendered  several 
times  during  three  years  before  it  was 
accepted  by  Bishop  Thomas  Foley,  ad- 
ministrator of  Chicago.  Rev.  John  Lar- 
mer is  now  pastor  of  Montello,  Wiscon- 
sin ;  his  church  and  residence  are  on  one 
of  the  most  picturesque  sites  in  the  west. 
He  has  built  up  four  churches  and  or- 
ganized several  missions  since  he  left 
Macomb. 

The  writer  has  now  brought  the  ec- 
clesiastical history  of  the  Catholic 
church  in  McDonough  county  down  to 
1872,  or  the  close  of  Rev.  John  Larmer' s 
pastorate — let  others  continue  it — but 
one  thing  he  is  assured  of  whether  he 
himself  or  others  in  future  write  the  his- 
tory of  the  Catholic  church  in  the  great 


state  of  Illinois,  an  honest  pride  can  be 
indulged  in  that  the  priests  in  McDon- 
ough and  surrounding  counties  were, 
with  one  or  two  exceptions,  unusually 
learned,  talented  and  faithful  body  of 
men.  All  of  them  could  be  truly  said  to 
have  carried  the  church  on  their  backs, 
having  no  organization,  except  the  last, 
Rev.  John  Larmer,  who  reduced  the 
church  to  order  and  identified  each  lo- 
cality with  a  church,  which  he  caused  to 
be  built.  Their  labors  and  hardships 
were  unseen,  and  I  have  no  doubt,  like 
the  writer,  they  would  have  abandoned 
missionary  life  for  the  humblest  church 
in  a  settled  district — but  one  supreme 
motive  loomed  up  before  them — they  re- 
alized that  they  were  saving  souls,  work- 
ing for  God  and  the  future  welfare  of 
their  people  and  the  localities  they  la- 
bored in. 

After  Father  Larmer  had  finished  his 
work  here  and  had  been  transferred  to 
Chicago,  Rev.  Father  Thomas  Francis 
Mangan  took  charge  of  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  this  congregation  and  remained 
about  two  years.  He  was  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent abilities,  and  a  worthy  Christian 
gentleman,  and  beloved  by  all.  He  is 
now  in  charge  at  Freeport,  Illinois.  He 
was  followed  by  Father  D.  J.  Cogan, 
who  remained  one  year.  The  next  pas- 
tor was  James  Tuohy,  a  fine  man,  and  a 
splendid  scholar,  who  was  not  only  loved 
by  the  members  of  his  flock,  but  enjoyed 
the  respect  of  all  in  this  community.  He 
remained  about  two  years,  and  made 
some  improvements  around  the  house, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Father  Maxmilian 
Allbright.  This  gentleman  after  leav- 
ing here,  died  in  a  hospital  in  Chicago. 
He  was  followed  by  Rev.  P.  J.  McGrath, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


499 


who  remained  two  years  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  Rev.  Father  John  Ryan,  the 
present  pastor.  They  have  a  most  ex- 
cellent church,  and  a  large  and  flourish- 
ing congregation,  numbering  nearly  600 
members. 

CATHOLIC  CHURCH  AT  TENNESSEE. 

Ill  1857,  St.  Mary's  church  was  erected 
in  the  village  of  Tennessee.  It  is  25x40 
feet  in  size,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of 
275.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
church  it  had  a  membership  of  30,  and 
has  retained  that  number  to  the  present 
time.  Since  the  organization  of  St. 
Mary's  church,  there  has  been  about  12 
converts.  They  hold  services  once  a 
month.  Those  who  have  served  the 
church  as  priests  since  the  organization, 
are  as  follows:  Philip  Albrecht,  five 
years;  John  Larmer,  10  years;  Father 
Manning,  two  years;  J.  G.  Cogan,  one 
year;  James  Tuohy,  two  years;  John  All- 
bright,  two  years;  P.  C.  McGrath,  one 
year;  John  Ryan,  four  years.  The  pres- 
ent priest  resides  at  Macomb. 


Rev.  John  Ryan,  present  pastor  of  the 
Catholic  church  at  Macomb,  Illinois,  is 
a  native  of  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  the 
parish  of  Murroe, county  Limerick,  early 
in  this  century.  He  made  his  ecclesias- 
tical studies  principally  in  All  Hallows 
college, Dublin,  Ireland,  which  were  sup- 
plemented, subsequently,  by  one  year's 
study  at  the  Diocesan  seminary,  Vin- 
cennes,  Indiana,  where,  in  due  course, 
he  was  ordained  priest,  on  the  5th  day 
of  July,  1846,  by  Right  Rev.  Celestine 
de  la  Helandiere,  then  Bishop  of  Vin- 
cennes.  He  served  on  the  same  one  mis- 
sion, in  Northern  Indiana  for  18  years, 
when  he  came  to  the  diocese  of  Chicago, 
and  for  four  years  was  pastor  of  the 
Catholic  congregation  at  Canton,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  whence  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  pastorate  of  Kewanee, 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  after  serving 
for  11  years  and  three  months,  then  he 
was  transferred  to  his  present  habitat — 
Macomb — where  he  has  gained  the  re- 
spect of  all. 


CHAPTER     XXI. 


JOURNALISM  IN  MCDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  inception  of  journalism  dates  from 
remote  ages.  The  institution  now  known 
as  the  newspaper  was  ante-dated  nearly 
a  1,000  years  by  manuscript  publications, 
in  which  the  accounts  of  public  occur- 


rences and  familiar  gossip  was  made 
known  to  the  citizens  of  imperial  Rome 
seated  upon  her  seven  hills.  These 
sheets  were  known  by  the  name  of  "Acta 
Diurna;"  but  their  issues  were  at  all 


500 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


times  irregular,  and  in  times  of  scarcity 
of  news  totally  suspended,  the  editor 
either  engaging  in  some  other  calling  or 
indulging  in  the  sports  of  the  day. 

But  little  progress  seems  to  have  been 
made  for  many  years  in  this  branch  of 
business  until  the  early  part  of  the  17th 
century. 

Frankfort-on-the  Main  claims  to  have 
produced  within  her  walls  the  father  of 
modern  newspapers.  She  claims  that 
Egenolf  Emmel,  a  book  dealer  and  book 
printer  of  Frankfort,  in  the  period  of 
that  city's  greatest  literary  prosperity, 
was  the  first  in  Europe  to  issue  a  news- 
paper at  regular  intervals  in  the  shape 
in  which  we  see  them  to-day.  This  honor 
of  priority  of  newspaper  production  has 
been  considerably  contested,  but  unsuc- 
cessfully. Emmel  first  published  a 
weekly,  Frankfurter  Journal,  in  1615. 
The  Nurembergers  say  that  Wendelin 
Borsch  published  a  newspaper  in  their 
city  as  early  as  1571;  but  there  is  no 
proof  that  this  was  anything  more  than 
the  fugitive  leaves  which  had  then  be- 
come pretty  common  in  the  great  trading 
centers  of  Europe;  and  as  the  English 
claim  their  first  regular  newspaper  to 
have  appeared  in  1622  and  the  French 
in  1631,  to  Frankfort  must  be  left  the 
honor  of  Egenolf  Emmel,  the  father  of 
newspapers. 

The  precursors  of  German  newspapers 
were  the  small,  printed,  flying  sheets  is- 
sued in  the  latter  half  of  the  15th  centu- 
ry, under  the  titles  Relationen  or  Neiie 
Zeitung  (New  Tidings),  which,  however, 
only  made  their  appearance  at  irregular 
intervals,  generally  to  record  some  event 
of  more  than  ordinary  note.  These  re- 
ports are  said  to  have  existed  as  early  as 


the  middle  of  the  15th  century;  the  old- 
est mentioned  are  from  the  years  1457- 
1460;  though  the  oldest  copy  now  pre- 
served in  the  University  Library  at  Leip- 
sic  bears  the  date  of  1494.  But  these 
Relations  or  Tidings  cannot  be  looked 
upon  as  the  germs  of  the  modern  press. 
The  beginnings  of  the  German  newspa- 
pers are  to  be  traced  in  the  written  com- 
mercial correspondence  of  the  middle 
ages.  The  editorial  bureaus  were  the 
counting-rooms  of  the  great  mercantile 
houses,  which  had  their  agents  transmit 
information  to  them  from  all  parts  of 
the  world  then  open  to  commerce.  But 
as  these  sheets  were  almost  private,  they 
were  of  little  service  to  the  world  at 
large.  As  Gutenberg's  invention  won 
its  way,  and  the  large  trading  houses 
entered  into  communication  with  each 
other  and  with  their  various  govern- 
ments, which  had  an  equal  interest  in 
the  information  contained  in  the  com- 
mercial correspondence,  types  were  in- 
troduced into  the  trading  bureaus,  or  the 
written  correspondence  was  placed  in 
the  hands  of  the  special  writers,  and  a 
regular  system  of  printed  correspond- 
ence was  inaugurated.  Venice  is  usually 
awarded  the  honor  of  first  printing  this 
commercial  correspondence  in  the  Noti- 
zie  Scrifte,  which  was  at  first  written  and 
exhibited  in  certain  public  places;  but 
Germany  was  not  long  in  following  her 
example. 

A  collection  of  28  volumes  of  this 
printed  commercial  correspondence, 
from  the  years  1568  to  1604,  was  taken 
with  the  library  of  the  celebrated  Fug- 
ger  family,  to  the  imperial  library,  at 
Vienna,  in  1606,  and  is  of  great  histori- 
cal importance,  connected,  as  it  is,  with 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


501 


the  Rothschild  house  of  the  middle 
ages.  These  reports  contain,  not  only 
commercial  intelligence,  but  political 
and  social  news  from  the  districts  and 
countries,  which  then  were  attracting 
the  attention  of  Europe.  Many  reports 
are  written  by  eye-witnesses,  and  official 
documents  relating  to  incidents  de- 
scribed, are  frequently  transmitted. 
When  important  political  information  is 
reported,  the  source  from  whence  it  is 
procured,  is  generally  given.  Others, 
again,  contained  literary  departments 
corresponding  to  the  feuilleton  of  the 
European  press  of  to-day,  bringing 
graphic  descriptions,  accounts  of  popu- 
lar festivities,  manners  and  customs; 
accounts  of  the  discovery  of  America,  of 
the  conquests  of  the  Turks,  and  local 
occurrences,  such  as  all  sorts  of  fearful 
signs  in  the  heavens,  wonderful  animals, 
and  misbirths ;  accounts  of  executions, 
inundations,  earthquakes,  burning  of 
witches,  and  child-murders  committed 
by  bigots,  together  with  prophecies  and 
warnings — the  editorials  of  to-day — con- 
nected with  passing  events.  News  then 
came  to  hand  very  slowly.  An  Indian 
overland  post  required  eleven  months  to 
get  to  Europe,  and  40  or  50  days  were 
required  for  a  letter  to  get  from  Con- 
stantinople to  Vienna.  Naturally 
enough,  as  the  papers  gained  a  more 
extended  circulation,  the  jealous  gov- 
ernments began  to  look  after  them;  and 
history  knows  a  whole  series  of  govern- 
ment ordinances,  issued  from  Paris  to 
Borne,  condemning  them  as  destructive 
to  soul  and  body. 

The  idea  of  issuing  a  newspaper  at 
regular  intervals,  that  is,  every  week, 
first  originated  in  the  mind  of  Egenolf 


Emmel,  of  Frankfort,  and  with  his 
Frankfurter  Journal,  which  made  its 
appearance  in  1615,  the  transition  from 
the  irregular  publications,  such  as  the 
Eelationen,  to  the  newspaper,  was  made. 
The  same  journal  still  flourishes,  and 
the  house  from  which  it  was  first  issued, 
may  yet  be  seen.  The  Journal  ap- 
peared as  a  weekly  up  to  the  year  1740; 
then  it  appeared  oftener;  in  1795,  it  ap- 
peared five  times  a  week,  and  subse- 
quently became  a  daily. 

In  England,  the  mental  appetite  was 
fed  by  the  News  Letter,  a  manuscript 
production,  which  was  only  furnished  at 
fabulous  prices.  It  was  in  1622,  as 
above  mentioned,  when  the  first  English 
newspaper  was  born.  This  was  The 
Weekly  News  from  Italie  and  Ger- 
manie,  which  was  printed  upon  a 
mechanical  contrivance,  perfected  by 
one  Nathaniel  Butler,  who  is  thus  the 
progenitor  of  the  English  press.  The 
first  attempt  at  the  publication  of  parlia- 
mentary reports  was  made  in  1641,  when 
the  parties  and  politics  of  the  realm  first 
occupied  a  place  in  the  newspaper.  It 
was  some  seven  years  later,  in  1648, 
when  the  first  advertisement  appeared. 
This  was  in  verse  form,  and  was  an  in- 
vitation to  call  upon  a  fashionable  tailor 
of  the  period,  and  purchase  of  him  the 
styles  then  in  vogue  among  the  beaux. 

The  pioneer  daily  morning  newspaper 
of  the  world  was  the  London  Courant, 
which  was  initiated  in  1709,  and  con- 
sisted of  only  one  page  of  two  columns, 
each  five  paragraphs  long,  and  was  made 
up  from  translations  from  foreign  jour- 
nals. The  revolutions  in  journalism 
during  the  present  century  have  been  of 
so  stupendous  a  type  as  to  be  almost 


502 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


beyond  comprehension,  were  we  not 
brought  face  to  face  with  the  fact  day 
by  day.  In  this  country,  from  the 
advent  of  the  Boston  News  Letter,  in 
1704,  unto  the  present  time,  when  the 
United  States  can  boast  of  its  962  daily, 
and  over  7,000  weekly  papers,  seems  a 
tremendous  step  in  the  forward  march 
of  improvement,  but  is  only  a  forerunner 
of  what  may  be  the  achievements  and 
power  of  an  independent  press  in  a  free, 
republican  country  in  the  future. 

McDonough  county  has  had  abund- 
ant opportunities  to  test  the  value  of 
newspapers,  as  aids  in  building  up  its 
business  centers,  and  making  known  its 
resources  to  the  outer  world,  while  the 
civilizing  influence  is  almost  unlimited; 
and,  as  a  general  thing,  its  citizens  have 
always  manifested  a  liberal  spirit  of  en- 
couragement toward  the  various  jour- 
nalistic enterprises  that  have  originated 
in  their  midst.  It  would  be  difficult  to 
estimate  in  a  money  value,  the  advan- 
tages derived  by  McDonough  county,  in 
a  business  point  of  view,  from  the  influ- 
ence of  the  press,  but  it  is,  beyond  all 
cavil,  inestimable.  At  all  times  the 
press  has,  in  advocacy  of  local  interests, 
called  into  requisition  respectable,  and 
in  many  instances,  eminent  talent, which 
has  a  tendency  to  inspire  its  citizens,  as 
well  as  friends,  with  hope  and  confi- 
dence in  its  prosperity. 

As  patrons  of  the  press,  as  would  be 
expected  of  those  that  people  it,  McDon- 
ough county's  citizens  have  established 
a  good  name.  As  records  of  current 
history,  the  emanations  of  the  local 
press  should  be  preserved  by  town  and 
county  government  among  the  archives 
for  reference.  These  papers  are  the  re- 


positories wherein  are  stored  the  facts 
and  the  events,  the  deeds  and  the  say- 
ings, the  undertakings  arid  achievements, 
that  go  to  make  up  the  history  of  the 
day.  One  by  one  these  things  are  gath- 
ered and  placed  in  type;  one  by  one 
these  papers  are  gathered  together  and 
bound,  and  another  volume  of  local,  gen- 
eral, and  individual  history,  is  laid  away 
imperishable.  The  volumes  thus  col- 
lected are  sifted  by  the  historians,  and 
the  book  for  the  library  is  ready. 

There  should  be  some  means  devised 
by  which  press  records  might  be  pre- 
served and  made  accessible.  This  is,  of 
course,  attempted  in  all  offices,  but  by 
the  removal  of  editors,  who  claim  the 
files  as  their  property,  and  a  general 
carelessness  on  the  part  of  all  interested, 
in  many  instances  the  files  are  sadly  de- 
ficient. 

MCDONOUGH  INDEPENDENT. 

Such  is  the  heading  that  appeared  on 
the  first  page  of  a  paper  issued  at  Mc- 
comb,  September  12,  1851.  It  was  a 
six-column  folio,  edited  by  George  W. 
Smith,  and  published  by  this  gentleman 
and  Theodore  Terry,  and  was  the 
pioneer  paper  of  McDonough  county.  As 
its  name  would  indicate,  it  was  independ- 
ent in  politics,  though  leaning  somewhat 
toward  democracy.  Mr.  Terry  was  a 
practical  printer  and  had  charge  of  the 
mechanical  department  of  the  office. 
The  paper  was  published  Fridays,  at  a 
subscription  price  of  two  dollars  per 
annum,  the  office  being  located  over 
Ervin's  store.  The  following  salutatory 
appears  in  the  first  number: 

"In  presenting  this,  the  first  number 
of  the  Independent  to  our  readers,  cus- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


503 


torn,  as  well  as  inclination,  leads  us  to 
define  the  course  we  mean  to  pursue 
and  the  position  we  propose  to  assume. 

"We  claim  that  our  paper  shall  be 
what  its  name  would  indicate,  independ- 
ent in  all  things ;  reserving  to  ourselves 
the  right  to  speak  fearlessly,  freely  and 
candidly,  upon  any*  and  every  subject 
that  may  interest  the  public,  or  effect 
the  general  welfare  of  the  people; 
eschewing  at  all  times  any  interference 
with  the  religious,  political  or  social 
opinions  of  others. 

"To  the  farmer,  mechanic  and  mer- 
chant, we  hope  to  make  our  paper  ac- 
ceptable, one  and  all,  giving,  as  we  shall, 
a  weekly  report  of  the  produce  markets, 
commercial  and  monetary  affairs  as  they 
transpire;  as  well  as  much  other  infor- 
mation that  shall  be  deemed  interesting 
and  instructive  to  the  community  at 
large.  We  shall,  at  the  same  time,  by 
giving  publicity  to  a  well  and  carefully 
selected  miscellany,  aim  to  make  the 
Independent  a  most  welcome  visitor  at 
every  fireside. 

"In  launching  forth  upon  the  sea  of 
public  life,  and  assuming  the  arduous 
duties  we  have  undertaken,  it  has  been 
done  with  full  knowledge  of  the  trials 
and  difficulties  we  may  expect  to  encoun- 
ter; but  with  a  determination  to  use  our 
best  efforts,  and  a  firm  reliance  upon  the 
kindness  and  encouragement  of  our 
friends,  we  have  determined  to  stand  the 
'hazard  of  the  die.' 

"But  as  brevity  is  to  be  one  of  the 
chief  merits  of  our  articles,  we  will  not 
weary  our  readers  with  promises,  but 
will  simply  say — we  will  do  our  best, 
and  hoping  that  success  and  prosperity 
may  attend  our  present  and  future  pa- 


trons, as  well  as  ourselves,  we  submit 
our  sheet  to  the  patronage  of  a  gener- 
ous and  discerning  public. 

"In  connection,  we  would  state  to  our 
brethren  of  the  press,  that  we  solicit 
their  aid  and  influence,  and  hope  that 
at  some  future  time  we  may  reciprocate 
many  past,  as  well  as  new,  favors  re- 
ceived at  their  hands." 

The  advertising  columns  of  the  first 
issue  contained  such  firms  as  W.  &  H. 
Ervin,  who  "would  inform  our  friends 
and  the  public  generally,  that  we  have 
just  received  direct  from  New  York  and 
Philadelphia,  a  large  and  desirable  stock 
of  fall  and  winter  dry  goods,"  etc.; 
B.  R.  Hampton  &  L.  H.  Waters,  "attor- 
neys at  law  and  general  agents  for  pur- 
chase and  sale  of  real  estate  and  collec- 
tion of  debts";  J.  M.  Major,  botanic  phy- 
sician; D.  &  C.  A.  Lawson,  general  mer- 
chandise; Updegraff  &  Maury,  book- 
sellers and  druggists.  In  the  same  issue 
wheat  is  quoted  at  50  to  65  cents  per 
bushel;  flour,  $3.50  to  $4.00;  corn  25  to 
30  cents;  butter,  10  cents  per  pound; 
eggs,  5  cents  a  dozen;  potatoes,  25  cents 
per  bushel;  coal,  8  cents  per  bushel; 
chickens,  75  cents  to  $1  per  dozen;  and 
oats  16  to  25  cents  per  bushel. 

As  a  criterion  to  the  mode  of  getting 
news  in  those  days,  the  following  headed, 
"latest  news  from  Cuba,"  may  serve  as 
a  contrast  to  the  many  improvements 
undergone  through  the  genius  of  man, 
during  the  past  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
which  appears  in  the  first  number  of 
this  paper.  The  dispatch  is  dated,  New 
Orleans,  September  5,  1851. 

"By  the  arrival  yesterday  at  New  Or- 
leans, of  the  Cherokee,  we  have  positive 
and  unquestionable  intelligence  of  the 


504 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


capture  ajid  execution  of  Lopez,  in  Ha- 
vana, on  the  30th  uli,  and  the  probable 
tqtal  suppression  of  the  revolt.  Ninety 
oda- Americans  were  also  captured.  This 
intelligence  is  reliable." 

A  second  dispatch  dated  at  the  same 
place  a  day  later,  reads: 

"The  Cherokee  has  arrived  from  Ha- 
vana. The  passengers  witnessed  the  ex- 
ecution of  Lopez.  The  number  on  the 
Pampero,  565,  have  all  been  killed — 436 
are  in  prison  and  100  are  to  be  sent  to 
Africa.  Lopez  declared  himself  deceived 
with  regard  to  aid  in  Cuba.  The  pass- 
engers say  he  ended  his  life  manfully. 
The  failure  of  the  expedition  is  attrib- 
uted to  delay  from  the  separation  of 
Crittenden's  command.  The  patriots 
have  dispersed  to  the  mountains.  Only 
30  remained  with  Lopez — they  left  him 
and  without  a  friend,  he  wandered  until 
run  down  and  taken  by  blood  hounds. 
His  last  words  were — 'Adieu,  dear  Cuba.' 

"A  meeting  was  held  on  board  the 
Cherokee,  General  Lane,  of  Oregon,  pre- 
siding. The  following  resolution  was 
passed: 

"Resolved,  that  Mr.  Owen,  American 
consul,  has  forfeited  every  right  and 
title  of  an  American  consul,  outraged 
every  sentiment  of  humanity,  deserves 
the  execration  of  every  friend  of  liberty, 
and  we  request  his  recall  by  the  govern- 
ment." 

The  latest  news  from  China  bears  the 
date  of  June  23,  1851.  What  a  contrast 
with  the  present  system  of  the  cable  and 
daily  newspaper,  transmitting  news  to 
thousands  but  from  10  to  12  hours  after 
its  occurrence  in  some  foreign  country. 

The  following  marriage  notices  also 


appear  in  the  first  issue  of  the  Inde- 
pendent. 

On  Wednesday,  the  27th  ultimo,  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Bourne,  Alexander  V. 
Brooking,  to  Elizabeth  H.  Randolph, 
all  of  this  city. 

Underneath  the  notice  appears  the 
following  comment  by  the  editor:  "The 
above  was  accompanied  by  a  bountiful 
supply  of  cake,  for  which  the  fair  bride 
has  our  sincere  thanks,  with  the  hope 
that  the  happiness  known  only  to  loving 
hearts  and  true,  may  always  attend  the 
happy  couple  through  life."  Other 
notices  were  as  follows: 

On  Sunday,  the  31st  day  of  August, 
1851,  by  J.  S.  Matthews,  Esq.,  Isaac 
Massingill,  to  Sarah  Groves,  all  of  this 
county. 

On  Thursday,  the  4th  insi,  by  J.  O. 
C.  Wilson,  David  H.  Lockett,  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  to  Priscilla  Sherman, 
of  Hancock  county. 

On  the  7th  insi,  by  C.  R.  Hume,  Esq., 
Alexander  Dorothy,  to  Sarah  Hurn,  all 
of  this  county. 

DIED — In  this  place,  on  Sunday  even- 
ing, at  her  residence,  Mrs.  Jane  S. 
Langwell,  wife  of  Peter  Langwell,  aged 
about  60  years. 

The  paper  was  conducted  under  this 
management  but  a  few  months,  and  in 
the  issue  of  February  13,  1852,  appears 
the  following  valedictory  of  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm,  Theodore  Terry: 

"To  all  my  friends  a  sigh, 
To  all  iny  foes  a  tear." 

"Having  disposed  of  my  interest  in 
the  ofiice  of  the  McDonough  Independ- 
ent, the  sad  task  devolves  upon  me  of 
saying  to  its  readers,  one  and  all,  the 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


507 


word,  farewell.  My  labors  amongst  you 
have  been  rendered  most  agreeable  by 
the  evidences  of  friendship  exhibited  on 
every  side,  and  much  of  the  prosperity 
of  the  paper  can  alone  be  attributed  to 
the  disinterested  kindness  of  those  who 
have  so  generously  lent  their  aid  in 
building  up  the  enterprise,  and  to  such 
friends,  and  to  all  friends,  I  return  my 
thanks,  and  my  enemies,  if  any,  will 
accept  my  forgiveness  in  the  spirit  that 
it  is  offered,  that  of  kindness. 

The  paper  will  hereafter  be  conducted 
by  our  former  partner,  G.  W.  Smith, 
Esq.,  whose  experience,  taste  and  talent 
will  enable  him  to  render  the  Independ- 
ent a  most  welcome  sheet,  and  that  suc- 
cess and  prosperity  may  attend  him  and 
for  all  time,  is  the  earnest  wish  of  the 
writer. 

"And  now  once  more  farewell;  'A  word 
that  has  been  and  must  be' — Farewell." 

At  the  close  of  the  first  year  in  the 
paper's  career  an  announcement  was 
made  that  with  the  new  volume  the  paper 
would  appear  in  an  enlarged  form.  In  or- 
der to  accomplish  this  the  issue  was  sus- 
pended one  week,  and  on  September  24, 
1852,  the  Independent  appeared  as  a 
seven  column  folio,  neatly  printed  and 
well  gotten  up.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  sharp 
and  pointed  writer,  and  his  paper  wielded 
considerable  influence  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  was  particularly  received  with 
favor  in  McDonough  county  at  that  time. 
It  afterward  appeared  for  a  while  as  the 
McDonough  Independent  and  Demo- 
cratic Review,  and  in  the  issue  of  Sep- 
tember 14,  1855,  the  name  was  changed 
to  McDonough  Democrat,  at  which  time 
Mr.  Smith  associated  with  him  B.  M. 
Royalty,  as  partner.  The  paper  in  the 


past  leaned  toward  the  democratic  ranks, 
and  after  this  change  was  made  it  was 
intensely  democratic.  It  continued  un- 
der this  management  until  about  the  first 
of  September,  1856,  when  Mr.  Royalty 
retired.  Mr.  Smith  continued  the  pub- 
lication for  some  time,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Blandinsville  and  started  the 
Argus. 

THE  MACOMB  ENTERPRISE. 

The  Enterprise  was  the  second  paper 
established  in  Macomb,  the  first  issue 
appearing  June  19,  1855.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  expression  of  political 
views  by  the  McDonough  Independent 
many  persons  were  desirous  of  establish- 
ing another  paper  for  the  propagation 
of  their  principles,  and  accordingly  two 
young  men,  T.  S.  Clarke  and  D.  G.  Swan, 
were  influenced  to  embark  in  the  enter- 
prise, engaging  L.  H.  Waters  as  editor. 
The  paper  was  a  seven  column  folio  in 
size,  with  a  subscription  price  of  $1.50 
per  annum.  The  following  salutatory 
appears  in  the  initial  number  of  the 
Enterprise: 

"  It  is  generally  believed  that  the  inter- 
ests of  the  press,  that  is  properly  con- 
ducted, are  intimately  connected  with  the 
interests  that  tend  to  benefit  the  mass 
and  ennoble  the  mind;  and  whilst  a  prop- 
erly conducted  press  is  thus  beneficial  in 
its  tendencies,  it  cannot  be  doubted  for 
a  moment  that  a  low,  ribald  sheet  is  to 
the  public  what  a  tattler  is  in  a  commu- 
nity— a  pest  always. 

"  In  the  publication  of  the  Enterprise 
we  will  but  promise  that  we  will  advocate 
with  what  ability  we  possess,  the  men 
and  measures  of  the  Whig  party. 

"  The  measures  for  which  a  Clay,  Web- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ster,  and  a  host  of  other  great  men  have 
labored  a  lifetime,  and  whose  results  are 
in  the  unexampled  prosperity  of  a  com- 
mon country,  are  surely  worth  the  keep- 
ing in  constant  remembrance  for  the 
good  they  have  done,  and  the  still  greater 
good  they  may  yet  do.  In  advocating 
those  measures,  and  in  holding  up  the 
hands  of  those  who  maintain  them,  we 
intend  that  our  zeal  shall  not  get  the 
better  of  our  judgment,  and  lead  us  into 
a  guerrilla  warfare  with  our  political 
opponents,  that  may  result  in  a  great  deal 
of  noise  and  the  no  great  amusement  of 
those  whose  feelings  it  is  our  duty  to 
respect. 

"  We  shall  endeavor  to  make  our  paper 
reliably  temperance,advocating  the  cause 
of  temperance  as  it  is  when  bereft  of  old 
fogyism.  Chiefly  through  the  efforts  of 
political  demagogues,  the  great  mass  of 
the  people  have  been  deceived  upon  the 
aims  of  the  friends  of  prohibition,  and 
we  must  now  commence  again  in  the 
cause  where  we  were  years  ago,  and  carry 
temperance,  as  they  once  did  "whisky," 
into  politics.  And  whilst  we  would  not 
have  it  known  even  in  "Gath"  that  we 
have  been  defeated,  we  must  "  pick  our 
flints,"  and  with  a  fair  understanding  of 
the  intentions  of  the  prohibitionists,  and 
with  the  sympathy  that  every  true  man 
feels  for  his  fellow,  we  must  again  trust 
our  life  boat  to  the  waves. 

"  In  the  literary  department  we  hope 
to  make  such  selections  only  as  shall  in- 
form the  mind  and  elevate  the  taste,  dis- 
carding at  all  times  any  article,  the  moral 
tendency  of  which  is  in  doubt. 

"  By  the  completion  of  our  railroad  we 
will  be  enabled  to  present  our  readers 
with  at  least  readable  news. 


"  Such  are  a  few  of  our  hopes  and  some 
of  our  promises.  All  those  who  are  will- 
ing to  lend  us  a  hand  and  aid  us  by  a 
liberal  support,  we  will  welcome  their 
names  to  our  books.  It  is  correctly  re- 
ported and  generally  believed  that  print- 
ers do  eat.  And  whilst  we  battle  with 
our  feeble  abilities  for  the  right,  we  ask 
at  least  the  rations  of  a  private.  Let 
those  to  whom  we  write  come,  and  let 
"  those  who  hear,  say  come,"  and  ex- 
change a  generous  patronage  for  our 
promises,  and  trust  to  the  future  for 
the  difference." 

Mr.  Clarke  retired  from  the  firm  a 
couple  of  months  after  the  paper's  first 
appearance,  the  journal  being  contin- 
ued by  Mr.  Swan  as  proprietor,  and  un- 
der the  editorial  management  of  L.  H. 
Waters.  As  the  patronage  of  the  pa- 
was  not  sufficient  to  sustain  its  publica- 
tion, in  the  issue  of  November  22,  1855, 
the  following  explanatory  article  ap- 
peared in  the  columns  of  the  Enter- 
prise, headed 

"Going!     Going!!     Gone!!!" 

"  We  are  compelled  this  week  to  is- 
sue a  half  sheet;  next  week  we  promise 
— nothing!  Circumstances  over  which 
we  have  no  control,  compel  us  to  say 
this.  When  we  commenced  the  publi- 
cation of  the  Enterprise,  we  did  so  with 
the  assurance  that  we  would  be  sup- 
ported by  the  whigs  of  McDonough 
county.  So  far  as  patronizing  our  pa- 
per has  been  concerned,  they  have  done 
well;  but  as  to  paying,  that  is  quite 
another  thing.  We  have  now  on  our 
books  accounts  against  men  who  have 
been  good  enough  to  patronize  us,  suf- 
ficient to  relieve  all  our  indebtedness 
and  send  us  on  our  way  rejoicing.  We 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


509 


have  tried  to  collect  this  money  by  dun- 
ning through  the  paper,  and  also  by  for- 
warding bills  to  our  model  patrons,  but 
all  will  not  do.  "We  will  have  to  strike 
out  and  confront  them,  and  the  conse- 
quence is,  we  can't  print.  We  have 
done  what  we  could  since  we  have  come 
into  the  proprietorship  of  the  paper,  to 
make  it  pay,  but  we  are  tired  of  trying 
now — when  those  who  pretend  to  be  our 
friends  pay  no  attention  to  our  wants, 
and  leave  us  to  the  mercy  of  our  credi- 
tors. Let  every  one  who  owes  us  for 
advertising  or  subscription,  pay  up  to 
this  time,  and  we  will  be  enabled  to  go 
on;  if  not,  we  must  stop!" 

The  paper  was  discontinued  for  a  few 
weeks,  when  B.  B.  Hampton  came  to  its 
relief,  purchasing  an  interest  and  assum- 
ing editorial  control,  Mr.  Waters,  the 
former  editor,  retiring.  In  the  first  is- 
sue of  the  new  series,  December  26, 
1855,  the  following  salutatory  appears, 
from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Hampton: 

"In  taking  charge  of  the  editorial 
department  of  the  Enterprise^  becomes 
necessary  for  us  to  make  the  public  ac- 
quainted with  the  course  we  expect  to 
pursue  as  a  public  journalist. 

"It  is  hardly  necessary  for  us  to  say 
to  the  people  of  McDonough  county 
that  in  politics  we  are  a  whig.  Fifteen 
years  residence  here  preclude  any  such 
necessity.  But  in  these  times  of  politi- 
cal distraction,  it  may  be  well  enough 
for  us  to  say  to  you  that  we  still  have 
strong  attachments  for  those  principles 
which  were  imbibed  by  us  in  our  child- 
hood and  schoolboy  days.  Principles 
which  we  learned  from  the  mouths  of 
such  men  as  J.  Q.  Adams,  Clay  and 
Webster,  are  neither  forgotten  nor  for- 


saken by  us.  Believing  as  we  do  that 
the  measures  advocated  by  the  whig 
party  tend  more  to  the  welfare  of  the 
American  people,  than  the  measures  of 
any  other  party  that  has  been  organized 
in  our  government,  we  therefore  cling 
to  those  measures  or  principles  as  em- 
phatically the  principles  of  this  govern- 
ment; and  say,  that  notwithstanding  we 
have  many  times  been  defeated  by  the 
endearing  name  and  cry  of  democracy, 
yet  amid  all  our  defeats,  we  have  seen 
that  those  principles  have  been  steadily 
gaining  ground  in  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  that  some  of  them  have  been 
adopted  by  even  the  democratic  party 
in  the  state  of  Illinois  as  their  own.  We 
believe  the  time  is  coming,  and  not  very 
far  distant,  when  the  policy  of  the  whig 
party  will  be  the  policy  of  this  govern- 
ment. But  it  has  been  said  by  some 
politicians  that  the  whig  party  is  among 
the  parties  that  have  passed  away.  This 
we  do  not  believe;  but  even  should  this 
be  the  case,  that  as  a  party  it  is  dis- 
solved, its  principles  will  last  as  long  as 
the  government  exists  in  its  present 
form. 

"  There  is  at  the  present  time  an  issue 
before  the  American  people  which  seems 
as  though  it  would  swallow  up  all  others, 
and  so  it  probably  will,  for  the  present. 
We  allude  to  the  Kansas  question, which 
has  been  thrown  into  the  arena  by  the 
passage  of  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
bill,  and  palmed  off  on  the  country  by 
Douglas,  Atchison  and  company.  If 
this  is  to  be  made  the  only  issue,  and 
old  parties  and  principles  are  to  be  laid 
aside  until  the  question  is  settled,  we 
shall  be  found  to  the  utmost  of  our 
ability  doing  battle  against  this  notori- 


510 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ous  swindle;  ever  contending  for  free- 
dom in  free  territory.     Believing  as  we 
do  that  the  institution  of  slavery  is  a 
dark  spot  upon  the  free  face  of    our 
country,  we   shall  contend  that  it  shall 
be   confined  to  the  present  limits,  and 
not  be  permitted  to  spread  itself   over 
the  whole  face  of  our  country.     We  say, 
confine  it  where  it  is  until  the  sovereign 
people  of  the  states  where  it  now  exists, 
shall  be  able  to  see  the  spot  and  apply 
the  remedy  for  its  removal.     So  long  as 
the  lovers  of   this  peculiar  institution 
did  not  choose  to  force  the  extension  of 
its  baleful  influence,  we  did  not  feel  dis- 
posed to  meddle  with  it,  but  they  have 
sought  to  plant  its  dark  visage  upon  the 
the  fair  face  of   freedom.     We  cannot, 
therefore,f ail  to  raise  our  voice  against  it. 
"  But  whilst  to  some  extent  ours  will 
be  a  political   paper, we  shall  not  lose 
sight  of  other  things  necessary  to  make 
it  instructive  and  interesting  to  our  read- 
ers.     Agriculture,   commerce   and    the 
markets  will  not  be  neglected.     Temper- 
ance and  morality  will  receive   a  due 
share  of   attention.     We  shall  also  en- 
deavor to  keep  our  readers  posted  up  in 
regard   to  transpiring  events ;  flattering 
ourselves  that  we  have  such   arrange- 
ments that  we  can  give  the  latest  news 
upon  all  the  important  matters  of  the 
day. 

"  In  short,  we  expect  to  do  our  very 
best  to  make  the  Enterprise  what  a 
paper  should  be,  intended  for  circula- 
tion in  McDonough  county.  These  are 
some  of  our  promises,  but  in  order  that 
we  may  be  enabled  to  fulfill  them  to  the 
letter,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  that  we 
should  receive  a  fair  share  of  public 
patronage.  If  we  get  this,  we  have  no 


fears  of  the  result  of  our  Enterprise-, 
if  we  do  not,  we  cannot,  of  course,  pub- 
lish a  paper  and  live." 

The  Enterprise  was  started  as  a  whig 
paper,  by  the  original  owners,  and  would 
have  been  continued  as  such  had   it  not 
been  for  the   Kansas-Nebraska  legisla- 
tion and  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  com- 
promise.    Mr.  HamptoH,  the  new  editor, 
was  a  great  admirer  of  Fillmore  and  was 
strongly    attached  to    the  whig  party, 
but  was  also,  as  will  be  seen  by  his  salu- 
tatory, utterly  opposed  to  slavery.     In 
the  issue  of  the  paper  of  June  26,  1856, 
the  names  of  Fremont  and  Dayton  were 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  column  and 
their  election,  as  president  and  vice-pres- 
ident, advocated.     To  this   many  of  the 
patrons  and  friends  of  the  paper,  who 
were  favorable  to   the  election  of  Fill- 
more,  strongly  objected.     In  answer  to 
these  objections  there   appeared  in  the 
issue  of  the  paper  of  July  17th,  a  lengthy 
editorial,  reviewing  the  platform   upon 
which  that  gentleman  stood,  and  also  his 
speech  of  acceptance,  delivered  at  Al- 
bany after  his  nomination.  After  review- 
ing the  iniquity  and  fallacy  of  the  posi- 
tion taken,  the  article  concluded  as  fol- 
lows:    "This  is  their  course   of  reason- 
ing, and  was  it  not  for  this  we  could  have 
supported  Fillmore  with  all   our  hea*t; 
but  as  it  is  we  cannot  now  do  so.     Somje 
of  our  friends  may  condemn  our  course", 
and  we  understand  some    are    already 
doing  so.     To  such  we  say,   as  Brutus 
once  said  to  Rome:     If  there  be   any  of 
our  readers,  any  dear  friend  of  Fillmore, 
we  say  to  him  that  our  love  for  Fillmore 
was  no   less  than  his.     If,    then,    that 
friend  demands   why    we    rise   against 
Fillmore,  our  answer  is:     Not  that  we 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


511 


love  Fillmore  less,  but  that  we  love  our 
country  more." 

Under  the  management  of  Messrs. 
Hampton  and  Swan  the  paper  prospered 
and  it  soon  became  evident  that  the 
Enterprise  was  a  fixed  factor  in  journal- 
ism of  Macomb  and  McDonough  county. 
January  28,  1857,  Mr.  Swan  retired  from 
the  firm,  after  which  Mr.  Hampton  took 
into  partnership  F.  C.  Fowler,  continu- 
ing the  publication  under  this  manage- 
ment until  about  March,  1859,  when  Mr. 
Fowler  disposed  of  his  interest  to  J.  W. 
Nichols.  In  1860,  Mr.  Nichols  purchas- 
ed the  interest  of  B.  E.  Hampton,  assum- 
ing control  of  the  entire'  office  and 
changing  the  name  of  the  paper  to 

MILITARY  TKACT  JOURNAL. 

The  paper  was  continued  in  this  man- 
ner until  the  spring  of  1861,  when  James 
K.  Magie  purchased  a  half  interest  when 
the  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to 

MACOMB    JOURNAL, 

a  title  it  has  sustained  ever  since.  Mr. 
Magie  assumed  editorial  management, 
remaining  in  that  capacity  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  the  78th  regiment.  After  Mr. 
Magie  went  to  the  front,  Mr.  Nichols 
bjecame  editor  and  continued  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  paper  until  January,  1864, 
when  he  disposed  of  .his  interest  to  Mr. 
Magie,  and  T.  S.  Clarke  leased  the  office, 
and  became  editor.  In  August  of  that 
year,  Mr.  Clarke  associated  with  him, 
C.  L.  Sanders  in  editing  the  Journal, 
these  gentlemen  continuing  the  publica- 
tion of  the  same  until  Mr.  Magie  return- 
ed from  the  army,  in  June,  1865,  when 
that  gentleman  assumed  full  editorial 


charge  in  the  publication  of  his  paper. 
In  November  of  that  year,  B.  R.  Hamp- 
ton again  purchased  the  office,  continu- 
ing in  control  of  the  same  until  June  17, 
1870,  when  W.  H.  Hainline  purchased 
a  half  interest.  In  the  issue  of  the 
Journal  of  the  above  date  the  following 
announcement  appeared: 

"With  this  week's  paper  we  commence 
its  publication  under  a  new  arrange- 
ment, W.  H.  Hainline  coming  into  the 
office  as  a  partner.  The  growing  busi- 
ness of  the  office  has,  for  a  long  time, 
been  admonishing  me  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  increase  the  facilities  for  doing 
the  work,  and  also  of  the  necessity  of 
having  some  one  to  assist  in  the  editorial 
duties  and  business  management  of  the 
establishment.  In  the  person  of  Mr. 
Hainline,  who  is  not  only  a  straight  for- 
ward man  of  business,  but  also  a  ready 
writer,  the  Journal  patrons  will  find  the 
right  man  in  the  right  place.  I  take 
this  occasion  to  thank  the  many  friends 
of  the  paper  for  what  they  have  done  in 
the  past,  and  ask  that  they  continue 
their  favors  toward  it  under  the  new 
management." 

Following  the  above  paragraph  ap- 
pears a  few  explanatory  lines  from  the 
pen  of  Mr.  Hainline: 

"The  above  article  of  Mr.  Hampton's, 
with  due  allowance  for  the  flattering  re- 
marks, tells  the  whole  story.  As  Mr. 
Hampton  still  remains  at  the  head  of  the 
firm,  I  deem  it  unnecessary,  at  present, 
to  burden  the  paper  with  a  profusion  of 
promises  or  apologies,  trusting  to  time, 
which  tries  all,  and  a  public  who  will 
decide  rightly,  whether  I  succeed  or  fail. 
With  them  I  leave  the  verdict." 

The  Journal  always  appeared  in  folio 


512 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


form  until  February  8, 1880,  when  it  was 
changed  to  a  six  column  quarto,  a  style 
which  it  still  sustains.  Hampton  & 
Hainline  continued  as  publishers  of  the 
Journal  until  January  3,  1881,  when 
Mr.  Hampton  disposed  of  his  interest  to 
the  junior  member  of  the  firm.  In  as- 
suming sole  control  and  management, 
the  following  salutatory  from  the  pen  of 
Mr.  Hainline  appears  in  the  paper  of 
the  above  date: 

"Mr.  Hampton,  who  retires,  has  been 
the  senior  of  the  firm ;  he  has  been  the 
known  element  of  whatever  course  the 
paper  took,  or  whatever  force  it  exerted 
on  the  questions  that  came  up.  If  the 
public  approved,  he  generously  divided 
the  award;  if  the  contrary,  he  was  wil- 
ling to  take  on  his  broad  shoulders  the 
lion's  share  of  the  blame. 

"More  than  this:  he  has  been  my 
friend.  One  that  has  stood  by  me 
through  evil  as  well  as  good  report,  and 
did  I  feel  other  than  sadness  at  our 
separation,  I  should  be  ungrateful  in- 
deed. As  stated  by  him,  our  business 
relations  have  been  pleasant.  Never  to 
my  knowledge  has  a  harsh  or  unfriendly 
word  characterized  a  single  business  ar- 
rangement of  the  firm,  during  the  11 
years  (almost)  that  I  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  paper,  and  consequently 
with  him  in  business. 

"In  his  retirement  that  not  alone  am 
I  the  loser  so  far  as  the  Journal  is  con- 
cerned. The  reader  will  npte  his  ab- 
sence from  the -paper,  and  with  all  the 
efforts  I  may  make,  I  fear  I  shall  not 
(for  sometime  at  least)  supply  the  place 
made  vacant  when  he  resigned  this  edi- 
torial chair. 


"And  so  it  is  that  the  partnership  of 
the  Journal  firm  dissolves.  We  sepa- 
rate with  kindly  feelings,  and  Mr.  Hamp- 
ton has  my  earnest  wishes  for  prosperity 
in  all  his  undertakings;  and  I  sincerely 
believe  he  wishes  me  as  well.  We  are 
no  longer  associated  in  business,  but  we 
still  remain  friends. 

"In  closing,  I  will  say  a  brief  word  in 
reference  to  the  course  of  the  Journal 
in  the  future.  As  when  I  started  into 
the  business  11  years  ago,  I  made  no 
promises,  only  that  I  would  do  my  best 
and  allow  the  public  to  judge;  so  do  I 
now  renew  the  statement.  In  discussing 
questions,  I  shall  aim  to  do  by  others  as 
I  would  have  them  do  by  me.  In  poli- 
tics, the  Journal  will  continue  to  advo- 
cate the  glorious  principles  of  republi- 
canism, the  corner  stone  of  which  is 
'equal  and  exact  privileges  of  all  before 
the  law;'  or  in  plainer,  though  homelier 
language,  concede  to  every  man  in  poli- 
tics the  same  rights  it  claims  for  itself, 
and  ask  no  duties  or  burdens  placed 
upon  another  that  it  is  not  willing  to 
also  take  upon  itself. 

"And  now  to  the  thousands  of  patrons 
of  the  Journal)  I  respectfully  request  a 
a  continuance  of  your  former  generous 
patronage;  and  to  those  who  are  not 
subscribers,  would  say  there  is  room  for 
all  in  'The  Journal  family.'  And  to 
one  and  all,  judge  short-comings  leni- 
ently." 

In  the  issue  of  January  3,  1884,  the 
following  announcement  appears,  in  re- 
gard to  the  organization  of  the  present 
management  of  the  Journal: 

"This  week  and  after,  the  Journal  is 
issued  by  a  joint  stock  company,  organ- 
ized under  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Illi- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


513 


nois.  The  stockholders  are  W.  H.  Ham- 
line,  Mrs.  W.  H.  Hainline,  Walter  L. 
Piper  and  A.  J.  Hainline.  The  editorial 
management  will  be  under  the  control 
of  the  first  named,  as  heretofore,  and  the 
mechanical  department  under  the  super- 
vision of  Walter  L.  Piper.  The  owner- 
ship of  the  office  is  the  same  as  for  the 
past  year,  but  owing  to  unequal  partner- 
ship it  was  deemed  best  to  incorporate. 
The  name  of  the  incorporation  is  "The 
Macomb  Journal  Printing  Company." 
Under  this  company  name  the  paper 
will  hereafter  be  published,  and  the 
business  of  the  office  conducted." 

The  Journal  is  the  recognized  lead- 
ing republican  organ  of  McDonough 
county,  and  in  circulation  ranks  fore- 
most. The  paper  is  six  columns,  eight 
pages  in  size,  neatly  printed,  and  mani- 
festing in  its  make-up  the  oversight  of  a 
practical  printer  of  first-class  ability; 
ably  edited,  and  with  a  large  amount  of 
spicy  locals  and  pungent  editorial  com- 
ment. 

.William  H.  Hainline  was  born  in 
Emmet  township.  McDonough  county, 
July  29,  1841,  and  has  been  a  continu- 
ous resident  of  the  county  from  that  date, 
and  therefore  may  be  classed  as  an  old 
settler.  His  parents  were  John  D.  and 
Margaret  A.  Hainline,  who  immigrated 
from  the  state  of  Kentucky  at  an  early 
day,  the  father  yet  residing  upon  the  old 
homestead  in  Emmet  township.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  spent  his  child- 
hood and  youth  upon  the  farm,  his  life 
being  varied  by  work  in  the  summer  and 
attendance  upon  the  district  school  in 
the  winter.  With  the  exception  of  three 
months  his  entire  schooling  was  received 
in  one  district.  Until  18  years  of  age  he 


continued  to  work  for  his  father.  At  that 
time  the  country  was  excited  by  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  Pike's  Peak,  when  he 
persuaded  his  father  to  let  him  seek  his 
fortune  in  that  new  Eldorado.     Going  to 
the  Peak  he  labored  about  three  weeks  in 
the  mines,  when  not  being  satisfied  with 
the  prospects,   he  returned  home,  thor- 
oughly cured  of  the  "gold  fever,"  and 
willing  enough  to  take  his  place  behind 
the  plow,  and  turn  gold  out  of  the  black 
soil  of  Illinois.     In  farm  work  he  con- 
tinued until  the  boom  of  the  cannon  was 
heard  reverberating  from  Fort  Sumpter, 
when,  hastening  to  Macomb,  on  the  19th 
day  of  April,  1861,  he   enlisted  in  Cap- 
tain Ralston' s  company,  under  the  first 
call  of  the  president  for  75,000  men,  but 
on  account  of  the  lack  of  transportation, 
the  company  could  not  leave  Macomb  in 
time,  and    therefore   failed  to  be  num- 
bered with  the  first  quota.     A  call  of  the 
state  had  in  the    meantime  been  made 
for  ten  regiments,  and  this  company  was 
sworn  in  for  30  days,  and  afterward,  on 
the    24th  of  May,  1861,  mustered  into 
the  United  States  service  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war,  becoming  company 
H,  16th  Illinois  infantry.     During  the 
war  was  taken  literally  by  Mr.  Hainline, 
and  five  months  before  the  expiration  of 
his  three  years'  service,  he  re-enlisted  as 
a  veteran,  and  continued  with  his  regi- 
ment until  the  proclamation  of  peace  was 
issued,  and  the  regiment  mustered  out 
on  the  8th  of  July,  1865.     In  every  cam- 
paign in  which  the  regiment  participated 
he  bore   his  part,   and  in  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  in  front  of  Atlanta, 
on  the  20th  of  July,  1864,  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  and    five   days  thereafter  was 
placed  in  the    prison  pen  of  Anderson- 


514 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ville.  For  two  months  he  was  confined 
at  that  place,  where  the  prisoners  were 
dying  at  the  rate  of  100  each  day,  of 
starvation  and  exposure,  the  rebels  re- 
fusing to  take  any  measures  to  better 
their  condition.  On  returning  home, 
Mr.  Hainline,  the  following  fall,  received 
from  his  party  the  nomination  for  the 
office  of  county  treasurer,  and,  notwith- 
standing the  objection  raised  against 
him  on  account  of  his  youth,  and  that  he 
ran  against  the  most  popular  man  in  the 
ranks  of  the  opposition,  he  was  triumph- 
antly elected.  The  amount  of  his  bond 
was  $650,000,  owing  to  the  heavy  bounty 
tax,  but  had  it  been  $2,000,000  it  would 
have  been  given.  In  the  discharge  of 
his  duties  he  gave  perfect  satisfaction  to 
men  of  all  parties,  and  in  the  two  years 
of  his  service  he  handled  more  money 
than  any  treasurer  in  the  county  has 
ever  done  in  the  same  length  of  time. 
Shortly  after  the  expiration  of  his  term 
of  office  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
drug  store  of  P.  H.  Delaney,  continuing 
in  that  business  until  the  fall  of  1869. 
On  the  12th  day  of  June,  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Victoria  Shleich, 
of  Fulton  county.  Three  children  were 
the  result  of  this  union,  one  of  whom 
died  in  infancy;  the  other  two  are  Maud 
S.,  born  September  29,  1869:  and  Millie 
D.,  born  June  1,  1872.  Mrs.  Hainline, 
who  was  a  most  excellent  woman,  de- 
parted this  life  February  24,  1874.  In 
June,  Mr.  Hainline  purchased  a  half  in- 
terest in  the  Macomb  Journal,  ttye  lead- 
ing paper  of  the  city,  and  became  asso- 
ciate editor.  As  a  local  writer  he  ranks 
among  the  best  in  the  state,  and  in  the 
advocacy  of  his  political  views  he  never 
fails  to  make  himself  understood,  and 


always  takes  advance  ground  upon  all 
questions  of  the  day.  In  February, 
1881,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  since  which  time  he  has  re- 
mained sole  editor.  On  January  24, 
1879,  he  was  married  to  Catherine  L. 
Voorhees.  By  this  union  there  has  been 
one  child,  Jean  L.,  born  June  30,  1883. 
In  addition  to  the  office  of  county  treas- 
urer, Mr.  Hainline  has  held  the  office  of 
alderman  of  the  First  ward,  Macomb, 
for  two  years,  and  represented  the  city 
as  a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
for  three  years.  In  the  discharge  of 
all  his  official  duties  he  labors  faithfully 
to  advance  the  best  interests  of  his  con- 
stituents, being  alive  to  all  questions  of 
public  good. 

THE   MACOMB  EAGLE. 

The  journal  with  the  above  name,  the 
leading  representative  of  the  democratic 
press  of  McDonough  county  of  the  pres- 
ent day,  was  established  in  October, 
1856,  by  R.  M.  Eoyalty  and  W.  E.  Avise, 
the  former  gentleman  acting  as  editor. 
The  first  paper  bears  the  date  of  Octo- 
ber 18,  and  was  a  neat,  sprightly,  seven 
column  folio,  of  new  material  and  ex- 
cellent dress.  On  presenting  the  paper 
to  their  patrons  and  friends,  Mr.  Roy- 
alty made  the  following  remarks,  by 
way  of  a  salutatory: 

"Our  barque  is  on  the  tide!  In 
launching  out  upon  the  troubled  sea  of 
public  opinion,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to 
state  briefly,  what  course  we  design  pur- 
suing, and  what  preparations  we  have 
made  for  the  voyage. 

"Impressed  with  the  importance  of 
establishing  a  permanent  and  reliable 
democratic  newspaper  at  Macomb,  for 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


515 


the  dissemination  of  political  and  general 
intelligence,  and  yielding  to  the  solicita- 
tions of  a  large  number  of  our  most  re- 
spectable and  influential  fellow  citizens, 
in  different  sections  of  the  county,  we 
were  induced  to  embark  in  the  present 
undertaking,  believing  that  the  publica- 
tion of  a  well-conducted  county  paper, 
would  ultimately  prove  mutually  benefi- 
cial to  our  patrons  and  ourselves.  To 
this  end,  we  have  procured  entirely  new 
presses,  types  and  fixture — sparing  no 
pains  or  expense  to  render  the  establish- 
ment complete  in  all  its  departments. 
Belying  solely  upon  our  own  exertions, 
and  the  intelligence  and  public  spirit  of 
the  people  of  McDonongh  county,  for 
remuneration,  and  urging  no  claim  upon 
them  for  patronage,  other  than  their 
own  sense  of  the  propriety  of  sustaining 
such  an  enterprise,  as  the  readiest  means 
of  promoting  public  and  private  inter- 
ests, we,  this  morning,  lay  the  first 
number  of  the  Macomb  Eagle  before 
them,  for  their  approval  or  rejection — 
willing  that  this  and  succeeding  num- 
bers, however  imperfect,  shall  speak  for 
themselves. 

"To  those  familiar  with  our  political 
opinions  and  course  heretofore,  little 
need  be  said  as  to  what  policy  we  shall 
pursue  in  the  publication  of  the  Eagle. 
It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  it 
will  be  unequivocally  democratic  in  its 
proclivities,  and  will  battle  earnestly  for 
that  glorious  political  faith,  handed 
down  to  us  by  Jefferson,  Madison  and 
Jackson,  under  the  honest  conviction 
that  upon  the  success  of  democratic 
measures,  depends  the  perpetuity  of  our 
civil  and  religious  institutions.  Re- 
garding the  democratic  party  as  the 


only  strictly  national  and  conservative 
organization  in  the  pale  of  the  American 
union,  and  the  democratic  creed  as  the 
only  one  consistent  with  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  the  federal  constitution  and 
laws,  we  shall  scrupuously  adhere  to  the 
cardinal  principles  of  that  party,  and,  to 
the  extent  of  our  humble  abilities,  use 
our  best  endeavors  to  insure  its  success. 
In  doing  this,  however,  we  shall  en- 
deavor, on  all  occasions,  to  maintain  a 
dignified  tone,  and  treat  our  opponents 
with  a  deference  and  respect  due  to 
those  who  may  honestly  differ  with  us 
upon  the  great  political  and  moral 
questions  of  the  day,  conceding  to  them 
an  equal  right  to  the  undisturbed  enjoy- 
ment of  their  opinions;  and,  under  no 
circumstances,  will  we  insult  our  read- 
ers, or  compromise  our  claims  to  self- 
respect,  by  descending  to  the  use  of 
slang  and  low  invective.  While  we 
respect  an  honorable,  candid,  and  manly 
competitor,  we  cannot,  and  will  not,  stoop 
to  the  level  of  those  rabid  partisans, who 
are  ever  wallowing  in  the  filthy  and 
noisome  cesspools  of  billingsgate  and 
personal  detraction. 

"Upon  the  vexed  and  much  abused 
slavery  question — as  upon  all  other  im- 
portant issues  before  the  people — it  is 
needless  to  say  that  we  stand  firm  and 
immutable  upon  the  national  democratic 
platform  of  1856.  Looking  upon  negro 
slavery,  as  it  exists  in  the  United  States, 
as  a  domestic  institution,  exclusively  lo- 
cal or  sectional  in  its  character,  and  de- 
precating every  attempt  to  make  it  na- 
tional, we  are  willing  to  leave  it  where 
the  constitution  places  it,  in  the  hands 
of  the  people  themselves,  to  receive  or 
reject  as  they  may  deem  proper.  This 


516 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


we  regard  as  one  of  the  especial  prerog- 
atives of  the  individual  states,  without 
which  they  cannot  be  free  and  indepen- 
dent sovereignties — congress,  in  our 
humble  opinion,  having  no  right  to  in- 
terfere with  the  domestic  affairs  of  the 
states. 

"Politics,  however,  will  not  receive  ex- 
clusive attention.  Literature,  education, 
agriculture,  improvements,  the  market, 
domestic  and  foreign  news,  etc.,  will  be 
duly  honored,  our  facilities  being  such 
that  we  expect  to  be  able  to  furnish  our 
readers  with  the  latest  and  most  reliable 
intelligence  from  all  quarters;  and  no 
pains  will  be  spared  to  render  the  Eagle 
acceptable  to  the  reading  public. 

"Having  thus  hastily  sketched  the  out- 
lines, in  part,  of  the  course  we  intend  to 
pursue,  we  send  forth  the  Eagle  upon  its 
mission,  trusting  it  may  find  a  welcome 
reception  at  the  hands  of  every  good  cit- 
izen. 

"To  the  fraternity  at  large,  we  make 
our  most  profound  salaam,  and  proffer 
our  right  Jg@ri'  in  token  of  that  amity 
and  good  feeling,  which  we  earnestly 
hope  may  ever  characterize  our  inter- 
course with  the  craft." 

But  the  well  laid  plans  so  often  made 
are  apt  to  be  broken  by  circumstances 
over  which  we  have  no  control,  for,three 
weeks  later  the  paper  was  obliged  to  sus- 
pend publication  for  lack  of  funds.  Jan- 
uary 3,  1857,  however,  the  paper  was  re- 
vived, G.  T.  Mitchell  entering  into  part- 
nership with  Mr.  Avise  in  its  publica- 
tion, since  which  time  the  Eagle  has  ap- 
peared continuously.  In  the  issue  of 
March  7,  1857,  Nelson  Abbott  appears  as 
one  of  the  editors  and  proprietors,  Mr. 
Avise  retiring,  although  no  mention  was 


made  of  the  change.  January  9,  1858, 
Mr.  Mitchell  retired  and  the  paper  was 
continued  by  Mr.  Abbott  until  February 
11,  1865,  when  he  disposed  of  the  office 
to  J.  H.  Hungate,  who  secured  the  ser- 
vices of  J.  B.  Naylor,  as  editor.  In  se- 
vering his  Connection  with  the  paper, 
Mr.  Abbott  penned  the  following  fare- 
well, which  appeared  in  the  issue  of  the 
above  date: 

"With  the  issue  of  the  present  num- 
ber, my  connection  with  the  Eagle  es- 
tablishment ceases.  I  have  sold  the  con- 
cern to  Mr.  J.  H.  Hungate,  of  this  city. 

"It  has  been  known  to  many  of  my 
friends  for  over  a  year  past"  I  have  de- 
sired to  be  released  from  the  business. 
Failing  health  and  the  advice  of  physi- 
cians to  seek  another  occupation,  are  the 
chief  reasons  that  have  caused  this  step. 

"Eight  years  ago  this  month  I  took 
charge  of  this  paper.  It  was  then  just 
straggling  into  existence,  and  from  that 
hour  to  this  it  has  been  conducted  under 
my  sole  supervision.  What  it  has  ac- 
complished in  this  time  needs  no  re- 
counting now.  That  has  become  part  of 
the  history  of  this  county. 

"I  may  have  committed  errors.  Few 
men  do  not.  But  I  do  not  call  to  mind 
any  instance  in  which,  with  present 
light,  I  should  have  acted  differently.  I 
may  have  given  offense  to  corrupt,  fan- 
atical, or  hypocritical  men.  If  so,  the 
only  apology  I  have  to  offer  is,  the  hope 
that  they  may  live  the  life  of  better  men 
in  the  future. 

"To  the  many  friends  who  have  stood 
by  me  'through  evil  as  well  as  good  re- 
port,' I  can  only  return  my  warmest  ac- 
knowledgements and  pray  for  blessings 
on  their  heads.  I  shall  ever  cherish  with 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


517 


a  fond  recollection  the  many  acts  of  kind- 
ness and  friendship  which  have  been  ex- 
tended to  me  by  the  democrats  of  Mc- 
Donough  county.  If  they  have  not  re- 
ceived that  recompense  which  should 
have  been  rendered,  I  feel  assured  they 
will  not  charge  the  failure  to  lack  of  will 
or  earnest  effort. 

"It  is  no  small  consolation,  in  retiring, 
to  know  that  I  leave  the  Eagle  in  faith- 
ful and  able  hands.  Mr.  Hungate  will 
be  found  altogether  worthy  of  the  confi- 
dence of  the  democrats  of  this  county. 
The  high  standard  of  the  paper  for  dem- 
ocratic integrity  will  not  be  lowered, 
while  in  editorial  ability  it  will  be 
strengthened. 

"With  my  best  wishes  for  its  prosper- 
ity, and  warmest  regards  to  its  patrons, 
I  bid  one  and  all  good-bye!" 

Mr.  Hungate  continued  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Eagle  with  J.  B.  Nay  lor,  ed- 
itor, only  about  six  months,  when  he  sold 
the  office  to  the  present  proprietor, 
Charles  H.  Whitaker.  In  the  first  issue 
under  the  new  management,  September 
30,  1865,  appeared  the  following  vale- 
dictory of  Mr.  Naylor,  and  also  the  salu- 
tatory of  the  new  editor  and  proprietor: 

"  With  the  last  week's  issue,  my  con- 
nection with  the  Eagle  ceased.  This 
fact  would  have  been  announced  last 
week,  had  the  purchaser,  Mr.  C.  H.  Whit- 
aker arrived  in  time  to  have  made  it 
known.  It  has  been  but  a  little  over  six 
months  since  we  took  charge  of  the 
Ea,yle,  during  which  time,  the  circula- 
tion of  the  paper  has  largely  increased 
and  we  can  safely  say  that  no  country 
paper  in  the  state,  has  a  better  advertis- 
ing and  job  patronage.  We  thank  the 
good  people  of  Macomb  and  McDon- 


ough  county,  who,  without  regard  to 
party,  have  given  us  many  encouraging 
words,  and  for  their  many  generous  acts 
of  kindness  and  liberality.  We  shall 
ever  cherish  their  names  fondly  in  mem- 
ory*. We  leave  the  office,  we  believe, 
with  the  good  will  of  all;  and  on  our 
part,  certainly  with  no  malice  or  ill-will 
toward  any.  We  now  transfer  the 
Eagle  to  Mr.  C.  H.  Whitaker,  late  of 
Missouri,  who  has  had  a  number  of 
years  experience  in  the  publishing  busi- 
ness, and  is  a  thorough  printer  and  an 
able  writer.  In  his  hands,  we  have  no 
doubt  the  Eagle  will  soon  rank  second 
to  no  paper  in  the  state.  In  politics,  the 
Eagle  will  still,continue  to  be  an  advo- 
cate of  democratic  principles,  Mr.  Whit- 
aker believing  that  upon  them  rests  the 
stability  and  future  happiness  of  the 
grand  old  republic. 

"  We  bespeak  for  him  the  same  hearty 
and  cordial  support,  on  the  part  of  the 
democracy,  which  they  have  ever  shown 
toward  us.  Mr.  Whitaker  has  been, 
during  the  war,  in  Missouri,  between 
two  fires — that  of  the  rebels  on  one 
hand,  and  the  radicals  on  the  other ;  hav- 
ing had  an  office  destroyed  in  Septem- 
ber, 1861,  by  the  rebels,  and  another  by 
the  radicals,  in  September,  1863. 

"  To  our  neighbor  of  the  Journal  we 
bid  adieu,  and  return  our  thanks  for  the 
many  courtesies  and  favors  shown  us, 
and  wish  him  abundant  success  in  bas- 
ket and  store. 

"  And  now  to  our  friends,  one  and  all, 
we  say  farewell." 

"  The  above  card  of  Mr.  Naylor,  ex- 
plains the  change  which  this  week  takes 
place  in  the  management  of  the  Eagle. 
To  those  who  have  known  us,  it  is  hardly 


518 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


necessary  to  say  that  we  have  been  con- 
nected with  the  press  in  Missouri  for 
the  past  ten  years,  during  which  time 
the  trying  ordeals  of  war  have  not  only 
devastated  that  state,  but  the  military 
power  have  exercised  a  despotic  and  'ty- 
rannical surveillance  over  the  liberty  of 
speech,  and  the  sacred  and  estimable 
blessings  of  a  free  press.  We  have  al- 
ways and  on  all  occasions,  maintained 
the  right  to  support  that  which  is  just 
and  have  always  denounced  that  which 
we  conceived  to  be  unjust.  For  de- 
nouncing the  unjust  restrictions  of  sou- 
thern rebels,  and  bitterly  opposing  the 
blue  laws  and  orders  of  military  tyrants 
and  abolition  subalterns,  it  has  been  our 
fortune  to  conduct  our  paper  under  the 
most  perplexing  and  trying  difficulties. 
Such  has  been  the  bad  state  of  affairs 
where  extremists  and  fanatics  hold 
sway,  that  the  press  dare  not  criticise 
the  actions  of  local  military,  without 
subjecting  its  editors  to  arrest  and  im- 
prisonment, and  when  released  upon 
bond,  they  are  denied  either  a  civil  or 
military  trial,  showing  clearly  that  where 
the  military  are  unable  to  have  the  press 
conducted  to  suit  their  own  individual 
sense  of  propriety,  they  assume  the  au- 
thority, because  they  have  the  power  to 
put  a  surveillance  over  the  press,  and 
knowing  that  no  disloyal  act  has  been 
committed,  or  disloyal  language  pub- 
lished, they  refuse  even  a  trial,  thus 
evading  and  skulking  about  like  bush- 
whackers, because  they  know  themselves 
to  be  the  violators  of  military,  as  well  as 
constitutional  law. 

"  To  the  patrons  of  the  Eagle  we  de- 
sire to  say  that  we  shall  advocate  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party,  be- 


lieving those  principles  are  better  calcu- 
lated to  secure  and  maintain  the  liberty 
and  freedom  of  the  white  man;  while 
the  principles  of  the  republican  party 
are  only  for  the  securing  of  liberty  and 
freedom  for  the  negro  race,  and  bring- 
ing white  down  to  the  level  of  the  black. 
We  shall  spare  no  pains  or  expense  to 
give  our  patrons  a  live  hcme  paper,  and 
one  which  will  prove  a  welcome  visitor 
to  every  fireside.  The  moral  and  liter- 
ary tone  of  the  Eagle  will  receive  our 
careful  attention,  while  the  local  and 
miscellaneous  departments  will  contain 
the  latest  and  choicest  gleanings. 

"  Hoping  to  be  able  to  make  the  Eagle 
every  way  worthy  and  deserving  of  the 
support  and  patronage  of  the  good  peo- 
ple of  Macomb  and  McDonough  county, 
and  hoping  that  in  future  our  acquain- 
tance with  our  patrons  and  friends  may 
be  mutually  pleasant  and  instructive, 
we  shall  buckle  on  our  armor  editorial 
and  enter  upon  the  discharge  of  the  du- 
ties of  the  tripod." 

At  that  time  the  Eagle  was  published  as  a 
seven  column  folio,  and  made  a  very  poor 
appearance,  mechanically.  But  by  the 
purchase  of  new  type,  enlargement,  etc., 
under  its  present  management,  this  jour- 
nal occupies  the  foremost  rank  in  typo- 
graphical neatness.  The  Eagle  has  al- 
ways rested  solely  upon  its  merits,  and 
has  always  stood  for  its  intrinsic  worth. 
Charles  H.  Whitaker,  the  editor,  is  well 
fitted  for  the  responsibility  of  the  posi- 
tion, bringing  to  it  a  mind  above  the  av- 
erage, a  keen,  trenchant  pen,  and  a  jour- 
nalistic courtesy  rarely  found  in  the 
craft.  The  paper  has  ever  supported  the 
principles  of  the  democratic  party,  and 
has  wielded  considerable  influence  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


519 


moulding  the  course  of  local  politics  in 
this  district. 

Hon.  Charles  H.  Whitaker  was  born  in 
Huntingdon,  Pennsylvania,  September 
13,  1836.  His  parents,  Irwin  H.  and 
Ann  E.  Whitaker,  were  both  natives  of 
Danville,  Montour  county,  Pennsylvania. 
In  1838  his  parents  came  .west,  locating 
in  Canton,  Illinois.  Here  the  mother  died, 
October  11, 1841,  aged  27  years.  In  1849 
the  cholera  scourge  swept  across  the 
country,  and  the  father  was  its  second 
victim  in  Canton,  dying  on  July  17,  at 
the  age  of  38  years. 

By  his  father's  death  young  Whitakej 
was  left  alone  in  the  world  at  the  age  of 
17  years.  He  began  at  the  bottom  round 
of  the  ladder,  entering  the  office  of  the 
Canton  Register  as  errand  boy  and  car- 
rier, and  one  year  afterward  commenced 
his  regular  apprenticeship  at  the  print- 
er's trade.  Two  years  afterward  he  went 
to  Savannah,  Mo.,  to  live  with  his  mater- 
nal grand-parents,  and  here  he  soon  after- 
wards engaged  in  clerking  for  his  uncle, 
H.  T.  Walker,  the  largest  mercantile 
dealer  in  the  place. 

In  1854,  at  the  age  of  18  years,  he  first 
engaged  in  editorial  work.  Hon.  Chas. 
F.  Holly,  proprietor  of  the  Savannah 
Sentinel,  the  leading  Benton  democratic 
organ  of  Northwest  Missouri,  being  de- 
tained in  Nebraska  City,  Nebraska,  much 
of  the  time  by  legal  business,  employed 
young  Whitaker  to  take  charge  of  his 
paper  and  edit  it. 

In  the  fall  of  1855,  during  the  border 
ruffian  excitement  of  Kansas,  Mr.  Whit- 
aker was  employed  to  conduct  the  Weston 
( Mo. )  Reporter  by  the  editor,  Hon.  Sam- 
uel J.  Finch  who  was  occupied  by  legis- 
lative duties  in  Jefferson  City.  Weston 


at  that  time  was  one  of  the  most  flourish- 
ing towns  on  the  Missouri  river,  and  as 
Hon.  David  R.  Atchison,  the  anti-Ben- 
ton  leader,  resided  but  a  few  miles  from 
town,  it  was  an  important  political  point. 
Weston  was  also  the  home  of  General 
Ben.  F.  Stringfellow,  the  reputed  orga- 
nizer and  leader  of  the  first  raid  on  Law- 
rence, Kansas,  and  the  Reporter,  under 
Mr.  Whitaker,  denounced  him  and  his 
border  ruffian  outlaws  in  scathing  and 
unmeasured  terms.  For  several  months 
the  Reporter  conducted  a  single-handed 
fight  against  the  Weston  Argus,  the 
Atchison  Squatter  Sovereign,  and  the 
Leavenworth  Herald,  all  anti-Benton 
organs  endorsing  the  border  outrages — 
the  latter  paper  being  edited  by  H.  Eives 
Pollard,  since  a  noted  editor  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia.  The  Reporter,  as  an 
uncompromising  Benton  organ,  and  the 
unsparing  foe  of  the  border  outlaws, 
quickly  sprang  into  wide  prominence  over 
the  whole  state. 

In  March,  1856,  he  went  to  St.  Louis 
and  engaged  as  river  and  local  reporter 
on  Kennedy's  Commercial  List,  but  in 
December  of  that  year  he  returned  to 
Savannah  and  assumed  editorial  charge 
of  the  North-  West  Democrat, then  owned 
by  L.  D.  Carter  &  Co.,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1859  he  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  Missouri  Plaindealer,  a  democratic 
paper,  at  Savannah. 

On  the  14th  of  March,  1861,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  M.  E.  Selecman,  and  on 
February  22, 1862,  their  only  son,  Charles 
H.  Whitaker,  Jr.,  was  born  to  them. 

The  Plaindealer  vigorously  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  Union.  Because  of  ob- 
jectionable and  seditious  articles,  the 
office  of  the,  rival  democratic  paper,  the 


520 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


North-West  Democrat,  was  visited  by 
Col.  Peabody's  force  of  the  regular  army, 
and  the  presses,  type,  etc.,  carried  to 
their  camp  at  St.  Joseph.  Col.  Peabody 
being  ordered  to  Lexington  with  his  reg- 
iment to  reinforce  Mulligan,  several 
weeks  later,  the  rebels  from  Camp  High- 
ly, ten  miles  distant,  undertook  retalia- 
tory measures,  and  by  order  of  Col.  San- 
ders, Mr.  Whitaker  was  arrested,  while 
the  Plaindealer  material,  eta,  was  also 
loaded  up  and  hauled  away  to  the  rebel 
camp.  The  rebels  attempted  to  set  the 
press  up  again  in  their  camp,  but  sev- 
eral needful  pieces  were  mysteriously 
missing,  and  the  task  was  given  over. 
Several  days  after  Mr.  Whitaker  dodged 
through  the  rebel  picket  lines  and  es- 
caped into  Iowa,  where  he  remained  un- 
til the  Federal  troops  under  Cols.  Kim- 
ball  and  Cranor  moved  down  and  occu- 
pied Camp  Highly — the  rebels  having 
left  a  few  days  before.  Mr.  Whitaker 
regained  a  part  of  his  printing  material, 
the  Confederates  having  moulded  much 
of  his  type  into  bullets,  and  carried  away 
the  more  valuable  portions  of  his  press. 
A  few  weeks  later  he  purchased  a  new 
press  and  again  commenced  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Plaindealer.  The  Plain- 
dealer  fearlessly  denounced  the  excesses 
committed  by  Federal  soldiers,  and  the 
Savannah  postmaster — who  had  sudden- 
ly turned  loyal — refused  to  distribute 
the  paper  through  the  post  office  boxes. 
Mr.  Whitaker  wrote,  stating  the  facts  of 
the  case  to  his  friend,  Gen.  Frank  P. 
Blair,  then  in  front  of  Vicksburg.  The 
latter  referred  the  matter  to  his  brother, 
Montgomery  Blair,  then  postmaster-gen- 
eral under  President  Lincoln,who  issued 
to  Mr.  Whitaker  a  commission  as  post- 


master at  Savannah.  The  obnoxious 
postmaster  refusing  to  surrender  the  of- 
fice, after  being  requested  several  times 
to  do  so,  he  was  forcibly  dispossessed  by 
a  company  of  Federal  soldiers,  and  Mr. 
Whitaker  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the 
office. 

In  December,  1862,  Mr.  Whitaker  was 
elected  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  Missouri 
legislature,  holding  this  position  for  a 
term  of  two  years.  On  the  last  day  of 
the  session  Speaker  Marvin  paid  a  glow- 
ing tribute  to  the  efficiency  of  the  ser- 
geant, and  commendatory  resolutions 
were  unanimously  passed  by  the  house. 

In  the  fall  of  1863  Mr.  Whitaker  re- 
cruited company  M,  of  the  9th  Missouri 
cavalry  (known  as  Gen.  Odon  Guitar's 
old  regiment),  John  F.  Williams,  colonel. 
Soon  afterwards  he  was  appointed  adju- 
tant of  Col.  H.  B.  Branch's  regiment, 
which  was  enlisted  under  the  special  au- 
thority of  Gov.  Gamble,  and  though  the 
regiment  was  assigned  to  local  duty  in 
Northwest  Missouri,  the  United  States 
government  clothed  and  armed  it  for 
service.  This  regiment  acted  as  a  check 
upon  the  lawlessness  and  depredations 
which  had  heretofore  been  committed  by 
the  extremists  of  both  Northern  and 
Southern  factions. 

In  September,  1865,  Mr.  Whitaker 
came  to  Macomb  with  his  family,  having 
purchased  the  Macomb  Eagle,  then  the 
only  democratic  paper  in  McDonough 
county,  of  which  paper  he  assumed  edito- 
rial control  the  25th  of  September. 
Under  his  management  the  Eagle  has 
always  been  a  fearless  and  ardent  advo- 
cate of  democratic  principles.  As  such 
it  has  become  widely  known  as  an  influ- 
ential and  ably  conducted  newspaper, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


521 


and  has  prospered  financially.  During 
the  years  1868  and  1869  Mr.  Whitaker 
also  owned  and  dictated  the  editorial 
policy  of  the  Virginia,  Cass  county,  (111. ) 
Democrat. 

In  politics  Mr.  Whitaker  has  always 
been  an  uncompromising  advocate  of 
democratic  principles,  and  has  attairfed 
considerable  prominence  in  state  demo- 
cratic councils.  In  1872  he  was  selected 
to  represent  his  congressional  district  on 
the  state  democratic  central  committee, 
a  position  which  he  has  held  continu- 
ously ever  since.  In  1876  he  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  national  democratic  conven- 
tion at  St.  Louis,  voting  first  for  Thomas 
A.  Hendricks  for  president,  but  after- 
wards for  Samuel  J.  Tilden.  In  Novem- 
ber of  the  same  year  he  was  elected  to 
represent  the  27th  senatorial  district  in 
the  lower  house  of  the  30th  general  as- 
sembly, by  the  democracy  of  Warren  and 
McDonough  counties. 

MACOMB  LEDGER. 

The  venture  in  the  journalistic  field  of 
the  above  name,  made  its  first  appear- 
ance September  19,  1866.  It  was  a  seven 
column  folio,  independent  in  politics, 
and  edited  and  published  by  T.  S.  Clarke. 
It  lived  only  about  four  weeks.  It  was 
a  sprightly  local  sheet  and  had  it  been 
continued,  it  might  have  proven  suc- 
cessful. B.  R.  Hampton  purchased  the 
material  of  the  defunct  paper,  and  ship- 
ped it  to  Havana,  Mason  county,  where 
a  brother  established  a  newspaper.  It 
was  afterward  disposed  of  to  Havana 
parties. 

THE  WESTERN  LIGHT. 

This  paper  was  established  by  S.  J. 
Clarke  and  Charles  P.  Whitten,  in  Janu- 


ary, 1868.  It  was  a  large  five  column 
quarto,  well  printed  from  new  type,  and 
was  devoted  to  literature,  art,  science, 
temperance  and  local  news.  Many  warm 
words  of  commendation  were  passed 
upon  it;  but  words  are  cheap  and  will 
not  support  any  periodical.  It  lived 
just  one  year.  Mr.  Whitten  was  con- 
nected with  the  paper  but  about  four 
months,  when  Mr.  Clarke  became  sole 
proprietor.  The  office  was  disposed  of 
to  Eeynolds  and  Garrison,  in  December, 
1868,  and  was  used  in  printing  the 
Gospel  Echo  for  about  one  year,  when 
B.  B.  Hampton  became  proprietor.  The 
material  since  has  had  a  very  migratory 
existence,  and  has  been  used  in  publish- 
ing several  different  papers  in  Missouri 
and  in  this  state,  and  was  afterward  used 
in  the  publication  of  the  Macomb  Inde- 
pendent. 

THE  ILLINOIS   BY   STANDEE. 

The  paper  bearing  the  above  name, 
was  established  by  that  pioneer  journal- 
ist of  McDonough  county,  B.  B.  Hamp- 
ton. The  first  issue  of  this  journal  bears 
the  date  of  April  13,  1881,  and  was  a  six 
column  folio,  all  printed  at  home.  In 
politics  the  paper  was  independent, 
which  position  it  still  sustains,  having 
for  a  motto:  "Independent  in  all  things; 
neutral  in  nothing."  In  the  first  issue 
of  the  By-Sfander,  appears  the  follow- 
ing salutatory  by  its  editor,  Mr.  Hampton : 

"It  has  been  the  fashion,  "so  long  that 
the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the 
contrary,"  when  a  newspaper  undertakes 
to  make  a  start  in  the  world,  and  asks 
for  public  patronage,  for  the  publisher 
to  say  something  in  relation  to  the  ob- 
jects and  aims  of  the  publication.  In 


522 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


sending  out  among  the  people  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  this  little  paper,  we  do 
not  feel  at  liberty  to  disregard  this  time- 
honored  custom.  When,  in  the  course 
of  human  events,  one  enters  upon  a  new 
enterprise,  the  success  of  which  depends 
upon  the  support  and  encouragement, 
which  will  be  given  it  by  the  people,  it 
is  but  fair,  right  and  proper,  that  these 
same  people  should  understand  what 
they  are  called  upon  to  support  and 
assist  in  maintaining,  and  to  this  end 
we  make  the  following  statements  in 
relation  to  the  By-Stander. 

"It  is  to  be  an  independent  newspaper, 
not  a  neutral  one — because  the  latter  it 
could  not  be  while  we  have  control  of  its 
columns.  Some  people  have  the  faculty 
of  occupying  neutral  ground  on  ques- 
tions, which  are  being  discussed  by  the 
public,  but  we  are  not  of  that  number. 
So,  when  we  say  that  the  By-Stander 
will  be  "independent  in  all  things  and 
neutral  in  nothing,"  we  do  not  want  any 
one  to  suppose  that  it  will  take  no  part 
in  the  discussion  of  all  the  questions  of 
the  day,  whether  they  shall  be  of  a  polit- 
ical, moral,  or  religious  nature,  because 
it  means  to  express  its  views  on  all  these 
as  it  shall  deem  best  from  time  to  time. 
We  do  not  mean  that  the  By-Stander 
shall  be  the  organ  of,  or  amenable  to, 
any  organization,  political  or  otherwise. 
It  will  be  its  aim  to  discuss  all  such 
questions  as  may  come  before  the  peo- 
ple, fairly  and  candidly,  expressing 
always  the  views  of  its  editor  upon  all 
matters  of  public  interest,  ever  keeping 
its  columns  open  to  those  who  may 
differ  from  it. 

Primarily,  the  By-Stander  will  be  a 
newspaper,  giving  all  the  loca.1  news  of 


the  day,  at  such  a  price  as  to  place  it 
within  the  reach  of  every  citizen  of  Mc- 
Donough  county, — and  in  this  respect, 
we  hope  to  supply  a  demand  for  a  sort 
of  journalism,  which  has  long  been 
needed  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
While  we  know  that  Macornb  already 
has  two  very  good  local  newspapers,  we 
also  know  that  the  price  at  which  they 
can  be  afforded  is  beyond  the  reach  of 
many,  who  ought  to  have  a  home  paper 
in  their  families.  The  By-Stander,  at 
half  the  price  of  the  other  papers,  giv- 
ing all  the  news  of  a  local  character 
which  they  do,  will  no  doubt  meet  with 
a  hearty  welcome  from  all  those  who  feel 
that  they  can  not  afford  to  pay  two  dol- 
lars for  the  Eagle  or  Journal.  Then, 
again,  every  man  in  McDonough,  in 
order  to  have  a  proper  understanding  of 
what  is  going  on  in  the  county,  should 
have  a  paper  published  at  the  county 
seat;  but  there  being  papers  published 
in  the  other  towns,  every  one  feels  that 
he  must  first  support  his  own  town 
paper,  and  all  do  not  feel  they  are  able 
to  pay  for  two  county  papers  at  two  dol- 
lars per  year;  hence,  there  are  thousands 
who  do  not  take  a  Macomb  paper,  who 
will  do  so  now  that  they  can  get  one  for 
half  the  old  price. 

"This  undertaking  to  establish  a  cheap 
county  newspaper,  is  no  new  thought  of 
ours.  On  the  contrary,  we  have  been 
seriously  thinking  of  the  matter  for  more 
than  a  year  past,  and  the  more  we  have 
considered  it,  the  stronger  have  been  our 
convictions  that  in  Macomb  and  McDon- 
ough county,  there  existed  an  open  field 
for  such  an  enterprise.  Time,  alone, 
can  tell  whether  our  convictions  in  this 
regard  are  well  founded,  and  whether 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


523 


our  undertaking  shall  prove  a  success  or 
a  failure.  In  talking  with  various  per- 
sons on  this  matter,  we  have  found  a 
diversity  of  opinions,  but  for  the  most 
part  it  seems  to  be  agreed  that  there 
exists  a  demand  for  a  cheap  home  paper. 
Some  of  oui'  good  republican  friends 
have  insisted  that  the  better  plan  would 
be  to  make  it  an  out  and  out  republican 
journal,  and  have  told  us  that  a  non- 
partisan  newspaper  would  not  be  sus- 
tained in  Macomb.  To  this,  we  answer 
that  the  field  of  political  newspaperdom 
is  already  in  this  city  and  county  fully 
occupied.  The  Journal  and  the  Eagle, 
in  Macomb;  the  Record,  at  Bushnell; 
the  Democrat,  at  Blandinsville,  and  the 
Independent,  at  Colchester,  are  fully  as 
many  papers  as  are  needed  for  mere 
partisan  political  purposes.  For  this 
reason,  as  well  as  from  a  desire,  which 
we  have  long  had,  to  have  a  newspaper 
which  should  be  entirely  independent  of 
all  parties,  we  have  chosen  to  make  this 
paper  "independent  in  all  things,  and 
neutral  in  nothing." 

"We  have  not  embarked  in  this  busi- 
ness without  first  having  counted  the 
cost,  nor  yet  without  a  large  experience 
in  the  newspaper  business,  and  flatter 
ourselves  that  we  know  something  in  re- 
gard to  the  wants  of  the  people  in  this 
line ;  whether  we  shall  be  able  to  supply 
those  wants,  will  be  better  known  a  year 
hence  than  it  now  is.  If  we  succeed  in 
making  the  By-Slander  what  we  intend 
it  to  be,  we  have  no  fears  about  its  suc- 
cess, because  we  know  that  the  people  of 
McDonough  county  are  an  appreciative 
people,  and  will  give  a  generous  support 
to  any  and  all  enterprises  which  have  a 
tendency  to  promote  the  public  good. 


"To  the  newspaper  brotherhood  all 
over  the  state,  and  more  especially  to 
those  of  our-  own  city  and  county,  we  say 
we  have  come  back  into  your  ranks 
"with  malice  toward  none,  and  good  will 
toward  all,"  ever  ready  to  take  an  hum- 
ble part  with  you  in  what  we  hold  to  be 
one  among  the  highest  callings  of  the 
age.  There  is  room  and  work  enough 
for  all  of  us  in  this  great,  big  world,  in 
which  we  are  permitted  to  live.  So  let 
us  work  together,  to  the  end  that  we  may 
accomplish  the  most  possible  good. 

"To  the  public,  we  say  in  conclusion, 
we  have  now  launched  our  little  bark 
upon  the  great  ocean  of  newspaper  life, 
and  we  only  ask  the  people  to  give  us 
that  support  which  they  feel  that  the 
little  By-Stander,  which  has  just  made 
its  appearance  in  their  midst,  deserves." 

The  terms  of  subscription  is  $1  per 
year.  With  No.  8,  of  volume  III.,  the 
paper  appeared  in  an  enlarged  form,  be- 
ing a  seven  column  folio,  which  size  it 
still  retains.  In  commenting  upon  the 
enlargement  Mr.  Hampton  said:  f 

"With  this  number  the  By  Stander 
will  go  before  the  people  with  a  larger 
paper  than  we  contemplated  when  first 
starting  out  in  its  publication.  Our  ob- 
ject was  to  give  the  people  a  cheap  me- 
dium of  home  news,  which  answers  all 
the  purposes  of  a  home  newspaper,  at  a 
price  as  low  as  to  place  it  within  reach 
of  all  who  did  not  feel  that  they  could 
afford  to  pay  $2  a  year  for  a  local  paper. 
While  we  feel  we  have  succeeded  meas- 
urably well  in  doing  what  we  started  out 
to  do,  we  have  found  that  a  six  column 
paper  is  too  small  to  answer  fully  the 
purposes  for  which  the  By  Stander  was 
brought  before  the  public.  So  long  as 


31 


524 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


we  were  short  of  advertising  we  found 
room  enough,  but  when  these  came  we 
found  it  difficult  to  find  room  for  the 
local  news,  and  such  comments  as  we 
felt  disposed  to  make  £>n  questions  of  a 
local  character,  and  on  the  passing 
events  of  the  day.  ¥or  these  reasons 
we  have  concluded  to  make  the  enlarge- 
ment, with  the  hope  that  it  will  prove 
beneficial  to  our  readers  and  to  ourselves. 

This  change  will  necessarily  add  a 
considerable  sum  to  our  weekly  expenses, 
but  we  hope  that  an  increased  subscrip- 
tion list  will  more  than  pay  us  for  the 
additional  outlay.  •  We  know  that  we 
run  some  risk  in  making,  this  enlarge- 
ment, but,  "nothing  venture,  nothing 
have"  is  as  applicable  to  the  newspaper 
business  as  to  any  other.  With  many 
thanks  to  the  people  for  past  favors  and 
asking  a  continuence  of  the  same,  we 
strike  out  on  this  improvement  of  the 
paper,  hopeful  of  success.  . 

Tliip  By-Stander  is  circulated  largely 
throughout  the  county  and  has  met 
with  good  success,  such  as  a  thoroughly 
independent  and  good,  spicy  local  county 
paper  would  warrant. 

Hon.  B.  B.  Hampton,  the  son  of  Van 
C.  and  Elizabeth  Hampton,  was  born  in 
Warren  county,  Ohio,  April  12,  1821.  At 
about  three  years  of  age  he  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  which 
was  at  that  time  a  wilderness,  and  there 
his  early  days  were  spent  working  in  a 
woolen  factory.  In  1840,  he  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  arriving  in  the  embryoic  city 
of  Macomb  in  November  of  that  year. 
The  following  year  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  Cyrus  Walker  as  a  student,  and 
was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1843. 
In  1859,  Mr.  Hampton  was  elected  a 


member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of 
this  county,  which  place  he  filled  well 
and  satisfactorily  for  11  years,  although 
not  consecutively,  the  last  being  in  the 
year  1882.  In  1870,  he  was  elected  to 
the  position  of  state  senator,  and  was  re- 
elected  in  1872  to  the  same.  In  the  27th 
general  assembly  he  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  printing, 
and  that  of  domestic  relations,  the  last  of 
which  prepared  the  "Dram  Shop  Act," 
now  on  the  statute  book  of  the  state.  He 
was,  also,  a  member  of  the  following 
committees:  Corporations,  appointment, 
and  counties  and  townships  organization. 
In  the  28th  assembly  he  was  chairman 
of  the  committees  on  general  expenses  of 
the  assembly  and  of  miscellaneous  busi- 
ness, and  a  member  of  the  committees, 
on  the  revision  of  the  state  laws,  appro- 
priations, corporations,  reformatory  in- 
stitutions, judicial  department,  fees  and 
salaries,  and  on  printing.  Mr.  Hamp- 
ton has  the  honor  of  being  the  author  of 
the  bill  authorizing  the  revised  statute  of 
1874,  to  be  published  by  the  state,  and 
sold  to  the  people  at  the  price  of  two 
dollars  per  copy,  a  praiseworthy  and  ex- 
cellent measure.  This  bill  was  intro- 
duced March  7,  and  notwithstanding  the 
strong  opposition  of  certain  interested 
parties,  was  passed  by  the  senate  on  the 
24th  of  the  same  month.  Mr.  Hampton 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Angeline  E., 
a  daughter  of  D.  Hail,  of  Franklin,  Ken- 
tucky, April  2,  1845,  and  they  are  the 
parents  of  six  children,  three  of  whom 
are  living — David  H.,  William  E..,  and 
Durham  V.  In  politics  he  is  a  republi- 
can, but  is  not  ultra  radical  on  that  sub- 
ject. In  the  year  1855,  Mr.  Hampton 
became  the  editor  and  publisher  of  the 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


525 


Macomb  Enterprise,  since  which  time, 
with  the  exception  of  five  years,  from 
1860  to  1865,  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
newspaper  business,  and  is  at  this  time, 
in  company  with  his  eldest  son  D.  H., 
publishing  the  Illinois  By-Stander,  one 
of  the  best  and  cheapest  papers  in  this 
part  of  the  state. 

THE  ILLINOIS  GRANGER. 

This  paper  was  started  by  H.  .  H. 
Stevens,  at  present  the  editor  of  the  Col- 
chester News,  and  E.  A.  Hail,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Stevens  &  Hail,  the  for- 
mer gentleman  acting  as  editor.  The 
initial  number  appeared  September  2, 
1873,  as  a  seven-column  folio,  in  which 
appeared  the  following  salutatory  : 

"It  was  the  intention  in  the  start  to 
make  this  paper  a  semi-monthly  and  to 
get  it  published  by  Messrs.  Hampton  & 
Hainline.  We  knew  it  was  not  the 
thing  we  wanted,  and  only  entered  into 
this  arrangement  with,  the  hope  of  being 
able  soon  to  make  it  a  weekly. 

"Mr.  Eugene  A.  Hail,  a  practical 
printer,  has  recently  associated  himself 
with  me  in  this  enterprise,  we  have  pur- 
chased a  press,  and  I  am  happy  to  state 
to  my  many  friends  and  patrons  that  the 
Illinois  Granger  will  be  published 
weekly  from  this,  its  birthday. 

"Mr.  Hail  will  have  charge  of  the  office, 
and  the  exclusive  control  of  the  mechan- 
ical part  of  the  paper,  and  with  his  ex- 
perience and  skill,  no  fears  need  be  en- 
tertained as  to  its»execution.  I  assume 
its  editorial  management  and  responsi- 
bilities with  no  such  assurance,  but  will 
promise  to  do  the  best  I  can  with  the  phys- 
ical strength  and  brains  with  which  I  am 
endowed.  I  want  the  farmers  generally, 


and  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry  particu- 
larly, to  realize  that  this  is  peculiarly 
their  paper,  and  furnish  us  with  local 
news,  items,  results  of  experiments  on 
the  farm,  and  such  other  items  as  will 
be  of  interest  to  their  neighbors. 

"It  is  not  our  nature  to  be  neutral  and 
the  Granger  will  therefore  be  inde- 
pendent in  all  things  and  neutral  in 
nothing. 

"While  on  the  subject  of  independence, 
I  cannot  refrain  from  mentioning  the 
fact  that  there  exists  but  little  of  that 
article  in  the  papers  of  this  day,  they 
are  nearly  all  controlled  by  political 
party  that  supports  them,  and  when 
they  know  of  misdemeanors,  malfeas- 
ance, and  even  crime  committed  by  an 
office  holder,  if  he  be  one  of  their  party, 
instead  of  giving  the  public  a  true 
statement  of  the  facts,  they  endeavor  to 
cover  up,  keep  it  mum,  and  if  possible 
deceive  the  public  into  the  belief  that 
he  is  an  honest  man;  while  if  he  should 
be  of  the  opposite  party,  all  the  facts  in 
the  case  are  so  exaggerated  that  it  would 
appear  that  the  gallows  were  too  good 
for  him,  and  his  most  intimate  friends 
would  not  recognize  him.  Unfortunately 
for  our  boasted  freedom,  this  does  not 
end  with  the  press;  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, is  widely  and  too  generally  prac- 
ticed in  the  churches,  societies,  and 
even  among  neighbors.  We  believe 
this  whole  system  to  be  wrong;  honesty 
is  the  basis  of  good  government,  good 
society,  and  is  the  only  true  scale  by 
which  individual  worth  can  be  esti- 
mated. 

"The  course  of  the  Granger  will,  there- 
fore, be  to  uphold  what  we  conceive  to 
be  right  and  to  expose  and  condemn 


526 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


that  which  we  believe  to  be  wrong,  ir- 
respective and  independent  of  political 
party,  church,  society,  friends  or"  kin- 
dred. 

"Hard  fisted  farmers,  sun -burnt  clod- 
hoppers, dirty  blacksmiths,  smutty-faced 
coal  haulers,  country  jakes,  and  labor- 
ing men  generally,  understand  that  this 
is  your  paper,  come  and  see  us;  come 
with  some  local  news,  come  with  $2;  if 
you  can't  come,  send." 

The  paper  was  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  the  laboring  classes,  and  took  strong 
ground  against  monopolies  of  all  kinds, 
and  advocated  the  organization  of  a  new 
political  party.  It  supported  the  anti- 
monopoly  party,  and  contributed  largely 
to  the  election  of  the  candidates  on  that 
ticket  in  McDonough  county  that  fall. 
The  influence  brought  to  bear  against  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  withstand,  and 
men  of  less  nerve  and  devotion  to  the 
cause  would  have  given  up  the  enter- 
prise as  utterly  hopeless.  Not  knowing 
which  of  the  two  old  parties  were  being 
injured  most  by  the  new  organization,  it 
was  bitterly  opposed  by  the  party  organs 
of  both. 

The  secret  order  of  the  Patrons  of  Hus- 
bandry,or  the  Grange, was  then  attracting 
a  great  deal  of  attention  in  the  county,  and 
owing  to  a  lack  of  knowledge  on  the  part 
of  the  uninitiated  as  to  the  real  object  of 
the  order,  wrong  impressions  took  deep 
root  in  the  minds  of  the  public,  and  more 
especially  was  this  so  with  the  various 
merchants,  who  had  an  idea  that  this 
order  was  hostile  to  their  interests.  The 
Granger  defended  this  organization,  and 
hence  a  prejudice  among  the  merchants 
sprang  up  against  it.  The  Granger,  ai 
before  stated,  took  an  active  part  in  pol- 


itics, and  for  this  reason  the  belief  that 
the  order  of  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was 
a  political  party  becoming  quite  preva- 
lent, a  fact  which  was  neither  beneficial 
to  the  order,  to  the  new  party,  or  to  the 
paper.  The  mistake  in  the  selection  of 
a  name  for  the  paper  was  discovered  be- 
fore it  had  completed  its  first  volume, 
but  it  continued  under  that  name  until 
March,  1876,  when  it  was  discarded  and 
that  of 

MACOMB    INDEPENDENT 

Was  assumed,  under  which  it  continued 
permanently.     There  were  many  trying 
times  in  its  history,  but  the  darkest  days 
of  its  existence  were  during  the  unset- 
tled political   condition  of  the   country 
which  followed  the  presidential  election 
of  1876.     On  the  13th  of  December  of 
this  year,  during  the  darkest  hours  of  its 
darkness,  Mr.  Stevens  bought  Mr.  Hail's 
interest  in  the  paper,  books  and  accounts 
— the  presses,  type  and  material  of  the 
office  being  equitably  divided.     Imme- 
diately after  this  a  healthful  change  set 
in.     The  inactivity  which  pervaded  the 
ranks    of    the  independent    greenback 
party  during  the  month  and  a  half  im- 
mediately following  the  election  was  suc- 
ceeded   by  activity,   renewed  life    and 
vigor.     "Organize    for   1880"   were  the 
words  of  the  national  executive  commit- 
tee of  the  independent  party,    and    it 
seemed  to  meet  with  a  hearty  response 
from  the  people.     More  money  was  paid 
on  subscription  to  the  Independent  dur- 
ing the  two  first  weeks  in  January,  1877, 
than  had  been  received  from  the  day  of 
election  up  to  the   first  of  the   month. 
New  hopes  and  new   energies  were  be- 
gotten,  new  names  were  enrolled,  new 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


527 


advertisements  came  in,  and  the  success 
of  the  paper  was  assured. 

There  being  no  newspaper  published 
at  Colchester,  Mr.  Stevens  concluded  to 
move  his  paper  to  that  enterprising  town 
in  August,  1880.  The  first  issue  of  the 


appeared  September  7th,  of  that  year. 
He  continued  its  publication  until  Aug- 
ust 22,  1883,  when  it  was  leased  by  him 
him  to  V.  L.  Hampton,  for  a  period  of 
one  year.  A  week  before  the  expiration 
of  the  lease  the  paper  was  sold  by  Mr. 
Stevens  to  Lucien  S.  Eeid,  who,  a  few 
days  later,  sold  it  to  Mr.  Hampton,  who 
continued  its  publication.  Being  a  strong 
republican  in  politics,  Mr.  Hampton  did 
not  deal  in  politics  during  his  lease,  but 
upon  becoming  owner  he  brought  the 
paper  out  August  27,  1884,  as  an  advo- 
cate of  the  principles  of  the  republican 
party,  and  during  the  exciting  campaign 
of  1884  the  paper  was  not  slow  in  advo- 
cating these  principles.  Beginning  with 
Mr.  Hampton's  connection  with  the 
paper  came  a  new  era  of  prosperity  for 
the  Independent.  The  local  news  of 
Colchester  and  vicinity  and  the  general 
news  of  the  country  were  made  the  lead- 
ing features  of  the  paper,  and  at  the 
end  of  the  first  year  the  subscription 
list  showed  a  net  gain  of  212.  Upon 
the  paper  endorsing  the  republican  faith, 
a  large  number  of  democratic  subscrib- 
ers withdrew  their  support,  but  their 
places  were  taken  with  new  names  and 
the  paper  held  its  own  until  after  the 
election  in  November,  when  it  again 
began  to  gain.  The  Independent  is  the 
official  paper  of  the  city  of  Colchester. 
It  receives  a  liberal  support  in  advertis- 


ing from  the  Colchester  business  men. 
It  is  a  strong  advocate  of  all  enterprises, 
both  public  and  private,  which  are  a 
benefit  to  the  town.  As  an  illustration 
of  what  young  men  can  do  for  them- 
selves by  their  own  individual  exertions, 
we  will  call  attention  to  the  following 
sketch  of  Van  L.  Hampton,  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Colchester  Independ- 
ent. 

Van  L.  Hampton  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Leademia  K.  (Bowen)  Hampton,  both 
natives  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Ma- 
comb,  December  29,  1861.  His  early 
life  was  spent  in  Macomb,  where  his 
his  father  owned  and  operated  a  woolen 
factory.  When  our  subject  was  8  years 
old  his  father  purchased  and  moved 
upon  land  adjoining  Macomb,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Here  Van  lived  until 
19  years  old,  attending  the  Macomb 
public  schools,  and  working  on  the  farm 
during  vacations  and  on  Saturdays,  ex- 
cepting two  years  of  the  time,  when  he 
worked  steadily  on  the  farm.  From  early 
boyhood  he  had  possessed  a  strong 
desire  to  become  a  printer,  and  accord- 
ingly left  home  in  1880  and  entered  the 
Colchester  Independent  office,  then 
owned  by  H.  H.  Stevens,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  learning  the  trade.  He  remained 
with  the  Independent  almost  two  years, 
becoming  in  that  time  so  adept  at  the 
craft  that  he  w-is  tendered  and  accepted 
the  position  of  foreman  on  the  Blandins- 
ville  Democrat.  Here  he  remained  until 
June,  1882,  when  he  returned  to  his 
home,  determined  to  remain  there  and 
assume  the  heavy  farm  work  which  was 
fast  becoming  too  much  for  the  advanc- 
ing age  and  poor  health  of  his  father. 
For  the  next  13  months  he  remained  on 


528 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  farm.  In.  August,  1883,  he  leased 
the  Colchester  Independent  for  one  year, 
and  at  the  end  of  the  lease  he  continued 
his  connection  with  it  by  becoming 
owner.  Although  young  and  inexperi- 
enced in  the  editorial  management  of  a 
newspaper,  Mr.  Hampton's  labors  have 
proven  successful.  The  Independent 
under  his  management  has  enjoyed  a 
prosperity  never  before  attained.  In 
the  first  18  months  its  subscription  list 
increased  over  one-third,  and  other  busi- 
ness in  proportion.  Being  a  practical 
printer  he  works  10  hours  each  day  in  the 
composing  room,  and  attends  to  his  edi- 
torial and  business  duties  after  regular 
hours.  As  a  local  writer  he  ranks  with 
the  best  in  the  county.  Politically  he 
is  an  ardent  republican,  and  is  not  slow 
in  advocating  his  political  beliefs.  He 
is  unmarried,  and  belongs  to  no  church 
or  secret  organization,except  the  Knights 
of  Labor.  As  a  citizen  he  is  public 
spirited  and  advocates  publicly  and 
privately  everything  having'a  tendency 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity. 

Mr.  H.  H.  Stevens,  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Colchester  Independent,  in 
1873,  established  a  new  journal  at  Col- 
chester in  1885,  which  he  christened 

THE    NEWS. 

In  the  first  issue  of  the  News  appears 
the  following  salutatory: 

"  A  custom  dating  back  to  the  publica- 
tion of  the  first  newspaper  in  the  United 
States,  in  1704,  seems  to  make  it  incum- 
bent upon  any  one  just  beginning  the 
publication  of  a  newspaper,  to  briefly 
indicate  in  the  first  number  and  under 
the  above  heading  what  the  new  candi- 


date for  public  patronage  is  going  to  be. 
I  cheerfully  conform  to  this  time-hon- 
ored custom.  I  shall  endeavor  to  make 
this  a  valuable  and  desirable  family 
newspaper;  keeping  its  readers  thor- 
oughly well  posted  upon  the  current 
news  of  the  day,  and  giving  them  a 
large  amount  of  first-class  reading  mat- 
ter, both  original  and  selected. 

"  It  will  be  independent  in  all  things 
and  neutral  in  nothing.  •  It  shall,  at  all 
times,  advocate  such  principles,  meas- 
ures and  policies  as  I  believe  best  calcu- 
lated to  promote  the  good  of  the  people 
and  country  generally,  and  the  city  and 
county  in  which  it  is  printed,  especially. 

"  Whatever  it  advocates,  it  will  advo- 
cate with  all  its  might,  and  whatever  it 
opposes,  it  will  oppose  with  the  same 
energy  and  in  the  same  unmistakable 
manner. 

"I  grew  to  manhood  within  a  few 
miles  of  this  city.  Here  I  am  known. 
Here,  if  anywhere,  our  abilities  (if  any 
we  have)  are  known  and  appreciated. 
Here  our  faults  and  vices  (if  we  have 
any)  are  known  and  charitably  over- 
looked. Here,  then,  if  anywhere  in  the 
world,  we  ought  to  succeed. 

"  Experience  is  a  dear  school,  and  it 
is  said  fools  learn  in  no  other.  However, 
this  maybe,  is  true  that  the  most  valu- 
able lessons  of  our  life  were  learned  by 
experience.  I  think  I  know  better  how 
to  conduct  a  newspaper  now  than  I  did 
when  I  gave  up  the  Independent,  which 
was  founded  by  Mr.  Hail  and  myself  in 
1873,  and  conducted  by  the  writer  for  ten 
years.  If  this  is  really  true,  then  The 
News  will  be  a  better  paper  than  the  In- 
dependent ever  was  under*  our  manage- 
ment. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


529 


"  To  sum  it  up  in  a  few  words,  this 
paper  shall  be  as  good  and  worthy  a 
journal  as  it  is  possible  for  the  writer 
hereof  to  make  it.  Hoping  to  have  all 
our  old  time  friends  and  patrons  and  the 
readers  of  newspapers,  generally, 
throughout  the  city  and  county,  to  call 
in  and  see  us  and  become  regular  sub- 
scribers and  readers  of  The  News. 

"  I  am  with  respect,  your  obedient  ser- 
vant." 

The  initial  numbers  of  the  News  ap- 
peared January  23,  1885.  It  is  a  five 
column,  eight  page  paper,  independent 
in  politics,  and  on  the  first  page  of 
which  appears  the  following  character- 
istic motto:  "Hew  to  the  line;  let  the 
chips  fall  whither  they  may."  The  pa- 
per is  well  filled  with  advertisements,  is 
edited  in  a  crisp  and  able  manner,  and 
betokens  a  successful  career,  such  as 
Mr.  Stevens  will  undoubtedly  attain 
from  a  long  and  varied  experience  in  the 
journalistic  field. 

H.  H.  Stevens,  the  founder  and  editor 
of  the  News,  is  by  birth  a  native  of 
Indiana,  having  been  born  in  Harrison 
county,  that  state,  on  the  1st  day  of 
April,  1836,  but  is  almost  a  native  of 
this  county,  his  parents  bringing  him 
here  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  in  which 
he  first  saw  the  light.  They  settled  on 
a  farm  on  the  banks  of  the  Troublesome 
creek,  about  two  miles  south  of  Colches- 
ter. Here  the  young  Stevens  grew  to 
manhood,  receiving  such  instruction  as 
the  early  schools  afforded.  In  1856, 
when  but  20  years  of  age,  he,  in  com- 
pany with  T.  B.  McCormick  and  J.  H. 
Adkinson,  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  in  Colchester.  Owing  to  the 
financial  crisis  that  then  shook  the  whole 


country,  in  the  winter  of  1857,  the  firm 
failed  and  closed  up.     In  the  spring  fol- 
lowing, Mr.  Stevens  went  overland,  via 
Salt  Lake,  to  California,  and  was  there 
engaged    in    gold    mining    in    Plumas 
county,  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861,  when  he  en- 
listed in  company  F,  5th  California  vol- 
unteer   infantry.      This    company  was 
commanded  by  Captain  J.  H.  Whitlock. 
Mr.  Stevens  was  made  first  or  orderly 
sergeant,  and  in  a  few  months  was  com- 
missioned  2d  lieutenant,    and    shortly 
afterwards  promoted  to  the  rank  of  1st 
lieutenant.      He  was  breveted  captain 
for  distinguished  gallantry  in  a  battle 
with    a    band  of    Apache    Indians,    at 
Stein's  Peak,  in  New  Mexico,  in  which 
he  was  the  only  commissioned  officer  en- 
gaged.    At  the  expiration  of  the  three 
years   service,  he   was  transferred  to  a 
veteran  corps  and  retained  in  the  service 
over  two  years  longer,  making  his  time 
of  service  in  the  army  about  five  years 
and  three  months.     In  August,  1873,  in 
company  with  E.  H.  Hail,  he  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  Illinois  Granger, 
in  the  city  of  Macomb,  but  after  a  career 
of  two  years,  Mr.  Hail  retired  from  the 
paper,  and  its  name  was  changed  to  that 
of  Macomb   Independent,  a  history  of 
which  is  given  elsewhere.     In  1880,  Mr. 
Stevens  removed  the  paper  to  Colches- 
ter and  changed  its  name  to  suit  the  new 
locality,  still  keeping  the  name  of  Inde- 
pendent    In  August,   1883,   he  leased 
this  office  to  V.  L.  Hampton,  for  a  year, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  sold 
it  to  L.  G.  Keid,  who,  in  a  few   days 
thereafter,  re-sold  to  Mr.  Hampton.     In 
January,  1885,  he  went  to  Chicago,  and 
purchased   an  entire  new  outfit  for  an 


530 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


office,  and  on  the  23d  of  the  same  month, 
issued  the  first  number  of  the  News. 

MCDONOUGH  DEMOCRAT. 

This  paper  was  established  at  Bush- 
nell  in  the  summer  of  1884,  by  Charles 
C.  Chain  and  W.  L.  Kay,  the  former 
gentleman  acting  as  editor.  In  the  first 
issue,  which  appeared  July  3,  is  found 
the  following  pointed  remarks  by  way  of 
a  salutatory: 

"We  make  our  bow  and  introduce  our- 
selves as  the  McDonough  Democrat. 

"No  apology  is  deemed  necessary  for 
our  appearance.  The  field  of  journal- 
ism is  well  occupied,  but  we  imagine 
there  is  a  vacant  spot  that  the  Democrat 
can  occupy  without  trespassing  upon  the 
claims  of  others.  While  the  paper  will 
strive  to  represent  the  whole  field  of 
journalism,  its  especial  object  is  to  sup- 
ply the  much  needed  addition  to  demo- 
cratic literature  in  McDonough  county. 
As  its  name  implies,  it  is  democratic  in 
politics  in  the  strictest  sense.  How- 
ever, it  disclaims  the  rabid  and  offensive 
style  of  presenting  political  issues  so  un- 
fortunately prevalent  in  political  jour- 
nalism. 

"The  Democrat  will  be  the  only  organ 
of  democracy  in  Bushnell,  and  therefore 
asks  the  hearty  support  and  co-operation 
of  Bushnell  democracy,  and,  while  in  a 
political  sense,  it  will  be  a  party  organ, 
it  will  know  no  party  in  working  for  the 
moral,  social  and  material  advancement 
of  Bushnell  and  the  community  at  large ; 
therefore,  we  feel  free  to  ask  the  support 
of  the  entire  community. 

"The  political  tone  of  the  Democrat 
will  be  more  fully  exemplified  when  our 
state  and  national  conventions  have 


placed  the  issues  before  us.  Hoping  to 
merit  the  best  wishes  and  support  of  the 
publip,  we  submit  the  paper  with  con- 
fidence. 

"This  is  no  experiment,  we  have  come 
to  stay." 

The  Democrat  was  first  issued  as  a 
seven  column  folio,  but  December  11, 
1884,  was  changed  to  its  present  form, 
that  of  a  five  column  quarto,  to  accom- 
modate increasing  patronage.  The  pro- 
prietors are  both  young  men  of  nerve 
and  ability,  and  issue  a  neat  paper,  full 
of  spicy  local  paragraphs  and  fluent 
editorial  criticism. 

Charles  C.  Chain  was  born  in  Lewis- 
town,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  on  the  llth 
of  November,  1863.  In  April,  1871,  he 
removed  to  Nebraska,  but  soon  returned 
to  his  native  state,  locating  near  Cuba, 
Fulton  county,  on  the  14th  day  of  July, 
1874.  In  June,  1880,  he  removed  to 
Bushnell,  in  this  county,  where,  in  Sep- 
tember of  that  year,  he  apprenticed  him- 
self to  learn  the  "art  preservative"  in 
the  office  of  the  Gleaner,  then  under  the 
editorial  management  and  proprietorship 
of  J.  E.  Cummings.  Here  he  remained 
until  in  May,  1884,  when  the  Gleaner  of- 
fice was  destroyed  by  fire.  On  the  3d  of 
July,  1885,  he  became  editor  of  the  Dem- 
ocrat. He  is  the  son  of  W.  H.  and  Ame- 
lia H.  Chain.  His  father  is  a  native  of 
Ohio,  but  who,  at  the  age  of  21,  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  at  Lewiston.  His 
mother,  although  born  in  Delaware 
county,  Ohio,  can  almost  call  Illinois  her 
native  state,  having  been  brought  here 
while  quite  young,  and  had  been  raised 
at  Cuba,  Illinois.  Mr.  Chain,  although 
quite  a  young  man,  shows  promise  of 
reaching  a  high  point  in  his  avocation. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


531 


DAILY  INDEPENDENT. 

In  August,  1879,  Mr.  H.  H.  Stevens 
commenced  the  publication  of  a  five-col- 
umn paper  of  the  above  name,  in  connec- 
tion with  his  weekly,  the  first  issue  ap- 
pearing August  18.  It  was  run  until 
November  15,  when  it  was  discontinued. 

PRAIRIE  CITY  CHRONICLE. 

This  was  the  name  of  the  first  paper 
published  in  the  town  of  Prairie  City, 
the  first  number  of  which  bears  date 
April  23,  1857.  It  was  edited  and  pub- 
lished by  B.  W.  Seaton,  and  was  a  seven- 
column  folio,  well  printed,  and  an  honor 
to  the  town,  although  its  local  news  »VBS 
very  limited.  The  introductory  shows 
that  its  editor  was  very  sanguine  of  suc- 
cess. In  speaking  of  it's  then  limited 
circulation,  he  says:  "Our  circle  at  pres- 
ent is  small,  like  that  of  a  pebble  drop- 
ped in  the  ocean,  but  it  will  gradually 
and  silently  expand  in  every  direction 
until  it  reaches  the  far-off  boundaries  of 
civilization."  In  about  one  year  it  ceased 
to  exist,  but  its  editor,  like  many  more  of 
the  craft,  had  more  grit  than  money,  and 
determined  on  the  establishment  of  an- 
other sheet  on  its  ruins ;  and  accordingly 
in  May,  1858,  appeared  the  first  number 
of  the 

PRAIRIE  CHIEF, 

A  four-column  quarto,  and  published 
in  the  interests  of  the  Good  Templars. 
It  lived  but  a  few  weeks,  the  order  not 
giving  it  sufficient  patronage  on  which 
to  exist,  and  having  no  local  news  of  any 
kind,  the  people  of  the  town  in  which  it 
was  published  failed  to  render  it  any  aid. 
Next  appeared  the 


PRAIRIE  CHICKEN. 

Of  the  career  of  this  paper,  very  little 
can  be  said,  as  no-copy  of  it  is  accessible. 
However,  it  lived  but  a  short  time,  and 
never  amounted  to  much. 

PRAIRIE  CITY  HERALD. 

The  paper  with  the  above  name  was 
instituted  in  1870,  by  C.  W.  Taylor,  in 
the  town  of  Prairie  City.  It  was  a  neat 
eight-column  folio,  and  was  noted  for  its 
excellent  local  columns,  and  spicy  edi- 
torials. For  many  years  it  was  run  by 
the  originator  and  his  brother  H.  B.  Tay- 
lor, who  succeeded  him.  In  1882,  it  sus- 
pended and  was  not  revived. 

Before  the  publication  of  the  Herald 
was  suspended,  a  new  newspaper  was 
launched,  with  the  name  of  the 

PRAIRIE   CITY   BUGLE. 

O.  G.  Maury  had  just  returned  from 
the  west,  and,  as  he  was  a  practical 
printer  and  an  editor  of  experience,  his 
father,  John  W.  Maury,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Prairie  City,  was  anxious  to 
have  his  son  established  at  home  in  the 
pursuit  of  his  chosen  profession.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  made  overtures  to  the  pro- 
prietor of  the  Herald  for  the  purchase 
of  its  good  will  and  material.  Being  un- 
able to  obtain  these  at  what  he  deemed 
a  reasonable  price,  he  decided  to  put  in 
a  new  office  for  his  son,  and  start  anoth- 
er paper.  A  short  time  before,  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Knoxville  Review  had 
been  suspended,  and  as  the  press  and 
material  were  then  lying  in  that  town 
unused,  he  bought  the  outfit,  and  soon 
had  it  again  put  in  shape,  and  all  ready 
for  the  launching  of  the  new  craft.  After 
some  study  he  decided  to  call  the  new 


532 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


paper  the  Bugle.  On  the  8th  day  of 
February,  1882,  the  first  number  appear- 
ed, being  a  seven-column  folio,  with  pat- 
ent outside,  and  inside  well  filled  with 
local  news,  and  the  name  of  O.  G.  Maury 
appearing  at  the  mast  head  as  editor 
and  publisher.  This  young  man  had 
learned  his  trade  in  the  offices  of  the 
Prairie  City  Herald  and  Macomb  Eagle, 
and  had  finally  drifted  into  Nebraska. 
There,  in  company  with  J.  H.  Case 
(afterward  a  representative  from  Clay 
county  in  the  Nebraska  legislature),  es- 
tablished the  Nuckolls  county  Inter- 
Ocean,  at  Nelson,  Nebraska.  This  paper 
existed  for  nearly  a  year  and  half,  when 
its  proprietors  gave  up  the  venture  "hav- 
ing been  convinced,"  as  Mr.  Maury 
aptly  said  "of  the  impossibility  of  pub- 
lishing a  seven-column  newspaper  in  a 
one-column  town."  For  the  three  suc- 
ceeding years,  the  proprietors  labored 
at  Fairfield,  Nebraska,  in  the  publica- 
tion of  the  News.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  Mr.  Maury  went  to  St.  Joe, 
Missouri,  and  was  engaged  there  as  re- 
porter. After  a  short  time,  he  went  to 
Elmer,  Colorado,  and,  to  use  his  own 
words,  "in  the  highest  altitude  of  any 
paper  in  the  world,  the  Eagle  spread  its 
wings;"  but  although  he  was  successful 
he  longed  to  return  to  his  Illinois  home, 
and  as  a  consequence,  we  find  Mr.  Maury, 
as  before  stated,  at  the  helm  of  the 
Bugle,  in  Prairie  City.  In  his  saluta- 
tory, Mr.  Maury  takes  occasion  to  say: 

"  'With  charity  for  all,  and  malice  to- 
ward none'  and  with  our  heart  full  of 
hope  for  the  success  and  improvement 
of  Prairie  City,  we  enter  upon  the  pub- 
lication of  the  Bugle.  When,  in  after 
years,  a  beautiful  city  shall  be  erected 


upon  the  present  site  of  our  town,  when 
magnificent  edifices  shall  be  erected  in 
the  places  of  those  now  fast  falling  to 
decay,  when  the  vast  fields  of  coal  and 
resources  for  manufacturing  shall  be 
fully  developed,  then  we  shall  receive 
our  reward,  and  the  name  of  the  Bugle 
and  its  editor  be  placed  on  the  list  of 
those  who  have  lived  to  carve  their 
names  in  the  history  of  Prairie  City." 

The  course  of  the  paper  was  announced 
to  be  independent  as  regards  politics. 

With  the  issue  of  March  1,  1882,  the 
name  of  W.  E.  Lewis,  (present  city  at- 
torney of  Prairie  City),  appears  at  the 
head  of  the  editorial  column  as  a  part 
proprietor  with  Mr.  Maury,  and  the 
issue  of  that  date  contained  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  addition  to  the  firm, 
and  the  continued  publication  of  the 
paper  by  Maury  &  Lewis.  The  paper, 
under  this  management,  continued  to 
boom  Prairie  City,  and  did  much  toward 
directing  the  improvement  and  develop- 
ment of  the  natural  resources  of  the 
town.  The  last  paper  published  by  this 
firm  was  the  issue  of  June  21,  1882, 
when  Mr.  C.  D.  Hendryx,  a  law  asso- 
ciate of  Mr.  Lewis,  leased  the  interest 
of  Mr.  Maury.  In  the  following  issue, 
the  latter  appeared  in  a  card,  in  which 
he  bade  farewell  to  the  paper  and  the 
people  of  Prairie  City,  and  spoke  words 
of  kindness  for  the  new  proprietors  of 
the  paper.  He  soon  took  his  departure 
from  the  scene  of  his  boyhood  days,  and 
finally  obtained  a  situation  on  the  Chi- 
cago Times  as  a  compositor,  which  he 
still  holds.  Mr.  Hendryx  also  had  a 
few  words  to  say  in  this  issue,  over  his 
signature,  by  way  of  introduction  in  his 
new  field  of  labor.  Mr.  John  W.  Maury, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


533 


who  had  all  along  owned  the  material, 
sold  the  outfit  to  Hendryx  &  Lewis.  The 
issue  of  December  6,  1882,  appeared 
with  a  change  of  the  form  of  the  paper, 
its  new  size  and  shape  being  those  of 
a  five-column  quarto,  which,  like  its 
predecessor,  was  neat  and  tidy  in  ap- 
pearance. On  the  24th  of  May,  1883, 
the  paper  was  enlarged  to  a  six-column 
quarto.  In  July,  1883,  Gardner  Bolles 
and  Milton  Scott,  of  Macomb,  leased 
the  material,  and,  without  announcement 
of  change,  continued  the  publication  of 
the  Bugle,  until  September,  1883,  when 
it  reverted  to  Hendryx  &  Lewis. 

The  last  issue  of  the  Bugle  appeared 
on  the  28th  of  September,  1883.  With 
the  same  material  and  press,  Dr.  C.  H. 
Pearson  took  up  the  broken  thread,  and 
launched  the  Prairie  City  Transcript, 
the  first  number  appearing  on -the  12th 
of  October,  1883.  It  was  a  seven  col- 
umn folio,  and  appeared  in  its  first  num- 
ber with  12  columns  of  displayed  ad- 
vertisements and  several  columns  of 
local  notices.  The  new  publisher  made 
very  little  display  about  the  change  in 
name  or  editor,  having  but  one  article 
in  regard  to  new  subscribers,  and  the 
following,  which  may  be  called  a  salu- 
tatory: 

"  Concerning  the  metamorphosis  of 
Bugle  to  Transcript  the  process  was  as 
easy  and  natural  as  from  cocoon  to  but- 
terfly. Not  that  we  arrogate  to  our- 
selves the  beauty  and  flight  of  that 
bright- winged  object — although  there  is 
some  butterfly  to  us  bipeds  of  this  office 
at  meal  time.  A  clean  purchase,  cash 
down,  full  possession,  and  the  good 
wishes  of  the  sellers.  Isn't  that  nice?" 
The  last  number  issued  by  Mr.  Pearson 


was  that  of  November  24,  1884.  At  this 
time  Henry  L.  N.  Miller  leased  the  ma- 
terial, and  continued  the  publication  of 
the  paper,  retaining  the  same  name  and 
form.  The  paper  lias  always  been  inde- 
pendent in  politics. 

PEAIEIE   CITY   HEEALD. 

A  new  venture  in  the  journalistic  field 
was  initiated  in  Prairie  City  in  the 
spring  of  1885,  the  first  number  making 
its  appearance  on  the  30th  of  April  with 
the  following  salutatory,  from  the  pen  of 
Charles  E.  Keith,  the  editor: 

"It  is  a  hard  task  to  run  a  newspaper  to 
please  anybody,  it  is  an  utter  imposjsibil- 
ity  to  so  conduct  it  as  to  please  every- 
body; for  one  mayhaps  it  is  too  indepen- 
dent, and  for  another  not  independent 
enough ;  to  try  to  please  all  would  be  to 
please  none,  and  we  sincerely  hope  the 
honest  efforts  of  the  publisher  to  run  a 
newspaper  as  acceptable,  as  the  average, 
will  counterpoise  all  omissions  and  com- 
mission to  which  he  is  liable.  The  lo- 
cal paper  is  the  criterion  by  which  to 
judge  of  a  city's  prosperity.  We  have 
never  yet  seen  a  dead  town  with  a  live 
newspaper,  nor  a  worthless  newspaper  in 
a  live  town.  The  one  is  inconsistent 
with  the  other. 

"Where  in  all  Christendom  is  there  a 
town  so  abounding  in  natural  resources, 
made  up  and  surrounded  by  that  sub- 
stantial industrious  element  which  in  it- 
self is  prosperity?  where  is  there  a  soil 
so  fertile,  a  people  so  energetic,  so  de- 
serving of  a  good  newspaper,  so  capable 
of  making  it  a  good  one,  and  so  willing 
to  lend  their  aid  to  that  end,  as  that  in 
Prairie  City  and  the  country  tributary 
to  it?  It  is  with  this  knowledge,  this 


534 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


feeling,  that  we  are  prompted  to  return 
to  Prairie  City. 

"  We  do  not  come  here  to  publish  a 
newspaper  individually  and  alone.  It 
is  not  within  the  power  of  one  individual 
to  do  so  much,  and  rash  to  assume  that 
he  does.  Bnt  we  come  to  lend  our  fee- 
ble co-operation  with  the  people  in  mak- 
ing for  Prairie  City  and  for  the  territory 
about  it  that  which  it  has  so  long  needed 
and  which  it  so  richly  deserves — a  first- 
class  newspaper. 

"  There  is  no  need  to  outline  a  policy, 
issue  a  proclamation  of  promises  or 
enunciate  a  platform  of  principles,  as  a 
paper  published  by  and  for  the  people 
can  pursue  but  one  course  and  that  for 
the  interest  of  the  people,  for  the  good 
of  the  city,  for  the  advancement  of  the 
country  and  for  the  fuller  extension  and 
better  development  of  the  legitimate  field 
of  which  Prairie  City  is  the  center. 

"With  this  end  in  view,  this  object  be- 
fore us,  we  shall  labor  untiringly  and  un- 
selfishly to  perform  our  part  of  the  task, 
feeling  that  with  the  increased  prosper- 
ity of  others  comes  our  own  reward. 

"  We  have  not  come  among  you  unso- 
licited nor  unwillingly.  We  need  no  in- 
troduction, for  it  is  the  home  of  our  child- 
hood. We  make  no  apology,  for  our  bus- 
iness is  legitimate.  We  come  not  as  a 
last  resort  nor  accept  the  field  in  a  "this- 
or-nothing"  desperation ;  but  in  the 
midst  of  editorial  duties  on  the  Burling- 
ton Hawkeye,  we  lay  down  the  pencil  of 
a  salaried  writer  and  pick  up  the  burdens 
of  a  country  publisher,  because  it  brings 
us  to  the  old  haunts  of  younger  days,  to 
the  scenes  of  that  most  joyous  period  of 
life,  marked  by  the  transition  of  child- 


hood to  youth,  and  because  we  know  we 
are  welcome  and  know  we  are  wanted. 

"  More  than  a  year  since,  a  solicitation, 
unexpected  and  unsought,  not  of  one  but 
of  many,  found  us  out  in  tropical  Flor- 
ida. It  was  urgent  and  earnest,  encour- 
aging in  its  contents  and  complimentary 
by  virtue  of  its  request  to  "comejbaek;" 
"come  home."  From  then  dates  our  ne- 
gotiation for  the  only  paper  in  Prairie 
City,  which  did  not  reach  a  conclusion 
until  the  first  day  of  last  April,  when  we 
bought  the  outfit  and  business,  subject 
to  a  lease  which  was  then  upon  the  prop- 
erty. Had  the  conditions  of  this  lease 
been  fulfilled  or  had  there  been  a  dispo- 
sition on  the  part  of  the  lessee  to  fulfill 
them  we  would  not  have  possession  of 
the  office  to-day,  we  could  not  had  we  so 
wished.  To  say  that  the  lease  has  been 
terminated  is  to  admit  that  there  have 
been  violations  of  its  conditions.  Not 
technical  but  gross,  as  all  acquainted 
with  the  details  will  attest. 

"Now,  that  we  are  here,  we  are  here  for 
go<5d;  not  for  a  day,  nor  a  week,  nor  a 
year,  but  for  life  time;  not  as  an  adven- 
turer nor  a  speculator  who  preys  on  the 
known  liberality  and  leniency  of  the 
community,  but  as  one  who  expects  to 
remain  while  the  brittle  thread  of  life 
keeps  whole,  and  who  trusts  for  support 
and  patronage  on  the  grounds  of  merit 
alone,  and  who  will  work  with  you  and 
for  you. 

"Friends,  we  rest  our.case." 

The  paper  started  as  an  extremely 
neat,  well  gotten-up,  six-column  folio, 
but  was  shortly  afterwards  changed  to  a 
seven-column  quarto.  It  is  well  and 
ably  edited,  Mr.  Keith  being  a  sharp 
and  racy  writer. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


535 


BLANDINSVILLE  ABGUS. 

A  paper  with  the  above  title  was 
started  in  the  town  of  Blandinsville,  by 
George  W.  Smith,  the  former  editor  of 
the  Macomb  Independent,  in  1857.  This 
was  the  pioneer  journal  in  this  town.  It 
did  not  last  but  a  short  time,  when  it  was 
compelled  to  suspend,  on  account  of  a 
lack  of  patronage.  For  several  years  the 
place  was  without  a  journal  of  any  kind, 
but  about  1874  or  '75,  William  Brown 
established  a  newspaper,  which  he  (jailed 

THE  BLANDINSVILLE  ERA, 

which  run  but  about  two  years,  when  it 
ceased  its  existence.  Of  neither  of  these 
papers  are  any  files  accessible,  and  but 
little  data  can  be  obtained  from  which 
to  give  any  history  of  them  or  their 
editors. 

In  the  fall  of  1877,  JohnG.  Hammond 
established  at  Blandinsville 

THE  MC  DONOUGH  DEMOCRAT. 

.This  sheet  was,  as  its  name  implies, 
democratic  in  politics,  and  ably  con- 
ducted. For  about  two  years  it  was  kept 
up,  when  Mr.  Hammond,  being  about  to 
remove,  with  the  office,  it  was  purchased 
by  a  company  of  the  ^citizens  of  that 
place,  under  the  name  of  the  Blandins- 
ville Publishing  Company.  The  follow- 
ing notice  appears  in  the  columns  of  the 
paper,  under  date  of  November  13, 1879: 

"With  the  present  issue  of  this  paper, 
begins  the  career  of  the  McDonough 
Democrat,  under  the  management  of  the 
Blandinsville  Publishing  Company — a 
corporation  legally  organized  under  the 
laws  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  When  the 
fact  became  known  that  John  G.  Ham- 
mond, former  editor  of  this  paper,  had 


formed  a  copartnership  with  the  Macomb 
Independent,  and  intended  removing 
the  office,  with  its  appurtenances,  itea- 
comb\vard,negotiations  were  commenced 
at  once,  with  a  view  to  purchasing  the 
entire  outfit,  and  keeping  the  paper  in 
this  place.  Terms  were  soon  agreed 
upon,  and  Friday,  the  7th  day  of  No- 
vember, the  office  became  the  property 
of  the  Blandinsville  Publishing  Com- 
pany. The  time  was,  probably,  in  the 
history  of  Blandinsville,  when  the  need 
of  a  newspaper  was  not  fully  realized, 
but  that  time  has  passed  and  gone;  a 
new  and  different  state  of  things  pre- 
vail. The  people  now  believe,  and  know, 
that  the  press  is  one  of  the  important 
factors  of  human  progress,  that  it  exerts 
a  wide  influence  in  favor  of  morals  and 
good  society.  We  are  aware  that  the 
people  of  Blandinsville,  and  vicinity, 
have  been  disappointed  more  than  once 
in  the  newspaper  enterprise,  in  the  years 
that  are  gone.  More  than  once  have 
they  lent  their  assistance  to  set  on  foot  a 
plan  that  would  give  them  a  home 
paper,  but  for  many  reasons,  that  could 
be  mentioned,  the  enterprise  would  die 
out,  and  leave  the  town  without  a  paper. 
There  is  one  thing  that  can  not  be  said 
of  Blandinsville,  and  that  is,  she  will 
not  support  a  paper.  The  last  two  years 
have  demonstrated  to  the  contrary.  The 
Democrat  has  been  patronized  liberally 
by  the  business  men  and  citizens,  irre- 
spective of  party,  and  the  ex-editor,  had 
he  shaped  matters  properly,  could  have 
established  a  business,  remunerative  to 
himself,  and  an  honor  to  the  town. 

"It  will  the  earnest  endeavor  of  the 
managers  of  this  paper  to  make  it,  in 
every  way,  worthy  of  the  patronage  it 


536 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


shall  receive.  While  the  paper  will  be 
democratic  in  its  principles,  it  will,  in 
politics  (as  in  everything  else),  aim  to 
pursue  a  straightforward  course — pro- 
mulgating nothing  but  sound  doctrine, 
and  advocating  no  principles,  except 
those  that  will  be  for  the  best  interest  61 
the  community,  in  which  it  circulates. 
In  the  first  rank  of  progress,  on  the  side 
of  reform,  law,  and  order,  the  Democrat 
will  ever  be  found  working  zealously  for 
the  promotion  of  every  cause  that  ren- 
ders a  community  happy  and  prosper- 
ous. We  make  no  prediction  concern- 
ing the  future  of  this  paper.  Its  success 
will  depend  largely  upon  the  support 
and  encouragement  it  receives  from  an 
intelligent  and  liberal  public.  If  you 
are  interested  in  the  growth  and  devel- 
opment of  your  town  and  community, 
in  moral,  intellectual,  and  material  pros- 
perity, you  will  maintain  your  home 
paper.  In  conclusion,  we  would  say 
that  if  you  wish  to  see  Blandinsville  ad- 
vance in  all  her  interests — moral,  social, 
and  educational,  and  keep  abreast  with 
the  civilization  and  progress  of  the.  19th 
century,  you  will  foster  and  contribute 
to  the  enterprise,  under  the  cogomen  of 
the  McDonough  Democrat. 

The  office  was  run  by  George  S.  Fuhr, 
as  editor,  for  a  time,  when  he  finally  be- 
came proprietor.  In  the  spring  of  1882, 
Frank  Fuhr  purchased  an  interest  in 
the  paper  which  was  carried  on  under 
the  firm  name  of  Fuhr  Bros.,  until  Oct- 
ober 1,  1883,  when  George  retired  from 
the  firm,  leaving  Frank  P.,  to  continue 
at  the  helm.  During  the  month  of 
May  or  June,  1884,  the  editor  saw  fito 
change  the  politics  and  name  of  the 
paper,  making  it 


THE     BLANDINSVILLE    REPUBLICAN 

in  name  and  republican  in  politics. 
Throughout  the  campaign  of  1884,  it 
advocated  the  principles  of  that  party, 
and  continued  so  to  do  until  in  March. 
1885,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Lucien  Reid,  who  changed  its  name  to 
that  of 

BLANDINSVILLE     EEVIEW. 

In  the  issue  of  March  6,  appears  the 
following  explanation  of  the  retiring  ed- 
itor: 

"  With  this  issue  the  Blandinsville 
Republican  passes  into  democratic 
hands,  who  will  change  its  name  to  Re- 
view and  its  politics  to  democratic. 
During  the  short  administration  of  the 
Republican  we  have  been  fearless  in  the 
advocacy  of  the  principles  of  the  repub- 
lican party  and  all  other  things  that  in 
our  judgment  we  considered  right  and 
just;  and  while  we  lay  down  the  Repub- 
lican, as  the  separation  of  a  dear  and 
true  friend,  we  feel  it  a  duty  we  owe  to 
ourselves;  and  we  are  confident  it  is 
with  greater  zeal  and  with  a  stronger 
desire  to  live  and  work  in  that  party 
than  ever  before ;  for  under  its  benign 
influence  the  nation  awoke  as  from  the 
dead  and  sprang  forth  into  newness  of 
life;  and  as  the  immortal  Washington 
is  regarded  as  the  father  of  his  country, 
so  may  the  republican  party  be  regarded 
as  its  great  builder;  and  we  feel  proud 
that  for  such  a  party,  we  have  given  at 
least  a  feeble  effort,  and  thankful  that 
we  still  have  the  privilege  to  extol  its 
virtues. 

"  In  conclusion  we  thank  our  democra- 
tic friends  for  their  patronage  during  the 
time  we  were  editing  the  Republican, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


537 


and  shall  ever  regard  them  as  true, 
manly  men;  especially  do  we  thank  our 
good  republican  friends  for  the  noble 
manner  in  which  they  stood  by  us  from 
the  very  birth  of  the  Republican,  and 
ask  them  to  not  deal  with  our  successor 
as  a  portion  of  the  democrats  did  with 
us,  but  in  accordance  with  the  great 
principles  that  have  made  and  ever  char- 
acterized the  republican  party." 

Lucien  Reid,  although  a  young  man 
possesses  ability  and  will  make  the  pa- 
per a  success.  In  the  opening"  number 
of  the  Review  he  says  to  his  friends : 

"  With  this  issue  we  begin  the  publi- 
cation .of  the  Blandinsville  Review,  As 
has  been  the  custom  for  more  than  a 
century,  it  devolves  on  an  editor  to  state 
in  the  first  issue  of  his  paper  what  will 
be  the  policy  of  the  journal,  we  will  fol- 
low the  beaten  path  in  this  one  particu- 
lar. 

"  It  shall  be  our  earnest  endeavor  to 
keep  the  people  posted  on  the  local  and 
general  news  of  the  day,  devoting  espec- 
ial attention  to  ithat  of  our  village  and 
vicinity.  We  believe  a  live  local  paper 
will  be  a  benefit  to  the  community,  and 
to  that  end  we  shall  devote  most  of  our 
attention.  We  shall  at  all  times  advo- 
cate anything  which  will  tend  to  build 
up  and  strengthen  our  business  relations. 

"  Politically  the  Review  is  democratic, 
because  we  believe  the  party  is  to-day 
a  party  of  progress  and  reform,  and  a 
party  which  is  as  free  from  corruption  as 
is  possible  for  any  organization  or  body 
of  men  to  become.  We  shall  advocate 
these  principles,  asking  all  to  give  us  a 
fair  trial  before  condemning." 

Lucien  S.  Reid,  the  present  editor  and 
publisher  of  the  only  paper  in  Blandins- 


ville, is  a  McDonough  county  man,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Lamoine  township, 
November  12,  1860.  Early  in  life  he 
evinced  an  interest  in  newspaper  work, 
and  seems  well  adapted  for  that  branch 
of  business.  His  parents  were  native 
Kentuckians,  and  came  to  this  county 
about  1857,  settling  on  a  farm  in  La- 
moine township.  Lucien  remained  on 
the  farm  with  his  parents,  assisting  his 
father  in  the  various  occupations  inci- 
dent thereto,  and  attending  to  some  ex- 
tent the  common  schools  until  1876.  He 
then  went  to  Galesburg  and  spent  two 
years  in  attendance  at  Knox  college,  re- 
turning home  in  the  spring  of  1878. 
His  next  move  was  to  Hiawatha,  Kansas, 
where  he  began  to  learn  the  printer's 
trade  in  the  oflice  of  the  Kansas  Herald. 
He  there  remained  18  months,  then 
went  to  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  and  en- 
gaged in  work  on  the  Courier  of  that 
place.  The  paper  was  a  failure,  finan- 
cially, and  after  spending  one  year  there 
he  went  to  Omaha,  and  got  employment 
in  the  job  office  of  the  Herald,  where 
he  remained  for  six  months.  .Then  re- 
turning to  Plymouth,  Illinois,  which 
place  was  the  home  of  his  parents,  he 
soon  joined  Woods'  Western  Theatrical 
Company.  The  season  of  that  company  ' 
closing  in  the  September  next  following, 
he  joined  the  Nelson  Dramatic  Company 
and  with  them  continued  about  two 
months.  In  November,  1882,at  Jefferson 
city,  Wisconsin,  he  joined  the  McCready 
New  York  Theatre  Company,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  the  close  of 
their  season,  in  April.  He  then  went 
to  Chicago,  and  worked  at  his  trade  in 
the  office  of  Rand,  McNally  &  Company 
until  November,  1883.  He  then  came 


538 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


to  Colchester,  in  this  county,  where  his 
father  resided,  having  moved  from  Ply- 
mouth. In  March,  1884,  he  went  to 
Geneva  Lake,  Wisconsin,  and  worked  on 
the  News,  of  that  place  until  June,  when 
a  change  having  been  made  in  the  man- 
agement of  that  paper,  he  returned  to 
Colchester  and  was  employed  on  the 
Independent,  published  by  Van.  L. 
Hampton,  under  lease  from  H.  H. 
Stevens.  The  following  August  he 
bought  the  paper  from  Mr.  Stevens,  and 
before  the  lease  expired  sold  it  to  Mr. 
Hampton,  and  continued  to  work  there 
until  March  1,  1885,  when  he  bought  the 
Blandinsville  Republican,  changed  its 
name  to  Review  and  its  politics  to  dem- 
ocratic, and  started  out  with  the  deter- 
mination to  make  it  a  good  newspaper. 
The  historian  of  the  future  will  chron- 
icle his  success,  or  failure.  The  auspices 
seem  favorable,  and  a  proper  apprecia- 
tion of  his  efforts  wtll  make  the  Review 
one  of  the  leading  papers  of  the  county. 

THE   GOOD   HOPE   INDEX. 

A  paper  with  the  above  heading  made 
its  appearance  in  the  village  of  Good 
Hope,  on  the  29th  of  January,  1885.  It 
is  edited  and  published  by  H.  J.  Her- 
bertz,  the  subscription  price  being  only 
one  dollar  per  year.  In  the  initial  num- 
ber, the  editor  makes  the  following  re- 
marks to  his  friends  and  the  patrons  of 
the  paper: 

"With  this  issue  we  begin  the  publica- 
tion of  the  Good  Hope  Index,  and  feel 
confident,  at  least,  of  financial  success, 
which  is  one  of  the  most  essential  fea- 
tures of  the  business.  We  shall  en- 
deavor, from  time  to  time,  to  give  our 
readers  all  the  local  happenings  that  oc- 


cur in  Good  Hope  and  vicinity,  and  shall 
also  endeavor,  through  able  correspond- 
ents, to  keep  them  posted  on  the  local 
events  that  transpire  in  the  neighboring 
towns. 

"To  the  business  men  of  Good  Hope, 
we  wish  to  say,  we  thank  you  for  the 
liberal  patronage  you  have  extended  to 
us,  so  far,  in  the  way  of  advertisements, 
and  the  aid  you  have  given  us  in  getting 
subscribers,  and  sincerely  trust  you  will 
reap  a  bountiful  reward  for  your  liber- 
ality. In  closing,  we  will  say  to  our  pa- 
trons and  readers,  we  shall  use  our  most 
strenuous  efforts  to  merit  your  patron- 
age. In  politics  the  Index  will  be  neu- 
tral." 

H.  J.  Herbertz,  the  editor  of  the  Good 
Hope  Index,  is  a  son  of  William  and 
Margaret  Herbertz,  and  was  born  June 
10,  1857,  at  Keithsburg,  Illinois.  The 
following  year  his  parents  removed  to 
Oquawka,  Illinois,  where  his  father  soon 
after  died.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Oquawka,  and  in  the  spring  of  1872 
entered  the  office  of  the  Henderson 
County  Journal,  at  Oquawka,  to  learn 
the  printers'  trade.  He  served  about 
one  year,  then  went  to  Monmouth  and 
entered  the  employ  of  J.  S.  Clark  &  Son, 
publishers  of  the  Atlas,  with  whom  he 
remained  about  three  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Oquawka  and  commenced 
learning  the  cabinet  makers'  trade.  He 
continued  the  latter  about  two  years 
when  he  concluded  to  abandon  it  and 
resume  his  former  occupation,  and  ac- 
cordingly began  the  publication  of  the 
Sentinel,  at  Avon,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, issuing  the  first  number  of  that 
paper  March  4,  1879.  He  continued 


OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOI' 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


541 


editing  the  Senlinel  one  year,  then  on 
account  of  failing  health,  was  obliged 
to  give  up  business.  He  sold  out  his 
paper  and  spent  a  year  in  regaining  his 
health  with  relatives  at  Oquawka.  In  the 
spring  of  1881  he  went  to  Tarkio,  Mis- 
souri. He  was  married  July  12, 1881,  to 
Miss  Sadie  Singleton,  of  Avon,  and  in 
January,  1882,  removed  to  Avon,  Fulton 
county.  They  have  one  daughter,  born 
September  8,  1882.  Mr.  Herbertz  moved 
to  Bushnell  in  May,  1884,  and  was  there 
employed  as  compositor  on  the  Demo- 
crat, of  that  city.  He  came  to  Good 
Hope  in  January,  1885,  and  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  Good  Hope  Index. 
Mrs.  Herbertz  is  a  native  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, Knox  county,  Illinois,  born  Janu- 
ary 19,  1863. 

UNION    PEESS. 

This  paper  was  established  in  1865,  at 
Bushnell,  by  D.  G.  Swan,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Macomb  Enterprise. 
Mr.  Swan  continued  its  publication 
about  two  years,  when  he  disposed  of 
the  office  to  Andrew  Hageman,  who 
changed  the  name  of  the  sheet  to  its 
present  cognomen, 

BUSHNELL   RECORD. 

The  initial  number  of  volume  1  of 
the  Bushnell  Weekly  Record  was  issued 
February  29,  1868,  by  Andrew  Hage- 
man, its  founder,  who  remained  its  ed- 
itor and  publisher  during  the  first  three 
years  of  its  existence. 

The  people  of  Bushnell  had  been  with- 
out a  local  newspaper  for  about  eight 
months.  Previously  Mr.  D.  G.  Swan 
had  been  publishing  the  Union  Press 
something  over  a  year.  The  Record 


enterprise  therefore,  as  soon  as  proposed, 
met  with  a  hearty  approbation  and  en- 
couragement on  the  part  of  the  citizens, 
and  the  neighboring  farmers;  and  to 
their  liberal  patronage,  supplemented 
by  that  of  the  nearest  villages,  is  to  be 
attributed  the  good  success  of  the  Record 
newspaper. 

Mr.  Hagemau,  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
who  had  been  several  years  engaged  in 
agricultural  and  mercantile  pursuits  in 
that  state,  and  at  an  earlier  date  had 
regretfully  abandoned  a  thorough  course 
of  classical  studies  in  Butger's  college 
on  account  of  impaired  health,  immi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1856,  arid  settled  on 
the  then  open,  uncultivated  prairie,  in 
the  southern  part  of  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  where  is  now  located  the  thriv- 
ing village  of  Karitan.  After  a  varied 
and  enjoyable  experience  of  12  years  in 
the  making  of  a  new  home  on  a  new 
prairie,  he  came  to  Bushnell  early  in 
February,  1868,  in  search  of  a  favorable 
opening,  which  resulted  in  his  comply- 
ing with  the  wishes  and  accepting  the 
counsel  of  several  friends  among  the 
business  men  of  the  place,  to  commence 
the  publication  of  a  weekly  newspaper. 

An  arrangement  was  soon  made  with 
Mr.  Swan  for  the  purchase  of  his  print- 
ing press,  type,  and  office  material.  A 
supply  of  paper,  a  heading,  and  other 
requisites  were  immediately  ordered 
from  Kellogg,  Chicago;  and  a  prospectus 
of  the  Bushnell  Weekly  Record  was 
issued  and  circulated  in  the  form  of 
small  posters,  and  also  inserted  in  neigh- 
boring newspapers,  announcing  its  pro- 
posed objects,  scope  and  characteristics 
in  a  general  way;  also  indicating  its 
commencement  about  the  middle  of 


32 


542 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


March  next  ensuing.  Mr.  Hageman 
had  obtained  several  names  as  prospect- 
ive patrons  of  a  proposed  paper  to  be 
commenced  in  case  of  a  sufficient  guar- 
anty of  support:  but  had  no  beginnings 
that  really  looked  like  business,  till  after 
Mr.  H.  had  returned  home  to  make 
preparations  for  moving  to  Buslmell. 
Thither,  a  few  days  later,  comes  a  private 
letter  from  a  friend  in  B.,  stating  that 
the  aforesaid  would-be-editor  was  mak- 
ing separate  efforts  to  start  his  proposed 
Buslinell  Republican;  and  enclosing  a 
copy  of  his  prospectus,  which  promised 
that  the  said  Republican  would  certainly 
appear  March  1st. 

Not  proposing  to  be  thus  thwarted  in 
his  begun  enterprise,  the  Record  man, 
after  first  completing  necessary  arrange- 
ments at  Raritan.  proceeded  without 
delay  to  invade  the  busy  scene  of  news- 
paper rivalry  at  Bushnell,  where  he  was 
gratified  to  find  that  friends  of  the 
Record  enterprise  had  already  secured 
a  large  list  of  subscribers.  Three  skill- 
ful compositors  were  forthwith  employed 
and  set  to  work, — and  the  Record  ma- 
terialized; was  a  self-evident  fact.  Its 
No.  1  of  volume  first,  bright,  newsy,  was 
delivered  to  city  readers  early  on  Satur- 
day night  of  February  29. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the 
salutatory : 

"In  the  treatment  of  the  various  polit- 
ical questions  of  the  times,  the  Record 
will  stand  firmly  with  the  radical  repub- 
lican party,  and  will  fearlessly  advocate 
the  adoption  of  those  measures  which 
we  believe  to  be  most  conducive  to  the 
general  welfare  of  the  people;  while  at 
the  same  time  its  columns  will  be  open 
for  the  free  expression  of  any  man's 


honest  opinion  though  eversomuch  dif- 
ferent from  our  own,  so  long  as  truth, 
equity,  and  the  best  interests  of  the  na- 
tion are  the  prime  objects  sought  in  the 
discussion.  But  let  all  controversalists 
bear  in  mind  that  this  journal  cannot 
and  will  not,  be  made  a  vehicle  for  any 
personal  animadversions  or  disputings; 
or  a  tool  for  any  sect  or  faction  of  any 
political  party;  or  a  mere  echo  of  any 
one  person's  sentiments  or  teachings  up- 
on any  subject.  We  decidedly  prefer  to 
do  our  own  thinking,  write  our  own  edit- 
orials, and  express  our  own  honest  con- 
victions. And  this  same  God-given  right 
to  obey  the  dictates  of  conscience  and 
enlightened  reason — which  we  claim  for 
ourself,  we  freely  concede  to  every  other 
person. 

"The  Record  will  favor  equality  of 
rights  as  the  natural  heritage  of  every 
human  being,  abstractly  considered,  and 
irrespective  of  equality  of  condition,  race, 
color,  education,  morality  or  intellect. 
We  argue  that  no  alleged  superiority  in 
any  or  all  of  these  points  can  ever  be 
a  lawful  pretext  for  the  oppression  of 
the  inferior  or  less  favored  classes  of 
men;  and  we  claim  for  every  man,  made 
in  the  image  and  likeness  of  God,  pos- 
sessed of  a  heaven-born  intellect  and 
moral'  accountability,  the  "certain  ina- 
lienable rights"  spoken  of  by  Jefferson, 
among  which  are  "life,  liberty  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness." 

The  Record  will  zealously  approve  of 
any  and  every  institution  which  has  for 
its  end  and  aim  the  improvement  of  so- 
ciety by  moral,  mental,  and  physical  cul- 
ture; comprising  the  full  and  harmo- 
nious development  of  all  the  faculties  of 
mind  and  body;  and  the  dissemination 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


543 


of  useful  knowledge  among  all  classes. 
This  comprises  education  in  its  most  ex- 
alted sense — education  not  only  of  the 
intellect,  but  of  the  moral  sentiment  in 
man's  nature,  wholesome  restraint  and 
government  of  the  propensities,  cherish- 
ing of  the  social  affections,  and  bringing 
out  all  the  ennobling  qualities  of  man's 
nature.  Preservation  of  health,  by 
proper  regard  to  diet,  exercise,  and  regi- 
men, is  one  of  the  highest  duties  Ave  owe 
to  ourselves  and  our  Maker. 

"With  the  aid  and  sympathy  and  en- 
couragement of  our  readers,  we  sincerely 
intend  to  make  the  Record  to  be  unmis- 
takably a  benefit  to  them,  a  source  of 
profit  as  well  as  amusement,  and  a  wel- 
come visitor  in  every  family  to  which  it 
shall  be  introduced.  And  that  the  pleas- 
ant task  of  preparing  for  you  an  intel- 
lectual feast  week  after  week  may  result 
in  your  enjoyment  and  profit  is  the  sin- 
cere wish  of  your  friend." 

Opposition  being  promptly  squelch- 
ed, nothing  further  was  attempted  by 
way  of  rivalry;  and  subsequently  a  quasi 
arrangement  in  the  semblance  of  a  con- 
solidation, was  effected,  for  the  sake  of 
harmony,  and  in  the  interest  of  all  those 
who  were  to  be  benefited  by  a  good  local 
newspaper,  and  who  recognized  the  im- 
portance of  a  united  support. 

The  Record,  thus  well  established 
continued  to  pursue  the  even  tenor  of  its 
way,  prosperously,  with  a  small  circula- 
tion abroad,  but  a  good  advertising  and 
reading  patronage  at  home.  Both  of 
which,  as  well  as  its  job  printing,  in- 
creased wonderfully  within  the  first  three 
years  of  its  history. 

At  the  end  of  the  third  year  of  the 
Record,  Mr.  Hageman  was  compelled  by 


a  due  regard  to  health,  to  retire  from 
the  newspaper  business;  a  matter  of  ne- 
cessity, and  not  at  all  from  choice. 

The  Record  was  a  seven-column  folio, 
18x24  inches  in  size. 

No  ready  printed  sheets  (except  the 
one  first  issue  to  gain  time)  were  used 
during  the  three  years  of  Mr.  Hageman's 
publishing  it.  The  uniform  price  was 
$2  a  year. 

The  Record  in  1868,  advocated  the 
election  of  Grant  and  Coif  ax. — Mr.  Hage- 
man in  March  of  that  year  accompanied 
the  "Illinois  Press  Association."  on  the 
excursion  to  St.  Paul ;  and  to  Mobile  the 
following  spring,  1869,  with  the  associa- 
tion. In  the  year  1870,  there  was  a 
lively  contest  between  the  Bushnell  Rec- 
ord and  the  Macomb  Journal  relative  to 
the  alignment  of  the  E.,  E.  I.  &  St.  L. 
railroad.  In  this  matter,  Bushnell  was 
victorious,  and  secured  the  road. 

A.  W.  Van  Dyke,  who  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Record  from  its  first 
issue,  and  all  along,  consecutively  as 
compositor,  foreman,  partner,  and  son- 
in-law,  succeeded  Mr.  EL,  as  its  editor 
and  proprietor  in  March,  1871,  and  con- 
tinued its  publication  two  years,  with 
marked  ability  and  success,  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  patrons.  The  sub- 
scription list  continued  to  enlarge,  and 
business  men  liberally  patronized  its 
advertising  columns.  Additions  of  new 
and  handsome  type,  both  for  the  paper 
and  for  job  work,  were  constantly  made 
by  him,  whereby  the  attractiveness  of 
both  were  much  augmented.  In  his 
new  heading,  in  style,  the  word  "weekly" 
was  eliminated.  In  the  spring  of  1873, 
Mr.  Van  Dyke  sold  out  the  Record  to 
Epperson  and  Spencer,  residents  of 


544 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Bushnell.  They  agreed  to  give  him 
steady  employment,  with  the  proviso  of 
his  abstaining  from  the  publication  of 
any  other  paper  in  Bushnell,  for  and 
during  the  term  of  five  years.  In  rec- 
ognition of  this  implied  prohibition  from 
editorship,  Mr.  Van  Dyke  took  the  man- 
agement (as  foreman)  of  the  Bushnell 
Gleaner,  which  was  started  a  few  months 
after  his  being  relieved  from  employ- 
ment at  the  Record  office,  without  being 
an  ostensible  partner  and  proprietor 
with  Mr.  E.  Cummings,  whose  name  ap- 
peared as  publisher,  the  first  five  years 
of  its  publication.  It  may  be  added 
here,  that  Mr.  Van  Dyke,  a  few  years 
later,  purchased  and  became  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  Gleaner,  and  that  he  was 
from  the  first,  its  editor  and  business 
manager. 

In  1874,  Mr.  Spencer  retired  from  the 
firm  of  "Epperson  &  Spencer,"  and  J. 
H.  Epperson  became  the  editor  and  sole 
proprietor  of  the  Record.  Several  par- 
ties had  control  of  the  journal  after  this, 
the  last  of  whom  was  Charles  W.  Taylor 
and  T.  H.  B.  Camp.  At  the  close  of  the 
year  1882,  arrangements  were  instituted, 
whereby  John  Camp  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  Mr.  Taylor,  and  the  firm  name 
changed  to  its  present  one  of  Camp 
Brothers.  In  its  issue  of  January  12, 
1883,  the  following  notice  of  the  change 
in  the  ownership  of  the  Record  is  given : 

"The  Record  has  changed  hands,  the 
senior  editor,  Chas.  W.  Taylor,  having 
sold  his  interest  in  the  establishment  to 
John  B.  Camp,  the  foreman  of  the  office. 
The  new  firm  will  collect  all  debts  due 
the  office,  and  assumes  the  liabilities  of 
the  late  firm,  which,  we  are  happy  to  say, 
are  quite  small.  In  retiring  .from  the 


Record  office,  the  writer  feels  as  if  part- 
ing from  an  old  friend.  He  can  heartily 
commend  the  new  managers  to  the  grand 
army  of  its  friends,  if  he  has  earned  any 
right  to  their  confidence,  and  predicts  a 
career  of  success  for  Camp  Brothers. 
They  are  talented  and  capable  young 
business  men,  energetic,  experienced, 
and  full  of  faith  in  the  future  of  Bush- 
nell. The  business  of  the  Record  office 
during  the  past  year,  has  been  greater 
than  at  any  period  in  its  history,  the  job 
work  especially  having  outgrown  all  ex- 
pectation; the  subscription  list  also  has 
largely  increased  and  is  equaled  only  by 
that  of  two  papers  in  McDonough  county. 
We  bespeak  for  the  incoming  firm  the 
same  generous  support  that  has  been 
accorded  in  the  past. 

To  explain  the  reason  for  this  change 
— not  that  we  suppose  it  to  be  a  matter 
of  'interest  to  the  public — but  to  save 
Camp  Brothers  the  trouble  of  answer- 
ing a  good  many  questions:  The  writer 
will  go  to  Peoria  to  take  charge  of  the 
advertising  business  of  the  Saturday 
Evening  Call,  a  position  in  which  he 
hopes  to  find  some  rest  from  the  ceaseless 
and  monotonous  grind  of  editorial  work, 
such  as  he  has  been  accustomed  to  for 
the  past  10  years. 

With  sincere  thanks  for  the  kindness 
shown  to  me  in  my  21  months  connec- 
tion with  this  paper,  by  the  good  people 
of  Bushnell,  and  with  the  heartiest 
wishes  for  their  happiness  and  prosper- 
ity, I  herewith  sever  my  connections  with 
the  Record. 

The  Camp  Brothers,  on  taking  charge, 
in  the  same  issue  make  their  bow  to  the 
patrons  of  the  paper,  in  the  following 
words: 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


545 


"  We  do  not  feel  equal  to  the  task  of 
inditing  a  salutatory,  and  so  spare  our 
readers  that  infliction.  We  do  not  ex- 
pect the  Record  under  its  new  manage- 
ment to  be  the  prime  mover  in  great 
reforms,  or  to  lead  the  people  in  the 
onward  march  of  civilization  and  pro- 
gress, but  we  expect  to  fill  our  little 
niche  as  well  as  we  can  for  ourselves 
and  our  patrons.  The  Record  will  be 
in  the  future  much  the  same  as  it  has 
been  during  the  past  year.  In  politics 
it  will  be  republican,  but  not  so  radically 
so  that  it  cannot  denounce  a  republican 
evil,  or  give  to  democratic  merit  its  due 
need  of  praise.  We  shall  devote  our 
attention  chiefly  to  the  happenings  of 
Bushnell  and  vicinity,  and  of  adjacent 
points,  and  if  we  are  but  considered  a 
faithful  chronicler  of  local  events,  we 
shall  be  satisfied." 

On  the  26th  of  February,  1883,  the 
paper  was  changed  to  its  present  form, 


that  of  a,  six-column  quarto.  It  is  ably 
run,  and  is  a  credit  to  the  city  and  to  the 
young  men  who  manage  and  edit  it.  A 
biographical  sketch  of  the  Messrs.  Camp 
will  be  given  further  on  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  the  city  of  Bushnell. 

MACOMB   ENTERPRISE. 

This  was  an  amature  journal  issued 
monthly  by  Ed.  J.  Miller,  of  Macomb, 
and  was  initiated  in  October,  1884.  It 
was  but  small  at  first,  as  befitted  its 
slight  pretention,  but  was  quite  credita- 
ble in  get-up  to  the  young  editor.  In 
March,  1885,  the  name  of  the  paper  was 
changed  to  that  of 

THE  JUVENILES'  JOURNAL, 
and  the  sheet  enlarged.  It  is  now  a  neat, 
three-column  folio,  well  filled  with  sto- 
ries, jokes,  etc.,  for  the  delight  of  the 
rising  generation,  and  is  a  source  of 
considerable  enjoyment  to  the  young 
editor. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 


TENNESSEE  TOWNSHIP. 


Tennessee  was  originally  organized  as 
a  full  congressional  township  in  1857, 
and  so  remained  until  the  spring  of  1880, 
when  Colchester  township  was  created, 
taking  one  mile  and  a  half  oft8  the  east' 
side  of  Tennessee.  Nearly  half  of  the 
entire  township  is  composed  of  timber 
land,  and  the  surface  is  underlaid  in 


many  places  with  a  most  excellent  fire 
and  potter's  clay,  together  with  an  al- 
most inexhaustible  supply  of  coal, 
which  is  of  great  value  to  the  township. 
Some  of  the  best  mines  in  the  whole 
state  are  here  found.  A  good  portion  is 
also  excellent  farming  land  and  there 
are  a  number  of  good  farms.  Crooked 


546. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Creek  enters  the  township  on  tfie  south 
west  quarter  of  section  1,  and  flowing  in 
a  diagonal  course  through  sections  10, 
9,  16, 17,  and  the  northern  part  of  19, 
leaves  the  township  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  section  18.  It  is  a  good  sized 
stream  and  furnishes  an  excellent  water 
power.  The  village  of  Tennessee  is  lo- 
cated on  section  22,  on  the  Galesburg  & 
Quincy  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  railroad,  which  passes 
through  the  township  in  a  south-wes- 
terly course  and  affords  good  shipping 
facilities  for  the  products  of  the  coun- 
try. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT.         , 

Only  a  little  more  than  a  half  century 
has  passed  since  this  section  of  the 
country  was  uninhabited,  except  by  the 
aborigine.  The  first  advent  of  the  white 
man  is  yet  remembered  by  many  now 
living.  Through  dense  forests  and  over 
trackless  plains  came  the  early  pioneers, 
making  selection  of  lands,  establishing 
homes,  turning  over  the  virgin  sod, 
planting  the  fields  of  grain,  reaping  the 
golden  harvest,  subduing  the  land  and 
accumulating  property — until  now,  one 
may  look  upon  a  beautiful  country,  con- 
taining the  home  of  a  contented,  happy 
people. 

Daniel  Campbell,  a  native  of  the 
State  of  Tennessee,  came  to  this  town- 
ship December  10,  1829,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1830,  located  on  section  10. 
In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  removed 
to  what  is  now  known  as  the  Widow 
Harrison  place,  where  he  lived  until 
1832.  He  was  a  volunteer  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  1832-3,  and  in  1834  was 
elected  sheriff  of  McDonough  county. 
Mr.  Campbell  died  in  Greene  county, 


Illinois,  April  9,  1842,  while  returning 
from  a  trip  up  the  Heel  river  coun- 
try. 

Daniel  W.  Campbell  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  with  his  parents,  in  1829. 
He  erected  the  first  business  house  in 
the  town  of  Colchester,  in  1855,  and  put 
in  a  stock  of  groceries,  etc.,  January  19, 
1856,  which  was  also  the  first  in  the 
place.  He  is  still  a  resident  of  that  en- 
terprising town,  although  not  engaged  in 
any  business  pursuits. 

Among  the  pioneers  of  McDonough, 
none  are  more  deserving  a  place  among 
the  records  given  of  the  old  settlers  and 
foremost  men  of  the  county,  than  Ros- 
well  Tyrrell,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
this  township.  From  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Tyrrell,  and  those  who  were  more  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  him,  the  follow- 
ing facts  and  incidents  in  regard  to  his 
life,  are  obtained:  Roswell  Tyrrell  was 
the  son  of  Abijah  and  Naomi  Tyrrell, 
and  was  born  near  Hartford,  Connecti- 
cut, on  the  23d  day  of  May,  1798.  In 
early  life,  he  shadowed  forth  the  pecu- 
liar traits  of  character  that  made  him 
noted  in  after  years.  He  was  always  a 
quiet,  steady  lad,  attending  closely  to  his 
farm,  and  in  the  common  school  pursu- 
ing his  studies  with  zeal.  Every  school 
boy  or  girl  has  read  of  the  second  war 
with  Great  Britain,  the  beginning  of 
which  was  in  1812,  when  Roswell  was 
but  14  years  of  age,  entirely  too  young 
to  enlist.  The  war  continuing,  two 
years  thereafter,  when  but  16  years  of 
age,  he  enrolled  himself  in  the  army, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
the  year  following,  when  he  received  his 
discharge.  What  special  service  may 
have  been  performed  by  the  regiment 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


547 


in  which  he  enlisted,  we  are  not  advised, 
but  we  do  know  that    young    Roswell 
Tyrrell  never  would  have  shirked  duty, 
and  if  called  upon  to  face  the  foe  upon 
the  battle   field,   he   never  would  have 
flinched.     On  receiving  his   discharge, 
he  returned  to  Trumbull  county,   Ohio, 
to  which  place  he  had  emigrated  when 
about  14  years  of  age,  and  where  he  re- 
mained until  the  spring  of   1819,  when, 
there  being  some  difficulty  with  respect 
to  his  discharge  papers,  he  went  on  foot 
to  Washington,  D.  C.,  to  have   the  mis- 
take corrected.     After  having  the  matter 
attended  to,  he  started  on  foot  west,  in- 
tending to  settle  in  the  state  of  Illinois. 
He  arrived  in  Madison   county  in  the 
fall,  remaining  there   some  four  years, 
when    he    removed  to  Fulton   county, 
where,  on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1823, 
near  the   town  of   Lewistown,    he   was 
married    to   Mary    Ann    Sidwell,    with 
whom  he  lived  happily  until  death  called 
her  away,  which  sad  event  occurred  in 
May,  1828.      She  died  in  the  full  assur- 
ance of  hope,  leaving  one  daughter  for 
him  to  rear  and  provide.     Mr.  Tyrrell 
received  as  a  pension  from  the  United 
States  government,  for  service  in  the  war 
of  1812,  a  land  warrant  for  160  acres  of 
land,  which  warrant  he  sold,  and  with 
the  proceeds,  in  1826,  purchased  a  quar- 
ter on  section  29,  5   north,  4  west,  now 
Tennessee  township,  which  quarter  he 
held  until  his  death.     In  the  fall  of  1830 
he    came    over    from    Fulton     county, 
erected  his   cabin,  and  returned  for  his 
family.     While  gone,  "the  big  snow,"  of 
which  so  much  is  said  by  old   settlers, 
fell,   necessitating  his  remaining  away 
until  the    following  spring,    when    he 
came  back,    and  effected  a    permanent 


settlement.     On  the  8th  day  of  July,  he 
was  again  married,  leading  to  the  mar- 
riage altar,  Hannah  Ann  Brooks.     One 
daughter    was    born    unto  them.     The 
second  Mrs.  Tyrrell  died  in  the  year  1852. 
About  the  year  1834,  Mr.  Tyrrell  became 
bondsman  for  one  of  the  officers  of  Mc- 
Donough    county    who,    unfortunately, 
failed  to  make   full   returns    due    the 
county,  and  Mr.  Tyrrell  was  called  upon 
to  make  good  the  deficiency.     This  was 
an  entirely  unlocked  for  event,  and  came 
very  heavily  upon  him,  but  he  deter- 
mined that  every  dollar  should  be  paid. 
Few  to-day  can  realize  the  trouble  had 
in  obtaining  money  in  those  days.    Men 
with  thousands  of  acres  of  land,  with  an 
abundance  of  personal  property,  could 
scarcely  raise  money  to  pay  their  taxes, 
small  as  they  then  were.     But  Mr.  Tyr- 
rell proposed  to  pay  this  indebtedness, 
though  it  was  frequently   suggested  to 
him  that  its  payment  could  be  avoided. 
The  very  idea  of  repudiation  was  horror 
to  him,  and  he  has  often  said  that  never 
for  a  moment  was  he  tempted  to  do  such 
a  thing.     As  the  money   could  not  be 
raised  here  by  any  means  that  could  be 
resorted  to,  Mr.   Tyrrell  determined  on 
once  more  going  to  the  lead  mines,  and, 
as   a  day   laborer,  work  to   obtain  the 
money  to  make   good   his  bond.  •  Al- 
though the  amount  he  was  required  to 
pay  would  not  seem  very  large  to  us  at 
the  present  day,  yet  it  required  11  years 
to  make  the  final  payment,  but  every 
dollar  was  paid,  and  McDonough  county 
was  saved  from  its  loss.     The  discovery 
of  gold  in  California  caused  a  tremor  of 
excitement  throughout  the  whole  country 
and  thousands  flocked  to  the  New  Eldo- 
rado.    Among  the  first  to  seek  his  for- 


548 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tune  in  that  strange  land,  was  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch.  In  April,  1849,  in 
company  with  several  others,  he  started 
on  the  overland  journey,  arriving  at  his 
destination  in  about  seven  months  from 
the  time  of  starting.  The  hardships  of 
that  .journey  he  bore  remarkably  well, 
and  in  good  health  and  spirits  he  began 
to  labor  in  the  mines,  continuing  in  the 
work  for  three  years,  save  about  three 
months  when  he  was  unable  to  do  any- 
thing on  account  of  sore  eyes.  He  re- 
turned home  in  1852,  having  in  a  meas- 
ure, been  quite  successful,  more  so  than 
the  great  majority  that  went  out  with 
him.  Mr.  Tyrrell  was  never  a  member 
of  the  church,  though  in  life  he  was  a 
strictly  moral  man.  The  second  great 
commandment,  to  "love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself,"  he  carried  out  to  the  letter. 
When  James  Fulkerson  settled  in  his 
neighborhood,  in  1832,  Mr.  Tyrrell  was 
in  the  habit  of  attending  to  any  little 
chores  around  the  house  that  might 
seem  necessary  on  the  Sabbath  day,  such 
as  cutting  wood,  sharpening  his  tools, 
etc.,  but  as  he  saw  that  Mr.  Fulkerson 
did  not  approve  of  the  same,  he  resolved 
to  discontinue  the  practice,  saying  "My 
grief,  it  don't  hurt  me  to  cut  wood,  but 
it  hurts  Uncle  Jimmy's  feelings,  so  I 
wont't  do  it."  And  he  was  .ever  after- 
wards as  good  as  his  word,  and  "Uncle 
Jimmy's"  feelings  were  never  hurt 
by  his  Sabbath  breaking.  His  hon- 
esty was  proverbial  wherever  he  was 
known,  and  when  another  person  was 
specially  commended  for  this  trait  of 
character,  it  was  said  of  him  that  "he  is 
as  honest  as  Uncle  Roswell  Tyrrell,"  or 
"Uncle  Roswell  Tyrrell  couldn't  do  bet- 
ter than  that."  Another  excellent  trait 


in  him  was  that  he  ever  kept  his  prom- 
ise to  the  very  letter.  On  one  occasion 
he  left  his  two  little  girls  at  home  while 
he  went  to  Macomb  on  some  business. 
While  there  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  to 
be  taken  as  a  juryman.  When  night 
came  he  told  the  judge  he  must  return 
home.  The  judge  replied  that  he  could 
not  excuse  him.  "But,"  he  said,  "1 
must  go;  I  promised  my  little  girls  that 
I  would  be  at  home  to-night,  and  I 
never  break  my  promise  to  them."  And 
home  he  went,  trudging  his  way  along 
on  foot,  spending  the  night  with  his 
little  ones,  and  returning  to  town  the 
next  morning  before  court  was  called. 
Until  the  formation  of  the  republican 
party,  in  1854,  Mr.  Tyrrell  had  always 
been  a  democrat,  but  not  approving  the 
position  of  the  democratic  party  on  the 
slavery  question,  he  refused  longer  to 
act  with  it.  He  had  always  been  a 
strong  anti-slavery  man,  and  in  1824, 
when  the  effort  was  being  made  to  con- 
vert Illinois  into  a  slave  state,  he  voted 
against  calling  a  convention  to  amend 
the  constitution  for  that  purpose.  When 
the  Republican  party  came  into  exist- 
ence he  found  the  principles  enunciated 
by  its  leaders  were  in  accordance  with 
those  he  had  long  held,  and  therefore 
acted  with  it  until  he  was  called  away. 
During  the  dark  days  of  the  war  he  was 
intensely  loyal,  and  although  too  old  to 
enter  the  service  of  his  country,  as  he  did 
47  years  previous,  his  heart  was  with  the 
"boys  in  blue"  upon  the  tented  field,  and 
many  acts  of  kindness  did  he  perform 
for  the  dear  ones  they  left  behind.  No 
wife,  sister,or  mother  of  a  soldier  would 
be  allowed  to  suffer  if  in  his  power  to 
minister  relief,  and  numberless  little 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


549 


deeds  of  kindness  might  be  recorded  in 
this  connection  wherein  he  figured  as  the 
principal  party.  No  man  ever  stood 
higher  in  the  community  than  he,  and 
even  his  most  bitter  enemies  never 
doubted  his  honesty.  However  much 
they  might  doubt  the  truth  of  a  political 
statement,  they  would  invariably  remark, 
"  Well,  he  is  honest  in  what  he  says." 
It  is  said  there  was  never  but  one  case 
heard  of  where  his  word  was  ever 
doubted.  A  strange*,  with  whom  he  was 
conversing,  charged  him  indirectly  with 
falsifying,  when  he  quietly  responded, 
as  if  his  feelings  were  hurt  greatly: 
"  Mister,  you  don't  know  me,  or  you 
wouldn't  say  that."  It  was  his  pride  to 
make  his  word  respected  by  every  one, 
and  none  knowing  the  man  ever  doubted 
his  sincerity.  He  had  a  heart  overflow- 
ing with  love  for  humanity,  and  to  the 
poor  he  was  ever  kind  and  considerate. 
The  cabin  which  he  erected  in  1830,  it  is 
said,  was  the  first  home  of  nearly  every 
family  in  the  Hill's  Grove  settlement, 
and  not  a  cent  of  rent  was  he  ever  known 
to  receive  for  its  use.  If  the  family  was 
poor,  or  in  need  of  any  necessaries  of 
life,  Uncle  Roswell  was  ever  ready  to 
supply  their  wants.  A  sack  of  flour  or 
meal,  a  ham  of  meat,  or  whatever  might 
be  the  object  of  their  need,  was  dropped 
quietly  at  their  door,  and  not  a  word 
spoken.  If  he  should  be  so  fortunate  as 
to  secure  some  choice  venison,  he  was 
ever  ready  to  divide  with  his  less  fortun- 
ate neighbors.  Such  being  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man,  it  certainly  is  no  wonder 
his  memory  is  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance by  hundreds  of  old  citizens  of  the 
county.  Roswell  Tyrrell  departed  this 
life  on  the  13th  day  of  April,  1872,  being 


at  the  time  72  years,  11  months  and  20 
days  old.  He  left  but  one  daughter — 
Mrs.  A.  G.  Owen — to  survive  him,  and 
her  grief  was  sincerely  shared  by  numer- 
ous friends  and  neighbors,  and  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county  in  general.  Probably 
no  man's  death  was  more  greatly  regret- 
ted than  Roswell  Tyrrell,  the  old  pioneer. 

Another  early  settler  is  found  in  the 
personage  of  the  deceased  Joshua  Hunt, 
who  came  to  McDonough  county  in  1831, 
and  settled  about  a  mile  west  of  the  town 
of  Colchester,  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  John  Myers.  Here  the  family  re- 
mained until  1839,  when  Mr.  Hunt  en- 
tered 370  acres  of  land,  located  in  Hire 
and  Tennessee  townships,  erecting  his 
house  on  section  3  of  the  latter  town- 
ship. That  house  now  comprises  part 
of  the  residence  of  his  son,  Simon  W. 
Valentine  Wilson,  a  Methodist  divine, 
delivered  one  of  the  first  sermons  of  the 
township  in  this  house,  and  James  King, 
another  well  known  minister  of  the  same 
denomination,  held  services  in  the  house 
for  several  years  thereafter,  there  being 
no  churches  in  the  settlement  at  that 
time.  Both  Joshua  and  his  wife  died  at 
the  old  homestead,  on  section  3,  and  are 
interred  in  the  Bean  cemetery,  one  mile 
east  of  the  town  of  Colchester.  Joshua 
Hunt  was  a  man  of  intelligence  and  con- 
siderable intellectual  capacity,  and  was 
a  much  respected  citizen  of  McDonough 
county. 

Joshua  Hunt,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  in  18—. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  England, 
and  from  there  came  to  America,  where 
Joshua  was  reared.  He  was  married  to 
Nancy  Bacon,  by  whom  he  had  11  chil- 
dren— Abbie,  Isaac  B.,  Samuel  A.,  Mary, 


550 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Sarah,  Thomas  J.,  John  B.,  Simon  W., 
Harriet,  deceased,  Wancy,  deceased, 
Manda  C.,  deceased.  Mr.  Hunt  died  in 
this  township. 

Simon  W.  Hunt,  who  was  the  eighth 
son  of  Mr.  Joshua  Hunt,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  on  the 
29th  day  of  May,  1825.  He  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county  with  his  parents,  and 
has  since  remained  a  resident  of  the 
county.  He  was  married  on  August  18, 
1857,  to  Rebecca  Stookey,  a  daughter  of 
Elijah  and  Jane  (Harper)  Stookey,  both 
natives  of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stookey  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  all  of  whom  grew  up:  Cather- 
ine, wife  of  William  Lyons;  Allen,  mar- 
ried Susan  Lowderman,  now  living  in 
Washington  Territory;  Alfred,  married 
Mary  Wooley,  also  living  in  Washing- 
ton Territory;  Thomas,  now  residing  in 
Hire  township ;  Marietta,  wife  of  Marion 
Bean,  now  living  in  Montana;  Benton, 
married  George  Williams,  living  now  in 
Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  W.  Hunt  have 
been  blessed  with  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Henry  Frank- 
lin, Amanda  Elsie,  married  Franklin 
Welch,  living  now  in  Hire  township; 
Charles  A.,  Marshall  Lee,  Estella,  Otto, 
Kerua,  died  December  10, 1878;  Reverdy. 
Mr.  Hunt  has  about  600  acres  of  good 
land,  and  divides  his  attention  between 
farming  and  stock  raising. 
v  Hugh  McDonough,  deceased,  came  to 
this  county  in  the  fall  of  1831,  locating 
on  section  31,  where  surviving  members 
of  this  well  known  family  still  reside. 

Hugh  McDonough,  Sr.,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Owen  county,  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  October  14,  1823.  His  father, 
Hugh  McDonough,  Sr.,  a  native  of  Ire- 


land, came  with  his  wife  and  family  to 
McDonough  county,  in  1831,  and  located 
on  section  31,  Tennessee  township, 
where  he  remained  until  his  death, which 
occurred  on  the  25th  of  August,  1849. 
He  was  the  father  of  five  children :  Cor- 
nelius, now  residing  in  Ottawa  county, 
Kansas;  Hugh,  Leo,  now  a  resident  of 
Chalmers  township;  John,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  having  over  300 
acres  of  fine  land,  and  raises  some  stock ; 
Edward,  of  Macomb. 

Hugh  McDonough,  Jr.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  with  his  parents,  and  remained  at 
home  until  April  25,  1849,  when  he  was 
married  to  Mary  Moore,  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Maria  (Beard)  Moore,and  a  na- 
tive of  Yorkshire,  England.  She  came  to 
America,  with  her  parents,  in  1831,  and 
located  in  Toronto,  Canada,  where  they 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1840,  when 
they  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Hancock  county,  where  they  remained 
the  rest  of  their  days.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McDonough  were  the  parents  of  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Their  names  are:  Leo,  married  Carrie 
Saunders,  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  the  business  college,  at 
Jacksonville,  and  from  there  went  in  the 
business  of  publishing  atlas  maps  and 
historical  works.  He  is  now  living  in 
Nebraska  on  an  extensive  stock  ranch; 
Adolphus,  married  Sarah  Morrow,  now 
residing  in  Tennessee  township;  George 
H.,  now  residing  in  Tennessee  township, 
and  Charles.  Hugh  McDonough  died 
on  the  23d  day  of  February,  1870,  leav- 
ing his  widow  a  farm  of  186  acres  of 
good  land,  about  130  acres  of  which  are 
under  a  state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Me- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


551 


Donough  -  Avas  a  man  of  great  integrity, 
and  was  much  respected  by  the  pioneesr 
and  prominent  men  of  the  county. 

James  Fulkerson,  a  native  of  Tennes- 
see, emigrated  from  that  state  to  Jack- 
sonville, Illinois,  in  the  winter  of  1831- 
'32,  and  in  the  spring  of  that  year  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  entered  land 
on  sections  28  and  29,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death.  Several  surviv- 
ing members  of  the  family  still  reside 
in  this  township.  James  Fulkerson,  de- 
ceased, was  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Tennessee,  and  was  born  in 
1797.  His  parents  were  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (King)  Fulkerson.  They  were  na- 
tives of  Virginia,  and  after  a  number  of 
years  in  that  state,  they  moved  to  Ten- 
nessee, and  made  that  their  permanent 
home,  and  on  its  soil  they  died.  James 
was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and  re- 
mained there  until  the  winter  of  1831, 
when  he  removed  his  family  to  Illinois, 
and  spent  the  winter  in  Jacksonville, 
Morgan  county,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1832,  they  came  to  McDonough  county, 
locating  on  section  28  and  29,  Tennessee 
township.  On  their  arrival  here,  they 
pitched  a  tent,  and  one  morning  a  bear 
made  its  appearance  before  their  hut, 
which  was  soon  captured,  and  the  family 
received  200  pounds  of  meat,  and  a  fine 
bear  skin  overcoat.  Mr.  Fulkerson  was 
married  in  Washington  county,  Tennes- 
see, to  Elizabeth  H.  Waddill.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children: 
Elizabeth  K.,  married  Isaac  Webb,  now 
living  in  Galesburg;  Charles  W.,  mar- 
ried Levina  Owen,  now  living  in  Ten- 
nessee township;  Margaret  K.,  married 
Rev.  William  Owen,  of  Tennessee  town- 
ship; Thomas;  Mary  A.,  married  Isaac 


Lord,  now  residing  in  Texas;  Martha 
W.,  died  July  4,  1873,  aged  30  years;  and 
two  children  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Fulkerson  died  on  the  3d  of  July,  1867, 
aged  70  years.  He  was  a  man  who  gave 
much  of  his  efforts  to  education  and 
church  matters,  and  also  was  successful 
in  the  accumulation  of  a  good  share  of 
this  world's  goods.  Mrs.  Fulkerson  died 
in  February,  1880,  aged  84  years. 

Thomas  Fulkerson  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Donough county,  Illinois,  and  was  born 
on  the  22d  day  of  February,  1834.  He 
is  the  son  of  James  Fulkerson,  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Tennessee  township. 
Thomas  was  reared  on  the  farm  upon 
which  his  father  settled,  and  at  an  early 
age  commenced  his  education  at  Isaac 
Helton's  seminary,  at  Hill's  Grove,  and 
was  an  attendant  there,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  short  time,  for  the  whole  15 
years  that  Mr.  Holton  taught.  He  at- 
tended the  McDonough  college  at  Ma- 
comb  for  three  years,  being  a  classmate 
of  George  Bailey,  Tom  Gilmore  and  Ed. 
McDonough.  He  then  taught  three 
terms  of  school  at  Hill's  Grove,  and  at 
that  time  he  attended  the  county  teach- 
ers' institute,  of  which  he  has  held  the 
presidency.  He  was  secretary  of  the 
Hill's  Grove  grange  when  it  was  on  its 
boom,  and  was  engaged  in  keeping  a 
grange  store,  which  did  a  very  large 
business  for  some  six  or  seven  years. 
He  sold  about  all  the  lumber  within  a 
radius  of  ten  miles  of  Hill's  Grove,  and 
also  sold  large  quantities  of  agricultural 
implements.  Mr.  Fulkerson  is  a  man 
who  takes  great  interest  in  the  educa- 
tional affairs  of  his  county,  and  has  been 
connected  with  the  schools  of  his  town- 
ship a  great  many  years. 


552 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Charles  W.  Fulkerson,  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  was  born 
on  the  14th  day  of  October,  1822,  and  is 
the  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Hannah 
( Waddill)  Fulkerson.  When  nine  years 
of  age,  Charles  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents,  and  stopped  over  winter  in  Mor- 
gan county,  and  in  the  spring  they  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  located  in 
what  is  now  Tennessee  township.  They 
erected  a  small  log  cabin  for  the  family, 
and  there  lived  until  the  township  had 
increased  a  great  deal  in  growth.  Charles 
W.  has  resided  in  the  county  ever  since 
coming  here  with  his  family.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  at  the  school  of 
Isaac  Holton,  at  Hill's  Grove,  attending 
five  winters.  He  now  owns  106  acres  of 
good  cultivated  land,  and  pays  some  at- 
tention to  the  raising  of  stock.  He  was 
married  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  1846, 
to  Lavina  Owen,  a  native  of  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of 
Asal  and  Elizabeth  (Cowan)  Owen. 
They  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1840,  where  Mr.  Owen  practiced  medi- 
cine for  some  time,  and  was  afterwards 
ordained  as  a  minister  in  the  Methodist 
church,  and  so  continued  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1869.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fulkerson  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Asal,  married  Annie  Bigg,  now  living  in 
Tennessee  township;  James,  married 
Mamie  Reynolds,  and  is  now  living  in 
Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Elizabeth  H., 
now  teaching  school;  Mary  L.,  died  on 
the  6th  of  March,  1882;  and  Charles. 
Charles  W.  was  orderly  sergeant  in  the 
company  that  went  out  from  Hill's  Grove 
in  the  Mormon  war. 

In  the  fall  of  1833  John  Waddill  came 


with  his  parents  to  McDonough  county, 
and  settled  in  Tennessee  and  Lamoine 
townships.  The  family  were  well  known 
throughout  the  county,  and  a  sketch  of 
them  is  appended. 

John  Waddill,  deceased,  was  born 
near  Jonesboro,  Washington  county, 
Tennessee,  October  3,  1800,  his  parents 
being  Charles  and  Margaret  (King) 
Waddill,  both  natives  of  Tennessee. 
There  John  was  reared,  and  there  the 
family  remained  until  the  fall  of  1833, 
when  they  resolved  to  move  to  Illinois, 
and  in  pursuance  of  that  purpose  they 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  entered 
land  in  Tennessee  and  Lamoine  town- 
ships. While  given  to  the  pursuits  of 
agricultural  duties,  he  also  found  time 
to  amuse  himself,  while  providing  game 
for  his  family  use,  by  the  use  of  his  rifle, 
in  the  handling  of  which  he  was  an 
expert.  After  coming  to  this  county  he 
killed  numerous  deer,  which  could  be 
found  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
house.  Mr.  Waddill  was  married  in 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  to  Eliza- 
beth Roisten.  They  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children — Sarah, wife  of  Thomas 
Sammons,  she  died  in  Hancock  county, 
Illinois  ;  Margaret,  married  Marvin 
Cook,  now  residing  in  Missouri;  Rachel, 
married  Thomas  Griffitts,  died  in  Car- 
thage, Hancock  county;  Charles  W. ; 
Susan,  married  William  Cook,  residing 
in  this  township;  Benjamin;  John  Wes- 
ley, died  in  McDonough  county,  in  1858. 
Mr.  Waddill  died  on  the  9th  of  January, 
1877.  He  was  well  and  favorably  known 
in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  lived  re- 
spected to  the  age  of  76  years. 

Charles  W.  Waddill  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Tennessee,  near  Jonesborough, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


553 


on  the  26th  of  January,  1830.  He  is 
the  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  ( Roisten ) 
Waddill.  When  three  years  of  age  his 
father's  family  moved  to  this  county,  and 
since  that  time  has  never  been  a  resi- 
dent of  any  other  county.  In  1860  he 
purchased  77  acres  of  good  land  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Tennessee  township,  which  is 
now  the  home  of  C.  W.  Waddill.  He 
is  now  the  possessor  of  237  acres  of  land 
in  Lamoine  and  Tennessee  townships,  all 
being  under  cultivation,  except  a  few 
acres  of  brush  land.  He  pays  attention 
to  both  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
has  some  of  the  finest  stock  and  one  of 
the  best  farms  in  this  township.  Mr. 
Waddill  was  united  in  marriage  in  May, 
1860,  with  Wancy  Lawyer,  a  daughter  of 
Michael  Lawyer,  who  is  a  resident  of 
this  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waddill 
are  the  parents  of  three  children,  whose 
names  are:  James  Milton,  John  Wes- 
ley and  William  Michael.  Mr.  Waddill 
is  a  man  of  great  ability  and  highly 
respected  and  esteemed  by  his  many 
friends. 

On  the  9th  day  of  May,  1834,  Benja- 
min Waddill  was  born,  who  is  the  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Roisten)  Wad- 
dill.  His  birth  place  was  the  farm  now 
owned  by  D.  V.  Gilchrist,  which  was  the 
residence  of  the  family  for  nearly  a  year 
after  coming  to  McDonough  county.  The 
following  fall  the  family  removed  to 
section  5,  Lamoine  township,  where  Ben- 
jamin was  reared,  and  received  his 
schooling.  •  In  October,  1861,  Mr.  Wad- 
dill  was  married  to  Margaret  Lawyer,  a 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Sarah  (Parker) 
Lawyer,  an  extended  sketch  of  whom 
appears  in  the  history  of  this  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waddill  are  the  parents 


of  four  children,  whose  names  are  Caro- 
line, Mary  Ann,  Emma  Jane,  and  Sarah 
Ellen.  In  the  year  1862,  Mr.  Waddill 
removed  to  his  present  location  on  sec- 
tion 32,  Tennessee  township,  and  began 
cultivating  and  improving  some  land, 
which  is  now  as  nice  a  farm  as  can  be 
found  in  the  township.  His  farm  now 
consists  of  270  acres  of  good  land,  about 
all  of  which  is  cultivated,  and  he  is  en- 
gaged also  in  stock  raising,  having  some 
of  the  finest  breeds  of  cattle.  Mr.  Wad- 
dill  has  held  the  position  of  school  direc- 
tor of  Union  district,  No.  2,  for  nine 
years. 

The  settlement  of  Colonel  Charles 
Wesley  Waddill,  now  deceased  here 
comes  in.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Tennessee,  on  the  16th  of  July, 
1813.  His  father,  Charles  R.  Waddill 
was  born  in  May.  1771,  in  Virginia.  He 
was  married  in  November,  1798,  to  Mar- 
garet King,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  who  died  on  the  12th  of  November, 
1865.  Charles  R.,  died  in  Tennessee 
township  on  the  4th  day  of  June,  1852. 
In  November,  1833,  the  family  were  on 
their  way  to  their  new  home  in  Illinois, 
and  while  camped  near  Beardstown,  on 
the  12th  day  of  that  month,  they  wit- 
nessed that  wonderful  metoric  display, 
which  will  ever  make  that  night  remem- 
bered. The  family  on  coming  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  located  on  section  32, 
Tennessee  township,  where  Michael  L., 
still  resides  on  the  place  his  grandfather 
picked  out  for  a  home,  over  50  years  ago, 
in  the  then  wild  country  which  forms  the 
prosperous  county  of  McDonough. 
Charles  Wesley  was  reared  in  his  native 
state,  and  there  spent  his  early  days  on 
the  farm  with  father,  and  with  the  latter 


554 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


came  to  McDonough  county.  He  was 
married  on  the  2d  day  of  December, 
1845,  to  Mary  E.  Lawyer.  They  had 
four  children — Sarah  S.,  wife  of  James 
D.  Tabler,  of  Lamoine  township;  Charles 
E.,  now  living  in  Tennessee  township; 
Michael  L.,  and  Thomas  Wesley.  Mr. 
Waddill  made  his  home  on  the  old  home- 
stead until  his  death  which  occurred  on 
the  9th  of  April,  1857.  He  was  a  prom- 
inent and  highly  respected  man  among 
the  citizens  of  his  time,  and  held  the 
office  of  assessor  of  taxes  of  McDonough 
county.  Mrs.  Waddill  survives  her  hus- 
band, and  makes  her  home  at  present, 
with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Tabler,  who  re- 
sides in  Lamoine  township.  Mr.  Wad- 
dill,  was  generally  known  as  Col.  C.  W. 
Waddill,  having  been  commander  of  a 
company  of  riflemen,  who  met  at  Hill's 
Grove  for  drill.  This  company  was 
armed  by  the  state  government.  Mr. 
Waddill  was  -at  first,  captain  of  this  mili- 
tia, but  was  afterwards  promoted  to  col- 
onel. He  also  made  his  mark  as  a  phy- 
sician, and  in  his  latter  days  he  was  very 
successful  in  his  practice. 

Michael  L.  Waddill,  a  son  of  Charles 
Wesley  and  Mary  E.  (Lawyer)  Waddill, 
was  born  in  McDonough.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  place  on  which  his 
parents  settled  on  coming  to  McDon- 
ough county,  and  has  ever  remained  on 
that  farm.  He  received  his  schooling 
in  the  schools  of  the  township,  and  has 
never  attended  any  other,  but  has  a  com- 
mon school  education,  of  which  he  may 
be  proud.  He  was  married  in  Jessa- 
mine county,  Kentucky,  on  the  5th  of 
October,  1876,  to  Joe  A.  Hughes,  a 
daughter  of  John  M.,  and  L.  J.,  (Mor- 
rcw)  Hughes.  Her  father  was  the  son 


of  Merritt  and  Mary  (Craig)  Hughes. 
He  has  in  his  possession  a  family  tree, 
distinctly  tracing  the  family  back 
through  the  Craigs  to  the  time  of  Mary, 
Queen  of  Scots.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wad- 
dill  have  been  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Jennie  May,  born  December  8, 
1877;  Wesley  Hughes,  born  November 
19,  1881;  Sarah  Luella,  born  in  July, 
1883.  Mr.  Waddill  owns  150  acres  of 
fine  land,  all  improved,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  25  acres.  He  also  raises  fine 
stock,  having  a  farm  well  adapted  to  that 
occupation. 

John  Kirk,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Tennessee,  settled  on  section  4,  in  the 
spring  of  1834,,  where  he  remained  un- 
til his  death.  His  son,  John  J.,  now  oc- 
cupies the  old  homestead. 

John  Kirk,  who  was  one  of  the  proni- 
inet  men  of  this  county,  was  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Kentucky,  and  was 
born  on  the  17th  of  November,  1791. 
His  father,  James  Kirk,  was  in  the  Rev- 
olutionary army  and  in  that  war,  he  par- 
ticipated about  three  years.  He  was  on 
the  body  guard  of  General  Washington, 
and  in  one  of  the  battles  in  which  he 
participated,  his  two  brothers  were  shot 
dead  at  his  side.  After  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Kentucky,  and  as  he  lived  to  the  age  of 
97  years,  his  grand-children  have  heard 
from  his  own  lips  the  recounting  of  the 
scenes,  incidents,  trials  and  successes, 
of  their  grandfather  in  the  war  that 
made  the  American  republic.  .  He  spent 
the  balance  of  his  days  in  Kentucky, 
and  died  in  the  year  1856.  His  son 
John,  who  appears  as  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  reared  at  the  old  home  in 
Kentucky,  but  on  reaching  manhood's 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


555 


estate,  he  left  his  home,  and  went  to 
Cincinnati  to  learn  the  tanning  trade. 
After  learning  that  occupation,  he  went 
to  a  small  place  about  three  miles  from 
Cincinnati,  and  was  there  about  four 
years.  While  in  Cincinnati  he  was  mar- 
ried on  the  9th  day  of  November,  1815, 
to  Nancy  Coe,  a  native  of  Virginia. 
Her  father  was  also  in  the  Revolution- 
ary war,  and  among  others,  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kirk  were  the  parents  of  11  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom,  died  in  infancy; 
Melinda,  was  born  in  August,  1816,  and 
married  Benjamin  Welch;  Paulina,  born 
1818,  married  William  Archer,  and  died 
in  1848;  Julia  Ann,  born  in  1828,  mar- 
ried Samuel  Millington.  of  Crawford 
county,  Kansas;  John  J. ;  Harriet,  born 
July  17,  1830,  and  married  Samuel  K. 
Pedrick,  now  living  in  Knox  county; 
Marietta  W.,  married  Robert  Campbell, 
who  is  now  dead,  his  wife  is  now  resid- 
ing in  Peoria;  Lucy  Ellen,  born  May  9, 
1840,  married  Richard  Hayes,  now  re- 
siding in  Nodaway  county,  Missouri. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kirk  came  to  this  county 
in  the  spring  of  1834,  and  located  on 
section  4,  Tennessee  township,  where 
their  son  John  J.,  now  resides.  In  1856 
they  removed  to  Blandinsville,  and  there 
lived  until  the  angel  of  death  called 
them  away.  Mr.  Kirk  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1856,  and  his  wife  in  August  1863. 
John  J.  Kirk,  who  is  now  the  leading 
representative  of  this  prominent  early 
settler  family  of  the  county,  was  born 
on  the  10th  day  of  December,  1828,  his 
parents  being  John  and  Nancy  (Coe) 
Kirk.  When  but  a  little  over  five  years 
of  age,  the  family  removed  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  located  on  section  4, 


Tennessee  township,  where  John  J.,now 
resides,  and  where  he  has  spent  his  en- 
tire life,  having  been  identified  with  the 
county  over  half  a  century.  He  divides 
his  attention  between  stock  raising  and 
farming.  He  owns  330  acres  of  land, 
nearly  all  improved,  and  highly  cultiva- 
ted. The  house  which  the  family  lived  in 
when  first  coming  to  this  county  is  still 
standing  near  the  new  residence,  which 
John  J.,  built  in  1880.  The  body  of  the 
old  structure  is  of  logs,  and  on  coming 
to  the  county,  the  father  weather-board- 
ed it  and  built  a  frame  addition.  John 
J.,  was  married  on  the  16th  day  of  Aug- 
ust, 1853,  to  Margaret  Ann  Allison,  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Margaret  Allison.  Her 
parents  left  Virginia  when  she  was  quite 
young,  and  removed  to  Ohio,  and 
from  there  to  McDonough  county,  in 
October,  1852.  She  died  on  the  21st  of 
January,  1861,  leaving  three  children: 
Virginia,  Allison,  and  Olive.  Mr.  Kirk 
was  married  again  on  the  13th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1862,  to  Amanda  Allison,  a  sister 
of  his  first  wife.  By  this  marriage, 
there  were  three  children:  Elizabeth, 
Sherman,  and  John. 

Larkin  C.  Bacon  (decaased)  was 
among  the  best  known  of  the  early  set- 
tlers. He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  B.  and 
Agnes  (Couch)  Bacon,  both  of  whom 
were  native  Tennesseeans.  Larkin  him- 
self was  born  in  Washington  county, 
that  state,  on  the  second  day  of  May, 
1818.  The  circumstances  of  the  senior 
Bacon,  at  the  time  of  Larkin's  birth, 
were  good,  but  through  unfortunate  spec- 
ulation io  the  grain  and  stock  trade,  he 
met  with  severe  reverses  and  was  con- 
siderably injured  in  property.  Soon 


556 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


after,  Larkin  moved  to  Missouri;  and, 
after  a  few  years'  residence  in  that  state, 
came  to  McDonough  county,  where  he 
arrived  in  March,  1834,  settling  upon 
section  22,  Tennessee  township,  and 
where  he  continued  to  reside  until  death 
called  him  away.  He  passed  his  early 
life  upon  a  farm,  having  to  labor  from 
the  time  he  became  physically  able.  His 
education  consists  in  that  derived  from 
the  common  schools  of  the  community 
in  which  he  lived,  and  instructions  re- 
ceived from  the  hands  of  Isaac  Holton, 
who,  for  a  number  of  years  conducted  a 
high  school  at  Hill's  Grove,in  this  county. 
Larkin' s  general  character  in  youth 
was  excellent.  He  then  possessed  moral 
qualities  which  ever  adhered  to  him 
afterwards,  through  all  the  vicissitudes 
of  life.  It  is  said  of  him  that  he  never 
uttered  an  oath — never  took  the  name  of 
his  God  in  vain.  He  always  followed 
farming;  but  in  addition  to  the  ordinary 
duties  of  farm  work,  for  25  years  dealt 
in  stock.  All  the  grain  that  he  raised 
upon  his  farm  was  consumed  in  feeding 
hogs  and  cattle  for  the  market.  He 
chose  agricultural  pursuits  because  he 
had  been  reared  to  them,  and  never  had 
any  disposition  to  engage  in  any  other 
business.  In  the  cause  of  education  Mr. 
Bacon  always  took  great  interest,  and 
did  much  to  advance  its  interests  in  the 
community  in  which  he  resided.  For 
about  25  years  he  held  the  office  of 
school  trustee.  He  never  changed  his 
place  of  residence  but  three  times,  re- 
moving, as  previously  stated,  from  Ten- 
nessee to  Missouri,  and  from  Missouri 
to  Illinois,  settling  with  his  parents  on 
section  22,  on  which  a  portion  of  the 
town  of  Tennessee  lies,  and  from  thence 


to  his  present  place  of  abode  on  section 
20,  which  later  change  occurred  in  De- 
cember, 1842.  On  the  26th  day  of  De- 
cember, 1841,  Mr.  Bacon  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Honore  Durbin,  who,  after 
a  companionship  of  23  years,  departed 
this  life.  She  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  died  possessing 
a  hope  of  a  future  reward.  On  the  20th 
day  of  October,  1864,  Mr.  Bacon  was 
again  married,  the  lady  being  Mrs. 
Louisa,  (Latimer)  Meek,  of  Abingdon, 
Knox  county.  When  Mr.  Bacon  began 
life  for  himself  he  had  but  little  of  this 
world's  goods,  receiving  from  the  estate 
of  his  father,  but  about  40  acres  of  land ; 
but  he  had  the  courage  and  the  will 
necessary  to  success,  which,  combined 
with  extreme  caution,  placed  him  in  the 
front  rank  of  the  farmers  of  McDonough 
county.  He  was  very  successful  in  bus- 
iness affairs,  as  is  evinced  by  the  well 
stocked  farm  on  which  he  resided  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved and  carefully  managed  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Bacon  was  a  professor  of 
the  Christian  religion  from  a  youth  up, 
having  united  with  the  Baptist  church 
when  about  19  years  of  age,  with  which 
body  he  retained  connection  until  the 
congregation  where  he  held  membership 
was  broken  up  in  consequence  of  the  re- 
moval of  its  members  from  the  vicinity, 
when  he  unijted  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  in  1845  or  1846,  after 
which  time  he  held  in  that  body  the 
offices  of  trustee,  class  leader,  and  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday  school,  in 
which  latter  capacity  he  was  very  active 
and  efficient.  It  was  always  character- 
istic of  Mr.  Bacon  to  seek  retirement 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


557 


rather  than  publicity,  and  for  that  reason 
he  never  occupied  the  public  positions 
in  life  he  was  so  well  calculated  to  fill. 
On  the  24th  of  October,  1877,  Larkin  C. 
Bacon  departed  this  life,  leaving  a  large 
family,  and  many  friends  to  mourn  his 
loss. 

John  Lyon,  deceased,  was  a  settler  of 
1835.  He  came  to  this  township  from 
what  is  now  Colchester  township.  He 
was  born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1802,  and  was  the  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Lyon.  He  was  reared  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  and  there  lived  until 
1835,  when  he  decided  to  remove  to  Ill- 
inois, and  in  pursuance  of  this  resolve 
he  settled  in  McDonough  county,  and 
located  on  section  13,  now  Colchester 
township.  He  remained  there  until 
November,  of  that  year,  when  he  moved 
on  section  4,  Tennessee  township,  where 
he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  went  back  to  Adair  county  in  1840, 
and  on  the  27th  day  of  September,  1840, 
he  died,  and  was  buried  near  the  scenes 
of  his  youth.  He  was  married  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1825,  to  Margaret 
Mourning,  who  died  in  November,  1877. 
She  was  born  in  1803,  and  resided  with 
her  son  Robert,  until  the  time  of  her 
death.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven< 
children:  Maranda,  born  January  23, 
1826,  married  S.  Woolley,  living  in  Min- 
nesota; Sanderson,  married  Sarah  Bu- 
chanan, now  residing  in  Henry  county, 
Iowa;  Mary  Jane,  married  John  Gor- 
ham,  now  residing  in  Henry  county, 
Iowa;  William,  married  Ollie  Wilson, 
now  living  in  Lamoine  township ;  Abigail, 
married  George  W.  Keithley,  now  living 
in  Hire  township. 

Robert  W.   Lvon,   the   son  of  John 


Lyon,  is  a  native  of  Adair  county,  Ken- 
tacky,  and  was  born  on  the  1st  of  De- 
cember, 1829.  When  six  years  of  age 
he  removed  to  McDonough  county,  and 
was  reared  in  Tennessee  township,  and 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent 
in  Hancock  county,  he  has  since  been  a 
resident  of  this  county.  He  received 
his  schooling  in  the  same  township  and 
district  in  which  the  family  first  perma- 
nently settled,  and  was  married  in  Mc- 
Donough county  in  July,  1860,  to  Annie 
Sigars,  a  native  of  Carroll  county,  Indi- 
ana, and,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Te- 
litha  (Knight)  Sigars.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lyon  have  had  seven  children:  John 
T.,  died  in  April,  1882;  Albert  Clay, 
William  Sherman,  Minnie  May,  Eva, 
Maggie  and  Myrtie.  Mr.  Lyon  came  to 
his  present  location  on  section  8,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1873.  He  has  resided  here  since 
that  time,  and  has  now  70  acres  of  good 
improved  land,  and  divides  his  attention 
between  farming  and  stock-raising.  He 
is  one  of  the  trustees  in  the  Friendship 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  society, 
and  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of 
school  directors.  Mr.  Lyon  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Tennessee  lodge  No. 
496,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

Michael  Lawyer  is  among  the  living 
early  settlers  of  Tennessee  township.  He 
is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  E.  (Kline) 
Lawyer,  and  was  born  September  16, 
1798,  in  Frederick  county,  Virginia. 
When  in  his  seventh  year  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Fayette  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  Jacob 
Lawyer  died  in  Ohio  in  1821,  aged  64. 
In  1837  Michael  accompanied  his  mother 
and  her  family  to  McDonough  county 
and  rented  a  farm  on  section  34,  Tennes- 


558 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


see  township,  which,  the  following  year, 
he  purchased.  His  mother  died  here  in 
1842.  Michael  was  married  in  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  December  12,  1824,  to 
Sarah  Parker,  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
daughter  of  Absalom  and  Mary  Parker. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawyer  have  had  11  child- 
ren, 10  of  whom  are  living:  Mary  E., 
who  was  married  to  Wesley  Waddill, 
now  deceased;  John,  married  to  Rebecca 
Jane  Jackson,  and  living  in  Tennessee 
township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  W. 
Gibson,  of  Newton  county,  Missouri; 
Martha,  wife  of  Samuel  Morrow,  of 
Tennessee  township;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
Isaac  Smith,  of  Brooks  county,  Kansas; 
Eliza  Jane,  wife  of  Thomas  Monk,  of 
Bethel  township;  Nancy,  wife  of  Charles 
Waddill,  of  Tennessee  township;  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  Benjamin  Waddill,  also 
of  Tennessee  township;  William,  mar- 
ried to  Minerva  T.  Waddill,  and  Thomas 
Benton.  The  last  named  son  was  born 
in  Tennessee  township,  July  17,  1844, 
and  was  married  April  2,  1867,  to 'Helen 
Weir,  a  native  of  this  county,  and 
daughter  of  John  Weir,  of  Lamoine 
township.  They  have  one  child,  Wil- 
liam S.  Thomas  B.  Lawyer  owns  150 
acres  of  land,  and  is  engaged  in  stock- 
raising  and  farming.  Jacob  Lawyer 
(son  of  Michael)  died  September  13, 
1861,  aged  27  years.  Mr.  Lawyer  had, 
originally,  200  acres  of  land,  but  has 
now  divided  a  portion  of  it  among  his 
sons. 

John  Lawyer  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  September  17,  1827,  his 
parents  being  Michael  and  Sarah  (Par- 
ker) Lawyer.  When  John  was  a  boy, 
the  family  concluded  to  remove  farther 
west,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  purpose, 


came  to  McDonough  county  in  1837, 
locating  on  section  34,  where  his  father 
still  resides  and  where  John  received 
his  education  and  grew  to  manhood. 
He  was  married  on  the  10th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1850,  to  Rebecca  J.  Jackson,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Almira  ( Hills )  Jack- 
son, who  located  in  Lamoine  township, 
in  1843.  Mr.  Jackson  died  in  1842,  be- 
fore the  family  came  to  this  county,  and 
Mrs.  Jackson  now  makes  her  home  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Lawyer.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lawyer  have  four  children — Wil- 
liam B.,  Sarah  A.,  Amos  M.  and  Sind. 
Lewis  B.  Mourning  came  to  McDon- 
ongh  county  with  his  parents  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  locating  on  section  8, 
Tennessee  township,  although  the  family 
spent  the  first  summer  north  of  the 
town  of  Colchester.  In  1870  Mr.  Mourn- 
ing came  to  his  present  location,  on 
section  16.  Lewis  B.  Mourning,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Lyon)  Mourning,  and 
was  born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky, 
July  17,  1830.  Came  to  this  county  with 
his  parents  in  the  spring  of  1837,  and 
settled  on  section  8,  in  Tennesse  town- 
ship, where  he  worked  on  the  farm  a 
good  deal  in  the  summer,  and  attended 
school  a  little  in  winter,  taking  turn 
chopping  wood  and  making  fires  in  the 
school  room,  with  rather  poor  teachers, 
and  poorer  accommodations,  it  is  little 
wonder  that  the  children  of  the  early 
settlers  got  but  a  limited  education.  In 
the  fall  of  1850,  he  visited  the  place 
of  his  birth,  Adair  county,  Kentucky; 
good  enough  place  to  be  born,  but  a  poor 
place  to  make  a  living  in.  Attended  a 
select  sqhool  the  following  winter  and 
the  next  summer  taught  the  first  school 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


559 


ever  taught  under  the  free  school  laws 
of  Kentucky,  in  that  district.  Return- 
ing to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1851,  at- 
tended school  for  two  winters,  afterwards 
taught  school  for  two  terms.  On  the 
7th  day  of  June,  1853,  he  was  married 
to  Lucinda  Keithly,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Sarah  (Roberts)  Keithly.  They 
had  three  children  born,  tAvo  are  still 
living— John  L.,  born  May  30,  1854; 
James  A.,  born  February  8,  1856,  died 
at  eight  months  old;  Ammi  Ellmer,  born 
April  22, 1867.  They  also  raised  a  niece, 
Ida  Ellen  Mourning  (daughter  of  John 
M.  Mourning),  who  is  now  the  wife  of 
James  M.  Waddill.  He  now  owns  a  farm 
of  110  acres,  situated  on  sections  16,  20 
and  21,  Tennessee  township.  He  was  a 
republican  from  1854  until  1872,  has 
since  that  voted  for  Peter  Cooper  in  1876, 
for  James  B.  Weaver  in  1880,  and  John 
P.  St.  John  in  1884.  Has  never  regret- 
ted any  vote  he  ever  gave  for  any  presi- 
dential candidate,  and  is  especially  proud 
of  having  voted  for  John  C.  Freemont 
and  John  P.  St.  John.  He  and  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  M.  E.  church;  has 
been  a  member  of  several  secret  orders 
— Sons  of  Temperance,  Good  Templars, 
the  Grange,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  Tennessee  Lodge, 
No.  496.  He  is  of  Irish  decent  on  the 
fathers  side  ;  the  grandfather,  John 
Mourning,  was  born  on  the  Green  Isle, 
in  1774,  but  emigrated  with  his  parents 
when  quite  young,  to  America,  settling 
in  Virginia,  moving  from  there  to  Ken- 
tucky, where  the  father  of  Lewis  B., 
was  born,  April  3,  1805,  and  died  April 
18,  1870,  on  the  same  quarter  of  land  he 
settled  on  in  1837.  Mr.  Mourning  has 
passed  through  many  of  the  hardships 


and  privations  of  the  early  settler,  but 
is  glad  to  live  to  see  the  grand  improve- 
ments in  our  fair  country.  The  sulky 
plow  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old 
wooden  mold-board,  the  binder  that  of 
the  hand  sickle,  the  separator  that  of  the 
flail,  and  hopes  to  yet  see  universal 
sobriety  and  good  order  take  the  place 
of  whisky,  beer  and  the  saloon. 

Charles  B.  Gilchrist,  deceased,  was  a 
settler  of  1837.  He  was  born  in  Wai- 
pole,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  27th  day 
of  May,  1802,  his  parents  being  Samuel 
and  Betsy  (Allen)  Gilchr^st.  She  was 
a  niece  of  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  a  de- 
scendant of  William  Holton,  who  was 
one  of  the  celebrated  Pilgrim  fathers. 
Charles  A.  Gilchrist  worked  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  when 
a  boy,  and  when  21  years  of  age  he  went 
to  Westminster,  Vermont,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1836.  In  1837  he  came  to 
McDoriough  county,  Illinois,  and  at  first 
rented  land  in  Tennessee  township,  near 
the  Lamoine  line,  but  the  next  year,  1838, 
he  bought  land  on  section  32,  and  there 
made  permanent  improvements.  About 
the  year  1858  he  bought  the  place  of  the 
old  homestead  on  section  29,  and  there 
built  a  home,  and  by  the  earnest  work 
for  which  he  ^was  well  known,  he  soon 
had  his  family  surrounded  with  many 
comforts.  He  died  on  the  30th  day  of 
June,  1882.  On  the  31st  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1829,  he  was  married  to  Minerva 
H.  Holton,  who  was  a  descendant  of  Ed- 
ward Winslow,  who  was  also  one  of  the 
Puritan  fathers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilchrist 
were  the  parents  of  five  children :  Helen, 
married  L.  F.  Ferris,  of  Fountain  Green; 
Charles  A.,  married  Lucy  E.  Walker, 
now  residing  in  Carthage.  Charles  was 


560 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


a  general  in  the  late  civil  war,  having  en- 
listed in  the  10th  Missouri  infantry,  com- 
pany I;  Van  B. ;  Erastus  H.,  was  killed 
by  a  horse  in  October,  1851;  Edward  M., 
married  Mary  Bolls, who  is  now  dead;  and 
Edward,  now  a  resident  of  Keokuk, 
Iowa. 

Van  B.  Gilchrist  was  born  on  the  llth 
day  of  April  1836,  in  Westminster,  Ver- 
mont. He  came  to  McDonough  county 
with  his  parents,  and  now  resides  in  Ten- 
nessee township.  He  was  married  on 
the  4th  day  of  December,  1862,  to  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Eobinson,  a  native  of  Green 
county,  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  Henson 
and  Sarah  Ann  (Reed)  Robinson.  They 
have  had  six  children:  Helen,  Erastus, 
now  dead,  having  been  kicked  by  a  horse; 
Charles;  William,  died  in  1875;  and 
Cornelia.  Mr.  Gilchrist  is  a  member  of 
Tennessee  lodge,  No.  496,  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

James  Jenkins,  now  of  Tennessee 
township,  ranks  among  the  very  early 
settlers,  his  parents  having  settled  in 
Lamoine  township  as  early  as  1832. 
James  was  born  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illi- 
nois, February  12,  1829,  being  the  son  of 
David  and  Nancy  (Boring)  Jenkins,  the 
former  having  come  from  the  state  of 
Tennessee  to  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois, 
at  an  early  day.  Both  of  James'  parents' 
families  were  old  Tennessee  stock.  In 
the  fall  of  1832  the  family  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  settled  south  of 
Hill's  Grove,  on  land  now  belonging  to 
the  Waddill  heirs.  David  Jenkins  made 
some  improvements  on  this  land,  but 
four  or  five  years  afterwards  entered 
land  in  what  is  now  Lamoine  town- 
ship, the  land  now  belonging  to  the 
Griffith  estate.  There  our  subject 
was  reared,  having  to  go  about  five 


miles     to     Hill's     Grove     to     attend 
school.     He  was  married  in  Tennessee 
township,   on  the    24th  of    November, 
1859,  to  Elizabeth   Horrell,  daughter  of 
Elijah  T.   and  Lucy  (Bragg)   Horrell. 
Mr.  Horrell  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  be- 
ing born  May  4,  1804,  and  came  to  this 
county  from  Adair  county,  that  state,  in 
1835.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horrell  were  blessed 
with   six  children— Elizabeth,   Martha, 
Frances,  John  N.,  Nancy  and  Eliza  Ma- 
tilda.    The  first  four  were  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  latter  two  in  this  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Jenkins  have  four 
children — Nannie  E.,  John  F  ,  James  H. 
and  Ida  Lee.     Mr.  Jenkins  came  to  his 
present  location,  on  section  21,  Tennes- 
see township,  in  1863,  having  bought  the 
land  about  1857.  His  farm  consists  of  190 
acres  of  good  land,  nearly  all  improved. 
He  raises  cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  and 
has  one  full-blooded  Durham,  besides 
other  good  cattle.    Mr.  Jenkins  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  lodge,  No.  496,  at 
Tennessee,  was  worshipful  master  one 
year,  and  te  the  present  treasurer,  which 
office  he  has  held  almost  continuously 
since  its  organization.     He  has  also  been 
senior  and  junior  warden.     Mr.  Jenkins' 
father  is  now  living  in  Kansas,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  81  years,  but  his  mother 
died  in  October,  1832,  when  James  was 
a  mere  child.     He  was  the  first  tax  col- 
lector in  Lamoine  township,  when  the 
county  assumed  township  organization. 
He  served  two  terms  there,  and  one   in 
Tennessee  township.     In  1868  he  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Methodist  church 
and  is  now  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church  in  Tennessee.     His  wife  and  two 
daughters  are  also  members  of  the  same 
church.     Mr.  Jenkins  has   been   class- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


561 


leader,  steward,  Sunday  school  superin- 
tendent and  teacher. 

HILL'S  GROVE. 

The  settlement  bearing  this  name  lies 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Tennessee 
township,  and  was  so  named  by  Isaac 
Holton,  at  an  early  day,  in  honor  of  a 
relative  by  the  name  of  Hill.  Many 
items  of  interest  in  the  history  of  the 
county  had  their  scene  in  this  vicinity, 
and  Hill's  Grove  will  be  found  mentioned 
in  more  than  one  of  the  chapters  of  this 
-work.  Here  was  located  the  Holton 
school,  a  notice  of  which  appears  here- 
after. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In  educational  matters,  Tennessee  oc- 
cupies the  same  territory  as  it  did  pre- 
vious to  the  time  Colchester  township 
was  organized.  Although  separate 
townships,  Colchester  and  Tennessee  are 
recognized  as  one  and  the  same,  with 
reference  to  school  matters,  etc.  From 
an  examination  of  the  last  annual  report 
of  the  county  superintendent,  for  the 
school  year  ending  June  30,  1884,  it  is 
learned  that  Tennessee  has  949  children 
between  the  school  age  of  six  and  21 
years,  700  of  whom  are  enrolled  in  the 
schools.  There  are  11  school  buildings 
in  the  township,  three  of  which  are  brick, 
the  balance  frame  structures,  and  in 
in  which  there  is  an  average  of  seven  and 
one-eleventh  months  of  school  taught 
per  year.  The  highest  wages  paid  any 
male  teacher  per  month  is  $65,  and  the 
lowest  $38  ;the  highest  wages  paid  female 
teachers  is  $35,  and  the  lowest  $18,  per 
month.  The  estimated  value  of  school 
property  amounts  to  $17,875,  while  the 


tax  levy  for  the  support  of  the  educa- 
tional institutions  of  this  township 
amounts  to  $4,225.  Tennessee  has  a 
bonded  school  debt  of  $100.  Two  of 
the  schools  in  this  township  are  graded. 
Two  of  the  districts  are  numbered,  "No. 
2,"  while  there  is  not  any  "No.  7."  Dis- 
tricts 2,  6  and  8,  are  union  districts, 
being  partly  in  Colchester,  and  partly  in 
Tennessee  townships.  District  11  is  a 
union  district  with  Lamoine  township. 

In  1835,  Isaac  Holton,  a  graduate  of 
Brown  university,  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  this  county,  locating  in  Tennessee 
township.  He  here  established  what  the 
settlers  knew  as  "Hill's  Grove  semin- 
ary," in  a  log  cabin,  on  section  29.  He 
erected  the  building  himself,  maintain- 
ing the  idea  that  thus  away  from  town, 
he  could  rear  his  family  in  a  better  and 
more  satisfactory  manner,  and  at  the 
same  time,  secure  to  the  neighborhood 
educational  facilities,  which  would  tend 
to  build  up  and  develop  the  same.  The 
rude  log  structure  was  about  20x24  feet 
in  dimensions,  and  one  and  a  half  stories 
high.  It  contained  but  a  loft  overhead, 
in  which,  it  is  said,  negroes  were  hidden 
away  from  their  pursuers,  during  the 
days  of  slavery.  The  building  is  now 
used  by  Asa  Fulkerson,  a  nephew  of 
Thomas,  as  a  stable.  Mr.  Holton  con- 
ducted a  school,  in  which  all  the  col- 
legiate branches  were  taught,  and  no 
one's  education  in  this  section  of  the 
county  was  considered  finished,  who  had 
not  attended  the  "seminary."  He  con- 
tinued the  school  for  about  15  years, 
when  he  went  to  Carthage,  and  taught 
the  high  school  there  for  one  year.  He 
then  returned  to  Hill's  Grove,  with  the 
intention  of  resuming  teaching  there, 


562 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


but  his  death  occurred  shortly  after- 
ward, at  his  home,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
school.  He  left  a  wife  and  five  chil- 
dren. His  wife  is  still  living,  and  re- 
sides with  a  brother-in-law,  Hiram  G. 
Ferris,  a  prominent  banker  of  Carthage. 
Isaac  Holton,  the  teacher  of  the  old 
Hill's  Grove  school,  was  born  on  the  13th 
day  of  March,  1790,  and  died,  June  26, 
1850.  He  was  married,  June  6,  1827,  to 
Phebe  Arnold,  daughter  of  Seth  and 
Esther  (Ramsey)  Arnold.  She  was 
born  in  1798,  and  is  yet  living,  being  at 
present,  with  her  son-in-law,  Hiram 
Ferris,  of  Carthage.  She  is  in  the  en- 
joyment of  excellent  health.  Isaac  Hol- 
ton graduated  in  1814,  at  the  university 
of  Vermont,  located  in  the  city  of  Bur- 
lington. He  had  become  fitted  for  col- 
lege at  Deerfield  academy,  in  Massachu- 
setts. After  graduating,  he  read  law 
with  his  brother,  John,  in  Springfield, 
Massachusetts,  and  subsequently,  with 
Hon.  W.  C.  Bradley,  of  Westminister, 
Vermont.  After  a  brief  law  practice,  he 
abandoned  that  profession,  and  engaged 
in  teaching,  commencing  that  work  as 
principal  of  Chester  academy,  in  Ver- 
mont. He  was  eminently  successful, 
and  afterwards  filled  the  same  position 
at  the  acadamies  of  South  Berwick  and 
Limerick,  in  Maine,  and  at  Bellows 
Falls,  Vermont,  until  about  1835,  when 
he  removed  to  Hill's  Grove,  Illinois. 
He  traded  a  pew  in  a  church,  at  Bangor, 
Maine,  for  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 29,  Tennessee  township,  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  and  here  laid  out 
the  town  of  Hill's  Grove,  which  is  now  a 
village,  containing  two  stores,  a  black- 
smith shop,  postoffice,  etc.  Soon  after 
his  arrival  here,  he  opened  a  school,  in 


which  he  taught  the  higher  branches 
and  classics.  He  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life  here  engaged  in  teaching  and 
farming.  His  children  were:  Seth 
Arnold,  married  to  Margaret  (Farley) 
Shedd,  and  in  the  treasury  deparment, 
at  Washington,  D.  C. ;  Eebecca  Ranney, 
who  was  married  to  Eev.  Joseph  Mason, 
and  died  in  1871;  Dr.  John  Ambrose, 
who  was  a  practicing  dentist  in  Arkan- 
sas, now  deceased;  Eev.  Charles  Augus- 
tus, a  minister  of  the  United  Brethren, 
in  Peoria  county;  Julia  Esther,  wife  of 
Hiram  G.  Ferris,  the  leading  banker,  of 
Carthage;  Anna  Phebe,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 30,  1849,  aged  10  years,  and  Joel 
Alexander,  who  died,  April  25,  1860, 
aged  20  years. 

An  early  school  in  Tennessee  was 
taught  by  Alexander  Ladlock  in  the 
summer  of  1834,  on  the  land  now  owned 
by  James  McClure  on  section  9.  Chil- 
dren attended  from  distances  of  four  or 
five  miles. 

In  1838,  Mrs.  Hoyt  taught  school 
in  the  Lower  neighborhood,  in  an  old 
log  cabin  erected  by  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Durand  and  who  afterward  died 
there.  Benches  extended  the  entire 
width  of  the  building  and  were  con- 
structed of  logs  upon  four  legs,  which 
served  as  seats. 

The  present  board  of  township  direc- 
tors, for  the  several  districts,  consists  of 
the  following  named  gentlemen :  Thomas 
Fulkerson,  F.  F.  Myer,  and  M.  L.  Mor- 
row, No.  1;  William  Boyd  and  G.  W. 
Carson,  No.  2;  E.  G.  Powell  and  H.  A. 
Hendricks,  No.  2;  S.  W.  Hunt,  Joseph 
D.  Moon  and  James  McClure,  No.  3;  E. 
W.  Lyon,  A.  J.  Martin  and  W.  H. 
Mourning,  No.  4;  William  McKenzie, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


563 


John  Farrenkopf  and  Edgar  Hill,  No.  5 ; 
J.  D.  Trew  and  D.  W.  Campbell,  No.  6; 
John  L.  Smith  and  R  P.  Smith,  No.  8; 
Joseph  Morgan  and  George  Cuba,  No.  9; 
J.  L.  Meyers  and  A.  E.  Welch,  No.  10; 
T.  B.  Lawyer  and  J.  E.  Stookey,  No  11. 
The  first  school  house  in  district  No. 
5,  originally  known  as  the  Prentiss 
school  house,  was  erected  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  5,  where  the 
Friendship  church  now  stands,  in  the 
spring  of  1838.  It  was  a  frame  struct- 
ure 16x20  feet,  constructed  of  oak  lum- 
ber, which  was  sawed  at  Ayer's  mill,  in 
Tennessee  township,  on  Crooked  creek. 
An  orphan  girl,  Mary  Long,  who  came 
to  the  township  with  her  uncle,  'Squire 
Nott,  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in 
the  building  during  the  following  sum- 
mer, before  there  was  any  flooring,  lath- 
ing or  plastering.  The  teacher  would 
board  at  the  homes  of  the  scholars,  gen- 
erally a  week  at  a  place,  the  schools 
being  kept  up  almost  entirely  by  sub- 
scription. The  building  was  used  until 
a  new  one  was  erected  in  the  center  of 
southwest  quarter  of  section  5,  in  1855. 
This  structure  outlived  its  usefulness  and 
was  sold  to  George  H.  Mourning  for  $5, 
who  utilized  it  for  kindling  fires,  etc. 
The  present  building  of  this  district  was 
erected  in  the  fall  of  1878,  at  a  cost  of 
$502,  including  furniture,  and  is  located 
on  the  site  of  the  predecessor,  being 
20x28  feet  in  dimensions.  The  first 
teacher  in  this  building  was  Carrie 
Head,  while  Minnie  Douglas  teaches  the 
school  at  present. 

POSTOFFICE. 

In  1850,  a  postoffice  was  established 
at  the  residence  of  George  "Welch,  and 


was  continued  there  for  a  number  of 
years.  The  office  was  previously  kept 
by  John  Carroll,  in  Hire  township  and 
when  Mr.  Carroll  gave  it  up,  Mr.  Welch 
was  appointed.  It  was  then  called  the 
Pleasant  Valley  Mills  postoffice,  but 
afterward  changed  to  Argyle. 

RELIGIOUS. 

In  1835,  religious  services  were  held 
in  a  public  place  for  the  first  time,  at  the 
school  house  of  Isaac  Holton.  The  ser- 
vices were  of  a  Congregational  order.  The 
Methodists  also  held  services  there,  and 
for  fifteen  years  these  two  denominations 
continued  to  hold  meetings  at  that  place. 
Valentine  Wilson  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon in  this  house. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  Valentine  Wil- 
son, a  Methodist  preacher  from  Hancock 
county,  delivered  the  first  sermon  to  the 
people  of  Tennessee,  at  the  house  of 
James  Fulkerson,  which  was  just  after 
the  arrival  of  the  Fulkersons  in  McDon- 
ough  county.  Shortly  after  this  he  held 
appointments  at  the  house  of  Joshua 
Hunt,  and  missions  were  then  held  at 
these"  two  places. 

CEMETERY. 

The  cemetery  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  5  was  laid  out  by  the  Friend- 
ship organization  and  is  connected  with 
the  church  at  this  point,  part  the  ground 
being  deeded  in  1874,  by  John  B.  Eakel, 
the  balance  by  Dodson  Siebolds,  at  an 
early  day.  The  first  burial  occurred  in 
July,  1839,  and  was  the  wife  of  John 
Mourning,  who  came  from  Kentucky  the 
preceding  May.  The  second  body  in- 
tered  was  that  of  an  itinerant  peddler, 
who  was  taken  sick  at  the  house  ef  Geo. 


564 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Derritt,  a  renter,  where  he  died,  during 
the  winter  of  1839-40.  Another  early 
burial  occurred  during  the  year  1840, 
and  was  the  body  of  David  Brown,  a 

young  man,  and  son  of  David  Brown,  Sr. 

\ 

SAW  MILL. 

The  first  steam  saw  mill  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Tennessee  township,  was 
built  in  the  spring  of  1857,  on  section  6, 
on  Cedar  creek,  by  O.  A.  Young.  He 
brought  the  boiler  with  him  from  Fulton 
county,  but  purchased  the  engine  and 
other  necessary  machinery  for  the  mill 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  the  saw  first  used 
being  an  upright  one.  In  1877  he  re- 
moved the  machinery  to  its  present  loca- 
tion, on  section  7.  The  engine  is  a  20- 
horse  power,  and  a  circular  saw  is  now 
used. 

HISTOEIC  EVENTS. 

The  first  marriage  which  occurred 
within  the  present  territory  of  Tennes- 
see township  was  that  of  Permenio  Jones 
and  Ann  Dickinson.  The  ceremony  oc- 
curred at  the  residence  of  Charles  Dick- 
inson, the  father  of  the  bride,  on  section 
18,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  was  prob- 
ably performed  by  an  old  Methodist 
minister,  James  King.  Mr.  Jones  has 
since  died,  and  she  is  now  the  wife  of  R. 
Underbill,  a  resident  of  this  township. 

Valentine  Wilson,  a  Methodist  divine, 
preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  town- 
ship, in  the  spring  of  1832,  at  the  house 
of  James  Fulkerson. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  James 
Fulkerson,  at  his  own  residence,  in  the 
spring  of  1832.  Those  attending  the 
school  were  the  children  of  Mr.  Fulker- 
son, and  Elizabeth  J.  Tyrrell,  Matilda 


Brooks,  Roisten  Johnson  and  Julia  John- 
son. 

The  first  postoffice  at  Hill's  Grove  was 
established  in  1839,  with  Isaac  Holton 
as  postmaster. 

Rutherford  McClure  laid  the  first  tile 
for  drainage  purposes,  in  the  county,  in 
1872.  He  purchased  the  tile  of  Abram 
Horrocks,  who  had  established  a  small 
factory  at  Colchester  about  that  time. 
Mr.  Horrocks  is  now  operating  the  large 
tile  establishment  in  Bardolph.  Mr.  Mc- 
Clure paid  fifty  dollars  a  1,000  for  four 
inch  tiling,  which  was  the  largest  size 
then  manufactured.  His  neighbors  con- 
tended that  he  was  wasting  time  and 
money,  but  experience  proves  the  con- 
trary. 

Probably  the  first  death  which  occur- 
red in  the  township,  was  a  widow  lady 
named  Taise,  who  resided  on  section  5. 
Her  death  occurred  in  July,  1834,  and 
there  being  no  burying  ground  at  that 
time,  the  remains  were  interred  in  the 
timber  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 4.  The  coffin  was  made  of  dressed 
walnut,  by  a  cabinet  maker  named  Du- 
rand.  There  is  no  gravestone  or  mark 
of  any  kind  at  present  to  designate  the 
place  where  she  slumbers. 

ORGANIZATION. 

In  pursuance  of  a  vote  taken  upon 
township  organizaijon,  at  the  general 
election  of  November,  1856,  the  com- 
mittee appointed  by  the  county  judge 
to  divide  the  county  into  townships,  re- 
ported in  due  time,  and  from  that  report 
it  was  learned  that  the  territory  com- 
prising this  township  was  called  Ten- 
nessee. Tennessee  was  organized  as  a 
full  congressional  township  and  so  re- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


565 


mained  until  the  spring  election  of  1880, 
when  Colchester  township  was  created, 
taking  from  Tennessee  sections  1,12,  13, 
24,  25  and  36,  and  the  east  half  of  sections 
2,  11,  14,  23,  26  and  35.  The  first  town- 
ship election  was  held  April  7,  1857,  at 
which  time  the  following  officers  were 
elected:  S.  A.  Knott,  justice;  D.  W. 
Campbell  and  Samuel  Gibson,  consta- 
bles. The  present  officers  of  the  town- 
ship are  as  follows:  Supervisor,  Wm. 
Cook:  clerk,  Douglas  Glasgow:  assessor, 
William  Cowan;  collector,  Frank  Hunt; 
highway  commissioner,  Joseph  Morgan; 
justices-of-the-peace,  H.  L.  Rapelje  and 
Samuel  Russell;  constables,  J.  Sweeney 
and  Charles  Cook;  school  trustees,  Jas. 
Eaton  two  years,  and  W.  A.  Hutchinson, 
three  years. 

TOWN  OF  TENNESSEE. 

In  March,  1854,  section  22  of  Tennes- 
see township,  was  selected  by  L.  C.  Ba- 
con, T.  K.  Waddill  and  S.  Cockerham  as 
a  site  upon  which  to  establish  the  pres- 
ent thriving  little  village  of  Tennessee. 
Work  along  the  line  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q., 
railroad  had  already  commenced,  which, 
from  the  survey,  passed  through  the 
above  named  section,  and  was  undoubt- 
edly the  reason  these  above  named  gen- 
tlemem  attempted  the  establishment  of 
this  place.  No  better  location  could 
have  then  been  chosen  than  the  beau- 
tiful prairie  about  one  mile  south  of 
Crooked  creek.  During  the  month  of 
March,  a  large  number  of  lots,  50  feet 
front  and  110  feet  deep,  were  laid  out  on 
either  side  of  the  proposed  line  of  road, 
the  two  main  streets  running  parallel 
with  the  railroad.  For  about  four  years 
there  were  rapid  strides  toward  a  town 


of  considerable  importance,  and  soon 
became  quite  a  business  point,  but  since 
1858  the  progress  has  been  impeded  and 
slow.  Although  the  class  of  buildings 
has  been  improved  and  the  stores  en- 
larged, the  number  of  inhabitants  at 
present  is  scarcely  more  than  several 
years  ago.  The  place  was  incorporated 
as  a  town  June  7,  1865,  and  as  a  village 
November  25,  1872.  While  there  may 
be  nothing  really  remarkable  in  the  de- 
velopments of  the  past,  or  anything  par- 
ticular striking  in  the  present,  still 
there  is  much  which  cannot  fail  to  be 
of  interest  to  those  who  have  been  closely 
connected  and  identified  with  the  town 
in  all  the  various  changes  which  have 
occurred  from  year  to  year. 

THE   BEGINNING. 

The  first  building  on  the  site  of  the 
present  town  of  Tennessee,  was  a  house 
erected  from  clap-boards,  by  Abraham 
Cherry,  in  the  fall  of  1854.  It  was  loca- 
ted two  or  three  rods  northeast  of  where 
the  pottery  now  stands,  and  has  since 
been  removed.  In  the  spring  of  1860, 
Mr.  Cherry  removed  to  Colchester,  and 
about  the  year  1876,  emigrated  to  Ne- 
braska. He  was  from  Ohio  and  had  a 
family. 

Mr.  Jarvis  put  up  the  second  house, 
which  was  a  frame  structure.  The  pine 
for  the  building  was  purchased  at  Dal- 
las, Hancock  county,  while  the  remain- 
der of  the  material  was  purchased  in  this 
county.  While  the  house  was  in  course  of 
erection,  William  Cook  and  John  Rhea 
commenced  the  construction  of  homes, 
assisting  each  other  in  turn.  Mr.  Jarvis 
entirely  completed  his  house  first,  but 
these  other  two  gentlemen  occupied  their 


566 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


houses  before  Mr.  Jarvis  was  ready  to 
have  his  family  enter  his  new  home. 

The  first  store  operated  in  Tennessee 
was  by  B.  M.  Beach,  from  Hill's  Grove. 
He  commenced  business  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  year  1854,  in  a  building 
erected  by  Allen  Averill,  on  the  present 
site  of  Ellis'  restaurant.  He  kept  a 
small  stock  of  dry  goods,  groceries, 
boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  and  continued  in 
business  about  a  year,  when  he  disposed 
of  the  same  to  William  Lattimer,  who 
run  the  business  several  years.  This 
latter  named  gentleman  went  to  Kansas 
City,  Missouri,  in  1865,  and  later  to 
Abingdon,  Illinois,  where  he  afterward 
died.  Eaton  and  Jarvis  also  operated 
this  business  about  four  years, .  buying 
the  same  of  Lattimer. 

Milton  Johnson,  from  St.  Mary's, 
Illinois,  came  to  the  town  of  Tennessee 
in  company  with  his  family,  in  the 
early  part  of  1855.  He  put  a  general 
stock  of  goods  into  a  building  where 
Houck's  blacksmith  shop  now  stands, 
and  continued  in  business  until  1861, 
when  he  closed  it  out  entirely  and  re- 
moved to  Missouri. 

A  Quincy  firm  came  shortly  after 
Johnson,  and  put  in  a  stock  of  dry  goods 
and  clothing.  After  a  short  time  one  of 
the  partners  died  and  the  other  then  re- 
turned to  Quincy. 

The  firm  of  Tolon,  Sidwell  &  Com- 
pany established  business  in  Tennessee 
in  the  early  part  of  1855.  This  firm  ran 
about  five  years,  when  J.  S.  Douglass, 
the  company  of  the  firm,  purchased  the 
interest  of  his  partners. 

The  first  physician  to  cast  his  lot 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  of 


Tennessee,  was  Dr.  W.  R.  Pittman,  who 
is  still  engaged  in  practice  here. 

The  undertaking  business  was  first 
represented  in  Tennessee  by  William 
McKenzie,  in  1860,  who  still  continues  to 
operate  the  same. 

BUSINESS   DEVELOPMENT. 

B.  F.  Thompson  embarked  in  general 
merchandise  in  1865,  in  a  building  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  street  from 
his  present  location.  At  that  time 
there  was  no  other  business  of  this  kind 
in  Tennessee,  except  a  small  store  opera- 
ted by  the  Owen  Brothers,  which  has 
since  assumed  larger  proportions.  In 
1877,  Mr.  Thompson  removed  to  his 
present  location,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued business.  The  building  now  used 
by  him  is  28x100  feet  in  ground  area, 
two  stories  high,  the  upper  floor  being 
occupied  by  the  Masonic  society.  He 
handles  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots,  shoes, 
groceries,  queensware,  etc. 

In  April,  1865,  Ambers  G.  Owen,  in 
in  connection  with  his  brother  Asak, 
commenced  business  in  Tennessee,  with 
a  stock  of  groceries.  At  that  time  they 
also  handled  drugs  in  connection  with 
the  grocery  stock.  Their  place  of  busi- 
ness was  in  a  building  on  the  present 
site  of  B.  F.  Thompson's  store.  They 
continued  in  this  line  about  two  years, 
when  they  erected  a  large  building  and 
put  in  a  general  stock,  which  they  ope- 
rated until  September,  1882,  when  they 
sold  out  to  Waddill  &  Co.  Asak  Owen 
removed  to  Lake  Geneva,  Wisconsin, 
and  established  a  paper  called  the  News. 
Ambers  G.,  joined  his  brother  at  that 
place  in  March,  1883,  and  engaged  in 
the  grocery  business  until  December,  of 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


567 


the  same  year,  when  he  returned  to 
Tennessee,  and  at  present  operates  the 
only  exclusive  grocery  store  in  the  place. 
The  building,  including  the  ware  room, 
is  20x100  feet  in  dimension. 

Ambers  G.  Owen  is  a  native  of  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  Sep- 
tember 26,  1824,  his  parents  being  Asal 
and  Elizabeth  (Graf ton)  Owen.  Asal 
Owen  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  a 
relative  of  old  Simon  Kenton,  while  his 
wife  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  When 
Ambers  was  a  mere  boy,  his  parents 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  learned 
the  tailors'  trade.  When  he  was  15  years 
of  age,  the  family  removed  to  St.  Louis 
county,  Missouri,  and  some  months 
afterwards  to  Greenville,  Bond  county. 
In  1840  they  came  to  this  county,  and 
located  just  below  Hill's  Grove,  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  George  Barker. 
They  remained  there  during  that  winter, 
and  then  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Graves'  mill,  near  the  present  site  of 
Colmar.  Ambers  G.  Owen  was  married 
in  December,  1848,  to  Elizabeth  I.  Tyr- 
rell, a  daughter  of  Boswell  Tyrrell,  an 
old  settler  of  the  county.  She  died  in 
May,  1881.  By  that  marriage  there 
were  10  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living:  Ambrose  E.,  Lawrence  S.,  Nel- 
lie L.  and  Frank.  He  was  married  again 
December  27,  1882,  to  Mary  Grimes,  of 
Knoxville,  Knox  county.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  lodge  and  of  the 
chapter  at  Macomb,  and  was  a  charter 
member  of  the  Tennessee  lodge,  and  has 
filled  all  the  offices  except  master. 

Ambrose  E.  Owen  is  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee township,  and  was  born  at  Hill's 
Grove  on  the  8th  day  of  September, 
1858,  his  parents  being  Ambers  G.  and 


Elizabeth  J.  (Tyrrell)  Owen.  Ambrose 
E.  was  reared  and  received  his  education 
in  McDonough  county.  On  the  4th  day 
of  January,  1880,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elizabeth  White,  a  daughter 
of  Stephen  White,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  McDonough  county.  One  child 
has  blessed  their  union — Daisy  Florence. 
Mr.  Owen  is  one  of  J;he  live  business 
men  of  Tennessee,  and  richly  deserves 
the  success  he  is  meeting  with. 

The  general  merchandise  business  has 
a  representative  in  the  person  of  James 
Eaton,  who  entered  into  the  dry  goods 
and  grocery  trade  with  James  Jarvis,  in 
1858,  under  the  firm  name  of  Eaton  & 
Company.  The  building  which  they  oc- 
cupied at  that  time  was  situated  on  the 
present  site  of  Glasgow's  hardware  es- 
tablishment. The  firm  continued  busi- 
ness under  this  management  until  the 
latter  part  of  1859,  when  they  disposed 
of  the  same  to  William  Lattimer.  A 
year  afterward  Mr.  Eaton  again  resumed 
business  with  William  Clayton,  in  the 
sale  of  drugs  and  groceries,  which  they 
continued  until  1865,  when  they  sold  the 
same  to  Owen  &  Brother.  He  imme- 
diately set  to  work  at  the  erection  of 
another  store  building,  which  consumed 
about  six  months,  when  he  engaged  in 
the  sale  of  dry  goods  and  groceries,  in 
company  with  John  J.  Lower,  doing 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Lower 
&  Eaton.  That  partnership  continued 
about  two  years,  when  Mr.  Lower  retired, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Eaton  has  con- 
ducted the  business.  The  store  build- 
ing at  present  is  18x100  feet  in  ground 
area,  and  two  stories  in  heighth  for  64 
feet  of  its  length.  He  is  also  interes- 
ted in  the  mining  of  coal. 


568 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Ambrose  T.  Salisbury  is  engaged  in 
the  retail  of  drugs,  boots  and  shoes, 
gents'  furnishing  goods,  etc.  He  en- 
tered into  this  business  September  1, 
1882,  with  J.  T.  Waddill,  the 'firm  name 
and  style  being  Waddill  &  Company. 
March  17,  1884,  Mr.  "Waddill  retired 
from  the  firm,  since  which  time  Mr. 
Salisbury  has  conducted  the  business  as 
sole  proprietor.  He  occupies  the  west 
half  of  the  building  occupied  by  A.  G. 
Owen,  grocer. 

William  D.  Ellis  operates  a  restaurant 
and  carries  a  stock  of  fancy  groceries, 
which  he  established  in  1876.  Previous 
to  this,  Mr.  Ellis  was  engaged  in  black- 
smithing,  commencing  the  same  in  1865. 
At  the  time  he  embarked  in  the  restau- 
rant and  grocery  business  he  was  located 
south  of  the  depot,  but  in  1882  he  sold 
that  property  and  erected  his  present 
store  room,  which  is  16x30  feet  in  size. 
William  D.  Ellis  was  born  in  Floyd 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  2d  day  of  July, 
1819,  his  parents  being  Joseph  and  Cath- 
erine Ellis.  He  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  state,  and  removed  to  Schuy- 
ler  county,  Illinois,  in  1848.  Imbued 
with  patriotism,  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  16th  Illinois  infantry,  on  the  1st  day 
of  February,  1862.  He  was  in  the  16th 
army  corps,  and  served  under  General 
Rosecrans.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at 
Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  and  was 
afterwards  sent  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
where  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge. He  then  returned  to  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until 
1864,  when,  with  his  family,  he  came  to 
McDonough  county  and  settled  in  Ten- 
nessee village,  where  he  still  resides, 
and  is  held  in  high  estimation  by  all 


with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  On  the 
10th  of  December,  1836,  he  was  married 
to  Lucinda  Barnaby,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
This  union  has  been  blessed  by  11  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living — Nancy 
Van  Winkle,  George  W.,  Sarah  Jen-- 
nings,  John  W.  and  Emma  Dull. 

Douglas  Glasgow  embarked  in  the 
hardware  business  March  1, 1880,  having 
purchased  the  building  of  B.  F.  Thomp- 
son, situated  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
street  from  the  latter  gentleman's  pres- 
ent store.  The  building  is  a  frame  struc- 
ture, 20x50  'feet  in  dimensions,  and  is 
two  stories  high.  He  handles  light  and 
heavy  hardware,  tinware,  agricultural 
implements,  etc.  At  present  Mr.  Glas- 
gow is  the  only  dealer  in  hardware  in 
Tennessee.  Douglas  Glasgow  was  born 
in  Covington,  Kentucky,  March  1,  1836, 
his  parents  being  Adam  and  Mary  Ann 
(Stevenson)  Glasgow,  who  were  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  When  he  was  six 
years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  the 
vicinity  of  Mt.  Sterling.  Illinois,  where 
his  father  lived  until  his  death,  in  De- 
cember, 1870.  When  19  years  of  age  he 
went  to  Kipley  and  learned  the  potter's 
trade.  In  the  spring  of  1865  he  enlisted 
in  the  14th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served 
in  the  17th  army  corps,  being  with  Sher- 
man at  the  time  of  Johnston's  surrender. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  in  December,  1865.  He 
then  returned  to  Bipley,  and  worked  at 
his  trade  from  the  fall  of  1866  till  the 
spring  of  1868,  when  he  came  to  Ten- 
nessee. He  worked  at  the  potter's  trade 
till  1873,  when  he  engaged  at  clerking 
with  B.  F.  Thompson,  with  whom  he  re- 
mained until  engaging  in  business  for 
himself.  He  was  married  June  19, 1871, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


569 


to  Maggie  Walker,  a  native  of  this  county. 
Her  father,  Andrew  Walker,  was  one  of 
McDonough's  old  settlers.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Glasgow  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren— Robert,  Grace,  and  an  infant. 
They  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  two 
children — Winfred,  who  died  in  1874, 
aged  one  and  one-half  years;  Arthur, 
who  died  in  1882,  aged  six  years.  Mr. 
Glasgow  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
lodge,  and  has  held  the  office  of  junior 
warden.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  when  thei  post 
was  in  existence  in  Tennessee. 

In  1860  the  undertaking  business  was 
established  by  William  McKenzie.  His 
warerooms  for  storage  are  in  the  rear  of 
the  post  office  building.  Since  the  estab- 
lishment of  this  business,  Mr.  McKenzie 
has  continued  the  same  evej  since,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  years  he  served 
in  the  war.  He  was  the  first  and  only 
undertaker  ever  in  Tennessee. 

In  1872  B.  F.  Thompson  engaged  in 
the  grain  business,  since  which  time  it 
has  been  steadily  on  the  increase.  Pre- 
vious to  that  time  there  had  been  no  one 
extensively  engaged  in  the  grain  trade 
in  Tennessee  for  some  years.  Mr. 
Thompson  has  bins  with  a  storage  ca- 
pacity of  10,000  bushels,  but  ships 
mostly  as  he  purchases,  direct,  to  Peoria 
and  Quincy.  During  the  year  1884  his 
business  amounted  to  some  50,000  or 
60,000  bushels  of  grain,  principally 
wheat  and  oats. 

The  blacksmith  business  is  repre- 
sented by  M.  D.  Martin.  His  place  of 
business  is  located  a  short  distance  in 
the  rear  of  B.  F.  Thompson's  store,  the 
building  being  about  14x22  feet  in  di- 
mensions. It  was  formerly  used  as  a 


room  for  grinding  feed  by  the  old  Bab- 
cock  mill,  and  was1  removed  to  its  pres- 
ent location  in  1880,  by  G.  P.  Martin 
the  father  of  the  present  owner.  At  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  the  building,  G. 
P.  Martin's  son-in-law,  J.  J.  Eighmey, 
took  charge  of  the  shop  and  conducted 
the  same  until  the  summer  of  1882,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  time  which  he 
spent  in  Kansas.  At  the  time  mentioned 
Mr.  Eighmey  removed  to  Colchester  and 
established  a  shop,  since  which  time  the 
business  at  Tennessee  has  been  carried 
on  by  M.  D.  Martin. 

HOTELS. 

L.  Underbill  kept  the  first  hotel  at 
Tennessee.  The  building  was  moved 
from  the  neighborhood  of  the  old  Mc- 
Donough  saw  mill,  three  miles  west,  in 
January,  1857,  by  Leo  and  John  Mc- 
Donough,  who  sold  it  to  the  above  named 
gentleman.  Mr.  Underbill  conducted 
the  house  about  six  months,  when  he 
sold  it  to  John  Lowderman,  after  which 
which  it  was  no  longer  used  as  a  hotel. 
At  present  the  building  is  owned  by  the 
widow  Bolles  and  is  used  as  a  tenement 
house. 

After  L.  Underbill  disposed  of  the 
hotel  at  Tennessee  to  John  Lowderman, 
that  place  was  without  a  hotel  for  about 
a  year,  at  which  time  Edmund  N.  Dris- 
coll  erected  the  Liberty  House.  It  was 
afterward  owned  by  H.  C.  Potts,  Thos. 
Cyrus,  John  Lowderman  and  D.  B. 
Waddill.  Mrs.  Margaret  Dull  is  the 
present  owner  and  occupant  of  the  house. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The  postoffice  was  established  in  1856, 
with  Dr.  I.  N.  Knott  as  first  postmaster. 


570 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  office  was  kept  in  the  building  be- 
longing to  the  doctor,  who  operated  a 
store  and  also  practiced  medicine.  The 
building,  which  was  a  two  story,  frame 
structure,  is  now  owned  by  Patrick 
McCune,  who  uses  it  as  a  residence.  It 
is  located  across  the  railroad  track  and 
a  little  east  of  the  present  postoffice 
building.  Mr.  Knott  held  the  office  un- 
1861,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Elwood 
Sidwell,  who  held  the  same  until  1868. 
Mr.  Sidwell  removed  the  office  to  a  build- 
ing owned  and  occupied  by  himself, 
which  is  about  the  center  of  the  town 
east  and  west,  but  has  since  been  torn 
down  and  rebuilt  and  is  now  the  prop- 
erty of  Michael  Doran.  In  1868,  A.  K 
Owen  was  commissioned,  who  conducted 
it  in  the  building  occupied  by  him,  just 
east  of  the  hardware  store,  until  1872. 
H.  L.  Bapelje  was  the  next  postmaster, 
and  was  succeeded  in  1874  by  John  At- 
kinson. This  gentleman  conducted  the 
same  but  a  few  weeks,  when  the  present 
incumbent,  William  McKenzie,  was  com- 
missioned. The  postoffice  at  present  oc- 
cupies the  same  building  as  when  kept 
by  A.  K.  Owen,  which  has  since  been 
removed  to  a  point  further  east,  and  is 
used  also  by  this  gentleman  as  an  under- 
taking establishment. 

INDUSTRIAL  INTERESTS. 

James  Eaton  has  been  engaged  in 
mining,  and  the  shipment  of  coal  for  the 
past  seven  years.  The  drift  is  situated 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of 
Tennessee,  from  which  is  extracted  from 
$2,500  to  $3,000  worth  of  coal  annually. 
Mr.  Eaton  employs  about  five  men  gen- 
erally, but  has  had  in  his  employ  as 
many  as  20  men  for  that  work. 


Abraham  Newland  commenced  to  sink 
a  shaft  for  coal  in  June,  1883,  which  is 
located  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  was  opened  for  business  in 
August,  1883.  The  shaft  is  80  feet  deep, 
but  work  is  being  carried  on  at  a  level 
of  33  below  the  surface,  where  there  is  a 
seam  27  inches  thick.  He  has  162  acres 
of  land,  on  which  the  shaft  is  located, 
two  acres  of  which  is  within  the  incor- 
porate limits  of  Tennessee.  During  the 
year  of  1884,  Mr.  Newland  shipped 
nearly  300  cars  of  coal  from  the  shaft. 
He  usually  employs  about  40  men  in  the 
work,  and  has  a  steam  hoisting  appar- 
atus, with  an  engine  of  15  horse  power. 
Eli  Hillard  is  pit  overseer. 

In  going  down  eighty  feet,  for  a  new 
seam  of  coal,  four  fine  veins  of  clay  were 
discovered.  The  first  is  a  fire  clay,  six 
feet  in  thickness;  the  second  is  also  a 
fire  clay  five  and  one-half  feet  thick, 
while  the  third  is  of  like  nature,  nine 
feet  thick.  The  fourth  vein  is  a  beauti- 
ful, white,  potter's  clay,  10  feet  thick. 
Mr.  Newland  intends  to  utilize  the  shale 
for  the  manufacture  of  red  pressed  brick, 
the  seam  from  which  it  is  taken  being 
15  feet  in  thickness.  On  making  these 
discoveries,  he  determined  to  establish 
a  tile  and  brick  factory,  and  also  expects 
to  establish  a  pottery  in  the  near  future. 
The  tile  factory  is  32x100  feet  in  dimen: 
sions.  The  lower  floor  is  all  one  room, 
while  the  upper  floor  is  divided  into  two 
apartments,  and  heated  by  steam.  The 
rooms  are  arranged  by  a  system  of  shelv- 
ing, whereby  five  layers  can  be  stowed 
for  drying,  instead  of  two,  as  is  usually 
the  case;  so  that  by  this  labor-saving 
process,  as  much  tile  can  be  put  in  these 
rooms  to  dry  as  in  five  rooms  of  the 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


571 


same  size  by  the  old  method.  The 
capacity  of  the  factory  is  20,000  tile  per 
week.  The  machinery  is  propelled  by  a 
Centennial  Tiffany  40  horse  power  en- 
gine. 

Abraham  Newland,  Jr.,  is  a  native  of 
Evenwood,  county  Durham,  England, 
having  been  born  on  the  3d  of  February, 
1838.  Oliver  Cromwell  had  a  signal 
corps  right  in  front  of  the  house  in 
which  he  was  born.  Abraham's  parents 
were  Abraham  and  Sarah  ( Porter )  New- 
land,  who  now  live  in  Colchester.  They 
are  both  natives  of  England,  and  the 
family  are  distant  relatives  of  Abraham 
Newland,  who  was  cashier  of  the  Bank 
of  England.  Abraham's  (the  subject's) 
grandfather  on  his  father's  side,  lived  to 
be  108  years  of  age.  Abraham  New- 
land,  Sr.,  came  to  this  country  in  1853, 
accompanied  by  his  daughter,  and 
located  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  and 
two  years  later  sent  for  his  family.  Abra- 
ham, Jr.,  is  a  self-educated  man,  and  by 
attendance  at  night  school  and  close  ap- 
plication to  his  books,  he  has  acquired  a 
good  education.  He  came  to  Colchester 
in  the  winter  of  1856-7,  when  the  coal 
mines  were  being  opened  up.  He  was 
connected  with  the  mines  there  until 
1862,  at  which  time,  becoming  imbued 
with  patriotism,  he  enlisted  in  company 
I,  124th  Illinois  infantry,  under  Col. 
J.  H.  Howe.  At  the  time  of  his  enlist- 
ment, the  members  of  the  company 
desired  him  to  accept  the  office  of  lieu- 
tenant, but  he  refused.  Captain  Brink 
appointed  him  4th  sergeant,  but  at  the 
request  of  the  men,  he  was  made  orderly 
sergeant.  His  company  was  in  Logan's 
division,  the  17th  army  corps,  and  was 
under  Gen.  Grant  till  the  fall  of  Vicks- 


burg.  At  the  battle  of  Raymond,  Mis- 
sissippi, while  an  orderly  sergeant,  he 
commanded  the  company,  there  being  no 
commissioned  officer  present,  and  for 
bravery  displayed,  he  was  commended 
by  his  colonel  and  promised  promotion. 
A  few  days  after  this  battle,  he  was 
wounded  at  Champion  Hills,  being  shot 
through  the  jaw.  It  was  reported  that 
he  was  killed,  which  fortunately  proved 
to  be  untrue.  After  a  number  of  weeks 
of  suffering,  he  was  again  restored  to 
active  duty,  his  wound  in  the  meantime 
having  healed.  One  of  the  lieutenants 
of  his  company  resigning,  an  application 
was  made  to  have  him  commissioned  to 
fill  the  vacancy,  but  before  the  matter 
was  completed,  Captain  Brink  resigned 
and  he  was  duly  commissioned  as  cap- 
tain and  the  command  of  the  company 
given  him.  This  position  he  retained 
up  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
highly  respected  and  honored  by  his 
men  and  his  brother  officers.  Among 
the  most  important  engagements  in 
which  he  participated,  were  the  follow- 
ing: Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson, 
Champion  Hill,  siege  of  Vicksburg  and 
all  fights  during  Meridian  campaign. 
He  was  then  transferred  to  the  16th 
army  corps,  and  took  part  in  the  siege  of 
Yicksburg,  and  the  engagements  at 
Spanish  Fort,  Fort  Blakely,  and  the 
capture  of  Mobile.  He  was  engaged  in 
22  battles  and  skirmishes  and  two  sieges. 
On  the  15th  day  of  August,  1865,  the 
r^egiment  was  discharged,  and  Captain 
Newland  returned  to  Colchester,  Mc- 
Donough  county,  with  the  full  conscious- 
ness of  duty  well  performed.  Within 
two  weeks  after  his  return  home,  he  was 
engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 


572 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


business,  which  he  conducted  until  the 
fall  of  1882,  in  the  meantime  having  ac- 
cumulated a  fair  share  of  this  world's 
goods.  He  resumed  the  same  business 
in  1884,  and  is  still  conducting  it.  In 
April,  1879,  he  leased  a  coal  mine  in 
Colchester,  and  continued  running  the 
same  until  April  1,  1884.  He  is  now 
conducting  the  tile  works,  pottery  and 
coal  mine,  east  of  Tennessee.  The  cap- 
tain own  162  acres  of  land,  which  he 
farms.  He  was  married  in  Colchester, 
March  3,  1859,  to  Mary  Jane  Musson, 
who  died  June  15, 1871,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren— Sarah  Florence  and  Thomas  E. 
The  captain  was  married  again,  June 
18,  1872,  to  Annie  Musson.  Six  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Mary  O.,  Geo. 
A.,  Abraham  E.,  Gilbert,  Haven  and 
Henry  Woolesley.  Mr.  Newland  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Ee- 
public,  and  of  the  Mutual  Aid  Society, 
of  Quincy. 

The  Tennessee  stoneware  and  tile 
works  .were  erected  in  1881,  by  Stoffer 
&  Son,  who  conducted  the  business  until 
October,  1883,  when  E.  P.  Munson  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  concern,  and 
the  firm  name  was  then  changed  to  Stof- 
fer &  Company.  In  March,  1884,  Mr. 
Munson  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
Stoffers,  since  which  time  he  has  oper- 
ated the  institution  alone.  The  work- 
shop is  about  20x60  feet  in  dimensions, 
with  an  L  40x40  feet,  all  of  which  is 
two  stories  high.  Two  14  foot  kilns  are 
operated,  which  have  a  capacity  of  about 
4,500  gallons  each.  They  manufacture 
about  two  kilns  per  week,  and  when  run- 
ning at  their  full  capacity,  the  works 
give  employment  to  12  or  14  men.  In 
addition  to  the  building  already  men- 


tioned, there  is  a  warehouse  about  50x50 
feet  in  ground  area  for  the  storage  of 
the  products  of  the  works,  which  are 
operated  principally  for  the  manufacture 
of  pottery.  The  clay  is  obtained  at  a 
bank  owned  by  Mr.  Munson,  situated 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  of 
Tennessee,  which  is  of  excellent  quality. 
The  products  of  this  factory  rank  among 
the  foremost  of  the  country. 

E.  P.  Munson,  proprietor  of  the  Ten- 
nessee stoneware  and  tile  works,  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  of  Vermont,  and  was 
born  on  the  llth  of  June,  1817,  his  par- 
ents being  Theodore  and  Lydia  (Phil- 
brook)  Munson.  He  attended  school  in 
his  native  county,  and  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  15  years^  his  parents 
removed  to  Schuyler  county  Illinois. 
There  our  subject  made  his  home  until 
March,  1853,  when  he  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  settled  in  Industry 
township,  eight  miles  south  of  Macomb, 
and  still  owns  160  acres  of  the  land  on 
which  he  then  settled.  In  1883,  Mr. 
Munson  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
stoneware  and  tile  works  in  Tennessee 
village,  and  in  1884  he  became  sole  man- 
ager and  proprietor  of  the  same.  He 
was  married  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois, 
on  the  16th  day  of  January,  1840,  to 
Catherine  Sanders,  a  native  of  Beards- 
town,  Cass  county.  They  have  had  eight 
children:  William  T.,  who  served  three 
years  in  the  Illinois  cavalry.  He  was 
under  Grant  until  the  latter  was  called 
£o  the  Potomac.  He  was  hurt  in  the 
battle  of  Holly  Springs,  and  was  in  nu- 
merous other  battles;  he  now  lives  in 
Carroll  county,  Missouri.  Daniel,  now 
living  in  Sumner  county,  Kansas;  Mary, 
living  in  Industry  township;  Lydia 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


575 


(Butcher)  now  in  Carroll  county,  Mis- 
souri; Edith,  now  in  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois; Nora,  living  in  Tennessee  township; 
Louisa  C.,  now  married  and  lives  in 
Chenoa,  Illinois,  and  lola,  now  living  in 
Tennessee  township. 

SOCIETIES. 

Tennessee  lodge,  No.  496,  A.  F.  and  A. 
M.,  was  organized  and  received  its  char- 
ter, October  3,  1866.  The  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  organization  were  as  follows: 
J.  W.  Aiken,  E.  B.  Hibbard,  Joseph 
Allen,  William  Owen,  A.  G.  Owen,  O. 
A.  Young,  F.  A.  McElroy.  J.  W.  Aiken 
has  acted  as  worshipful  master  since  the 
organization  of  the  lodge,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  year,  which  was  occupied 
by  James  Jenkins.  E.  B.  Hibbard  was 
elected  worshipful  master  for  the  first 
term,  but  moved  away  immediately  after- 
ward. Joseph  Allen  was  the  first  junior 
warden,  and  A.  K.  Owen  the  first  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  lodge.  Since 
the  organization  there  have  been  but 
two  deaths  in  the  membership — Thomas 
Way  and  T.  Chenoweth.  The  former 
died  in  this  place,  while  the  latter's 
death  occurred  in  Kansas.  For  the  first 
few  years  the  lodge  was  very  prosper- 
ous, and  since  its  organization  87  mem- 
bers have  attained  the  degree  of  masonry, 
including  charter  members.  During  the 
past  10  years,  over  45  members  have 
moved  away,  leaving  the  lodge  with  a 
membership  at  present  of  but  42.  The 
lodge  is  in  fair  condition  and  reasonably 
prosperous.  The  present  officers  are  J. 
W.  Aiken,  W.  M.;  Edgar  Hill,  S.  W.; 
J.  W.  Dickson,  J.  W.;  H.  L.  Bapelje, 
secretary;  James  Jenkins,  treasurer. 

Tennessee  lodge,  No.  520,  I.  0.  O.  F., 


worked  under  a  special  dispensation  for 
nearly  a  year  prior  to  the  signing  of 
their  charter,  which  was  received  on  the 
14th  day  of  October,  1873.  The  charter 
members  of  the  organization  are  John 
J.  Werninger,  James  Eaton,  H.  L. 
Bapelje,  W.  B.  Pittman,  Chauncey  Pal- 
meter.  The  first  officers  of  this  lodge 
were  H.  L.  Eapelje,  N.  G. ;  C.  Palmeter, 
V.  G.;  James  Eaton,  treasurer;  John  J. 
Werninger,  E.  S.  Since  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  lodge,  the  following  have 
served  as  presiding  officers:  H.  L.  Ea- 
pelje, one.  year;  W.  D.  Ellis,  one  year; 
John  J.  Werninger,  one  year;  B.  F. 
Thompson,  one  year;  John  Harper,  one 
year;  C.  Palmeter,  one  year;  H.  L.  Ea- 
pelje, two  years;  D.  B.  Dull,  two  years; 
Edgar  Hill,  one  year.  The  lodge  has 
been  prosperous  from  the  start,  and  has 
received  a  hearty  support  from  the  citi- 
zens. Although  it  has  encountered  some 
drawbacks  its  rate  of  increase  is  consid- 
ered among  the  best  in  this  locality. 
The  lodge  was  organized  with  five  char- 
ter members,  and  with  scarcely  any 
money,  but  a  membership  of  78  appears 
upon  the  records.  About  the  year  1882, 
one-half  the  members  took  their  cards 
from  the  lodge,  and  a  new  society  was 
formed  at  Colchester.  The  actual  cash 
on  hand  at  present  is  $681.73,  with  a 
membership  of  twenty.  There  has  been 
one  death  since  organization,  Amos 
Glasgow,  who  died  at  Tennessee,  in  De- 
cember, 1883.  The  present  officers  are 
A.  T.  Salisbury,  N»  G.;  Eobert  Euddell, 
V.  G. ;  H.  L.  Eapelje,  P.  G. ;  James 
Eaton,  treasurer. 

Tennessee  Post,  No.  130,  G.  A.  E., 
was  organized  in  October,  1881,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  H.  M. 


576 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Jarvis,  J.  H.  Shultz,  J.  J.  Eighmey, 
John  B.  Swinney,  William  McKanzie, 
L.  Underbill,  D.  Glasgow,  Charles  Way, 
H.  L.  Eapelje,  S.  Dougherty,  J.  A.  Sou- 
ders.  The  first  officers  of  the  post 
wereH.  L.  Eapelje,  P.  C.;  D.  G.  Glas- 
gow, S.  V.  P.  C.;  William  McKenzie,  J. 
V.  P.  C.;  H.  Jarvis,  adjutant;  J.  B. 
Swinney,  Q.  M. ;  J.  H.  Shultz,  surgeon; 
J.  A.  Souders,  chaplain;  Charles  Way, 
O.  D.;  J.  J.  Eighmey,  O.  G.;  S.  Dough- 
erty, S.  M.;  L.  Underbill,  Q.  M.  S.  H. 
L.  Eapelje  held  the  position  of  post 
commander  until  the  demise  of  the 
same.  There  were  several  applications 
to  enter  the  post  from  eligible  members, 
but  on  account  of  very  bad  weather,  and 
the  inability  to  secure  a  quorum,  they 
were  never  admitted.  The  greater  por- 
tion of  the  officers  resided  in  the  coun- 
try, and  their  absence  soon  led  the  post 
to  be  inactive,  and  in  January,  1884,  the 
state  department  encampment  discon- 
tinued their  charter. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  town  of  Tennessee  was  incorpor- 
ated a  village,  November  25, 1872,  under 
the  general  incorporation  act  of  1861- 
'62,  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  The  first 
officers  of  Tennessee  were:  W.  D.  Ellis, 
president;  F.  W.  Nance,  C.  W.  McElroy, 
and  W.  E.  Pittman,  trustees;  H.  L. 
Eapelje,  clerk. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  27,  1874,  the 
following  officers  were  elected:  W.  D. 
Ellis,  president;  M.  E.  Abbott,  W.  E. 
Pittman,  William  Cook,  Chauncey  Pal- 
meter  and  Amos  Martin,  trustees;  J.  H. 
Lower,  clerk. 

The  following  officers  were  chosen  for 
the  year,  commencing  May,  1875:  W. 


D.  Ellis,  president;  William   Cook,  C. 
Palmeter,  Amos  Martin,  J.  H.  Atkinson 
and  E.  D.  Green,  trustees. 

For  the  year  1876,  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected:  H.  L.  Eapelje,  pres- 
ident; B.  M.  Templeton,  James  Hall,  A. 
Martin,  C.  S.  McKenzie,  and  G.  E.  Nash, 
trustees;  John  Burgess,  clerk. 

Officers  for  the  year  1877,  were  as  fol- 
lows: J.  Babcock,  president;  A.  E. 
Cannon,  D.  Dull,  H.  Smith,  S.  Cochran, 
and  B.  F.  Thompson,  trustees;  W.  B. 
Houck,  clerk. 

For  the  year  1878,  the  officers  were: 

E.  Cray  craft,  president;  J.  Babcock,   M. 
Baker,  C.  S.  McKenzie,  A.  T.  Salisbury 
and  G.  E.  Nash,  trustees;  J.  T.  Burgess, 
clerk. 

In  1879,  the  following  officers  were 
chosen:  C.  S.  McKenzie,  president;  D. 
Glasgow,  S.  B.  Smith,  E.  Faron,  J. 
Babcock,  and  John  Donaldson  trustees; 
W.  D.  Ellis,  clerk. 

The  officers  for  1880,  were  elected  as 
follows:  C.  Palmeter,  president;  E. 
Craycraft,  M.  E.  Byrd,  J.  Babcock, 
Thomas  Eutledge,  and  H.  Lower,  trus- 
tees; W.  E.  Welch,  clerk. 

Officers  of  1881:  J.  H.  Lower,  presi- 
dent; C.  Palmeter,  J.  Babcock,  Thomas 
Thompson,  E.  Farron,  and  G.  E.  ^ash, 
trustees;  H.  L.  Eapelje,  clerk. 

Officers  for  1882:  G.  E..  Nash,  presi- 
dent; J.  Babcock,  E.  Faron,  Thomas 
Thompson,  L.  Doran,  and  C.  Palmeter, 
trustees,  H.  L.  Eapelje,  clerk. 

For  the  year  1883,  the  following  offi- 
cers were  elected:  G.  E.  Nash,  presi- 
dent; E.  Faron,  D.  Glasgow,  Charles 
Dull,  and  James  Brent,  trustees;  H.  L. 
Eapelje,  clerk. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1884,  were  as 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


577 


follows:  John  B.  Swinney,  president; 
J.  D.  Brent,  John  Riser,  M.  D.  Martin, 
S.  D.  Cochran,  and  W.  Hankins,  trus- 
tees; H.  L.  Rapelje,  clerk. 

Hiram  L.  Rapelje,  the  present  clerk  of 
the  board,  is  a  native  of  St.  Thomas,  On- 
tario, Canada,  and  was  born  March  28, 
1817,  being  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza- 
beth (Vandervoot)  Rapelje,both  of  whom 
were  of  American  birth,  being  born  in 
New  York.  Hiram  L.  was  reared  and 
educated  in  St.  Thomas,  remaining  there 
until  reaching  his  23d  year.  In  1840,  he 
started  west  with  the  intention  of  taking 
up  land  and  making  a  home  for  himself, 
and  located  near  Mt.  Carroll,  Carroll 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  took  up  a  claim. 
He  went  to  Savannah,  Carroll  county  Ill- 
inois to  reside,  and  worked  a  farm  north 
of  there  adjoining  the  river.  He  re- 
mained there  one  year  and  then  returned 
to  Black  Oak  Grove,  Carroll  county, 
where  he  lived  till  1843.  He  was  mar- 
ried there  in  1842,  to  Sarah  Bridgewater, 
a  native  of  England,  and  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Babcock,  of  Tennessee,  Illinois.  In  1843, 
Mr.  Rapelje  went  to  Aurora,  Kane 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  the 
trade  of  harness-making,  which  he  had 
learned  at  St.  Thomas,  Canada.  He  re- 
mained there  some  two  years,  then  re- 
moved to  St.  Charles,  Illinois,  where  he 
lived  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Batavia, 
Illinois,  where  he  commenced  the  har- 
ness-making business  for  himself.  He 
remained  there  some  eight  or  ten  years, 
after  which  he  made  several  moves  be- 
fore coining  to  Tennessee,  Illinois.  After 
remaining  there  some  five  or  six  years, 
he  removed  to  Piano,  Illinois,  where  he 
had  previously  lived.  After  a  stay  of 
about  one  year,  he  again  came  to  Ten- 


nessee, and  has  remained  ever  since. 
During  his  residence  in  Kaneville,  Kane 
county,  Illinois,  he  was  a  justice  of  the 
peace.  While  living  in  Batavia  he  raised 
a  company  of  independent  horsemen,  and 
served  as  their  captain  up  to  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war.  He  enlisted  in  1861 
in  the  8th  Illinois  cavalry,  and  was  mus- 
tered in  as  captain  of  company  I.  They 
served  with  McClellan  on  the  Potomac, 
and  were  under  Stoneman  and  Pleasan- 
ton,  and  were  engaged  in  the  seven  days 
fight  at  Richmond.  In  1863,  Captain 
Rapelje  resigned  his  commission  and  re- 
turned to  his  home.  After  being  in  Ten- 
nessee, Illinois,  one  year,  he  was  elected 
police  magistrate  and  served  two  years, 
and  since  that  time  he  has  been  justice 
of  the  peace  and  notary  public,  which 
positions  he  still  holds.  He  has  also 
held  the  following  offices :  Township  su- 
pervisor, one  term;  postmaster,  one  and 
one-half  years.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  and  Odd  Fellow  lodges,  and 
holds  the  position  of  secretary  in  both 
lodges.  He  is  also  at  present  town  clerk, 
clerk  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  vil- 
lage, and  treasurer  of  the  school  board. 
Before  coming  to  this  country,  he  was  a 
cavalryman  during  the  civil  war  of  1837 
in  Canada.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rapelje  have 
four  children — A.  W.,  Hiram  L.,  Lizzie 
and  William  R.  They  have  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  two  children — Josephine, 
who  died  in  Kaneville,  Illinois,  in  1858, 
and  George,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
years.  They  also  have  an  adopted  daugh- 
ter— Ella — whom  they  have  raised. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  educational  facilities  of  Tennes- 
see are  ahead  of  those  usually  found  in 


578 


HISTOEY  'OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


places  of  its  size  and  compares  favora- 
bly with  the  schools  of  the  county. 
The  building  is  a  large  two  story  struc- 
ture, 44x48  feet,  and  was  erected  in 
1872,  at  a  cost  of  over  $7,000.  It  is  con- 
structed of  red  brick,  with  caps  and  sills 
of  stone,  has  three  gables,  over  the 
front  one  of  which  is  erected  a  neat  bel- 
fry, the  top  being  about  64  feet  from  the 
surface  of  the  ground.  There  is  one 
large  study  and  two  recitation  rooms  on 
the  first  floor,  and  a  study  and  recita- 
tion room  on  the  second  floor.  The  ceil- 
ings of  both  floors  are  14  feet  in  height, 
and  the  rooms  are  all  heated  by  stoves. 
It  is  a  fine  looking  building,  both  inside 
and  out,  and  is  a  compliment  to  the  en- 
terprising citizens  and  business  men  of 
the  fifth  district,  in  which  the  building 
is  situated.  The  school  was  graded 
from  the  beginning  with  two  grades,  and 
in  September,  1884,  was  increased  to  a 
three  grade  school.  The  first  principal 
was  L.  Freeland,  while  the  present  is 
Thomas  McClure,  who  has  occupied  that 
position  since  September,  1884.  He  has 
two  assistants — Miss  Lillie  Cowan,  who 
has  charge  of  the  primary  department, 
with  42  scholars  enrolled,  and  Miss  Fan- 
nie Farrenkopf,  who  has  charge  of  the 
intermediate  department,  with  about  40 
scholars  enrolled.  The  principal  has 
about  30  pupils  under  his  supervision. 
The  school  is  well  advanced  and  in  ex- 
cellent condition. 

Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  brick 
school  building,  school  was  taught  in  a 
small,  one  story  frame  structure,  about 
20x35  feet  in  dimensions,  and  was  one 
large  room.  It  was  built  in  1855,  at  a 
cost  of  $900  and  was  situated  at  a  point 
just  north  of  where  the  new  building  is 


located.  Pinckney  Simmons  was  the 
first  teacher.  School  was  also  taught  in 
this  building  prior  to  1860  by  Mrs.  Joe 
Buzzel.  The  old  building  is  now  situ- 
ated opposite  the  depot,  and  is  used  as  a 
store  room.  Since  the  erection  of  the 
new  building,  the  following  have  served 
as  principals:  L.  Freeland,  John  Siders, 
George  McDaniels,  Sadie  Blazer,  George 
Kendrick,  John  White,  and  S.  L.  Bick- 
ford,  In  1876,  Miss  Decker  started  a 
private  school  in  the  building,  but  with 
very  poor  success. 

The  present  principal  of  the  Tennes- 
see village  school  is  Thomas  McClure, 
a  native  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois, 
and  ,vho  was  born  on  the  5th  day  of 
July,  1848.  Mechanicsville,  the  town 
in  which  he  was  born,  is  now  extinct, 
but  the  location  is  three  and  one-half 
miles  northeast  of  Augusta.  His  father, 
Thomas  McClure  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent,  while  his  mother  Mary  Ellen 
(Samuels)  McClure,  was  of  German  de- 
scent. Thomas  was  raised  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  native  place,  on  a  farm  adjoin- 
ing the  town  of  Augusta.  He  attended 
the  Augusta  schools,  including  the  high 
school,  and  spent  two  years  at  the  Ab- 
ingdon  college.  He  had  taught  two 
terms  previous  to  finishing  his  educa- 
tion, and,  after  retiring  from  Abingdon 
college,  resumed  teaching,  and  has 
taught  ever  since.  In  September,  1884, 
he  assumed  the  principalship  of  the  Ten- 
nessee village  school,  which  position  he 
is  filling  with  credit  to  himself.  He  is 
a  competent  elocutionist,  and  has  incul- 
cated good  ideas  in  this  matter  in  the 
minds  of  both  teachers  and  pupils.  He 
has  given  this  branch  considerable  study 
and  is  entitled  to  credit  for  the  good  he 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


579 


is  accomplishing.  His  father  and 
mother  are  both  dead,  the  former  dying 
in  Hancock  county,  in  1863,  and  the  lat- 
ter in  1874 

HISTORIC     NOTES. 

A  child  of  Abraham  Cheney  died  in 
the  summer  of  1854  or  '55.  This  was 
the  first  death  in  the  village. 
.  The  first  marriage  in  Tennessee  vil- 
lage was  a  couple  from  Macomb,  in  the 
fall  of  1854.  The  groom  was  a  section 
boss  on  the  railroad.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  the  house  of  James  Jarvis,  Rev. 
Roach  performing  the  ceremony.  No 
one  witnessed  the  ceremony  except  the 
family  of  Mr.  Jarvis  and  a  few  boarders. 

The  second  marriage  was  Elwood  T. 
Sidwell  and  Belle  Anderson,  the  latter 
being  a  neice  of  Mrs.  Cephas  Tolon. 
They  were  married  in  1856  at  Tolon' s 
house. 

The  second  death  in  the  village  of 
Tennessee,  was  probably  John  Walker, 
a  young  man  who  came  from  Abington 
a  short  time  previous.  He  did  some 
painting  and  soon  after  purchased  laud- 
anum by  which  he  committed  suicide. 
That  was  in  the  year  1856. 

The  third  marriage  occurred  in  1856, 
uniting  the  hearts  and  destinies  of  Sam- 
uel Gibson  and  Mrs.  Lucy  Williams. 
The  ceremony  occurred  at  the  home  of 
the  bride,  Squire  Knott  officiating. 

An  early  birth  was  the  son  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rutledge,  in  the  spring 
of  1855.  The  child  died  in  its  infancy. 

Another  birth  was  a  daughter  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  E.  N.  Driscoll,  who  was  chris- 
tened Roselle.  She  married  Joseph 
Great,  and  they,  together  with  her  pa- 
rents, reside  in  Henderson^  county. 


The  first  religious  services  in  Tennes- 
see village,  were  held  at  the  residence  of 
James  Jarvis,  in  the  fall  of  1855,  Rev. 
Coffman  presiding.  Nearly  all  the  cit- 
izens of  the  place  were  present.  It  was 
on  a  week  day,  the  services  being  held 
in  the  evening  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Methodist  society.  This  creed  also, 
had  the  first  organization  in  the  place. 
James  Jarvis  was  the  first  class  leader, 
steward  and  clerk,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Thomas  Fulkerson. 

The  first  school  house  was  erected  in 
Tennessee  in  1855,  just  north  of  where 
the  present  building  stands,  and  was  a 
frame  structure.  Pinckney  Simmons 
was  the  first  teacher.  He  died  of  con- 
sumption, two  or  three  years  afterward, 
in  Hancock  county.  The  building  served 
its  purpose  for  the  town  until  the  new 
brick  structure  was  erected,  when  it  was 
sold. 

William  Cook  was  the  first  clerk  of 
the  town  board  of  trustees.  Charles  Mc- 
Kenzie  was  one  of  the  first  trustees. 

James  Waddill  and  Sarah  Badger 
were  the  first  burials  in  the  King  cem- 
etery. 

PROMINENT  PEOPLE  OF  TENNESSEE  TOWN- 
SHIP. 

Among  those  whose  sketches  are  nec- 
essary to  the  completeness  of  the  history 
of  the  township  are  the  following,  most 
of  whom  have  spent  the  greater  part  of 
their  lives  within  her  borders: 

Rutherford  McClure  owns  1,200  acres 
of  land  on  section  3,  Tennessee  town- 
ship. He  divides  his  attention  between 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  raises 
horses,  cattle  and  graded  sheep,  and  has 
on  this  farm  three  large  drains,  for  the 


580 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


purpose  of  watering  his  immense  stock 
of  cattle  and  sheep.  He  was  born  in 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of 
September,  1819,  his  parents  being  John 
and  Susannah  ( Collier  )McClure.  Mrs. 
McClure's  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  among  others 
was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and 
for  his  bravery  he  was  presented  with  a 
sword  by  Marquis  de  Lafayette.  That 
sword  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
family,  and  is  in  the  keeping  of  James 
Crawford,  of  Rose  county,  Ohio,  one  of 
his  grandsons.  When  Rutherford  came 
to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1839,  he 
was  unmarried  and  a  yonng  man.  He 
remained  in  the  neighborhood  in  which 
he  now  resides  until  the  following  June, 
when  he  went  to  Warsaw  and  took  a  boat 
for  Cincinnati.  On  arriving  at  that 
place  he  started  on  foot  for  his  home, 
which  was  some  75  miles.  In  Novem- 
ber, of  the  same  year,  he  started  back 
to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  with  the 
intention  of  making  this  his  future  home, 
and  in  1842  he  purchased  his  present 
location.  He  was  married  in  this  county, 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1841,  to  Sarah 
White,  a  sister  of  Stephen  White,  and  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  White. 
They  have  seven  children  now  living: 
Martha,  married  William  Baumgartner, 
residing  in  Hire  township;  Susannah, 
married  George  Moon,  now  living  in 
Tennessee  township;  John,  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1881;  Thomas,  died  when  a 
child;  Alice,  married  John  Pullan,  of 
Hire  township;  Edward,  married  Mary 
Flint;  Marion;  Clara,  died  in  August, 
1863;  Lee  and  Jane. 

John  S.  Douglas,  is  a  native  of  Fred- 
erick county,  Maryland,  and  was  born 


on  the  the  3d  of  June,  1814.  His  parents 
were  Samuel  and  Rebecca  (Young) 
Douglas,  the  former  of  whom  was  killed 
in  Ohio,  in  1829,  by  a  falling  log.  His 
mother  died  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  92 
years.  When  John  was  12  years  of  age, 
he  moved  with  his  parents  to  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  and  in  1854  he  left  there 
and  came  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and 
was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
in  Vermont.  In  1857,  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  established  his 
business  in  the  village  of  Tennessee, 
and  afterward  sold  out  to  William  Lat- 
timer.  In  the  spring  of  1872,  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  location  on  section 
34,  Tennessee  township,  where  he  has 
80  acres  of  land,  and  raises  stock  and 
grain  and  other  products.  Mr.  Douglas 
was  married  in  Ohio,  on  the  20th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1842,  to  Caroline  Bevan.  Her 
father,  Lewis  Bevan,  died  in  January, 
1860,  and  her  mother  died  in  1880.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Douglas  have  had  nine  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living  and  whose 
names  are:  Lewis,  married  Josie  Bales, 
living  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Stacy  B., 
married  Harriet  J.  Stephenson,  now 
living  in  Kansas;  Martha  A.,  wife  of 
Michael  Doran,  of  Adams  county,  Illi- 
nois; Ellen,  married  G.  H.  McDaniel,  of 
Bethel  township;  William  R.,  married 
Emma  Long,  and  is  now  living  in  Kan- 
sas; Elmer  E.,  teaching  school  in  Ful- 
ton county;  Minnie  L.,  teaching  in  this 
township;  and  Eddie  O.,  who  is  living 
with  his  parents.  Mr.  Douglas'  son, 
Lewis,  enlisted  in  company  C.,  64th 
Illinois  infantry.  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Corinth,  luka,  Lookout  Mountain, 
Mission  Ridge  and  several  others.  He 
was  in  the  grand  review  at  Washing- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


581 


ton,  and  in  1865,  returned  again  to  his 
friends. 

William  Cowan  was  born  in  Nova 
Scotia,  on  the  16th  day  of  February,  1828. 
His  parents  being  John  and  Jane 
(Mitchell)  Co  wan,  both  natives  of  Scot- 
land, but  had  removed  to  Nova  Scotia. 
When  William  was  a  few  years  old  his 
parents  returned  to  Scotland  where  they 
remained  some  four  or  five  years,  and 
again  returned  to  Nova  Scotia.  When 
William  was  14  years  of  age,  the  family 
removed  to  the  United  States,  and  lo- 
cated at  Clinton,  Summit  county,  Ohio. 
They  remained  in  that  place  until  a  few 
years  later,  when  they  removed  to 
Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  in  that  place 
William  received  his  education  and  was 
reared  to  manhood.  They  next  went  to 
Appanoose  county,  Iowa,  where  Mr. 
Cowan  died  in  the  fall  of  1856,  where- 
upon Mrs.  Cowan  came  to  Colchester, 
Illinois.  While  in  the  vicinity  of  Youngs- 
town,  William  followed  the  occupation  of 
mining,  and  from  there  moved  to  Col- 
chester, McDonough  county,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1855.  On  his  arrival  at  that  place, 
he  at  first  began  work  for  Roberts  & 
Pearson,  in  their  mine.  There  was  at 
that  time  very  little  coal  mining  done  in 
that  place,  and  he  witnessed  the  growth 
of  the  coal  interests  of  Colchester  from 
their  infancy  to  their  present  state.  He 
was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
works  of  the  Quincy  coal  company, when 
William  Morris  had  the  control  of  that 
company.  Mr.  Cowan  held  that  position 
about  two  years  when  he  gave  up  min- 
ing, and  during  the  years  1^68  and  1869 
he  was  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  busi- 
ness at  Colchester,  his  store  being  where 
Enos'  place  now  stands  on  Front  street. 


He  sold  out  to  Anson  and  James  Under- 
bill in  1869,  and  retired  from  business 
pursuits  to  those  of  an  agricultural  na- 
ture, and  purchased  169  acres  of  land 
from  the  heirs  of  the  Riley  estate.  Mr. 
Cowan  was  married  in  Lawrence  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  October,  1856,  to  Mary 
Ann  Bright,  a  native  of  England,  and  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Bright. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cowan  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  William,  living  now  in 
Colchester;  Thomas,  now  residing  in  Cal- 
ifornia; Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Lowder- 
man,  of  Tennessee  township;  Charles, 
Samuel,  Lillie,  Emily.  Mr.  Cowan  was 
one  of  the  promoters  and  organizers  of 
the  Miners'  Friendly  Society,  and  he  and 
Thomas  Arundel,  now  deceased,  have 
held  the  office  of  treasurer  of  the  society 
with  the  exception  of  a  short  time.  He 
has  also  held  the  office  of  assessor  of 
Tennessee  township  two  terms,  and  col- 
lector one  term.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
ability,  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  all 
who  know  him. 

John  Farrenkopf  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  in  March,  1827,  his  parents 
being  Michael  and  Eva  (Balveriset) 
Farrenkopf.  John  was  reared  in  Baden, 
and  when  14  years  of  age,  his  father 
died,  and  John  was  left  to  help  provide 
for  the  family.  When  26  years  of  age 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  about  10  miles 
from  the  latter  city.  He  there  worked 
about  one  year,  when  he  removed  to 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  was  there  en- 
gaged in  the  depot  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  Railroad  Company, 
until  1860,  when  he  came  to  Colchester, 
McDonough  county.  When  he  first 


582 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


located  in  this  place  he  was  engaged  in 
the  mining  operation  of  the  Quincy  Coal 
Company.  He  held  this  position  about 
two  years,  when  he  began  farming  on 
his  present  location,  which  is  located  on 
section  17,  Tennessee  township.  He  has 
now  120  acres  of  land,  and  pays  atten- 
tion to  both  farming  and  the  raising  of 
stock.  Mr.  Farrenkopf  was  united  in 
marriage  on  the  10th  day  of  May,  1860, 
to  Elizabeth  Kummer,  a  native  of  Lux- 
embourgh,  Germany,  and  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Anton  and  Susanna  (Daufel) 
Kummer.  Her  father  died  February, 
1854,  and  her  mother  is  now  living  in 
Brookfield,  Missouri,  with  her  daughter, 
Mary  Hanson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farren- 
kopf are  the  parents  of  seven  children — 
Mary;  Carrie,  wife  of  Amos  Lawyer, 
now  living  in  Tennessee  township; 
Fannie,  Joseph,  John,  Charles  and 
Thomas.  Mr.  Farrenkopf  is  a  school 
director  of  this  township,  of  which  he 
has  been  a  representative  for  some  time. 
James  Jarvis,  a  native  of  Madison 
county,  Kentucky,  was  born  August  1, 
1812.  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Hale)  Jarvis.  William  is  the  fourth, 
of  a  family  of  13  children,  three  of 
whom  are  now  living.  John,  a  farmer 
of  Tuscola,  Douglas  county,  Illinois, 
and  Ephraim,  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois. 
James  lived  in  Kentucky,  until  18  years 
old,  then,  in  1829,  the  family  removed  to 
Edgar  county,  Illinois;  there  the  parents 
died,  the  father  in  1843,  aged  63  years, 
and  the  mother  November  6,  1844,  at 
the  age  of  56.  James  came  from  Edgar 
county  to  McDonough  county,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1839,  and  located  in  Hire  township, 
where  he  lived  till  March,  1845.  He  re- 
moved at  that  date  to  his  present  home 


on  section  34,Tennessee  township.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Edgar  county  he 
was  married,  April  25, 1832,  to  Permelia 
Driscoll,  a  native  of  Mercer  county,  Ken- 
tucky, but  reared  in  Anderson  county, 
of  that  state.  Her  parents  were  Joseph 
M.  and  Nancy  Ann  (Riley)  Driscoll, 
the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
the  latter  of  North  Carolina.  They 
were  married  in  Mercer  county,  where 
they  lived  10  years,  then  removed  to 
Breckenridge  county.  The  father  was 
an  experienced  boatman,  and  on  a  trip 
to  New  Orleans  in  1819,  was  taken  sick 
and  died.  Her  mother,  Mrs.  Driscoll, 
died  in  McDonough  county  in  1850. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Jarvis  are  the 
parents  of  four  living  children:  John 
M.,  married  to  Nancy  M.  Roberts,  and 
living  in  Cowley,  Kansas,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming;  Henry  M.,  an  enter- 
prising farmer  of  Tennessee  township, 
now  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Weir;  James 
E.,  married  to  Nancy  A.  Fugate,  living 
in  Winfield,  Kansas,  and  Samuel  M., 
married  to  Priscilla  Weir,  living  at 
Kansas  City,  Missouri.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jarvis  have  lost  five  children:  Joseph 
M.  and  Nancy  A.  died  in  infancy  in 
1833;  Isaac  S.  died  August  6,  1846; 
William  H.  died  at  Perryville,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1863,  while  in  the  service  of 
his  country,  having  been  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  died;  Garrett  J.  D.  died  May 
13,  1865,  at  Fort  Blakely,  killed  by  a 
rebel  bullet,  about  the  last  one  fired  in 
that  fight.  Two  other  sons  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jarvins  were  in  the  service  during 
the  war.  William  was  a  member  of 
company  C,  the  15th  Illinois  infantry 
regiment,  enlisting  in  1861.  John  and 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


583 


Garrett  enlisted  in  company  C,  of 
the  72d  Illinois  infantry  regiment,  the 
former  did  gallant  service  through  the 
war  and  returned  safely  home ;  the  latter 
was  killed,  as  before  stated.  Henry 
enlisted  toward  the  close  of  the  year 
1863,  in  company  D,  of  the  124th  regi- 
ment, and  served  till  the  end  of  the 
war.  Mr.  James  Jarvis  himself,  patri- 
otically enlisted  in  May  1861,  in  com- 
pany C,  of  the  16th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  served  till  August  7,  1861.  He  was 
on  duty  guarding  railroad  bridges,  etc. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  and  re- 
turned to  the  care  of  his  family.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Jarvis  have  been  for  many 
years  identified  with  the  county  and 
have  contributed  full  their  share  to  its 
present  prosprous  condition. 

Ephraim  Jarvis  was  born  in  Madison 
county,  Kentucky,  October  14, 1827,  and 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Hale) 
Jarvis.  He  came  with  them  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  in  1836.  May  1st, 
1851,  he  was  married  to  Catherine  Law- 
yer, who  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Cath- 
erine (Emerick)  Lawyer.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lawyer  settled  in  this  county  in  1836, 
locating  in  section  27,  Tennessee  town- 
ship, where  Mrs.  Jarvis  now  lives.  Her 
parents  removed  to  Appanoose  county, 
Iowa,  in  1856,  and  there  her  mother  died 
November  2:  1874,  aged  74  years.  She 
was  buried  at  Seymour,  Iowa.  Her 
father  died,  April  8,  1883,  at  Orient, 
Iowa,  where  he  is  buried.  He  was  87 
years  old.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jarvis  have  a 
good  farm,  containing  200  acres,  150  un- 
der cultivation.  All  of  the  land  is 
rented  out,  except  a  small  tract  at  the 
home  place. 


Patrick  Erwin,  who  was  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  this  township,  was 
born  in  the  county  of  Limerick,  Ireland, 
on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1827.  He  left 
Ireland  for  America  in  the  year  1846. 
In  the  year  1855,  he  removed  from  New 
York  to  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  came 
to  McDonough  county.  He  contracted 
for  the  construction  of  a  section  of  the 
Northern  Cross  railroad,  now  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad. 
After  finishing  that  contract,  he  decided 
to  make  a  permanent  residence  in  this 
county.  He  purchased  over  1,000  acres 
of  land,  lying  in  McDonough  and  Han- 
cock counties,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  was  one  of  the  largest  landhold- 
ers in  this  part  of  the  township.  He 
erected  a  large  saw  mill  on  his  place  in 
1864,  and  carried  on  the  lumber  business 
until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred August  13,  1878.  Mr.  Erwin 
moved  to  Macomb  city  in  March,  1876, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life.  Mr.  Erwin  was 
married  in  New  York,  in  1848,  to  Mag- 
gie Noonan,  who  died  in  this  county  on 
the  6th  day  of  June,  1872.  She  was  a 
lady  universally  esteemed  for  her  noble 
qualities.  She  left  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Mary,  John, 
Maggie,  Ella  and  Josie.  The  three  latter 
are  graduates  of  St.  Mary's  institute, 
Quincy.  John  Erwin,  his  son,  now  con- 
ducts the  business,  and  is  making  it  very 
successful.  The  mill  is  of  frame  struc- 
ture, having  an  engine  of  40  horse 
power,  which  was  brought  fr6m  Quincy. 
It  is  now  the  only  mill  in  this  part  of  the 
township.  Patrick  Erwin  was  known  as 
one  of  the  most  liberal  and  public  spir- 


584 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ited  citizens.  Being  blessed  with  con- 
siderable means,  he  was  a  friend  of  the 
poor  and  needy  at  all  times,  and  under 
all  circumstances.  He  was  an  active 
business  man,  a  prominent  and  active 
worker  in  the  democratic  party,  and  one 
of  the  most  noble  and  generous  citizens 
of  the  county. 

George  Harrison  Ruddell,  is  a  native 
of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  born  the 
26th  day  of  December,  1821,  his  parents 
being  William  and  Armenas  (Phelan) 
Ruddell.  About  the  year  1829,  his 
parents  removed  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  where  his  father  took  charge  of 
Clark's  mill.  There  they  remained  until 
1835,  when  they  decided  to  make  their 
future  home  in  McDonough  county. 
On  arriving  in  this  county,  they  located 
on  section  6,  in  what  is  now  Hire  town- 
ship. There  Mrs.  Ruddell  died,  in 
1838,  and  the  father,  in  1840,  removed  to 
Iowa,  and  settled  in  Van  Buren  county, 
where  he  was  an  early  settler.  He 
there  died,  in  1871.  George  H.  Ruddell 
removed  to  his  present  location  in  March, 
1864,  and  is  now  located  on  section  17, 
Tennessee  township.  He  was  married 
on  the  1st  day  of  November,  1849,  to 
Mary  Dorothy,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Kentucky,  and  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  ( Sissel )  Dorothy. 
They  came* '  to  McDonough  county  in 
1834,  and  settled  in  Blandinsville  town- 
ship, where  they  remained  about  a  year, 
and  went  to  Hancock  county,  where  Mr. 
Dorothy  died,  in  1855,  and  in  1876,  Mrs. 
Dorothy  died  in  this  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Ruddell  have  had  eight  children: 
William  T.,  married  Mary  Ellen  Rig- 
gins,  living  now  in  Hancock  county; 
George  H.,  married  Susan  Badger,  now 


living  in  Tennessee  township;  Robert 
Marion,  married  Sarah  J.  Wixon,  March 
19,  1885,  now  residing  in  Tennessee 
township;  Emily,  wife  of  George  Tow- 
ers, now  a  resident  of  this  township; 
Mary;  Andrew  Jackson;  Elizabeth  and 
John  Wesley.  Mr.  Ruddle  owns  118 
acres  of  land,  about  70  acres  of  which 
are  under  cultivation.  He  enlisted  for 
the  Mexican  war  in  August,  1847,  in 
WTiatt  B.  Stapp's  independent  company, 
from  Monmouth.  They  marched  to 
Quincy,  where  they  took  a  boat,  and 
embarked  for  New  Orleans.  From  there 
they  sailed  to  Vera  Cruz,  where  they 
arrived  about  November,  of  that  year. 
They  were  stationed  near  Jalapa.  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  place  they  were  en- 
gaged in  guarding  supply  trains,  and 
in  other  services  for  the  government. 
After  the  successful  termination  of  the 
war,  and  the  signing  of  the  treaty  of 
peace  with  Mexico,  embarked  for  home 
again,  returning  the  same  way  they  had 
gone  down.  They  were  discharged  at 
Alton,  on  the  26th  day  of  July,  1848,  and 
then  returned  to  Warsaw,  where  they 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  started 
to  their  homes.  Mr.  Ruddell  arrived  at 
his  home  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  and 
has  since  been  a  resident  of  this  town- 
ship. He  has  the  honor  of  being  one  of 
the  few  veterans  of  the  Mexican  war, 
now  residing  in  McDonough  county. 

Nathaniel  Post  was  born  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  in  1829,  and  is  the  son  of 
Abraham  and  Jemima  (Keller)  Post, 
both  natives  of  West  Virginia.  When 
Nathaniel  was  a  mere  child,  the  family 
removed  to  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
where  our  subject  was  raised  on  a  farm; 
and  there  remained  until  coming  to  Me- 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


585 


Donough  county,  Illinois,  which  was  in 
the  fall  of  1855.  His  parents  still  re- 
main in  Ohio,  where  they  reside  on  the 
old  homestead.  Nathaniel  first  located 
on  Spring  creek,  in  Emmet  township, 
and  in  the  following  spring  he  removed 
to  Hire  township,  and  there  remained  a 
number  of  years.  He  then  removed  to 
his  present  location  on  section  33,  Ten- 
nessee township.  He  is  the  owner  of 
185  acres  of  good  land,  the  larger  part 
of  which  is  under  cultivation,  and  25 
acres  of .  uncultivated  land  on  section  28. 
Mr.  Post  was  married  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  22d  of  March,  1848, 
to  Ann  Griffith,  a  native  of  Buckingham 
county,  Virginia,  and  a  daughter  of 
Benjamin  and  Juda  (Kidd)  Griffith. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Post  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children- John  A.,  married  Minerva 
Jarvis,  now  living  in  Lamoine  township ; 
Nicholas,  married  Amanda  Breeden, 
now  living  in  Tennessee  township ;  Mary 
Jane;  James,  residing  in  Kansas;  Wil- 
liam, a  resident  of  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri; Laura,  Frank  and  Ira. 

On  the  3d  day  of  August,  1814,  in 
Amherst  county,  Virginia,  Wiatt  L. 
Burford  was  born.  His  father,  William 
Burford,  was  of  Scotch  decent,  and  his 
mother  of  German.  When  Wiatt  was 
about  two  years  of  age,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Anderson  county,  Kentucky, 
where  his  father  farmed  within  four 
miles  of  Lawrenceburg,  the  county  seat, 
and  where  Wiatt  L.,  was  reared.  Wiatt 
lived  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until 
1832,  when  he  started  for  Illinois,  with 
a  party  who  were  bound  for  Fort  Ed- 
wards, now  Warsaw.  While  near  Grand 
Prairie,  they  were  encamped  on  that 
memorable  night  in  November,  when  the 


great  meteoric  display  occurred.  They 
crossed  the  Illinois  river  at  Meredosia, 
and  from  that  place  went  to  the  present 
site  of  Warsaw.  He  saw  but  one  house 
while  coming  to  this  county,  this  being 
made  of  poles  and  was  as  yet  unoccupied. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year,  he  came  to  Ma- 
comb,  on  business,  and  liking  the  county 
very  much,  concluded  that  in  some 
future  day  he  would  make  that  his  home. 
In  the  summers  of  1832,  '33  and  '34,  he 
was  engaged  in  trading  with  the  Indians, 
and  was  so  employed  when  Black  Hawk 
returned  to  his  tribe,  after  being  taken 
by  the  government  on  his  trip  through 
the  civilized  portion  of  the  country.  Af- 
ter retiring  from  the  trading  operation, 
Mr.  Burford  went  back  to  Kentucky,  and 
while  there  he  was  married  to  Priscilla 
M.  Driskell,  a  daughter  of  Dennis  and 
Mary  (Griffin)  Driskell,  on  the  9th  day 
of  March,  1837.  They  then  returned  to 
Hancock  county,  and  located  on  Saint 
Mary's  prairie,  and  here  Mr.  Burford 
farmed  for  20  years.  In  1857  he  came 
to  the  village  of  Tennessee,  where  he  car- 
ried on  a  carpenter  and  cabinet  shop  for 
two  years,  and  then  concluded  to  retire 
to  farm  life  again.  He  then  bought  107 
acres  of  land  on  section  17,  where  he  has 
lived  ever  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burford 
are  the  parents  of  10  children — Dennis, 
married  Martha  Ferris,  living  in  Ten- 
nessee township;  Louisa,  died  in  1844, 
aged  four  years  ;  Mary  Jane,  married 
Henry  Canote,  now  residing  in  Colches- 
ter township;  William,  married  to  Lu- 
cinda  Hainline,  of  Tennessee  township: 
Caroline;  Susan,  wife  of  Samuel  White, 
who  was  killed  by  a  runaway,  on  the  2d 
of  August,  1880  ;  Lucy,  married  John 
McClure,  who  now  is  dead.  She  now  re- 


586 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


sides  in  this  township  ;  John,  married 
Alice  Magee,  now  living  in  Tennessee 
township.  The  other  two  children  died 
in  infancy. 

Benjamin  Boyd,a  prominent  citizen  and 
wealthy  farmer  of  Tennessee  township, 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Stevens)  Boyd.  He  was  born  in  Fay- 
ette  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  14, 
1821,  and  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  state.  In  the  spring  of  1843, 
he  removed  with  his  parents,  to  Fayette 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming 
until  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1868.  He  pur- 
chased then,  a  farm  on  section  26,  Ten- 
nessee township,  on  which  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Fayette  county,  Ohio,  September  5, 1844, 
with  Mary  Lowderman,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  daughter  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth 
Lawderman.  Mrs.  Lowderman  died  in 
Ohio,  July  1,  1880.  In  1882,  Mr.  Low- 
derman came  to  this  county  to  reside 
with  his  children,  and  died  here  Decem- 
ber 28,  1884.  His  remains  were  taken 
back  to  Ohio  for  burial.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boyd  are  the  parents  of  six  children: 
Kate,  married  to  J.  F.  Waddill,  of  Ten- 
nessee township ;  Mary  Ann;  Samuel  "VV., 
married  to  Eva  White,  living  in  Colches- 
ter township;  Wm.  T.,  married  to  Hat- 
tie  Gumwalt,  also  living  in  this  town- 
ship; Elizabeth  •  Ellen  Boyd,  wife  of 
Joseph  King,  lives  in  the  same  town, 
and  John.  Mr.  Boyd  owns  240  acres  of 
land  and  carries  on  farming  and  stock 
raising.  He  has  been  township  trustee 
four  terms,  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of 
the'  Industrial  Home  insurance  com- 
pany, of  Industry.  Mr.  Boyd's  father, 
William  Boyd,  died  in  1872,  in  Pick- 


away  county,  Ohio.  His  mother,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Boyd,  died  in  the  same  place, 
May  7,  1864. 

William  Tallis  is  a  native  of  county 
Kilkenny,  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  1819, 
his  parents  being  John  and  Mary 
(Burns)  Tallis.  William  was  reared  in 
his  native  country,  and  there  learned  the 
shoemaker's  trade.  He  came  to  America 
in  1857,  and  went  directly  to  Ulster 
county,  New  York,  where  he  was  engaged 
as  quarry  man  for  a  little  more  than  a 
year.  From  there  he  went  to  St.  Louis, 
but  after  remaining  there  a  short  time 
he  went  to  work  on  the  construction  of 
the  Alton  and  Springfield  railroad.  He 
was  with  this 'company  about  six  months, 
and  from  there  had  charge  of  a  construc- 
tion party  on  the  Great  Western  rail- 
road, taking  up  the  tramway  slabs  and 
laying  rails.  He  worked  in  that  capa- 
city some  15  months,  when  he  changed 
his  services  to  the  Northern  Cross  rail- 
road, carrying  out  the  contract  of  Silas 
Roe,  in  which  occupation  he  was  engaged 
about  11  years.  By  this  time  he  had 
accumulated  enough  to  purchase  a  farm' 
so  came  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  purchased  176  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Lamoine  township.  He  has  since 
that  time  added  to  his  possessions,  until 
he  now  owns  267  acres,  58  acres  being  in 
Lamoine  township,  and  the  balance  in 
Tennessee.  Mr.  Tallis  was  married  in 
October,  1846,  to  Catharine  Ford,  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Catharine 
(Ward)  Ford,  both  of  whom  died  in  Ire- 
land. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tallis  have  been 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  but  in  1855 
were  unfortunate  enough  to  lose  five  of 
them — Charles,  William,  Bridget,  Ann 
and  Jane;  Thomas  died  in  Quincy,  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


587 


1860;  Joseph  H.  is  now  engaged  in  rail- 
road operation  on  the  Pacific  slope;  and 
Maria,  wife  of  William  Hardy,  is  now 
living  in  Fountain  Green,  Hancock 
county. 

B.  D.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Ohio,  December  25,  1813, 
ids  parents  being  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
(Wilson)  Reynolds.  The  former  died 
in  Washington  county,  in  1850,  and  the 
latter  at  the  same  place  in  1884.  B.  *D. 
remained  in  his  old  Ohio  home  until  14 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  New  Or- 
leans and  engaged  with  a  shipping  mas- 
ter. From  there  he  went  to  Norfolk,  and 
remaining  there  a  short  time,  he  put 
to  sea.  His  first  cruise  was  through  the 
Mediterranean  sea,landing  at  Alexandria, 
Smyrna  and  Gibraltar,  and  stayed  at  the 
latter  about  three  weeks.  They  sailed 
around  Cape  Horn  and  touched  at  many 
South  American  points,  including  Val- 
paraiso, Montevideo,  and  other  impor- 
tant ports.  The  trip  ended  at  Balti- 
more, after  three  years  of  travel.  This 
trip  was  made  while  in  the  service  of  the 
American  government,  as  a  seaman,  on 
the  old  Delaware,  the  largest  ship  then 
in  the  American  navy.  During  the  Mex- 
ican war  he  was  mate  on  a  ship  which 
carried  supplies  and  soldiers  to  the  aid  of 
the  government  service.  After  closing 
this  work,  he  retired  from  sea  life,  during 
the  progress  of  which  he  had  visited 
nearly  every  port  of  any  prominence  in 
the  world.  On  leaving  the  sea  he  was 
engaged  as  mate  or  pilot  on  the  river 
boats,  and  for  20  years  he  did  service  on 
the  Mississippi,  Illinois,  Missouri  and 
Ohio  rivers.  He  became  mate  on  the 
Lady  of  Lyons,  when  she  was  first  built, 
taking  her  from  Pittsburg.  He  re- 


mained on  this  boat  until  she  was  unfit 
for  further  use,  and  in  1848  he  retired 
permanently  from  life  on  the  water.  He 
had  previously  come  to  McDonough 
county,  and  took  up  a  location,  and  built 
a  house  in  the  year  1844,  in  what  is  now 
Tennessee  township.  The  Mormon  war 
had  just  begun,  and  thinking  that  it 
would  make  some  difficulty  in  money 
matters,  he  sold  his  farm  and  went  with 
a  party  under  Frank  Warrell  to  Warsaw, 
and  while  there  Warrell  was  killed  by 
the  Mormons.  In  1848  Mr.  Reynolds 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  in  1856 
he  removed  to  his  farm  in  McDonough 
county,  on  section  30,  Tennessee  town- 
ship, where  he  has  improved  a  fine  place. 
He  was  married  in  September,  1848,  to 
Amelia  O.  Thompson,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  who  died  on  the  2d  of  July, 
1864,  leaving  one  daughter,  Louisa,  who 
married  W.  H.  Window,  residing  now 
on  the  Reynolds  place.  Mr.  Reynolds 
was  again  married  on  the  20th  day  of 
September,  1865,  to  Sophronia  V.  Free- 
land,  a  daughter  of  Francis  and  Julia 
Freeland.  They  settled  in  the  county  in 
1834,  and  located  in  what  is  now  Bland- 
insville.  Her  father  now  resides  in 
Shelby  county,  Missouri,  her  mother 
having  died  in  April,  1873,  at  their  Mis- 
souri home.  Mrs.  Reynolds  is  of  a  lit- 
erary turn  of  character,  and  furnishes 
many  valuable  essays  for  literar-y  meet- 
ings. 

Addison  B.  Roberts,  the  son  of  James 
and  Sallie  (Cox)  Roberts,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  January  29, 1835.  When  but 
a  small  child,  Addison  came  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Han- 
cock county,  one  mile  east  of  Fountain 
Green,  where  his  father  still  resides. 


588 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Addison  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Hancock  county,  and 
went  to  the  same  school  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  whose  names  are 
Elbridge,  Bainbridge,  Adeline,  Yelver- 
ton,  Chauncey,  Elmer.  Addison  left 
Hancock  in  the  fall  of  1859,  and  came 
to  Tennessee  township,  McDonough 
county,  and  has  since  remained  a  resi- 
dent of  the  county.  He  now  owns  160 
acres  of  good  land,  125  acres  of  which 
are  under  a  state  of  cultivation,  and  be- 
sides his  farming  he  pays  attention  to 
the  raising  of  live  stock.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  19th  of  November,  1857^  to 
Nancy  Jane  Mourning,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Elizabeth  (Lyons)  Mourn- 
They  have  six  children — Alice,  married 
Arthur  Chipman,  residing  now  in  Ten- 
nessee township;  Miller,  Willis,  Oscar, 
Mattie  and  Ivy.  Mr.  Roberts  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Tennessee  lodge,  No.  496,  A. 
F.  and  A.  M.,  and  has  held  every  office 
except  the  two  highest. 

Thomas  James,  the  son  of  Joseph  and 
Margaret  (White)  James,  was  born  in 
Ohio,  on  the  9th  day  of  April,  1819.  He 
remained  in  Pickaway  county  until  10 
years  of  age,  when  he  removed  to  Fay- 
ette  county,  Ohio,  and  was  in  that  vicin- 
ity, reared  to  manhood,  and  his  parents 
there  remained  until  the  time  of  their 
death.  Thomas  was  engaged  in  farming 
in  that. location,  until  1846,  when  he  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  located  in 
what  is  now  Tennessee  township,  and 
has  lived  in  that  neighborhood  ever  since. 
He  has  now  in  his  possession,  500  acres 
of  highly  cultivated  land,  and  divides 
his  attention  between  farming  and  stock 
raising.  Mr.  James  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  May,  1848,  with  Emily  Bean,  a 


native  of  Tennessee,  but  was  reared  in 
this  county.  Her  parents,  Robert  and 
Margaret  (Crouch)  Bean,  came  to  this 
county  in  1832,  and  settled  in  Tennes- 
see township.  Mrs.  James  died  in  July, 
1882,  leaving  nine  children  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  a  kind  and  loving  mother.  Their 
names  are,  Eobert,  married  Arabella 
Moon,  living  in  Hire  township;  Edmund, 
keeping  an  Indian  trading  post  in 
AHiska;  George,  Douglas,  Allen,  Henry, 
married  Margaret  Summons,  living  in 
this  township;  Marion,  Emma  and  Addie. 

Stephen  A.  White,  an  old  settler  of 
this  township,  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  29th  of  April,  1821, 
and  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Hicks) 
White.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days 
in  his  native  place,  and  in  1839, 
came  to  McDonough  county  and  settled 
in  Tennessee  township.  He  has  160 
acres  of  land,  all  under  cultivation,  and 
raises  cattle  and  other  stock  in  large 
numbers,  Mr.  White  was  married  in 
November,  1841,  to  Elizabeth  McGee,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  McGee,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  township.  They  have 
seven  children  living,  and  one  dead: 
Marion,  died  in  September,  1878;  Henry, 
married  Clara  Young,  and  now  lives  in 
Blandinsville :  Isabel,  married  Frank 
Eakel,  now  residing  in  Hire  township; 
Samuel,  married  Fannie  Mort,  now  liv- 
ing in  this  township;  Frank,  now  a  res- 
ident of  Colchester;  Douglas,  living  in 
this  township;  Elizabeth,  married  El- 
wood  Owen,  and  now  lives  in  Tennessee 
township;  James,  married  Lawrence 
Owen,  also  a  resident  of  Tennessee 
township. 

Franklin  F.  Meyers,  a  son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Catharine  (Fike)  Meyers,  was 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


589 


born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  7th  day  of  January,  1832.  When 
23  years  of  age,  Franklin  started  west 
with  the  intention  of  making  his  home 
and  seeking  his  fortune  in  a  newer  coun- 
try. At  first  he  went  to  Nebraska, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade'  of  plaster- 
ing and  bricklaying  for  two  years. 
From  Nebraska  he  went  to  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  and  was  there  engaged  in 
working  at  his  trade  until  1864,  when  he 
came  to  McDonough  county,  with  the 
intention  of  engaging  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  He  purchased  78  acres  of 
good,  improved  land  in  Hire  township, 
and  there  made  many  improvements  and 
there  resided  until  1882,  when  he  pur- 
chased 120  acres  of  land  in  Tennessee 


township,  residing  on  section  16,  and 
where  he  has  many  valuable  improve- 
ments. He  was  united  with  Mary  Ann 
Fandon,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1861, 
in  Memphis,  Tennessee.  Mrs.  Meyers 
died  in  1874,  leaving  four  children;  Ida 
F.,  Leah,  Marcus,  and  Aquilla.  Mr. 
Meyers  was  again  married  on  the  24th 
of  October,  1878,  to  Charlotte  Hunn,  a 
native  of  McDonough  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Jackson) 
Davids.  Mr.  Meyers  was  collector  of 
taxes  one  term  in  Hire  township,  and 
made  a  trusty  and  respected  officer.  He 
and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the 
Methodist  church  at  Tennessee,  of 
which  Mr.  Meyers  is  steward. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 


COLCHESTEK  TOWNSHIP. 


This  sub-division  of  McDonough  occu- 
pies an  interior  portion  of  the  county, 
being  created  from  Tennessee  and  Chal- 
mers townships,  in  1880,  as  is  more  mi- 
nutely shown  further  on  in  a  review  of 
the  organization  of  the  same.  A  large 
portion  of  timber  is  found  within  its 
borders.  Crooked  creek  enters  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  5,  and  flow- 
ing in  a  southwesterly  direction,  leaves 
the  township  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  11.  The 
Quincy  branch  of  the  Chicago  Burling- 


ton and  Quincy  railroad  also  passes 
through  the  township,  affording  an  out- 
let for  the  shipment  of  the  soil's  pro- 
ducts to  eastern  and  southern  markets. 
The  coal  interests  of  this  township  is  its 
principal  feature.  It  is  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  co-extensive  with  its  entire  sur- 
face, having  been  found  in  all  parts  of 
the  township.  There  are  a  large  num- 
ber of  shafts  and  banks  in  active  opera- 
tion, affording  employment  to  hundreds 
of  men,  some  of  whom  work  in  the 
banks,  while  others  are  constantly  en- 


590 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


gaged  in  hauling  to  home  markets  and 
the  surrounding  towns.  The  coal  is  re- 
garded among  the  best  in  the  state,  and 
is  used  extensively  in  the  manufacture 
of  gas  in  several  of  the  large  western 
cities. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Smitherman 
came  to  what  is  now  Colchester  town- 
ship, in  the  fall  of  1829  or  spring  of  1830, 
locating  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  19,  where  he  resided  until  the 
summer  of  1831,  when  he  removed  to 
Morgan  county. 

David  Troxwell  settled  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  17,  in  the  early 
part  of  1829.  He  remained  until  the 
fall  of  1830,  when  he  removed  to  Spring- 
field. 

John  D.  Barber,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
came  to  what  is  now  Colchester  town- 
ship, in  August,  1830,  and  settled  upon 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  27.  Here 
he  resided  for  two  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  a  farm  on  section  19,  where  he 
lived  until  1874,  when  death  overtook 
him.  His  family  are  still  residents  of 
the  county,  one  son,  Robert,  living  in 
Lamoine  township. 

John  D.  Barber,  (deceased),  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  August  11,  1797,  and 
was  a  son  of  Robert  and  Priscilla  (Lee) 
Barber.  When  he  was  nine  years  old, 
his  parents  moved  to  Lincoln  county, 
North  Carolina,  where  they  remained 
nine  years,  then  removed  to  Pulaski 
county,  Kentucky.  While  they  were  liv- 
ing there,  John  D.,  returned  to  North 
Carolina,  where  he  was  married  to  Mary 
Davis,  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Esther 
(Mattocks)  Davis,  and  a  native  of  North 
Carolina.  They  were  married  in  Decem- 
ber, 1818.  In  1830  they  came  to  Mc- 


Donough  county  and  located  on  section 
27,  Chalmers  township,  where  he  at  once 
built  a  house,  probably  the  first  in  the 
township,  and  proceeded  to  improve  a 
farm.  Their  first  winter,  1830,  was  the 
one  of  the  great  snows,  during  which 
they  endured  fully  their  share  of  hard- 
ships and  privations.  Like  many  others 
they  had  to  subsist  through  the  winter 
upon  dry  hominy.  In  1832  they  moved 
to  section  19,  Colchester  township.  Mr. 
Barber  died  March  16,  1874,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  the  Barber  cemetery.  Mrs. 
Barber  died  November  26,  1861.  They 
were  the  parents  of  10  children — Esther 
M.,  Robert,  Edward  D.,  Priscilla  Lee, 
Rachel  Catharine,  Mary  Carr,  Charles, 
Nancy  Jane,  Sarah  Elizabeth  and  John 
James.  Esther  M.,  now  resides  on  the 
place  where  her  father  located  in  1832, 
and  the  house  which  he  then  built,  is 
still  standing  on  the  premises,  though 
unused;  Robert,  is  married  to  Mary 
Stephens,  and  living  in  this  county;  Ed- 
ward D.,  is  married  to  Elizabeth  Rip- 
petoe  and  also  living  in  this  county; 
Rachel  C.,  is  the  wife  of  James  O.  Tay- 
lor, of  Kansas;  Mary  Carr,  is  married 
to  Caleb  H.  Rippetoe;  Charles  was  born, 
and  died,  in  this  county;  Nancy  Jane 
married  William  A.  Carson,  and  lives  at 
Chester;  Sarah  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
E.  H.  Hamilton;  John  .James  is  married 
to  Elizabeth  Barrett,  and  resides  in  this 
county.  John  D.  Barber  hauled  the 
clapboards  to  cover  the  first  house  built 
in  Macomb,  and  hewed  some  of  the  logs 
and  worked  on  the  building  of  the  first 
court  house  in  McDonough  county. 

Nathaniel  Barber,  ( deceased ),  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  in  1825,  and  was  a  brother 
of  John  D.  Barber.  His  parents  came 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


591 


to  McDonough  county,  in  1830,  and  he 
was  here  reared,  and  married  to  Melissa 
Bain,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  daughter  of 
John  Bain.  They  were  the  parents  of 
two  children — Mary  Jane,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Henry  Knott,  and  died  in  Aug- 
ust,  1881  ;  and  Robert  A.  Nathaniel 
Barber  died  in  this  county,  in  1845,  and 
is  buried  in  the  King  cemetery.  His 
widow  died  in  1861,  on  Christmas  day. 
She  is  buried  near  Wayland,  Iowa. 
Robert  A.  Barber  was  born  September 
22,  1845,  and  when  eight  years  of  age, 
removedwith  his  mother  to  Henry  county, 
Iowa.  He  remained  in  that  county  till 
July,  1867,  when  he  returned  to  McDon- 
ough  county.  He  was  married,  Novem- 
ber 19,  1868,  to  Zirelda  Barber.  By  this 
union  there  are  five  children — Mary  Em- 
ma, Florence  Eva,  John  D.,  William  and 
Addie  Lee.  Mr.  Barber  is  engaged  in 
general  farming. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  Thomas  Palmer 
settled  on  section  19,  where  he  erected  a 
cabin  and  made  a  few  improvements. 
He  remained  here  about  two  years,  and 
then  returned  to  Morgan  county. 

In  the  fall  of  1831  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Todd  settled  on  the  place  vacated  by 
David  Troxwell,  on  section  17,  but  only 
remained  about  a  year. 

Joshua  Hunt  and  family  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  November  16,  1831, 
settling  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 14,  now  Colchester  township.  Sam- 
uel A.  Hunt  came  with  his  parents  at 
the  time  above  mentioned.  He  was  after- 
ward elected  to  the  office  of  county  sur- 
veyor and  treasurer,  during  his  residence 
in  this  county,  for  a  detailed  mention  of 
which  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  rep- 
resentative chapter  of  this  volume.  He 


resides  in  Harper  county,  Kansas,  at 
present.  Isaac  B.,  a  brother  of  Samuel, 
came  at  the  same  time,  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  the  town  of  Colchester. 

Lewis  Mourning  and  family  came  in 
July,  1833,  settling  near  the  town  of 
Colchester,  where  they  remained  about 
one  year.  Mr.  Mourning  removed  to  a 
small  farm  about  one  mile  east  of  the 
place.  He  staid  here  about  a  year,  mak- 
ing a  few  improvements,  after  which  he 
took  up  his  residence  on  section  26,  and 
five  years  later  removed  to  the  place  now 
occupied  by  his  son,  William  H.,  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  Tennes- 
see township.  Mr.  Mourning  afterward 
removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  died  Janu- 
ary 1, 1873.  His  wife  still  resides  there, 
at  an  advanced  age. 

William  Harvey  Mourning  is  a  native 
of  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  and  was  born 
on  the  4th  of  October,  1831.  He  is  the 
son  of  Lewis  and  Ann  (Jones)  Mourning^ 
the  former  of  whom  went  to  Kansas  a 
number  of  years  after  coming  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  there  remained  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1873.  In  June,  1833,  William 
Mourning  came  with  his  parents  to  •Mc- 
Donough county,  Illinois,  and  located 
near  Colchester,  where  his  father  oper- 
ated the  old  Bacon  mill,  which  stood 
about  two  miles  northeast  of  Colchester. 
Here  he  remained  about  two  years,  when 
he  removed  to  a  small  farm  about  one 
mile  east  of  Colchester.  A  year  later  he 
moved  on  section  26,  Tennessee  town- 
ship, and  some  years  afterward  located 
on  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son  Wil- 
liam. William  H.  was  married  in  this 
county,  on  the  llth  of  May,  1856,  to 
Nancy  Ann  Breden,  a  native  of  Illinois, 


592 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy 
A.  (Driscoll)  Breden.  They  have  had 
11  children — Mary  E,.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Mullison,  living,  now  in  Dodge  county, 
Nebraska;  Emma  B.,  married  Henry 
Walker,  who  is  now  a  resident  of  Col- 
chester township;  Maggie  E.,  married 
Marion  Booth,  of  Colchester;  Francis 
M.,  Harvey,  Eugene,  Jennie,  Annie,  Mar- 
tin, Minnie  and  Joseph.  Mr.  Mourning 
has  285  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  under 
cultivation,  and  raises  cattle,  horses  and 
hogs.  He  is  engaged,  also,  in  manufac- 
turing brick,  having  made  200,000  brick 
in  1883.  He  has  a  new  and  elegant  res- 
idence, which  was  erected  in  the  fall  of 
1884,  and  beautiful  grounds  around  his 
house.  This  building  is  38x36  feet  in 
size,  with  large  bay  windows,  and  every 
convenience  that  can  be  wished  for,  or 
heart  desire. 

Robert  Cannon  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1833.  and  located  on  section  6, 
in  what  is  now  Colchester  township.  He 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  after- 
wards removed  to  Kentucky.  He  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Cheatham,  a  native  of 
Virginia.  He  was  a  millwright,  carpen- 
ter, and  cabinet-niaker,  and  followed  his 
trade  in  Kentucky  and  for  some  time  after 
coming  to  this  county.  On  his  arrival 
in  the  county,  he  purchased  40  acres  of 
land,  on  which  he  buijt  a  log  house.  In 
this  he  resided  with  his  family  until  his 
death  occurred,  in  April,  1854.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cannon  were  the  parents  of  three 
children,  of  whom  James  Anderson  Gan- 
non, of  Macomb  township,  was  one. 

James  L.  Horrell  located  in  what  is 
now  Colchester  township,  in  the  spring 
of  1835.  In  the  same  fall,  he  removed 
to  Bethel  township,  where  he  died. 


In  1835,  Valentine  B.  Clayton  came, 
in  company  with  his  parents.  They  en- 
tered land  on  section  25,  where  the 
family  of  Valentine  have  since  resided. 
He  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Virginia,  December  18,  1818,  and  when 
nine  years  of  age,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Washington  county,  Tennes- 
see, where  he  remained  until  coming  to 
McDonough  county.  He  was  married 
in  July,  1846,  to  Mahala  L\  Monk,  who 
came  to  this  county  in  1834.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children — James  F., 
Susan  E.,  Charles  W.,  William  H.,  and 
Mary  E.  Mr.  Clayton  died  March  26, 
1884,  and  is  buried  at  the  Bean  cem- 
etery, near  Colchester.  Mr.  Clayton's 
death  occurred  during  the  year  1884. 
His  wife  still  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead. 

William  W.  Clayton  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  with  his  parents,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1835,  who  settled  in  Colchester 
township,  erecting  a  cabin  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  25.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  his  parents'  location  on 
section  24.  In  Washington  county,  Vir- 
ginia, on  the  22d  of  February,  1817, 
William  W.  Clayton  was  born.  When 
about  10  years  of  age,  he  removed  from 
his  native  state  to  Washington  county, 
Tennessee,  with  his  parents,  and  there 
remained  until  the  year  1835,  when  he 
came  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
when  his  father  built  a  house  in  Col- 
chester township,  and  there  died  in 
1852,  at  the  age  of  60  years.  William 
W.  was  married  in  December,  1842,  to 
Louisa  Jane  Monk,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Monk,  an  old  settler  of  Schuyler  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton  have  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living — 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


593 


Martha;  William  H.,  living  now  in  Kan- 
sas; James  H.;  Alonzo;  Francis  M.,  who 
enlisted  in  company  A,  Yates  sharp- 
shooters, afterwards  known  as  the  64th 
Illinois  infantry,  and  was  with  his  com- 
pany until  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  when  he 
was  taken  sick,  and  was  sent  to  Marietta, 
thence  home  on  thirty  days'  leave.  After 
his  discharge,  he  came  home,  but  in 
very  poor  health,  and  never  recovered, 
but  lingered  along  until  September  9, 
1878,  when  he  died.  Three  other  chil- 
dren are  dead.  Valentine  W.,  and  Mary 
Ellen  both  died  when  they  were  infants. 
Mr.  Clayton  participated  in  the  Mormon 
war,  and  was  at  Carthage  when  Smith 
surrendered.  Mr.  Clayton  has  at  the 
present  time  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres, 
which  is  all  under  cultivation,  with  the 
exception  of  20  acres  of  timber  land,  in 
sections  24  and  25,  Colchester  township. 
Henry  Canote  came  to  Colchester 
township,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  locating 
on  section  24,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  Mr.  Canote  was  born  in  Madi- 
son county,  Kentucky,  in  the  year  1800, 
being  a  son  of  Jacob  Canote.  He  grew 
to  manhood  in  that  state,  learning  the 
trades  of  shoemaking  and  harness-mak- 
ing. He  afterward  held  the  office  of 
constable  of  Greencastle,  in  Putnam 
county,  Indiana,  having  removed  there 
in  1830,  from  which  place  he  came  to 
this  county.  Mr.  Canote  was  married 
in  his  native  county,  to  Peachey  Mum- 
pine,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children — Mar- 
tin, Calvin,  Susanna,  and  Henry.  Mar- 
tin still  resides  near  the  old  homestead, 
being  married  November  15,  1860,  to 
Nancy  J.  Lower,  born  in  McDonough 
county,  in  1837. 


Henry  Canote,  Jr.,  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  township,  in  1836.  He 
was  born  in  Putnam  county,  Indiana, 
May  22,  1833,  and  was  married,  in  1857, 
to  Esther  A.  Monk,  a  native  of  this 
fcounty,  who  died  December  14,  1862. 
Mr.  Canote  was  again  married  in  April, 
1865,  to  Jane  Buford.  They  reside  on 
the  old  homestead,  on  section  24. 

Jonathan  Hoyt  entered  land  on  sec- 
tion 13  and  14,  erecting  a  cabin  on  the 
latter  section  in  1836,  on  which  he  after- 
ward settled.  He  was  born  in  Grafton 
county,  New  Hampshire,  September  8, 
1808,  and  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  and 
Jemima  (Ford)  Hoyt,  who  were  both 
natives  of  New  Hampshire.  When  12 
years  of  age  the  family  removed .  to 
Meigs  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood.  He  was  married  December 
19, 1841,  to  Elizabeth  Rowley,  a  native 
of  New  York,  a  daughter  of  Enos  and 
Susan  (Montgomery)  Rowley. 

OTHER  PEOMINENT  PEOPLE. 

Among  the  others  worthy  of  notice 
in  a  complete  history  of  Colchester 
township  are  the  following: 

Jacob  Durflinger,  deceased,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  on  the  2d  day  of  April,  1803.  He 
was  there  reared,  and  was  married  there 
on  the  24th  of  August,  1826,  to  Mary, 
a  daughter  of  Benjamin  McAllister. 
They  have  had  nine  children:  Freder- 
ick, Benjamin  M.,  John,  Julian,  Eliza- 
beth I.,  Rebecca  E.,  Mary  C.,  all  dead; 
Joseph  T.,  living  in  Colchester  town- 
ship, and  George  F.,  deceased.  Jacob 
Durflinger  removed  with  his  family  to 
McDonough  county,  in  1850,  and  loca- 
ted on  section  36,  now  Colchester  town- 


594 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ship.  On  the  1st  day  of  March,  1855, 
Jie  died,  and  his  wife  survived  him  until 
September  the  9th,  1869. 

Joseph  T.  Durfliriger,  the  son  of  Ja- 
cob Durflinger,  was  born  in  Pickaway  i 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  26th  of  June,  1846. 
He  was  quite  a  boy  when  the  family  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  and  here 
he  received  his  schooling.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  the  27th  of  March,  1873,  to 
Susan  A.  Clayton,  a  daughter  of  Valen- 
tine and  Mahala  (Monk)  Clayton.  Mr. 
Durflinger  owns  180  acres  of  good  land 
in  Colchester  township,  most  of  which 
is  under  cultivation.  He  also  raises  a 
large  stock  of  cattle  and  hogs,  having 
several  different  breeds  of  each.  Mr. 
Durflinger  erected  his  present  residence 
in  1879,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful and  prosperous  farmers  in  this 
township. 

W.  A.  Hutchinson  was  born  in  Wind- 
sor county,  Vermont,  on  the  25th  of 
April,  1817,  and  is  the  son  of  Ebenezer 
and  Mary  Hutchinson.  He  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  in  1860,  and  one  year 
later  settled  on  his  present  location  on 
section  35,  Colchester  township,  where 
he  now  owns  110  acres  of  land,  and 
raised  some  fine  crops.  Mr.  Hutchinson 
was  married  in  Vermont,  on  the  23d  of 
January,  1843,  to  Mary  M.  Hallett,  a 
native  of  that  state.  Mr.  Hutchinson  is 
an  intelligent  and  enterprising  man,  and 
is  highly  respected  by  his  many  friends 
of  McDonough  county. 

Benjamin  Windsor,  who  is  one  of  the 
substantial  men  of  this  township,  was 
born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  on  the 
6th  day  of  April,  1818.  He  was  reared 
in  his  native  county,  and  was  there  mar- 
ried on  the  24th  of  June,  1846,  to  Ellen 


Blakemore,  a  native  of  that  country,  and 
a  daughter  of  John  and  Ann  Blakemore. 
Mr.  Windsor  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1850,  and  located  in  Schuylkill'  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  followed  mining 
until  coming  to  this  county,  in  1857.  He 
then  located  in  Colchester,  and  began 
mining,  and  so  continued  until  the  year 
1875,  when  he  decided  to  give  up  his  for- 
mer occupation  and  give  his  attention  to 
farming  and  stock  raising.     In  1862  he 
bought  15  acres  of  land,  and  the  year  fol- 
lowing he  purchased  20-  acres,  beside 
that  he  now  has  37  acres  more,  which  he 
bought  of  A.  V.  Neece.     He  has  a  large 
stock  of  cattle   and  hogs,  and  owing  to 
his  good  management  and  intelligence, 
he  has  made  as  finely  a  cultivated  farm 
as  can  be  found  in  the  township.     Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Windsor  are  the  parents  of  five 
children   living — Sarah   Ann,  living  in 
Creston,  Iowa;  Thomas,  Jane,  Ella  Maria 
and   James.     One  son  was  killed  by  a 
train  in  Missouri. 

Kobert  Myers,  son  of  Eli  and  Ann 
(Porter)  Myers,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  2d  of  March, 
1820.  When  three  years  of  age,  he 
moved  with  his  parents  to  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  where  his  parents  died,  and 
Robert  then  went  to  live  with  an  uncle, 
William  Porter.  He  remained  with  Wil- 
liam Porter  until  July,  1846,  when  he 
was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Hollowell,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (John- 
son) Hollowell.  In  the  fall  of  1849,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Myers  came  to  Adams  county, 
Illinois,  where  they  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1850,  when  they  removed  to 
their  present  location  on  section  25,  Ten- 
nessee township,  now  the  township  of 
Colchester.  Mr.  Myers  has  90  acres  of 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


595 


— i — 

stopped  first  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where 
he  had  a  brother  living,  and  there  fol- 
lowed his  trade  a  short  time,  then  he 
and  his  brother,  John  S.  Ott,  came  to 
Illinois,  and  located  at  Galesburg,  where 
Hieronymus  went  to  work  for  the  C.  B. 
&  Q.  railroad  company.  About  a  year 
later  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  first  located  in  Colchester,  where  he 
was  employed  by  the  Quincy  Coal  Com- 
pany for  about  12  years,  then  bought  a 
house  in  Colchester  in  which  he  lived 
two  years.  He  then  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  which  contains  124  acres  of 
land,  and  is  located  in  Chalmers  town- 
ship. Mr.  Ott  was  married  December 
18,  1864,  to  Mary  Wingler,  a  native  of 
Baden,  and  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Mary  (Gros)  Wingler.  Her  parents 
are  residents  of  Bushnell,  and  came  to 
this  county  the  same  year  that  Mr.  Ott 
did.  Mr.  Ott  is  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing. He  is  the  school  director  of  his 
district. 

William  Kipling,  a  resident  of  Ten- 
nessee township,  was  born  in  Dunham, 
England,  November  6,  1819.  His  pa- 
rents, John  and  Elizabeth  (Thompson) 
Kipling  were  also  natives  of  England. 
William  Kipling  came  to  America  in 
1852,  and  settled  then  in  Tennessee 
township,  McDonough  county.  Five 
years  later,  he  returned  to  his  native 
country,  and  was  married,  March  25, 
1857,  to  Mary  Hassop,  of  Dunham,  Eng- 
land. He  then  came  back  to  Tennes- 
see township,  and  has  remained  here 
since  that  time.  Mrs.  Kipling  died, 
April  14,  1874,  aged  50  years,  six  months 
and  nine  days.  She  left  four  children — 
William,  born  in  1858;  John,  born  in 
1861;  Thomas,  born  in  1863;  Alfred,  born 


land,  about  half  of  which  is  improved, 
and  besides  practicing  farming,  he  pays 
attention  to  the  raising  of  stock  of  vari- 
ous kinds.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  are  the 
parents  of  three  children,  whose  names 
are — Ann  Elizabeth,  married  Reuben 
Strater,  living  at  Fandon  ;  Mary  Jane, 
married  Cassius  M.  Strater,  living  in 
Hancock  county;  William  Kenton,  mar- 
ried Phrony  Hooten,  a  resident  of  Col- 
chester township. 

Hieronymus  Ott  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  in  1858,  since  which  he  has 
been  a  resident  here,  He  is  a  native  of 
Guggenberg,  Bavaria,  in  the  German 
empire,  and  was  born  February  16, 1827, 
his  parents  being  Joseph  N.,  and  Mary 
(Schneider)  Ott.  His  father  was  a  far- 
mer, and  his  early  life  was  spent  on  a 
farm.  When  he  reached  the  age  of  18 
years,  he  left  home  and  went  to  Milten- 
berg,  also  in  Bavaria,  where  he  began 
learning  the  cooper's  trade.  He  mas- 
tered that  trade  in  two  years,  after  which 
he  worked  as  a  journeyman  one  year- 
At  the  age  of  21  he  drew  a  number 
which  called  for  his  service  in  the  army, 
upon  which  he  immediately  entered,  and 
served  six  years  in  the  Bavarian  army 
and  participated  in  what  is  there  known 
as  the  "  Revolutionary  war ,"  where  the 
royal  army  met,  among  the  revolution- 
ists, Generals  Franz  Sigel,  Hecker  and 
others,  who  afterwards  became  renowned 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States.  At 
the  close  of  his  term  of  service,  Mr.  Ott 
went  back  to  his  home  and  worked  some 
at  his  trade,  also  assisted  his  father  upon 
the  farm.  In  1856,  he  bade  farewell  to 
his  native  land  and  took  passage  from 
Havre  to  New  York,  determined  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  New  World.  He 


596 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


January  6,  1866.  Two  children,  Albert 
and  Elizabeth,  are  deceased.  Mr.  Kip- 
ling was  married  the  second  time, 
October  25,  1875,  to  Catharine  Mc- 
Sweeney,  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  is  an 
enterprising  business  man,  carrying  on 
a  grocery  store,  at  Ragtown,  and  min- 
ing coal  at  four  banks.  The  latter  are 
run  by  his  sons.  He  owns  32  acres  of 
land.  Mr.  Kipling  has  crossed  the 
ocean  seven  times,  in  his  visits  to  rela- 
tives and  friends  in  the  old  country. 
He  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  repub- 
lican party. 

Thomas  Kipling,  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Thompson)  Kipling,  was  born  in 
Dunham,  England,  March  2,  1826.  He 
emigrated  to  this  country  in  1853  and  stop- 
ped for  a  time  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  in  Virginia.  He  then  came  to 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  settled 
permanently  in  Tennessee  township. 
He  was  married  December  22,  1868,  to 
Mary  J.  Hassop,  and  by  this  union  has 
had  nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living— William,  Francis,  Mary  L.,  Sep- 
timus, Thomas  N.,  Joseph,  John  E., 
and  Abraham.  One  son,  Roscoe,  is  de- 
ceased Mr.  Kipling  has  followed  min- 
ing since  coming  here,  and  owns  two 
banks,  in  working  condition.  He  also 
owns  20  acres  of  land,  which  his  sons 
cultivate.  He  enlisted  in  the  service  of 
his  adopted  country,  May  24,  1861,  and 
served  one  year  and  11  months.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at  Colches- 
ter, and  politically  a  republican. 

Captain  George  W.  Reid  is  a  native  of 
the  city  of  New  York,  born  November 
25,  1837.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Reid,  a 
native  of  Scotland.  He  was  brought  up 
in  his  native  city,  and  educated  in  the 


public  schools.  In  1856,  he  went  to 
New  Jersey,  where,  for  a  few  months, 
he  followed  carpentering,  and  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year,  went  to  Indianapolis, 
Indiana,  remaining  there  until  June, 
1857.  At  that  date  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county  and  located  at  Macomb, 
where  he  followed  his  trade  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. He  then  enlisted  in  1861,  in  com- 
pany D,  of  the  64th  Illinois  infantry  and 
was  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant. 
In  June  1862,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  first  lieutenant,  and  in  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year,  was  appointed 
captain  of  his  company.  He  served  in 
the  16th  corps  of  the  army  of  the  Ten. 
nessee,  participating  in  the  battles  of 
New  Madrid,  Island  Number  10,  siege 
of  Corinth,  luka,  second  battle  of  Cor- 
inth, and  skirmishes  and  battles  from 
Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  and  to  Gains- 
ville  Alabama.  During  the  battle 
fought  at  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  he  cap- 
tured a  rebel  flag,  which  he  brought 
home  with  him,  on  his  return  from  the 
army.  He  has  since  sent  it  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois.  He  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  in  November  1864,  and  re- 
turned to  this  county  and  located  where 
he  now  lives,  on  section  11,  Chalmers 
township.  He  owns  a  farm  of  50  acres. 
Captain  Reid  has  been  twice,  coroner  of 
McDonough  county.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  commander  of  Ma- 
comb  Post,  No.  103.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  March  29, 
1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Hunter,  of  Macomb,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  Hunter.  Captain  Reid 
was  a  brave  and  fearless  soldier,  never 
shrinking  from  duty,  and  always  at  his 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


597 


post.      He    is   justly  deserving  of   the 
honor  which  he  then  won. 

CEMETERY. 

A  cemetery  is  located  on  section  19, 
on  the  Barber  place.  It  contains  about 
one  acre  and  is  fenced.  It  has  never 
been  laid  out  as  a  public  burying  ground, 
but  is  used  generally  by  the  public. 
Ther  first  burial  was  Charles,  a  three- 
year-old  son  of  John  Barber. 

ORGANIC. 

Colchester  township  was  constituted 
in  the  spring  of  1880,  from  Tennessee 
and  Chalmers  townships,  taking  from 
the  former  all  of  sections  1,  12,  13,  24, 
25,  36,  and  the  east  half  of  sections  2, 
11,  14,  23,  26  and  35;  from  the  latter  all 
of  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  30,  31, 
and  the  west  half  of  sections  20,  29  and 
32.  This  makes  the  township  six  miles 
north  and  south,  the  north  half  three 
and  a  half  miles  east  and  west,  and  the 
south  half  three  miles  east  and  west. 
The  present  officers  of  the  township  are 
as  follows:  Supervisor,  D.  W.  Camp- 
bell; clerk,  Stroder  Stookey;  assessor, 
W.  B.  Cowan;  collector,  J.  Surtees; 
highway  commissioners,  Otto  Yaap  and 
S.  Copeland;  justices  of  the  peace, 
Thomas  Richards  and  B.  H.  Clapbaugh ; 
constables,  George  Slocum  and  John 
Stewart. 

STONE   QUARRY. 

In  1874  Joseph  Oakman  opened  a 
stone  quarry  on  section  23.  The  stone  is 
a  sort  of  sand  stone,  and  is  in  layers  of 
from  three  to  ten  inches  in  thickness. 
The  narrow  layers  are  suitable  for  pave- 
ment slabs,  while  the  thicker  ones  are 


desirable  for  building  purposes  and  for 
the  foundation  of  buildings.  The  quar- 
rying is  carried  on  during  spring  and 
fall  seasons,  when  farm  work  is  slack, 
Mr.  Oakman  and  his  boys  doing  the 
work.  The  stone  has  a  market  for  a 
distance  of  five  or  six  miles.  The  stone 
is  soft  enough  to  handle  easily,  but 
hardens  perceptibly  when  exposed  to 
the  weather. 

Joseph  Oakman  came  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1863,  and  located  in 
the  northern  part  of  the  county.  In 
1865  he  removed  to  his  present  location 
on  section  23,  now  Colchester  township. 
He  pays  attention  to  both  the  raising  of 
stock  and  to  farming,  having  about  80 
acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  can  be 
found  in  this  township.  Joseph  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  on 
the  30th  of  January,  1815,  and  is  the 
son  of  Ebenezer  and  Ann  (Bruce)  Oak- 
man. His  father  was  a  native  of  Boston, 
and  his  mother  of  Philadelphia.  In 
1820  the  family  removed  to  Bedford 
county,  where  our  subject  was  reared  to 
manhood,  and  there  received  his  educa- 
tion. In  April,  1854,  Joseph  left  Penn- 
sylvania and  came  to  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  and  remaining  there  until  1863, 
when  he  came  to  McDonough  county. 
He  was  married  in  Perry  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  30,  1848,  to  Mary  Eyre,  a 
native  of  Dauphin  county,  that  state. 
They  have  had  10  children,  four  of 
whom  are  dead — Susannah  Frances, 
wife  of  William  Blanchard,  of  this 
township;  Jacob  E.,  married  Lizzie  Ull- 
rich, now  living  in  McDonough  county; 
Hannah  C.,  married  Joseph  Bach,  now 
living  in  Macomb;  Joseph  H.,  living  in 
Colchester;  Daniel  F. ;  John  A.,  died 


598 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


January  20,  1860,  aged  eight  years; 
William,  died  October  11,  1865,  aged 
four  years;  Sarah  A.,  died  in  infancy, 
and  Eliza  J.  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of 
five  years.  Mr.  Oakman  has  held  the 
office  of  school  director. 

TOWN  OF  COLCHESTER 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Northern  Cross — now  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad — Lewis 
H.  Little,  the  owner  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  13,  then  Tennessee 
township,  determined  upon  that  point 
for  a  location  of  a  new  town,  and  for  that 
purpose  the  tract  was  surveyed  by  a  gen- 
tleman by  the  name  of  Chester,  then  an 
employe  of  the  railroad  company.  In 
honor  of  the  surveyor,  the  new  place 
was  christened  Chester,  but  on  learning 
of  the  numerous  towns  in  the  country  by 
that  name,  he  prefixed  the  term  "Col," 
making  it  Colchester.  That  term  might 
very  properly  be  implied  to  be  an  abbre- 
viation of  the  word  "coal,"  then  beginning 
to  be  an  important  prdtiuct  of  this  local- 
ity. Mr.  Little  made  no  public  sale  of 
lots,  but  placing  them  upon  the  market, 
they  were  disposed  of  rapidly  and  the 
new  town  was  soon  under  full  headway. 
D.  W.  Campbell,  still  a  resident  of  the 
place,  bought  the  first  two  lots  and 
erected  the  first  building. 

Since  the  laying  out  of  the  original 
town  in  1855,  there  have  been  six  addi- 
tions made  to  it;  the  first  by  Charles  E. 
Gilchrist,  the  second  by  Martin  Canote, 
the  third  by  the  Quincy  Coal  Company, 
two  by  James  Roberts,  and  one  by  D.  C. 
Reece.  Charles  Gilchrist  made  the  first 
and  only  public  sale  of  lots.  At  private 
sale  the  first  lots  sold  from  $20  to 


each,  and  all  soon  passed  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  original  proprietor.  On  the 
completion  of  the  railroad  the  town  grew 
very  rapidly  for  about  two  years,  when 
no  further  apparent  growth  was  made 
until  the  time  of  the  war,  when  immi- 
gration again  was  attracted  to  the  place. 
As  may  be  inferred,  the  class  of  citizens 
by  which  the  town  was  settled  was  prin- 
cipally miners,  hard  working,  intelligent 
men  and  women. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1857,  a  public 
meeting  was  held  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  into  consideration  the  propriety 
of  organizing  the  town  under  a  special 
charter.  The  question  was  discussed 
pro  and  con,  and  it  was  determined  to 
submit  the  matter  to  a  vote  of  the  peo- 
ple. In  May  the  vote  was  taken,  58 
voting  for  and  two  against  incorporation. 
So  the  town  was  incorporated,  and  a 
board  of  trustees,  consisting  of  five  mem- 
bers, was  duly  elected.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  members  of  the 
first  board:  John  Patrick,  Thomas  W. 
Hunt,  John  E.  Jackson,  William  Cowan 
and  W.  L.  Whitson. 

Colchester,  like  all  other  towns,  has 
had  its  seasons  of  prosperity  and  seasons 
of  adversity,  Its  most  rapid  growth  was 
in  the  years  1856  and  1857,  just  after  the 
completion  of  the  railroad.  From  that 
time  until  the  years  1863  and  1864  but 
little  was  done;  then  the  town  began  to 
improve  again,  but  soon  fell  back  to  a 
state  of  apathy,  which  continued  until 
late  years,  when  it  began  to  take  a  new 
life.  We  now  find  it  rapidly  improving; 
new  houses  of  the  most  substantial  char- 
acter have  been  erected  and  the  town  now 
contains  a  larger  number  of  inhabitants 
than  ever  before. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


599 


Colchester  has  many  advantages  not 
possessed  by  other  towns  of  the  county. 
The  face  of  the  earth  not  only  yields  its 
fruit  to  the  work  of  the  hands  of  her 
people,  but  the  underworld  is  compelled 
to  yield  up  her  treasures,  which  go  to 
enrich  mankind  and  administer  to  the 
comforts  of  the  race.  Even  should  a 
drouth  occur,  these  people  have  a  mine 
of  wealth  in  their  coal  fields  that  cannot 
be  effected  by  it.  The  demand  for  this 
product  has  never  yet  been  less  than  the 
supply;  therefore,  while  other  places 
may  feel  from  time  to  time  the  effects  of 
a  monetary  crisis,  Colchester  does  not 
suffer  in  comparison  with  them. 

THE  BEGINNING. 

The  first  store  building  in  .the  town  of 
Colchester  was  erected  in  December, 
1855,  by  D.  W.  Campbell,  who  put  in  a 
stock  of  groceries  January  9,  1856.  The 
building,  which  was  16x18  feet  in  ground 
area  and  constructed  of  pine  lumber,  is 
at  present  located  on  Coal  street,  and  is 
occupied  by  William  Wright  as  a  har- 
ness shop. 

The  second  building  was  the  wing  of 
the  Chester  house.  Its  construction  was 
commenced  about  the  same  time  as  that 
built  by  D.  W.  Campbell,  by  John  Tay- 
lor. Before  its  completion,  however, 
Mr.  Taylor  sold  it  to  John  Stults,  who 
finished  and  operated  it  as  the  Chester 
house.  It  was  the  first  hotel  in  the  place. 

John  Patrick  opened  the  first  general 
store  in  the  early  part  of  1856.  The 
building  was  the  third  erected  in- Col- 
chester, and  is  now  occupied  by  Consenes 
book  store. 

Atkinson  &  Gash  were  the  next  to 
build  and  open  a  store,  which  was  in  the 


fall  of  1856.  They  carried  a  general 
stock,  and  in  1858  sold  to  John  Taylor  & 
Son. 

Samuel  Greenwood  was  the  pioneer 
blacksmith  of  Colchester.  He  estab- 
lished the  business  during  the  winter  of 
1855-6. 

C.  W.  Wettengel  opened  the  first  shoe 
shop  in  Colchester,  May  8,  1857.  He 
rented  a  small  building  on  the  north  side 
for  about  five  months,  and  afterward 
operated  a  shoe  store  until  1866  where 
Newland's  building  now  stands.  He  is 
at  present  operating  a  farm  in  Hire 
township. 

The  first  to  engage  in  the  millinery 
business  in  Colchester,  was  Maggie  Slo- 
cum,  in  1863.  This  lady  is  now  the 
estimable  wife  of  S.  D.  Mills. 

J.  W.  Webster  was  the  first  dealer  in 
drugs  in  Colchester.  He  also  handled 
hardware,  and  was  the  first  in  that  line. 

The  first  physician  to  locate  at  Col- 
chester was  M.  C.  Archer,  who  came  in 
1857.  Dr.  W.  H.  Weir  was  the  next 
physician,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  the 
place. 

John  Whitson  was  the  first  station 
agent  at  this  point. 

The  store  now  occupied  by  J.  W. 
Hendle,  druggist,  was  built  by  Martin 
Canote,  in  the  fall  of  1856,  and  rented 
for  dwelling  purposes. 

The  first  house  built  for  a  private 
dwelling  only,  was  erected  about  the 
same  time  by  William  Hopkins,  who 
still  resides  in  the  same. 

FIEST   MEECHANT. 

Daniel  W.  Campbell,  who  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business,  is  the 
oldest  settler  in  Colchester,  and  was  its 


600 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


first  merchant.  He  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son county,  Tennessee,  on  the  28th  day 
of  August,  1826,  being  the  son  of  Daniel 
and  Susannah  (Goans)  Campbell,  both 
natives  of  Tennessee,  and  who  were  born 
on  the  same  day  of  the  month  and  in  the 
same  year,  September  22,  1800.  Mrs. 
Campbell  is  still  living  and  resides  in 
Colchester.  In  1828  the  family  removed 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  in  the 
winter  of  1829,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  settling  in  Tennessee  township. 
In  the  spring  of  1830,  they  moved  on  to 
section  10,  where  they  resided  until  fall 
of  the  same  year,  when  they  located  on 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Widow  Har- 
rison farm.  In  1832  Daniel  Campbell, 
Sr.,  enlisted  and  served  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war,  returning  home  in  1833,  and 
in  the  following  year  was  elected  sheriff. 
In  1841  he  went  down  the  Mississippi 
and  up  the  Bed  river,  and  as  he  was  re- 
turning home,  he  was  taken  sick  and 
died,  August  9,  1842,  in  Greene  county, 
Illinois.  Daniel  W.  Campbell  was  reared 
and  educated  in  McDonough  county,  and 
in  1841,  engaged  in  farming  with  the 
family.  In  1852  he  moved  to  the  village 
of  Middletown,  this  state,  and  engaged  in 
teaming,  etc.,  which  he  followed  until 
1855,  when  he  engaged  in  business  in 
Colchester,  at  which  point  he  has  been 
connected  with  some  kind  of  business  in- 
terest ever  since.  He  has  been  conduct- 
ing his  present  business,  that  of  insur- 
ance agent,  for  the  past  15  years,  and  has 
met  with  deserved  success.  The  mar- 
riage ceremony  which  united  the  desti- 
nies of  Daniel  W.  Campbell  and  Adeline 
A.  Jackson,  a  native  of  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky, was  performed  on  the  9th  day  of 
November,  1854.  Mrs.  Campbell's  death 


occurred  January  2,  1864.  Three  chil- 
dren of  that  marriage  are  now  living — 
Frank  M.,  Albert  and  Eva.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell held  the  office  of  constable  from 
1858  to  1879,  and  in  1870,  was  elected 
coroner,  which  office  he  held  for  two 
years.  He  has  also  served  the  people  in 
the  capacity  of  township  assessor  and  col- 
lector several  terms,  and  has  been  a 
school  director  for  the  past  15  years,  and 
is  at  this  time  supervisor  of  Colchester 
township. 

BUSINESS   DEVELOPMENT. 

The  general  merchandise  business  of 
Stevens  Brothers, was  established  in  1869, 
by  E.  Stevens,  and  his  son,  E.  D.  They 
opened,  at  that  time,  with  but  $1,500 
worth  of  goods  in  stock,  and  increased 
the  same,  as  the  trade  developed.  These 
gentlemen  continued  the  business  until 
1872,  when  the  elder  Mr.  Stevens  was 
succeeded  by  another  son,  J.  W.  Stevens. 
During  the  year  1874,  these  gentlemen 
closed  out  the  business,  and  two  years 
later  became  interested  in  the  firm  of  A. 
J.  Smith  &  Company.  Five  years  elapsed 
and  then  Mr.  Smith  retired  from  the 
firm  and  they  then  resumed  the  old  firm 
name  of  Stevens  Brothers.  In  1881,  J. 
W.  Stevens,  another  brother,  became  a 
member  of  the  firm,  and  in  1882,  J.  F. 
Stevens  was  admitted  to  the  same  honor, 
making  the  firm  now  consist  of  four 
brothers.  They  carry  a  stock  of  from 
$35,000  to  $40,000  worth  of  the  various 
lines  of  goods  that  go  to  make  up  what 
is  known  as  general  merchandise.  It  is 
claimed  with  a  good  deal  of  sincerity  that 
they  are  doing  the  largest  business  of 
the  kind  in  the  county,  and  the  claim  is 
justified  by  the  immensity  of  their  stock 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


601 


and  the  large  number  of  their  friends 
and  patrons. 

Edward  D.  Stevens,  of  the  firm  of 
Stevens  Brothers,  is  a  native  of  McDon- 
ough  countv,  and  was  born  on  the  29th 
of  August,  1848.  His  father,  Socrates 
Stevens,  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  In- 
diana, being  born  in  October,  1824.  He 
came  to  this  county  in  1844,  and  followed 
school  teaching  as  a  profession.  Amanda 
J.  Stevens,  the  mother  of  Edward,  was 
born  in  Indiana.  Edward  attended 
Abingdon  college,  at  Abingdon,  Illinois, 
for  three  years,  having  previous  to  that 
attended  school  in  this  county.  When 
18  years  of  age,  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  Colchester,  which  profession 
he  followed  for  three  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time,  he  engaged  in  mer- 
cantile life.  In  1874,  he,  in  company  with 
his  brother,  James  W.,  and  A.  Horrocks, 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  fire  clay 
at  Bardolph,  Illinois,  with  which  he  was 
identified  for  some  eight  years,  but  did 
not  take  an  active  part  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  same  after  1881.  On*  the 
28th  day  of  December,  1869,  Edward 
was  married  to  Jessie  M.  Cuyler,  a  native 
of  Canada.  Three  children  have  been 
born  to  them — Ralph  C.,  Edgar  A.,  and 
Bertha  C.  Mr.  Stevens  is  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  Colchester's  citizens, 
and  is  the  present  treasurer  of  the  city. 
He  is  a  member  of  Bardolph  lodge,  No. 
472,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  also  of  the  Morse 
Chapter,  and  of  the  Almoner  Com- 
mandery,  No.  32,  of  Augusta,  this  state. 
The  firm  of  which  he  is  a  member,  has 
by  fair  and  honorable  dealings,  built  up 
a  reputation  second  to  none  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  or  in  the  counties  adjoin- 
ing. 


James  William  Stevens,  the  second 
member  of  the  firm  of  Stevens  Brothers, 
is  a  native  of  this  county,  and  was  born 
May  25,  1853.  He  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  the  county,  but  attended  the 
Abingdon  college,  at  Abingdon,  Illinois, 
for  one  term.  In  1872,  he  engaged, with 
his  brother,  in  mercantile  business,  but 
had,  however,  acted  as  a  clerk  with  the 
former  firm — E.  D.  &  S.  Stevens — up  to 
the  time  of  becoming  a  partner.  In 
1874,  both  he  and  E.  D.  Stevens,  in  com- 
pany with  A.  Horrocks,  established  the 
Bardolph  fire  clay  works.  In  1876, 
James  W.  returned  to  Colchester,  and 
entered  into  a  partnership  with  A.  J. 
Smith  &  Co.,  under  the  firm  name  of  A. 
J.  Smith,  which  continued  until  Mr. 
Smith  sold  his  interest  to  E.  D.  Stevens, 
in  January,  1881,  when  the  firm  of 
Stevens  Brothers  was  formed.  James 
William  Stevens  and  Jessie  L.  Smith 
were  married  on  the  26th  day  of  Febru- 
ary, 1874.  Mrs.  Stevens  is  the  daughter 
of  Albert  J.  and  Francis  A.  ( Cuyler  ) 
Smith.  By  their  union,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stevens  have  been  blessed  with  two 
children — Raymond  W.  and  Ernest  J. 
Mr.  Stevens  is  one  of  McDonough 
county's  prominent  business  men,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

John  H.  Stevens,  also  of  Stevens 
Brothers,  was  born,  October  12,  1856,  in 
this  county,  where  he  was  reared  and 
educated.  He  remained  on  his  father's 
farm,  and  followed  the  occupation  of  a 
farmer  until  March,  1879,  at  which  time 
he  began  clerking  for  A.  J.  Smith  & 
Co.,  of  Colchester.  He  continued  with 
that  firm,  and  with  its  successor — the 
firm  of  Stevens  Brothers — up  to  the 
time  of  becoming  a  member  of  the  latter 


602 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


firm,  in  1881.  His  marriage  with  Anna 
Higbee  occurred  on  the  27th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  his  wife  also  being  a  native 
of  McDonough  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  H.  Stevens  are  the  parents  of  two 
children — Edna  and  Clyde.  Although 
comparatively  a  young  man,  Mr.  Stevens' 
ability  as  a  business  man  will  compare 
favorably  with  that  of  many  an  older 
merchant.  He  is  a  member  in  good 
standing  sf  the  Christian  church,  of  Col- 
chester. 

The  youngest  member  of  the  firm  of 
Stevens  Brothers,  of  Colchester,  is  J 
Frank  Stevens,  who  was  born  on  the  22d 
day  of  August,  1861,  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois.  He  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  county,  and  remained  on 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  followed 
farming  until  1880.  He  then  engaged 
with  A.  J.  Smith  &  Co.,  of  Colchester,  in 
the  capacity  of  a  clerk,  and  continued  in 
that  position,  with  the  same  firm,  until  it 
became  the  firm  of  Stevens  Brothers.  In 
1882,  he  became  a  member  of  the  last 
mentioned  firm.  The  marriage  of  J. 
Frank  Stevens  and  Lizzie  E.  Fields  was 
solemnized  on  the  22d  day  of  January, 
1882.  One  child,  Bernice  E.,  has  been 
born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  lodge  of  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Colchester, 
McDonough  county. 

Among  the  enterprising,  wide-awake 
merchants  of  Colchester,  may  be  men- 
tioned the  general  merchandise  house  of 
Parnall  &  Sons.  This  establishment 
owes  its  existence  to  John  Parnall,  Sr., 
and  William  Parnall,  who  "started  in 
1880.  In  June,  1881,  the  latter  partner 
died,  and  the  firm  name  was  changed  to 
its  present  form,  the  sons,  R.  J.  and 


James,  being  admitted  as  partners  by 
their  father.  They  carry  a  full  stock  of 
the  various  goods  usually  found  in  stores 
of  this  kind,  and  valued  at  about  $5,000. 

John  Parnall,  Sr.,  of  the  firm  of  Par- 
nall &  Sons,  general  merchants  of  Col- 
chester, is  a  native  of  England,  being 
born  there  in  1818.  He  was  there 
married  to  Eliza  Williams,  in  August, 
1843.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  William  Parnall,  their  eldest 
son,  was  born  in  England  in  1846,  and 
died  in  Colchester,  McDonough  county, 
June  11,  1881;  Richard  J.  Parnall  was, 
also,  born  in  England,  on  the  8th  day  of 
May,  1860,  and  was  married  November 
19,  1884,  to  Ella  F.  Shirley,  a  native  of 
Saginaw,  Michigan;  James  Parnall,  also 
a  member  of  the  firm,  was  born  on  the 
first  of  October,  1861,  in  England,  and 
his  marriage  was  solemnized  December 
25,  1884,  he  marrying  Cecelia  M.  Rob- 
erts, a  daughter  of  James  Roberts. 
Richard  and  James  became  members^of 
the  firm  in  1881.  The  Parnall  family 
emigrated  to  America  in  1871,  and  lo- 
cated in  Colchester,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  In  1877,  John  Parnall,  Sr.,  es- 
tablished himself  in  business,  by  start- 
ing a  flour  and  feed  store.  In  1880  the 
present  business  was  established  under 
the  firm  name  of  Parnall  &  Son  (mem- 
bers being  John,  Sr.,  and  William.) 
Richard  is  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge  of  Colchester,  while  James 
is  a  member  of  the  Miners'  Friendly  so- 
ciety, and  John,  Sr.,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

The  general  merchandise  business  op- 
erated by  John  A.  Stookey  was  inaugu- 
rated in  1872,  by  Stookey  &  Park,  then 
on  the  north  side.'  In  1873,  Mr.  Park 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


603 


retired  from  the  firm,  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  months,  Mr.  Stookey 
has  continued  to  run  the  establishment 
alone  ever  since.  On  the  16^h  of  No- 
vember, 1881,  this  gentleman  removed 
his  stock  to  its  present  location  in  the 
Smith  building.  He  carries  a  stock  of 
about  $3,500  worth  of  goods,  and  is  doing 
a  good  business.  John  A.  Stookey  was 
born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  May  22, 1841, 
his  parents  being  Moses  and  Hulda 
(Goldsbery)  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  the  state  of  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1842 
the  family  removed  to  McDonough 
county,  where  John  A.  was  reared  and 
'educated.  He  remained  on  his  father's 
farm  until  he  reached  his  17th  year, 
when  he  engaged  in  clerking  with  Ed. 
McDonald,  of  Colchester,  remaining  with 
him  one  year,  then  going  to  Blandins- 
ville,  where  he  followed  the  same  voca- 
tion for  four  years.  In  1868  he  came  to 
Colchester,  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  for 
one  year,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time 
he  engaged  in  teaming,  which  he  fol- 
lowed until  1872,  at  which  time  he  en- 
tered upon  a  mercantile  career,  at  which 
he  has  been  eminently  successful.  Mr. 
Stookey  held  the  position  of  justice  of 
the  peace  in  Tennessee  township  from 
1868  till  1872,  and,  since  coming  to  Col- 
chester, has  served  both  as  city  clerk 
and  city  treasurer,  all  of  which  posi- 
tions he  filled  with  honor  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 
John  A.  Stookey  and  Elizabeth  Stevens 
(a  daughter  of  Socrates  Stevens,  of  this 
county,  and  a  sister  of  E.  D.  Stevens,  of 
this  city, )  were  married  on  the  18th  day 
of  November,  1871.  They  have  one 
child  living,  Bert  J.  Mr.  Stookey  is  a 
member  in  good  standing  of  the  Metho- 


dist Episcopal  church,  of  Colchester, 
McDonough  county. 

The  firm  of  Myers  &  Cowan,  general 
merchants,  commenced  business  in  this 
place  in  November,  1882,  and  carry  a 
stock  representing  about  $5,000. 

The  grocery  establishment  of  J.  D. 
Trew  was  established  by  the  same  gen- 
tleman in  August,  1877.  He  carries  a 
nice  stock  of  groceries,  valued  at  over 
$1,000. 

A.  J.  Smith  &  Son,  who  are  extensively 
engaged  in  the  clothing  and  gentlemen's 
furnishing  goods  business,  established 
the  same  in  the  month  of  November, 
1881.  The  building  in  which  they  are 
located,  which  was  built  by  them,  is  40x 
80  feet  in  ground  area,  and  two  stories 
high.  They  carry  a  large  and  well  as- 
sorted stock  of  goods  in  the  various  lines 
handled  by  them,  that  will  invoice  about 
$10,000,  and  although  they  are  a  new  firm 
in  this  line,  they  still  have  succeeded  in 
working  up  a  most  excellent  trade.  In 
1871,  A.  J.  Smith  engaged  in  the  general 
merchandise  business,  and  remained  in 
the  same  until  1881,  when  the  present 
business  was  established,  as  above  nar- 
rated. 

Albert  J.  Smith,  Sr.;  of  the  above 
firm,  was  born  in  Lower  Canada,  011 
the  16th  day  of  October,  1830,  being  the 
son  of  Joseph  M.  and  Eliza  (Westover) 
Smith,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
Vermont.  When  Albert  was  13  years 
of  age,  his  parents  removed  to  Franklin 
county,  Vermont,  where  he  received  his 
education.  In  1861,  he  came  west  and 
located  at  Plymouth,  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  until  1863,  when  he  came  to 
Colchester  in  the  capacity  of  agent  for 
the  Chicago  Burlington  and  Quincy  rail- 


604 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


road  company,  which  position  he  filled 
until  1879.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
coal  business,  and  in  1878  took  charge  of 
the  Union  hotel,  which  he  conducted 
for  one  year.  In  November,  1881,  he 
established  his  present  business,  that  of 
clothing  and  gents'  furnishing,  and  by 
honest  dealing  and  strict  attention  to 
business,  has  built  up  an  enviable  trade. 
Previous  to  engaging  in  this  business  he 
carried  a  full  line  of  general  merchan- 
dise. On  the  10th  day  of  March,  1856, 
Albert  J.  Smith  and  Frances  A.  Cuyler 
were  joined  in  matrimony,  and  by  their 
marriage  they  have  been  blessed  with 
three  children:  Jesse  L.,  Herbert  W. 
and  Eddie  E.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  ranks 
among  the  substantial  business  men  of 
McDonough  county. 

George  C.  Kratzer,  commenced  the 
making  of  boots  and  shoes,  at  this  place, 
in  1875,  and  worked  at  that  business  un- 
til 1880,  when  he  built  the  brick  build- 
ing now  occupied  by  him,  and  put  in  a 
stock  of  ladies'  and  gentlemen's  foot 
wear. 

G.  M.  Thompson  &  Co.,  are  the  pres- 
ent representatives  of  the  drug  business 
established  by  W.  A.  Wayland  in  1872. 
He  had  a  mixed  stock  at  that  time  con- 
sisting of  groceries  and  drugs.  In  1874, 
the  firm  was  changed  to  Wayland  and 
Fields,  but  in  1875,  they  sold '  out  to  G. 
M.  Thompson,  who  closed  out  the  gro- 
cery department.  On  the  1st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1885,  the  present  firm  was  formed. 

The  drug  and  stationery  business  of 
Robert  M.  Hendel,  was  established  by 
M.  B.  Morey,  in  1870.  In  the  spring  of 
1874,  Mr.  Hendel  became  one  of  the 
partners  in  the  new  firm  of  Morey  and 


Hendel.  In  the  year  following  the  lat- 
ter gentleman  purchased  the  interest  of 
his  partner  and  has  since  operated  it 
alone. 

Milton  P.  Agnew  deals  in  hardware, 
stoves,  tinware,  agricultural  implements, 
iron  and  steel  in  bar,  etc.  The  stand 
was  commenced  in  January,  1883,  by 
Agnew  &  Price,  who  continued  in  part- 
nership until  August,  1884,  when  the 
firm  was  dissolved  by  the  retirement  of 
Mr.  Price.  Mr.  Agnew  carries  a  clean 
stock  of  about  $4,000  worth  of  goods, 
and  has  a  good  patronage. 

Milton  P.  Agnew  is  a  resident'  of  Col- 
chester, Illinois,  where  he  conducts  a 
general  hardware,  house-furnishing  and 
farm-implement  business,  carrying  a 
full  and  varied  stock  of  such  goods  as 
is  usually  kept  in  stores  of  this  kind. 
Mr.  Agnew  is  successor  to  the  firm  of 
Agnew  &  Price,  by  whom  the  business 
was  established  January  1,  1883,  of 
which  firm  he  was  the  senior  member. 
As  a  result  of  enterprise  and  fair  deal- 
ing the  house  now  enjoys  a  large  and 
profitable  trade.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Rushville,  Illinois, 
March  14,  1851,  but  has  resided  almost 
ever  since  in  McDonough  county.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  course  in  Baylies'  commercial 
college  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  June,  1874. 
Before  entering  mercantile  pursuits 
Mr.  Agnew  was  a  school  teacher,  in 
which  capacity  he  became  pretty  gener- 
ally acquainted  all  over  the  county;  was 
for  several  terms  secretary  of  the  county 
institute,  and  took  a  deep  interest  in  all 
meetings  of  that  association.  For  biog- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COT]  NT Y. 


605 


raphy  of  his  parents,  see  the  sketch  of 
H.  C.  Agnew,  in  the  chapter  relating  to 
the  courts  of  the  county. 

George  F.  Hartung  is  one  of  the  enter- 
prising hardware  merchants  of  the  town. 
The  business  which  he  represents  was 
established  by  Thomas  &  Erdrnan,  in 
1865.  Some  time  afterwards  it  was  run 
by  J.  M.  Erdman,  who  sold  out  to  La- 
Ront &  Hartung,  of  whom  Mr.  Hartung 
is  the  successor.  He  occupies  a  store 
room  on  Front  street  which  is  27x60 
feet  in  size,  two-stories  high.  He  carries 
a  well-assorted  stock  of  heavy  and  shelf 
hardware,  cutlery,  stoves,  tin  and  tinners' 
stock,  etc.,  that  will  invoice  about  $4,000, 
and  is  doing  a  large  share  of  the  trade 
in  his  line,  in  the  city. 

G.  F.  Hartung  is  a  native  of  Quincy, 
Illinois,  and  was  born  on  the  7th  day  of 
October,  1858.  He  was  reared  to  manhood 
at  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  came  to 
McDonough  county  December  17,  1877, 
and  located  in  the  city  of  Colchester, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  that  of  a 
tinner,  until  March,  1879.  From  there 
he  went  to  St.  Louis,  then  to  Quincy, 
March  15,  1880.  There  he  remained 
until  January  1,  1881,  when  he  returned 
to  Colchester  and  entered  the  employ  of 
J.  S.  LaRont,  with  whom  he  remained 
until  August  18,  1881,  when  he  became 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  LaRont  & 
Hartung,  dealers  in  hardware,  stoves 
and  tinware;  this  business  having  been 
established  in  1865,  by  Thomas  &  Erd- 
man. This  partnership  continued  until 
the  year  1871,when  J.  M.  Erdman  bought 
out  Thomas,  and  continued  to  run  the 
business  until  December  17,  1877,  when 
Webster  &  LaRont  purchased  the  busi- 
ness of  Mr.  Erdman.  They  continued 


to  conduct  the  business  until  January, 

1880,  when    J.    S.    LaRont    purchased 
Mr.  Webster's  interest.     This  business 
was  run  by  Mr.  LaRont  till  August  18, 

1881,  when  George  F.  Hartung  became 
a  partner  with  J.   S.  LaRont  and  con- 
tinued until  January  1st,  of  the  present 
year,  when   Mr.  Hartung  became   sole 
owner  of   the  business,  which  has   in- 
creased until   it  it  is  now  one  of  the 
leading  interests  of    Colchester.      The 
marriage  of    George  F.   Hartung  and 
Hannah  Bastert  was  solemnized  June 
17,  1884.     Mrs.  Hartung  is  a  native  of 
Quincy,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Henry  C.   Bastert,  of  that   city.      Mr. 
Hartung  is  one  of  the  prominent  busi- 
ness men  of  Colchester,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of    the  Ancient  Order  of    United 
Workmen. 

AVilliam  L.  Consene,  dealer  in  books, 
stationery,  musical  instruments,  sewing 
machines,  etc.,  began  business  in  this 
city  in  April,  1878,  with  a  small  stock  of 
books  and  stationery,  four  doors  west  of 
his  present  stand.  He  has  gradually  in- 
creased his  business,  and  in  March,  1880, 
removed  to  his  present  quarters.  He 
carries  a  stock  of  about  $5,500,  and  is 
the  leading  representative  in  his  line. 

Among  the  active  merchants  of  Col- 
chester, must  be  mentioned  William  L. 
Consene,  who  engaged  in  business  at 
this  point  in  April,  1878.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Oswego  county,  New  York,  hav- 
ing been  born  on  the  7th  day  of  July, 
1848.  He  received  his  education  in  his 
native  county,  where  he  remained  until 
reaching  his  majority,  when  he  removed 
to  Missouri,  locating  in  Brookfield,  where 
he  engaged  in  the  capacity  of  clerk  with 
D.  C.  Strawbridge,  with  whom  he  re- 


606 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


mained  some  three  years.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time  he  returned  to  his 
native  state,  where  he  resided  until  the 
spring  of  1876,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Colchester.  He  engaged  in  the  book  and 
stationery  business,  in  a  small  way,  in 
April,  1878,  and  his  business  has  steadily 
increased  until  he  now  has  one  of  the  lead- 
ing business  interests  in  the  city.  As  is 
noted  above,  he  has  added  other  branches 
to  his  original  business.  William  L. 
Consene  and  Nancy  Snyder,  a  native  of 
Missouri,  were  married  on  the  10th  of 
March,  1872.  Mr.  Consene  is  a  member 
of  Tennessee  lodge,  No.  496,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

Ole  E.  Wold,  the  present  representa- 
tive of  the  jewelry  business,  commenced 
here  in  February,  1877,  in  the  store  of 
Samuel  Parks.  In  the  fall  of  1881,  he 
purchased  the  property  on  Front  street, 
now  occupied  by  him,  and  removed 
thither.  This  room  is  16  feet  6  inches 
wide,  by  36  feet  long.  He  carries  a  very 
large  and  complete  stock  of  jewelry, 
musical  instruments,  silverware,  etc., 
which  is  valued  at  $10,000,  and  is  doing 
the  largest  trade  of  any  house  in  this 
line  in  the  county.  He  deserves  a  great 
deal  of  credit  for  his  success,  as  he 
started  with  a  stock  of  about  $200. 

Ole  E.  Wold,  dealer  in  jewelry,  musi- 
cal instruments  and  silverware,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Norway,  and  is  the  only  repre- 
sentative of  that  nationality  in  Colches- 
ter. He  was  born  in  that  country  Jan- 
uary 3, 1853,  where  he  learned  the  watch- 
making trade.  In  1871  he  emigrated  to 
America,  locating  in  Chicago,  Illinois 
where  he  was  in  business  at  the  time 
of  the  second  Chicago  fire,  in  1873,  and 
was  so  unfortunate  as  to  lose  his  entire 


stock  in  that  fire.  He  remained  there, 
working  at  his  trade  until  1877,  when  he 
removed  to  Colchester,  and  engaged  in 
his  present  business.  He  then  carried 
a  $2,000  stock,  but  has  steadily  added  to 
his  stock  until  he  now  carries  one  valued 
at  $10,000  and  upwards,  and  is  doing  the 
leading  business  in  his  lines  in  the 
county.  Ole  E.  Wold  and  Nancy  Tay- 
lor were  married  on  the  23d  of  Decem- 
ber, 1878.  Mrs.  Wold  is  a  native  of 
Missouri.  They  have  two  children  liv- 
ing— Minnie  E.  and  Inga.  Mr.  Wold  is 
a  member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  of  which  latter  lodge  he  has 
held  the  office  of  master  of  exchequer.  He 
isone  of  the  original  members  of  the  Col- 
chester band  and  of  the  Colchester  or- 
chestra. 

In  the  fall  of  1881,  C.  A.  and  W.  O. 
Stevens  purchased  the  meat  market 
owned  by  William  Peck,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1882  they  disposed  of  the  same 
to  Midrow  and  McCrelis,  who  con- 
ducted the  business  about  six  months. 
Stevens  and  Evans  then  purchased  it, 
and  run  the  same  until  the  spring  of 
1883,  when  Mr.  Evans  retired  and  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  Simmons,  the  firm 
name  becoming  Stevens  &  Simmons.  In 
March,  1884,  the  old  firm  of  C.  A.  and 
W.  O.  Stevens  again  assumed  control  of 
the  business  and  still  conduct  the  same. 
They  have  a  capital  of  about  $4,000. 

Charles  A.  Stevens,  of  the  firm  of  C. 
A.  and  W.  O.  Stevens,  proprietors  of  the 
meat  market  in  Colchester,  is  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  was 
born  June  12,  1840.  He  is  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  (Mylor)  Stevens,  who 
were  native  Kentuckians.  Charles  was 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


609 


reared  and  educated  in  this  county, 
where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1881,  when,  with  his  present  part- 
ner, he  engaged  in  the  butcher  business 
at  Colchester,  and  has  continued  the 
same  ever  since.  The  firm  also  pays 
particular  attention  to  the  stock  business, 
buying  and  selling.  Charles  A.  Stevens 
and  Eliza  E.  Smith  were  united  in  mar- 
riage on  the  16th  day  of  August,  1860. 
Mrs.  Stevens  is  a  native  of  this  state. 
One  child  have  blessed  their  union — Ina 
L.  During  the  years  1862  and  1868,  Mr. 
Stevens  served  the  people  in  the  capacity 
of  township  collector.  He  is  a  member 
in  good  standing  of  the  Colchester  lodge 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men. 

William  O.  Stevens,  is  also  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  C.  A.  and  W.  O.  Stevens, 
who  conducts  the  meat  market  at  Col- 
chester, and  also  deals  in  stock.  He  was 
born  in  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  on 
the  5th  day  of  July,  1861.  His  father 
was  Jasper  Stevens,  a  native  of  the  state 
of  Kentucky,  and  who  went  west  in  1863, 
and  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  in  Idaho 
territory,  while  on  his  way  home.  Wil- 
liam O.  was  reared  by  his  grandfather, 
William  D.  Stevens,  and  followed  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer  until  engaging 
in  his  present  business  in  1881.  He  re- 
tired from  the  firm  the  following  year 
and  again  engaged  in  farming,  which 
occupation  he  followed  until  the  fall  of 

1883,  when  he  engaged  in  the  capacity 
of    a    clerk  with  the   firm    of   Stevens 
Brothers  of  Colchester,  and  continued 
with  them  until  the  month   of  March, 

1884,  when  he  again  entered  into  a  part- 
nership with  Charles  A.  Stevens.     On 
the  7th  day  of  March,  1883,   William  O. 


Stevens  and  Retta  Ellis,  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  were  joined  in  wed- 
lock. One  child— Earl,  has  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stevens. 

S.  D.  Mills,  one  of  the  representatives 
of  the  lumber  trade,  came  to  Colchester 
in  1867,  and  engaged  at  his  trade  as  car- 
penter and  builder,  and  in  1872  entered 
into  his  present  business.  Mr.  Mills  as 
a  contractor  and  builder,  has  built  many 
of  the  best  houses  in  the  western  portion 
of  the  county,  his  trade  not  being  con- 
fined to  his  own  particular  village  and 
the  country  immediately  surrounding  it. 
He  is  regarded  as  a  good  carpenter  and 
reliable  man.  He  carries  a  stock  of  lum- 
ber, lath,  shingles,  lime,  hair  and  cement, 
and  all  other  articles  usually  found  in  a 
well  regulated  lumber  yard.  The  firm 
is  now  S.  D.  Mills  and  Brother. 

Stephen  D.  Mills,  lumber  merchant  of 
Colchester,  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia, 
January  27,  1837.  His  father,  Peter 
Mills,  was  also  a  native  of  the  same 
country,  while  his  mother,  Jane  ( Armour ) 
Mills  was  born  in  Scotland,  but  was 
raised  in  Nova  Scotia.  In  December, 
1842,  the  family  located  in  Western  Can- 
ada, where  Stephen  received  his  educa- 
tion and  learned  the  carpenter  trade.  In 
1858  he  removed  to  Saginaw,  Michigan, 
and  resided  there  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  state  until  July,  1861,  when  he  en- 
listed in  company  D,  16th  Michigan 
infantry.  He  served  in  the  army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
first  Richmond  campaign.  He  served 
in  the  army  of  the  Potomac  until  June, 
1864,  when  he  received  a  wound  in  the 
leg  at  Petersburg,  Virginia,  and  was  sent 
to  the  Lincoln  hospital,  at  Washington, 
D.  C.  In  October,  1864,  he  returned  to 


36 


610 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Michigan,  and,  on  account  of  his  wound, 
did  not  return  to  the  field.  He  received 
an  honorable  discharge,  which  was  dated 
August,  1865.  In  October,  1865,  he  went 
to  New  Mexico,  remained  one  year  and 
then  returned  to  Michigan.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1867,  he  went  to  Leavenworth,  Kan- 
sas, and  from  there,  in  July,  1867,  came 
to  Colchester,  and  engaged  in  carpenter- 
ing, and,  by  close  attention  to  business, 
he  accumulated  considerable  means  and 
entered  into  the  lumber  business  in 
1872,  and  his  trade  has  been  constantly 
increasing  ever  since.  Stephen  D.  Mills 
and  Margaret  R.  Slocum  were  married 
on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1867.  Mrs. 
Mills  is  a  native  of  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  William  Slocum, 
formerly  of  this  county,  coming  here  in 
1855.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  are  the  par- 
ents of  one  child — Minnie  D.  They  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church,  while 
Mr.  Mills  is  a  member  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Good  Templars  and  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  present  board  of 
aldermen. 

In  1870,  Thomas  J.  Bowman  engaged 
in  the  business  of  dealing  in  farm  and 
agricultural  implements,  in  this  place. 
In  1880,  he  also  embarked  in  the  sale  of 
furniture.  He  has  two  stores,  one  for 
each  line  of  business  and  has  some  $3,000 
invested. 

Thomas  J.  Bowman,  dealer  in  furni- 
ture and  agricultural  implements,  was 
born  in  Tennessee  township,  this  county. 
His  father,  Daniel  N.  Bowman,  was  a 
native  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  being 
born  in  1814,  and  who  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  in  1844.  and  lo- 
cated in  Tennessee  township.  There  he 


followed  the  occupation  of  farmer  until 
1856,  when  he  entered  mercantile  life 
and  continued  the  same  up  to.  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1858. 
He  was  married  in  Greene  county,  in 
the  year  1842,  to  Margaret  Parker,  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Parker,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  McDonough  county. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  child- 
ren. Mrs.  Bowman  died  in  April,  1881. 
Thomas  Bowman  was  raised  and  edu- 
cated in  this  county,  and  in  1861  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  coal  dealing, 
which  he  followed  until  1870,  when  he 
established  the  agricultural  business 
and  also  wagon  manufacturing,  in  place 
of  which  he  added  furniture  in  1880. 
He  was  married  on  the  13th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1883,  to  Bessie  Brent,  a  native  of 
England.  At  present  he  is  a  notary 
public,  and  in  1872,  was  elected  police 
magistrate,  which  office  he  held  until 
1882.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen. 

The  livery  business  of  M.  A.  Murray 
was  established  by  that  gentleman,  on 
the  29th  of  October,  1877,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  town.  Here  he  remained 
until  February,  1881,  when  he  built  his 
present  building,  which  is  50x64  feet  in 
size,  with  a  shed  20x34  feet  in  addition. 
He  has  eight  horses  and  six  vehicles,  in 
the  winter  and  10  horses  in  the  summer. 
He  is  doing  the  main  business  in  the 
town. 

Milom  A.  Murray,  the  proprietor  of 
the  livery  and  feed  stable  of  Colchester, 
is  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Kentucky, 
where  he  was  born  December  9,  1842. 
In  1849,  the  family  removed  to  McDon- 
ough county,  and  located  near  Middle- 
town,  where  they  engaged  in  farming. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


611 


Milom's  father,  William  Murray,  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina.  When  a 
young  man  he  went  to  Kentucky,  having 
previously  married  Margaret  Bird.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  William  Murray  are  both  dead. 
Milom  was  reared  to  manhood  in  this 
county,  and  farmed  until  1875,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Blan- 
dinsville.  After  remaining  there  some 
two  years,  he  disposed  of  his  business 
at  that  point  and  came  to  Colchester. 
He  established  his  present  business  in 
October,  1877,  which  has  grown  to  large 
dimensions  under  his  immediate  super- 
vision. The  marriage  ceremony  which 
united  Milom  A.  Murray  and  Elizabeth 
Rogers,  a  native  of  the  state  of  Ohio, 
was  performed  on  the  22d  day  of  De- 
cember, 1870.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray, 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  now  living,  whose  names 
are — Charlie  R,  Minnie  M.,  and  Eddie 
B.  Two  little  ones- Jessie  E. ,  and  an  infant 
daughter,  have  been  called  hence,  leav- 
ing an  aching  void  in  their  fond  par- 
ents' hearts. 

HOTELS. 

The  Chester  House  was  the  first  ho- 
tel in  Colchester  and  was  erected  in  the 
winter  of  1855-6  by  John  Taylor.  Pre- 
vious to  its  enclosure,  however,  he  dis- 
posed of  it  to  John  Stults,  who  com- 
pleted and  operated  it  until  1858,  when 
J.  C.  Hobart  assumed  control.  In  1859, 
an  addition  was  built  to  the  house. 
This  gentleman  conducted  the  house  un- 
til 1882,  when  Wm.  Miller  took  charge 
of  it.  In  June,  1883,  the  present  land- 
lord, J.  W.  Enness,  came  into  possession 
of  the  business. 

The  Union  House  was  built  in  1869, 
by  Henry  Slocum,  who  was  the  landlord 


of  the  same  for  some  time.  It  after- 
wards passed  through  the  hands  of  sev- 
eral parties,  and  on  April  15,  1877,  J. 
D.  Trew  took  the  house  and  has  since 
acted  as  "mine  host."  The  house  is  well 
located,  has  nine  sleeping  rooms  and  has 
a  large  share  of  the  patronage  of  the 
traveling  public. 

John  D.  Trew,  proprietor-  of  the 
Union  hotel,  and  a  grocery  store  and  res- 
taurant, in  Colchester,  was  born  in  Wales, 
July  16,  1845,  his  parents  being  John 
and  Jane  (Davis)  Trew.  When  John 
D.,  was  six  years  of  age  his  parents  em- 
igrated to  the  United  States  and  settled 
in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania. 
From  the  10th  year,  until  reaching  his 
majority  he  worked  in  the  mines,  and 
then  engaged  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk 
in  a  store  at  Stockton,  Pennsylvania, 
which  position  he  filled  for  four  years. 
From  there  he  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois 
and  after  a  stay  of  some  six  months  re- 
turned to  Stockton,  and  accepted  his  old 
situation.  He  remained  there  till  1877, 
at  which  time  he  removed  to  Colchester, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hotel  and  grocery  business, 
John  D.  Trew  and  Elizabeth  B.  Eatcliff, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  were  united  in 
marriage  on  the  2d  day  of  August,  1867. 
They  are  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren— Cora  E.,  Laura  L.,  Charles  T., 
Ida  A.,  Myrtle  J.,  Clara  E.,  and  Leroy 
L.  Mr.  Trew  is  a  member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was 
the  originator  of  the  Colchester  lodge 
of  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he  has 
been  the  D.  D.  G.  C.,  for  the  past  three 
years.  He  is  now  serving  his  third  term 
as  school  director,  and  has  held  the  of- 
fices of  city  clerk,  city  councilman  and 


612 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


township  supervisor,  and  is  one  of  Col- 
chester's prominent  citizens. 

BANK. 

The  only  monetary  institution  in  the 
town  of  Colchester  is  operated  by  the 
brothers,  E.  D.  &  J.  "W;  Stevens,  who  es- 
tablished the  bank  in  1881,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Stevens  Bros.  This  is  a 
strong  bank  and  well  conducted,  and 
does  a  general  banking  business.  The 
following  statement  was  made  and  sworn 
to  before  T.  J.  Bowman,  on  the  close 
of  business,  January  15,  1885,  by  E.  D. 
Stevens: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $55,802  64 

|      Real  estate 12,60574 

Store  capital  and  surplus 22,580  58 

Furniture  and  fixtures 1,083  08 

Overdrafts 634  33 

Cash 8,135  50 


Total $100,891  87 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  paid  in $70,000  00 

Undivided  profits 5,412  72 

Deposits,  on  certificates 17,324  19 

Deposits,  subject  to  check 8,154  96 


Total $100,891  87 

ELEVATOR. 

The  grain  elevator  of  S.  A.  Hendee 
&  Company,  was  built  in  October,  1880, 
out  of  an  unused  building  belonging  to 
the  railroad  company,  and  formerly  used 
as  an  elevator.  It  is  in  size,  68x48  feet 
upon  the  ground,  30  feet  to  the  eaves, 
with  a  cupola  30x36  feet  in  dimensions. 
It  has  a  capacity  of  30,000  bushels  of 
grain. 

Barton  H.  Claybaugh,  the  manager  of 
Hendee  &  Company's  elevator,  was  born 
in  this  county,  on  the  7th  of  March, 


1850.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Claybaugh, 
a  native  of  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  who 
was  born  August  8,  1808,  and  came  with 
his  father's  family  to  Fulton  county,  Ill- 
inois, in  1830.  In  1832,  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  and  located  in  Emmet 
township,  on  Spring  Creek,  and  for  three 
years  taught  school  during  the  day  and 
made  rails  at  morning  and  evening.  He 
then  located  in  Industry  township,  and 
taught  school  in  the  first  house  that  was 
built  on  the  present  site  of  the  town  of 
Industry.  He  finally  located  on  a  farm 
in  that  township  about  a  mile  west  of 
town,  and  taught  school  in  different  lo- 
calities for  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
married  to  Malinda  Osborn,  a  native  of 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  They  were 
the  parents  of  eight  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  dead.  John  Claybaugh 
was  also  a  regularly  ordained  minister 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
preached  some  little  in  the  county.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1863.  Barton  Claybaugh  was  reared  on 
a  farm  in  this  county,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  this  and  Ful- 
ton counties.  In  1874,  he  engaged  in 
farming  in  Hire  township,  near  Blandins- 
ville,  and  continued  there  until  1879. 
He  then  became  the  traveling  correspon- 
dent of  the  Bushnell  Record,  which  po- 
sition he  filled  with  credit  until  August, 
1880,  at  which  time  he  entered  upon  the 
management  of  the  Colchester  elevator 
of  Hendee  &  Company's.  Barton  H. 
Claybaugh  and  Margaret  Seybold  were 
married  on  the  12th  day  of  March,  1874. 
She  is  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  James  Seybold, 
of  Blandinsville,  an  old  settler  of  the 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Claybaugh  are 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


613 


the  happy  parents  of  one  child,  Jessie 
B.  Mrs.  Margaret  Claybaugh  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church. 

SKATING   RINK. 

This  place  of  amusement  was  opened 
to  the  public  February  5,  1884,  by  an  un- 
incorporated stock  company  composed 
of  H.  W.  Smith,  F.  P.  Blunt  and  H.  H. 
Stevens.  The  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  about  $2,000,  and  in  size  is  40x104 
feet,  with  a  fine  mitered  hardwood  floor. 

MILLS. 

The  Daisy  roller  mill,  now  owned  and 
operated  by  Trull  &  Company,  was  origi- 
nally built  by  N.  P.  Tinsley,  at  Macomb, 
in  the  fall  of  1850,  and  spring  of  1851. 
Mr.  Tinsley  ran  the  mill  until  1856,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Clisby,  Trull  & 
Company.  This  firm  was  composed  of 
L.  and  E.  A.  Clisby  and  J.  Trull.  In 
1862  the  style  of  the  firm  was  change  to 
Clisby  &  Trull,  and  in  1877,  to  J.  Trull 
&  Son.  In  March,  1882,  the  mill  was  re- 
moved to  Colchester,  and  enlarged,  and 
the  roller  system  of  machinery  put  in. 
In  January,  1883,  Arthur  B.  Lightner 
became  one  of  the  firm,  and  the  name 
changed  to  Trull  &  Company.  The  mill 
is  one  of  the  finest  in  this  locality,  and  is 
38x48  feet  in  ground  area,  and  57  feet 
high,  with  an  engine  room  25x38  feet, 
built  of  brick,  which  is  20  feet  east  of 
the  main  building.  It  is  a  substantial 
frame  building,  with  a  hip-roof.  The 
machinery  is  of  the  latest  improved 
make,  and  of  the  best  quality,  and  the 
flour  turned  out  is  of  the  very  best  grade. 
The  capacity  is  about  125  barrels  per 
day,  of  24  hours.  The  energetic  and  en- 
terprising gentlemen  at  the  head  of  this 


industrial  institution  have  some  $30,000 
invested  and  are  doing  a  most  excellent 
business. 

George  C.  Trull,  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  of  Trull  &  Company,  millers, 
was  born  in  Medford,  Massachusetts,  on 
the  18th  of  March,  1849.  His  father, 
Joel  Trull,  was  born  in  Boston,  April 
19,  1807,  where  he  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated. He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Clisby,  March  16, 1835,  in  Medford,  Mas- 
sachusetts, of  which  place  he  was  a  resi- 
dent for  a  short  time  previous  to  that 
event.  By  trade  he  was  a  brass-worker, 
and  invented  the  first  rotary  valve  on  a 
band  instrument.  In  1856  he  removed 
to  Macomb,  Illinois,  and  bought  the  mill 
property,  and  in  1857,  brought  his  family 
and  settled  there.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  firm  up  to  the  day  of  his  death, which 
occurred  on  the  24th  day  of  December, 
1884.  His  wife  died  in  1862.  George 
C.,  was  reared  in  Macomb,  and  ever  since 
his  fourteenth  year,  has  been  engaged  in 
the  milling  business,  working  for  his 
father  up  to  the  time  of  being  admitted 
to  a  partnership.  In  March,  1882,  the 
mill  was  removed  to  Colchester,  where 
Mr.  Trull  has  since  resided.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  the 
Mutual  Aid  Society,  all  of  Macomb,  Mc- 
Donough  county,  Illinois. 

Arthur  B.  Lightner,  also  of  the  firm 
of  Trull  &  Company,  millers,  is  a  native 
of  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  March  27,  1842.  His  father,  Fahn- 
estock  Lightner,  was  a  native  of  Hunt- 
ingdon county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his 
mother,  Sarah  (Mariner)  Lightner,  was 
a  native  of  Ohio.  Arthur  B.,  is  the  second 


614 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


child  of  a  family  of  seven  children.  In 
1850  the  family  removed  to  Iowa,  and 
located  in  Jackson  county,  where  they  re- 
mained one  year,  and  then  removed  to 
JoDaviess  county,  Illinois,  where  Ar- 
thur received  his  education.  He  was  mar- 
ried on  February  7,  1864,  to  Aggie  J. 
White,  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
whose  death  occurred  on  the  9th  of  Sept- 
ember, 1872.  Four  children  by  this  mar- 
riage are  living — Claude  O.,  Oma  W., 
Charlie  A.  and  Eay  W.  In  1864  Mr. 
Lightner  removed  to  Council  Hill,  Iowa, 
where  he  engaged  in  milling,  having  pre- 
viously learned  that  trade  at  home.  Af- 
ter remaining  there  one  year,  he  went  to 
Iowa  City,  and  from  there  to  Bellevue, 
same  State,  at  each  of  which  points  he 
followed  the  same  business  for  one  year. 
He  then  engaged  in  the  hotel  business 
at  Andrew,  Iowa,  which  he  followed  for 
18  months.  He  then  went  to  Elkport, 
Iowa,  and  worked  at  milling  for  some 
nine  months.  In  January,  1869,  he  re- 
moved to  Macomb,  this  county,  and  en- 
gaged with  Clisby  &  Trull,  millers,  and 
has  been  identified  with  that  mill  ever 
since.  January  1,  1883,  he  became  a 
partner  in  the  mill.  Mr.  Lightner  was 
again  married,  December  12,  1877,  to 
Lizzie  Smith,  by  whom  he  has  three  chil- 
dren— Lew  C.,  Bessie  M.  and  Willie  L. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, and  is  the  mayor  of  Colchester. 

In  1880  Louis  Jeffries  built  a  grist 
mill  in  the  north-west  part  of  town,  which 
he  operated  until  summer  of  1884,  when 
he  moved  the  machinery  to  Missouri. 

SCHOOL  INTERESTS. 

Colchester,  which  began  with  a  very 
rude  school  structure,  now  has  a  fine 


and  commodious  building  for  educational 
purposes.  The  first  school  house  was 
built  in  Colchester  in  1856-57.  It  was  a 
rude  structure,  20x30  feet,  built  of 
boards,  barn  fashion,  with  shingle  roof. 
The  first  school  in  this  building  was 
taught  by  Cyrus  Hoyt.  The  present 
building  is  a  good  brick  structure, 
erected  in  1866-67,  at  a  cost  of  nearly 
$8,000.  In  1882  a  $2,500  brick  addition 
was  made,  adding  two  large  and  commo- 
dious rooms  ;  making  six  rooms  in  all. 
D.  W.  Campbell,  A.  L.  Musson,  J.  D. 
Trew  are  the  present  directors.  C.  W. 
Parker,  W.  L.  Pedrick,  Mrs.  Bell  Young, 
Clara  Berges,  Mary  Hoyt,  Ella  Hume 
are  the  teachers  for  1884-85. 

Prof.  Charles  W.  Parker,  the  principal 
of  the  Colchester  schools,  was  born  in 
Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  on  the  13th  of 
November,  1838,  his  parents  being  Wil- 
liam L.  and  Rhoda  C.  (Tyler)  Parker, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Bedford 
county,  Virginia.  The  family  removed 
to  Highland  county,  Ohio,  when  Charles 
was  only  a  few  days  old.  In  November, 
1843,  they  moved  to  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  was  reared  on  a  farm. 
In  September,  1859,  he  became  a  student 
at  Abingdon  college,  in  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois. After  attending  this  college  for 
two  years,  he  engaged  in  teaching,  which 
profession  he  has  followed  ever  since. 
During  the  winter  of  1860  he  held  the 
position  of  principal  of  the  Abingdon 
(Illinois)  schools.  Becoming  imbued 
with  patriotism,  in  August,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  company  I,  10th  Missouri  in- 
fantry, and  after  serving  for  two  months 
was  discharged  for  disability.  He  again 
enlisted  in  February,  1865,  in  company 
H,  14th  Illinois  infantry,  and  was  on 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


615 


detailed  duty  until  September  16,  1865, 
when  he  was  mustered  out.  He  then 
became  the  principal  of  the  Bardolph 
school,  which  position  he  held  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Herman, 
Illinois,  and  taught  for  two  years.  In 
succession,  he  then  taught  at  Blandin- 
ville  for  three  years,  at  Colchester  for 
one  year,  at  Plymouth  for  one  year  and  at 
Prairie  City  for  three  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  this  city,  where  he  is  now  teach- 
ing his  fourth  term.  The  marriage  of  Prof. 
Charles  W.  Parker  and  Julia  A.  Cochran, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  was  solemnized  on  the 
9th  of  July,  1863.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are 
now  living  —  Harry  W.,  Clyde  C.  and 
Arda  L.  Emma  A.,  the  third  child,  is 
dead.  Mrs.  Parker's  death  occurred  on 
the  18th  of  April,  1883.  Mr.  Parker  is 
the  present  master  workman  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  of  the  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons. 

SOCIETIES. 

Colchester  lodge,  No.  714,  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  organized 
July  17,  1882,  with  the  following  mem- 
bers: John  Jack,  John  Hoar,  Jr.,  John 
Winship,  John  Arundel,  John  Hoar, 
Sr.,  John  Harper,  John  H.  Lower,  Wm. 
Hoar,  I.  B.  Shippey,  Ed.  Hall,  F.  S. 
White,  and  Andrew  Kent.  The  first 
officers  of  this  society  were  the  follow- 
ing mentioned:  I.  B.  Shippey,  N.  G.; 
John  Winship,  V.  G. ;  Samuel  Park,  S. ; 
F.  S.  White,  T.;  J.  H.  Lower,  W.;  John 
Jack,  C.;  John  Hoar,  Jr.,  I.  G.;  N.  En- 
twistle,  O.  G.  Many  of  these  members 
had  been  connected  with  the  order  pre- 


vious to  this,  having  been  members  of 
Tennessee  lodge,  No.  520,  but  for  the 
convenience  of  those  living  in  this  place, 
the  new  one  was  instituted.  There  is  a 
present  membership  of  56,  with  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  officers:  J.  D.  Trew,  N. 
G.;  Thomas  Moss,  V.  G.;  T.  J.  Ennis, 
S. ;  Andrew  Kent,  P.  G. ;  Joseph  Win- 
ship,  T.;  W.  B.  Cowan,  W.;  E.  A.  Her- 
rin,  C.;  John  Steward,  I.  G. ;  Thomas 
Aruiidel,  O.  G.  Meeting  are  held  on 
Monday  evenings. 

Good  Will  lodge,  No.  91,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  was  organized  June  4th,  1881, 
with  37  charter  members.  The  first 
officers  were:  J.  D.  Trew,  P.  C. ;  J.  O. 
Cowan,  C.  C.;  M.  L.  Tompkins,  V.  C.; 
J.  D.  Trew,  K.  of  E.  and  S.;  W.  B. 
Cowan,  P. ;  O.  E.  Wold,  M.  of  E.,  William 
Park,  M.  of  F. ;  John  Arundel,  M.  at  A, ;  F. 
Feuring,  I.  G. ;  Thomas  Heppenstall,  O. 
G.  This  lodge  was  organized  through 
the  instrumentality  of  J.  D.  Trew,  and  is 
in  a  highly  prosperous  condition.  Meet- 
ings are  held  on  the  evening  of  Wednes- 
day of  each  week  in  their  own  hall. 
There  is  a  membership  of  over  80  at  the 
present  time.  The  following  is  the  ros- 
ter of  the  present  officers:  W.  P.  James, 
P.  C.;  Joseph  Winship,  C.  C.;  Henry 
Terrill,  V.  C.;  John  Harper,  P.;  O.  E. 
Wold,  M.  of  E.;  William  Hunt,  M.  of 
F. ;  N.  J.  Boyd,  K.  of  E.  and  S. ;  Thomas 
Wilson,  M.  at  A. ;  Andrew  Laird,  I.  G. ; 
B.  H.  Claybaugh,  O.  G.;  J.  D.  Trew, 
William  Boyd  and  B.  H.  Claybaugh, 
trustees;  A.  K.  Lodge,  deputy. 

Chester  lodge,  No.  30,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
was  organized  November  28th,  1876, 
with  35  members.  The  first  officers 
were:  C.  W.  Parker,  M.  W.;  T.  J. 
Bowman,  F. ;  I.  Newland,  Fin. ;  G.  M. 


616 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Erdman,  E.;  A.  B.  Newland,  P.  M.  W.; 
George  C.  Kratzer,  S. ;  C.  P.  Whitton, 
O.  The  lodge  has  been  in  a  fairly  pros- 
perous condition  since  its  start,  and  has 
now  a  membership  of  54,  among  whom 
are  some  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the 
city.  Meetings  are  held  every  Thurs- 
day in  the  K.  P.  hall.  The  present 
officers  are  as  follows:  A.  Kent,  P.  M. 
W.;  C.  W.  Parker,  M.  W.;  James  Sher- 
bine,  F.;  E.  Stookey,  O.;  KB.  Fields, 
S.;  J.  C.  Arundel,  Fin. ;  G.  C.  Kratzer,  E. 

The  Women's  Christian  Temperance 
Union,  of  Colchester,  was  organized  on 
the  15th  of  January,  1884,  with  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  officers:  Mrs.  S.  D.  Mills, 
president;  Mrs.  Amanda  Stevens  and 
Mrs.  A.  C.  Calkins,  vice-presidents; 
Celia  M.  Eoberts,  secretary;  Mrs.  Delia 
Underbill,  treasurer,  and  Mary  Weir, 
corresponding  secretary.  The  society 
was  started  with  27  members,  and  has  a 
present  membership  of  30.  Meetings 
are  held  on  Thursday  of  every  week,  at 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The 
ladies  are  doing  a  good  work,  and  have 
every  encouragement  to  persevere  unto 
the  end.  The  present  officers  are  as  fol- 
lows: Mrs.  A.  J.  Stevens,  president; 
Mrs.  S.  D.  Mills  and  Mrs.  David  Cowan, 
vice-presidents;  Mrs.  Celia  Parnell,  sec- 
retary; Miss  Alice  Fletcher,  correspond- 
ing secretary;  Mrs.  Sadie  McGee,  treas- 
urer. 

Colchester  lodge  No.  272,  Independ- 
Order  of  Good  Templars,  was  organized 
May  1,  1859,  by  E.  M.  Guiford,  G.  W. 
C.  T.,  and  Eolla  A.  Law,  G.  W.  S.  of 
the  grand  lodge.  The  present  officers 
of  the  lodge  are  W.  L.  Pedrick,  W.  C.; 
Luna  Eeece,  W.  V. ;  J.  O.  Cowan,  finan- 
cial secretary;  Mrs.  Flora  Cowan, worthy 


secretary;  A.  L.  Baird,  marshal;  James 
Parnall,  O.  G. ;  Lucy  Frederick,  I.  G.; 
Cecelia  Parnall,  chaplain.  •  The  society 
meets  every  Monday  night. 

The  Colchester  Miners'  Friendly  So- 
ciety was  organized  April  8, 1867,through 
the  exertions  of  Henry  Arundel,  with 
the  following  charter  members :  Thomas 
Arundel,  William  Cowan,  Simon  Phil- 
lips, Eichard  Pearson,  David  Mitchell, 
Henry  Arundel,  Thomas  Terrill,  David 
Cowan  and  Griffith  James.  It  is  a  be- 
nevolent and  beneficiary  society,  the 
object  being  to  relieve  any  member  in 
case  of  sickness,  the  relief  being  $1 
for  each  working  day.  In  case  of  death 
the  family  of  the  deceased  receives  $1 
per  member  for  every  member  in  good 
standing  at  the  time  of  death.  The 
present  membership  is  nearly  200,  and 
the  society  is  in  a  highly  prosperous 
condition.  The  officers  of  the  lodge  are 
president,  vice  president,  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  two  stewards.  Henry 
Arundel  was  elected  first  secretary,  and 
Thomas  Arundel  first  treasurer  of  the 
society.  The  present  officers  of  the 
organization  are:  William  Hulson,  pres- 
ident; Henry  Arundel,  secretary;  Wil- 
liam Cowan,  treasurer;  Henry  Gerrill 
and  John  E.  Terrill,  stewards.  The 
society  has  a  fund  of  between  16,000  and 
$7,000,  which  they  loan  to  members,  and 
on  good  security  to  outsiders.  There  is 
a  charter  committee  which  looks  after 
the  financial  interests  of  the  organiza- 
tions. In  1884  they  paid  out  over  $2,000 
through  sickness  and  death.  The  soci- 
ety has  done  a  great  deal  of  good  and 
has  been  a  material  benefit  to  its  mem- 
bers and  families  thereof. 

Pearson  post  No.  408,  Grand  Army 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


617 


of  the  Republic,  was  organized  Febru- 
ary 23,  1884,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  William  H.  Potter,  J.  C. 
Vest,  Thomas  Kipling,  John  Sullivan, 
James  Keppenstall,  John  Terrill,  Robert 
Young,  Robert  Barber,  Stilton  Eakle, 
George  W.  Creasey,  W.  H.  Wayland,  H. 
T.  Tandy,  Walter  Tones,  James  Garbet, 
Michael  Nolan,  John  Baglin,  William 
H.  Atkinson,  Otto  Yaap,  Clark  Harder, 
George  W.  Ellis,  J.  D.  Fletcher,  Simon 
Tunsell,  Walter  Enness,  J.  J.  Eighmey, 
Fred  Feuring.  The  first  officers  of  the 
post  were  as  follows:  H.  T.  Tandy, 
commander ;  James  Garbet,  S.  Y. ;  Wil- 
liam Atkinson,  J.  V.;  Otto  Yaap,  O.  D. ; 
Robert  Barber,  O.  G.;  M.  H.  Champ, 
adjutant;  S.  D.  Mills,  chaplain;  W.  H. 
Potter,  surgeon.  At  the  last  installation 
the  following  officers  were  chosen:  R. 
McMullen,  commander;  J.  C.  Vest,  S. 
V.;  J.  D.  Fletcher,  J.  V.;  Otto  Yaap,  O. 
D.;  William  Atkinson,  O.  G.;  H.  G. 
Tandy,  adjutant;  S.  D.  Mills,  chaplain; 
Samuel  Moss,  surgeon.  The  society 
meets  every  second  and  fourth  Saturday 
evening  of  each  month.  The  member- 
ship has  at  times  been  less  and  some- 
times more  than  the  original  number. 
At  present,  however,  a  good  feeling  ex- 
ists among  among  the  old  soldiers,  and 
and  applications  for  membership  are 
being  received  more  rapidly  than  in  the 
past. 

MUNICIPAL. 

The  town  of  Colchester  was  organized 
on  the  1st  of  May,  1857.  under  the  gen- 
eral laws  of  the  state.  The  following 
were  the  first  officers:  William  Cowan, 
J.  E.  Jackson,  John  Patrick,  W.  J.  Whit- 
son  and  Thomas  N.  Hunt,  trustees — the 


latter  gentleman  being  the  president;  I. 
L.  Bailey,  clerk;  James  Bond,  constable ; 

A.  Cherry,  assessor  and  collector ;  Anson 
Underhill,  treasurer;  Abraham  Pearson, 
police  magistrate;  and  D.  W.  Campbell, 
road  supervisor. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1867,  the 
town  was  again  incorporated  under  a 
special  charter.  Under  this  incorpora- 
tion the  officers  were:  George  Hilliard, 
Travis  Miller,  William  Egerton,  Isaac 

B.  Hunt  and  William  Smith,  trustees. 
These  were  elected  under  the  old  organi- 
zation, and  held  over  under  the  charter. 
This  special  charter  was  drawn  up  by  A. 
M.  Champ,  who  was  the   clerk  at  the 
time.     The  balance  of  the  officers  at  this 
time  were:    J.  L.  Bailey,  assessor  and 
collector;    William   Egerton,   treasurer; 
and    D.   W.    Campbell,   constable    and 
street  supervisor. 

Colchester  was  incorporated  as  a  city 
under  the  general  laws  of  the  state,  on 
the  5th  of  May,  1884.  The  first  officers 
of  the  newly  made  city  held  over  from 
the  last  administration,  and  were  as  fol- 
lows: Charles  Webster,  mayor;  John 
Hoar,  T.  J.  Bowman,  Abram  Underhill 
and  Isaac  Newland,  aldermen.  The  first 
election,  under  the  new  administration, 
was  held  June  12,  1884,  when  the  follow- 
ing officers  were  elected:  Arthur  B. 
Lightner,  mayor;  A.  L.  Musson,  W.  H. 
Stevens,  Eli  Hilliard,  S.  D.  Mills,  C. 
P.  Whitten,  aldermen;  J.  C.  Arundel, 
clerk;  A.  M.  Champ,  city  attorney;  E. 
D.  Stevens,  treasurer;  George  W.  Milli- 
ken,  marshal;  Thomas  Cornelius,  street 
commissioner  and  pound-master;  George 
Hilliard,  sexton.  Mr.  Milliken  resigned 
the  office  of  marshal,  and  Rees  Gregory 
was  appointed  to  the  vacancy. 


618 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  officers  for  1885  are  as  follows: 
A.  B.  Liglitner,  mayor;  J.  C.  Arundel, 
clerk;  E.  A.  Stevens,  treasurer;  A.  M. 
Champ,  city  attorney. 

CORNET  BAND. 

This  band  was  organized  August  25, 
1879,  by  W.  E.  Hampton,  The  original 
members  were  as  follows :  John  Harper, 
Lee  Park  and  H.  O.  Arundel,  Eb  cornet; 
Thomas  Arundel,  Walter  Smith  and  John 
Arundel,  Bb;  O.  E.  Wold,  Eb  clarinet; 
Martin  Johnston  and  Samuel  Rundell, 
Bb  clarinet;  William  Tompkins,  solo 
alto;  Ralph  Hall,  David  Hall  and  Wil- 
liam Arundel,  altos;  Joseph  Winship 
and  Samuel  Park,  tenors;  William  Fos- 
ter, trombone;  Edward  Tompkins,  bari- 
tone; F.  S.  White,  double  bass;  Isaac 
Newland,  tuba;  John  Park,  snare  drum; 
and  S.  D.  Mills,  bass  drum.  The  band 
has  met  with  deserved  success,  and  is 
composed  as  follows,  at  the  present:  H. 
O.  Arundel  and  George  Penman,  Eb 
cornets;  Walter  Smith,  Walter  Arundel 
and  Samuel  Park,  Bb  cornets;  O.  E. 
Wold  and  George  Thompson,  clarinets; 
John  Harper,  J.  C.  Arundel  and  Wil- 
liam Arundel,  altos;  West  Tandy  and 
Robert  Terrill,  tenors;  G.  T.  Trull,  bari- 
tone and  leader:  F.  S.  White,  bass;  Isaac 
Newland  and  Richard  Laitz,  tubas;  Ar- 
thur Huston,  snare  drum;  and  Ralph 
Hall,  bass  drum. 

IMPORTANT  COAL  INTERESTS. 

Until  the  year  1855  but  little  had  been 
done  in  this  field  of  labor.  A  little  coal 
had  been  taken  out  of  the  drifts,  but  no 
systematic  work  had  been  undertaken. 
The  first  coal  ever  taken  out  and  used 
for  fuel,  is  said  to  have  been  by  the  Mor- 


mons, between  the  years  1840-46.  In 
1853,  James  Roberts,  afterwards  presi- 
dent and  superintendent  of  the  Colches- 
ter coal  company,  came  to  this  country, 
bought  land  in  the  Welch  settlement, 
and  began  mining  on  a  small  scale,  con- 
tinuing the  same  until  the  neigh  of  the 
iron  horse  was  heard  in  the  distance, 
when  he  enlarged  his  works,  and  by  the 
time  the  road  was  completed,  in  the 
spring  of  1855,  to  Camp  Point,  he  was 
ready  for  active  operations.  Securing 
about  a  dozen  teams  he  began  to  ship  to 
Quincy,  hauling  to  Camp  Point,  and 
from  thence  by  rail.  This  was  the  begin- 
ning of  what  has  since  developed  into  a 
great  enterprise,  bringing  into  the  county 
annually  thousands  of  dollars.  From 
the  time  he  first  struck  a  pick  in  1853, 
Mr.  Roberts  has  continued  in  the  busi- 
ness of  mining. 

About  the  year  1855  a  partnership 
was  formed  under  the  firm  name  of  Rob- 
erts &  Company,  soon  changing  to  Rob- 
erts &  Brothers,  then  Morris  &  Roberts, 
then  Morris  &  Company,  then  back  to 
Roberts  &  Company,  and  then  Morris  & 
Spencer,  and  finally  the  company  dis- 
solved, its  members  forming  two  sepa- 
rate organizations  under  the  names  of 
Quincy  Coal  company  and  Colchester 
Coal  company.  These  two  companies 
do  an  immense  business.  As  a  general 
thing  matters  have  always  run  smoothly 
between  the  various  companies  and  their 
employees,  the  latter  receiving  good 
wages  at  all  times,  probably  better  than 
could  be  obtained  at  many  other  trades. 
At  present  all  seems  prosperous  and 
contented.  An  impression  seems  to  have 
gained  credence  among  many  that  min- 
ing is  unhealthy,  but  investigation  re- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


619 


veals  the  fact  that  no  class  of  persons 
enjoy  better  health  than  the  coal  miners, 
the  farming  community  not  excepted. 

William  Egerton,  engaged  in  mining 
coal  at  Colchester  in  1856,  and  has  been 
in  that  business  continuously  ever  since. 
His  trade  being  steadily  on  the  increase 
from  that  date,  until  at  present  he  owns 
and  operates  one  of  the  leading  coal  in- 
dustries in  the  county.  There  is  mined 
from  thirty  to  fifty  thousand  bushels  per 
month,  which  is  shipped  mostly  to 
Quincy,  although  at  many  local  points 
in  this  and  adjoining  counties  there  is 
found  a  ready  market  for  large  quantities 
of  the  product  of  the  mine.  The  coal  is 
all  mined  by  shaft  at  a  depth  of  about 
seventy  feet,  two  shafts  being  in  active 
operation,  which  furnishes  employment 
to  fifty  or  sixty  men,  at  an  average  of 
two  dollars  per  day  for  each  miner. 

William  Egerton,  the  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  Egerton  mines,  came  to 
Colchester  in  January,  1856,  and  soon 
after  became  a  member  of  the  St.  Louis 
coal  company.  This  firm  was  composed 
of  Thomas  Wilson,  William  Hopkins, 
John  Merrett,  Thomas  Hunn,  John  Sla- 
ter, William  Egerton,  and  others,  and 
conducted  operations  on  section  13,  tak- 
ing out  only  drift  coal.  The  company 
finally  dissolved,  and  William  Egerton 
received  a  one-half  interest  in  the  lands, 
and  continued  in  the  business,  with 
Hopkins  and  Garbett  as  partners,  they 
sinking  shafts  as  they  would  get  hold  of 
the  land.  In  1879,  Mr.  Egerton  bought 
out  the  interests  of  his  partners,  and 
has  conducted  the  business  alone  ever 
since.  He  now  has  three  shafts  in  oper- 
ation on  section  13,  and  mines  1,300 
bushels  per  day,  having  in  his  employ 


sixty  men.  He  now  owns  130  acres  of 
good  coal  land  in  and  about  Colchester. 
Mr.  Egerton  is  a  native  of  England,  and 
was  born  June  22,  1814.  He  started  to 
work  in  the  mines  in  his  native  country 
when  he  was  seven  years  old,  and  con- 
tinued the  same  there  up  to  the  time  of 
his  coming  to  America,  in  1842.  He 
located  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  worked 
at  mining  for  some  five  months,  and  then 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  In  the 
spring  of  1843  he  went  to  Caseyville, 
Ohio,  and  three  months  later  to  Mary- 
land, where  he  remained  some  two  years. 
He  then  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  and 
worked  in  that  state  some  33  months. 
In  the  spring  of  1849  he  went  overland 
to  California,  and  mined  there  for  nearly 
two  years,  then  returning  to  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1851  he  attended  the 
London  (England)  exposition  for  four 
months,  after  which  he  returned  to  New 
Castle.  A  year  or  so  later  he  went  to 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  remained  there 
until  coming  to  Colchester,  in  January, 
1856.  William  Egerton  and  Mrs.  Bar- 
bara Hall,  nee  Thornhill,  were  united  in 
marriage  on  the  12th  day  of  October, 
1864.  By  this  marriage  there  are  three 
children — William  T.,  Mary  E.  and  John 
O.  Mrs.  Egerton  has  two  children  by 
her  former  marriage — Ralph  and  Anna 
Belle.  Mr.  Egerton  is  one  of  Colches- 
ter's prominent  citizens,  and  has  been  a 
member  of  both  the  school  board  and  the 
town  council. 

The  Quincy  coal  company  is  an  organ- 
ization composed  principally  of  Boston 
capitalists,  although  some  Quincy  men 
also  have  interests  therein.  The  general 
office  is  located  at  Boston,  but  the  work- 
ing headquarters  are  at  Quincy.  They 


620 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


operate  five  shafts  in  Colchester,  all  the 
mining  of  the  company  being  done  here, 
and  have  a  capital  stock  of  $75,000.  The 
shafts  number  20,  21,  22,  23,  24  and  25, 
the  latter  one  being  lately  opened.  The 
average  depth  to  the  seams  worked  is 
from  85  to  90  feet,  the  seam  being  known 
as  a  30-inch  vein.  The  coal  is  of  an  ex- 
cellent quality  and  is  well  adopted  for 
both  blacksmith  use  and  gas  making,  and 
is  known  as  seam  No.  2,  of  the  Illinois 
section.  The  seam  is  worked  by  the  men 
while  laying  on  their  sides,  the  coal  being 
mined  by  pick,  sledge  and  wedge.  All 
their  shafts  are  operated  by  steam  power 
and  are  all  connected  with  each  other, 
except  No.  20,  thus  giving  ample  air  pas- 
sages and  perfect  means  of  escape  in  case 
of  accident  or  fire.  All  their  cages  are 
provided  with  safety  catches  and  covers, 
and  the  company  comply  with  every  re- 
quirement of  the  law,  thereby  providing 
amply  for  the  comfort,  convenience  and 
safety  of  the  miners.  They  have  good 
top  men  and  use  five-eighth  screens, 
giving  the  workmen  the  benefit  of  all  the 
coal  they  mine.  They  have  on  their  pay 
roll  between  two  and  three  hundred  men- 
The  coal  is  wheeled  from  the  rooms 
through  the  entries  in  reaching  the  shaft 
proper,  before  raising,  which  are  three 
and  a  half  feet  in  height  and  six  feet  in 
width.  The  company  own  about  400 
acres  of  land,  with  reserved  mining  rights 
under  all  land  which  they  sell.  Their 
principal  market  is  Quincy,  a  regular 
coal  train  running  from  the  mines  to  that 
place  daily,  the  number  of  cars  to  the 
train  varying  from  12  to  24.  They  also 
have  a  large  transient  and  general  trade. 
The  annual  production  of  the  mines,  as 
taken  from  the  report  of  the  Bureau  of 


labor  statistics,  is  71,718  tons,  with  a  ca- 
pacity of  100,000  tons,  the  mines  being 
worked  the  year  around.  They  also  have 
ample  sidetrack  facilities,  with  a  line  of 
road  to  every  shaft.  H.  S.  Osborn  of 
Quincy,  is  president  of  the  company,  and 
Charles  C.  Osborn  of  the  same  place,  is 
superintendent.  Henry  Arundel  is  the 
representative  of  the  company  at  Col- 
chester, and  Thomas  Terrill  is  mine  boss, 
with  John  Terrill  as  assistant. 

Isaac  N.  Wright,  the  agent  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad 
at  Colchester,  was  born  in  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  December  14, 1852.  His 
father,  William  Wright,  was  born  in 
Ireland,  but  came  to  Illinois  in  an  early 
day,  and  his  death  occurred  in  January, 
1865.  Isaac  N.,  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  attending  school  at 
Plymouth,  where,  in  1870,  he  began 
learning  telegraphy,  and  followed  the 
same  there  for  some  two  and  and  a  half 
years.  He  was  then  employed  for  a 
short  time  in  Tennessee,  McDonough 
county,  and  from  there  went  to  Quincy. 
He  served  as  an  extra  man  in  different 
offices  until  April,  1877,  when  he  served 
as  night  operator.  In  Mar.ch,  1880,  he 
was  appointed  to  fill  the  position  he  now 
occupies.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popu- 
lar agents  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroad.  In  the  month  of  Aug- 
ust, 1877,  Isaac  N.  Wright  and  Cora 
Straub,  a  native  of  Adams  county,  were 
married.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child — Edna,  a  bright  winsome  lassie. 
Mr.  Wright  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

•  Frank  S.  White,  stock  dealer  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  stock  yards  and  scales, 
commenced  business  in  the  city  of  Col- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


621 


Chester  in  1876,  and  in  1881  inaugurated 
his  present  business,  to  which  he  gives 
his  personal  attention.  He  is  a  native 
of  McDonough  county  and  was  born  in 
Tennessee  township  on  the  9th  day  of 
March,  1854,  and  is  a  son  of  Stephen  A. 
White,  an  old  settler  of  the  county. 
Frank  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  his  native 
township  and  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  farmer  until  1872,  at  which  time  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Ten- 
nessee, and  so  continued  until  1872,  when 
he  removed  to  Colchester  and  engaged 
in  business.  He  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  township  clerk  in  1882,  and  filled  the 
office  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  peo- 
ple of  the  township.  The  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  lodges  of  this 
city  claim  him  as  an  honored  member. 
The  marriage  ceremony  which  united  in 
the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony,  Frank  S. 
White  and  Dora  B.  Hooton,  a  native  of 
Tennessee  township,  was  performed  on 
the  3d  day  of  September,  1874.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  White  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — Grace  W.,  Daisy  A.  and  Ber- 
tram L.  Mr.  White  is  a  noble,  whole- 
souled  gentleman,  and  his  friends  are 
legion. 

THE  COLCHESTER  COAL  COMPANY 

was  organized  by  James  Roberts  & 
Sons  in  September,  1873,  with  Henry  as 
the  active  business  manager.  They  con- 
tinued to  work  the  mine  in  this  way  till 
September,  1877,  when  the  old  gentle- 
man retired  from  the  firm,  which  was 
changed  to  H.  Eoberts  &  Brother.  In 
April,  1879,  H.  Roberts  &  Brother  leased 
the  mine  to  A.  Newland  for  a  term  of 
five  years.  During  Mr.  Newland's  lease 


the  works  continued  under  the  name  of 
Colchester  Coal  Company.  At  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Newland's  lease,  James 
Roberts  again  came  into  the  company, 
together  with  his  son  Henry,  and  the 
name  and  style  of  the  firm  was  James 
Roberts  &  Son.  It  was  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  them  until  March  3,  1885,  when 
it  was  incorporated  as  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany according  to  the  laws  of  the  state. 
The  incorporators  were  C.  H.  Castle,  F. 
Rupp,  Rod  Lambert,  C.  H.  Whitney, 
C.  H.  Trowbridge,  James  Roberts  and 
Henry  Roberts,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$20,000. 

In  1881,  Louis  Atkinson  opened  a  coal 
bank  on  section  6,  Colchester  township, 
leasing  the  land  of  William  Neece. 
During  the  winter  of  1884-85  about  400 
tons  of  coal  were  taken  from  the  bank, 
much  more  than  formerly.  He  employs 
from  two  to  ten  men,  at  five  cents  per 
bushel,  disposing  of  the  product  of  the 
mine  at  seven  cents  per  bushel.  It  is 
some  twenty  yards  in  to  the  vein,  which 
averages  about  two  feet  in  thickness. 

John  Terrill,  a  resident  of  Colchester, 
is  a  native  of  Cornwall,  England,  born 
June  17,  1828.  When  19  years  old,  he 
emigrated  to  America,  landing  in  New 
York  city  in  September  of  that  year. 
He  proceeded  to  Pittsburg,  thence  to 
New  Castle,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  fol- 
lowed mining  till  1851.  In  that  year  he 
moved  to  Wisconsin,  and  in  1852,  crossed 
the  plains  to  California,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  mining  gold  until  1854.  He 
then  returned  to  Pennsylvania.  The 
following  spring  he  went  to  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  there  spent  two  months  in 
mining,  after  which  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  spent  a  few  months  at  Rock  Island, 


622 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


coming  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  to 
Colchester,  where  he  has  since  resided, 
with  the  exception  of  three  years  spent 
in  the  army.  He  enlisted  in  the  fall  of 
1862,  in  company  D  of  the  124th  Illinois 
infantry,  and  served  until  August,  1865, 
when  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Chicago.  During  his  residence  in 
Colchester,  Mr.  Terrill  has  followed  coal 
mining,  in  which  he  is  still  engaged. 
He  was  married  on  the  16th  day  of 
October,  1856,  to  Elizabeth  Pearson,  by 
whom  he  has  had  seven  children — Eliza 
J.,  who  was  married  to  Charles  Milligan, 
and  died  in  1884  ;  John  and  Thomas, 
who  are  now  engaged  in  mining  ;  Isabel, 
living  with  her  parents  ;  Thomas  and 
Johanna,  who  are  deceased.  The  first 
mentioned  Thomas  was  born  after  the 
death  of  the  latter,  and  received  his 
name.  One  child  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Terrill  was  born  in  Durham,  England, 
March  27, 1837.  She  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Ter- 
rill is  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.  post  at 
Colchester,  also  of  the  Miners'  Friendly 
Society.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics. 
James  Hickey,  third  son  of  Cornelius 
and  Johanna  (Burk)  Hickey,  was  born 
in  Tipperary,  Ireland,  January  26,  1842. 
Cornelius  Hickey  and  his  wife  were  both 
natives  of  the  county  Tipperary,  the  for- 
mer born  March  12,  1800,  and  the  latter 


in  May,  1803.  They  were  married  by 
the  Rev.  Father  Cachrew  in  the  year 
1829.  Mr.  Hickey,  Sr.,  was  a  civil  en- 
gineer by  profession,  and  the  owner  of 
25  acres  of  land  in  Ireland.  They  emi- 
grated to  America  in  September,  1848, 
and  located  in  Massachusetts.  Two 
years  later  they  removed  to  the  state  of 
Indiana,  where  they  remained  also,  two 
years,  thence  to  Kentucky,  thence,  in 
July,  1856,  to  Colchester,  McDonough 
county,  where  Cornelius  Hickey  died, 
August  28, 1875.  He  was  laid  to  rest  in 
the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Macomb.  His 
widow  survived  until  January  9,  1880. 
They  were  the  parents  of  seven  children 
— Dennis,  Mary,  John,  James,  Cornelius, 
Johanna  and  Ellen.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch,  James  Hickey,  came  with 
his  parents  to  America,  and  resided  with 
them  until  the  death  of  his  father.  He  is 
a  coal  miner  by  occupation,  and  has  fol- 
lowed that  business  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  a  worthy  and  respected  citi- 
zen. He  is  politically  a  democrat. 

HISTORIC  CRUMBS. 

The  first  family  to  locate  at  Colchester 
was  that  of  D.  W.  Campbell. 

The  first  death  which  occurred  in  the 
village  was  a  13  months'  old  child  of  D. 
W.  Campbell  and  wife. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


623 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 


HIEE   TOWNSHIP. 


This  sub-division  of  McDonougli 
county  derived  its  name  from  George 
W.  Hire,  although  the  territory  was 
originally  organized  as  Eock  Creek.  It 
lies  in  the  western  tier  of  townships, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Blan. 
dinville  township,  on  the  east  by  Emmet, 
with  Tennessee  on  the  south  and  Han- 
cock county  on  the  west.  It  is  composed 
principally  of  prairie  land,  the  only 
timber  appearing  in  the  two  western  tiers 
of  sections,  with  the  exception  of  groves 
here  and  there.  There  is  no  stream  of 
water  of  any  importance  in  the  town- 
ship, but  several  small  creeks  find  their 
source  within  its  boundaries,  furnishing 
water  for  stock,  to  which  industry  con- 
siderable attention  is  given.  The  soil  is 
of  good  quality,  and  the  farms  rank 
among  the  foremost  of  the  county. 
There  are  about  23,000  acres  of  improved 
land  in  the  township,  valued  at  about 
$600,000,  while  there  is  about  800  acres 
of  timbered  land.  The  township  was 
constituted  in  accordance  with  a  vote  of 
the  citizens  of  the  county  at  the  general 
election  in  1856,  and  was  christened 
Eock  Creek,  as  before  stated,  but  at  the 
first  meeting  of  the  board  of  supervis- 
ors in  the  spring  of  1857,  the  name  was 
changed  to  Hire.  The  railroad  facili- 
ties are  good,  having  competing  lines  of 
road  to  eastern  markets  within  a 
miles  of  the  township. 


EARLY   SETTLERS. 

Eichard  Dunn  was  undoubtedly  the 
first  settler  of  Hire.  When  William 
Job  came  with  his  family  to  the  county 
in  the  spring  of  1826,  they  stopped  at 
the  cabin  of  Mr.  Dunn,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  township,  about  three  weeks, 
while  the  former  was  constructing  a 
cabin  for  his  family  in  Blandinville 
township.  Mr.  Dunn  had  been  here  and 
raised  four  acres  of  corn  the  season  be- 
fore. He  afterward  left  and  the  cabin 
was  occupied  for  a  while  by  a  man  by 
the  name  of  John  Wilson. 

Lewis  Walters  settled  where  Peter 
Eeiser  now  lives,  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  3,  as  early  as  the  spring  of 
1829,  but  left  some  time  during  the  year 
1830. 

In  the  spring  of  1830  Nathaniel  Her- 
ron  came,  entering  a  farm  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  3.  He  came 
from  Sangamon  here,  and  about  the  year 
1855  removed  to  Nodaway  county,  Mis- 
souri, where  he  has  since  died. 

In  the  fall  of  1830  Eobert  Seybold 
came.  A  sketch  of  this  early  family  is 
appended. 

James  Seybold  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers,  coming  to  the  county  in  1830, 
settling  four  miles  north  of  Blandins- 
ville,  on  what  is  termed  a  squatter's 
claim,  where  he  staid  two  years.  Eob- 
ert Seybold  was  the  father  of  James, 


624 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  came  to  the  state  in  1830.  He  lived 
on  section  4,  Hire  township,  at  first,  and 
in  1860,  removed  to  Blandiiisville,  where 
he  died  in  1869.  He  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia August  10,  1793,  but  was  reared  in 
Kentucky,  having  gone  there  when  but 
four  years  old. 

On  the  father's  side  the  ancestors 
were  German,  and  on  the  mother's  side 
English.  At  the  time  of  the  elder  Sey- 
bold's  death,  the  property  was  divided 
among  the  children,  and  being  quite  suc- 
cessful, there  was  considerable  property 
to  fall  to  each  one.  James,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  owns  now  345  acres  of 
land  in  Hire  township.  He  has  had 
some  bad  luck,  burning  out  at  two  differ- 
ent times.  He  has  had  two  wives,  the 
first  being  Susan  Logan,  a  daughter 
of  John  Logan,  the  ceremony  taking 
place  August  3,  1837.  She  died  in 
1842,  leaving  one  child,  Robert  T.  His 
second  wife  was  Cynthia  A.  Monarch,  a 
native  of  Indiana,  and  daughter  of 
George  and  Sarah  (Bishop)  Monarch, 
and  they  also  came  to  the  county  early, 
being  in  1842,  but  in  the  state  in  1835. 
They  had  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
live  in  the  county— Mrs.  Seybold  and 
George  H.  Monarch.  James  Seybold 
came  to  his  present  place  in  1874,  hav- 
ing lived  in  different  places,  near  by, 
from  1835.  The  family  by  the  latter 
marriage  was  large,  consisting  of  14  chil- 
dren, seven  of  whom  are  living,  and  be- 
low will  be  found  their  names — Sarah, 
Margaret,  Marietta,  Almira,  James  L.. 
Charles  D.,  and  John  B. 

Evan  Martin,one  of  the  pioneers  of  Hire 
township,  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1831,  and  entered  93  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 31.  He  shortly  afterward  purchased 


80  acres  of  timber  land  of  the  government, 
which  he  still  owns.  Mr.  Martin  was  born 
in  Clarke  county,  Kentucky,  Mar.  7, 1796, 
and  soon  after  went  with  his  parents  to 
Green  county,  Ohio.  They  afterward 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  his  father 
died.  After  a  residence  in  Sangamon 
and  Morgan  counties,  he  located  at  his 
present  place  of  residence.  He  was  mar- 
ried March  23,  1818,  in  Ohio,  to  Susan 
Steel,  a  native  of  Virginia.  They  have 
seven  children  who  are  living.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin has  been  a  hard  worker  in  his  time, 
and  although  considerably  advanced  in 
years,  still  enjoys  good  health,  and  is  the 
oldest  settler  now  living  in  the  township. 
He  was  for  12  months  in  the  service  of 
the  war  of  1812,  and  participated  in  the 
Nauvoo  and  Winnebago  troubles.  He 
has  affiliated  with  the  republican  party 
since  its  organization.  When  he  first 
came  to  the  county,  deer,  wild  turkeys 
and  game  of  all  kinds  were  abundant. 
Mrs.  Martin's  death  occurred  in  1875. 
William  H.  Hays,  one  of  McDon- 
ough's  1832  settlers,  was  a  native  of 
Springfield,  Washington  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  born  1802.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  Funk,  and 
resided  in  his  native  state  until  coming 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Hire  township, 
McDonough  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hays 
reared  seven  children — Julia,  who  mar- 
ried William  Ruddell,  now  of  Missouri; 
Levi  S.,  a  carpenter  and  resident  of  St. 
Joseph,  Missouri;  Martha,  died  in  child- 
hood; Joseph  W.,  a  resident  of  Macomb; 
Sarah,  married  John  N.  Carroll,  moved 
to  Missouri,  and  afterward  died;  Louisa, 
married  William  Pine,  removed  to  Mis- 
souri, and  has  since  died;  Susan,  the 
third  child,  married  William  Barger,  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


625 


now  resides  near  Muscatine,  Iowa.  Upon 
coming  to  the  county,  W.  H.  Hays  was 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  three  child- 
ren, Hillary  Hays  (his  father),  and  two 
brothers,  Thomas  and  Jefferson.  Each 
brought  their  families  with  them,  with 
the  exception  of  Jefferson,  who  was  a 
single  man.  The  religious  complexion 
of  all  these  early  settlers  was  Methodist 
Episcopal.  In  1858,  Thomas  Hays  re- 
moved to  Missouri,  where  he  died  about 
1884,  and  his  widow  still  survives  him. 

Hillary  Hays  resided  in  this  county 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1845, 
his  widow  surviving  him  some  10  or  15 
years.  A  daughter,  Frances,  married 
Jacob  Hutchinson,  and  now  resides  in 
Missouri. 

Jefferson  Hays  afterward  married  and 
was  engaged  in  farming  until  his  death. 
His  widow  now  resides  in  Sciota  town- 
ship. 

Nathaniel  Hays  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Hire.  A  son,  John  W.,  re- 
sides in  Macomb,  and  in  the  history  of 
that  place  occurs  a  sketch  of  Nathaniel, 
in  connection  with  John  W.,  his  son. 

Elder  John  Logan  purchased  the  place 
on  section  3,  on  which  his  widow  now 
resides,  in  1834,  removing  to  it  Oc- 
tober 13,  1835,  coming  from  Industry 
township,  where  the  family  had  settled 
in  1828.  A  sketch  of  this  noted  man 
occurs  in  the  Ecclesiastical  chapter  of 
this  volume,  as  he  was  largely  connect- 
ed with  the  churches  of  the  country  at 
an  early  day,  and,  in  fact,  until  his  death. 

Samuel  Logan,  the  oldest  son  of  Elder 
John  Logan,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
Simpson  county,  October  24,  1822. 
His  early  life  was  spent  in  Schuyler 
county,  and  the  advantages  of  school 


were  not  as  they  are  at  this  age  of  the 
world,  however,  young  Logan  obtained  a 
fair  education.  In  his  marriage  rela- 
tions, he  was  very  fortunate  in  forming 
a  union  with  Paulina  Girton,  the  date  of 
which  was  November  9,  1850.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Dickenson  and  Clara 
(Green)  Girton,  the  date  and  place  of 
whose  settlement  will  be  found  else- 
where. Mrs.  Logan  lives  on  the  farm, 
which  her  husband  improved,  and  is  in 
good  circumstances,  having  a  consider- 
able amount  of  land,  besides  property  in 
Blandinsville,  and  attends  to  the  bus- 
iness herself.  Four  children  were  given 
to  this  happy  pair — Viola,  wife  of  Mor- 
timer Cover,  who  lives  in  Chalmers 
township  this  county;  Leona,  wife  of 
Wm.  Mackey,  of  Hire  township.  Sel- 
win,  who  owns  a  farm  in  Hire  township, 
but  resides  in  Ellis  county,  Kansas;  and 
Ella,  wife  of  Hebron  Kline,  living  in 
Chalmers.  The  following  was  taken 
from  the  Macomb  Journal  in  regard  to 
Mr.  Logan  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  7th,  1878.  "He  needs  no 
man's  testimony  to  prove  his  devotion  to 
God,  and  to  the  welfare  of  the  race,  hav- 
ing spent  forty-six  years  of  his  pilgrim- 
age here  as  a  Christian,  being  converted 
at  ten  years  of  age.  Shall  we  miss  him  ? 
We  know  of  none,  no,  not  one  to  fill  his 
place.  He  always  performed  his  ser- 
vices honestly  and  uprightly.  His  equal 
might  be,  but  his  superior  never  was. 
His  last  words  were  "Jesus  is  with  me 
in  this,  my  hour  of  death."  The  funeral 
services  were  conducted  at  the  home  of 
the  family  by  Rev.  Saunders,  of  Blan- 
dinsville. His  text  was  "Blessed  are  the 
dead  who  die  in  the  Lord."  And  in 
another  place  it  says  "Another  pioneer 


626 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


gone"  and  pronounces  a  splendid  eulogy 
on  this  man  who  seemed  the  friend  of 
every  one  who  ever  knew  him. 

In  1835  William  Ruddell  and  family 
came  to  Hire  township,  entering  land  on 
•section  6.  About  the  year  1838,  his  wife 
died  and  in  1840  he  removed  to  VanBuren 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  among  the 
early  settlers  of  that  county.  He  died 
there  in  1871.  Mr.  Kuddell  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  emigrating  to  Kentucky  at 
an  early  day.  He  afterwards  lived  in 
Sangamon  county,  from  which  place  he 
came  to  McDonough  county,  as  above 
stated. 

Vandever  Banks  was  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Hire  township,  locating  there 
in  1836.  He  entered  the  south-west  quar- 
ter of  section  30,  and  immediately  erected 
a  house  thereon,  and  soon  afterward  pur- 
chased other  land.  He  was  successful 
in  all  his  undertakings,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death  had  acquired  considerable 
property.  Mr.  Banks  was  born  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky,  April  16,  1804,  and 
during  his  early  life  worked  at  the  car- 
penter trade.  He  was  a  son  of  Vandever 
and  Elizabeth  (Walford)  Banks,  the 
former  a  native  of  Maryland,  while  the 
latter  was  a  Virginian  by  birth.  He  was 
married  August  31,  1826,  to  Loraner  A. 
Sharpe.  Eleven  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  five  of  whom  are  living 
— Elizabeth  W.,  wife  of  Thomas  Massie, 
of  Hancock  county;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of 
John  M.  Lyon,  deceased,  now  residing  on 
section  30,  Hire  township ;  James  C.,  Mil- 
lard  T.  and  Job  V.,  all  residents  of  Hire. 
The  death  of  Vandever  Banks  occurred 
June  26,  1876,  after  an  illness  of  some 
six  months  duration,  and  was  caused  by 
a  cancerous  affection  of  the  stomach.  The 


deceased  was  well  known  throughout  the 
county,  being  highly  respected  by  all 
with  whom  he  formed  an  acquaintance, 
and  was  a  resident  and  influential  citizen 
of  McDonough  for  over  forty  years  and 
always  bore  a  prominent  part  in  the 
affairs  of  the  county.  When  the  Mor- 
mon troubles  were  exciting  McDonough, 
Hancock  and  other  adjacent  counties,  and 
the  citizens  volunteered  to  drive  their 
enemies  from  Nauvoo,  Mr.  Banks  was 
elected  captain  of  one  of  the  companies 
and  as  such  served  through  the  contin- 
uance of  the  armed  disturbance.  In 
1856,  he  was  the  whig  candidate  for 
member  of  the  legislature,  and  although 
the  county  was  democratic,  so  popular 
was  the  deceased'  that  he  received  a 
majority  of  the  votes  cast  in  the  county, 
but  through  some  informality  regarding 
the  judges'  signature  to  the  Prairie  City 
roll  books  Mr.  Banks  opponent  secured 
a  seat  in  the  legislature  through  contest. 
During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  Mr. 
Banks'  was  an  uncompromising  and 
earnest  union  man,  and  although  too  old 
to  enlist,  showed  his  devotion  by  lavish 
expenditure  of  his  time  and  money,  when- 
ever called  upon,  in  behalf  of  the  union. 
He  was  a  true  type  of  that  class  of 
pioneers  who  have  hewed  civilization 
out  of  the,  then,  unsettled  west,  and  in 
his  demise  we  can  truly  say,  "another 
land  mark  of  early  days  is  gone." 

Job  V.  Banks  is  a  native  of  Mc- 
Donough county  born  where  he  now 
lives,  January  12,  1837,  and  is  a  son  of 
Vandever  and  Loraner  A.  (Sharpe) 
Banks.  His  marriage  occurred  June 
22,  1865,  to  Mary  A.  Lyon,  a  native  of 
Hancock  county,  Illinois.  They  lived  a 
short  time  in  Hire  township  and  went  to 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


627 


Hancock  county,  where  they  lived  from 
1866  to  1881.  Selling  his  farm  there,  he 
came  back  at  that  time  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  old  homestead.  He  owns  234 
acres  and  makes  stock  raising  a  specialty. 
Four  children  have  been  born  to  them, 
— Tabitha  S.,  the  date  of  whose  birth 
was  January  7,  1868;  Orville  R.,  born 
November  18,  1878.  Two  of  the  little 
ones  have  been  called  from  this  world, 
—Carrie,  born  May  3,  1867,  died  Sep- 
tember 28,1867;  and  Paulina,  born  March 
16,  1871,  and  died  April  16,  1872.  Mr. 
Banks  is  the  sixth  child  of  a  family  of 
eleven  children.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F".,  and  with  his  wife  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  In  politics  he 
has  always  been  a  consistent  republican. 

John  Mobley  settled  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Jacob  Hainline,  in  1836.  He 
came  from  the  state  of  Kentucky  to  this 
county. 

Major  Hungate  came  about  the  year 
1836,  from  Hamilton  county,  settling  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  section  13.  He 
remained  here  three  or  four  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Missouri. 

Jacob  Clarke  came  at  the  same  time, 
with  Major  Hungate,  settling  on  the 
same  section,  and  left  the  state  for  Mis- 
souri with  Mr.  Hungate. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  Fitzgerald 
Woolley  and  family  left  the  state  of  New 
York  for  the  west,  coming  direct  to  this 
township,  where  they  arrived  on  the  1st 
day  of  October,  1838,  traveling  the  entire 
distance  overland  by  wagon.  They  set- 
tled on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
32,  where  they  lived  until  1847.  At 
that  time  the  family,  with  the  exception 
of  one  son,  Pardon,  who  resides  in  Wal- 
nut Grove  township  at  present,  removed 


to  Webster,  Hancock  county,  where  Mr. 
Woolley  died,  in  February,  1861.  Mrs. 
Woolley  died  in  1876,  in  Hire  township, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  89  years. 

In  1838,  Jacob  Hainline,  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  came  to  this  township,  and 
entered  a  farm  of  320  acres,  on  section 
17,  erecting  a  cabin  on  the  northwest 
quarter,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
in  1865.  The  remains  were  interred  in 
the  cemetery,  just  south  of  the  town  of 
Blandinsville.  Mr.  Hainline  was  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1789,  where  he  resided  until  coming  to 
this  township.  He  was  married  to 
Celia  Cockerel,  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Eight  children  were  born  to  them,  five 
of  whom  still  reside  in  this  county,  Mrs. 
Hainline  making  her  home  with  the 
children  here.  Mr.  Hainline  was  a 
great  hunter,  free-hearted  and  generous 
to  a  fault,  and  his  death  was  greatly  re- 
gretted by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  1839,  Jacob  Keithley  and  family 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  in 
1842,  settled  on.  section  2,  Hire  township. 
They  resided  here  until  1860,  when  he 
made  an  exchange  for  property  in  Blan- 
dinsville. In  1870,  he  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia, where  he  died  five  years  later. 
Mr.  Keithley  was  born  in  Bath  county, 
Kentucky,  in  August,  1805,  his  ancestors 
being  of  German  extraction.  ,He  lived 
in  Kentucky  until  12  years  of  age,  when 
the  family  removed  to  Indiana,  where 
he  grew  to  manhood.  It  was  in  that 
state  that  he  united  his  destinies  with 
Sarah  Roberts,  and  to  them  were  born 
12  children — ten  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters. Mr.  Keithley  was  a  peculiar 
man,  reticient,  but  very  stern,  never 
joking  even  in  the  family  circle.  He 


628 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


had  a  faculty  for  making  money  very 
easily,  but  after  his  death  most  of  the 
property  was  squandered.  His  wife 
still  lives  in  Blandinsville,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  and  does  her  own  work. 
Mr.  Keithley  was  a  good,  conscientious, 
and  strictly  honest  man,  having  been  a 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
since  1841. 

In  1842,   E.  N.   Hicks  came  to  this 
township,  where  he  still  lives. 

Ebenezer  Newton  Hicks,  one  of  the 
most  successful  men,  financially,  to  be 
found  in  McDonough  county,  and  a  res- 
ident of  Hire  township  at  this  time,  is  a 
native  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  Ross  county, 
Union  township,   and  was  born  March 
10,  1816.     His  father,  Willis  Hicks,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  as  was  also  his  father, 
Ebenezer 's  grand-father,  who  was  named 
Joseph  Hicks,  but  whose  birth-place  is 
uncertain;  however,  the  family  were  of 
German  extraction,   and  originated  in 
Holland.      Willis  Hicks  served  in  the 
war  of  1812  for  some  time.     From  Ross 
county  the  family  removed  to  Madison 
county,   the    same    state,    and    became 
wealthy.     Willis  Hicks  was  born  March 
25,  1792,  and  died  August  26,  1867.   His 
wife,   Frances   (White)   Hicks,   was    a 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Small) 
White,  and  was  born  November  17, 1792, 
and  died  April  6,  1869.     She  was  born 
in  Delaware.     Ebenezer  Hicks  lived  in 
Ross  county  until  1842,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  Illinois,  and  purchasing  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  33,  in  Hire 
township,   settled,   where  he  is  still  a 
resident,  making,  at  the  present  writing, 
a  continuous  residence  of  43  years  on 
one    spot.      When    he    purchased  this 
place  there  was  but  16  acres  broken  and 


a  small  shanty  built.     He  improved  this 
EarnT  and    subsequently    built  a   good 
bouse   and   other  buildings    necessary. 
Mr.  Hicks  has  been  a  man  wh6  always 
attended  strictly  to  business,  driving  all 
before  him.     He  had  a  very  strong  con- 
stitution, or  would  ere  this  be  laid  away 
with  the  fathers.     In  a  short  time   he 
commenced  buying  more  la^d,  as  he  was 
able  to  pay  for  it,  some  costing  $1.25  per 
acre,  and  later  on  even  $50,  and  he  now 
owns  about  4,000  acres,  scattered  around 
in  various  townships,  especially  in  Hire, 
Tennessee,    Colchester    and     Scotland. 
The  most  of  this  is  rented;  only  about 
1,000  acres  is  retained  for  the  manage- 
ment of  his  sons.     Mr.  Hicks  oversees 
the  whole  thing,  thereby  causing  him 
much   hard  labor,  although  not  doing 
muscular  work,  the  task  of  taking  care 
of  this  amount  of  land  and  other  prop- 
erty, is  very  laborious  to  him.     Stock- 
raising  is  the  especial  feature,  and  large 
herds  of  cattle  roam  over  his  dominions. 
Much  stock  is  bought  for  feeding  and 
shipping  also.     Mr.  Hicks  was  married 
to   Jane   C.   Robinson,  May    23,   1844. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Robin- 
son, of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  but  whose 
native  place  was  Fayette  county,  Penn- 
sylvania.     John's  father,   Joshua,  was 
killed  by  the  Indians  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio.     She  was  born  May  22,  1816,  and 
is  at  present  as  active  as  most  younger 
women,  doing  her  own  work  and  taking 
an  active  part  in  her  husband's  business. 
Five  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hicks — John  Willis,  born  July  5, 
1845,   and  died    September    25,    1864; 
Mary  Frances,  born  August  31,   1847; 
Darius  Hicks,  born  May  5, 1850;  Frank- 
lin Pierce,  born  October  4,  1852;  Eliza 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


629 


Jane,  born  January  26,  1855,  died  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1857. 

Jesse  Hire  settled  on  section  32,  in 
1847,  where  he  lived  until  1859,  when 
he  disposed  of  his  property  and  bought 
80  acres  on  section  28,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  He  subsequently  pur- 
chased other  land  until  he  had  a  farm 
of  242  acres.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
January  22,  1877,  the  property  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  heirs.  Mr.  Hire 
was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  March 
9,  1817,  where  he  resided  until  his  re- 
moval to  this  county.  He  was  married 
December  11,  1836,  to.  Elizabeth  Skid- 
more,  a  native  of  West  Virginia,  by  whom 
there  were  eight  children  born.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  trader,  speculating  in  stock 
to  some  extent,  and  was  well-to-do  at  the 
time  of  his  demise. 

William  Hire,  the  second  son  of  Jesse 
Hire,  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  6, 
1841.  He  is  at  present  living  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  has  almost  exclusive  con- 
trol of  the  farm  his  father  left,  having 
purchased  the  interests  of  the  other 
heirs;  and  being  a  hard  worker,  and 
straightforward  man,  has  succeeded  well. 
He  made  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
his  father's  death,  when  he  assumed  con- 
trol and  provided  for  the  family.  The 
farm  is  under  good  state  of  cultivation, 
and,  although  he  has  no  fine  buildings, 
he  enjoys  life  well,  and  like  his  father, 
engages  considerably  in  trading  in  cattle, 
buying,  feeding  and  selling.  His  mother 
and  sisters  keep  his  house,  William 
having  never  married.  In  politics,  Mr. 
Hire  is  a  strong  democrat. 

Cyrus  Hire,  the  fourth  son  of  Jesse 
Hire,  is  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
bom  July  21, 1856.  He  always  made  his 


home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage. 
On  September  11,  1884,  he  took  Cina 
White  to  be  his  wife.  She  is  a  native  of 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  White,  still  living  in  Han- 
cock county.  Mr.  Hire  owns  70  acres  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  28,  be- 
side a  small  piece  of  timber  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  William.  He  is 
in  a  fair  way  to  accumulate  a  good  prop- 
erty, being  a  man  of  sterling  qualities. 
His  education  is  very  good,  and  is  above 
the  average  of  the  farmers'  sons.  He  is 
democratic  in  politics. 

George  Hire,  after  whom  th'e  township 
of  Hire  was  named,  settled  in  that  sub- 
division of  McDonough,  in  1851.  He 
was  not  a  land  owner  in  this  county,  but 
was  quite  well  off,  making  his  home  with 
his  children.  He  was  a  man  of  consid- 
erable ability  and  was  quite  popular,  and 
somewhat  of  a  leader  in  the  democratic 
party  of  -this  county.  In  1856  he  was 
elected  to  the  state  legislature  by  that 
party,  serving  two  years.  Mr.  Hire  was 
born  in  West  Virginia,  but  when  quite 
young,  removed  to  Ohio,  and  while  a 
resident  of  that  state,  followed  driving 
stock  across  the  country  to  eastern  mar- 
kets at  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  His 
ancestors  were  of  German  extraction; 
He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Cathe- 
rine Bryant,  a  native  of  Virginia.  They 
had  five  children — Jesse,  Mary  A.,  Jef- 
ferson, Margaret,  in  Kansas;  and  Eliza- 
beth, in  Ohio.  He  saw  Washington  in 
Virginia,  when  a  small  boy. 

OTHER  REPRESENTATIVE   MEN. 

Besides  the  ones  already  mentioned, 
there  are  others  to  whom  the  township 
is  indebted,  in  a  large  degree,  for  its 


630 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


prosperity.     Sketches  of  the  more  enter- 
prising of  these  are  given: 

John  H.  Hayes  is  a  native  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  was  born  on  section  2, 
Hire  township,  April  7, 1836.  His  father, 
Jefferson  Hayes,  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
in  Washington  county,  in  the  year  1808, 
and  came  to  this  county  in  1832,  settling 
on  section  2,  Hire  township,  where  he 
owned  and  improved  the  northwest  quar- 
ter. He  lived  on  this  place  until  he  re- 
moved to  Blandinsville  a  few  years  be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  October, 
1857,  and  was  buried  near  the  old  "Hayes 
school  house."  His  widow,  formerly 
Maria  Jane  Head,  now  lives  in  Sciota. 
She  was  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
Kentucky.  There  were  six  children  in 
their  family,  five  sons  and  one  daughter, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Hayes 
was  one  of  the  most  liberal  men,  giving 
to  any  one  who  asked  him,  even  beyond 
his  means,  and  was  also  a  religious  man, 
and  never  known  to  swear.  Two  broth- 
ers, William,  who  died  in  Macomb,  and 
Thomas,  who  died  in  Missouri,  also  came 
at  the  same  time  Jefferson  did,  and  took 
land  near  by.  John  H.  Hayes  has  been 
a  man  who  has  attended  strictly  to  busi- 
ness, and  has  a  good  farm  by  his  own 
exertions.  He  has  a  good  home,  although 
not  luxurious,  still  an  air  of  comfort  pre- 
vades  it,  and  with  his  wife  and  interest- 
ing family,  he  enjoys  life  exceedingly. 
In  1856  he  went  to  the  Wisconsin  pinery, 
and  in  1857  started  to  Pike's  Peak,  but 
only  got  to  Fort  Kearney,  when  he  re- 
turned to  Missouri  and  staid  a  few  months, 
he  returning  to  McDonough  county. 
When  the  war  broke  out,  he  enlisted  for 
three  years,  the  date  of  enlistment  being 
November  1,  in  company  I,  llth  Illi- 


nois, and  was  in  the  battles  at  Shiloh, 
and  other  important  engagements,  but 
was  principally  on  scouting  expeditions. 
Mr.  Hayes'  settlement  on  his  present 
place  was  in  1866,  and  at  present  he  owns 
161  acres.  Martha  J.  Keithley  became 
his  wife  in  1863,  September  20.  Five 
sons  bless  this  union — Albert  M.,  Ed- 
ward K.,  Oscar  and  Arthur,  twins,  and 
Robert.  In  politics  he  favors  the  repub- 
lican party. 

Oliver  P.  Courtright,  a  native  of  Fair- 
field  county,  Ohio,  was  born  November 
8,  1814;  came  to  McDonough  county,  in 
the  spring  of  1853;  settled  on  section  16, 
in  Hire  township.  He,  with  his  grow- 
ing family,  farmed  there  until  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war.  His  love  of  country 
became  aroused.  His  eldest  son,  H.V. 
having  enlisted  in  the  first  75,000  call,  he 
turned  his  energies  to  recruiting,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  next  year,  did  a  large  part 
in  recruiting  company  C,  78th  regiment, 
Illinois  volunteers.  He  was  first  lieu- 
tenant of  that  company.  The  company 
was  taken  prisoners,  Christmas  day  of 
that  year  and  were  held  some  months 
and  then  returned.  He  was  married 
twice,  the  second  time  to  Anna  Maria 
McElroy  in  the  year  1851.  By  this 
marriage  nine  children  were  born — 
James  A.,  in  Montana  territory;  Frank 
M.,  in  Illinois;  John  D.,  in  Colorado; 
Julietta  Shepherd  and  Fannie  M.,  now 
in  Kansas;  Robert  A.,  Stephen  B.,  and 
Oliver  P.,  all  dead.  Mr.  Courtright  died 
August  25, 1868,  and  was  buried  in  the 
South  cemetery,  near  Blandinsville. 

His  son,  Frank  M.,  was  born  on  section 
16,  Hire  township,  on  the  9th  of  Novem- 
ber, 1853.  He  attended  college  at 
Onarga,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1873, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


631 


and  graduated  the  next  year.  He  bought 
a  farm  on  section  18,  Hire  township,  in 
September,  1884,  where  he  has  a  nice 
home  and  can  there  enjoy  life.  He  was 
married  in  November,  1881,  to  Maria 
Hobert,  a  native  of  Hancock  County, 
Illinois.  They  have  one  child,  Bessie 
Elaine,  born  March  26, 1883.  Mr.  Court- 
right  is  a  republican  and  in  1880,  ran 
for  circuit  clerk,  but  was  defeated  for 
the  nomination  by  a  small  number. 

Jacob  George  is  a  native  of  Hesse- 
Cassel,  Germany;  was  born  September 
30,  1829,  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Eliz- 
abeth (Shafer)  George.  The  family  re- 
moved to  America  and  settled  in  Vir- 
ginia. Jacob  left  home  and  went  to 
Ohio,  whence  in  1855,  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  purchased  40  acres 
on  section  28.  He  bought  79  acres  on 
30,  where  he  lived  five  years,  and 
again  moved  to  section  31,  but  on  build- 
ing his  house  on  section  32,  he  removed 
thither,  and  has  a  nice  residence  two 
stories  in  heighth,  the  main  part  18x32 
and  an  ell,  20x26.  His  farm  consists  of 
320  acres,  mostly  improved.  He  makes 
stock-raising  a  specialty,  having  a  good 
herd  of  cattle,  and  some  fine  horses, 
keeping  the  Clydesdale  brood  mares,  and 
raising  some  as  fine  horses  as  are 
found  in  the  township.  Jacob  George 
is  one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  town- 
ship and  compares  favorably  with  any 
in  the  county,  being  neat  in  his  work; 
and  attending  strictly  to  his  business,  he 
has  amassed  a  good  property.  His  mar- 
riage occurred  October  18, 1849,  to  Cath- 
arine George,  also  a  native  of  Hesse- 
Cassel.  They  have  had  a  family  of  nine 
children — Mary  E.,  wife  of  Joseph  Mor- 
gan, living  in  Tennessee  township;  John 


H.,  who  married  Ida  Bloyd  November 
23,  1876.  She  died  June  2,  1884,  leav- 
ing three  children — Florence  A.,  Jacob 
B.,  and  Clarence  W.  They  make  their 
home  with  their  grandfather.  The 
third  child  was  Louisa,  now  deceased; 
William  P.;  the  next  two,  Lewis  and 
Milton  C.,  died;  Catharine  F.,  Clara 
V.,  and  Dora  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Newton  Eakle,  lives  on  section  31,  on 
80  acres  of  his  father's  farm,  which  is 
nice  rolling  land,  and  engaged  in  stock, 
raising  as  a  specialty,  having  some  fine 
Durham  stock,  and  good  horses  This 
farm  is  familiarly  known  as  part  of  the 
old  "  Prentiss  place,"  being  one  of  the 
first  settled  upon  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  It  is  fenced  in  small  fields,  af- 
fording advantage  for  feed  of  great 
worth.  Mr.  Eakle  was  born  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  November  13, 1842,  and  is 
a  son  of  John  B.,  and  Mary  A.  (Hire) 
Eakle.  His  home  was  with  his  parents 
until  his  marriage,  which  occurred  Nov- 
ember 19,  1868,  in  Tennessee  township 
to  Lide  E.  Anderson,  a  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Anderson,  now  in  Macomb.  Since 
their  marriage  they  have  always  lived  on 
the  same  farm,  believing  that  "  a  rolling 
stone  gathers  no  moss."  Three  children 
have  blessed  the  union  of  these  people — 
Nellie  M.,  born  November  12,  1869; 
Harry,  born  July  1,  1871;  Myrtle  Lou, 
born  September  30,  1875. 

R.  F.  Foster,  one  of  those  genial  men 
one  loves  to  meet,  is  a  native  of  Michigan, 
born  in  St.  Joseph  county,  July  31, 1835, 
and  lived  at  home  until  his  marriage, 
June  24,  1855.  Lydia  Watson,  a  native 
of  Indiana,  became  his  wife  at  that  time, 
and  two  children — Mary  J.,  wife  of  John 


632 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Lockett,  Knox  county,  Missouri,  and 
Louisa,  wife  of  Reuben  Martin,  were 
born  to  them.  Her  demise  occurring,  in 
due  time  he  again  was  married  to  Maria 
Charter,  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
and  nine  children  were  born  to  them,  six 
of  whom  are  living — George  J.,  Thomas 
L.,  Harrison  A.,  Susan  C.,  Theodore  F., 
Florence,  Charles,  Alfred  C.  and  Alice. 
This  lady  also  died  and  Mr.  Foster  mar- 
ried Margaret  E.  Davis;  this  ceremony 
was  performed  in  Missouri.  She  was  a 
native  of  Indiana.  Two  children  were 
given  to  this  marriage — Ralph  C.  and 
Nellie.  George  Foster,  father  of  R.  T., 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in  Bote- 
tourt  county.  His  wife,  Mary  Shepherd, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  place,  and  their 
marriage  occurred  January  20, 1825.  His 
death  occurred  January  26,  1868,  and 
hers  in  1855 ;  they  are  buried  at  New 
Hope  cemetery.  R..  F.  Foster  owns  a 
a  nice  farm  on  section  10,  which  with  its 
great  fertility  and  good  location  makes 
it  a  desirable  home.  He  owns  about  244 
acres  in  all,  after  giving  his  children 
a  piece  of  land  as  they  left  home.  Com- 
ing here  in  1856,  he  has  continually  lived 
in  the  same  place  since.  The  date  of 
his  coming  to  the  county  was  in  1850.  • 
Nathan  W.  Farris  settled  on  section 
16,  Hire  township,  where  he  owned  40 
acres  of  land.  He  made  his  settlement 
in  the  year  1844.  His  native  home  was 
in  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  and 
the  date  of  his  birth  was  April  1,  1818. 
His  people  were  also  from  the  same 
county.  Elizabeth  Hungate  was  his  wife 
and  her  uncle,  Harry  Hungate  came 
with  Mr.  Graham  to  the  county  and  now 
lives  in  Blandinsville.  While  on  a  trip 
to  the  river  Mr.  Farris  was  thrown  from 


his  wagon  and  killed  July  7,  1855.  His 
remains  were  interred  in  the  cemetery 
at  Good  Hope,  leaving  his  wife  and 
family  to  mourn  the  great  loss  so  sud- 
denly thrust  upon  them.  The  widow 
lived  on  the  farm  until  her  death  which 
occurred  June  27,  1873.  Eight  children 
blessed  this  union — William  J.,  Martha 
J.,  wife  of  Richard  Bond,  living  in  Hire ; 
Milton  R.,  in  Knox  county,  Missouri, 
Mary  A.,  wife  of  Thomas  Fisher;  John, 
deceased;  Nancy  E.,  deceased,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Josiah  Fasher;  and  Na- 
than, now  living  in  Hire  township. 

John  B.  Murray  was  born  September 
20,  1813,  in  Green  county,  Kentucky. 
His  grandfather,  James  Murray,  came 
to  Kentucky  from  near  Guilford  Court- 
House,  North  Carolina,  in  ah  early  day. 
The  latter  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolu- 
tion, but  the  date  of  his  service  is  un- 
known. It  was  doubtless  during  its  last 
days,  as  he  was  in  only  one  engagement. 
J.  B.  Murray's  grandfather,  on  the 
maternal  side,  was  John  Ray,  who  came 
to  Kentucky  from  Maryland.  William, 
the  father  of  J.  B.,  came  with  his  parents 
to  Kentucky  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
John  B.  Murray,  at  the  age  of  21,  came 
to  Springfield,  Illinois.  This"  was  in  the 
fall  of  1834,  and  in  the  spring  of  the 
following  year,  he  returned  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  remained  several  years  longer. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  on  the  llth 
of  April,  1839,  with  Susan  Kirk,  a 
daughter  of  Dixon  Kirk,  born  June  6, 
1817.  Mr.  Murray,  wife,  and  four  chil- 
dren, started  from  Marion  county,  Ken- 
tucky, March  17,  1848,  and  by  way  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  came  to 
Illinois,  landing  at  Warsaw,  March  27th. 
He  immediately  came  to  McDonough 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


county,  and  on  the  3d  of  October,  of  the 
same  year,  settled  on  Spring  creek,  in 
what  is  now  Emmet  township.  The 
location  was  a  beautiful  one,  with  tim- 
ber on.  the  east  and  north,  and  a  fine 
walnut  grove  near  the  house,  in  which 
the  Methodists  held  tfeeir  camp  meetings 
in  1853  and  1855.  Here  he  remained 
until  1854,  when  he  sold  out  to  Jesse 
Bugg.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
went  to  Kansas,  in  company  with  Alex- 
ander and  James  Wilson,  leaving  his 
family  at  home.  He  was  gone  some  six 
weeks  looking  for  a  home,  but  returned 
to  this  section,  thinking  that  Kansas 
would  not  be  settled  up  in  his  day.  He 
then  bought  a  farm  in  the  southeastern 
part  of  Hire  township,  to  which  he 
moved  in  December.  Here  he  remained 
for  three  years,  but  in  the  spring  of  1857, 
he  removed  to  a  prairie  farm,  four  and  a 
half  miles  north  of  Colchester,  where  he 
has  resided  for  28  years.  He  had  three 
daughters  and  one  son  born  in  Kentucky 
— Harriet,  born  February  9, 1840;  Lucy, 
April  4, 1842;  Frances,  October  27, 1844; 
and  J.  T.  William  D.  was  born  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  April  2, 1850.  "Billy," 
as  he  was  commonly  called,  was  loved  by 
all  who  knew  him,  was  of  an  intellectual 
cast,  and  always  had  a  natural  regard 
for  books.  In  his  studies,  he  was  quick 
of  preception,  and  his  ability  to  solve 
any  problem  that  came  up  was  marvel- 
ous. He  depended  but  little  on  his 
teachers,  and  always  cultivated  a  love 
for  the  good  and  beautiful.  As  an  orator, 
it  is  said,  he  would  compare  with  the 
best  speakers  of  his  age.  He  had  an 
intense  relish  for  composition  and  writ- 
ing, snd  his  essays  were  pointed  and  full 
of  meaning,  and  marked  with  originality 


and  thought.  He  attended,  in  1868-69, 
the  normal  school  at  Macomb.  Among 
his  most  intimate  friends,  perhaps,  the 
one  most  loved,  was  F.  M.  Martin,  now  a 
physician  at  La  Harpe. 

Billy  knew  how  to  appreciate  the 
Creator.  He  had  a  love  for  natural 
scenery,  and  spoke  often  in  his  writings 
of  the  high  hills,  lofty  mountains  and 
the  great  ocean ;  from  these  his  thoughts 
would  go  up  to  the  God  of  Nature  who 
made  all  things  by  the  word  of  his 
power.  He  was,  also,  a  good  bible 
student;  he  was  industrious  at  school 
and  on  the  farm,  and  despised  the  loss 
of  time.  One  day  while  passing  through 
the  field,  he  pulled  up  a  small  willow 
sprig  which  he  planted  in  his  father's 
yard  next  to  the  public  road.  He  was 
then  eight  years  old.  It  was  the  first 
set  out  in  the  yard  and  has  been  grow- 
ing for  .27  years,  and  is  now  more  than 
tw,o  feet  in  diameter,  and  has  a  large 
spreading  top  of  more  than  a  hundred 
branches.  This  tree  which  we  call 
Billy's  willow,  makes  a  cooling  shade  for 
weary  passers-by. 

One  touching  incident  occurred  shortly 
before  his  death.  He  had  returned  home 
from  the  school  at  Macomb;  his  oldest 
.sister  from  Clinton,  Missouri,  had  re- 
turned home  for  the  first  time  in  10  years 
on  a  visit.  The  children  were  all  at 
home.  There  was  a  family  re-union. 
In  three  days  from  this  time,  Billy  had 
a  severe  attack  of  lung  fefer,  and  in  less 
than  three  days  more  he  was  taken  away 
from  the  home  circle  by  the  hand  of 
death.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  tem- 
perance and  was  always  in  his  place  both 
in  the  Good  Templars  lodge  and  in  Sab- 
bath school.  He  was  a  member  of  the 


634 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  at  Ar- 
gyle.  He  lived  a  consistent  Christian  life 
and  died  in  the  triumphs  of  a  living  faith ; 
on  April  1,  1869.  F.  M.  Martin,  J.  T. 
Murray  and  J.  W.  Sell,  collected  a  num- 
ber of  his  best  essays  and  had  them  pub- 
lished in  pamphlet  form;  200  of  these 
books  called  the"Youth's  Standard, "were 
gratuitously  distributed  to  his  friends. 
The  following  tribute  to  his  memory, 
written  by  J.  T.  Murray,  is  inserted  at 
the  request  of  admiring  friends: 

THE  CHORD  OF  LOVE. 

Billy  sleeps, 

Where  the  weeping  willow  weeps; 
In  the  church  yard  sad  and  lone, 
Underneath  the  marble  stone. 
Yet  we  love  him  still  the  same, 
No  link  is  severed  from  the  chain ; 
That  fond  affection  wove  on  earth 
And  gave  to  life  its  golden  worth, 
That  chain  is  love — a  jewel  bright, 
That  glitters  in  the  realms  of  light, 
And  reaches  down  to  earth  below, 
To  heal  its  bleeding  wounds  of  woe. 
The  thought  is  sweet,  that  we  shall  meet 
Beyond  the  shadows  and  the  strife, 
When  done  with  time,in  heaven's  bright  clime 
We'll  rest  beneath  the  trees  of  life 

James  R.  Murray,  the  youngest  of  J. 
B.  Murray's  children,  was  born  Febru- 
ary 12th,  1859,  in  McDonough  County, 
Illinois.  He  labored  on  the  farm  sev- 
eral years  during  the  summer  and  at- 
tended the  district  school  in  the  winter. 
His  health  having  failed  on  account  of 
disease  of  the  lungs,  he  started  in  Sep- 
tember, 1877,  in  company  with  Mr. 
Downing  of  Industry,  to  Nebraska. 
They  started  through  in  the  wagon,  but 
Riley  grew  worse,  west  of  Burlington, 
one  day's  drive,  and  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn home.  From  this  time  to  the  close 
of  his  life  he  was  a  constant  sufferer. 


Still  in  the  midst  of  his  afflictions  he 
was  cheerful,  still  hoping  for  the  restor- 
tion  of  his  health.  In  August,  1878,  he 
went  in  company  with  Albert  Graham  to 
one  of  the  northern  lakes,  near  Albert 
Lea,  in  Minnesota.  There  he  spent  the 
harvest.  On  his  »eturn  home  he  visited 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Paul.  This  visit 
gave  him  temporary  relief,  but  it  was 
not  lasting.  On  the  following  winter  he 
was  married  to  Alice  Askaw  of  Macomb. 
He  returned  to  Minnesota  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1879,  but 'returned  home  without 
receiving  any  material  benefit.  He  died 
February  15th,  1880.  His  death  was 
most  remarkable.  Many  friends  were 
present  who  will  never  forget  that  day. 
But  we  will  attempt  no  further  descrip- 
tion, than  to  say  it  was  a  day  of  deliver- 
ance from  constant  suffering  and  also  one 
of  exulting  victory  and  holy  triumph. 
Riley  like  Billy  made  much  proficiency 
in  writing;  his  best  productions  were 
read  before  the  Sunday  School  conven- 
tions of  Hire  township.  J.  B.  Murray  at 
the  age  of  seventy-one  is  still  living  on 
his  farm  in  Hire  township.  He  has 
three  children  dead  and  three  living. 
Lucy  Bradley,  his  second  daughter, 
died  January  12th,  1878.  In  just  two 
weeks  from  this  time  J.  W.  Bradley,  her 
husband,  died  near  Knoxville  Tennessee. 
Their  three  children,  Willie,  Ollie  and 
Lizzie  Bradley  live  with  their  grand- 
father and  grandmother  on  the  farm.  S. 
Frances  Sell,  the  youngest  daughter  of 
J.  B.  Murray,  lives  six  miles  north  of 
Erie,  in  Neosho  county,  Kansas.  J.  W. 
Sell,  her  husband  is  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers of  Neosho  county.  He  was  one  of 
the  McDonough  county's  school  teach- 
ers 22  years  ago.  He  is  still  teaching  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


635 


Kansas.     They  have    three    children— 
Wata,  Willie  and  Ina. 

Eli  Murray,  son  of  William  and  Mar- 
garet Murray  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and 
born  December  14,  1830,  coming  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  with  his  parents  in 
1848,  settling  on  Spring  creek  in  Emmet 
township,  afterwards  removing  to  Hire 
township  where  the  father  bought  eighty 
acres  on  section  24,  and  lived  on  the  same 
place  till  the  time  of  his  death,  from  can- 
cer, January  26,  1855.  The  date  of  his 
birth  was  January  7,  1785,  in  North  Car- 
olina. He  removed  to  Kentucky  when  a 
young  man,  and  to  Illinois  in  1845.  His 
wife,  Margaret  Bird,  was  born  January 
7,  1799,  and  died  November  27, 1862,  and 
are  both  buried  in  Argyle  cemetery. 
Both  were  members  of  the  M.  E.  Church. 
Mr.  Murray  was  a  man  of  piety,  very 
sociable,  genial,  and  a  man  of  marked 
characteristics  in  respect  to  honor  and 
uprightness.  He  raised  a  family  of  six- 
teen children,  seven  of  whom  are  living 
in  the  county,  viz:  John  B.,  Benjamin 
F.,  Reuben,  Eli,  Allen,  Elizabeth,  and 
Milom  A.  The  three  living  out  of  the 
county  are,  Green  B.,  living  in  Nelson 
county,  Kentucky;  James,  in  Morgan 
county,  Illinois;  Robert  B.,  in  Adair 
county,  Missouri;  Eli  lives  on  section 
13,  Hire  township,  where  he  has  a  beau- 
tiful home,  the  improvements  all  having 
been  made  by  himself.  Besides  this 
home  he  has  265  acres  on  Spring  creek, 
in  Emmet  township.  Mr.  Murray  has 
buildings  that  cost  upwards  of  $3,500. 
His  marriage  occurred  September  20, 
1855,  to  Elizabeth  H.  Phelps,  a  daughter 
of  L.  P.  Phelps.  She  was  born  in  Chat- 
auqua  county  New  York,  February  1, 
1837.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Phelps  will  be 


found  below.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray 
have  five  living  children — Addie  N.,  wife 
of  J.  D.  Martin;  Etta  M.,  a  teacher  in 
the  county,  having  been  educated  in 
Macomb;  Leauder  P.,  Eli  Franklin  and 
Ermine  V.  They  have  buried  seven, 
and  their  names  were  as  follows :  Mattie 
!\,  Louisa  M.,  Margaret  E.,  William  B., 
John  W.,  Elsie  E.,  and  Ella  E.  The 
last  two  were  twins.  Mr.  Murray,  wife 
and  daughters  were  members  of  the  M. 
E.  church,  and  he  steward  and  trustee  in 
the  same;  also  school  director  of  dis- 
trict No.  6. 

Saturday,  January  13,  1872,  Mr.  L.  P. 
Phelps  was  killed  while  riding  to  the 
depot,  at  Macomb,  on  a  dray,  having 
hired  a  drayman  to  draw  a  load  of  goods 
to  his  residence  on  East  Carroll  street. 
A  team,  running  away,  came  in  contact 
with  the  dray  wagon,  and  Mr.  Phelps 
was  knocked  off  the  wagon  and  tram- 
pled under  foot  by  the  running  team. 
Upon  a  surgical  examination  being 
made,  two  severe  wounds  were  found  on 
the  back  of  the  head,  a  terrible  gash 
over  the  eye,  and  the  nose  mangled  and 
cheek  bone  mashed  in  a  terrible  manner. 
The  wounds  on  the  head  were  supposed 
to  have  been  caused  by  striking  on  the 
frozen  ground,  and  those  on  the  face  by 
the  sharp  hoof  of  one  of  the  horses, 
which  must  have  planted  his  foot 
squarely  in  his  face  when  passing  over. 
Mr.  Phelps  never  became  conscious,  but 
death  relieved  him  of  his  sufferings  the 
next  day.  He  was  buried  on  Thursday, 
January  16th.  The  deceased  was  about 
61  years  of  age,  at  his  death,  and  a  promi- 
nent and  highly  respected  citizen.  He 
emigrated  to  this  state  from  New  York 
over  30  years  ago,  and  settled  in  Emmet 


636 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


township,  where  by  industry  and  energy 
he  amassed  quite  a  handsome  fortune. 
About  14  years  ago  he  removed  to  the 
city,  to  enjoy  in  his  declining  years,  the 
fruits  of  his  early  days  of  toil.  He 
left  a  wife  and  two  daughters  (two 
married)  who  had  the  sympathy  of  the 
entire  community  in  their  sudden  and 
terrible  calamity. 

William  J.  Farris  made  his  egress 
into  this  world  October  6,  1839,  and  is 
the  oldest  son  of  Nathan  Farris,  whose 
sketch  appears  elsewhere.  Coming  to 
McDonough  county  from  Hancock, where 
he  was  born,  he  remained  at  home  until 
his  father's  death.  At  this  juncture  the 
responsibility  was  thrown  upon  William, 
and  he  had  the  family  to  care  for.  Al- 
though young,  he  assumed  these  new 
duties  with  the  seeming  experience  of 
older  men,  and  conducted  the  financial 
matters  well.  Upon  his  marriage  with 
Leantha  D.  Foster,  December  20,  1860, 
he  left  the  care  of  the  family  to  others. 
She  is  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  daugh- 
ter of  George  Foster,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia ;  he  settled  in  Hire  township,  coming 
from  Michigan  here,  and  died  at  his 
home  January  26,  1868,  having  lost  his 
wife  in  1855,  and  both  lie  in  Good  Hope 
cemetery.  In  1862  Mr.  Farris  came  to 
his  present  residence  on  section  3,  own- 
ing a  nice  farm  here,  with  good  improve- 
ments, which  he  made  by  his  own  and 
wife's  exertions.  His  home  is  about 
two  miles  east  from  Blandinsville,  on  the 
main  road  to  Macomb,  and  is  sheltered 
by  fine  timber.  Five  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  three  of  whom  are  living 
-Walter  J.,  born  November  7,  1862; 
Oscar,  born  September  12,  1869,  and 
Theodore,  born  December  31,  1875. 


Albert  and  Louie  are  deceased,  ,the 
former  born  March  7,  1865,  and  died 
August  6,  1865,  and  the  latter  was  born 
June  5,  1872,  living  only  a  short  time. 
They  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 
Mr.  Farris  is  engaged  in  farming,  also 
in  raising  English  draft  horses,  owning 
two  fine  brood  mares,  and  also  some 
half-blood  Normans,  which  he  sells  for 
roadsters  and  farm  use. 

John  A.  F.  McCord,  one  of  McDon- 
ough county's  sons,  born  in  Emmet  town- 
ship, on  section  30,  March  14,  1844,  and 
is  the  second  son  of  William  and  Louisa 
(Scantlin)  McCord.  He  crossed  the 
plains  when  20  years  old  to  Idaho  city, 
in  search  of  the  precious  metal ;  his  stay 
was  short,  returning  to  his  home  in  Em- 
met township.  His  trip  was  made  over- 
land with  a  mule  team,  paying  for  his 
trip  $100  for  passage.  On  returning 
home  he  followed  farming  in  summer 
and  digging  coal  in  winter.  He  was  mar- 
ried, November  8,  1866,  to  Sarah  J. 
McGee,  a  native  of  Hancock  county,  Illi- 
nois, -and  daughter  of  William  McGee, 
who  died  when  his  daughter  was  very 
young.  Since  his  marriage,  Mr.  McCord, 
has  lived  in  Hire  township,  for  five  years 
on  section  25,  and  in  1872,  he  bought  40 
acres  on  section  36,  and  owns  at  present 
76  acres  of  his  home  place  and  25  acres 
of  timber.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCord  have 
had  seven  children— Robert  S.,  living; 
Sarah  Malinda,  deceased;  Mary  Lucretia, 
deceased;  John  A.  F.,  living;  William 
Lee,  deceased;  Nancy  Bernetta,  living; 
and  Thomas  Roach,  deceased.  In  poli- 
tics, Mr.  McCord  is  a  democrat. 

W.  W.  McCord  was  born  in  Overtoil 
county,  Temie'ssee,  February  12,  1809; 
lived  there  until  the  fall  of  1829,  when 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


637 


he,  with  the  rest  of  his  father's  family, 
moved  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  lived  two  years,  when  he  and  his 
father  came  to  this  county,  remaining 
until  the  fall  of  1832,  when  he  and  his 
father  went  back  to  the  state  of  Tennes- 
see on  business,  and  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Louisa  Scantlin,  on  November  1, 
1832,  a  native  of  Jackson  county,  Ten- 
nessee ;  remaining  there  two  years,  then 
returned  to  his  home  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  moved  to 
Nauvoo,  remaining  there  two  years,  then 
moved  back  to  the  old  farm  in  McDon- 
ough county,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1878,  when  he  moved  to 
Kansas,  where  his  wife  died  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year.  He  then  returned  to 
Illinois  where  he  remained  until  the 
summer  of  1870,  when  he  took  a  trip  to 
Franklin  county,  Illinois,  and  married 
Lucretia  Mulkey.  He  remained  there, 
but  losing  his  second  wife  in  a  little  over 
one  year  from  his  marriage,  did  not  re- 
turn to  this  county  until  the  spring  of 
1884,  where  he  resided  until  his  death 
which  occurred  July  20,  1884,  aged  75 
years.  His  occupation  was  that  of  a 
farmer. 

Reuben  M.  Folts,  one  of  the  present 
residents  of  Hire  township,  lives  on  sec- 
tion 25,  where  he  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
160  acres,  which  is  under  a  good  state  of 
cultivation,  with  very  good  improvements 
and  plenty  of  nice  timber  near  by — in 
fact,  surrounding  his  buildings.  His 
native  state  was  Ohio,  he  being  born  in 
Butler  county,  January  15,  1835,  and 
is  a  son  of  Reuben  and  Anna  Mary  Folts. 
They  removed  to  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
and  subsequently  to  Sangamon  county, 


Illinois,  and  later  to  McDonough  county, 
settling  in  Hire  township.  Mr.  Folts 
has  a  good  education,  having  been  a 
teacher  for  a  number  of  years,  teaching 
in  Sangamon,  Cass,  Menard,  and  other 
counties.  In  1862  he  crossed  the  plains, 
arriving  in  September  in  Washington 
territory,  also  visiting  Oregon.  The 
next  January  he  went  to  Salmon  River 
mountains,  and  was  engaged  in  mining 
mostly  all  the  time.  Remaining  till 
1864,-  about  the  middle  of  the  year,  he 
went  to  British  Columbia,  at  Victoria, 
and  down  the  coast,  stopping  at  San 
Francisco,  Panama  and  Aspinwall,  re- 
turning to  his  home  in  this  county.  The 
trip  was  fraught  with  danger  while  cross- 
ing the  plains.  He  was  sick  also  on  the 
sea,  but  in  all  was  successful  in  accumu- 
lating a  nice  little  property — more  than 
the  usual  gold-seeker  in  the  mines  of 
the  far  west.  His  wife  was  Isabel  Gra- 
ham, a  daughter  of  Bedford  Graham,  a 
farmer  on  section  23,  Hire  township. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  December 
21,  1864,  and  to  these  people  have  been 
born  nine  children  —  Cora  J.,  Frank- 
lin H.  and  Elice  L.,  deceased,  Mary  B., 
Maggie  Z.,  deceased,  Clinton  G.,  Fred- 
erick F.,  Mattie  M.,  Lena  R.,  born  Aug. 
21,  1884.  Mr.  Folts  has  served  on  the 
board  of  supervisors,  and  been  school 
director  a  number  of  years.  In  politics 
he  favors  the  democratic  party. 

Reuben  Folts  and  Anna  Mary  Petefish, 
the  parents  of  Reuben  M.,  were  united  in 
marriage  in  Rockingham  county,  Vir- 
ginia. He  was*  one  of  the  best  citizens 
in  the  county  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
being  a  moral,  upright  man,  strictly 
honest  in  deal,  and  beloved  by  his 
neighbors  and  family.  They  are  both 


638 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


interred  at  Friendship  church  in  Ten- 
nessee township.  They  removed  to 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  subse- 
quently to  McDonough  county,  settling 
in  Hire  township  on  section  25,  where 
their  daughter,  Christania,  now  lives,  who 
with  her  brother  J.  P.  Folts,  owns  80 
acres,  the  east  one-half  of  the  southeast 
quarter.  She  is  a  native  of  Butler 
county,  Ohio.  She  has  formerly  fol- 
lowed the  ^ccupation  of  teaching,  espe- 
cially in  McDonough  county,  educating 
herself  in  the  common  schools,  and  at 
Macomb;  also  attending  the  Methodist 
female  seminary,  at  Jacksonville,  Illi- 
nois, for  two  years.  Ezra  D.,  commonly 
called  "  Doc,"  lives  with  her,  and  is  run- 
ning the  farm,  and  is  a  native  of  Sanga- 
mon county,  born  near  the  city  of 
Springfield. 

Bedford  Graham  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  and  raised  in  Green  county, 
where  he  lived  until  a  young  man.  The 
date  of  his  birth  was  April,  1823.  His 
father,  Hampton  Graham,  was  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  Maria,  his  mother,  was 
a  native  of  North  Carolina,  who  moved 
to  Virginia,  where  she  was  married  to 
Hampton  Graham,  after  which  they 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  after  raising  a 
large  family  of  children,  the  father  died 
in  Kentucky.  March  25th,  1844,  was 
the  date  of  the  union  of  Bedford  Gra- 
ham to  Jane  Murray,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Murray  and  Margaret,  his  wife. 
In  the  same  year  Bedford  moved  to  Illi- 
nois, bringing  his  mother.  Settled  in 
McDonough  county  in  the*  year  1848,  in 
Hire  township,  where  he  now  resides, 
his  mother  having  died  in  the  year  1855. 
Bedford  Graham  owns  90  acres  on  the 
southeast  of  section  23,  all  of  which  is 


under  cultivation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gra- 
ham had  eight  children;  three  are  living 
and  five  are  dead;  those  living  are — Mary 
Isabel,  Margaret  M.  and  Alfred  N.  Mrs. 
Graham  died  in  the  year  1860;  and  Mr. 
Graham  married  the  second  time  to  Al- 
media  L.  Felter.  They  have  eight  chil- 
dren, five  living  and  three  dead.  Those 
living  are — Lewis  H.,  John  A.,  George 
W.,  Sionilli  L.,  Asenath  A.  Mr.  Graham 
has  been  justice  of  the  peace  for  12 
years.  He  attends  the  Baptist  church. 
George  W.  Keithley  is  a  native  of  In- 
diana, born  in  1831,  July  22.  He  lived 
at  home  until  he  was  twenty-five  years 
old.  His  marriage  occurred  April  19, 
1855,  to  Abigail  B.  Lyon*  a  native  of 
Illinois,  and  daughter  of  John  Lyon, 
one  of  the  settlers  of  1834,  in  McDonough 
county,  Tennessee  township,  who  died  in 
Kentucky,  while  there  on  business,  Sep- 
tember 27, 1840.  Her  mother  was  Mar- 
garet Mourning,  who  died  in  this  county 
in  November,  1877.  George  first  settled 
on  section  14,  and  now  owns  the  east  one- 
half  of  the  north-west  quarter.  Their 
children  are  seven  in  number — Sarah  E., 
Hannah  M.,  Eliza  J.,  Sanderson  P.,  Clara 
D.,  John  J.,  George  B.  Margaret  M., 
was  the  oldest  child,  now  deceased.  Mr. 
Keithley  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order  and  M.  E.  church,  and  Mrs.  K., 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren 
church.  This  lady  has  been  blind  for 
eighteen  years,  caused  by  scrofula  at  first. 
Although  in  this  condition,  she  is  a  bless- 
ing to  a  household,  administering  com- 
fort to  every  one  around  and  having 
hosts  of  friends.  In  church  .and  Sunday 
school  work,  our  subject  has  been  prom- 
inent as  a  teacher  and  laborer  in  the 
good  cause. 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


639 


James  Keithley  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  Indiana,  February  11,  1838. 
His  home  was  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage,  which  took  place  March  3, 
1859.  Frances  Veal  became  his  wife 
at  that  time.  She  is  a  native  of 
Missouri,  born  in  Chariton  county,  a 
daughter  of  Sampson  Veal.  While  on  a 
visit  to  her  brother  in  McDonough  county 
they  became  acquainted,  and  after  the 
marriage  they  lived  on  the  old  Keithley 
homestead  for  nearly  six  years.  At  this 
time  he  purchased  40  acres  of  land  which 
he  sold  afterwards,  and  lived  in  Blandins- 
ville  township  a  long  time.  He  has 
always  made  farming  his  sole  occupation, 
and  now  lives  in  Hire  township.  Nine 
children  have  blessed  the  union  of  these 
— Isabel,  Scott,  Andrew  J.,  deceased; 
Elizabeth,  William,  Eva,  George,  Fred- 
die, and  Dora  E.,  Mr.  Keithley  is  a 
member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  Select 
Knights.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Samuel  Pulliam  was  born  in  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky,  December  18,  1815, 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm  there.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Susan  (Greer) 
Pulliam,  both  natives  of  Virginia,  and 
both  died  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky. 
Coming  to  McDonough  county  from 
Kentucky,  Samuel  Pulliam  rented  land 
for  some  time.  His  first  actual  settlement 
was  on  section  27,  where  he  now  lives, 
owning  the  northwest  quarter,  which  is 
well  cultivated.  His  marriage  occurred 
in  1837,  when  he  was  united  in  matri- 
mony with  Miss  Elizabeth  Goff,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  Spencer  county.  She  died 
in  1870,  and  is  buried  at  Tennesee.  The 
family  consisted  of —Mary,  wife  of  Nicho- 
las Yager,  and  living  in  Missouri ;  Susan 
and  William,  deceased;  John  T.,  living 


on  the  homestead;  Bettie,  deceased; 
James  H.,  living  in  Kansas;  Kitty,  wife  of 
Thomas  J.  Stookey,  and  now  part  owner 
of  the  old  place;  and  Martha.  Mr.  Pul- 
liam is  quite  feeble  in  health  and  does  not 
attend  to  business  matters,  as  in  times 
past,  leaving  that  part  to  his  children. 

George  W.  Hainline  lives  on  section  2, 
where  he  owns  60  acres,  the  balance  of 
his  farm  being  on  section  11.  He  was 
born  June  3d,  1825,  in  Montgomery 
county,  Kentucky,  and  is  the  son  of  Geo. 
and  Flora  ( Cockerel )  Hainline,  and  came 
to  McDonough  county  in  1838.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  his  marriage,  which 
occurred  June  16,  1845,  to  Mary  Jane 
Keithley,  born  July  2,  1826,  in  Indiana, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Keithley,  who  for- 
merly owned  the  farm  Mr.  H.  now  owns. 
A  sketch  of  Mr.  Keithley  will  be  foufid 
in  another  place.  There  were  14  chil- 
dren born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hainline— 
Nathan  T.,  born  October  17, 1847;  Susan 
Mary  A.,  born  October  7,  1848;  George 
T.,  born  January  12, 1850;  Sarah  L.,  born 
September  5,  1851;  Flora  A.,  born  No- 
vember 4,  1852;  John  W.,  born  March  25, 
1854;  Francis  M.,  born  March  30,  1855; 
Jacob  E.,born  November  16, 1856;  Seth, 
born  September  1,  1858;  James  O.,  born 
February  19,  1860;  Anabel,  born  Decem- 
ber 27,  1861 ;  Americus  G.,  born  January 
2,  1864;  William  S.,  born  December  29, 
1865;  Ida  M.,  born  October  24, 1869.  Su- 
san, died  August  20,  1849;  Flora  A.,  died 
February  14,  1876;  John,  died  October 
18,  1854.  Mr.  Hainline  was  never  much 
of  a  politician,  but  always  favored  the 
republican  party.  He  has  a  nice  grove 
of  black  walnut  timber  near  his  house, 
the  walnuts  having  been  planted  by  him- 
self. 


640 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Randolph  Rodgers,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  December  23, 1820. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  Rod- 
gers, the  father  a  native  of  Virginia,  the 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Randolph  grew 
to  manhood  in  Ohio,  living  on  a  farm 
there  until  about  1854,  when  he  came  to 
McDonough  county  and  settled  on  sec- 
tion 36,  Hire  township,  his  farm  consist- 
ing of  160  acres.  Mr.  Rodgers  was  thrice 
married,  twice  in  Ohio,  and  the  third 
time  to  Lineury  Carmack,  June  20,  1858. 
She  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  but  came 
with  parents  to  McDonough  county  and 
settled  on  section  26.  Her  father  was 
Cornelius  Carmack  and  mother  Ingabo 
(Gore)  Carmack,  both  natives  of  Over- 
ton,  Tennessee.  He  died  on  the  old  farm 
in  Hire  township  July  24,  1849.  Mrs. 
Rodgers  still  lives  on  91  acres  of  sec- 
tion 36,  which  was  left  to  her  for  a  life- 
time dower;  the  youngest  son,  Wilson 
R.,  carrying  it  on.  He  was  born  in  1860, 
September  26.  The  remainder  of  the 
farm  has  passed  to  the  heirs.  William 
B.,  was  born  in  1859,  March  14,  and  owns 
a  farm  of  72  acres  on  section  26,  all  un- 
der cultivation.  The  young  men  are  en- 
terprising and  have  considerable  stock. 
They  have  some  Durham  cattle  and  some 
good  young  horses. 

Bainbridge  'H.  Roberts  is  a  Kentuck- 
ian  by  birth,  born  in  Breckenridge 
county,  on  a  farm,  January  2,  1833.  Is 
a  son  of  James  E.  and  Sarah  M.  (Cox) 
Roberts.  The  former  a  native  of  Camp- 
bell county,  Tennessee,  the  latter  born 
near  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania.  Bain- 
bridge  made  his  home  with  his  father 
until  of  age,  and  was  married  February 
9,  1858,  to  Mary  E.  Williams,  a  daugh- 
ter of .  John  Williams.  She  was  born  in 


Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  and  six  chil- 
dren bless  this  union — Seymour  L.,  now 
in  Kansas;  Jerusha  A.,  Laura  A.,  Oliver 
J.,  Sterling  E.,  Harley  C.  The  Roberts 
family  removed  to  Hancock  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  they  still  live,  excepting  the 
subject  of  our  sketch,  who  came  to  Hire 
township,  McDonough  county,  in  1865, 
where  he  bought  the  south  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  30.  He  has 
a  nice  place,  under  a  good  state  of  culti- 
vation, with  excellent  timber  land  sur- 
rounding his  comfortable  home.  Al- 
though owning  a  small  farm,  he  manages 
to  raise  a  considerable  amount  of  stock, 
which  is  the  principal  feature  which  en- 
gages his  attention.  Before  coming  to 
Hire  township,  Mr.  Roberts  worked  at 
the  carpenter's  trade,  in  Tennessee,  hav- 
ing learned  this  trade  when  quite  young. 
Mr.  Roberts  has  served  the  township  as 
justice  of  the  peace  for  six  years,  which 
capacity  he  fills  at  present.  He  has  been 
township  trustee  for  several  terms,  and 
a  member  of  the  school  board  for  many 
years.  He  favors  the  democratic  party ;  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
James  Wilson,  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1833,  landing  Sunday,  .Novem- 
ber 15,  in  Blandinsville  township,  locat- 
ing on  section  20,  the  southwest  quarter. 
This  was  partly  improved,  but  under  the 
management  of  Mr.  Wilson  it  became  a 
good  farm.  On  this  place  he  lived  until 
1855,  when  he  died  and  was  buried  on 
the  farm  in  a  private  burial  lot.  He  was 
born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
July,  1776.  He  left  Virginia  when  16 
year's  of  age,  and  went  to  Washington 
county,  Kentucky,  thence  to  this  county. 
He  was  a  man  of  medium  size,  and  in 
consequence  of  his  father  dying  when 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


643 


he  was  quite  young,  he  was  bound  out, 
and  failed  to  secure  an  education.  He  pos- 
sessed a  good,  fair  business  ability  arid 
died  in  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
was  twice  married.  The  first  wife  died, 
and  left  one  child.  Nancy  Dorothy  was, 
the  name  of  the  second  lady  who  became 
Mrs.  Wilson;  she  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Kentucky.  By  the  second 
marriage  there  were  nine  children,  six 
of  whom  are  now  living;  two  in  McDon- 
ough  county — William  L.,  and  Thos.  F. 
William  L.  Wilson  was  born  Novem- 
ber 15,  1820,  and  was  a  son  of  James 
Wilson,  now  deceased.  On  June  17, 
1846,  he  was  married  to  Nancy  J.  Huff; 
her  death  occurred  January  16, 1854,  and 
she  was  interred  in  the  Baptist  cemetery 
in  Hire  township.  Four  children  were 
born  to  them — Belle,  deceased;  Andrew, 
Mary  and  Dora.  Mr.  Wilson  was  again 
married  June  27, 1857,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Messer  Smith,  nee  Hill. '  She  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  but  reared  in  Indiana, 
where  they  were  married.  -  Her  parents 
were  Elizabeth  and  Charlotte  (Tucker) 
Hill.  Three  children  were  born  to  them 
by  Mr.  Wilson's  latter  marriage — Eliza, 
now  the  wife  of  Michael  Hainline,  and 
living  in  Kansas;  Susan,  at  home;  and 
Alice,  deceased.  When  Mr.  Wilson  lo- 
cated in  Hire  township,  he  settled  on 
section  15,  where  he  bought  80  acres, 
which  he  at  present  occupies,  and  has  it 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  The 
time  of  his  coming  to  his  present  home 
being  about  1865.  The  early  portion  of 
his  life  he  lived  at  home,  and  really  made 
his  home  with  his  father  until  his  first 
marriage.  He  is  a  man  of  good  judg- 
ment, and  a  social  turn  of  mind.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  live  a  contented  happy 


life,  and  are  journeying  down  the  hill 
happy  in  each  other's  society. 

James  Bice  is  a  native  of  Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania,  but  was  reared  in  Wash- 
ington county,  the  same  state.  His 
father,  Nicholas  Bice  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, near  Carlisle,  his  father  was 
Joseph  Bice,  also  natives  of  the  same 
place.  Nicholas  settled  in  McDonough 
county  in  1853,  and  located  on  section  14, 
owning  120  acres  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter, living  on  that  place  about  20  years, 
he  sold  and  removed  to  Blandinsville, 
where  he  died.  His  wife  had  preceded 
him  a  few  years.  Her  death  seemed  to 
so  disturb  his  peace  of  mind  that  his 
property  went  like  the  wind,  and  he  died 
having  a  very  small  allowance  of  this 
earth's  goods.  James  removed  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Ohio,  taking  his  wife 
whom  he  had  married  August  31,  1843. 
Her  maiden  name  was  Francis  Aukrom, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  A. 
Aukrom,  and  a  native  of  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania.  In  1854,  he  again  removed, 
this  time  to  Missouri.  Having  a  desire 
to  visit  his  parents,  with  his  wife  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  while  on  this 
visit  bought  80  acres  on  section  27.  He 
now  owns  202  acres  in  all.  Mr.  Bice 
soon  after  settled  on  the  place  he  bought, 
and  improved  it  well,  having  good  build- 
ings, and  a  nice  hedge  surrounding  the 
place  for  a  long  distance  of  Osage  orange- 
This  he  is  trimming  in  nice  shape,  using 
a  machine  of  late  pattern  which  he  con- 
siders valuable.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bice  have 
eight  children — Isaac;  Eebecca,  wife  of 
Thomas  Foley,  in  Emmet  township; 
Nicholas,  living  in  Hire  township;  Jane, 
wife  of  Thomas  Hainline,  in  Emmet; 
Lucinda,  wife  of  Edmund  Inman,  in  Em- 


38 


644 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


met;  Sarah,  Avife  of  James  Stickland, 
also  in  Emmet  township ;  Franklin  and 
David,  living  at  home,  and  running  the 
farm. 

Beece  Barnes  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1844,  and  is  a  son 
of  Elias  and  Polly  (Gilland)  Barnes. 
The  family  settled  in  McDonough  county 
in  1853,  about  three  miles  north  and  one 
west  of  Macomb.  Beece  lived  at  home 
until  he  enlisted,  April  22,  1861.  At 
first,  in  the  three  months'  service,  after- 
wards enlisting  again,  he  served  his 
country  till  August,  1865,  being  wounded 
five  times.  Mr.  Barnes  was  in  the  bat- 
tles of  Pea  Bidge,  Chattanooga,  Corinth 
and  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  He  was 
wounded  three  times  at  Chattanooga,  and 
at  Corinth  in  the  breast  with  a  piece  of 
shell.  He  laid  in  the  hospital  some 
time,  and  was  furloughed  home,  staying 
some  two  months,  and  is  at  present  a 
worthy  pensioner.  He  was  in  the  2d 
Illinois,  company  B,  also  the  32d  Illi- 
nois, company  I.  He  was  mustered  in 
at  Springfield  the  first  time,  at  St.  Louis 
the  last  time.  Much  more  might  be 
said  in  regard  to  the  soldier's  experi- 
ence, but  our  work  will  not  admit  in 
this  place.  Suffice  it  to  say,  all  honor 
to  the  brave  boys  who  saved  the  nation. 

John  Fisher,  the  present  supervisor 
of  Hire  township,  is  considered  one  of 
the  best  farmers  in  the  county.  He 
lives  near  Blandinsville,  on  section  10, 
and  owns,  in  all,  369  acres  of  land,  not 
one  acre  of  which  is  untillable.  His 
buildings  are  good  and  present  a  neat 
appearance.  The  house  is  two-stories, 
and  the  main  part  is  24x28  feet,  with  an 
addition  16x20  feet.  His  main  barn  is 
38x48  feet.  The  main  features  of  his 


farming  consist  of  raising  stock  and  feed- 
ing cattle  for  the  eastern  markets.  He 
has  some  fine  Norman  and  Clydesdale 
brood  mares  from  which  he  raises  some 
fine  draft  horses.  John  Fisher  made 
his  home  with  his  parents  until  20  years 
of  age,  when  he  went  to  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
He  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Polly 
(Kells)  Fisher,  and  was  the  ninth  child 
of  a  family  of  10  children,  all  of  whom 
are  now  liviug,except  William,  the  eldest 
child.  Thomas  Fisher  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  11,  1791,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Blandinsville,  in  1868.  He  settled  in 
McDonough  county  in  1844,  coming 
from  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
had  settled  in  1840.  His  first  wife  died, 
and  he  was  again  married  to  Elizabeth 
Brown,  by  whom  there  were  four  child- 
ren. Being  a  mechanic  by  trade,  or 
rather  a  mill-wright,  on  coming  to  Bland- 
insville he  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill 
there,  besides  other  mills  in  the  county, 
working  at  the  trade  for  nearly  20  years. 
John  Fisher  was  married  in  1857  to 
Diantha  Foster,  a  native  of  Michigan. 
She  died  September  20,  1881,  leaving 
six  children — William,  Frank,  James, 
Charles,  Mary  and  Martha.  George, 
the  oldest  child,  is  deceased.  The  second 
wife  was  Flora  Murray,  a  daughter  of 
Hiram  Murray,  of  Missouri,  and  the 
ceremony  was  performed  June  18,  1882. 
One  child,  Grover  C.,  born  November 
25,  1884,  blesses  this  union.  Mr.  Fisher 
has  been  on  the  school  board  for  14 
years,  and  in  politics,  is  a  democrat. 

Alfred  Brown  was  born  in  Green 
county,  East  Tennessee,  June  8,  1810,  a 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  ( Hull )  Brown. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


645 


He  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  she  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  both  were  buried  in  Indi- 
ana. The  family  removed  toWhite  county, 
Tennessee,  and  subsequently  to  Harrison 
county,  Indiana,  living  a  portion  of  the 
time  in  the  adjoining  county,  Crawford, 
where  they  lived  at  the  time  of  their 
death.  Alfred  was  married  March  27, 
1835,  to  Sarah  V.  Shields,  of  Harrison 
county,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Naomi 
(Little)  Shields.  In  the  fall  of  1835, 
with  his  family,  Alfred  removed  to  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  till 
1852,  at  which  time  he  came  to  McDon- 
ough  and  settled  on  section  1,  where  he 
bought  80  acres,  afterwards  buying  94 
acres  more.  He  has  lived  on  this  place 
since;  at  first  living  in  a  small  house,  but 
in  1877,  he  built  a  fine  residence  32x25 
and  24x16  feet,  one  and  one-half  stories 
high,  costing  $1,800.  His  wife  died  Aug- 
ust 3,  1871,  and  was  buried  at  Blandins- 
ville,  leaving  one  child — Marinda,  now 
the  wife  of  J.  D.  Isom,  living  at  the  old 
home,  where  her  father  lives  with  her. 
She  was  born  May  1,  1849.  Mr.  Brown 
is  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  as  was  also  his  wife  and  daugh- 
ter, in  which  church  he  has  been  class- 
leader  for  some  time.  This  gentleman 
is  highly  respected  by  all  his  neighbors, 
and  is  considered  a  very  worthy  man  in 
every  respect. 

John  Isom  is  a  native  of  McDonough 
county,  and  was  born  in  Blandinsville 
township,  December  25, 1838.  His  father 
was  Henry  Isom,  and  mother,  Jane 
(Bradshaw)  Isom.  They  settled  in  Blan- 
dinsville township  in  an  early  day,  where 
they  lived  and  died;  both  dying  in  1842, 
within  ten  days  of  each  other,  with  the 
dreaded  disease,  small-pox,  and  were 


buried  at  Blandinsville.  The  elder  Mr. 
Isom  was  quite  an  enterprising  man,  and 
much  respected  throughout  a  wide  circle 
of  acquaintances.  Their  death  changed 
the  conditions  of  the  family  to  such  an 
extent,  that  it  was  impossible  to  keep  to- 
gether. John  was  the  youngest  of  the 
family  and  went  to  live  with  John  Brad- 
shaw, of  Jacksonville,  Morgan  county, 
Illinois.  With  this  gentleman  he  re- 
mained until  he  enlisted,  September  15, 
1861,  in  company  K,  27th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, dhd  was  mustered  in  at  Cairo. 
Upon  the  re-organization  of  the  regi- 
ment, he  went  into  the  1st  brigade.  He 
served  under  General  Grant  the  most  of 
the  time.  Belmont  was  the  first  engage- 
ment he  was  in,  afterwards  engaging  in 
battles  at  Columbus,  Island  No.  10, 
Union  City,  Corinth,  Stone  river  and 
Chickamauga,  besides  numerous  other 
engagements.  At  the  last  named  place 
he  was  taken  prisoner,  September  20, 
1863.  His  first  place  of  confinement 
was  at  Richmond,  where  he  was 
incarcerated  in  Libby  prison  for  10 
months;  thence  to  Danville,  Virginia, 
then  transferred  to  Andersonville,  where 
he  was  about  four  months;  again  trans- 
ferred, this  time  to  Charleston,  South 
Carolina,  and  subsequently  to  Florence, 
the  same  state,  where  he  remained  till 
March  1,  1865,  making  528  days  in  the 
"pens  of  death,"  which  constituted  the 
prisons  of  the  South.  It  don't  seem  pos- 
sible for  one  man  to  go  through  what 
John  Isom  did  and  live.  His  health  has 
never  been  good  since,  it  is  only  the  won- 
derful endurance  and  splendid  physique 
of  this  man,  that  could  withstand  it.  At 
the  time  of  his  release,  at  Wilmington, 
North  Carolina,  March  2,  1865,  he  was 


646 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


acting  as  chief  of  police.  Returning  to 
Springfield,  he  was  mustered  out  with 
his  regiment,  May  12,  1865.  In  the 
meantime  his  people  had  removed  to 
Hancock  county.  He  staid  with  them 
for  one  year,  or  until  his  marriage,  June 
12,  1866,  to  Marinda  Brown,  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  and  daughter  of  Al- 
fred Brown.  They  have  three  children 
living — Francis  V.,  Alfred  C.  and  Ethe- 
lyn  B.  Laura  died  when  15  years  old, 
and  they  lost  two  in  infancy.  Mr.  Isom 
is  engaged  somewhat  in  buying,  feeding 
and  shipping  stock.  He  belongs  to  the 
G.  A.  E.,  Masonic,  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  or- 
ders. In  politics  a  democrat.  They  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Eichard  Scott  is  a  native  of  Marion 
county,  Kentucky,  born  August  8,  1814, 
and  a  son  of  Eichard  Scott,  Sr.,  and  Jane 
(Smith)  Scott,  also  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Their  demise  occurred  on  the  farm  Eich- 
ard Scott,  Jr.,  left  on  coming  to  McDon- 
ough county.  The  first  land  he  owned 
was  on  section  13,  where  he  owned  80, 
and  also  100  acres  on  section  14.  He 
came  to  his  present  location  on  section 
13,  in  1854,  at  which  place  he  has  lived  a 
bachelor  with  his  maiden  sister,  Polly. 
He  has  a  house  two  stories  in  height, 
with  two  parts,  one  18x32,  and  12x32. 
While  in  the  prime  of  life  he  was  a  very 
industrious  man.  His  motto  to  all  who 
wish  to  succeed  is  "work  every  day  when 
possible,  and  don't  let  your  work  drive 
you."  By  this  means  he  has  accumu- 
lated a  fine  property.  He  rents  his  land, 
and  only  tills  his  garden  and  attends  to 
his  finances,  which  is  enough,  he  thinks. 
There  were  eight  children  in  his  father's 
family;  three  of  whom  survive — Polly, 
Eichard,  and  Matilda.  The  deceased 


are — George,   Ann,    Eobert,    Jane    and 
Elizabeth. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

From  the  annual  report  of  the  county 
uperintendent,  for  the  school  year  end- 
ing June  30,  1884,  the  following  facts, 
relative  to  the  schools  of  Hire  township, 
are  taken:  The  estimated  value  of  school 
property  amounts  to  $7,452,  and  the  dis- 
trict township  tax  levy  amounts  to  $2,750. 
There  is  a  bonded  school  debt  in 
Hire  of  $1,160.  The  highest  wages 
paid  any  male  teachers  is  $42.60  per 
month  and  the  lowest  is  $30,  while  the 
highest  monthly  wages  paid  female 
teachers  is  $35,  and  the  lowest  $20.  There 
are  seven  frame  school  buildings  in  Hire 
and  10  schools  taught  therein,  having  an 
average  of  six  and  seven-tenth*  months 
of  school  per  year.  In  the  township 
there  are  412  children  of  school  age,  370 
of  whom  are  enrolled  in  the  several 
schools. 

School  district  No.  1,  has  a  building 
located  on  section  11.  It  is  18x22  feet 
in  size  and  was  built  at  a  cost  of  $400,  in 
1862. 

In  1877,  the  school  house  in  district 
No.  2,  was  erected  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  3.  The  first  house, 
however,  was  built  in  1837,  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  4.  It  was  about 
20  feet  square  and  was  constructed  of 
logs.  Cyrus  Haines  was  the  first  teacher 
in  this  house. 

District  No.  3  was  organized  in  1864, 
and  had  a  house  erected  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  8,  which  was  18x28 
feet  in  size.  There  are  about  50  scholars 
in  the  district. 

District  No.  4,  also  known  as  Eock 
creek,  was  organized  in  1857.  The  pres- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


647 


ent  building,  which  is  located  on  section 
17,  was  erected  in  1873.  It  is  22x30 
feet  in  size  and  cost  $1,060.  There  are 
about  50  scholars  in  the  district,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  about  30. 

The  first  building  in  district  No.  5, 
was  removed  to  section  22  in  1862.  It 
was  20x30  feet  in  ground  area,  and  was 
valued  at  $200. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  6, 
was  erected  in  187.2.  It  is  located  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  23,  and 
is  20x30  feet  in  size.  There  are  about 
60  scholars  in  the  district,  with  an  aver- 
age attendance  of  35. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  7,  is 
located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36.  It  is  valued  at  $300.  There 
are  about  30  scholars  in  the  district. 

District  No.  8,  also  known  as  Hick's 
district,  was  organized  in  1852,  and  a 
house  built  the  same  year.  In  1867  the 
present  building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$1,200.  It  is  24x30  feet  in  size  and  is 
located  on  section  34.  E.  N.  Hicks  was 
one  of  the  first  directors  of  the  district. 

In  1863,  the  first  school  house  was 
erected  in  district  No.  9.  It  was  18x26 
feet  in  size  and  was  located  on  section 
30.  There  are  about  50  scholars  in  the 
district. 

CEMETERY. 

The  Baptist  cemetery  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  4,  was  laid  out  in 
the  year ,1837  or  1838.  The  first  burial 
'  was  William  Hungate,  a  son  of  Adoni- 
jah.  The  next  burials  were  Thomas 
Charter  and  son,  Henry. 

ORGANIC. 

After  the  organization  of  the  county 
into  townships,  the  following  were  the 


first  officers  elected  in  Hire,  at  an  elec- 
tion held  April  7, 1857 :  Samuel  Logan, 
justice  of  the  peace;  Reuben  Martin  and 
Thomas  Branham,  constables;  E.  N. 
Hicks,  supervisor;  Joseph  Jones,  col- 
lector; S.  A.  Hunt,  assessor.  The  pres- 
ent officers  of  the  township  are  as  fol- 
lows: Supervisor,  John  B.  Isom;  clerk, 
J.  L.  Seybold;  assessor,  W.  L.  Shryack; 
cpllector,  Frank  Welch;  highway  com- 
missioner, Wm.  Bumgardner;  justice  of 
the  peace,  Geo.  W.  Keithley  and  R.  M. 
Folts;  constables,  Wilson  Rogers  and 
William  Carlisle ;  school  trustee,  Thos. 
Stookey;  pound-master,  Calvin  Wilson. 

HISTORICAL   NOTES. 

The  first  religious  services  in  the  town- 
ship were  held  at  the  house  of  Vandever 
Banks,  in  1836.  The  meeting  was  con- 
ducted by  Rev.  Nehemiah  Hurd,  a  Meth- 
odist minister. 

The  pioneer  school  was  taught  by  Cap- 
tain Charles  R.  Hume,  in  1838,  at  the 
Isaac  Oakman  place,  on  section  18. 
Prior  to  this,  the  citizens  of  the  township 
sent  their  children  to  more  fortunate  set- 
tlements, to  obtain  an  education.  Mr. 
Hume  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  at  Blandinsville. 

Josiah  Harrison  was  the  first  to  oc- 
cupy the  position  of  justice  of  the  peace 
in  the  township. 

The  first  township  election  was  held 
April  7,  1857. 

E.  N.  Hicks,  was  the  first  supervisor 
to  represent  Hire  at  the  seat  of  justice, 
Macomb. 

THE   SUNDAY   SCHOOLS  OF  HIRE  TOWNSHIP. 

The  system  of  township  Sunday 
school  conventions,  was  first  introduced 


648 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


into  this  township  in  the  year  1870. 
The  records  of  the  first  convention  have 
not  been  found,  but  the  following  may 
be  relied  upon  as  true.  The  convention 
was  organized  under  the  supervision  of 
Solomon  Hainline,  in  the  month  of  Aug- 
ust, 1870,  at  the  Elm  Grove  church. 
Sessions  were  held  on  Saturday  and  Sat- 
urday evening,  and  also  on  the  Sabbath. 
S.  Hainline  was  the  first  vice-president 
appointed  by  the  county  convention,  to 
look  after  the  interests  of  the  Sunday 
schools  of  Hire  township.  Mr.  Hain- 
line was  active  in  his  office  from  the 
first,  and  his  labors  were  crowned  with 
success.  Mr.  Samuel  Pedrick  was  elect- 
ed secretary  of  the  first  convention,  and 
George  Keithley  also  took  on  active  part. 
The  convention  on  the  Sabbath  was  held 
in  the  Grove,  near  the  church,  and  Rev. 
David  Martin,  of  Blandinsville,  ad- 
dressed a  large  audience.  In  five  years 
from  the  time  of  the  township  organiza- 
tion, the  records  begin.  According  to 
this,  a  convention  was  held  at  Elm 
Grove,  beginning  July  10,  1875.  The 
convention  was  called  to  order  by  vice- 
president  Hainline,  after  which  the  min- 
utes of  the  previous  meeting  were  read 
and  approved.  Near  the  close  of  the 
evening  session,  George  Mourning,  of 
Tennessee,  gave  an  outline  of  the  first 
schools  in  McDonough  county.  On  Sab- 
bath morning,  July  11,  the  convention 
met  in  Hainline's  Grove,  near  the  church, 
at  9  A.  M.  Father  Alexander,  of  Bland- 


insville, made  the  opening  prayer.  All 
the  Sunday  schools  in  the  township,  six 
in  number,  were  represented. 

The  next  convention  was  held  at  Ar- 
gyle  October  2  and  3,  1875.  At  the 
evening  session  Thos.  Parker  spoke  on 
the  question,  "  Can  our  Sunday  schools 
be  sustained  through  the  winter?" 

The  next  convention  convened  at  Wil- 
low Grove,  October  7th,  1876.  A.  B. 
Newland,  of  Colchester,  was  present  and 
spoke  on  the  benefits  of  early  religious 
impressions.  F.  F.  Myer  made  an  in- 
teresting centennial  address.  In  the  af- 
ternoon the  officers  were  re-elected.  S. 
Hainline  received  19  votes  for  vice-pres- 
ident, and  S.  B.  Davis  18.  J.  T.  Murray 
was  continued  as  secretary. 

The  12th  convention  of  the  Sunday 
schools  of  Hire  township,  convened  at 
Argyle,  Saturday  evening,  January  6, 
1877.  Addresses  were  made  at  the  even- 
ing session  by  Joseph  Bean  and  Jesse 
Martin. 

The  14th  Convention  met  at  Rock 
Creek  church,  September  23,  1877. 

Since  this  time  there  have  been  held 
many  conventions,  but  they  are  nearly 
all  alike  in  tenor,  and  space  and  good 
good  judgment  alike,  forbid  their  inser- 
tion here.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  great  in- 
terest is  displayed  in  this  laudable  work, 
and  nowhere  is  more  labor  displayed  in 
advancing  the  interests  of  the  Sabbath 
schools  than  in  this  township. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


649 


CHAPTER    XXV. 


LAMOINE   TOWNSHIP. 


Lamoine  township  consists  of  36  sec- 
tions, and  has  about  23,000  acres  of  land 
within  its  borders,  the  most  part  of 
which  consists  of  timber.  That  portion 
of  the  township  known  as  Round  Prai- 
rie, near  the  Hancock  and  Schuyler 
county  line,  in  the  southwestern  part, 
has  a  soil  of  a  better  and  more  productive 
quality  than  other  portions  of  the  town- 
ship, upon  which  are  some  fine  farms. 
Troublesome  creek  enters  the  township 
at  the  northeast  corner  of  section  21  and 
runs  again  into  Tennessee  from  the 
same  quarter,  coming  into  Lamoine 
again  on  the  northeast  of  3,  and  follow- 
ing in  a  southwest  course  through  sec- 
tions 9  and  16,  making  a  confluence  with 
Crooked  creek  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  the  latter  section.  Crooked  creek  en- 
ters the  township  and  county  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  18.  It 
flows  in  a  diagonal  course  through  sec- 
tions 17,  21,  22,  27  and  34.  leaving  the 
township  and  county  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  the  latter  section.  The  only 
town  within  the  borders  is  a  small  place 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  7, 
called  Colmar.  It  is  situated  on  the 
Quincy  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton and  Quincy  railroad,  which  passes 
in  a  southwesterly  course  through  the 
northwest  part  of  the  township,  and  has 
but  a  few  residence  buildings,  a  general 
store,  postoffice,  etc.  The  inhabitants 


of  the  southern  portion  of  the  township 
go  largely  to  Plymouth,  Hancock  county, 
to  do  their  trading. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Comparatively  a  few  years  have  passed 
since  an  attempt  was  made  to  convert 
the  almost  unbroken  forests  of  Lamoine 
into  an  agricultural  district  and  homes 
for  civilized  man.  With  a  spirit  of  he- 
roism have  these  early  settlers  toiled, 
until  the  forest  were  laid  low,  and  their 
herculean  labor  is  manifest  in  the  broad 
acres  of  highly  cultivated  land,  upon 
which  stand  many  fine  residences  and 
outbuildings  of  an  expensive  character. 
Over  the  grounds  where  the  red  man 
chased  iiie  bounding  deer,  and  the  wild- 
cat and  wolves  held  their  nightly  vigils, 
may  be  seen  the  husbandman  gathering 
the  golden  harvests;  where  the  Indian's 
wild  war-hoop  was  heard,  stands  the 
house  of  worship  and  institutions  for  the 
education  of  the  rising  generation. 
Transportation  of  goods  by  ox  teams 
has  given  away  to  the  power  of  steam, 
and  a  commerce  has  been  opened  up 
with  all  parts  of  the  civilized  world. 

The  history  of  this  township  is  pos- 
sessed of  no  small  degree  of  interest. 
While  other  townships  of  McDonough 
were  connected  with  the  frontier  by 
large  bodies  of  excellent  lands,  this 
seemed  shut  off  from  the  gaze  of  shrewd 


650 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


speculators  by  reason  of  its  heavy  growth 
of  timber.  They  were  destined  to  be- 
come the  heritage  of  an  honest,  indus- 
trious people,  and  the  income  derived 
from  the  timber  and  products  of  the  soil 
has  given  many  of  the  first  comers  a 
handsome  competency. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township 
was  made  in  the  spring  of  1830.  At 
that  time,  Charles  Hills  and  David  Fees 
entered  land  on  section  12,  and  erected 
a  log  cabin  on  the  northeast  quarter. 
The  cabin  is  occupied  at  present  by 
John  Hills  as  a  blacksmith  shop.  Char- 
les Hills  now  resides  on  section  1,  and  is 
one  of  the  oldest  settlers  now  living  in 
the  county.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky 
February  17,  1815,  and  was  married 
July  31,  1836,  to  Charlotta  David,  a 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Elizabeth 
David,  who  were  early  settlers  of  Eldo- 
rado township.  Mrs.  Hills  was  born 
May  2,  1817. 

John  Hills  came  in  the  spring  of  1830, 
and  is  a  resident  of  section  12.  He  was 
born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky, 
August  7,  1817,  removing  to  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  in  1829,  from  which 
county  he  came  to  this  township.  He 
was  one  of  the  volunteers  during  the 
Mormon  troubles  in  Hancock  county* 
but  was  not  called  upon  for  active  ser- 
vice. He  owns  84  acres  of  land,  20  of 
which  is  timber,  the  balance  under  cul- 
tivation. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  William  Jenkins 
settled  in  Lamoine,  coming  from  Schuy- 
ler  county,  Illinois,  with  his  father, 
David,  who  now  resides  in  Kansas.  He 
is  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Ten- 
nessee, born  there  Feb.  5,  1826.  Mr. 
Jenkins  still  resides  in  the  township. 


During  the  year  1832,  Christopher 
Yates  came  and  entered  the  farm  now 
owned  by  the  heirs  of  Lyons  Holton. 
He  erected  a  cabin  and  broke  out  about 
six  acres  of  land,  but  soon  afterward  re- 
moved to  Hancock  county,  near  Augusta, 
and  later  went  to  Nauvoo.  He  was 
killed  near  Quincy,  in  the  spring  of  1884, 
by  a  team  running  away  with  him.  He 
was  a  native  of  New  York  state. 

Orvel  Sherrel  settled  on  section  31  in 
1832,  coming  from  Kentucky.  He  after- 
ward went  to  Newton  county,  Missouri, 
with  his  father-in-law,  Elijah  Poole, 
where  he  also  died.  The  farm  he  settled 
on  here  is  now  owned  by  A.  B.  Shippey. 

Elijah  Poole  settled  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Dr.  King,  on  section  30,  in 
1832,  coming  from  Tennessee.  He  did 
not  remain  very  long,  but  removed  to 
Newton  county,  Missouri,  where  he  after- 
ward died. 

Abel  Friend  came  in  1832,  settling  on 
section  30,  but  a  year  or  so  afterward, 
removed  to  section  20,  where  his  wife 
afterward  died,  being  buried  on  the 
place.  About  the  year  1848,  Mr.  Friend 
disposed  of  his  farm  to  Josiah  Ralston, 
and  emigrated  to  Iowa,  where  he  after- 
ward died.  He  came  from  the  state  of 
Tennessee  to  this  township. 

The  father  of  Abel  Friend,  together 
with  his  family,  came  at  the  same  time, 
settling  on  section  28,  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  John  Twidwell.  One  of  his 
sons,  Charles,  also  entered  land  on  sec- 
tion 28,  being  a  married  man. 

James  Denton  came  prior  to  1833,  and 
located  on  section  18,  on  the  west  side  of 
Crooked  creek,  coming  from  Tennessee. 
After  the  grist  mill  was  erected  on  the 
creek  near  his  place,  Mr.  Denton  deemed. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


651 


it  unhealthy  to  live   there  longer   and 
sold  out,  removing  to  Henderson  county. 

James  King,  and  a  son-in-law,  settled 
the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  D.  Tabler,  in 
1832  or  3,  coming  from  Tennessee.  He 
afterward  removed  to  near  Prairie  City, 
where  he,  later,  died.  He  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  Methodist  preachers  of  the 
county,  and  was  quite  a  prominent  man 
at  that  time. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  1834,  John 
H.  Smith  and  his  brother,  Byrd,  settled 
on  section  31,  where  they  erected  a  cabin. 
Byrd  died  in  1880,  at  Plymouth,  Hancock 
county,  from  the  effects  of  a  cancer 
John  still  lives  in  the  township  and  is 
now  a  resident  of  section  20. 

Among  the  prominent  citizens  and 
early  settlers  of  this  township,  may  be 
mentioned  John  H.  Smith,  who  appears 
as  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Smith 
was  born  on -the  26th  of  July,  1819,  in 
Hopkins  county,  Kentucky.  His  father, 
John  Smith,  who  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
died  in  1825,  and  his  mother  was  also  a 
native  of  Virginia.  John  H.,  was  the 
seventh  child  of  a  family  of  'eight  child- 
ren, and  when  five  years  of  age  he  re- 
moved with  his  mother  to  Virginia,  where 
they  resided  until  1829.  They  then  came 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  and  in 
September,  1832,  he  removed  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  located  in  Industry 
township.  He  there  made  a  home  with 
his  brother  until  November,  the  same 
year,  when  he  went  back  to  Springfield, 
and  went  to  school  a  year.  In  April,  1834, 
he  settled  on  Hound  Prairie  and  farmed 
on  section  30.  He  there  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1854,  when  he  sold  his  place 
and  located  on  his  present  location  in 
Lamoine  township,  on  section  20,  where 


he  now  owns  150  acres  of  good  land  and 
a  fine  house,  with  every  convenience 
necessary  to  farm  life.  Since  living  in 
this  township,  Mr.  Smith  has  been  in- 
trusted with  several  township  offices. 
He  has  been  school  director,  trustee  and 
now  holds  the  position  of  road  commis- 
sioner, which  office  he  has  held  a  number 
of  years.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  on 
March  28,  1839,  to  Emeline  Deven- 
port,  a  native  of  New  York.  They 
have  been  blessed  with  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  now  living.  Their 
names  are — Harriet,  Morris  C.,  Caroline, 
Henry,  Paris,  Leroy,  deceased;  Isaac  G., 
deceased;  Romine,  Albert  M.,  and  John 
W.  Mr.  Smith  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for 
over  forty  years,  and  is  said  to  be  a 
good  worker  in  that  cause,  and  has 
been  class  leader  for  over  25  years. 

Isaac  G.  Smith  came  to  the  county  in 
1834,  entering  the  east  half  of  section 
31,  of  this  township,  where  he  lived  un- 
til his  death,  which  was  caused  by 
a  white  swelling,  in  1853.  He  was  born 
in  Virginia,  about  the  year  1806,  and  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Garret)  Smith. 
When  six  or  eight  years  old,  he  removed 
with  his  parents,  to  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky, where  they  remained  about  five 
years,  when  they  returned  to  Virginia. 
In  1829,  he  came  west  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  and  in  1834,  to  this  township,  as 
above.  During  the  winter  of  1834,  he 
was  married  to  Jane  Garret.  Three 
children  were  born  to  them,  all  of  whom 
are  residents  of  Kansas  at  present.  His 
wife  died  in  1866.  Mr.  Smith  was 
elected  county  commissioner  in  1842, 
serving  three  years.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace  of  this  township  many  years. 


652 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Beverly  Whittington  came  in  the 
spring  of  1835-6  from  Hancock  county, 
but  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  set- 
tled on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
28,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  seven  or  eight  years  ago.  While 
attempting  to  draw  a  nail  from  some 
hard  material,  it  came  out  suddenly 
causing  him  to  fall  backward,  breaking 
his  thigh.  The  farm  is  now  owned  by 
his  son,  Pinckney  W. 

Hugh  E.  Wear,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Tennessee,  came  with  his 
family  to  Lamoine  township,  in  May, 
1835.  He  was  born  in  1789,  and  in  1825 
removed  to  Monroe  county,  Tennessee, 
where  he  remained  about  seven  years, 
when  he  went  to  Franklin  county,  Illi- 
nois, after  which  he  came  to  this  town- 
ship. His  death  occurred  in  1873,  and 
he  was  interred  at  Scott's  church.  His 
wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Duncomb,  died  in  1858.  Mr.  Wear  was 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Lamoine  for  a 
number  of  years. 

Andrew  Wear  came  at  the  same  time 
with  his  father,  Hugh,  and  is  still  a  res- 
ident of  the  township. 

In  1835,  William  Hoton  came  from 
Vermont,  traveling  the  entire  distance 
overland  in  a  lumber  wagon,  and  settled  on 
section  30,  Bethel  township,  but  shortly 
afterward  removed  to  the  eastern  part  of 
this  township,  where  he  remained  until 
1868,  when  he  removed  to  Round  Prai- 
rie, on  a  farm  owned  by  Josiah  Ralston. 
He  was  born  in  Vermont,  October  31, 
1801,  and  was  three  times  married.  He 
died  November  12,  1877,  and  his  third 
wife  and  children  survive  him. 

Jonas  Myers,  a  son-in-law  of  Thomas 
Twidwell  entered  the  northwest  quarter 


of  section  33,  in  1836.  He  came  from 
North  Carolina,  and  lived  here  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1866.  His 
family  now  reside  in  Kansas. 

W.  H.  Hooten,  was  a  settler  of  1836, 
and  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  His  death 
occurred  in  March,  1867. 

Samuel  F.  Morris  entered  land  in  La- 
moine in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  erected  a 
small  shanty,  with  a  ground  floor,  in 
which  his  pioneer  life  in  McDonough 
county  was  for  a  while  spent.  He  still 
retains  the  hand  mill  with  which  he 
ground  his  corn  for  bread  in  that  early 
day.  He  was  born  in  North  Carolina, 
September  15,  1816,  where  he  resided 
until  his  removal  to  this  county.  Mr. 
Morris  was  one  of  the  volunteers  of  the 
Mormon  war,  in  Hancock  county,  and 
was  there  at  the  time  Smith  was  riddled 
with  bullets.  His  father  was  also  an 
early  settler  of  Lamoine,  coining  about 
the  same  time  as  did  Samuel. 

In  1836,  John  Twidwell,  in  company 
with  his  parents,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  settling  on  section  33,  Lamoine 
township.  He  at  present  resides  on  sec- 
tion 28. 

John  Twidwell,  is  a  native  of  David- 
son county,  North  Carolina,  having  been 
born  there  on  the  20th  of  January,  1818. 
He  is  the  elder  son  of  Thomas  Twidwell, 
who  was  born  in  Virginia,  on  the  13th 
of  February,  1791.  He  was  there  reared 
until  18  years  of  age  when  he  moved  to 
North  Carolina,  where  he  was  married  to 
Polly  Wamon,  whose  death  occurred  in 
the  spring  of  1849.  In  1834,  Thomas 
came  to  Morgan  county,Illinois,and  was  a 
resident  of  that  county  until  1836,  when 
he  removed  to  McDonough  county  and 
settled  on  section  33,  Lamoine  township. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


653 


He  improved  the  land  and  there  lived 
until  1877,  when  his  son  John,  purchased 
the  farm,  and  the  father  made  his  home 
with  John  Twidwell  for  nearly  eight 
years,  and  then  removed  to  his  grand- 
son's, T.  B.  Twidwell,  of  this  township, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred February  16,  1885.  John  Twid- 
well worked  at  home  until  1840,  when 
he  began  farming  for  himself.  He  now 
owns  597  acres  of  good  land  in  Lamoine 
township,  where  he  is  now  building  up 
a  good  farm,  and  has  for  many  years 
been  laboring  for  the  purpose  of  having 
one  of  the  finest  homes  in  McDonough 
county,  in  which  plan  he  has  greatly  suc- 
ceeded. Mr.  Twidwell  was  married  on 
the  10th  of  October,  1840,  to  Henrietta 
E.  Sheldon,  of  Kentucky.  They  had 
eight  children — John  M.,  Nancy  J., 
Sarah  E.,  dead;  David,  General  Francis 
M.,  George  A.,  William  F.,  and  Solomon 
P.  Mrs.  Twidwell  died  on  May  25, 
1872,  and  on  August  29,  of  the  same 
year,  Mr.  Twidwell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Barbara  Kizer,  a  widow,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Jarvis.  She  has  one 
child — Martha.  Mr.  Twidwell  has  been 
very  popular  in  the  official  matters  of 
the  county.  He  was  township  constable 
in  1845  and  1846,  and  at  the  end  of  his 
term  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace, 
which  office  he  has  held  ever  since.  In 
1849  he  was  elected  township  supervisor, 
and,  holding  that  position  one  term,  he 
was  made  treasurer  and  clerk,  these  lat- 
ter offices  he  still  holds. 

Joseph  D.  Wear,  a  son  of  Hugh,  came 
with  his  parents  to  Lamoine  township, 
in  1836.  He  was  born  in  'Washington 
county,  Tennessee,  February  25,  1815, 
and  married  January  16,  1838,  to  Mary 


B.  Downs,  who  were  the  parents  of  10 
children.  They  are  still  residents  of  the 
township. 

Avery  Huff,  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
came  in  1838.  He  entered  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  32,  where  he  lived  a 
number  of  years,  when  he  removed  to 
the  northwest  quarter  of  the  same  sec- 
tion; and  was  an  influential  and  promi- 
nent man  of  the  township.  He  after- 
ward returned  to  his  native  state,  where 
he  died. 

David  Bayles  and  family  came  to  the 
township  at  an  early  day,  when  it  was 
thinly  settled.  A  sketch  of  the  family 
is  appended. 

Joseph  H.  Bayles,  was  born  in  Cham- 
paign county,  Ohio,  on  February  2,  1829. 
He  is  the  son  of  David  and  Jane  ( Victor ) 
Bayles.  David  Bayles,  was  a  native  of 
Virginia.  He  came  through  this  country 
in  1812,  during  the  Indian  war,  and 
picked  out  some  land,  intending  when 
emigration  turned  this  way  to  make  this 
his  home.  He  was  with  the  party  who 
named  Rapid  Ford,  where  afterward  he 
was  drowned  while  fishing  in  a  pond  near 
Troublesome  creek.  He  was  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  .for  about  15 
years,  and  during  the  war  of  1812.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  was  captain  of  three 
light-horse  companies,  where  he  was 
training  for  United  States  service.  One 
of  these  companies  was  at  Middletown, 
one  at  St.  Mary's,  Hancock  county,  and 
one  at  Fountain  Green.  Mr.  Bayles' 
wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  daughter, 
on  November  6,  1854.  They  were  the 
parents  of  16  children,  11  of  whom  grew 
to  man  and  womanhood — Philip  V.,  died 
in  Hancock  county;  Minerva  E.,  living 
now  in  Hancock  county;  Jesse  E.,  served 


654 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


through  the  war  in  company  B,  3d  Iowa 
cavalry,  and  now  residing  in  Memphis, 
Missouri;  Joseph  H.,  served  through  the 
war  in  the  9th  Missouri  and  59th  Illi- 
nois infantry;  David  P.,  died  in  the  ser- 
vice at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  August, 
1863;  Isaiah  O.,  served  through  the  war 
in  company  B.,  118th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  is  now  living  near  Jericho,  Missouri; 
Marion  C.,  died  in  the  service  at  Baton 
Rouge,  Louisiana,  at  close  of  war;  Silas 
R.,  served  in  the  118th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  is  still  living  in  Missouri.  A  son 
and  daughter  were  drowned  while  mak- 
ing a  trip  to  Springfield,  Ohio;  James 
R.,  enlisted  in  company  K,  8th  Missouri 
infantry,  and  served  through  the  war,  and 
now  resides  at  Topeka,  Kansas;  Harrison 
L.,  served  through  the  war,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Carthage,  Missouri ;  Mortimer 
O.,  killed  in  the  service  at  Yazoo  Bayou, 
in  September,  1863.  Joseph  H.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  with  his 
parents  to  McDonough  county  in  1839, 
and, located  in  Lamoine  township,  where 
he  still  resides  on  section  2.  He  was 
married  in  Hancock  county,  to  Julia 
Parker,  in  1858.  She  died  in  October, 
1862.  Mr.  Bayles  was  united  in  mar- 
riage again  to  Josephine  Smith,  in  June 
1868,  in  Tennessee  township,  this  county. 
She  is  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  Sarah 
Smith.  By  this  marriage  there  has  been 
one  child — Dora  B.,  who  has  been  of 
much  comfort  to  her  father ,  in  the  days 
his  affliction  of  blindness,  the  result  of 
Andersonville  prison  life.  Mr.  Bayles 
enlisted  on  the  22d  of  April,  1861,  in 
company  B,  16th  Illinois  infantry.  He 
veteranized  on  the  10th  of  July,  1861,  in 
the  9th  Missouri  infantry,  but  was  after- 


ward transferred  to  the  59th  Illinois 
infantry,  company  C.  His  first  fighting 
was  in  Missouri ;  then  in  Arkansas.  After 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  he  was  sent  to 
Corinth,  Mississippi.  The  regiment 
soon  after  joined  the  army  of  the  Ohio, 
and  took  part  in  the  sanguinary  battles  of 
Perryville  and  Stone  River.  They  were 
afterward  sent  to  Sherman's  army,  and 
served  in  that  command  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  in  the  famous 
"March  to  the  sea,"  and  participated  in 
all  the  battles  of  that  command.  He  was 
in  the  march  through  the  Carolinas  to 
Washington,  his  corps  having  the  right 
of  the  column.  In  September,  1861,  he 
was  made  orderly  sergeant  of  company 
C,  and  while  not  a  commissioned  officer 
he  served  in  the  capacity  of  captain,  and 
while  acting  as  such  he  was  captured 
by  the  enemy  and  taken  to  Libby  prison, 
but  there  being  no  room  there,  he  was 
transferred  to  Belle  Isle,  but  after  two 
days  he  was  sent  to  Andersonville.  He 
was  put  in  a  cotton  gin-house  because  he 
would  not  take  oath  never  again  to  fight 
against  the  confederacy,  and  was  in  the 
stone  basement  when  the  cotton  seed 
took  fire,  and  his  eyes  were  so  affected  by 
the  smoke,  and  subsequent  inflamation 
as  to  nearly  destroy  his  sight.  But  he 
made  his  escape  in  December,  1864,  and 
made  his  way  back  to  his  regiment.  He 
had  almost  completely  lost  his  eye  sight 
from  the  effects  of  prison  life,  but  he  re- 
mained with  his  regiment  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  received  11  gun  shots, 
two  shell  wounds,  and  was  run  over  by 
a  battery  wagon,  but  he  never  gave  up, 
and  was  always  found  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment  when  any  fighting  was  to  be 
done.  No  family  in  this  part  of  the 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


655 


country  has  a  more  patriotic  war  record 
than  that  of  Mr.  Bayles,  nor  is  any  enti- 
tled to  more  honor  or  credit  than  they. 
After  the  war  Mr.  Bayles  traveled  for 
four  or  five  years,  in  trying  to  regain  his 
eyesight  and  health.  He  spent  a  great 
deal  of  money  in  this  way,  without  much 
effect.  He  is  now  living  on  a  farm.  His 
father  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  enlisting 
as  private,  and  at  battle  of  Tippecanoe, 
was  promoted  to  rank  of  captain.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  in  the  Mormon 
and  Mexican  wars,  and  has  served  in 
three  wars,  and  was  a  brave,  noble  sol- 
dier, in  all. 

LEADING  CITIZENS. 

Besides  the  pioneers  mentioned,  there 
are  a  number  of  others  who  are  worthy 
of  note,  either  on  account  of  early  settle- 
ment or  for  their  public  spirit.  Their 
sketches  follow: 

William  D.  Ralston,  who  is  one  of  the 
prominent  and  influential  men  of  La- 
moine  township,  was  born  in  Plymouth, 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  on  the  12th  day 
of  April,  1857.  He  is  the  son  of  Wesley 
and  Charlotte  (Wade)  Ralston,  both  na- 
tives of  Illinois.  William  moved  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  with  his  parents,  when 
quite  young,  and  made  this  "his  place  of 
abode  until  1869,  when  he  removed  to 
Jasper  county,  Missouri,  and  was  there 
engaged  in  farming  for  ten  years.  He 
then  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  in  1880,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  owns  80  acres  of  fine 
land,  60  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cul- 
tivation, and  20  acres  good  timber  land. 
Mr.  Ralston  was  married  to  Emily  C. 
Holton,  a  daughter  of  Linus  and  Lucinda 
(Allen)  Holton,  on  October  7,  1880. 


They  have  one  child — Inez.  Mr.  Ralston 
has  always  been  a  man  of  ability,  and 
has  taken  great  interest  in  the  works  of 
Christianity.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Ply- 
mouth, for  several  years,  and  has  always 
been  an  honest  worker  in  that  cause. 

John  W.  Reans  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  East  Tennessee,  November 
28,  1830.  His  father,  William  Reans,  a 
native  of  North  Carolina,  died  in  Febru- 
ary, 1837.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  the 
family  removed  to  Greene  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  while  a  resident  of  that  county, 
John  attended  the  Illinois  Liberal  insti- 
tute, one  of  the  finest  universities  in  the 
state.  In  1855,  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  August, 
1855,  he  was  married  to  Martha  Duns- 
worth,  a  native  of  Bethel  township,  and 
a  daughter  of  Thomas  Dunsworth,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  hav- 
ing located  here  in  1831.  Mrs.  Reans 
was  born  and  married  at  the  old  home- 
si^ead  in  Bethel  township,  and  their  only 
ohild,  John  H.,  who  was  recently  mar- 
ried to  Benella  Cravens,  *was  born  at  the 
same  place.  Mr.  Reans  made  his  home 
in  McDonough  county,  until  1858,  when 
he  returned  to  Greene  county,  where  he 
remained  about  three  years.  He  searched 
for  good  land  and  a  place  to  make  a  good 
home,  and  at  last  returned  to  this  county, 
satisfied  no  place  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  would  suit  him  any  better.  He 
now  lives  on  the  farm  of  L.  G.  Reid, 
which  consists  of  finely  cultivated  land 
on  section  28,  where  he  has  resided  for 
the  past  10  years,  and  where  he  is  chiefly 
engaged  in  stock  raising.  For  several 
years  he  has  held  the  position  of  school 
director,  representing  district  No.  4. 


656 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


James  T.  Broadhead,  an  old  resident 
of  McDonough  county,  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan county,  Illinois,  on  the  28th  (fay  of 
August,  1838.  He  is  the  son  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Grimsley)  Broadhead,  the 
former  a  native  of  England  and  the  lat- 
ter of  Kentucky.  James  spent  a  portion 
of  his  early  life  in  attending  a  private 
school  in  Morgan  county,  and  in  1846,  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  McDonough 
county,  where  he  has  ever  since  made  his 
home.  His  father  died  while  in  Morgan 
county,  the  year  being  1844,  but  soon  af- 
ter his  widowed  mother  was  married  to 
John  Waddle,  with  whom  James  lived 
until  over  21  years  of  age.  Mr.  Broad- 
head  was  united  in  marriage  with  Susan 
A.  Vaughn,  in  1862.  She  is  the  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Jiet  (Jones)  Vaughn, 
both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Culpepper 
county,  Virginia,  They  have  had  10 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living 
— Sarah  J.,  Lucy  E.,  Samuel,  Louie  K., 
Olive  M.,  John  H.,  J.  D.  and  James  T. 
Musette  died  in  1881.  Mr.  Broadhead 
is  a  man  of  virtue  and  good  character, 
and  is  highly 'esteemed  by  his  many 
friends  throughout  the  large  tract  known 
as  McDonough  county.  He  has  a  large 
and  cultivated  farm  and  abundance  of 
good  stock,  which  is  principally  due  to 
the  good  management  in  which  they  are 
conducted.  Mr.  Broadhead  is  a  good 
worker  in  Christianity,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  a  staunch  member  of  the 
Baptist  church. 

Edward  Jarvis  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1841,  and  located  on  section  4, 
Lamoine  township,  where  he  now  owns 
146^  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  culti- 
vated, and  raises  large  numbers  of  cattle, 
hogs  and  horses.  Mr.  Jarvis  was  born 


in  Knox  county,  Indiana,  on  the  llth  of 
July,  1825,  and  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Martha  (Bloid)  Jarvis.  Edward  was 
married  in  this  county,  on  the  5th  of 
September,  1849,  to  Elizabeth  Roice,  a 
native  of  Jackson  county,  Indiana.  She 
died  in  January,  1878,  leaving  seven 
children  to  mourn  her  loss.  Their  names 
are — Martha  Jane,  Minerva,  John  F., 
William  A.,  Levi  Jackson,  Ida  A.  and 
Edward  T.  Mr.  Jarvis  was  again  mar- 
ried on  the  3d  of  April,  1879,  to  Char- 
lotta  Jane  Dudley,  who  was  reared  in 
Adams  county,  this  state.  Her  parents 
were  Charles  and  Rebecca  A.  (Patty) 
Nichols.  She  was  married  in  1849  to 
John  Dudley,  and  in  1851  moved  to 
Schuyler  county,  where  Mr.  Dudley  was 
drowned,  on  the  15th  of  April,  1865,  and 
soon  after  this  his  widow  was  married  to 
Mr.  Jarvis.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jarvis  have 
three  children — Octavia,  Uriah  and  Jon- 
athan O. 

Johannis  C.  Decker  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  and  lo- 
cated on  section  29,  Lamoine  township. 
He  improved  and  cultivated  his  farm 
and  now  owns  320  acres  of  land,  all  in  a 
state  of  good  culture.  160  acres  are  sit- 
uated on  section  21,  and  the  remainder 
on  section  29.  Mr.  Decker  was  born  in 
Ulster  county,  New  York,  on  the  8th  of 
October,  1815,  and  is  the  son  of  Corne- 
lius J.  and  Gertrude  (Bruyn)  Decker, 
both  natives  of  New  York.  Johannis  re- 
ceived his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Ulster  county,  and  there  re- 
mained until  1831,  when  he  moved  to 
Genesee  county,  New  York.  He  was 
there  engaged  in  farming  for  about  five 
years,  when  he  came  to  Chicago,  Illinois, 
and  was  there  employed  as  one  of  the 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  CODNTY. 


657 


teamsters  that  helped  removed  the  stand- 
ing army  from  Fort  Dearbon  to  Fort 
Howard,  at  the  head  of  Green  Bay.  He 
there  was  engaged  until  the  spring  of 
1836,  when  he  went  on  horseback  from 
Chicago  to  Augusta,  and  there  located 
until  1839,  when  he  came  to  his  present 
location.  Mr.  Decker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  June,  1839,  with  Eleanor  Yatez, 
a  daughter  of  Christopher  E.  and  Cath- 
arine (Van  Horn)  Yatez,  both  natives  of 
Montgomery  county,  New  York.  They 
have  had  12  children — Cornelius,  Ann 
M.,  Cornelia  E.,  John,  Augustus  G.,  Al- 
bert, Abraham,  Van  H.,  Georgia  A. 
(dead),  Edmond  and  Christopher  E. 
Mr.  Decker  has  held  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  this  township  for  about 
five  years,  during  the  early  settlement  of 
the  county.  He  has  also  been  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  .for  a 
number  of  years. 

Alfred  Marvin  is  a  native  of  Oxford 
county,  Canada,  having  been  born  there 
on  the  13th  of  February,  1836.  He  is 
the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Belinda 
(Clothier)  Marvin,  both  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. Alfred  received  his  early  educa- 
tion and  advantages  in  Canada,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  the  milling  business 
with  his  father.  In  the  fall  of  1866,  he 
removed  his  location  to  Winnebago  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  there  remained  till  the 
spring  of  1867.  He  then  made  his  home 
in  McDonough  county,  and  located  in 
Lamoine,  where  he  has  remained  ever 
since.  His  farm  contains  fifty-six  and 
one-half  acres  of  good  land,  fifty  acres 
of  which  are  under  cultivation,  the  rest 
being  timber.  Mr.  Marvin  was  married 
on  the  16th  of  April,  1869,  to  Anna  Deck- 
er, a  daughter  of  Johannis  C.  and  Ele- 


anor (Yaez)  Decker,  of  this  township. 
They  have  had  five  children,  four  of 
whom*  are  living — William  C.,  Frederick, 
Jeddie,  dead;  Mina  and  Myrta.  Mr. 
Marvin  is  a  member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church,  and  for  a  number  of  years, 
has  been  a  member  of  the  United  Work- 
man. 

Among  the  prominent  men  of  Lamoine 
township,  we  must  not  fail  to  mention 
George  W.  Collins,  who  was  born  in 
Floyd  county,  Indiana,  on  January  18, 
1842.  His  father,  Frank  Collins,  was 
born  in  North  Carolina.  During  the 
early  portion  of  his  life  he  worked  in  a 
saw-mill,  but  in  his  latter  years  he  gave 
that  up,  and  began  farming  in  Floyd 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  has.  since  re- 
mained. His  wife,  Sarah  (Mosier)  Col- 
lins, was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Indi- 
ana. George  remained  with  his  parents 
until  the  spring  of  1865,  when  he  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  located  on 
section  30,  Lamoine  township,  where  he 
still  remains.  He  is  the  owner  of  95 
acres  of  land,  and  20  acres  of  timber 
land  in  Schuyler  county.  He  has  culti- 
vated his  farm,  and  has  some  of  the  fin- 
est products  in  the  county.  Mr.  Collins 
was  married  on  March  19,  1868,  to  San- 
nie  Walker,  daughter  of  Seldon  S.  and 
Eliza  (Maxwell)  Walker,  who  are  now 
living  in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Collins  have  been  blessed  with 
three  children — Lizzie,  Frank,  and  Eosa. 
They  have  one  child  dead — Sarah. 

Lamech  D.  Little,  a  son  of  Lamech 
and  Elizabeth  (Henderson)  Little,  was 
born  in  Maryland,  on  the  16th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1819.  He  remained  in  his  native 
state  until  1825,  when  he  moved  to  Har- 
rison county,  Ohio.  He  there  received 


658 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


his  schooling  and  was  afterwards  en- 
gaged in  farming,  until  1839,  when  he 
came,  by  the  aid  of  a  team,  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois.  He  has  remained 
a  resident  of  this  county  ever  since, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  resi- 
dence in  Schuyler  county.  Since  living 
in  this  county,  he  has  cultivated  a  fine 
farm,  and  has  in  all,  160  acres  of  land, 
part  being  timber  land.  Mr.  Little  was 
united  in  marriage  on  the  30th  of  Dec- 
ember, 1843,  to  Francis  Henderson. 
They  have  had  seven  children — Catha- 
rine J.,  James,  Eliza,  Ann,  Silas,  and 
David,  all  of  whom  are  now  dead.  One 
son  was  in  the  service,  in  company  I, 
10th  Missouri  regiment.  He  was  taken 
with  diphtheria,  and  died.  Mrs.  Little 
died  in  1851,  and  in  December,  1852, 
Mr.  Little  was  married  to  Margaret  J. 
House,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Jane 
(Wallace)  House.  They  have  two  adop- 
ted children — Ellen  and  Lamech.  Mr. 
Little  was  township  assessor  one  year, 
and  for  a  number  of  years  has  been 
school  director.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

John  W.  Hendricks,  resides  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Lamoine  township.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  was  born  there  on  the 
14th  of  November,  1833.  He  is  the  son 
of  Frederick  and  Nancy  (Underwood) 
Hendricks.  Frederick  was  born  in  Pen- 
dleton  county,  Kentucky,  August  17, 
1797.  When  17  years  of  age,  he  re- 
moved from  Kentucky  to  Ohio,  and 
made  his  permanent  settlement  in  Cham- 
paign county,  where  he  worked  at  the 
trade  of  a  brickmason.  In  October, 
1838,  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  1840,  built  the  first  brick 
house  in  Lamoine  township,  in  which 


Methodists  held  several  of  their  revivals. 
His  wife  was  Nancy  Underwood,  by 
whom  he  had  13  children— Jane,  wife  of 
William  Erving,  now  dead;  William, 
now  living  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois; 
James  B.,  now  residing  in  Lamoine 
township;  Joseph,  dead;  Sarah,  wife  of 
John  Archer,  a  resident  of  Page  county, 
Iowa;  George,  dead;  Harriet,  wife  of  N. 
Gibson,  now  deceased;  John  W.,  a  resi- 
dent of  this  township;  Rebecca,  wife  of 
T.  P.  Price,  now  living  in  Washington 
territory;  Benjamin  F.,  dead;  Mary, 
wife  of  Hugh  Wear,  now  living  in  La- 
moine township;  Harvey,  living  at  the 
present  time  in  Lamoine  township;  and 
Charley,  also  a  resident  of  this  town- 
ship. Mr.  Hendricks  died  in  February, 
1879.  John  W.,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  1838,  with  his  parents,  and,  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  1860,  when 
he  moved  on  section  15,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  He  has  always 
followed  the  occupation  of  a  farmer,  and 
is  now  possessor  of  240  acres  of  land, 
all  of  which  is  under  cultivation.  He 
devotes  some  of  his  time  to  the  raising 
of  stock,  but  pays  particular  attention 
to  the  raising  of  clover,  wheat  and  corn, 
for  which  cultivation  he  has  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hend- 
ricks was  married  on  the  19th  day  of 
January,  1860,  to  E.  M.  Horrell,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Elijah  H.,  and  Lucy  (Bragg)  Hor- 
rell, both  natives  of  Kentucky.  They 
have  had  five  children,  whose  names  are 
— Isabella,  wife  of  W.  K.  Payne,  now  liv- 
ing in  Kansas;  Emma,  wife  of  D.  M. 
Hatch,  now  a  resident  of  Kansas;  Cora, 
Frances,  and  John  T.  Mr.  Hendricks 
is  a  member  of  Triumph  lodge,  No.  131, 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  of  Plymouth,  Illinois,  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


659 


winch  lodge  he  has  been  a  member  about 
three  years.  In  1874  he  served  as  su- 
pervisor of  Lamoiiie  township. 

James  B.  Hendricks,  was  born  in 
Champaign  county,  Ohio,  on  the  1st  of 
July,  1823,  and  is  the  son  of  Frederick 
and  Nancy  (Underwood)  Hendricks. 
He  received  his  schooling  in  Ohio,  and 
in  1838,  he  came  to  McDonough  county 
with  his  parents,  and  here  located  until 
1844,  when  he  went  to  Quincy,  and  was 
there  engaged  in  learning  brick  mason 
trade.  -In  the  same  year,  he  went 
to  Wisconsin,  and  was  there  about  six 
months,  when  he  went  to  Dane  county, 
and  there  worked  in  the  lead  mines 
some  time,  and  was  engaged  in  various 
occupations,  until  the  spring  of  1849, 
when  he  came  again  to  McDonough 
county,  and  was  here  engaged  in  work- 
ing at  mason  work.  In  the  winter  of 
1850,  he  went  overland  to  Eldorado 
county,  California,  and  then  went  on  to 
the  south  fork  of  the  American  river, 
where  gold  had  just  been  discovered. 
In  1851,  he  went  up  the  Yuba  river,  and 
staid  six  months,  when  he  returned  to 
Eldorado  county,  and  there  remained 
until  1853.  He  then  came  back  to  his 
old  home  in  McDonough  county,  where 
he  has  resided  ever  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  six  months  in  1872,  that  he 
spent  in  Colorado.  Since  making  a  per- 
manent settlement  in  McDonough 
county,  Mr.  Hendricks  has  been  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  owns  200  acres 
of  land,  of  which  160  acres  are  devoted 
to  farming.  He  has  just  finished  a  fine 
residence,  and  his  farm  is  now  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  township.  Mr.  Hendricks 
was  married  in  October,  1856,  to  H.  A. 
Jackson,  who  died  in  1860,  leaving  two 


children — Ellen  and  Eugene,  the  former 
is  dead,  and  the  latter  now  lives  in  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  Hendricks  was  again  mar- 
ried in  October,  1862,  to  Ellen  King, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  (Thomas) 
King,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  J.  B. 
Hendricks  was  born  in  Champaign 
county,  and  was  there  reared.  They 
have  had  seven  children — Flora  J.,  dead; 
Benjamin  F.,  living  at  home;  Bessie, 
William,  John;  George,  dead;  and 
Nora.  Mr.  Hendricks  is  now  school 
director  of  district  No.  6. 

Adam  Myers,  one  of  the  prominent 
and  enterprising  men  of  this  township, 
was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  18th  of  May,  1840.  He  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Myers, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  John  Myers 
was  born  in  1821,  and  remained  in  Penn- 
sylvania until  1853,  when  he  came  to 
Fulton  county,  and  has  since  remained 
there,  being  engaged  in  farming.  His 
wife  is  deceased,  leaving  five  children — 
Anna  M.,  wife  of  Henry  Miller •,  a  resi- 
dent of  Fulton  county;  Dina,  wife  of 
Samuel  Neighbours,  now  living  in  Ful- 
ton county;  Adam,  now  living  in  Mc- 
Donough county;  Solomon,  living  in 
Fulton  county,  and  Elizabeth,  who  now 
resides  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Myers 
was  again  married  to  Lydia  C.  Dress- 
ier, who  is  also  deceased.  Their  child- 
ren are — Jacob,  living  in  McDonough 
county;  Abraham,  residing  in  Ful- 
ton county.  Mr.  Myers  took  another 
partner,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary 
Ann  Vance.  They  have  had  three  child- 
ren— Lucy,  wife  of  G.  McLung,  living 
ing  in  Fulton  county;  Alice,  wife  of 
Nathan  Forkenraw,  a  resident  of  Asto- 
ria, and  Charley,  still  with  his  parents. 


660 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Adam  Myers  came  to  Fulton  county 
with  his  parents  in  1853,  and  in  1859  he 
went  to  Morgan  county,  and  was  engaged 
in  farming  until  1864.  He  then  went  to 
Cass  county,  and  was  there  employed  in 
farming  until  1866,  when  he  returned  to 
Fulton  county,  and  there  remained  about 
five  years.  He  then  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  in  1871,  located  on  his  pres- 
ent location,  where  he  now  owns  105 
acres  of  land,  all  in  pastures  and  farm 
land.  He  pays  particular  attention  to 
the  raising  of  stock,  of  which  he  has 
some  of  the  finest  in  the  township.  Mr. 
Myers  has  been  school  director  -of  dis- 
trict No.  6,  for  one  term.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church.  Mr. 
Myers  was  united  in  marriage  in  April, 
1865,  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  (Horr)  Batsen, 
a  daughter  of  Martin  L.  and  Julia  A. 
(Oiler)  Horr.  They  have  had  seven 
children — Willetta,  Ida  May,  Isadore, 
James  Martin,  Robert  Lee,  John  Emery 
and  Ella. 

Harvey  F.  Hendricks  was  born  in 
Lamoine  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  on  the  29th  of  March,  1842. 
He  received  his  education  in  a  small  log 
school  house  near  the  old  homestead, 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  in 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of 
the  United  States,  in  company  I,  10th 
Missouri  infantry,  under  Captain  C.  A. 
Gilchrist.  He  was  taken  sick  while  in 
the  service  and  was  taken  to  St.  Charles 
hospital,  where  he  was  confined  about 
six  months,  and  was  discharged  at  St. 
Louis,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1862.  He 
returned  home  and  staid  with  his  par- 
ents until  1864,  when  he  again  enlisted 
in  company  A,  78th  Illinois,  under  Cap- 
tain Blackburn.  He  participated  in  the 


battles  of  Rocky-faced  Ridge,  Resaca, 
Altoona,  Peach-tree  creek,  and  was  under 
Sherman  in  his  "March  to  the  Sea." 
He  was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  of 
that  march,  until  reaching  Atlanta, when 
he  was  wounded  in  the  right  hand,  dis- 
abling him  for  duty.  He  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Quincy,  by  way  of  Chatta- 
nooga, Nashville,  Louisville  and  Jeffer- 
sonville,  and  was  there  mustered  out  in 
July,  1865.  Mr.  Hendricks  then  returned 
to  his  father  in  McDonough  county, 
where  he  remained  two  years>  and  in 
1867,  he  went  to  Montana,  and  there  was 
engaged  in  prospecting  in  mines  about 
four  months.  In  the  fall  of  that  year 
he  came  down  the  river  and  stopped  at 
Ft.  Berthold,  Dakota,  where  he  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1870.  He  came 
home  and  remained  with  his  father  until 
1872,  when  he  went  back  to  Dakota  and 
was  there  engaged  as  government  car- 
penter for  eight  years.  In  1880  he 
returned  to  McDonough  county,  and 
purchased  a  farm  in  Lamoine  township, 
where  he  has  since  erected  a  fine  resi- 
dence, and  has  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  the  township.  Mr.  Hendricks  was 
united  in  marriage  in  October,  1879, 
with  Caroline  Harrington,  a  daughter  of 
Alonzo  and  Jane  (Wilson)  Harrington. 
They  have  been  blessed  with  three 
children — Frederick,  Edith  and  Esther. 
George  J.  Lawyer  resides  on  section 
13,  Lamoine  township,  where  he  owns 
135  acres  of  good  land,of  which  120  acres 
are  devoted  to  farming,  He  has  made 
all  the  improvements  on  his  farm,  and 
is  now  raising  stock  for  his  own  use.  He 
is  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  on  the  24th  of  October,  1828. 
His  father,  William  Lawyer,  was  born 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


661 


in  Pennsylvania,  and  there  followed 
farming  through  his  early  life.  He 
removed  to  Brown  county,  Illinois,  in 
the  fall  of  1835,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1836,  he  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  in  the  south  part  of  Tennes- 
see township,  on  the  place  now  occupied 
by  Catharine  Jarvis.  In  the  year  1856, 
he  went  to  Appanoose  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  remained,  farming,  until  1874, 
when  he  went  to  Wayne  county,  and 
while  there  his  wife  died.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  that  county  until 
1881,  when  he  moved  to  Union  county, 
and  there  was  taken  ill  and  died,  in 
1883.  He  was  the  father  of  seven 
children — Elizabeth,  widow  of  Dr.  Horg- 
land,  now  living  in  Missouri;  Dedma- 
rius,  wife  of  William  Breeden,  now 
residing  in  Tennessee  township;  George 
J.,  living  in  this  township;  Catharine, 
widow  of  Ethan  Jarvis,  of  Tennessee 
township;  John  W.,  now  in  Washington 
territory;  Samuel,  a  resident  of  Bethel 
township;  William,  living  in  Union 
county,  Iowa,  and  Susan,  dead.  George 
J.  came  to  Brown  and  McDonough 
counties  with  his  father  in  1836,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  1851,  when  he 
took  up  a  farm  for  himself,  and  has 
resided  on  that  place  ever  since,  with 
the  exception  of  one  year,  when  he 
removed  to  Appanoose  county,  Iowa. 
Mr.  Lawyer  has  been  school  director  of 
district  No.  7.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr.  Law- 
yer was  married  in  November,  1867,  to 
'Amanda  C.  Wear,  a  daughter  of  Hugh 
and  Sarah  (Duncomb)  Wear.  They 
have  had  seven  children — Sarah  C., 
widor/  of  George  Huffman;  Nancy  E., 
wife  of  James  Mathews,  now  living  in 


Bethel  township;  William  H.,  living  in 
this  township;  David  J.,  now  in  La- 
moine  township;  Susan  J.,  Joseph  E. 
and  George  M. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  county  superintendent's  annual 
report,  for  the  school  year  ending  June 
30,  1884,  shows  that  Lamoine  township 
is  free  from  any  bonded  indebtedness, 
and  that  the  estimated  value  of  school 
property  is  $4,400.  The  amount  of  tax 
levy  for  the  support  of  the  schools  for 
this  year  is  $1,833.90.  The  highest 
wages  paid  any  male  teacher  is  $50  and 
the  lowest  $35  per  month,  while  the 
highest  monthly  wages  paid  female 
teachers  is  $32,  and  the  lowest  $22. 
There  are  seven  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  all  of  which  are  frame,  and  in 
which  an  average  of  seven  and  one-half 
months  of  school  are  taught.  There  are 
300  pupils  enrolled  in  the  schools  and 
390  children  of  school  age  in  the  town- 
ship. 

An  early  school,  in  the  history  of  La- 
moine, was  taught  on  the  farm  of  J.  D. 
Tabler,  in  1844  or  5,  by  Margaret  Ful- 
kerson.  The  building,  which  was  a 
frame  structure,  has  since  been  de- 
stroyed by  fire. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  1  was 
erected  in  1871  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  8.  The  first  teacher  in  this 
building  was  James  McVeigh.  The  first 
school  house  built  in  the  district  was  in 
1861,  located  on  the  same  section. 

The  school  house  situated  on  the  north- 
west corner  of  section  11,  and  in  the  dis- 
trict known  as  No.  2,  was  built  in  1862. 
The  first  term  of  school  was  taught  by 


662 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Samuel  Jarvis.  The  present  teacher  is 
Lewis  McCowan. 

The  school  house  located  on  the  line 
between  sections  29  and  30,  in  school  dis- 
trict No.  3,  was  erected  in  1864,  by  Wil- 
liam E  wing.  School  is  taught  there  at 
present  by  Miss  Bidwell.  The  school- 
house  stands  on  the  same  site  of  an  old 
log  house  erected  for  school  purposes  in 
1851. 

School  district  No.  4  has  a  building 
on  section  28,  which  was  erected  in 
1872.  The  present  teacher  is  Addie 
Scott.  The  first  house  built  in  this  dis- 
trict was  about  the  year  1847  or  8,  occu- 
pying the  site  upon  which  the  present 
building  now  stands. 

A  log  school  house  was  built  on  sec- 
tion 36,  in  district  No.  5,  some  time  pre- 
vious to  the  year  1841.  It  was  replaced 
by  a  frame  building  in  1858,  and  again 
rebuilt  in  1880.  Miss  Meek  is  the 
teacher  at  present. 

School  district  No.  6  has  a  school 
house  on  the  east  half  of  section  15, 
which  was  built  in  1870.  Richard 
Breeden  is  the  present  teacher  in  this 
district,  while  the  directors  are — J.  B. 
Hendricks,  M.  D.  Wear  and  Thomas 
Robinson. 

FLOURING   MILL. 

The  Lamoine  mills,  situated  on  the 
west  bank  of  Crooked  creek,on  section  21, 
was  erected  in  1837,by  Butler  Gates  and  a 
man  named  Matthews.  It  was  afterward 
owned  by  Samuel  Doyle.  A  number  of 
different  parties  operated  the  mill  before 
the  present  proprietors,  Marvin  Bros., 
took  charge  of  the  institution  in  the  fall 
of  1867.  Since  that  time  the  mill  has 


been  run  with  comparatively  good  suc- 
cess, as  it  is  the  only  mill  in  the  town- 
ship. It  is  operated  by  water  power. 

CEMETERIES. 

There  is  a  cemetery  located  in  the  cen- 
ter of  section  4,  on  the  farm  of  J.  D. 
Tabler.  The  first  burial  occurred  in  1835, 
and  was  the  body  of  James  Waddill. 

Another  cemetery  is  located  on  section 
11,  and  is  known  as  Rice's  burying 
ground.  The  first  interment  was  that  of 
Reuben  Rice. 

A  burying  ground  is  also  located  on 
section  30,  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  King,  and 
contains  about  one  acre.  The  first  burial 
was  a  small  child  of  Isaac  Smith,  about 
the  year  1841.  For  a  number  of  years  it 
was  used  for  interment  purposes  by  the 
town  of  Plymouth.  It  is  not  in  use  at 
all,  at  present. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  house  occupied  by  Samuel  F.  Mor- 
ris, on  section  35,  was  formerly  used  for 
a  public  meeting  house,  about  the  year 
1840,  Rev.  Loring  being  the  first  preacher. 
A  class  was  organized  there  by  the  M. 
E.  society. 

HISTORIC  NOTES. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held 
by  Jesse  Chapman,  at  an  early  day,  at 
the  home  of  John  Jarvis,  the  father  of 
Edward. 

Old  Father  Bradley  and  Thomas  Ow- 
ens, delivered  the  first  sermon,  at  the 
house  of  Elijah  Poole,  on  Round  Prairie, 
in  the  year  1832. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was 
that  of  Charles  Hills  and  Charlotta 
David.  The  ceremony  was  performed  at 
the  home  of  the  groom,  on  section  12, 
July  31, 1836. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


663 


The  first  birth  was  Sarah,  daughter  of 
David  Fees,  in  the  year  1830. 

The  first  frame  building  in  Lamoine, 
was  erected  in  1840,  by  Marcus  Rice,  on 
section  11.  It  is  unoccupied  at  present, 
and  is  in  the  last  stages  of  decay. 

Charles  Hills  and  David  Fees  built 
the  first  log  cabin  in  the  township,  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  12,  in 
the  spring  of  1830.  It  is  occupied  at 
present  by  John  Hills,  as  a  blacksmith 
shop. 

An  early  death  was  that  of  James  Wad- 
dill,  in  the  year  1835. 

The  first  mill  was  erected  on  section 
21,  in  1837,  by  Butler,  Gates  and  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Matthews.  It  still  stands 
and  is  the  property  of  Marvin  Bros. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  William 
S.  Hendricks,  on  section  11,  about  the 
year  1839.  This  gentleman  afterward 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  inMacomb 
township. 

The  first  justices  of  the  peace  were 
Hugh  Wear  and  Isaac  Smith.  John  S. 
Holliday  was  the  first  supervisor. 

The  first  brick  dwelling  in  the  town- 
ship was  erected  by  Frederick  Hendricks, 
on  the  east  half  of  section  11. 

ORGANIC. 

At  the  general  election  of  1856,  the 
question  of  township  organization  was 
submitted,  and  having  received  the 
requisite  number  of  the  votes  of  the 
county  for  such  organization  the  county 
judge  appointed  a  committee,  December 
4,  of  that  year,  to  divide  the  county  into 
townships,  and  in  due  time  the  committee 
reported  that  they  had  performed  that 
duty.  By  the  action  of  that  committee 
this  township  was  called  Lamoine,  and 


comprises  36  sections,  or  a  full  congres- 
sional township.  At  the  first  township 
election,  held  April  7, 1857,  the  following 
officers  were  elected:  John  Twidwell,  J. 
S.  Holliday,  justices  of  the  peace;  and 
Robert  Dorothy,  constable. 

The  officers  for  the  year  1885  are  as 
follows:  Thomas  Clark,  supervisor: 
James  Robinson,  clerk;  S.  T.  Martin, 
assessor :  John  A.  Wear,  collector ;  Dan- 
iel Hines,  highway  commissioner;  John 
Twidwell  and  William  Valentine,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace;  George  W.  Shawgo 
and  G.  F.  M.  Twidwell,  constables;  Wil- 
liam Jenkins,  school  trustee. 

VILLAGE   OF   COLMAR. 

This  town  was  laid  out  in  the  fall  of 
1857,  by  W.  M.  Graves.  The  plat  lies  in 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  7,  and 
west  of  the  Quincy  branch  of  the  C.  B. 
&  Q.  railroad,  which  runs  in  a  northeast- 
erly and  southwesterly  course  through 
this  part  of  the  county.  The  plat  is  com- 
posed of  80  lots,  50x125  feet,  in  blocks 
of  10  lots  each.  At  one  time  consider- 
able life  was  manifested  and  several 
stores  sprang  up,  making  the  prospects 
for  a  business  point  quite  flattering,  but 
at  present  there  is  only  one  store  of  gen- 
eral merchandise,  operated  by  John  Mc- 
Allister. The  location  is  rather  unfav- 
orable for  a  town,  large  proportions  of 
the  surrounding  country  being  timber 
land.  The  principal  shipments  of  the 
place  are  wood  and  grain.  During  the 
year  of  1884,  24  cars  of  stock,  43  of  grain 
and  61  of  wood  were  shipped  from  this 
point.  Johnson  &  Company  opened  the 
first  store,  carrying  a  general  stock.  The 
first  house  was  erected  by  Mrs.  Ann  Pow- 
ell, which  is  now  occupied  by  H.  A.  He*n- 


664 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


dricks.  The  first  school  was  a  three 
months'  term,  taught  by  Mr.  Simmons, 
in  a  dwelling  house.  The  nearest  school 
at  present  is  located  one  mile  north,  and 
is  at  present  taught  by  W.  M.  Matteson. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The  Colmar  postoffice  was  established 
in  the  depot  in  1859,  and  J.  D.  Berry 
was  commissioned  postmaster,  who  also 
received  the  first  letter,  who  is  also  the 
present  incumbent  of  the  office,  and  en- 
joys the  confidence  of  all. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held 
at  Colmar  in  the  summe'r  of  1860.  Dr. 
William  Boog  conducted  the  meeting  in 
the  freight  room  of  the  depot.  The  near- 


est place  of  worship  at  present  is   St. 
Mary's  church  in  Hancock  county. 

WHITE   FLOCK   CHURCH. 

This  church,  which  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  denomination,  is  situated  on 
the  east  half  of  section  11,  and  was 
built  in  the  summer  of  1866.  Rev. 
Saunders  preaches  every  two  weeks. 

UNITED   BRETHREN  CHURCH   OF    LAMOINE. 

This  church  was  erected  on  section  20, 
Lamoine  township,  in  1862,  by  Newton 
Schrakes.  The  first  pastor  of  the  or- 
ganization was  John  Condon.  At  pres- 
ent there  is  a  membership  of  about  12, 
with  John  Willstead  as  pastor. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 


EMMET  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  lies  in  6  north,  3  west, 
and  is  about  equally  divided  between 
timber  and  prairie  land.  It  is  bounded 
upon  the  north  by  Sciota,  on  the  east  by 
Macomb,  with  Chalmers  and  Colchester 
on  the  south,  and  Hire  township  on  the 
west.  A  considerable  portion  of  the 
city  of  Macomb  is  on  section  36,  of  this 
township. 

The  township  is  well  watered,  and  is 
an  excellent  stock  country.  Crooked 
creek  passes  through  the  southeastern 
portion,  entering  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  25,  and  leaving  on  the 


southwest  of  34.  Spring  creek  and 
tributaries  run  through  the  greater  por- 
tion of  it,  and  furnish  living  water  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year.  There  are  many 
excellent  farms  here,  and  the  farmers 
are,  as  a  rule,  well-to-do  men.  There 
are  about  23,000  acres  of  land  in  the  en- 
tire township,  the  majority  of  which  is 
improved.  In  churches  and  school 
houses  the  township  will  compare  favor- 
ably with  any  other  in  the  county.  The 
Quincy  branch  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  rail- 
road passes  through  the  southwest  cor- 
ner of  the  township. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


665 


EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

Many  interesting  facts  cluster  'round 
the  early  settlement  of  this  township, 
which  will  be  vividly  brought  to  mind 
by  the  mere  mention  of  pioneer  days. 
The  difficulties  attending  the  first  set- 
tlement of  this  country  cannot  be  real- 
ized, or  the  hardships  and  privations 
undergone  estimated,  by  any  comparison 
with  the  new  settlement  in  the  west  of 
to-day.  Now,  lines  of  railroads  traverse 
the  lands,  markets  for  agricultural  pro- 
ducts are  at  hand  for  the  settlers,  buyers 
of  grain  and  stock  appear  upon  the 
scene,  and  ready  money  is  always  at 
hand  for  any  and  everything,  for  which 
a  demand  exists,  and  the  so-called  "pio- 
neers" of  the  west  to-day  have  compara- 
tively an  easy  time.  Penetrating  the 
forests  and  wilds  of  this  country  over 
50  years  ago,  making  the  tiresome  jour- 
ney with  teams,  settling  remote  from 
railroad  or  trading  point,  without  society 
and  with  but  little  shelter,  means  almost 
hermitage,  and  all  honor  is  due  those 
brave  men  and  women,  who  so  nobly,  in 
years  gone  by,  endured  these  things, 
and  placed  in  motion  a  series  of  events 
which  have  developed  so  rich  and  goodly 
a  land;  until  Emmet  township  stands 
forth  to-day  in  all  its  beauty  and  devel- 
opment, with  desirable  homes  and  happy 
surroundings,  well  tilled  farms  and  com- 
fortable houses. 

The  first  to  effect  a  settlement  in  Em- 
met township  was  Peter  Hale,  in  1830; 
he  was  also  the  first  county  coroner.  He 
erected  his  cabin  on  the  quarter  west  of 
Macomb,  where  the  old  graveyard  is 
located. 

Wm.  Pringle  settled  a  short  distance 
further  west  at  about  the  same  time. 


Samuel  L.  Clarke  came  with  his 
father,  James  Clarke,  from  the  state  of 
Kentucky  to  McDonough  county,  in  the 
spring  of  1830.  They  settled  on  section 
36,  within  the  present  borders  of  the 
city  of  Macomb.  Samuel  remained  at 
home  until  his  marriage,  which  occurred 
in  1853,  to  Nancy  A.  Hardin.  They  are 
the  parents  of  four  children — David  H., 
James  D.,  Clara  and  Samuel  L.  Samuel 
L.  was  born  September  29,  1822,  in  the 
state  of  Kentucky,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  and  Mary  (Lewis)  Clarke.  His 
death 'occurred  February  8,  1863,  and  he 
is  interred  in  the  Russell  cemetery. 

In  the  year  of  1831,  William  Penning- 
ton  removed  from  Pennington's  Point, 
and  located  upon  Spring  creek,  about 
eight  miles  northwest  of  Macomb,  on 
section  8,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  although  he  spent  a  few  years  in 
the  town  of  Blandinsville.  Alfred  and 
Perry,  his  sons,  remained  on  the  home- 
stead a  number  of  years,  when  they  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Blandinsville, 
where  they  still  reside. 

William  Pennington  came  to  McDon- 
ough county  in  1828,  from  Schuyler 
county,  this  state,  and  was  born  in  South 
Carolina;  but  removed  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.  His  first 
settlement  was  at  what  is  now  called 
Pennington's  point,  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship, but  in  1831,  he  removed  to  Emmet 
township.  Coming  as  he  did,  with  a 
small  amount  of  money,  he  succeeded  in 
buying  considerable  laud,  which  im- 
proved in  value,  and  at  his  death  made 
him  worth  considerable  property.  He 
was  not  possessed  of  a  very  strong  con- 
stitution, and  was  sick  a  great  deal  of 
the  time.  He  was  quite  a  religious  man, 


666 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  not  given  to  political  aspirations. 
When  he  went  to  the  polls  he  cast  his 
ballot  with  the  democratic  party.  His 
wife  preceded  him  over  the  dark  river, 
and  they  both  lie  on  section  7,  in  Emmet 
township.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pennington,  as  follows: 
Moses,  now  in  Arkansas;  Alfred,  in  Blan- 
dinsville;  Nancy  W.,  deceased;  Perry,  in 
Schuyler  county;  William  R.,  Eli  A., 
Joel  R.,  John,  deceased;  Elijah  and  Eli- 
sha  were  twins,  and  died  young.  Eli 
still  lives  on  section  8,  where  he  owns 
91  acres  of  land,  and  61  acres  on  section 
18.  It  is  a  pleasure  we  do  not  all  have, 
that  of  being  born  and  reared,  and  after 
marriage  live  on  the  same  place;  but 
such  is  the  fact  in  Mr.  Pennington' s 
case.  His  marriage  with  Emeline  Grills, 
occurred  May  29,  1870,  she  being  a  na- 
tive of  East  Tennessee,  but  was  married 
in  this  county.  Two  children  help  to 
bind  the  hearts  of  these  people — Mamie 
N.  A.,  born  December  19,  1872,  and  Al- 
fred, born  January  22,  1874  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pennington  are  members  of  the 
Missionary  Baptist  church. 

James  Head,  a  native  of  Virginia, 
moved  to  the  state  of  Kentucky  when 
young,  and  in  1832,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  settling  in  Emmet  township, 
southwest  of  the  village  of  Sciota,  on  sec- 
tion 5.  He  resided  there  until  1855, 
when  he  removed  to  Macomb  and  there 
lived  a  retired  life  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  2,  1863.  He  improved 
the  farm  in  this  township,  and  raised  a 
family  of  12  children,  three  of  whom 
still  live  in  the  county — Thomas,  Maria, 
wife  of  Jefferson  Hays,  and  William  B. 

Thomas  W.  Head,  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Emmet  in  1832,  arriving  at  sec- 


tion 5,  on  Christmas  day,  where  they 
made  a  settlement.  Thomas  remained 
here  until  March,  1848,  when  he  removed 
to  Sciota  township,  where  he  still  resides. 

Richard  H.  Churchill  made  a  settle- 
ment on  section  14,  in  Emmet  township 
in  1832. 

Job  Yard,  settled  on  section  30,  in 
April,  1833,  where  he  entered  240  acres 
of  land,  80  of  which  was  on  section  16. 
He  improved  the  land  on  section  30, 
where  he  made  his  residence. 

Job  Yard,  Jr.,  a  native  of  McDonough 
county,  was  born  on  the  same  farm  he 
now  lives  on,  a  part  of  the  old  Yard 
homestead,  owning  110  acres  of  the  same 
on  section  30,  southeast  quarter.  He  was 
born  May  1,  1837,  the  youngest  child  of 
the  family  now  living.  He  enlisted  in 
August  1862,  and  was  mustered  in  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  September  10,  in 
company  I,  124th  regiment.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  at  Mobile,  Vicks- 
burg,  Champion  Hills,  Black  Eiver,  and 
other  severe  engagements,  in  all  about  20 
battles,  and  was  not  wounded,  but  at 
Vicksburg  was  injured  in  falling  from  a 
precipice,  injuring  his  spine,  and  was  in 
the  hospital.  His  marriage  occurred 
February  13,  1873,  to  Sarah  Webster,  a 
daughter  of  John  Webster,  a  farmer  near 
Colchester,  but  formerly  a  druggist  in 
Colchester.  Four  children  bless  this  un- 
ion— Francis  E.,  John  W.,  Etta  J.  and 
Isabel,  now  deceased.  Mr.  Yard  is  a 
republican  and  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

Thomas  C.  Yard  is  one  of  Emmet  town- 
ship's most  successful  farmers.  He 
worked  at  home,  assisting  on  the  farm 
until  his  father's  death,  when  the  respon- 
sibilities of  the  place  and  business  were 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


6G7 


all  vested  in  him,  be  took  the  matter  in 
hand  and  was  highly  successful  in  carry- 
ing out  the  plans  of  his  father,  and  until 
his  mother  married  again,  he  was  the 
sole  manager.  Job  Yard  Sr.,  spoken  of 
in  another  place,  was  his  father.  Thomas 
had  learned  the  trade  of  a  stone  mason, 
at  which  trade  he  worked  for  12  years, 
five  years  of  the  time,  however,  he  was 
engaged  in  lettering  tomb  stones,  being 
very  proficient  in  the  art.  Starting  with 
nothing  to  speak  of,  he  gradually  worked 
his  way  up  and  is  now  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  farmers  in  the  county,  own- 
ing 600  acres  of  land  and  property  in 
Macomb.  His  buildings  are  nice  and 
neatly  kept,  showing  thrift  and  good 
judgment,  while  on  his  land  roam  herds 
of  good  cattle, and  droves  of  hogs — some- 
times buying,  feeding  and  shipping  to 
Chicago  on  his  own  account.  His  wife 
was  Louisa  Phelps,  a  daughter  of  L.  P. 
Phelps,  who  met  his  death  in  Macomb, 
in  such  a  tragic  manner  in  1872.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yard, 
four  of  whom  are  living — Clara  A.,  Ed- 
ward L.,  Truman  P.  and  Jessie  O.  The 
deceased  are — Francis  E.,  William  C., 
Emma  L.,  Leander  P.  and  Alva  T.  Mr. 
Yard  is  a  strong  republican  and  an  active 
man  in  its  cause. 

About  the  year  1833,  Levi  Warren 
came,  entering  a  good  farm  on  section  33, 
where  he  resided  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  an  eastern  man  and  served  through 
the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  raised  a  large 
family  of  children,  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Mercer  county,  where  he  died. 

In  1834,  Joshua  Simmons  entered  land 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  4. 
He  rented  at  first,  but  afterward  bought 
160  acres  and  added  to  the  place  until  he 


had  210  acres  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1883. 

Joshua  Simmons,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Halifax  county,  Virginia,  November 
23,  1806,  and  died  Feb.  15, 1883.  When 
he  was  nine  years  old  he  removed  from 
his  native  state  and  became  a  resident  of 
Kentucky.  In  1834  he  came  to  this 
county  and  made  a  settlement  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  four.  He 
engaged  in  farming,  first  renting,  then 
buying  160  acres  on  section  nine,  to 
which  he  afterwards  made  additions,  un- 
til at  the  time  of  his  death  the  farm  con- 
tained 210  acres.  Mr.  Simmons  received 
but  a  limited  education,  and  came  to  this 
county  poor.  By  habits  of  industry, 
temperance  and  economy,  he  was  enabled 
to  succeed.  He  was  married  December 
27,  1827,  to  Mary  Webster,  a  native  of 
Maryland,  born  April  29,  1810,  who  yet 
survives  him,  in  good  health  and  an  ap- 
parent lease  of  life  for  years  to  come. 
They  have  had  thirteen  children — Mary 
Hardin,  born  October  7, 1830;  Martha  E., 
born  March  1,  1832;  James  D.,  born 
August  14,  1834,  and  died  December  15, 
1884;  Eliza  J.,  born  August  10,  1836; 
Zephaniah  B.,  born  September  11,  1838; 
Thomas  M.,  born  in  1840;  William  W., 
born  August  22,  1843;  Sarah  Elizabeth, 
born  April  14,  1845;  Joel  H.,  born  in 
1847;  Matilda  A.,  born  September  9, 
1849;  William  J.,  born  February  24, 1852; 
John  M.,  born  October  27, 1855,  and  now 
married;  and  Mary  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simmons  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church,  and  he  was  one  of  the  honest, 
straight  men  of  McDonough  county. 

Thomas  M.  Simmons,  third  son  of 
Joshua  and  Mary  (Webster)  Simmons, 
was  born  in  this  county,  December  29, 


668 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1840.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  his 
father's  farm,  and  August  1863,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Ruth  Collins, 
who  came  to  this  county  with  her  par- 
ents when  quite  young.  She  died  April 
4,  1865,  and  July  8,  of  the  following  year 
Mr.  Simmons  was  again  married  to 
Nancy  R.  Barnes,  a  native  of  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Elias 
Barnes  who  settled  in  Emmet  township 
in  1853,  but  is  now  living  in  Iowa.  Mr. 
Simmons  has  had  by  his  second  mar- 
riage, five  children — Thomas  W.,  born 
January  6,  1870;  Frederick  E.,  born  Oct- 
ober 22,  1871,  and  died  April  7,  1877; 
Frank  L.,  born  December  9,  1875,  and 
died  October  13,  1877;  and  George  E., 
born  November  29,  1879.  Their  only 
daughter,  Pearl,  was  born  November  26, 
1868,  and  died  April  15, 1869.  Mr.  Sim- 
mons after  his  first  marriage,  lived  one 
year  in  Sciota  township,  then  removed 
to  Emmet  township,  where  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  He  purchased  a  por- 
tion of  his  present  farm  in  1868.  He 
now  owns  126  acres  of  well  improved 
land  and  has  a  desirable  home.  Mr.  Sim- 
mons takes  an  active  interest  in  politics, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  republican  party. 
He  has  held  the  offices  of  township  su- 
pervisor, collector  and  school  director. 
Mrs.  Simmons  is  a  woman  of  fine  educa- 
tion and  was  formerly  a  teacher.  They 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

In  1835,  Benjamin  Nay  lor,  who  came 
to  Macomb  in  1833,  purchased  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  29,  and  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  32,  and  erected  a 
log  cabin  20  feet  square,  with  two  rooms, 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  29. 
He  has  since  died. 


Benjamin  T.  Nay  lor,  formerly  a  promi- 
nent citizen,  but  now  deceased,  came  to 
McDonough  county  from  Adair  county, 
Kentucky,  in  the  spring  of  1833.  He 
was  born  in  March,  1801,  and  was  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Naylor,  who  was  of  Eng- 
lisn  descent.  B.  T.  Naylor  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion. He  was  a  bright  scholar,  and  par- 
ticularly apt  in  mathematics.  At  the 
age  of  19  he  began  learning  the  carpen- 
ter's trade,  at  which  he  became  a  skilled 
workman.  The  first  piece  of  work 
which  won  for  him  the  reputation  for 
unusual  dexterity,  was  the  railing  for  a 
flight  of  winding  stairs  at  the  peniten- 
tiary in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  for  the 
construction  of  which  he  received  $600. 
He  intended,  on  coming  to  this  county, 
to  pursue  his  trade,  and  did  so  for  a 
time.  He  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
the  old  court  house  and  other  buildings, 
in  the  city  of  Macomb.  He  also  built 
the  first  frame  house  in  that  city,  which 
is  now  occupied  by  the  Catholic  priest. 
Mr.  Naylor  abandoned  his  trade  in  1842, 
and  went  on  to  a  farm  in  Emmet  town- 
rhip.  He  was  married  in  1831.  to  Adel- 
ine Bailey,  a  native  of  Virginia.  By 
this  marriage  there  were  six  children — 
John  J.,  William  B.,  George  W.,  Sibian, 
Martha  C.  and  Albert.  His  four  sons 
served  in  the  army  during  the  late  war. 
Sibian,  John  and  Martha  C.  are  deceased. 
Mrs.  Naylor  died  June  26,  1880,  and  is 
buried  with  her  deceased  children  in  the 
old  cemetery  at  Macomb.  George  W. 
Naylor  now  lives  in  Dakota.  B.  T.  Nay- 
lor died  December  8,  1883,  in  Hire 
township.  The  immediate  cause  of  his 
death  was,  injuries  which  he  received  in 
consequence  of  his  horses  running 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


671 


wife  of  Thomas  Ballew  of  Emmet  town- 
ship; Margaret  J.,  one  of  McDonough 
county's  teachers;  George  M.,  Harriett 
A.,  Mary  E.,  Martha  C.,  John  P.,  Wil- 
liam R,  and  Walter  L.  Mr.  Guy  was 
director  in  his  school  district  from  1866 
to  1884,  and  is  one  of  the  most  earnest 
workers  in  the  cause  of  Christianity,  be- 
ing class  leader  in  the  M.  E.  church  near 
by  for  years;  his  wife  is  also  a  member, 
but  was  formerly  a  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian. In  1874-75,  Mr.  Guy  was  col- 
lector of  taxes  in  Emmet  township.  He 
taught  two  terms  of  school. 

J.  W.  Stapp  (deceased)  was  among  the 
really  good  men  of  McDonough  county. 
While  young  he  had  great  respect  for  re- 
ligion, and  in  mature  years,  feeling  him- 
self called  upon  to  preach,  he  gave  atten- 
tion to  more  particular  study  of  the  scrip- 
tures, and  eventually  became  a  power  in 
the  preaching  of  the  word.  He  was  a 
self  made  man,  starting  out  in  life  with 
only  the  advice  and  protection  of  a  step- 
mother. Unlike  so  many  boys,  who  read- 
ily yield  to  temptation,  he  had  a  fine  per- 
ception of  right'  and  wrong,  and  seemed 
inclined  to  lead  an  upright,  honest,  Chris- 
tian life,  and  became  a  noble  Christian 
gentleman,  and  no  name  of  honor  or 
word  of  praise  can  be  greater  than  that. 
He  was  always  found  ready  to  do  his 
duty,  and  various  communities  can  tes- 
tify to  his  honest  presentation  of  the  gos- 
pel, among  them — Industry,  Table  Grove, 
Tennessee  and  Huntsville.  He  was  the 
lasi;  of  a  family  of  five  brothers  and  a 
half  sister,  and  was  married  on  the  eighth 
day  of  August,  1854,  to  Mahala  T.  Guy. 
But  like  all  the  rest,  the  brightest  and 
best  seem  born  to  die,  and  Mr.  Stapp 
passed  away  from  the  scenes  of  this  life} 


to  a  blissful,  happy  home  above,  perfectly 
resigned  to  the  will  of  God,  and  sure  of 
an  eternal  inheritance  of  joy  and  love. 
Thus  pleasantly,  this  good  man  passed 
to  his  reward,  leaving  a  family  of  seven 
children — George  W.,  now  living  in  Ma- 
comb  township;  Mary  A.,  John  G.,  Eliz- 
abeth B.,  wife  of  G.  T.  Ledgerwood,  liv- 
ing in  Tennessee  township;  Henry,  liv- 
ing at  home;  Melvina  and  William  B. 
His  widow  still  lives  011  the  farm  in  Em- 
met township,  where  she  owns  105  acres 
of  good  land.  Mr.  Stapp  was  a  native 
Kentuckian,  and  was  born  in  Adair 
county  March  25t  1826.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  the  spring  -of  1833,  and  was 
here  a  resident  until  the  time  of  his  death. 
His  life  seems  to  have  been  one  of  afflic- 
tion. His  mother  died  while  on  the  jour- 
ney to  Illinois,  and  his  father  died  two 
years  later.  The  loss  of  a  mother  was 
indeed  a  great  one,  yet  he  was  fortunate 
in  having  a  pious  and  good  step-mother. 
She  was  true  and  faithful,  and  Mr.  Stapp 
in  a  great  measure  had  reason  to  thank 
her  for  his  early  religious  training.  He 
made  a  profession  of  religion  on  the  9th 
day  of  September,  1851 ;  joined  the  Wal- 
nut Grove  congregation  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  March  22, 
1852;  joined  the  Bushville  Presbytery  of 
the  same  church  in  the  same  month,  and 
two  years  after  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel.  In  October,  1854,  he  was  se- 
verely afflicted  with  sore  eyes,  almost  de- 
priving him  of  sight,  yet  he  still  contin- 
ued his  regular  appointments,  and  was 
ordained  and  set  apart  for  the  whole  work 
of  the  ministry,  September  28,  1857,  by 
the  Bushville  presbytery  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church  at  Bersheba, 
in  this  county. 


672 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Jefferson  Bayless  is  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee, born  in  Knox  county  May  27, 
1827,  and  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Betsey 
Ann  (Sumter)  Bayless.  Both  died  in 
Tennessee,  and  are  interred  in  Knox 
county,  that  state.  Jefferson  grew  to 
manhood  in  Tennessee,  and  made  his 
home  with  his  father  until  his  marriage 
to  Luartha  Ledgerwood,  also  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  Their  marriage  occurred 
May,  1851.  This  lady  was  not  blessed 
with  a  long  lease  of  life,  her  demise  oc- 
curring in  April,  1856,  and  her  burial- 
place  in  the  Atkinson  cemetery,  on 
section  31,  leaving  one  child,  Isaac,  now 
living  in  Emmefct  township.  Mr.  Bay- 
less  was  again  married  to  Miss  C.  S. 
Lucy,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Eve- 
line Lucy,  of  Tennessee,  the  marriage 
occurring  in  that  state,  September  28, 
1858.  Their  children  are— Eva  L.,  wife 
of  E.  Richardson,  living  in  Nebraska, 
Bessie  A.,  Jennie  H.,  Willie  L.,  Ida  M., 
Frederick  B.,  John  H.  and  Kay  M. 
When  Mr.  B.  settled  on  section  19  he 
bought  at  first  40  acres,  and  has  since 
added  more,  making  140  acres  prairie 
and  20  acres  timber  land.  The  im- 
provements were  all  made  by  Mr.  Bay- 
less.  He  has  a  house,  the  main  part 
18x36,  and  wing  16x24,  with  a  large  barn 
and  shed  room  for  all  of  his  stock.  He 
is  making  a  specialty  of  horses,  raising 
a  number  to  sell  each  year.  He  has 
held  different  offices  in  the  township. 
In  politics  he  favors  the  republican 
party. 

John  Ledgerwood,  on  coming  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  settled  on  section  19, 
Emmet  township,  taking  eighty  acres  at 
first,  subsequently  removing  to  section 
18.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 


250  acres,  which  was  divided  between 
his  heirs.  He  improved  his  land  and 
built  a  nice  house,  costing  at  the  time 
.about  $1,800,  and  was  financially  suc- 
cessful as  a  farmer  here,  coming  to  the 
county  with  only  a  few  dollars  in  his 
possession.  In  his  private  life  he  was 
unassuming,  and  never  sought  notoriety, 
being  a  religious  man  and  conscientious, 
never  seeking  to  take  advantage  of  any 
one.  In  his  faith  he  was  a  Cumberland 
Presbyterian,  as  was  his  wife,  and  they 
lived  up  to  the  doctrines  of  that  society. 
Both  were  missed  sadly  in  the  commu- 
nity and  among  their  friends  every- 
where. By  business  tact,  labor,  indus- 
try and  good  management  he  accumula- 
ted considerable  property.  His  child- 
hood and  youthful  days  were  spent  in 
Tennessee,  where  he  was  born  December 
17,  1810.  Going  to  Indiana  from  Ten- 
nessee, he  spent  one  year,  and  pushed 
on  to  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  and 
subsequently  to  McDonough  county,  as 
above  stated.  His  first  marriage  oc- 
curred in  1834  to  Peggy  J.  Kelso,  and 
three  children  blessed  the  union,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living— Mary  J.,  wife  of 
B.  F.  Guy,  and  William  H.,  in  Kansas. 
His  second  marriage  was  in  1842,  when 
Mrs  Nancy  Durant,  nee  McCord,  be- 
came his  wife,  and  four  sons  were  born 
to  them  —  Elijah  and  Elisha,  twins, 
John  and  Samuel,  the  former  dying  in 
his  young  manhood,  and  the  latter  now 
living  in  Parsons,  Kansas.  Mr.  Ledger- 
wood  departed  this  life  October  30, 
1879,  and  was  interred  at  Argyle.  His 
wife  followed  December  1,  1884,  and  is 
buried  at  the  same  place. 

Elijah  Ledgerwood  is  a  son  of  John 
Ledgerwood,  and  is  now  living  on  the 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


673 


old  homestead  where  he  was  born  April 
7,  1844.  He  lived  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  and  helping  to  clear  up  the 
farm  and  make  the  improvements  until 
his  marriage,  his  lady  being  Cleman- 
tine  Hill,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and 
daughter  of  Thomas  Hill,  a  native'  of 
Virginia,  and  who  settled  in  Emmet 
township  in  1861,  on  section.  19,  where 
he  died.  Mr.  Ledgerwood  lived  first  in 
Enimet  after  his  marriage,  but  removed 
to  Hire  township  soon  after,  remaining 
on  his  farm  there  till  1882,  when  he  sold 
out  and  removed  to  his  present  location, 
the  home  formerly  owned  by  his  father. 
Mr.  Ledgerwood  is  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and 
in  politics  his  sympathy  is  with  the 
democratic  party.  The  following  are 
the  children  comprising  their  family — 
John  S.,  Melvina  N.  and  Joseph  S. 
Mrs.  Ledgerwood  is  a  member  of  the 
Cedar  creek  Baptist  church. 

James  J>.'  Griffith  came  to  the  county 
in  1853  and  settled  on  section  7,  buying 
250  acres  of  John  Gash,  seventy  acres  of 
this  was  on  8,  but  at  present  Mr.  Griffith 
owns  200  acres  in  his  home  place  and 
110  acres  in  Lamoine  township.  All  of 
the  improvements  on  his  place  were  un- 
der his  guidance  and  it  is  one  of  the 
best  places  in  the  county,  having  a 
house  which  cost  $2,500,  besides  his 
own  labor.  The  frame  was  all  sawed  at 
his  own  mill  and  the  lumber  purchased 
in  Chicago.  Mr.  Griffith  had  about 
$3,000  in  money  upon  arriving  in  the 
county,  thereby  enabling  him  to  live  and 
do  business  with  greater  ease.  He  has 
been  an  enterprising  man,  building  a 
saw  mill  in  Emmet  township  thereby 
filling  a  want  long  felt;  in  another  place 


will  be  found  a  history  of  that  enter- 
prise. The  early  life  of  our  subject  was 
spent  in  Virginia,  his  native  county 
being  Buckingham,  where  he  was  born 
July  20,  1810.  In  1829  he  went  to 
Highland  county  Ohio,  walking  to 
Charleston,  and  thence  by  water.  He 
labored  in  the  construction  of  the  Ohio 
canal  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  farming  there  till  1853.  His 
marriage  was  solemnized  in  1833.  Nancy 
A.  Gillau  became  his  wife,  she  was  a 
native  of  Virginia,  and  daughter  of 
William  Gillan  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  whose  wife  survived  him,  coming  to 
McDonough  county  with  her  daughter, 
and  made  her  home  with  Mr.  Griffith, 
until  her  demise,  in  Jan.,  1880.  James' 
father  died  in  Virginia,  and  mother  in 
Ohio.  The  names  and  present  residence 
of  the  children  living,  that  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  are — Mary  J.,widow 
of  David  Newell,  in  Emmet;  Benj. 
A.,  in  Sciota  township;  Henry  C.,  in 
Blandinsville,  James  M.,  and  Gary,  in 
Emmet;  Virginia  A.,  widow  of  Joseph 
Hainline,  living  in  Sciota;  William  C., 
in  Hire;  John  A.,  .deceased;  Clara  E.; 
Isaac  W.,  wife  of  Samuel  Eeister,  resid- 
ing in  Walnut  Grove;  and  David  C., 
living  on  the  old  farm,  and  owning 
eighty  acres  of  land.  He  is  a  native  of 
this  county  and  was  married  October 
14th,  1877,  to  Nannie  T.  Wooten,  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  One  child — WinifredM., 
blesses  this  union.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopla  church, 
and  in  politics,  he  is  a  republican.  Mr.  G., 
furnished  three  sons  to  the  cause  of  the 
late  war.  Benjamin,  James  M.,  and 
Gary,  all  wounded  but  not  disabled. 
James  M.  was  commissioned  2d  lieu- 


674 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tenant,  while  Gary  F.  was  a  non-com- 
missioned officer  and  color  bearer. 

Gary  F.  Griffith,  is  a  resident  farmer 
of  Emmet  township,  and  owns  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  22,  and  80 
acres  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the 
same  section.  He  occupied  this  land  in 
the  spring  of  1874,  and  opened  up  a 
sheep  farm.  He  made  all  the  improve- 
ments, building  his  residence  in  1879, 
and  has  devoted  his  time  considerably, 
to  raising  Cotswold  and  Southdown 
sheep,  having  at  times  a  herd  of  about 
800.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was 
born  in  Highland  county,  December  12, 
1841.  His  parents,  James  D.,  and  Nancy 
A.  (Gillan)  Griffith,  are  now  living  in 
this  township.  Mr.  Griffith  served  .his 
country  during  the  late  war,  enlisting 
August  12,  1862,  in  company  I,  of  the 
124th  Illinois  infantry.  He  was  in  the 
service  three  years,  and  was  mustered 
out  at  Chicago,  in  September,  1865.  He 
enlisted  as  a  private,  and  was  afterwards 
appointed  corporal,  then  sergeant — also 
served  as  color  bearer.  Among  the  en- 
gagements in  which  he  participated, 
were  those  at  Port  -Gibson,  Raymond, 
Jackson,  Champion  Hills,  Brownsville, 
Chimky  Station,  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  and 
Spanish  Fort.  After  returning  from 
the  army,  he  remained  at  home  one  year, 
then  engaged  in  the  grocery  business  at 
Blandinsville,  where  he  remained  two 
years.  December  7,  1868,  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Chautauqua  county,  New  York, 
to  Alice  A.  Phelps,  who  was  born  in 
Columbus,  Warren  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia. She  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  McDonough  county,  when  he 
formed  her  acquaintance.  She  had 
been  a  teacher  since  the  age  of  14  years. 


By  this  union  there  are  three  children — 
James  D.,  Lawson  F.,  and  Lou  Ellen. 
Mr.  Griffith  was  coroner  of  the  county 
from  1880  to  1882.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
is  politically  a  republican. 

Few  men  are  better  known  in  Emmet 
township,  than  John  Dunford  Hainlihe, 
who  for  a  period  of  more  than  40  years 
has  made  his  home  on  section  6.  His 
parents  were  Geo.  and  Flora  ( Cockerel ) 
Hainline,  the  former  a  Kentuckian  by 
birth,  being  born  in  Fayette  county  of 
that  state,  while  the  latter  was  a  Tennes- 
sean,  but  raised  in  the  same  county  in 
Kentucky  as  her  husband.  John  D., 
their  son,  was  born  in  Montgomery 
county,  Kentucky,  on  the  7th  day  of 
September,  1816.  His  mother  for  years 
made  all  the  clothing  used  by  the  entire 
family,  while  his  father  endeavored,  in 
his  way,  to  provide  for  their  wants  by  till- 
ing the  soil.  The  implements  that  he 
used  for  this  purpose  would  make  the 
young  farmer  of  this  country  stare  in 
wonder  and  amazement.  Just  think  of 
using  a  plow  made  entirely  of  wood, 
drawn  by  a  horse  wearing  a  collar  made 
of  bark,  also  of  husks  of  corn  !  But 
such  was  the  way  the  work  was  per- 
formed, and  yet  all  managed  to  live. 
John  was  a  great  lover  of  amusements, 
and  would  go  to  as  great  a  length  to 
gratify  his  desires  in  this  line  as  any  in 
the  land.  Coon  and  possum  hunting 
were  among  the  chief  means  of  diversion, 
occasionally  varied  by  visiting  the  pretty 
girls  of  the  neighborhood.  The  only 
educational  advantages  he  received  were 
in  attending  a  school  two  months  each 
winter,  for  about  seven  years,  in  an  old 
log  school  house,  where,  on  an  old  slab 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOI' 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


677 


seat,  he  was  compelled  to  sit  from  morn- 
ing until  night.  For  a  window  a  log  was 
removed,  and  greased  paper  placed  over 
the  hole  made  by  its  removal.  The 
branches  taught  in  this  school  were 
"reading,  'riting  and  'rithmetic."  Not  a 
grammar  or  geography  was  ever  seen  in 
it.  Notwithstanding  the  love  of  fun 
which  predominated  in  young  Hainline, 
he  was  in  youth  quite  steady,  the  result 
of  training  received  from  his  parents, 
who  were  quite  strict  in  their  govern- 
ment. In  1836,  when  but  20  years  old,  he 
led  to  the  hymeneal  altar  Margaret  Ann 
Douthit,  and  two  years  thereafter  emi- 
grated to  McDonough  county,  settling  in 
Emmet  township.  By  her  he  had  11 
children,  eight  of  whom  yet  live,  one  son, 
George  L.,  being  killed  at  Bentonville, 
N.  C.,  during  the  late  war.  This  son 
was  a  member  of  the  16th  regiment  and 
was  among  the  first  to  enlist  in  the  de- 
fense of  his  country.  James  Lewis 
Hainline,  a  nephew,  who  was  raised  by 
Mr.  H.,  enlisted  at  the  same  time,  was 
wounded  at  Bentonville,  and  died  in 
Missouri  some  time  in  1866.  Mrs.  Hain- 
line died  November  3, 1869.  About  one 
year  after,  Mr.  Hainline  was  again  mar- 
ried, this  time  to  Amanda  J.  Purdy,  with 
whom  he  yet  lives.  One  hundred  acres 
of  the  farm  of  Mr.  Hainline,  was  pur- 
chased by  him  on  his  arrival  in  the 
county  for  the  sum  of  $700.  The  land 
was  improved,  and  the  price  paid  was 
considered  very  high  at  that  time.  Other 
land  adjoining  was  afterwards  purchased 
for  $10  per  acre.  The  farm  is  now  one 
of  the  most  valuable  in  Emmet  township. 
In  his  day  Mr.  Hainline  has  been  very 
stout  and  robust  man,  and  has  never, 
during  his  entire  life,  been  confined  to 


his  bed  by  sickness  but  two  weeks.  The 
cares  of  the  world  never  seem  to  trouble 
him  in  the  least;  he  never  worries  or 
complains.  Having,  by  his  own  indus- 
try, laid  up  for  himself  a  sufficient 
amount  of  worldly  goods  to  enable  him 
to  live  comfortably,  he  passes  along 
through  life  in  a  contented  manner.  On 
his  land  are  found  veins  of  excellent 
coal,  which  have  but  recently  been  dis- 
covered, and  from  which,  during  the  past 
year  about  15,000  bushels  of  coal  taken. 
This  being  the  only  coal  mine  in  that 
section  of  the  country,  will  eventually 
make  the  land  very  valuable,  indeed. 
In  politics  Mr.  Hainline  was  origin- 
ally an  old  line  whig,  but  when  the  old 
party  disbanded  he  affiliated  for  a  time 
with  the  American  party.  In  1858,  when 
Lincoln  made  his  celebrated  campaign 
with  Douglas  for  the  senate,  a  campaign 
of  national  importance,  he  voted  the  re- 
publican ticket,  and  ever  since  has  been 
an  earnest  supporter  of  its  men  and 
measures.  On  the  accession  of  Lincoln 
to  the  presidency  in  1861,  when  war  was 
proclaimed,  his  whole  influence  was  ex- 
erted in  the  cause  of  freedom  and  union, 
and  two  of  his  sons  ( all  that  were  old 
enough )  he  sent  forth  to  battle  for  their 
country,  one  of  whom,  as  previously 
stated,  laid  down  his  life  in  its  defense, 
the  other  returning  at  the  close  of  the 
war  to  receive  honors  from  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  is  one  of  the  editors  of 
the  well  known  Macomb  Journal.  Mr. 
Hainline  has  never  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion,  but  has  endeavored 
to  live  a  strictly  moral  life,  although  we 
believe  no  man  would  resent  an  insult 
quicker  than  he.  Among  his  acquain- 
tenances,  he  is  highly  respected. 


678 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Charles  F.  Johnson  is  a  native  of  In- 
diana, born  in  Harrison  county,  Febru- 
ary 17,  1846,  a  son  of  William  F.  John- 
son, a  native  of  North  Carolina,  born 
April  8,  1813,  wh'o  removed  from  his  na- 
tive state  to  Mahaska  county,  Iowa,  he  did 
not  stay,  but  came  to  this  county  in  1853. 
He  settled  on  section  12,  improving  his 
farm  there  and  raising  a  family  of  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
His  death  occurred  September  23,  1883. 
Charles  lived  at  home  until  1865,  when 
he  went  to  Colorado,  and  was  gone  about 
18  months  prospecting  and  teaming  the 
most  of  the  time.  Again  returning  to 
the  county,  he  was  married  July  5, 1868, 
to  Polly  Ferguson,  a  native  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  born  in  Emmet  township, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  and  Ellen 
( Sandusky )  Ferguson,  who  both  died  in 
this  county.  Mr.  Johnson  bought  his 
present  home  in  1882,  consisting  of  118 
acres  on  section  7,  the  south  one-half  of 
the  southwest  quarter,  and  enough  join- 
ing to  make  the  above  amount.  He  is 
principally  engaged  in  stock  raising.  He 
has  been  school  director  and  road  com- 
missioner, and  is  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Order  of  United  Workmen,  and 
Select  Knights.  Six  children  have  been 
born  to  Mr  and  Mrs.  Johnson — William 
E.,  born  June  12,  1869;  James  S.,  born 
March  16,  1871;  Clarence  D.,  born  April 
4,  1873;  Orie  B.,  born  May  15,  1879;  and 
George  L.  and  Jessie  M.,  twins,  born 
September  24,  1881. 
1  Samuel  Bright  was  born  in  Devon- 
shire, England,  in  1837,  and  came  to 
America  in  1854,  settling  in  Lawrence 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  staid  one 
year,  and  in  the  spring  of  1855  came  to 
McDonough  county,  following  coal  dig- 


ging at  Colchester  for  two  or  three  years, 
when  he  made  a  trip  to  California,-  stop- 
ping in  Eldorado  county,  in  search  of 
gold.  In  this  he  was  quite  successful. 
After  staying  one  year  he  came  home, 
where  he  remained  till  1862,  and  being 
desirous  of  visiting  the  gold  fields,  went 
to  Oregon,  and  thence  to  Idaho,  where 
he  staid  till  the  fall  of  1865,  thence  to, 
Montana,  at  Diamond  city,  two  years, 
thence  down  the  Missouri,  and  again  to 
Colchester,  where  he  remained  till  he 
purchased  his  home  on  sections  30,  31, 
and  19,  in  all  owning  175  acres.  He  has 
made  one  trip  to  California  and  two  to 
Oregon,  and  is  very  favorably  impressed 
with  the  country.  His  home  is  neat  and 
everything  betokens  thrift  and  enterprise 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Bright.  His  marriage 
occurred  May  25, 1871,  to  Mary  A.Fenton, 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  they  have  four 
children  living — George  E.,  Louis,  Lot- 
tie M.,  and  Thomas  W.  Mr.  Bright' s 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Mary  Bright, 
both  born  in  England.  The  father  is 
deceased,  the  mother  still  lives  in  her 
native  country.  He  was  a  sieve  maker 
there. 

Louis  Atkinson  resides  upon  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  31,  Emmet 
township.  He  owns  a  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres,  including  that  quarter,  and 
40  acres  lying  in  the  northwest  quarter 
of  the  same  section.  He  is  engaged  in 
the  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is  of 
English  descent,  his  parents  being  na- 
tives of  England.  Louis  Atkinson  was 
born  in  McDonough  county  in  the  year 
1842,  and  lived  on  the  homestead  farm 
with  his  parents,  until  -his  marriage, 
February  11,  1866,  to  Maria  J.  Martin, 
daughter  of  George  Martin,  who  settled 


HISTORY  OF  MCDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


679 


in  this  county  in  1850,  but  in  1868  re- 
moved to  Henry  county,  Missouri,  where 
he  still  lives.  After  marriage,  Mr.  At- 
kinson located  upon  his  present  farm, 
which  was  then  unimproved.  He  now 
has  a  desirable  place,  with  good  improve- 
ments. Nine  children  have  been  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Atkinson,  seven  of  whom 
are  living — Sarah  Frances,  Amos  A., 
William  C.;  Ira  L.,  Ora  C.,  Clara  and 
Thomas  J.  Alta  M.  and  Cora  Jane  are 
deceased.  Mr.  Atkinson  is  a  republican 
in  politics,  and  has  been  for  two  years 
director  of  the  school  board  of  this  dis- 
trict. 

James  Morris  Chase,  Sr.,  son  of  Moody 
and  Lucy  (Farnum)  Chase,  was  born 
in  Cornish,  New  Hampshire,  April  4, 
1800.  He  was  prepared  for  college  at 
Phillips'  academy,  Andever,  Massachu- 
setts, under  the  preceptorship  of  John 
Adams.  After  graduating,  he  took 
charge,  in  the  fall  of  1827,  of  a  private 
school  in  Shelby ville,  Kentucky,  which 
he  taught  nearly  ten  years,  during  which 
time  he  also  studied  theology,  under  the 
care  of  the  Louisville  presbytery,  and, 
by  that  body,  was  licensed  to  preach  in 
1831.  April  7,  1837,  he  was  ordained 
pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in 
Macomb,  Illinois;  which  office  he  held 
until  1846.  From  that  time  until  his 
decease,  he  resided  near  Macomb,  cul- 
tivating a  farm  and  supplying  churches 
in  the  vicinity.  He  was  also,  for  a  time, 
professor  of  the  Greek  and  Latin  lan- 
guages in  McDonough  college  at  Ma- 
comb. He  died  at  home,  February  10, 
1865,  of  typhoid  pneumonia  contracted 
by  exposure,  while  acting  as  a  delegate 
of  the  Christian  Commission  to  the  army 
in  and  about  Chattanooga,  Tennessee, 


the  cause  of  his  death  attesting  that 
staunch  excellence  of  character,  and  en- 
ergetic zeal  for  usefulness,  which  had 
characterized  him  through  life.  "He 
was  a  man  of  great  energy,  and  of  un- 
flinching integrity  of  character.  He  had 
a  mature,  vigorous  and  well  cultivated 
mind;  was  a  successful  and  excellent 
teacher;  was  much  respected  as  a 
preacher;  was  a  good  and  faithful  pres- 
byter, and  an  able  defender  of  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Presbyterian  church."- 
He  was  married  in  1832,  to  Salina  A., 
daughter  of  Judge  Venable,  of  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky.  She  died  September 
29,  1851;  and  he  was  again  married,  in 
1854,  to  Andrea  C.,  daughter  of  Urban 
A.  B.  Lang,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  a 
native  of  Denmark.  He  had  seven  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife — Henry,  who  grad- 
uated at  Dartmouth  in  1859;  Joseph 
Venable,  who  graduated  at  Dartmouth 
in  1861;  James  Morris,  Albert -Moody, 
William  Thomas,  George  Francis  and 
Mary  Alice.  Of  these  seven,  all  are  liv- 
ing except  William  Thomas,  who  died 
from  exposure  in  the  army  near  Knox- 
ville,  Tennessee,  about  a  year  before  the 
father's  death.  Rev.  Moody  Chase,  who 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1829,  George 
Clement,  M.  D.,  of  the  class  of  1841,  and 
Albert  Chase.  M.  D.,  of  the  class  of  1844, 
where  his  brothers, — presenting  the  rare 
case  of  four  brothers  graduating  at  the 
same  college — Dartmouth. 

James  Morris  Chase,  son  of  Rev. 
James  Morris  and  Salina  Ann  ( Venable ) 
Chase,  was  born  October  17,  1839,  at 
Macomb,  Illinois.  He  pursued  his  pre- 
paratory studies  in  the  schools  of  his 
native  town,  and  entered  college  at  the 
beginning  of  the  freshman  year,  at  the 


680 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


fall  term,  August  24, 1860,  at  Dartmouth 
college,  where  he  remained  till  Febru- 
ary,  1861,   when   he   left  and  went  to 
Knox  college,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  one  year.     In  September, 
1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  78th 
regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  which 
belonged  to  the  2d  brigade,  2d  division, 
14th  army  corps,  commanded  by  Major- 
General  Jeff  C.  Davis,  of  Indiana.    The 
first  general  engagement  in  which  the 
regiment  participated  was  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,    at  which  he  was  taken 
prisoner,  on   September  21,  1863.     He 
was  sent  directly  from  the  field  to  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  where  he  was  first  con- 
fined in  a  prison  called  Scott  block,  then 
transferred  to  thePemberton,and  thence 
to  Libby  prison,  where  he  remained  till 
January   1,   1864.      These  prisons  had 
formerly  been  occupied  as  tobacco  ware- 
houses, but  they  were  very  comfortable 
quarters  compared  to  Belle  Isle,  where 
he  was  next  sent.     Here  there  was  no 
shelter  of    any  kind,    only   the   clouds 
above,  and  frozen  sand  beneath;  it  being 
in  the  midst  of  winter  season,  there  wa 
intense   suffering  among  the  prisoners, 
On  March  15,  1864,  he  was  started  for 
Andersonville,  Georgia, where  he  arrivec 
on  March  25,  being  10  days  on  the  rail- 
road.    The  stockade  at  this  place  com- 
prised 17  acres  of  ground,  and  containec 
1,600    prisoners,   and    increased    after 
wards.     He  was  confined  there  till  Sep 
tember  10,  1864,  and  was  sent  to  Savan 
nah,  Georgia.     He  remained  here  onlj 
one  month,  when  he  was  sent  Millen 
Georgia,  where  he  remained  till  Novem 
ber  10,  1865,  when  he  rejoined  his  reg 
iment    at    Goldsboro,   North    Carolina 
He    had    been    a    prisoner    nearly    TL< 


nouths,  and  been  an  inmate  of  all  the 
jrincipal  southern  prisoners.      He  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  at  the  close 
of  the  war,  on  June  25,  1865.     He  re- 
..urned  immediately  to  his  former  home 
n  Macomb,  Illinois,  where  he  has  con- 
inued  to  reside  up  to  the  present  time, 
3eing  engaged  in    farming   and  brick 
making,  in  which  pursuits  he  has  been 
ery  successful.     His  religious  prefer- 
nces  are  Presbyterion.     In  politics,  he 
is  a  democrat.     He  was  married  March 
16,  1881,  to  Mary  A.  Smith,  of  Macomb, 
Illinois.     Mr.    Chase   is   a  very  affable 
gentleman,   and  considered  one  of  the 
best  citizens  in  the  county.     His  pleas- 
ant home  is  about  a  mile  west  of  Ma- 
comb, and  in   plain  view  of  the   city. 
Mr.  Chase  now  fills  the  important  office 
of  township  treasurer,  having  just  been 
appointed  to  act  as  successor  to  W.  C. 
McLeod. 

John  W.  Wilson  is  a  son  of  Mark  and 
Elizabeth  (Nay lor)  Wilson,  and  was 
born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  March  8, 
1836.  The  family  emigrated  to  America 
in  1856,  spent  one  winter  in  Boston,  then 
removed  to  St.  Louis,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1863.  In  that  year  they 
came  to  this  county,  and  located  on  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  33,  Emmet  township,  where  the 
parents  are  buried.  John  W.  was  united 
in  marriage  September  27,  1859,  with 
Mary  Ann  Teasdale,  a  native  of  West- 
moreland, England.  On  his  marriage 
the  young  couple  set  up  housekeeping 
on  their  own  account,  John  working  in 
the  foundry  at-  St.  Louis,  at  the  time. 
In  1863  he  purchased  a  farm  in  this 
place  to  which  he  removed  a  few  years 
later.  In  1873  he  purchased  his  present 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


681 


homestead.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  moulder 
by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation 
in  his  native  country,  also  in  Boston 
and  St.  Louis,  as  above  stated.  His 
farm  contains  160  acres  of  well-improved 
laud,  his  residence  and  other  buildings 
are  well  built  and  convenient,  and  his 
place  is  altogether  a  desirable  one.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  a  family  of  eight 
children — George,  Mark,  John,  Albert, 
y^illis,  Mary,  Laura  and  Frederick. 
Politically,  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  supporter 
of  the  greenback  party,  and  religiously, 
is  an  Episcopalian. 

John  Berry  was  born  in  Perthshire, 
Scotland,  near  the  banks  of  the  river 
Tay,  June  8,  1820.  In  the  fall  of  1851 
he  came  to  America,  locating  in  Ken- 
tucky, near  Haynesville.  Two  years 
later  he  moved  to  Springfield,  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  seven-  years,  engaged 
in  mining  coal.  He  then  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  settled  at  Colches- 
ter, lived  there  two  years,  then  removed 
to  Chester  where  he  also  remained  two 
years,  after  which  he  purchased  a  farm 
of  80  acres,  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  5,  and  later  the 
west  half  of  the  same  quarter,  located  in 
Emmet  township  where  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  Berry  was  engaged  in  mining  many 
years,  but  now  follows  farming.  He 
was  married  in  September,  1852,  to  Isa- 
bel Wiley,  a  native  of  Scotland,  born 
near  Glasgow.  She  came  to  this  coun- 
try in  company  with  her  brother,  John 
Wiley,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berry  had  three  children 
— William  J.,  now  married  to  Ella  Cale, 
and  living  on  the  farm,  Mary  and  John. 
William  J,  the  eldest  of  these  chil- 
dren, was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  which 


occupation  he  has  since  followed.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  William  J.  Berry  have  had 
three  children  —  William  P.,  John  E. 
and  Samuel  L. 

Isaac  Newton  Flemming,  deceased, 
came  to  this  county  in  1860,  and  bought 
the  west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  34,  Macomb  township,  which  was 
then  unimproved  land.  The  place  is 
now  owned  by  William  Neece,  by  whom 
all  the  improvements  upon  it  were  made. 
Mr.  Flemming  was  a  native  of  Virginia, 
from  whence  he  removed  to  Ohio,  thence 
to  Indiana,  coming  from  that  state  to 
McDonough  county,  where  he  died  in 
1868.  His  wife,  formerly  Elizabeth  Cox, 
now  lives  at  Industry. 

John  W.  Flemming,  son  of  Isaac  N. 
Flemming,  was  born  in  Indiana.  He 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage,  December  25,  1871,  to 
Mary  McNally,  a  native  of  Georgia. 
Her  father  came  to  this  county  in  1860. 
He,  James  McNally,  and  his  wife, 
Rachel  .(Fowler)  McNally,  are  both  de- 
ceased. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flemming  set- 
tled, at  the  time  of  their  marriage,  on 
the  farm  where  they  have  since  (with 
the  exception  of  one  year)  resided. 
They  have  three  children — Lou  Ellen, 
William  C.  and  John  O.  Mr.  Flem- 
ming is  a  democrat  politically. 

Thomas  A.  Brooking,  deceased,  a  pi- 
oneer of  McDonough  county,  came  here 
in  the  fall  of  1835.  He  spent  one  winter 
in  Macomb,  and  the  following  spring  lo- 
cated on  section  30,  Macomb  township, 
where  he  built  a  log  cabin,  cutting  the 
timber  and  making  the  bricks  used  in 
its  construction  himself.  He  continued 
living  there  one  year,  then  concluded 
(having  had  a  fit  of  sickness)  to  seek  a 


682 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


healthier  location,  and  accordingly  pur- 
chased the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
7,  Emmet  township,  of  a  squatter.  This 
land  he  afterwards  entered,  and  contin- 
ued to  add  to  and  improve  it  until  he 
had  six  hundred  acres  in  1837.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  till  1856,  when  he  moved 
to  Macomb.  He  died  in  that  city  Februry 
25, 1858.  Thomas  A.  Brooking  was  born 
in  Richmond, Virginia  February  25, 1795. 
In  early  life  he  studied  law  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Kentucky,  where 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary  L. 
Threshley,  a  native  of  that  state.  Soon 
after  his  marriage,  he  returned  to  his 
native  state,  and  lived  for  a  time  at  Sul- 
phur Springs.  He  subsequently  moved 
again  to  Kentucky,  from  whence  he 
came  to  McDonough  county.  On  his 
arrival  here,  the  sum  total  of  his  earthly 
goods  consisted  of  a  pair  of  horses,  a 
yoke  of  cattle,  and  $25  in  money,  but 
being  a  man  of  energy,  economical  and 
industrious,  and  a  judicious  manager, 
he  accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune- 
He  cared  nothing  for  money,  except  as 
a  means  for  making  his  family  and 
others  comfortable  and  happy.  He  was 
a  true  Christian,  and  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  church.  He  contributed  liberally 
to  the  support  of  churches  and  was  ever 
a  friend  to  the  poor  and  needy.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  politics,  but  though 
often  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for 
office,  always  declined,  never  holding  any 
office  save  that  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
His  wife  survived  him  until  1878.  They 
had  a  family  of  Christian  children — Eliz- 
abeth, deceased  wife  of  J.  P.  Updegraff; 
Lucy,  wife  of  John  C.  Snyder,  also  de- 
ceased; Matilda  J.,  Edward  S.,  deceased; 


William  T.,  Mary  V.,  deceased;  Alexan- 
der V.,  Louisa,  'deceased;  Augusta,  Ma- 
ria R.,  deceased;  Robert  S.,  in  Dakota; 
and  Juliette  E.,  wife  of  James  Ran- 
dolph. 

One  son,  Alexander  V.  Brooking, 
was  born  in  Kentucky,  February  25, 
1829.  He  lived  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage,  then  engaged  in  farming 
on  his  own  account,  purchasing  a  half 
interest  in  his  father's  farm.  He  after- 
wards bought  the  whole  estate,  owning 
then  640  acres,  and  was  largely  engaged 
in  wheat  growing.  He  moved  from  the 
farm  to  the  city  of  Macomb  and  there 
ran  a  hotel  and  livery  stable  until  1882. 
In  October,  1883,  he  returned  to  his 
farm.  He  still  owns  two  good  houses 
in  Macomb.  Mr.  Brooking  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Elizabeth  Ran- 
dolph, a  native  of  Ohio,  who  came  to  this 
county  with  her  father  in  1840.  She 
died  in  August  1861,  leaving  three  chil- 
dren— Melville  R.,  Thomas  A.  and  Nel- 
lie, deceased.  Mr.  Brooking  was  again 
married,  in  1864,  to  Mary  E.  Butler,  of 
Galesburg,  Knox  county,  Illinois.  Five 
children  have  blessed  this  union — Fred. 
V.,  Amy  E.,  Brainerd  B.,  Estella  and 
Minnie  V.  Mr.  Brooking  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W. 

Allen  A.  Walker,  deceased,  settled  on 
Camp  creek  in  Scotland  township  in  1835. 
He  came  here  with  considerable  money 
and  purchased  a  large  amount  of  land  in 
Scotland,  Walnut  Grove  and  New  Salem 
townships.  He  improved  a  farm  in 
Scotland  township,  where  he  resided  un- 
til the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  en- 
gaged principally  in  stock  raising,  and 
was  highly  prosperous  in  his  financial 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


683 


undertakings.  He  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Kentucky  in  1802,  and  in  his  youth, 
received  a  fair  education.  He  was  mild 
and  genial  in  disposition,  and  much  be- 
loved by  all.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  and 
politically,  belonged  to  the  whig  party. 
His  death  occurred  August  30,  1858,  in 
Scotland  township.  His  wife  was  Ame- 
lia Rice,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  She  was 
born  in  December  1803,  and  died  Febru- 
ary 7,  1866.  They  were  married  June  18, 
1825.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them, 
of  whom  five  are  living,  and  three  are 
residents  of  this  county.  They  were — 
Lucilla,  born  January  30,  1826;  Benja- 
min R.,  born  November  20,  1827;  Mary 
A.,  born  November  14,  1829;  Margaret 
P.,  born  August  19, 1831;  Nancy  J.,  born 
October  20,  1834;  Allen  A.,  born  Novem- 
ber 16,  1836;  Sarah  E.,  born  April  29, 
1839;  Amelia  C.,  born  April  14,  1841; 
Theophilus  G.,  born  May  4,  1843,  and 
Joseph  A.,  born  June  25, 1846.  Of  these, 
Benjamin  R.,  Margaret  P.,  Nancy  J., 
Amelia  C.  and  Sarah  E.  are  deceased. 
Allen  A.  Walker  staid  with  his  par- 
ents till  his  marriage,  September  8, 1864, 
to  Mary  L.  Savage,  a  native  of  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Spen- 
cer and  Louisa  Savage.  After  marriage, 
Mr.  Walker  settled  on  a  farm  of  120  acres, 
near  the  old  homestead.  In  1867,  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  home  on  section  12, 
Emmet  township,  where  he  owns  210 
acres.  He  has  a  finely  improved  and  val- 
uable farm,  and  makes  a  business  of 
raising,  buying  and  feeding  stock.  Mr. 
Walker  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and, 
with  his  wife,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children — Spencer  A.,  born  August 


30,  1864,  and  Elmer  T.,  born  March  24, 
1867. 

Abraham  B.  Stickle,  one  of  the  most 
extensive  farmers  of  McDonough  county, 
resides  upon  the  homestead  farm  form- 
erly owned  by  his  father,  Abraham 
Stickle.  He  owns,  including  the  home- 
stead of  160  acres,  upwards  of  1,000  acres 
of  land,  and  is  very  extensively  engaged 
in  the  stock  business.  His  residence  is 
a  commodious  and  handsome  structure, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  The  sur- 
rounding grounds  and  garden  are  beau- 
tifully laid  out  and  well  kept,  displaying 
the  fine  taste  and  care  of  their  owner. 
His  barn  and  other  buildings  are  models 
of  convenience,  and  the  place  and  im- 
provements altogether,  are  among  the 
finest  in  the  county.  Abraham  B.  Stickle 
has  always  lived  upon  his  present  farm. 
He  was  married  August  10,  1853,  to 
Sarah  Duncan,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  daughter  of  William  and  Catharine 
Duncan,  who  were  early  settlers  in  this 
county.  William  Duncan  died  in  1859; 
his  widow  is  now  living  with  her  chil- 
dren. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stickle  had  two 
children — Amanda  A.  and  William  H. 
Mrs.  Stickle  died  February  7,  1857. 
Amanda  A.  is  now  married  to  George 
Currier,  and  lives  in  Kansas.  William 
H.  also  lives  in  that  state,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  the  stock  business.  January 
1,  1860,  Mr.  Stickle  was  again  married  f 
to  Sarah  Metcalf,  daughter  of  William 
and  Deborah  Metcalf,  of  Carthage,  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois.  The  latter  was  an 
early  settler  in  that  county,  and  partici- 
pated actively  in  the  Mormon  war.  Mr. 
Stickle  has  had  by  his  second  marriage, 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living — 
Mianna,  wife  of  Oscar  McElvain;  Arthur 


684 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


E.,  Delia,  Walter,  Edwin,  Fred,  Frank, 
deceased;  and  Mary,  deceased. 

Abraham  Stickle,  deceased,  was  born 
in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  January 
31,  1787,  and  was  a  son  of  Peter  and 
Mary  (Hollipeter)  Stickle.  Abraham 
grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  state  and 
was  there  married  to  Susanna  Bentzley 
who  was  born  May  24,  1789.  They  were 
married  October  11,  1810,  and  in  1839, 
came  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
lives.  They  intended  on  coming  here  to 
settle  in  Macon  county  where  he  owned 
some  land,  but  while  on  their  journey  to 
the  (then)  far  west,  they  heard  of  the 
beauty  and  fertility  of  McDonough 
county,  and  resolved  to  visit  it,  which  he 
did,  and  being  satisfied  that  the  county 
had  not  been  misrepresented,  purchased 
160  acres  on  section  11,  Emmet  town- 
ship. He  afterwards  purchased  other 
large  tracts  of  land  in  the  township,  and 
resided  here  until  his  death,  September 
30,  1872.  He  was  an  energetic  and  in- 
dustrious man,  and  prosperous  in  busi- 
ness. He  ^was  a  whig  as  long  as  that 
party  had  an  existence,  he  then  affiliated 
with  the  republican  party.  He  was  a 
sincere  Christian  and  much  esteemed  by 
all.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stickle  were  the  par- 
ents of  10  children — Mary,  Matilda,  de- 
ceased; Susan;  Jacob;  George;  Rachel, 
deceased;  William;  Abraham  B.,  Robert 
N.,  deceased;  and  Sarah  J.  Mary  re- 
sides in  Pennsylvania,  Susan  in  Michi- 
gan City,  Indiana;  Jacob  in  Brown 
county,  Kansas;  George,  William  and 
Abraham  B.,  in  Emmet  township,  and 
Sarah  J.,  in  Abingdon,  Illinois. 

George  Stickle,  second  son  of  Abraham 
Stickle,  resided  with  his  parents  until 


1849.  He  was  married  May  17,  of  that 
year,  to  Julia  George,  a  native  of  North- 
ampton county,  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
January,  1829.  Her  parents,  John  and 
Mary  (Barrett)  George,  died  in  that 
state.  Mr.  Stickle  settled  where  he  now 
lives,  on  section  10,  Emmet  township, 
soon  after  marriage.  He  has  a  fine  farm, 
80  acres  of  which  lies  in  section  10,  with 
147  acres  adjoining  on  the  north.  His 
improvements,  which  are  valuable,  have 
been  made  by  himself.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stickle  have  six  children  living — Sadie, 
wife  of  Thomas  Champion,  of  this  town- 
ship; Ella,  who  is  an  artist;  Frances,  wife 
of  Harvey  Oatman ;  Emma,  Alice  and 
Ernie  B.  Their  oldest  child,  William 
H.,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years.  Mr. 
Stickle  is  a  public  spirited  man,  and 
takes  an  active  interest  in  the  course  of 
education.  He  is  a  republican  politic- 
ally, and,  with  his  wife,  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

William  Stickle  is  by  birth,  a  Penn- 
sylvanian,  having  been  born  in  that 
state,  January  31,  1824.  In  1839  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  county.  In 
1850  he  left  home  and  went  to  Califor- 
nia, where  he  remained  eight  years,  en- 
gaged in  mining  and  ditching.  He  re- 
turned home  in  the  spring  of  1858  and, 
March  16,  1859,  was  married  to  Amanda 
J.  Miller, '  who  was  born  October  25, 
1839.  Soon  after  marriage  he  again 
went  to  California  and  continued  there, 
engaged  in  the  same  occupation  as  be- 
fore, until  October  1868.  He  was  fairly 
successful,  accumulating  considerable 
property.  He  settled  on  his  return,  on 
section  2,  Emmet  township,  where  he 
now  owns  123  acres.  He  also  owns  80 
acres  on  section  11,  and  a  timber  lot  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


685 


26  acres  on  section  16.  His  present 
residence  is  on  section  11.  He  has  a 
desirable  farm,  with  good  improvements, 
and  is  engaged  in  general  farming.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stickle  have  three  children 
living — Charles  "VV.,  born  February  7, 
1860;  Kittie  May,  born  September  25, 
1863;  and  Edgar  Carson,  born  January 
31,  1875.  William  E.,  was  born  Octo- 
ber 16,  1861,  and  died  in  September 
1882;  Frank  L.,  was  born  May  21, 
1873;  and  died  October  13,  1877.  Their 
oldest  son,  Charles  W.,  is  now  a  tele- 
graph operator  in  Nebraska.  Mr.  Stickle 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  since  1841,  and  has 
held  the  office  of  school  director  14  years. 
Tobias  George  Painter,  deceased,  was 
among  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  came 
here  at  an  early  day,  and  endured  the 
privations  and  hardships  incident  to  a 
settlement  early  in  the  thirties.  He  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  West- 
moreland county  in  December  1798.  He 
was  of  German  extraction,  and  spent  his 
youth  in  his  native  state,  receiving  there 
a  limited  education,  and  had  early  in 
life  the  principles  of  industry,  and  fru- 
gality, thoroughly  instilled  into  his 
mind.  This  kind  of  education  served 
him  well  in  later  years,  when  thrown  en- 
tirely upon  his  own  resources,  without 
money  or  property  of  any  amount.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  state,  and  start- 
ing for  a  new  country,  arrived  in  Beards- 
town,  on  the  II  linois  river,  in  1831,  thence 
by  team  came  to  this  county,  spending 
the  first  winter  with  William  Pennington. 
Subsequently  they  moved  to  Spring 
Creek,  where  a  son  named  Marion  was 
born.  They  settled  first  on  section  8,  of 
Industry  township,  where  he  afterwards 


bought  a  farm,  built  a  log  house  sixteen 
feet  square,  remained  about  three  years, 
then  selling  out  to  William  Pennington, 
removed  as  before  stated  to  Spring 
creek.  They  there  occupied  an  unim- 
proved farm,  went  to  work  and  continued 
18  months,  then  purchased  a  place  where 
the  son  Marion  now  lives  They  brought 
up  seven  children — Isabel,  now  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Head  of  Sciota;  Henry  A., 
John  F.,  Francis  M.,  George  B.,  Jacob 
L.,  deceased;  and  Mary  Ann. 

F.  Marion  Painter  is  a  native  McDon- 
ough  county  man,  having  been  born 
within  its  borders  November  15,  1835. 
When  he  was  one  year  old,  the  family 
moved  a  short  distance,  to  section  9j 
which  place  has  since  been  his  home, 
and  where  he  now  owns  a  large  and  well 
improved  farm.  His  father,  whose  biog- 
raphy appears  above  this,  was  an  early 
settler  in  the  county,  and  gave  Marion  a 
start  in  life  by  presenting  him  with  80 
acres  of  land.  He  seemed  to,  in  a  meas- 
ure, inherit  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of 
his  father,  and  has  accumulated  a  good 
property.  He  was  married  June  25, 
1880,  to  Josephine  Kitch,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  By  this  union  there  are  two  chil- 
dren— Alice  B.,  born  January  6,  1882, 
and  Hazel  Dale,  born  November  4, 1884. 
His  lands  are  rented  out,  but  to  them  he 
gives  his  personal  attention  and  super- 
vision. He  was  assessor  for  the  year 
1875.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  and 
boldly  advocates  and  works  for  the  prin- 
ciples enunciated  by  that  party. 

Eliphalet  Hickman  came  to  this  county 
in  1861,  and  settled  on  section  4  of  Em- 
met township,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  bought  230  acres  within  a  short  per- 
iod, and  now  owns  305.  His  improve- 


686 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ments  are  situated  on  the  N  southwest 
quarter  of  the  section,  and  the  place  is 
in  good  condition.  He  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  born  in  Floyd  county,  March 
13,  1831.  His  parents  were  James  and 
Elizabeth  (Sisloff)  Hickman,  natives  of 
North  Carolina.  They  both  died  in  the 
state  of  Virginia.  The  year  after  his 
arrival  here,  he  returned  to  Indiana, 
from  whence  he  came,  and  enlisted  in 
the  army  August  1*2,  1862,  in  company  A, 
81st  Indiana  infantry.  After  a  service 
of  six  months,  he  was  discharged  on 
account  of  sickness,  returned  to  New 
Albany,  and  thence  came  again  to  this 
county.  He  was  married  February  3, 
1864,  to  Tacy  Wilkinson.  They  have 
eight  children — Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of 
Patrick  Hickman,  and  living  in  Emmet; 
Ruby  A.,  Ella,  Lillie  May,  Charles  L., 
Onie,  Frederick  E.  and  Grace.  Mr. 
Hickman  is  a  democrat.  He  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
feeding  all  the  corn  he  raises. 

Michael  Callahan,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Emmet  township,  settled  where  he 
now  lives,  in  1866.  He  owns  a  large  and 
valuable  farm,  upon  which  he  haS  made 
all  of  the  improvements.  His  residence 
is  located  on  section  27.  He  makes  a 
business  of  raising  stock.  Mr.  Callahan 
was  born  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland, 
about  the  year  1830,  and  came  to  America 
about  1851,  landing  at  New  York  city. 
For  two  years  after  his  arrival  he  worked 
at  brick  making  in  Athens,  Greene 
county,  New  York.  From  there  he  went 
to  Savannah,  Georgia,  after  which  he 
spent  some  time  in  different  southern 
cities,  Atlanta,  Montgomery,  Mobile, 
New  Orleans  and  St.  Louis.  From  the 
latter  city  he  went  to  Muscatine,  Iowa, 


then  to  Iowa  City,  from  whence  he  came 
to  Illinois.  He  was  married  in  Macomb 
August  8,  1862,  to  Norah  McCahan,  who 
was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  and 
came  to  America  in  1853.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Callahan  have  four  living  children — 
Mary  E.,  John  P.,  Anna  E.  and  Joseph 
James.  One  son,  Michael,  is  deceased. 
Mr.  Callahan  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church. 

Philip  Henry  Elting,  deceased,  for- 
merly the  owner  of  a  large  amount  of 
land  in  this  county,  was  born  in  Dutchess 
county,  New  York,  February  14,  1814. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Holland  and 
his  mother  of  France.  The  former  was 
a  wealthy  merchant,  and  also  owned  a 
line  of  steamers  on  the  Hudson  river, 
plying  between  New  York  and  Albany. 
They  subsequently  removed  to  Quincy, 
Illinois,  and,  after  a  short  time,  to 
Peoria,  where  Mr.  Elting,  senior,  died, 
in  1860.  He  was  an  Episcopalian.  Mrs. 
Elting  died  while  on  a  visit  to  New 
York.  Philip  H.  Elting  received  a  lib- 
eral education,  and  engaged  in  keeping 
books  in  his  father's  store.  In  1834  he 
came  to  this  county  for  the  purpose  of 
taking  charge  of  lands  which  he  had 
purchased,  and  which  were  scattered 
through  different  portions  of  the  state. 
He  was  the  owner  of  the  land  upon 
which  the  present  city  of  Bushnell 
stands.  He  accumulated  much  land  by 
buying  up  tax  titles,  and  in  other  ways. 
He  died  July  22,  1876,  and  is  buried  at 
Oakwood  cemetery.  He  resided,  at  that 
time,  on  section  12,  Emmet  township. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  560 
acres  of  land.  Philip  H.  Elting  was 
married  January  24,  1834,  to  Margaret 
McSpiritt,  daughter  of  Francis  McSpir- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


687 


itt,  who  located  in  1837  on  section  24  of 
this  township.  After  marriage  Mr.  Elt- 
ing  lived  upon  section  13,  where  John 
Elting  now  resides,  remaining  there 
until  about  the  year  1860,  when  he  re- 
moved to  section  12,  the  present  resi- 
dence of  his  widow.  Mr.  Elting  was  a 
shrewd  business  man,  honest  and  upright 
in  all  of  his  dealings,  and  much  re- 
spected. Nine  children  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Elting  are  now  living — Charles  M., 
Levi  Jones,  Harriet  A.,  James,  John, 
Francis  C.,  Nellie  M.,  Philip  E.,  and 
Harry  L.  Robert,  Mary  E.  and  Mar- 
garet are  deceased.  These  children 
have  all  enjoyed  the  advantages  for  ob- 
taining a  liberal  education,  and  are  intel- 
ligent and  refined.  They  are  Method- 
ists. 

Charles  M.  Elting,  son  of  P.  H.  and 
Margaret  (McSpiritt)  Elting,  was  born 
in  McDonough  county,  November  22, 
1839.  He  has  always  resided  here,  mak- 
ing his  home  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage  to  Sarah  McCahn,  who  was  a 
native  of  Ireland.  They  were  married 
March  4,  1863.  In  February,  1873,  Mrs. 
Elting  died,  and  March  15,  of  the  fol- 
lowing year,  Mr.  Elting  was  married  to 
Anna  Anderson,  a  native  of  Sweden,  and 
daughter  of  Benjamin  Anderson,  of 
Blandinsville  township.  Mr.  Elting  set- 
tled first  on  what  is  known  as  the  county 
farm,  on  section  13,  Emmet  township. 
One  year  later  he  removed  to  Walnut 
Grove,  where  he  also  lived  one  year,  then 
removed  to  section  12,  Emmet,  and  re- 
mained two  years,  after  which  he  bought 
80  acres  on  section  23,  on  which  he  re- 
sided until  about  1879,  when  he  removed 
to  his  mother's  farm.  Two  years  later 
he  returned  to  section  23,  where  he  now 


lives.  He  owns  the  east  half  of  the 
southwest  quarter,  and  the  west  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  thftt  section. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elting  are  the  parents  of 
five  children— Alice  A.,  Nettie  V.,  Wil- 
liam L.,  George  H.  and  Margaret.  The 
improvements  upon  Mr.  Eltiug's  farm 
have  been  made  mostly  by  himself.  He 
is  engaged  principally  in  stock  raising, 
and  is  a  successful  farmer.  He  has  been 
commissioner  of  highways  nine  years, 
and  has  also  held  the  office  of  school 
director. 

John  Elting  was  born  June  7,  1849,  in 
Emmet  township.  His  parents,  Philip 
H.  and  Margaret  Elting,  resided  at  that 
time,  on  the  south  half  of  the  northwest 
quarter  of  sectiqn  13.  John  remained 
at  home  until  his  marriage,  February  3, 
1876,  to  Lucy  McLeod,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam and  Mary  W.  (Miller)  McLeod, 
formerly  residents  of  Missouri,  where 
Mrs.  Elting  was  born.  Mr.  Elting  set- 
tled where  he  now  lives,  soon  after  mar- 
riage. He  owns  the  south  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  13,  and  has 
a  good  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Elting  have 
four  children — Edna  E.,  born  February 
1,  1877;  Wilmot  K,  born  June  30,  1878; 
Mary  M.,  born  June  24,  1881;  and  Rob- 
ert C.,  born  in  1882.  Mr.  Elting  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

Charles  H.  Chatterton  resides  on  sec- 
tion 15,  Emmet  township,  where  he  loca- 
ted in  1873.  He  purchased  the  south- 
west quarter  which  was  then  all  timber 
land,  and  proceeded  to  improve  it.  He 
now  has  45  acres  under  cultivation  and 
is  engaged  in  the  business  of  stock  rais-  • 
ing.  Mr.  Chatterton  was  born  in  this 
county  and  resided  with  his  parents  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  11,  Em- 


688 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


met  township,  until  his  marriage,  Nov- 
ember 5,  1868,  to  Elizabeth  Laughlin, 
daughter  of  P.  Laughlin,  of  Emmet 
township.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children — Arthur,  .  born  Janu- 
ary 29,  1871;  Evan,  born  July  15,  1873; 
Nellie, 'born  July  19,  1876;  Orm,  born 
July  20,  1879;  and  Alfred  born  Novem- 
ber 27,  1883. 

Charles  W.  Wettengel  was  born  in 
Austria,  October  27,  1831.  He  left  his 
native  country  for  America  to  avoid  mil- 
itary service,  starting  July  10, 1850,  upon 
a  sailing  vessel  called  the  "Jeannette," 
which  was  56  days  in  crossing  the  ocean. 
"He  landed  at  New  York  and  went  imme- 
diately to  Pittsburg,  where  his  brothers 
had  preceded  him.  His  parents,  Chris- 
topher and  Elizabeth  Wettengel,  came 
to  America  in  1852.  Christopher  Wet- 
tengel was  a  nailsmith  by  trade,  which 
he  taught  his  four  sons.  He  followed 
farming  close  to  Pittsburg  until  his 
death.  Charles  W.,  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade  in  Pittsburgh,  serving  a 
two  years  apprenticeship,  after  which 
he  followed  the  same  four  years  in  that 
city.  He  then  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  employed  for  a  time,  thence 
to  Colchester,  McDonough  county,  and 
there  opened  the  first  shoemaker's  shop 
in  that  town  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  1857. 
The  first  farm  which  he  owned  was  loca- 
ted on  section  20,  Emmet  township.  It 
forms  a  portion  of  his  present  farm  of 
160  acres,  80  acres  of  which  lies  in  that 
section  and  80  on  section- 21.  This  land 
was  partly  improved  at  the  time  of  his 
purchase  and  is  now  in  a  good  state  of 
cultivation  and  well  improved.  He  is 
engaged  in  stock  raising,  for  which  his 
farm  is  well  adapted.  Mr.  Wettengel 


was  married  February  7,  1861,  to  Sarah 
M.  Zimmerman,of  Hire  township.  She  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John 
and  Christena  (Kaiser)  Zimmerman,  na- 
tives of  Bavaria,  Germany.  They  came 
to  America,  in  1840,  and  settled  in  this 
county  in  1854.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetten- 
gel have  six  children — Albert  B.,  in  Pull- 
man, Illinois,  married  to  Dora  Thisius; 
John  C.,  in  Oswego,  Kansas,  married  to 
Florence  V.  Hicks;  Clara  A.,  Charles  N., 
Henry  P.  and  Lena  M.  Albert  B.,  is 
now  employed  as  painter  at  the  Pullman 
Palace  car  works  in  Pullman.  Mr.  Wet- 
tengel »is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran,  and 
his  wife  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

James  V.  Guy,  youngest  son  of  Geo 
G.  Guy,  was  born  September  12,  1841 
upon  the  place  where  his  father  now 
lives,  on  section  20,  Emmet  township. 
His  childhood  and  youth  were  spent  in 
attending  school  and  working  upon  his 
father's  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
February  16,  1866.  He  was  then  united 
in  marriage  with  Alvira  A.  St.  Clair. 
Her  parents,  George  and  Sarah  F.  St. 
Clair  were  at  that  time,  residents  of 
Tennessee  township,  but  formerly  lived 
in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  Alvira 
A.  was  born.  Mr.  Guy  lived  after  mar- 
riage, on  section  17,  and  later,  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  moved  to  his  present 
home  in  1884.  He  owns  75  acres  on 
section  17,  all  of  which  is  under  cultiva- 
tion, except  15  acres.  He  carries  on 
general  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Guy 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  He 
is  politically,  a  republican. 

Andrew  Jackson  Hamilton,  is  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  October  15, 
1819.  He  lived  in  that  state  until  he 
came  to  McDonough  county  with  his 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


689 


parents,  in  1838.  He  may  therefore  be 
properly  called  an  old  settler,  and  has 
witnessed  sthe  development  of  this 
county,  from  a  state  of  natural  wild- 
ness,  to  one  of  civilization  and  prosper- 
ity. He  has  seen  the  transformation 
from  vast  stretches  of  open  prairie,  with 
few  settlers,  where  the  wind  and  bliz- 
zards, untrammelled,  swept  furiously 
along,  to  pleasant  and  comfortable 
homes,  well  improved  farms,  occupied 
by  a  happy  people.  This  change  has 
not  been  the  work  of  a  day,  but  has 
through  a  series  of  years,  been  gradu- 
ally wrought  out,  first,  by  the  toil  and 
sacrifice  of  the  pioneers,  and  later,  by 
the  brain  and  muscle  of  their  children, 
by  whose  energy  and  perseverance,  the 
land  has  become  a  desirable  home  for 
those  of  still  later  years,  who  did  not 
participate  in  the  trials,  incident '  to  pi- 
oneer life.  McDonough  county  has 
been  the  home  of  Mr.  Hamilton  ever 
since  first  coming  here,  and  he  has  been 
outside  its  borders  but  little.  In  1844, 
concluding  it  was  not  good  for  man  to  be 
alone,  his  thoughts  wandered  back  to 
the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  state,  and  took  unto 
himself  a  wife  from  among  the  daugh- 
ters of  the  Kentucky  state,  by  the  name 
of  Julia  Douthit.  The  ceremony  occur- 
red on  the  4th  day  of  October,  and 
during  the  same  month,  he  came  back 
with  his  bride,  to  this  county,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm,  in  Emmett  township, 
where  he  now  lives.  He  there  engaged 
in  general  farming,  first  raising  flax, 
from  which  they  made  their  own  clothes, 
and  later,  wheat,  rye,  corn,  and  oats.  He 
has  also  raised  cattle,  hogs,  and  sheep. 
They  have  had  12  children,  five  of  whom 


are  now  living — Eliza  Ann,  the  wife  of 
William  C.  Griffith;  Nancy;  Geneva, 
who  was  married  to  Thomas  Fife;  Henry 
and  Addie. 

Patrick  Laughlm,  a  native  of  county 
Meath,  Ireland,  was  born  March  1,  1814. 
His  father,  David  Laughlin,  was  a  mil- 
ler by  trade,  and  died  in  Ireland.  His 
mother,  Margaret  (Connell)  Laughlin, 
also  died  in  that  country.  At  the  age  of 
15,  Patrick  had  mastered  his  father's 
trade.  He  then  left  home  and  went  to 
learn  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1836,  he 
left  his  native  land  for  America,  landed 
in  Boston,  where  he  worked  for  a  time, 
at  carpentering.  He  afterwards  fol- 
lowed the  same  occupation  in  Frederick- 
ton,  New  Brunswick,  and  at  Bangor, 
Maine.  He  removed  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1842,  and  settled  in 
Emmet  township  on  seofcion  23,  where 
he  owned  160  acres  of  land.  He  followed 
his  trade  one  year,  after  coming  here. 
He  purchased  his  present  farm,  consist- 
ing of  160  acres,  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  13,  same  township,  in  1844. 
His  farm  is  well  improved  and  cultiva- 
ted. He  has  a  commodious  and  sub- 
stantial dwelling,  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$3,000.  He  makes  a  business  of  stock- 
raising,  keeping  a  Jierd  of  40  or  50 
head  of  cattle  and  other  stock.  He  owns 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28, 
which  he  uses  for  a  pasture.  Mr. 
Laughlin  was  married  February  11, 
1839,  to  Mary  Campbell,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Bridget  (Bogue)  Campbell, 
natives  of  Ireland.  Their  marriage 
took  place  in  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick. 
Nine  children  have  blessed  their  union, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living — Margaret, 
Elizabeth,  Catharine,  Daniel  and  Ellen. 


690 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Francis,  Jane,  Agnes,  and  Frances  are 
deceased.  Mr.  Laughlin  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  school  trustee 
and  commissioner  of  highways  in  this 
township,  His  son,  Daniel  is  well  edu- 
cated, and  has  held  the  offices  of  town 
clerk  and  assessor.  Mr.  Laughlin  came 
to  the  county  in  limited  circumstances, 
but,  by  wise  management,  industry,  and 
economy,  has  succeeded  in  accumulat- 
ing a  competence. 

Edmund  Rorer,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  born  in  Frankford,  Philadel- 
phia county,  January  13,  1810,  and  is 
a  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Caster) 
Rorer.  He  has  been  considerable  of  a 
rover,  and  traveled  over  much  country, 
and  engaged  in  various  occupations. 
When  20  years  old  he  went  to  Florida 
and  remained  ^me  year,  or  until  1831, 
when  he  was  run  out  by  the  Indians  and 
went  to  New  Orleans.  In  that  city  he 
looked  for  employment,  and  there  it  was 
his  trade  of  carpenter  was  of  some  assist- 
ance, and  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  coffins.  From  New  Orleans  he  went 
to  Grand  Gulf,  Mississippi,  thence  to 
Port  Gibson,  and  worked  at  that  place 
about  seven  years  at  his  trade.  He  then 
went  to  St.  Louis,  and  remained  14  years, 
working  by  the  day  and  by  the  job.  He 
then  went  to  Philadelphia  and  remained 
a  few  months,  then  returning  to  St  Louis, 
he  secured  a  situation  as  carpenter  on  a 
steamboat,  then  went  again  to  New  Or- 
leans; but  soon  coming  back  to  St.  Louis, 
engaged  in  building  bridges  for  two 
years,  then  went  again  to  Philadelphia, 
remained  a  few  months  and  went  again 
to  St.  Louis,  thence  to  Washington,  and 
after  witnessing  the  inauguration  cere- 


monies, went  to  New  York;  thence  to 
Long  Island,  and  again  returning  to  Phil- 
adelphia, worked  at  his  trade  for  some 
time.  Subsequently  he  made  another 
trip  to  New  York;  thence  to  Pittsburg, 
Wheeling  and  St.  Louis;  then  working 
on  a  steamboat,  went  up  the  Red  river; 
then  back  to  St.  Louis,  and  to  Philadel- 
phia; then  after  18  months  returned  to 
St.  Louis,  and  traveled  on  the  river  a 
few  years.  He  made  a  trip  to  Texas,  and 
upon  return  enlisted  in  the  army  with 
Le  Clede  rangers,  under  Captain  Hud- 
son, went  to  New  Mexico,  was  at  Palo 
Alto  and  Buena  Vista;  then  he  went  again 
to  New  Orleans  and  St.  Louis,  thence  to 
California  and  lived  a  short  time.  Thus 
he  wandered  about  from  time  to  time 
and  from  place  to  place,  until  1862, 
when  he  came  to  this  county  and  has 
since  lived  here.  In  1852,  December 
16th,  he  was  married  to  Helen  Marsh. 
They  have  nine  children — Adelia  A., 
Melinda  B.,  Candace  A.,  Lewis  W.,  Chas. 
O.,  Anna  L.,  Virginia  L.,  Freeman  W., 
and  Mary  L.  Mr.  Rorer  has  learned 
much  by  observation,  having  been  in 
nearly  every  state  of  the  union.  He 
carried  the  mail  across  the  plains  for  a 
number  of  years,  and  has  seen  humanity 
presented  in  its  various  phases,  from 
high  to  low,  from  rich  to  poor,  and  is 
consequently  a  good  judge  of  human  na- 
ture, and  well  informed  upon  all  matters, 
and  elements  which  contribute  toward 
the  general  "make  up"  of  society. 

Samuel  Statler,  a  farmer  of  Emmet 
township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  July  6,  1853. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Hulda  (Mur- 
phy) Statler.  In  1855,  his  parents 
moved  here  with  him,  and  engaged  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


691 


farming.  Subsequently  they  moved  to 
Macomb,  and  there  Samuel  received  his 
education,  and  afterwards  returned  to 
the  farm.  In  1881  and  1882,  he  was  in 
Blandinsville,  buying  grain  at  that  point, 
and  while  there,  in  February,  1882,  he 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Clark,  of 
Clarinda,  Iowa.  In  1883  he  again  re- 
turned to  the  farm,  and  has  since  been 
managing  the  same,  having  211  acres, 
and  engages  principally  in  raising  and 
feeding  stock  Politically  he  is  a  repub- 
lican. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

According  to  the  annual  report  of  the 
county  superintendent,  for  the  school 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  Emmet 
township  has  an  estimated  value  of 
s6hool  property  amounting  to  $4,800, 
and  a  tax  levy  for  the  support  of  her 
schools  of  $2,230.  There  is  no  bonded 
school  debt  in  the  township.  The  high- 
est wages  paid  any  male  teacher  is  $40, 
and  the  lowest,  $20  per  month,  while 
the  highest  monthly  wages  paid  lady 
teachers  is  $35,  and  the  lowest,  $25. 
There  are  eight  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  all  of  which  are  frame,  in 
which  an  average  of  eight  and  one- 
sixteenth  months  of  school  are  taught 
annually.  There  are  356  children  of 
school  age  in  the  township,  213  of  whom 
are  enrolled  in  the  schools. 

Union  district  No.  1. — School  was 
taught  in  a  log  house  near  Clark's  saw- 
mill by  Henry  Hardin,  as  early  as  1835, 
and  in  1840  a  log  house  was  built  on 
section  10,  near  where  the  present  build- 
ing now  stand,  for  school  purposes,  and 
the  first  school  was  taught  by  J.  L. 
Cross.  For  several  years,  or  until  about 


1854,  this  log  house  was  used  as  a  school 
building,  when  a  difficulty  arose  among 
the  parents  in  regard  to  a  teacher  then 
employed,  and,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
school  being  continued,  the  house  was 
one  night  torn  down,  or  made  unfit  for 
use.  The  term  of  school,  however,  was 
finished  in  the  house  of  T.  G.  Painter 
by  Jane  Maxwell.  Soon  after,  perhaps 
the  same  year,  a  frame  building  22x28, 
was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about  $500. 
This  was  used  by  the  district  until  1881, 
when  the  present  house  was  built  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  9,  which  cost  $875.  The 
present  teacher  of  the  district  is  Nellie 
Ingram. 

The  first  building  erected  for  school 
purposes  in  district  No.  2  was  in  1841, 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  5.  It 
was  constructed  of  logs  and  built  by  gen- 
eral contribution,  A.  W.  Kennedy  teach- 
ing the  first  school  therein.  This  was 
used  until  1864,  when  a  frame  structure, 
20x30,  was  erected  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  the  section,  at  a  cost  of  $600. 
Annie  P.  Shaw  taught  the  first  school  in 
this  building.  This  house  was  recently 
destroyed  by  fire,  and  in  the  fall  of  1884 
the  present  building  was  erected,  at  a 
cost  of  $650.  Dora  Hainline  teaches 
the  school  at  present,  and  J.  L.  Hain- 
line, Isaac  Griffith  and  John  D.  Hain- 
line are  the  directors. 

The  school  house  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  17,  in  district  No.  6, 
was  built  in  the  fall  of  1863.  It  is  18x36 
feet  in  size,  and  cost  about  $900.  Emma 
Whitson  taught  the  first  term  of  school 
in  the  building.  The  first  directors  of 
the  district  were  John  Ledgerwood, 
Franklin  Guy  and  Jefferson  Bayless. 


692 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  school  house  in  district  No.  7  is 
located  upon  the  southwest  corner  of 
section  13,  and  was  built  in  1876,  at  a 
cost  of  $550.  The  old  building  which 
stood  upon  the  same  lot,  was  sold  to  the 
township,  and  was  used  for  holding 
therein  elections,  town  meetings,  etc. 
John  Casto  taught  the  first  term  of 
school  in  the  new  building. 

The  school  house  situated  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  29  was  built 
about  the  year  1864,  at  a  cost  af  $1,000 
and  is  24x36  feet  in  size. 

School  district  No.  8  was  formed  by 
the  division  of  No.  7,  and  a  school  house 
was  erected  in  1877,  on  section  22,  at  a 
cost  of  $350.  Alice  Newell  taught  the 
first  term  of  school  in  this  building. 
The  lot  on  which  the  school  house  stands 
was  donated  to  the  district  by  Gary  Grif- 
fith, and  consists  of  one  acre  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  the  above  section.  Gary  Griffith, 
Hugh  White  and  Michael  Callahan  were 
the  first  directors,  the  present  being 
John  Hillyer,  William  Burton  and 
Menard  Granenwold.  Alice  Dorigan 
teaches  the  school  at  present. 

CHICKAMAUGA   STOCK  FARM. 

This  excellent  farm  is  the  property  of 
A.  V.  Brooking,  and  consists  of  340  acres 
located  mostly  on  the  east  half  of  sec- 
tion 24,  Emmet  township.  It  is  well 
improved  having  a  barn  76x100  feet,  hav- 
ing all  modern  improvements,  and  con- 
veniently arranged  for  the  business.  It 
was  built  in  1876,  at  a  cost  of  $4,000.  Mr. 
Brooking  the  gentlemanly  proprietor, 
devotes  his  attention  mostly  to  the  rais- 
ing and  breeding  of  fine  horses;  he  has 
from  childhood  evinced  an  interest  in 


good  horses,  and  with  maturer  years  this 
interest  has  not  diminished,but  increased, 
and  with  his  experience  and  natural 
adaptability,  he  is  well  qualified  to  super- 
vise a  place  of  this  kind.  He  has  done 
much  toward  bringing  McDonough  up 
to  its  present  high  standard  as  a  stock 
county.  This  farm  is  headquarters. for 
roadster  horses,  and  brood  mares,  from 
good  strains  of  trotting  stock.  Some  of 
them  having  a  record  of  2 :32,  and  doubt- 
less many  of  them  would  be  able,  under 
a  proper  course  of  training,  to  make  rec- 
ords low  in  the  twenties.  These  supe- 
rior animals  are  being  bred  to  stallions 
of  undoubted  merit,  and  the  outcome  of 
the  business  as  conducted  by  Mr.  Brook- 
ing can  but  be  successful,  and  he  is,  and 
will  be  able  to  furnish  not  only  good 
roadsters,  but  animals  having  the  speed 
and  endurance  necessary  for  the  turf. 
He  has  some  imported  horses,  keeps  on 
hand  from  30  to  40  animals  of  good 
blood  for  breeding  purposes,  and  each 
year  adds  to  the  number  of  good  horses 
from  Chickamauga  stock  farm,  which  is 
getting  to  be  quite  well  known  in  this 
and  adjoining  states.  It  is  a  farm  not 
only  well  improved,  but  one  naturally 
adapted  to  this  business,  having  among 
other  things  a  spring  of  never  failing 
water,  flowing  unceasingly,  winter  and 
summer,  furnishing  a  full  supply  for 
seven  different  enclosures. 

VINEYARDS. 

About  five  acres  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  35,  is  devoted  to  the  growth 
of  grapes  by  Joseph  Marks.  He  com- 
menced raising  the  fruit  about  20  years 
ago,  and  some  16  or  17  years  since  began 
the  manufacture  of  wine;  at  times  mak. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


693 


ing  50  or  60  barrels  per  day.  A.  Krauser 
has  three  acres  and  A.  Switzer  has  about 
one  acre  devoted  to  the  industry. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  Guy  cemetery  is  situated  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  20,  and  con- 
tains two  acres,  which  was  deeded  by 
George  G.  Guy,  to  the  Methodist  church. 
It  is  pleasantly  situated  and  kept  in  fair 
improvement.  George  W.  Guy  was  the 
first  body  interred  therein. 

A  private  cemetery  belonging  to  John 
D.  Hainline,  is  located  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  6,  and  consists  of  one- 
half  of  an  acre.  The  first  burial  was  the 
first  wife  of  Mr.  Hainline — Margaret 
Ann.  It  is  now  a  burying  ground  for  all 
relatives  of  the  Hainline  family,  but  as 
yet,  none  other  than  Hainlines  lie  there. 

A  public  cemetery  is  situated  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  5.  It  consists  of  two  acres  of 
land,  purchased  of  Thomas  Head  for 
$200.  The  first  buried  there  was  John 
Mayfield. 

COAL   BANKS. 

This  industrial  enterprise  is  located  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6,  and 
has  been  in  operation  since  1870,  cover- 
inf  an  area  of  about  40  acres.  It  is 
owned  by  John  D.  Hainline  and  operated 
by  James  and  William  Anderson.  The 
vein  is  20  inches  in  thickness. 

In  1854  the  coal  bank  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 32,  was  opened.  The  present  owner 
of  the  land  is  J.  W.  Wilson,  who  pur- 
chased it  in  1866,  but  had  previously 
worked  the  same  for  about  three  years. 
After  he  purchased  the  bank  he  began 


taking  out  about  50  bushels  of  coal  per 
day.  The  vein  is  26  inches  in  thickness 
and  extends  over  about  eight  acres  of 
land,  although  it  originally  covered 
about  18  acres.  The  product  of  the  mine 
is  as  good  a  grade  as  is  found,  and  sells 
at  eight  cents  per  bushel,  yielding  a  good 
profit  yearly. 

BRICK    YARD. 

Iii  1867  James  M.  Chase  commenced 
the  manufacture  of  brick  on  section  34, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  west  of  the  city 
of  Maconab,  where  also  is  found  a  super- 
ior clay.  The  yard  has  averaged  about 
450,000  brick  each  season,  giving  em- 
ployment to  12  hands,  as  all  the  brick 
are  hand-made.  Mr.  Chase  is  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  yard,  which  is  used  for 
local  purposes  only.  Nearly  all  the 
brick  which  entered  into  the  construction 
ot  the  court  house  at  Macomb  were 
manufactured  by  him. 


FISH    PONDS. 


-IT- 


ponds,  devoted  to  the  hatching 
and  propagation  of  piscatorial  varieties, 
are  located  upon  the  farm  of  Gary  Grif- 
fith, on  section  22,  and  are  also  owned 
by  that  gentleman.  The  first  one  was 
established  in  1883,  as  a  carp  pond,  in 
which  Mr.  Griffith  placed  about  45  of 
this  variety.  During  the  year  of  1884 
they  made  a  growth  of  about  four 
pounds  each.  This  pond  covers  about 
one-fourth  of  an  acre,  and  is  six  feet  in 
depth,  the  water  being  supplied  by 
springs.  In  1884  the  second  pond  was 
established,  a  short  distance  below  the 
other.  In  this  small  body  of  water 
there  are  14  varieties,  including  12  game 
and  2  of  cat  fish.  Mr.  Griffith  intends 


694 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


making  this  a  business,  and  affording 
the  markets  a  specialty  of  desirable 
fish. 

GOOD   TEMPLARS. 

A  lodge  of  this  order  was  organized 
in  the  township  in  1860,  and  for  more 
than  ten  years  did  most  excellent  work. 
For  interest  in  business  and  temperance 
work  it  had  no  superior  in  the  county. 
After  an  interval  of  12  years,  the  second 
lodge,  the  other  having  become  extinct 
so  long  ago,  was  organized  at  Mr.  Lyle's, 
and  usually  meets  every  Saturday  even- 
ing. 

HISTORICAL. 

Elder  John  Logan,  the  noted  pioneer 
preacher  delivered  the  first  sermon  in 
the  township,  at  the  Spring  Creek  settle- 
ment, in  the  year  1832,  at  William  Pen- 
nington's  house. 

David  G.  McFadden  and  Dorcas  Bowen 
were  the  first  couple  married  in  Emmet, 
the  ceremony  being  performed  by  James 
Vance,  Sr.,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  May  16, 
1833.  This  McFadden  was  one  of  the 
two  who  were  hung  two  years  later  for 
the  murder  of  John  Wilson. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Man- 
kin  Champion. 

Tobias  G.  Painter  was  the  first  super- 
visor. 

ORGANIC. 

Emmet  township  was  organized  at  the 
time  of  the  division  of  the  county,  in  1856. 
It  was  first  called  Spring  Creek,  but  at 
the  first  meeting  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors of  the  county,  in  May,  1857,  the 
name  was  changed  to  that  of  Emmet.  At 


the  first  township  election,  which  was 
held  April  7,  following,  B.  F.  Naylor 
was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  and  J.  T. 
Painter,  constable.  The  present  officers 
of  the  township  are  as  follows:  Super- 
visor, Julius  Hartung;  clerk,  P.  E.  Elt- 
ing ;  assessor,  James  A.  Monger ;  collector, 
L.  Flemming;  highway  commissioner, 
Daniel  Sullivan;  school  trustee,  Byron 
Bagby;  justices  of  the  peace,  Joseph 
Howing  and  Timothy  Sullivan;  consta- 
bles, Washington  Dixon  and  Eiley  Sut- 
ton. 

CLAY    BANK. 

On  section  25,  and  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  said  section,  is  found  the 
largest  deposit  of  fire  brick,  and  tile  clay 
probably  in  the  county.  The  land  be- 
longs to  Mr.  Charles  Shevalier,  of  Ma- 
comb,  and  through  his  endeavors  has  this 
matter  been  brought  out,  and  it  was  un- 
doubtedly due  to  his  exertions,  that  the 
Macomb  tile  works  came  into  existence. 
Along  about  1835,  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Cleveland  drew  some  of  this  clay  to  Rip- 
ley,  and  made  it  into  tile  and  sewer  pipe, 
and  not  until  1879,  was  this  bed  of  wealth 
again  disturbed.  Joseph  Patterson  com- 
menced drawing  to  the  Eagle  pottery,  in 
Macomb,  from  this  bank,  but  only  used  it 
one  year;  but  when  the  tile  works  started 
up,  they  used  all  the  clay  they  made  up 
into  ware,  from  this  deposit,  and  at  the 
present  time  are  using  40  to  50  tons 
daily.  This  bank  is  17  feet  in  thickness 
where  it  has  been  worked,  and  crops  out 
in  numerous  places;  the  depth  varies  of 
course,  but  evidently  there  is  enough 
clay  here  to  supply  the  whole  state. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


695 


CHAPTER     XXVII. 


BETHEL     TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  lies  in  the  southern 
tier,  being  4  north,  and  range  3  west. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north,  by  Chal- 
mers and  Colchester  townships,  on  the 
east,  by  Industry,  with  Schuyler  county 
on  the  south,  and  Lamoine  township  on 
the  west.  The  southern  portion  is  prin- 
cipally timber  land,  containing  some  of 
the  finest  in  the  county,  and  is,  also, 
the  depository  of  immense  beds  of  coal 
and  a  great  amount  of  stone  for  build- 
ing purposes.  Copper,  zinc,  and  iron, 
have  been  found,  though  but  little  ef- 
fort has  been  made  to  test  the  matter  as 
to  whether  it  can  be  found  in  paying 
quantities.  The  northern  part  of  the 
township  is  mostly  prairie  land,  and 
here  is  found  some  of  the  finest  farms  of 
the  county.  The  township  is  one  of  the 
best  watered  of  any  in  the  county,  the 
two  forks  of  Crooked  creek,  Camp  and 
Grindstone  creeks,  passing  through  its 
entire  length,  the  latter  coming  in  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  section  24,  while 
the  former  enters  the  township  at  the 
southeast  corner  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  1.  These  two  streams 
form  a  junction  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  31,  and  leaves  the  township 
at  the  extreme  southwest  corner. 

A  curious  feature  is  seen  on  section 
30,  being  a  group  of  so-called  Indian 
mounds,  which  were  evidently  used  for 


burial  purposes  by  the  aboriginal  pos- 
sessors of  this  section.  They  consist  of 
an  irregular  row  of  hillocks,  from  three 
to  six  feet  in  height,  from  15  to  25  feet 
across  at  their  base.  They  will  number 
probably,  about  20,  and  are  located  in 
the  east  portion  of  the  section.  They 
are  so  ancient  that  many  of  them  are 
covered  with  large  timber  of  such  slow 
growing  varieties  as  oak  and  hickory. 
From  several  of  the  depositaries  of  the 
dead,  there  has  been,  at  different  times, 
exhumed  different  implements  of  de- 
fence, in  the  shape  of  stone  hatchets, 
spear  and  arrow  heads.  Sometimes  the 
spade  will  turn  up  the  bones  of  the 
dead  brave,  and  occasionally  some  trifl- 
ing ornament.  They  are  a  curious  peo- 
ple who  are  fast  fading  into  oblivion. 
For  the  above  facts  we  are  indebted  to 
Charles  E.  Holton.  A  large  amount  of 
fine  lime  stone  is  found  on  the  place  of 
Charles  Holton,  on  section  30,  extend- 
ing over  the  entire  section. 

EAELY  SETTLERS. 

The  first  to  make  a  settlement  in  this 
township  was  John  Gibson,  a  native  of 
the  state  of  North  Carolina,  who  came  to 
this  locality  in  1829,  and  settled  upon 
section  two.  He  built  the  first  house 
within  the  limits  of  the  present  township 
near  the  present  village  of  Middletown. 


696 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Prominent  among  the  pioneers  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  was  Benjamin  Mat- 
thews, who  settled  in  Bethel  township, 
in  1829,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  12 
children.  He  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Tennessee,  in  1792.  In  1813,  he  re- 
moved to  Cass  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  until  he  came  to  this  township. 
He  was  united  in  marriage,  in  Tennes- 
see, in  1811,  to  Polly  Shoopman.  Mr. 
Matthews  served  the  war  of  1812,  and 
also  the  Black  Hawk  war.  His  death 
occurred  in  1878. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  Bethel 
township,  was  James  H.  Dunsworth, 
who  settled  on  section  8,  in  1830,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  5,  1860.  He  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, June  20,  1808,  where  he  was 
married  to  Jane  Baker,  also  a  native  of 
that  state.  He  remained  in  Tennessee 
until  he  came  to  this  county.  The  death 
of  Mrs.  Dunsworth  occurred  February 
13,1860.  Both  bodies  are  interred  in 
the  Archer  cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dunsworth  were  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children — Mary  A.,  William  M,, 
John  A.,  Andrew  J.,  James  N.,  Abbie  J., 
Jefferson  W.,  and  Dimmon  B. 

James  Edmonston,  who  was  promi- 
nently identified  with  the  early  history 
of  the  county  was  also  a  settler  of  this 
same  year,  probably,  although  there 
seems  some  doubt  whether  he  came  in 
1829  or  1830. 

JohnVenard,in  1830,  came  to  this  town- 
ship, and  located  upon  the  southeasi 
quarter  of  section  14  which  he  fully  im- 
proved. Here  he  lived  until  his  death 
William  Venard,  his  only  son  by  his  las 
marriage,  bought  out  the  interests  of  th< 
other  heirs,  at  his  death  and  resided  her< 


until  his  death  when  it  was  purchased 
>y  George  G.  Venard  the  present  owner. 
John  Venard  was  a  native  of  Harrison 
;ounty,  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illinois 
n  1829,  making  a  temporary  stop  in  Mor- 
gan county,  and  came  here  as  above 
stated. 

William  Venard  came  to  the  county  in 
1831,  selecting  Bethel  township  for  his 
future  home.     His  son,  George,  still  re-  - 
sides  in  the  township,  of  whom  a  sketch  is 
appended. 

George   Venard  has   always   been    a 
resident  of  Bethel  township.     His  par- 
ents, William  and  Sarah  Jane  (McClure) 
Venard  were  natives  of  Kentucky,  who 
removed  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  located 
in  Morgan  county.     One  year  later  they 
came  to  McDonough  county  and  settled 
in  Bethel  township.    George  Venard  was 
born  here,  March  19, 1841.     October  13, 
1864  he  was  married  to  M.  A.  Morton. 
By  this  union  there  were  nine  children, 
seven  of  whom  are  now  living — Edward 
E.,  Alberta  L.,  Alice  B.,  Myrtle  M.,Leona, 
Margaret   J.,  and  William  L.  Stewart 
and  Adda  A.,  are  deceased.     Mr.  Venard 
resides  on  section  14,  where  he  owns  200 
acres  of  land,  which  consists  mostly  of 
prairie  and  is  nearly  all  under  cultiva- 
tion.    This  is  the  homestead  farm  form- 
erly owned  by  his  father.     Mr.  Venard 
is  an  enterprising  and  prosperous  farmer. 
As  a  citizen  he  is  held  in  much  esteem. 
He  has  held  different  offices  in  the  town- 
ship, having  been  school  treasurer  nine 
years,  supervisor  five  years,  and  ch'air- 
man  for  the  last  year.     He  enlisted  early 
in  the  late  war,  in  the  16th  Illinois  In- 
fantry,  and  continued    in  the    service 
about  a  year.     He  was  then  discharged 
on  account  of  an  accident,  which  occur- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


697 


red  while  cleaning  a  revolver.  He  after- 
wards re-enlisted  in  company  H,  of  the 
2d  Illinois  Cavalry  and  participated  in 
three  battles  and  several  skirmishes. 
For  many  years  he  voted  with  the  re- 
publican party,  but  at  present,  votes  the 
independent  ticket. 

Charles  Dunsworth  came  in  the  fall 
of  1832,  living  with  his  son  James  until 
the  following  spring,  when  he  settled 
upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
17,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  in 
1842.  He  was  a  native  of  East  Tennes- 
see. 

In  the  fall  of  1832,  Malachi  Monk 
came  to  McDonough  county,  settling  in 
Bethel  township,  where  he  entered  the 
west  half  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  7.  He  lived  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  April,  1840.  His 
remains  are  interred  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Mr.  Monk  was  born  in  the  south, 
and  travelled  through  Georgia,  North 
Carolina,  South  Carolina,  Virginia,  and 
lived  some  time  in  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky. In  1812,  he  went  to  Indiana, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming  until  he 
came  to  this  county.  His  wife,  Jemima 
(Jones)  Monk,  died  in  February,  1859, 
and  is  buried  in  the  Scott  cemetery. 

John  Monk  came  with  his  parents  to 
this  township  in  the  fall  of  1832,  enter- 
ing the  east  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  7,  adjoining  that  of  his 
father,  Malachi.  He  has  resided  here 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  a  resi- 
dence of  nine  years  in  Plymouth,  Han- 
cock county.  He  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky,  January  6,  1808,  and 
four  years  later  went  with  his  parents  to 
Indiana,  where  he  remained  until  com- 
ing to  this  county.  He  was  married 


January  28,  1829,  to  Mahala  Stroud, 
daughter  of  Thomas  and  Jane  (Moore) 
Stroud.  They  were  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children — Hester  A.,  Thomas 
W.,  Samuel,  Emily  J.,  William,  Simon 
and  Mary,  twins,  and  Henry  F. 

Martin  Fugate  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1832,  settling  in  Bethel  town- 
ship, where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
raised  a  large  family  of  children.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  but  spent  two 
years  Indiana,  previous  to  his  settle- 
ment here.  Isaac,  a  son  who  was  also 
born  in  Virginia,  is  still  a  resident  of 
the  township,  owning  a  farm  on  section 

21.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Mat- 
thews, January  10,  1849.     Another  son 
of    Martin's,  John  W.,   also  resides  in 
this  township,  on  section  29. 

John  "VV.  Fugate,  a  well-known  and 
prosperous  farmer  of  Bethel  township, 
came  here  with  his  parents  in  1832.  The 
latter  were  Martin  and  Nancy  B.  ( Hobbs ) 
Fugate,  natives  of  Virginia.  They  re- 
moved to  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  in 
1832,  thence  to  McDonough  county, 
where  they  purchased  160  acres  of  land 
on  section  30,  Bethel  township.  John 
W.  obtained  a  limited  education,  and 
remained  with  his  parents  until  22  years 
of  age.  He  was  born  in  Russell  county, 
Virginia,  April  13, 1817.  September  19, 
1839,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Ophelia  C.  Monk.  Three  children  bless 
this  union — Samuel  N.,  Martin  V.  and 
Mary  R.  The  two  sons  enlisted  August 

22,  1862,  in  company  A,  of  the  78th  Illi- 
nois infantry,  and  both  died  in  battle. 
Mrs.  Fugate  died  March  4,  1847.     Mr. 
Fugate  remained  a  widower,  until  De- 
cember 28,  1865,  when  he  was  married 
to  Nancy  A.  Toland,  a  native  of  Ohio. 


698 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Mr.  Fugate's  first  purchase  of  land  was 
in  1840,  consisting  of  40  acres.  He 
owns  at  present  200  acres,  located  on 
section  29,  a  highly  improved  and  valu- 
able farm.  Mr.  Fugate  is  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church,  and  politically  favors 
the  democratic  party.  He  is  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  Bethel  township. 

James  C.  Archer  came  in  1832.  He 
was  a  native  of  Cass  county,  Kentucky, 
and  was  born  there  December  25,  1812. 

Thomas  F.  Shoopman  settled  in  Beth  el 
township,  in  the  spring  of  1833,  entering 
200  acres  of  government  land  on  section 
29,  where  he  still  resides.  Thomas  F. 
Shoopman  was  a  native  of  East  Tennes- 
see, born  January  15, 1811.  His  parents, 
Jacob  and  Polly  (Owens)  Shoopman, 
natives  of  Virginia.  His  parents  came 
to  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky,  in  1829.  His 
father  died  there  December  30,  1829. 
The  rest  of  the  family  came  to  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  arid  lived  there  until 
1833.  Then  came  to  McDonough  county, 
where  his  mother  died  in  1840.  Thomas 
left  home  at  the  age  of  21.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Patience  Smedly,  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  by  this  union  had  ten 
children — Elizabeth,  Nancy  J.,  Jacob, 
John  S.,  Mary,  Susan,  Sarah,  Catherine, 
Martha  and  Hannah.  Mrs.  Shoopman 
died  in  1864,  leaving  a  large  family  to 
mourn  her  death.  In  1865,  Mr.  Shoop- 
man was  married  to  Mrs.  Jerusha  Ann 
Burress,  who  was  born  in  Illinois.  By 
this  marriage  there  are  two  children — 
Nettie  D.  and  Albert  T.  Mr.  Shoopman 
casts  his  vote  with  the  democratic  party. 
The  present  Mrs.  Shoopman  had  by  her 
former  marriage,  five  children — Edna  J., 
Elmira  A.,  William  F.,  Toliver  D.  and 
Joseph  T.  Joseph  died  on  his  birthday, 


March  19,  1885,  at  the  age  of  23  years. 
Thomas  F.,  has  lived  at  this  place  52 
years,  and  while  in  McDonough  county, 
has  had  but  two  deaths  in  his  family. 

William  I.  Pace  came  to  Bethel  town- 
ship from  Cumberland  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1833.  He  resided  there  until  1835, 
when  he  removed  to  Scotland  township. 
He  died  in  Macomb,  in  May,  1855. 

Bowen  Webb  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  1833.  His  first  settlement  was 
in  Scotland  township,  five  miles  south  of 
Macomb.  He  took  up  a  claim  there,  but 
sold  his  relinquishment  before  entering 
it.  He  then  came  to  Bethel,  where  he 
lived  about  three  years.  He  was  born 
in  North  Carolina,  and  prior  to  the  year 
1818,  located  in  Tennessee.  He  never 
remained  long  in  a  place,  but  was  con- 
stantly on  the  move.  He  was  a  resident 
of  Franklin  county,  Illinois,  before  com- 
ing to  this  county,  and  afterward  lived 
in  Iowa  and  Kansas.  His  death  occur- 
red in  the  latter  state,  in  1871.  Mr.  Webb 
was  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married 
in  1808,  to  Susan  O'Neil,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  also  died  in  Kansas. 

Jesse  C.  Webb  came  to  Bethel  town- 
ship with  his  parents  in  1833.  He  lived 
here  a  number  of  years,  and  after  con- 
siderable moving  about,  returned  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  later,  settled  in 
Lamoine  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  was  born  in  Tennessee,  June  26, 1818, 
and  in  1826,  went  with  his  parents  to 
Franklin  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  came  to  McDonough 
county.  He  was  postmaster  at  Middle- 
town,  from  1857  to  1860,  and  also  con- 
ducted a  grocery  store  at  that  place  for 
a  number  of  years.  Mr.  WTebb  responded 
to  the  governor's  call  for  volunteers  for 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


699 


the  Mormon  war,  and  was  commissioned 
captain  of  his  company. 

John  Matthews  came  in  1833,  from 
Cass  county,  Illinois.  He  was  a  native 
of  Tennessee,  born  July  1, 1802,  and  was 
a  brother  of  Benjamin,  who  settled  here 
in  1829.  He  was  twice  married,  the  first 
time  to  Priscilla  Handy,  and  again  to 
Polly  Davis,  of  Cass  county,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Matthews  died  December  18,  1852, 
in  Beardstown,  Illinois,  at  which  place 
he  was  buried.  His  last  wife  is  still  liv- 
ing, and  has  since  been  married  to  Peter 
Hudson. 

Samuel  T.  Matthews,  now  a  resident 
of  Lamoine  township,  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Bethel  township,  in  1833. 

M.  C.  Foster  came  to  the  county  from 
Pennsylvania,  in  1834,  and  settled  just 
south  of  Middletown,  now  known  as 
Fandon. 

Among  the  early  settlers  at  Bethel,  was 
William  Holton,  who  came  from  the 
state  of  Vermont  to  this  township  in  the 
fall  of  1835,  purchasing  80  acres  of  land 
on  section  30.  He  lived  here  for  a  while 
when  he  removed  to  Lamoine  township, 
where  he  died  November  12,  1877. 

Charles  E.  Holton,  an  early  settler  in 
the  county  was  born  September  7,  1830, 
in  the  town  of  Westminster,  Yermont. 
His  parents  were  William  and  Betsey 
(Mason)  Holton,  the  former  a  native  of 
the  same  town,  born  in  1801 ;  the  latter, 
also  a  native  of  Vermont,  was  born  in 
1800.  The  family  removed  to  this  county 
from  Vermont  in  1835,  and  located  there 
upon  section  30,  Bethel  township.  Chas. 
E.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  mar- 
ried November  12,  1867,  to  Ettie  Mc- 
Kinley,  a  teacher  of  Schuyler  county, 
who  came  with  her  parents  to  Macomb, 


from  the  city  of  Pomejroy,  Meigs  county, 
Ohio,  in  1857.  Her  father  was  formerly 
a  merchant,  and  afterwards  followed 
farming.  She  was  born  January  3, 1848- 
In  the  spring  of  1853,  Mr.  Holton  crossed 
the  plains  to  California,  where  he  re- 
mained 11  years  in  the  pursuit  of  wealth, 
in  which  he  was  fairly  successful.  He 
returned  to  this  state  in  1864,  and  pur- 
chased of  his  father  the  homestead  farm, 
for  which  he  paid  the  sum  of  $5,000.  In 
1868,  his  father  moved  to  Plymouth.  Mr. 
Holton  now  owns  168  acres  of  valuable 
land  in  addition  to  the  homestead  farm, 
which  contains  228  acres.  He  has  fol- 
lowed stock  raising,  and  has  been  pros- 
perous in  that  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holton  have  two  children — Ida  Blanche, 
born  September  28,  1868,  and  Ada  Ford, 
born  August  5,  1872.  Mr.  Holton  is  a 
man  of  fair  education  and  a  worthy  citi- 


zen. 


George  W.  Provine  came  to  this  county 
from  Clark  county,  Indiana,  in  the  fall 
of  1835,  and  located  on  section  1,  Bethel 
township.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  Scot- 
land township. 

In  1835,  James  L.  Horrell  made  a  set- 
tlement in  the  township.  He  was  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  where  he  was  married 
to  Lee  Cason,  also  a  native  of  that  state. 
In  1827,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling 
in  Morgan  county,  after  which  he  came 
to  this  county,  as  above.  Mr.  Horrell 
died  in  1841,  and  his  wife  in  1850.  J.  N. 
N.  Horrell,  a  son  of  James,  deceased, 
came  with  his  parents  to  Bethel  when 
about  five  years  of  age,  and  still  resides 
here,  owning  a  farm  on  section  3.  He 
was  born  in  Scott  county,  this  state,  Oc- 
tober 27,  1830,  and  was  married  on  the 
18th  day  of  February,  1856,  to  Clarissa 


700 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Kinkade.  Five  children  were  born  to 
them — Julia  A.,  Mary  E.,  Ida  M.,  Eliza 
L.  and  Martha  J. 

In  1835,  John  McCormack  effected  a 
settlement  in  the  township.  He  was  born 
in  Maryland,  on  the  21st  day  of  August, 
1789. 

John  Patrick,  who  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Kentucky,  January  1,  1810,  emi- 
grated to  McDonough  county  in  1835, 
settling  in  this  township.  He  laid  out 
the  town  of  Fandon,  formerly  known  as 
Middletown,  and  afterward  removed  to 
the  city  of  Macomb. 

John  E.  Eiggs,  a  native  of  North  Car- 
olina, came  in  March,  1836,  entering  land 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  2. 
He  was  born  in  1814,  and  when  one  year 
of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Kentucky, 
and  at  the  age  of  14  they  removed  to 
Sangamon  county,  Illinois.  John  re- 
mained with  his  parents  until  he  was  23 
years  of  age,  when  he  was  married  in 
Morgan  county  to  Ailsey  Cox,  December 
31,  1835,  and  the  next  spring  came  to  this 
township. 

Samuel  Eiggs  came  about  the  same 
time.  His  son  Eussell  still  lives  in  the 
township. 

Eussell  Eiggs  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Nancy  Eiggs.  Samuel  Eiggs  was  a  na- 
tive of  Maryland,  and  his  wife  of  South 
Carolina.  Eussell  was  born  in  Greenup 
county,  Kentucky,  June  7,  1821.  The 
family  moved  in  1828,  to  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois.  Seven  years  later  they 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  and  lo- 
cated on  section  1,  Bethel  township, 
where  they  purchased  240  acres  of  land. 
Eussell  Eiggs  resided  with  his  parents 
till  24  years  old.  He  received  a  limited 
education,  and  in  his  youth  worked  at 


farming.  In  1845,  he  was  married  to 
Jane  Venard,  who  died  in  1870.  Nine 
children  were  born  to  them,  seven  of 
whom  are  now  living — Mary  E.,  James 
L.,  John  T.,  Samuel  B.,  William  D., 
Andrew  N.  and  Anna  B.  Mr.  Eiggs 
was  again  married  February  2,  1871,  to 
Eliza  Jane  Lucas.  By  this  union  there 
is  one  child — George  M.  Mr.  Eiggs  re- 
sides upon  a  part  of  the  homestead  farm 
purchased  by  his  father  in  1835.  He  is 
politically  a  democrat. 

OTHER  CITIZENS. 

Following  may  be  found  sketches  of 
other  well-known  citizens  of  Bethel 
township,  which  are  necessary,  as  show- 
ing the  part  they  have  taken  in  building 
up  the  township: 

George  W.  Twaddle  is  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  and  was  born  on 
the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides. 
He  was  born  on  the  28th  of  August, 
1845,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and 
Hannah  (Hooton)  Twaddle.  William 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  15  children,  five  of  whom  were 
born  blind,  and  Hannah  in  Ohio.  Wil- 
liam was  a  farmer  through  life,  and  in 
1844  came  to  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  located  on  the  farm  now  occu- 
pied by  his  son  George.  He  lived  here 
until  1879,  when  he  died  and  and  passed 
beyond  the  river.  He  was  much  re- 
spected, and  from  1847  until  the  day  of 
his  death,  was  justice  of  the  peace.  Mrs. 
Twaddle,  who  was  formerly  Hannah 
Hooton,  died  August,  1864,  and  was 
buried  in  the  Scott  cemetery.  They  had 
11  children,  five  of  whom  are  now  dead 
—John  W.,  living  in  Hancock  county; 
William  H.,  living  in  Macomb;  Mar- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


701 


sena  A.,  now  living  in  Bethel  township; 
one  girl  died  in  infancy,  in  Ohio; 
James,  dead;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  W.  W. 
Huff,  of  Hancock  county;  Mahlon,  dead; 
George,  now  living  in  this  township;  Mi- 
nerva E.,  wife  of  William  Lawyer,  of 
Tennessee  township;  David  and  Jacob, 
dead.  George  lived  at  home  with  his 
father,  and  assisted  him  in  his  work  un_ 
til  1879,  and  after  his  father's  death  he 
made  some  improvements  on  the  farm, 
and  now  pays  attention  to  stock  raising 
as  well  as  general  farming.  He  owns 
226  acres  of  land,  166  acres  adapted  to 
his  use,  and  the  remainder  divided  in- 
to pastures  and  timberland.  Mr.  Twad- 
dle was  married  on  July  19,  1868,  to 
Cynthia  Hatch,  a  daughter  of  Alonzo 
and  Minerva  Hatch.  She  died  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1869.  Mr.  T.  was  again 
married,  on  the  28th  of  September,  1872, 
to  Miss  Philena  D.  Stookey.  They  have 
had  four  children — Maber,  Perry,  Ottie 
P.  and  Otto  B.  Mr.  Twaddle  has  been 
justice  of  the  peace  of  Bethel  township 
for  five  years,  and  is  director  in  the 
Union  school  district  No.  7. 

Jacob  S.  Baymiller  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  McDonough  county  since  1857, 
when  he  settled  in  Industry  township- 
In  1864,  he  purchased  a  farm  of  126 
acres  in  that  township,  upon  which  he 
lived  10  years,  and  then  sold.  In  1878 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Bethel  township  on 
which  he  now  lives.  It  is  located  in 
section  12  and  13,  and  contains  120 
acres.  Mr.  Baymiller  was  born  August 
8,  1826,  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Smith) 
Baymiller,  also  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
He  received  a  common  school  education, 
and  lived  at  home  until  19  years  of  age. 


He  then  served  a  three  years  appren- 
ticeship to  learn  the  carpenter  trade,  af- 
ter which  he  followed  car  building  for 
20  years.  When  27  years  old  he  was 
married  to  Ann  Tuttle,  a  native  of  Ohio, 
who*  died  two  years  later,  leaving  one 
child — Arabell.  In  1859  he  was  again 
married  to  Kate  Hodges,  a  native  of 
Illinois.  Five  children  have  been  born 
to  them — Edgar  L.,  Harry  S.,  Alonzo  J., 
Mary  J.  and  Nellie.  Mr.  Baymiller  is  a 
republican,  and  takes  an  active  interest 
in  political  affairs.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  has  held  various  township 
offices,  and  is  a  popular  citizen. 

Sterling  C.  Simpson  resides  on  sec- 
tion 7,  Bethel  township,  where  he  owns 
160  acres  of  cultivated  land.  He  has 
paid  particular  attention  to  the  raising 
of  live  stock,  and  has  some  fine  graded 
horses — Clydesdales  and  English  drafts. 
Mr.  Simpson  is  a  native  of  East  Tennes- 
see, and  was  born  on  the  26th  of  May, 
1811.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and  Leti- 
tia  (Willett)  Simpson.  James  was  born 
in  Tennessee,  and  Letitia  in  Mary- 
land. Sterling  was  engaged  in  farming 
with  his  father  until  September,  1834, 
when  he  went  to  clerking  for  his  broth- 
er, in  Kingsport,  Tennessee.  He  there 
remained  one  year,  when  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Macomb,  where  he  established  a  gen- 
eral store.  He  was  so  engaged  until  1839, 
when  he  went  to  LaGrange,  Illinois,  and 
there  was  engaged  in  his  former  occu- 
pation for  some  time,  when  he  erected  a 
pork-packing  establishment,  and  was  so 
engaged  one  year.  In  1840  he  returned 
to  Macomb,  and  in  the  spring  of  that 
year  went  to  Knox  county,  where  he  was 


702 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


engaged  in  farming,  two  miles  and  one- 
half  from  Knoxville,  and  there  remained 
until  1859,  when  he  moved  to  the  said 
town  and  set  up  in  the  grocery  business. 
In  the  spring  of  1867  he  came  back  to 
Macomb,  and  established  his  former 
business,  in  which  he  was  engaged  until 
1868,  when  he  moved  to  a  farm  one  mile 
east  of  that  city.  In  the  spring  of  1876 
he  removed  to  his  present  residence, 
which  is  known  as  one  of  the  finest  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Simpson  was  mar- 
ried on  the  28th  of  June,  1838,  to  Cath- 
erine Johnson,  of  Pennsylvania.  She  is 
the  daughter  of  George  Johnson  of  the 
same  state.  Mrs.  Simpson  died  in 
Knoxville,  in  February,  1863,  leaving 
four  children — John  J.,  John  (both 
died  in  infancy);  George  W.,  living  in 
White  City,  Kansas;  and  Francis  W., 
living  in  Chalmers  township.  Mr. 
Simpson  was  again  married  on  the  4th 
of  October,  1864,  to  Sarah  A.  Smith,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Harriet  ( Gibbons ) 
Smith.  They  have  had  two  children — 
Sterling  S.  and  John  G.  Mr.  Simpson 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  an  earnest  worker  in  that  cause. 
He  has  been  assessor  for  Macomb  town- 
ship; also  assessor  for  Knox  township, 
in  Knox  county. 

G.  F.  Raymond  located  in  1869  on 
section  21,  Bethel  township,  and  has, 
since  that  time  been  a  resident  of  this 
county.  He  was  born  in  Orange  county, 
New  York;  August  11,  1834,  and  is  a  son 
of  Uriah  and  Margaret  (Decker)  Ray- 
mond. The  subject  of  this  sketch  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education,  and 
resided  with  his  parents  till  22  years  of 
age.  He  was  married  February  19, 
1853,  to  Sarah  A.  McMurtry,  a  native  of 


New  York  state.  They  have  had  five 
children,  of  whom  four  are  living — Sarah 
A.,  Margaret  A.,  John  U.,  Gabriel  J. 
and  Mary  C.  Mr.  Raymond  has  always 
followed  farming.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1858,  and  settled  in  Birmingham  town- 
ship, Schuyler  county,  where  he  owned 
forty  acres  of  land  and  lived  eleven 
years.  This  land  he  sold  on  coming  to 
Bethel,  and  purchased  80  acres  in  the 
latter  township  which  he  still  owns.  In 
politics  Mr.  Raymond  is  an  independent. 
At  present  he  holds  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  and  a  Christian 
gentleman. 

Marvin  Miller  settled  where  he  now 
resides  on  section  20,  Bethel  township, 
in  1860.  He  still  owns  forty  acres  of 
land  which  he  purchased  at  that  time. 
He  was  born  in  Summit  county,  Ohio, 
September  16,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  Sarah  (Bryant)  Miller,  of 
whom  the  former  was  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut, and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Mar- 
vin received  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county.  He 
left  the  parental  roof  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  and  has  followed  farming  from 
that  time  until  the  present.  To  his 
original  purchase  of  forty  acres  in  this 
township,  Mr.  Miller  has  since  added 
160  acres,  making  altogether  a  large  and 
valuable  farm,  in  the  management  of 
which  he  has  displayed  much  energy 
and  good  judgment,  and  as  a  result  has 
been  successful  financially.  He  is  a  re- 
publican in  politics,  and  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  state  and  national  affairs.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  highly  respected,  and  is 
one  of  the  leading  men  of  Bethel  town- 
ship. Mr.  Miller  was  married  May  21, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


703 


1863,  to  Sarah  Shoopman.  By  this  union 
there  are  four  children, — Patience,  John 
F.,  Thomas  H.,  and  Jesse  M.. 

Burrow  Mason,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  McDonough  county,  was  born 
in  Cook  county,  East  Tennessee,  May  6, 
1814.  His  parents  were  Adin  and  Mary 
(Warmact)  Mason,  natives  of  Virginia. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  a 
limited  education.  He  resided  with  his 
parents  till  21  year  old,  and  after  leaving 
home,  continued  to  contribute  to  their 
support  until  their  death.  He  came  to 
Bethel  township,  McDonough  county, 
in  1836,  and  purchased  there  forty  acres 
to  which  he  has  since  added,  and  now  has 
120  acres.  He  has  always  followed  farm- 
ing. December  8,  1846,  he  was  married 
to  Eveline  Hendrickson,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven 
children,  of  whom  eight  are  now  living 
— Adin  P.,  Jesse  H.,  Eliza  J.,  George 
W.,  William  E.,  Benjamin  B.,  Samuel 
P.,  and  Etta  E.  Mr.  Mason  is  politi- 
cally a  democrat,  but  his  six  sons  are 
republicans. 

Ishmael  Hills,  a  farmer  of  Bethel 
township,  and  an  old  settler  of  Illinois, 
was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1808,  and 
is  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Nancy 
(Owensby)  Hills,  also  natives  of  that 
state.  Soon  after  the  birth  of  Ishmael  his 
parents  removed  to  Tennessee,  thence  to 
Indiana,  where  he  lived  with  them  until 
eighteen  years  old.  He  then  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Wright  and  started 
west,  coming  to  Rushville  Illinois,  in 
1828.  There  he  bought  a  farm  of  80 
acres  and  made  his  home  until  1878,  then 
came  to  this  county  and  located  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  1,  Bethel 
town  ship,  where  he  now  owns  a  good  farm, 


His  first  wife  died  in  December,  1874, 
and  the  following  August  he  was  married 
to  Telitha  E.  Venard.  He  is  the  father 
of  14  children  by  his  first  wife,  eight  of 
whom  are  now  living,  one  boy  and  sev- 
en girls,  all  of  whom  are  now  married. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hills  are  members  of  the 
Old  School  Baptist  church.  Politically 
he  is  a  democrat. 

Barnett  Carnahan,  a  resident  of  Bethel 
township,  was  born  in  Marion  township, 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  in  March,  1842. 
He  is  a  son  of  David  C.  and  Deborah 
(Thornhill)  Carnahan,  the  former  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  born  in  1812,  and  the 
latter  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1814. 
Barnett  lived  with  his  parents  until  20 
years  old.  He  then  enlisted  in  the  army, 
79th  Ohio  regiment,  Company  C.,  and 
participated  in  many  engagements.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Camp  Denison,  June 
10,  1865.  He  was  married  to  Margaret 
A.  Sullivan,  December  22,  1869.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living  but  one — William  E.,  J.  M. 
deceased,  Rosker  E.,  Martin  H.,  George 
E.,  Mary  Debrah,  Annie,  Luella. 
Mr.  Carnahan  has  120  acres  of  good 
land  on  section  11.  He  is  what  may  be 
termed  a  Universalist,  ,and  politically  a 
democrat. 

Mrs.  Lorrin  Thompson  was  born  at 
Shelbyville,  Kentucky,  in  1825.  Her 
parents  were  Greenup  and  Mary  (Ma- 
cumpsey)  McClure,  who  moved  from 
Kentucky,  to  this  county,  and  here  died. 
Her  husband  died  in  January,  1872.  Mrs. 
Thompson  has  a  farm  in  Bethel  town- 
ship, consisting  of  160  acres,  40  acres  of 
it  timber,  the  balance  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  and  well  improved,  on  sec- 
tion 10.  She  is  the  mother  of  11  chil- 


704 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


dren,  four  of  whom  are  deceased — Mary 
E.,  John  T.,  Charles,  George,  Samuel 
G.,  Rozella,  Sarah  J.,  Franklin  L.,  Alice 
and  William.  Mrs.  Thompson  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Thomas  H.  Wrigley  is  a  farmer  of 
Bethel  township,  having  his  residence  on 
section  12.  He  was  born  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  in  1840.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Rebecca  (Homes)  Wrigley, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky;  the  former  is 
now  deceased,  and  the  latter  still  living. 
Thomas  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,  and 
remained  at  his  father's  home,  until  mar- 
ried to  Virginia  Jones,  of  Scotland  town- 
ship, in  1861.  She  died  February  20, 
1882.  They  had  seven  children,  four 
boys  and  three  girls — James  H.,  Grant, 
Rosetta,  Nora,  Thomas  L.,  Wilber  and 
Myrtle. 

John  C.  Robinson  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Maryland,  in  1806,  and  is  a  son  of 
James  R.  and  Martha  (McMullen)  Rob- 
inson. John  C.,  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  1827,  when  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Rebecca  Ellit.  In  1855,  they 
moved  to  this  county,  and  he  now  owns 
here,  160  acres  of  land,  on  section  9.  His 
wife  died  in  1880,  leaving  the  following 
children — Martha,  Becka,  Mary,  Thos., 
John,  Samuel,  Robert,  Benjamin  and 
Nancy. 

Joshua  Scott  is  the  son  of  John  S. 
Scott,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  born 
in  1805,  and  when  in  his  20th  year,  left 
his  native  land  for  America,  sailing  from 
Londonderry,  and  was  11  weeks  in  cross- 
ing the  ocean.  He  located  in  Ohio,  where 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Hendrickson. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Bethel  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  March  1,  1848,  and  has  always 


been  a  citizen  of  this  county.  Mr.  Scott 
has  a  fair  education  which  he  acquired 
in  the  district  school.  He  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres  located  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Bethel  township,  which  is  a  por- 
tion of  the  homestead  farm  formerly 
owned  by  his  father.  Joshua  Scott  was 
married  January  6,  1879,  to  Mahala 
Wear.  Seven  children  have  blessed  this 
union,  six  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Mary  E.,  Philena  C.,  Amos  N.,  Joseph 
D.,  and  twin  sons  whose  birth  occurred 
February  28,  1885. 

James  Purdum  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  December  29, 1839  in  Bethel 
township.  His  parents,  Samuel  and  Re- 
becca (Dull)  Purdum,  came  here  in  an 
early  day.  The  former  was  a  native  of 
Maryland,  and  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1837,  and  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
In  1850,  they  removed  to  Schuyler  county 
and  James  resided  with  them  until  about 
the  year  1847,  when  he  came  back  to  this 
county  and  went  to  work  by  the  month. 
February  19,  1860,  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  E.  Foster,  who  was  born  in  Schuy- 
ler county,  April  30,  1841.  They  have 
ever  since  resided  in  this  county.  Mr. 
Purdum  now  has  80  acres  of  valuable 
land  located  on  section  30,  Bethel  town- 
ship. They  are  the  happy  parents  of 
the  following  children — Will  R.,  James 
W.,  Luella  M.,  Charles  E.,  Thomas  O., 
Olive  B.,  Samuel  M.,  Frederick  W., 
Clara  M.  and  Jessie  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Purdum  are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 
Mr.  Purdum  is  a  republican  politically, 
and  a  much  respected  citizen.  He  served 
his  country  during  the  late  war,  being 
mustered  into  the  service  August  6, 1862, 
into  company  C,  84th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  after  a  service  of  three  years  re- 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


705 


turned  to  this  place,  and  is  now  living 
within  four  miles  of  the  place  where  he 
was  born.  He  is  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
by  occupation,  and  lives  on  the  east  half 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30, 
Bethel  township.  His  postoffice  is  Fan- 
don. 

William  Toland,  son  of  William  and 
Jane  (Hendrickson)  Toland,  is  a  native 
of  Bethel  township,  McDonough  county, 
born  October  30,  1842.  William  Toland, 
senior,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and 
his  wife  in  Ohio.  They  were  united  in 
marriage  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  emi- 
grated to  this  county  in  1840.  Both  are 
now  deceased.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  June  25,  1868,  to 
Sarah  B.  Welborn,  who  was  born  January 
1,  1843,  in  this  state.  They  have  one 
child— Nellie,  born  February  25,  1880. 
In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Toland  enlisted  in 
company  A,  of  the  78th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  served  until  February,  1863,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service.  In 
February,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  com- 
pany E,  of  the  148th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  continued  in  the  service  until  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  when  he  was  discharged 
with  the  regiment.  He  owns  a  well  im- 
proved farm  containing  184  acres,  also  a 
large  amount  of  fine  stock.  Politically, 
Mr.  Toland  is  a  republican. 

Solomon  Mullen,  formerly  a  resident 
of  Bethel  township  was  a  native  of  the 
state  of  Illinois.  He  was  married  about 
the  year  1856,  in  the  state  of  Arkansas, 
to  Alpha  Baggett,  who  was  a  native  of 
Tennessee.  In  1860,  they  moved  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  lived  in  Macomb 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1868. 
Fifteen  years  later,  the  widow  was  mar- 
ried to  James  A.  Logan,  of  Schuyler 


county,  Illinois.  A  daughter,  Mary,  was 
married,  January  8,  1884,  to  Martin 
Mullen,  also  of  Schuyler  county,  where 
they  own  92  acres  of  good  land.  Polit- 
ically, Martin  Mullen  affiliates  with  the 
republican  party. 

John  Kerr  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania,  August  28,  1834,  and  was 
a  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Black)  Kerr, 
also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  John 
Kerr,  Jr.,  resided  with  his  parents  un- 
til he  attained  his  majority.  He  then 
came  to  Illinois,  and  spent  three  years, 
after  which  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  there  married  to 
Martha  Thompson,  of  Butler  county, 
July  4,  1859.  They  remained  in  that 
state  eight  years,  then  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  Illinois,  locating  then 
in  Bethel  township,  where  Mrs.  Kerr 
still  lives.  He  purchased  40  acres  of 
land,  about  one  half  of  which  is  still  in 
timber.  They  had  seven  children,  six 
of  whom  are  still  living — William  C., 
Nancy  J.,  Francis  E.,  Merry  A.,  John 
B.,  and  George  T.  Their  eldest  son 
died  April  8,  1883,  aged  21  years,  seven 
months,  and  15  days.  One  of  the  sons 
is  now  living  in  Kansas. 

Eev.  Uriah  Stoneking,  is  a  son  of 
George  and  Levina  ( Piles )  Stoneking, 
natives  of  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania, 
George  Stoneking  was  born  December 
29,  1831,  and  his  wife,  June  15,  of  the 
same  year.  They  were  married  in 
Bethel  township,  McDonough  county,  in 
March,  1851.  By  this  union  there  were 
12  children — David,  Uriah,  Andrew, 
George,  Solomon,  Lucinda,  Francis  P., 
Mary  Bell,  Thomas  S.,  Eliza  Agnes, 
Amanda  Jane,  and  Hiram.  The  third 
son,  George,  was  accidentally  burned  to 


706 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


death  at  the  age  of  four  years.  Uriah 
the  second  son,  was  married  January  1, 
1871,  to  Mary  C.  Gary.  Eight  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Edith  Lillian, 
Phebe  Bell,  Theda  Evalina,  Georgetta, 
Minnie  Frances,  Ollie  May,  Winnie 
Myrtle,  and  Dollie.  Uriah  Stoneking 
is  the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land,  loca- 
ted in  section  33,  Bethel  township,  and 
which  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  grow- 
ing of  small  grains,  and  stock-raising. 
Uriah  Stoneking,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Bethel  township, 
McDonough  county,  August  8,  1853. 
In  1879,  he  was  licensed  as  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel  by  the  Protestant  Meth- 
odist church.  He  has  since  that  time 
been  engaged  in  preaching,  three  years 
as  a  local  preacher,  and  three  years  upon 
the  circuit.  He  has  assisted  at  several 
noted  revivals,  at  one  of  which,  at  In- 
dustry, 120  persons  were  converted. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  commissioner 
of  highways  three  years,  and  was  re- 
elected  in  1885,  and  holds  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  Mr.  Stoneking  is 
a  public  spirited  citizen,  and  enjoys  the 
confidence  and  respect  of  the  entire 
community  in  which  he  resides. 

Charles  Willey,  a  farmer  of  Bethel 
township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in 
1820,  in  Muskingum  county.  He  is  a 
son  of  Ablisum  and  Rachel  (Lemby) 
Willey,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Charles  may  properly  be  classed  among 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county,  as  he 
came  here  with  his  parents  in  1834,  and 
settled  on  section  35,  Bethel  township, 
where  he  owns  120  acres  of  land  and 
has  always  since  lived  upon  the  same. 
He  was  married  in  1841  to  Sarah  Frakes. 
They  have  had  13  children — Liddie, 


Isaac,  David,  Andy,  Stephen,  Boyd, 
Leonard,  Noah,  Morris,  Caroline,  Ma- 
hala,  Amanda,  and  Laurinda.  Four  of 
these  children  are  now  deceased.  Mr. 
Willey  politically,  is  a  republican. 

James  M.  Legg  resides  upon  section 
25,  Bethel  township,  where  he  occupies 
a  fine  farm  containing  200  acres,  owned 
by  his  wife's  father,  Darius  Runkle,  of 
Industry  township,  who  purchased  the 
place  in  1876.  It  is  well  improved  and 
highly  cultivated.  Mr.  Legg  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Greenwood)  Legg, 
both  natives  of  Kentucky.  In  1832  they 
removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Schuyler  county.  James  M.  Legg  was 
married  October  3,  1867,  to  Mary  A. 
Runkle,  of  McDonough  county.  Their 
union  has  been  blessed  by  eight  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Charles  L,  Lewis  L.,  Clara  Y.,  Nellie  C., 
Anna  M.  and  Gracie  L. ;  Mary  F.  and 
an  infant  son  are  deceased.  Mr.  Legg 
is  a  republican  politically.  Mrs.  Legg  is 
at  the  present  time  one  of  the  board  of 
school  directors  of  district  number  6, 
of  Bethel  township,  and  is  well  fitted 
for  her  position,  being  a  lady  of  much 
natural  ability  and  energy. 

John  A.  Mills  is  a  son  of  Ladsin 
and  Sarah  M.  (Hill)  Mills,  natives  of 
North  Carolina,  who,  in  1850,  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Lamoine  town- 
ship, McDonough  county.  They  re- 
mained in  that  township  three  months, 
then  removed  to  Chalmers,  where  they 
resided  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  they  removed  to  the  west  half  of 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  2,  in 
Bethel  township,  where  they  are  yet 
living.  John  A.  Mills  was  born  in  Hen- 
derson county,  North  Carolina,  in  1845. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


707 


He  came  west  with  his  parents,  with 
whom  he  lived  until  16  years  old.  He 
enlisted  then,  in  company  K,  of  the  25th 
Wisconsin  infantry.  At  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, he  was  transferred  to  company 
0,  of  the  12th  Wisconsin  regiment.  He 
served  throughout  Sherman's  campaign, 
and  was  mustered  out  of  service  at  Lou- 
isville, Kentucky,  and  discharged  at 
Madison,  Wisconsin.  After  his  return 
from  the  army  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade  in  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained 
four  years,  then  returned  to  Bethel 
township,  this  county;  he  now  resides 
on  the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  1.  He  was  married  December 
4, 1869,  to  Mary  E.  Daniels.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  four  children — 
Luna  L.,  Walter  S.,  Ada  A.  and  Silas  A. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mills  are,  in  their  religious 
views,  in  sympathy  with  the  Christian 
church.  He  is  a  republican,  politically. 

OKGANIC. 

Bethel  township  assumed  official  or- 
ganization in  1856,  at  the  time  of  the 
division  of  the  county  into  townships. 
It  was  originally  known  as  Eagle  town- 
ship, but  was  changed  to  its  present 
cognomen  at  the  first  meeting  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  in  May,  1857.  The 
first  township  election  was  held  April  7, 
1857,  at  which  time  William  Twaddle 
and  John  Taylor  were  elected  justices 
of  the  peace,  and  John  Brundage,  con- 
stable. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township 
are  as  follows:  Supervisor,  G.  G.  Ven- 
ard;  clerk,  W.  H.  Jackson;  assessor,  W. 
F.  Berrse;  collector,  James  Purdum; 
highway  commissioner,  Uriah  Stone- 
king;  justices  of  the  peace,  Uriah  Stone- 


king  and  George  Twaddle;  constables, 
Charles  Fawcett  and  James  Mathews; 
school  trustee,  Benjamin  Robinson. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  following,  relative  to  the  educa- 
tional matters  of  Bethel,  is  taken  from  the 
last  annual  report  of  the  county  super- 
intendent, for  the  school  year  ending 
June  30,  1884:  The  estimated  value  of 
school  property  is  $5,150,  the  amount  of 
tax  levy  for  the  support  of  schools  being 
$1,375,  with  no  bonded  indebtedness  in 
the  district  township.  The  highest 
wages  paid  any  male  teacher  is  $47.50, 
and  the  lowest,  $25;  while  the  highest 
salary  for  lady  teachers  is  $30,  and  the 
lowest  $18  per  month.  There  are  seven 
school  houses  in  the  township,  six  of 
which  are  frame  structures,  the  other 
brick.  In  these  schools  an  average  of 
seven  and  one-seventh  months  of  school 
is  taught  annually.  There  are  290  pupils 
enrolled  in  the  several  schools,  and  486 
children  of  school  age  in  the  township. 

One  of  the  pioneer  schools  of  this 
township  was  taught  by  William  Holton, 
Jr.,  in  1836,  in  a  log  building,  12x15, 
erected  on  section  30,  for  church  and 
school  purposes. 

School  district  No.  3  was  organized  in 
1845,  and  a  log  school  house,  18x18  feet 
in  size,  was  erected  on  section  29.  The 
first  term  of  school  consisted  of  three 
months,  with  an  attendance  of  15  schol- 
ars, and  was  taught  by  William  Shannon. 
The  building  used  by  the  district  at 
present  was  erected  in  1879,  at  a  cost  of 
$700,  and  is  located  upon  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  21.  West  English  is 
the  present  teacher  of  the  school. 

In  1840    the  first  school  house  was 


708 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


built  in  district  No.  4.  It  was  constructed 
of  logs,  and  located  on  section  22.  It 
was  removed  to  section  14  in  1859,  and  ten 
years  later  a  new  frame  school  house  was 
erected  on  the  same  site.  It  is  24x36 
feet  in  size,  and  cost  $1,400.  Lenora 
Foster  is  the  present  teacher  of  this 
school,  and  receives  $40  per  month.  She 
is  one  of  the  best  teachers  in  the  county. 

Mount  Zion  school  house,  in  district 
No.  5,  is  located  on  section  33,  to  which 
place  it  was  removed  from  section  34, 
during  the  year  1874.  The  building  is 
22x30  feet  in  size  and  stands  on  a  lot 
which  contains  one-half  an  acre.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  building  was  Clem- 
mie  White,  of  Schuyler  county.  This  is 
a  union  district,  part  of  which  lies  in 
Schuyler  county.  Present  teacher,  Anna 
DeGornio. 

The  house  in  district  No.  6,  is  situated 
on  section  25,  and  is  known  as  Victor 
school  house.  It  was  built  in  1875,  at  a 
cost  of  $800.  The  first  teacher  in  the 
house  was  Elizabeth  Eigg.  George  Cal- 
vin, William  Gunning  and  David  H. 
Sterling  were  the  first  directors  of  the 
district.  Mary  Smith,  of  Macomb  is  the 
teacher  at  present. 

West  Bethel  school  house  is  located 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  8,  the 
ground,  which  consists  of  one  acre,  being 
purchased  of  John  A.  Dunsworth,  at  a 
consideration  of  $50.  The  first  building 
for  educational  purposes,  was  erected  on 
this  site  in  the  fall  of  1862,  at  a  cost  of 
$200,  and  was  20x26  feet  in  size.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  building  was  Emma 
McGibney.  In  1873,  the  present  build- 
ing was  erected  in  place  of  the  old  one, 
and  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  It  is  26x36  feet 
in  size  and  was  built  by  William  Ewing. 


L.  Barker  taught  the  first  term  of  school 
in  this  house.  The  first  directors  of  the 
district  were  J.  M.  Dusworth,  and  Dan- 
iel Hayes.  George  W.  McDaniels  is  the 
present  teacher  of  the  district. 

The  present  directors  of  school  district 
No.  9,  are  Charles  Keesecker,  George 
Thompson  and  J.  E.  Sullivan.  Samuel 
Wilson  is  the  present  teacher  of  the 
school. 

POSTOFFICE. 

A  postoffice  was  established  on  section 
5,  in  1832,  and  was  known  for  a  number 
of  years  as  Middleton,  but  has  since  been 
changed  to  Fandon. 

CEMETEKIES. 

Scott's  cemetery  is  located  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  and  con- 
tains about  three  acres,  including  the 
grounds  of  the  Scott's  church,  which  is 
also  located  here.  The  ground  was  do- 
nated for  church  and  cemetery  purposes 
in  1836,  by  John  Scott  and  William  Hoi- 
ton,  Jr.  The  first  burial  was  Olive,  wife 
of  William  Holton,  Sr.,  whose  body  was 
interred  October  14,  1836. 

A  cemetery  on  section  8,  known  as  the 
Archer  burying  ground,  contains  two 
acres. 

There  is  a  cemetery  on  section  22, 
which  has  been  in  use  for  about  50  years, 
and  contains  about  one  acre  of  ground. 

RELIGIOUS. 

A  church  was  erected  on  section  7,  on 
the  present  farm  of  S.  C.  Simpson,  in 
1845.  Eev.  Applebee  was  the  first  to 
preach  in  this  house.  The  building  was 
used  for  all  religious  services,  regardless 
of  creeds,  and  school  was  also  held 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


711 


therein.     In   1863,   it  was  destroyed  by 
fire  and  was  never  rebuilt. 

In  1835,  the  first  sermon  was  delivered 
at  the  house  of  Benjamin  Matthews,  and 
a  Baptist  congregation  organized  there 
by  Eevs.  Bradley  and  Owens.  A  build- 
ing was  afterwards  erected  011  section  10, 
for  church  and  school  purposes,  in  which 
the  above  named  gentlemen  preached  the 
gospel.  The  house  was  18x20,  and  con- 
structed of  logs.  For  a  more  extended 
digest  of  the  religious  matters  of  Bethel 
township,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
Ecclesiastical  chapter,  of  this  volume. 

HISTOEICAL. 

The  first  term  of  school  in  the  town- 
ship was  taught  by  John  Claybaugh,  on 
section  6,  in  1831. 

The  first  marriage  was  William  Ven- 
ard  and  Sarah  J.  McClure.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  James  Edmund- 
son,  March  29,  1836,  at  the  home  of  the 
bride. 

The  first  birth  was  Joseph,  son  of  John 
Gibson,  in  the  year  1832. 


Father  Bradley  and  Thomas  Owens, 
two  Baptist  divines,  were  the  first  to 
preach  in  the  township,  at  the  house  of 
Benjamin  Matthews,  during  the  year 
1835.  A  congregation  was  also  organ- 
ized there  during  that  year. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Cavil 
Archer,  and  J.  H.  Dunsworth  was  the 
first  supervisor. 

An  early  marriage,  which  was  probably 
the  second  in  the  township,  occurred 
November  16,  1836,  joining  together  the 
hearts  and  destinies  of  Thomas  Driskell 
and  Sarah  Gibson.  Jesse  Neece,  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  performed  the  mar- 
riage ceremony. 

The  first  death  occurred  in  the  year 
1830.  During  that  year  four  small  chil- 
'dren  were  buried  on  the  farm  of  J.  H. 
Dunsworth,  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  7,  who  belonged  to  a  family  of 
emigrants  passing  through  the  country. 

John  M.  Dunsworth  built  the  first 
brick  residence  in  the  township.  It  is  a 
fine,  large,  two-story  structure,  erected  in 
1860. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 


SCOTLAND  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Macomb,  on  the  east  by  New  Salem, 
011  the  south  by  Industry  and  on  the 
west  by  Chalmers.  It  embraces  all  of 
congressional  township  5  north,  2  west, 


and  is  one  of  the  banner  townships  of 
the  county. 

Camp  creek  intersects  the  southern 
portion  coming  in  at  the  line  between 
sections  24  and  25,  then  running  in  a 


42 


712 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


southwesterly  direction  through  sections 
25,  26,  27,  34,  22  and  32,  and  passing 
into  Industry  from  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  the  latter  section.  Troublesome 
creek  has  its  headwaters  in  section  1, 
and  the  adjoining  section  in  New  Salem 
township,  and,  gradually  growing  in 
volume,  passes  with  a  southwestward 
trend  through  sections  1,  2,  4,  10,  9,  16, 

17  and  18,  passing  out  of  the  township 
on  the  west,  at  the  line  between  sections 

18  and   19.      These  streams,   together 
with  the  rivulets  of  greater  or  less  size, 
which  are  tributary  to  them,  furnish  the 
best  watering  facilities   to  the  farmer 
and  stock-raiser.     The  land  not  imme- 
diately adjoining  the   creeks  is  mostly 
level,  and  as  it  is  nearly  all  in  the  hands 
of  men  who  develope  its  resourses  to  its 
fullest  capacity,  it  stands  second  "to  no 
township    in  the   county,   in   point    of 
agricultural  wealth.      The  citizens 'are, 
for  the  most  part,  either  of  Scotch  birth, 
or  decendants  of  that  hardy  people,  and 
have  a  natural  pride   in  the  advance- 
ment of  everything  calculated  to  add  to 
the  improvement  and  comfort  of  their 
homes.     Fine  country  houses  and  barns 
dot  the  plain,  and  many  artificial  groves 
relieve  the  monotony  of  growing  field 
and  grassy  pasture.     In  July,  1869,   a 
vote  was  taken  on  the  question  of  donat- 
ing $20,000  to  the  old  Eockford,  Rock 
Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad.  This  propo- 
sition  was   carried;  but  in   September 
following  another  election  was  held,  to 
to  vote  on  the  question  of  adding  $15,- 
000  to  the  original  grant.     This,  how- 
ever, was  defeated,  and  the  bonds  for 
the    original    $20,000  were    afterwards 
destroyed,  and  the  donation  never  con- 
summated. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

William  Osborn  came  to  this  town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1828,  and  camped 
all  summer  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of 
Theophilus  Walker,  on  the  banks  of 
Camp  creek.  This  stream  took  its  name 
from  the  circumstances  of  his  camping 
there. 

William  Henderson,  a  trapper  and 
hunter,  was  one  of  the  first  who  lived  in 
Scotland  township.  He  never  made  a 
permanent  settlement,  but  lived  in  vari- 
ous places,  sometimes  in  a  rude  cabin 
of  his  own,  but  often  in  one  he  appro- 
priated. He  died  in  the  county,  but  not 
in  this  township.  He  is  remembered 
as  a  very  tall  man,  and  a  great  story 
teller,  his  talk  principally  relating  to 
himself  and  his  doings. 

The  first  permanent  settlement  in 
Scotland  township  was  made  by  Joshua 
Reno  and  family,  in  the  spring  of  1831. 
They  settled  in  the  southern  portion  of 
the  township,  on  Camp  creek,  and  near 
the  old  Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church. 
He  afterwards  sold  the  farm  upon  which 
he  settled,  to  Charles  Hays. 

The  next  settlers  were  Roland  Lee 
and  family.  John  Lee,  a  son  of  Roland, 
also  came  about  the  same  time  with  his 
family.  Alexander  and  James  Lee,  also 
sons  of  Roland,  came  with  John.  They 
were  single  men,  but  soon  after  married 
and  settled  down  there.  Cyrus  Walker 
afterward  purchased  the  land  where  the 
Lees  settled. 

About  the  same  time  came  Austen 
Coker,  Berry  Stockton,  Elhannan  Lane, 
Benjamin  Rice  and  Stephen  Harp  and 
family. 

A  man  named  Huddleston,  settled  on 
section  34,  in  1831  with  his  family.  He 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


713 


was  not  regarded  as  a  permanent  settler, 
and  was  a  squatter  on  the  land  he  oc- 
cupied. He  went  away  about  1834. 

Berry  Stockton  came  to  this  county  in 
1832,  and  located  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  33,  where  he  cleared  20 
acres  of  land,  and  built  a  cabin.  He 
went  to  Texas  in  the  fall  of  1836. 

Joseph  McCroskey  came  to  Scotland 
township  from  Kentucky,  in  1832.  He 
afterward  was  a  resident  of  Industry 
township,  and  later  removed  to  the  city 
of  Macomb,  where  he  subsequently  died. 

Dr.  Charles  Hays  settled  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  34,  in  1833.  He 
was  the  first  doctor  in  that  portion  of  the 
county. 

Cyrus  Walker,  at  the  same  time,  made 
a  settlement,  purchasing  the  place  par- 
tially improved  by  the  Lees,  as  men- 
tioned before. 

Both  of  these  gentlemen  have  occupied 
prominent  positions  in  the  county,  and 
are  noticed  under  the  proper  head. 

Alexander  Lee,  who  may  be  said  to 
have  been  of  the  squatter  class,  came  to 
Scotland  township,  in  1831.  He  erected 
his  cabin  on  section  27.  That  place  was 
bought  by  John  Clark,  in  1835. 

John  Walker,  who  was  a  cousin  of 
Cyrus,  came  to  the  county  in  the  spring 
of  1834,  and  located  in  Scotland  town- 
ship, on  the  verge  of  Industry.  He  re- 
sided at  that  place^one  year,  when  he  re- 
moved into  Industry  township,  where  he 
died.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia. 

Hugh  McAlary  came  to  Scotland  town- 
ship, from  Sangamon  county,  in  the 
spring  of  1834.  He  had  spent  the  win- 
ter in  the  county  named,  but  was  origi- 
nally from  Indiana.  He  took  up  his  loca- 
tion on  section  28,  and  there  resided 


until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  De- 
cember, 1859.  He  was  of  Irish  decent. 

James  E.  D.  Hammer  came  to  this 
county,  from  Kentucky,  in  1834,  and 
located  on -section  24.  In  1845,  he  re- 
moved to  New  Salem  township,  where  he 
now  resides. 

In  the  spring  of  1835,  Joseph  Sullivan, 
Sr.,  who  settled  in  Industry  township,  a 
year  previous,  came  to  Scotland,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming,  about  three  miles  south 
of  the  present  city  of  Macomb.  He  re- 
mained here  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred April  7,  1854.  Mr.  Sullivan  was 
born  in  Virginia,  March  2, 1787,  and  was 
a  son  of  Jeremiah  Sullivan,  also  a  native 
of  that  state.  When  Joseph  was  15  years 
of  age,  he  went  with  his  parents  toWash- 
ington  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
remained  until  he  came  to  this  county. 
He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania,  to 
Martha  Lutton,  a  native  of  Maryland. 
She  died  in  this  township,  December  25, 
1849. 

Allen  H.  Walker  came  in  1835,  settling 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  35, 
where  he  afterward  died.  His  son,  The- 
ophilus  G.,  now  resides  upon  the  old 
homestead. 

Theophilus  G.  Walker,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  this  county,  is  a  son  of  Allen 
H.  Walker,  a  native  of  Adair  county, 
Kentucky.  The  latter  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1835,  and  lived  for  one 
year,  upon  Cyrus  Walker's  farm.  In  the 
spring  of  1836  he  settled  on  the  farm, 
where  his  son  now  resides,  on  section  35, 
Scotland  township.  He  died  here  Aug- 
ust 30,  1858.  He  was  an  earnest  Chris- 
tian, and  one  of  the  original  members  of 
Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church.  Theo- 
philus G.  Walker  was  the  ninth,  of  a 


714 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOIIGH  COUNTY. 


family  of  ten  children,  and  was  born  on 
the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  May  5, 
1843.     He  was  educated  in  the  district 
school,  and  at  Abingdon  college;  where 
he  attended  for  a  time.     On  completing 
his   education  he  engaged  in  farming, 
which  occupation  he  has  always  followed. 
He  owns  247   acres  of  well  improved 
land,  and  is  a  thorough  going  and  suc- 
cessful  farmer.     He   served   as   county 
supervisor  in  1882,  and  has  held  other 
offices  of  trust  in  the  township.     He  was 
married,  December  11,  1873,  to  Emma 
C.  Thomson,  a  daughter  of  Eev.  P.  W. 
Thomson,  of  this   county.     They  have 
three  children — Wallace  A.,  Bertha  and 
Alta.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walker  are  mem- 
bers of  Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church. 
Rev.  Preston  W.  Thomson,  was  born 
in  Nicholas  county,  Kentucky,  January 
17,  1816,  and  is  a  son  of  James  H.  Thom- 
son, a  native  of  Westmoreland  county, 
Pennsylvania.       In    1828    his    parents 
moved  to  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  where 
Preston  W.,  grew  to  manhood.     In  1844 
he  entered  the  theological  seminary  at 
New  Albany,  Indiana,  where  he  took  a 
full  course   and    graduated.      He    was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1846,  and  ordained 
in  1848.     In  the  summer  of  that  year  he 
assumed  charge    of   a    church    at  Mt. 
Carmel,  Illinois,  where  he  continued  five 
years.     He  then  preached  16  months  at 
Vermont,  Illinois,  then  went  to  Ipava.  In 
1857,  moved  to  Prairie  City,   and  was 
then  pastor  of  a  church  until  1868.     Two 
years  later  he  became  pastor  of  the  Camp 
creek  church,  continuing  in  charge  four 
and  one  half  years.     He  now  resides  with 
his  son-in-law,  T.  G.  Walker.     He  was 
married  December  14,  1848,  to  Mary  A. 
Ashmore,   a  native  of  Indiana.     They 


have  one  child,  Emma  C.,  now  the  wife 
of  Theophilus  G.  Walker,  as  heretofore 
stated. 

John  Clark  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  located  on 
section  27,  Scotland  township,  where  his 
son  Samuel  now  lives. 

James  Clark,   a  prominent  farmer  of 
Scotland  township,   is   a   son    of   John 
Clark,  who  came  to  this  county  and  lo- 
cated in  Scotland  township  in  the  fall  of 
1835.     John  Clark  wras  born  in  Scotland, 
November  19,  1794.     He   grew   to  man- 
hood in  his  native  country  and  in  1817, 
emigrated  to  America,   and    settled   in 
Washington  county,  Virginia,  where  he 
lived,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time 
spent  in  Indiana,  until  the  fall  of  1834. 
He  then  moved  to  Morgan  county  Illi- 
nois,  and  spent  one  year,  coming  from 
thence  to  this  county.     He  lived  on  sec- 
tion 27,  until   1863.     In  that  year  he 
moved  to  Macomb,  where  he  died  June 
21,  1876.     John  Clark  was  married  in 
1817,  to  Nancy  Clark,  a  native  of  Scot- 
land.    They  were  the  parents    of    six 
children,   five  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Mrs.  Clark  died  April  29,  1861.     James 
Clark,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  the 
eldest  son  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
Washington  county  Virginia,  August  14, 
1825.     He  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
family,  coming  with  them  to  this  county 
in  1835,  and  remaining  with  them  until 
1850.     He  then  began  improving    the 
farm  where  he  now  lives,  which  is  a  well 
improved   and  highly   desirable    place, 
containing  221  acres,  located  on  section 
28.     He  was  married  April  7,  1853,  to 
Margaret  A.    Watson,    a    daughter    of 
David  Watson,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  this  county.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


715 


had  three  children  born  to  them — Belle, 
now  Mrs.  Patrick;  William  H.  and  Jaiiie 
N.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  member  of  the  Eben- 
ezer  Presbyterian  church,  an  enterpris- 
ing and  prosperous  farmer  and  a  good 
citizen. 

John  Allison  came  to  Scotland  town- 
ship from  Industry,  in  December,  1835, 
and  located  on  section  31.  He  died  there 
in  1859.  His  son  John  still  resides  upon 
the  place.  The  latter  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  January  31, 
1819.  He  was  married  December  30, 
1847,  to  Manah  J.  Provine.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children — James  A., 
John  A.,  Zachary  T.,  Matilda  J.,  William 
B.,  Louisa,  deceased;  Virgil  E.,  George 
W.  and  Annie  F. 

William  I.  Pace  removed  to  Scotland 
township  from  Bethel,  in  1835,  and  lo- 
cated 011  section  31,  where  his  son  An- 
drew J.  now  resides. 

Andrew  J.  Pace  is  a  son  of  William  I. 
Pace,  a  native  of  Cumberland  county, 
Kentucky,  born  in  May,  1809.  William 
I.  was  reared  in  his  native  state,  and 
there  married  to  Sarah  E.  Vawters.  In 
1833,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  located 
on  section  2,  Bethel  township,  where  he 
resided  until  1835.  In  that  year  he 
moved  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son, 
on  section  31,  Scotland  township.  In  the 
fall  of  1854,  he  removed  to  Macomb, 
where  he  died  in  May,  1855.  He  had  a 
family  of  nine  children,  eight  «of  whom 
are  now  living.  Andrew  J.  Pace  was 
born  November  5,  1842,  on  the  farm 
where  he  was  reared,  and  which  has  al- 
ways been  his  home.  He  was  married 
February  29,  1872,  to  Mary  J.  Walker,  a 
daughter  of  James  Walker.  He  has  an 
excellent  and  well  improved  farm  which 


contains  242  acres.  He  is  a  public  spir- 
ited and  useful  citizen,  and  has  been  an 
office-holder.  He  was  commissioner  of 
highways  four  years,  and  township  col- 
lector and  assessor,  in  1883  and  1884. 
He  was  in  the  service  during  the  late 
war,  enlisting  August  12,  1862,  in  com- 
pany H,  of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry,  and 
serving  three  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  B. 

OTHER  SETTLERS. 

Besides  the  pioneers  mentioned  above, 
the  following  citizens  are  all  worthy  of 
due  notice  in  connection  with  their  town- 
ship history. 

Alexander  Watson,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Scotland  township,  is  a  native  of 
Scotland,  born  January  19,  1826,  and  a 
son  of  Hugh  Watson,  who  lived  and  died 
in  Scotland.  Alexander  was  brought  up 
upon  a  farm  in  his  native  county,  where 
he  remained  till  May,  1851,  then  with  the 
family,  emigrated  to  America  and  settled 
on  Camp  creek,  in  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  Two  years  later,  he  removed  to 
Farmer's  township,  Fulton  county,  lived 
there  three  years,  after  which  he  located 
upon  his  present  farm  on  section  12, 
Scotland  township.  Mr.  Watson  was 
married  September  4,  1849,  to  Isabella 
Galbraith,  a  native  of  Scotland;  they 
have  five  children  living — Hugh,  Dugal 
A.,  John  W.,  Anna  B.,  Katie  J.,  and 
Thomas  D.,  who  died  December  23, 1881, 
in  the  24th  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Wat- 
son is  the  owner  of  a  finely  improved 
farm,  comprising  268  acres.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Camp  creek  Presbyterian 
church. 

John  Watson,  oldest  son  of  Hugh  Wat- 
son, (who  lived  and  died  in  Scotland), 


716 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


was  born  March  9,  1824,  in  Campbell- 
town,  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  where  he 
was  raised  and  educated.  At  the  age 
of  11  years,  he  was  apprenticed  seven 
years  to  the  shoemakers  trade,  at  Glas- 
gow, Scotland,  after  which  he  followed 
that  occupation  till  1851.  In  that  year 
he  emigrated  with  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ter to  America,  and  located  on  Camp 
creek  where  he  worked  at  his.  trade  two 
years.  In  1854,  he  removed  to  a  farm 
in  Fulton  county  and  followed  farming 
with  his  brothers  till  1857,  then  returned 
to  this  county  and  purchased  his  pres- 
ent home.  He  now  has  a  valuable  and 
well  improved  farm  containing  186  acres. 
Mr.  Watson  has  held  the  office  of  county 
supervisor  and  commissioner  of  high- 
ways of  Scotland  township.  He  is  a 
member  of  Camp  creek  Presbyterian 
church.  In  January  1857;  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Jennet  Douglas,  of  New 
Salem  township.  Seven  children  have 
blessed  their  union,  four  of  whom  still 
live — Jennetta,  Margaret  J.,  John  H., 
and  Sarah  A. 

Thomas  Watson,  brother  of  Alexander, 
was  born  January  6,  1836,  in  Scotland. 
He  came  to  America  in  the  spring  of 
1851,  and  lived  with  his  brothers  two 
years  on  Camp  creek,  and  three  years  in 
Fulton  county,  after  which  he  removed 
to  his  present  farm  on  section  12,  Scot- 
land township.  He  has  a  finely  im- 
proved and  highly  desirable  place,  con- 
taining 225  acres.  June  6,  1867,  he  was 
married  to  Margaret  Barclay,  a  daughter 
of  James  Barclay,  formerly  a  resident  of 
Scotland  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thos. 
Watson  are  the  parents  of  six  children — 
Agnes  J.,  Ella  E.,  Mary  B.,  Annie  L., 
Harvey  W.  and  Nettie  M.  Mr.  Watson 


is,  like  his  brothers,  a  member  of  the 
Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church. 

Archibald  Watson,  deceased,  was  born 
near  Campbelltown,  Argyleshire,  Scot- 
land, in  July,  1830,  and  came  to  America 
with  his  brothers  in  1851.  After  resid- 
ing on  Camp  creek,  in  Scotland  township, 
for  about  two  years,  he  with  his  brothers 
removed  to  Fulton  county,  near  Table 
Grove,  and  followed  farming  for  three 
years.  He  came  back  to  Scotland  town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1858,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  east  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  12.  Mr.  Watson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Agnes  Barclay, 
June  6, 1861.  They  were  the  parents  of 
six  children — Mary  J.,  Hugh  W.,  James 
A.,  Isabel,  Albert  T.  and  Mattie  L.  He 
was  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm,  con- 
sisting of  225  acres,  on  which  he  resided 
at  the  time  of  his  death  which  occurred 
March  11,  1879.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church. 

Hugh  Watson,  member  of  the  present 
board  of  county  supervisors,  and  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Scotland  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Alexander  Watson,  and 
was  born  March  26,  1851,  in  Scotland. 
He  was  about  two  months  old  when  the 
family  emigrated  to  this  country.  He 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in 
McDonough  county,  coming  here  in  1851, 
his  only  absence  from  it  being  three 
years  which  the  family  spent  in  Fulton 
county.  His  education  was  obtained  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  county,  includ- 
ing the  Normal  at  Macomb,  which  he 
attended  for  a  time.  He  made  his  home 
upon  the  farm  with  his  parents  till  1882. 
He  purchased  his  present  farm  in  1880, 
and  worked  upon  it  two  years  previous 
to  his  removal  to  it,  April  8,  1882.  He 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


owns  100  acres  of  well  improved  and 
highly  cultivated  land,  and  has  a  desira- 
ble home.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Camp 
creek  Presbyterian  church.  He  was 
elected  township  clerk  in  1876,  which 
office  he  held  three  years.  He  was 
county  supervisor  during  1879  and  1880; 
in  1881,  was  appointed  township  clerk, 
to  fill  a  vacancy,  and  elected  to  the  same 
office  the  following  year.  In  1883,  he 
was  again  elected  county  supervisor,  and 
in  1884-85  re-elected  to  the  same  office. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  "Mutual  Insur- 
ance company,"  of  Industry,  Illinois. 
Mr.  Watson  was  married  March  29, 1882, 
to  Jennie  S.  Blazer,  daughter  of  David 
Blazer,  a  former  resident  of  this  county. 
They  have  two  children — Alza  C.  and 
Florence  M.  Mrs.  Watson  was  a  teacher 
in  this  county  for  eight  years,  teaching 
one  year  of  that  time  in  the  Macomb 
public  school.  Mr.  Watson  also  taught 
school  three  terms  in  district  No.  1, 
Scotland  township. 

John  W.  Watson,  another  son  of 
Alexander  Watson,  is  a  native  of  Ful- 
ton  county,  Illinois,  born  on  March  21, 
1855.  He  removed  to  this  county  with 
the  family,  in  1857.  Here  he  grew  to 
manhood  receiving  his  education  in  the 
district  school  and  at  Macomb.  He  be- 
gan farming  on  his  present  farm  in  1880. 
His  residence  was  erected  two  years  later. 
He  has  100  acres  of  land,  all  under  cul- 
tivation. He  was  united  in  marriage 
December  13,  1882,  with  Lizzie  N.  Alli- 
son, a  daughter  of  A.  H.  Allison,  of 
Scotland  township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wat- 
son have  one  child,  named — Edna  G. 
The  brothers  Watson,  both  elder  and 
younger,  rank  prominently  among  the 
best  class  of  Scotland  township's  citizens. 


Thomas  Watson  is  a  son  of  Hugh  Wat- 
son, who  lived  and  died  in  Scotland. 
Thomas  was  born  in  that  country,  Janu- 
ary 6,  1836,  and  remained  there  until 
April,  1851,  when  he  accompanied  his 
three  brothers  and  a  sister,  to  America. 
They  came  directly  to  McDonough 
county,  and  settled  on  Camp  creek,  in 
Scotland  township.  Two  years  later  they 
removed  to  Fulton  county,  where  they 
resided  three  years,  then  returned  to  Scot- 
land township,  and  Thomas  then  located 
on  his  present  farm,  which  is  desirably 
located  on  section  12,  and  contains  200 
acres  of  well  improved  land.  Mr.  Wat- 
son was  married  June  6,  1867,  to  Mar- 
garet Barclay,  daughter  of  James  Bar- 
clay, formerly  of  this  township,  but  now 
deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  are  the 
parents  of  six  children — Agnes  J.,  Ella 
E.,  Mary  B.,  Annie  L.,  Harvey  W.  and 
Mattie  M.  Mr.  Watson  is  a  member  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  and 
a  leading  citizen  of  Scotland  township. 

John  M.  Kelly,  son  of  George  and 
Nancy  (Marshall)  Kelly,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  Aug- 
ust 15,  1829.  John  was  reared  in  his 
native  county,  and  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  there  until  1851,  when 
he  went  to  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  and 
remained  three  years,  then  returned  to 
Pennsylvania.  One  year  later,  he  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  and  located 
upon  section  18,  Scotland  township, 
where  he  now  reside3.  He  has  a  fine 
farm,  comprising  160  acres  on  section  18, 
and  160  in  Chalmers  township.  March 
11,  1856,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Agnes  Doran,  who  died  January  14, 1873, 
leaving  him  three  children — Alice  Belle, 


718 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


George  B.  and  Johnny  Blair.  Mr.  Kelly 
was  married  April  27, 1875,  to  Belle  Mc- 
Alister,  a  native  of  Scotland.  By  this 
union  there  is  one  child — Annie  Eliza- 
beth. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelly  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church  at  Macomb.  He 
is  an  enterprising  farmer  and  a  worthy 
citizen. 

Abraham  Kline  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Aaron  Kline,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, about  the  year  1815.  Aaron  was 
reared  in  that  state,  and  there  married 
to  Sarah  Hughes,  also  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. In  March,  1857,  they  emigrated 
to.  Illinois,  and  located  in  Eldorado  town- 
ship, where  they  lived  until  1867,  then 
removed  to  section  8,  Scotland  township, 
where  they  now  reside.  They  have  had 
nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now 
living — Abraham,  Mary,  Jane,  John, 
William,  Angie,  Joseph  and  Elizabeth. 
Abraham,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  20,  1840.  He  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm,  remaining  with  his  parents  until 
1862.  In  that  year  he  went  to  Eldorado 
township,  and  there  followed  farming  one 
year,  thence  to  New  Salem,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  same  occupation  two  years, 
after  which  he  removed  to  Macomb  town- 
ship, and  resided  12  years.  He  located 
upon  his  present  farm,  on  section  7,  Scot- 
land township,  in  the  spring  of  1882. 
His  place  is  well  improved,  and  com- 
prises 120  acres.  Mr.  Kline  was  married 
September  1,  1867,  to  Mary  E.  Easton,  a 
native  of  Vermont.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren living — Franklin,  Wilmer,  Leona, 
Fred,  Nellie  and  Ollie. 

John  F.  Miner,  a  farmer  of  Scotland 
township,  is  a  son  of  John  F.  Miner,  Sr., 
an  early  settler  in  New  Salem  township. 


•The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  Jan- 
uary 25,  1849,  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
When  he  was  six  years  old  his  parents 
removed  to"  McDonough  county,  where 
he  was  brought  up  and  educated.  He 
worked  upon  his  father's  farm  in  New 
Salem  township  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  then,  in  1871,  located  on  sec- 
tion 24,  of  the  same  township,  where  he 
followed  farming  until  March,  1884.  He 
then  moved  to  his  present  home  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Scotland  township.  He  owns  a 
good  farm  comprising  160  acres  of  val- 
uable land  on  that  section,  also  20  acres 
of  timber  in  Industry.  Mr.  Miner  was 
married  September  29, 1870,  to  Elizabeth 
Bitter,  a  native  of  Fulton  county, who  died 
Nov.  11,  1878,  leaving  him  one  child — 
Dolly  B.  He  was  again  married  Decem- 
ber 25,  1880,  to  Cassie  Swango,  a  native 
of  this  county,  and  a  daughter  of  Barnett 
Swango,  of  New  Salem  township.  By 
this  union  there  is  one  child — Claudie  L. 
Mr.  Miner  ranks  among  the  first  class  of 
Scotland  township's  citizens. 

John  Barclay,  a  prosperous  farmer  of 
Scotland  township,  is  a  son  of  James 
Barclay,  a  native  of  Scotland,  who  was 
born  in  1805.  In  April,  1850,  James 
Barclay  removed  with  his  family  to 
America,  and  came  directly  to  this  coun- 
ty, locating  upon  section  26,  Scotland 
township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
John  Barclay,  was  born  about,  two  miles 
from  Linlithgow,  Scotland,  July  25, 1833. 
He  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country 
in  1850,  and  remained  with  them,  work.- 
ing  upon  the  farm  until  1860.  In  that 
year  he  removed  to  section  3,  of  the 
same  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  purchased  at  first  80  acres,  but  now 
has  200  acres,  all  under  cultivation  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


719 


well  improved.  Mr.  Barclay  was  mar- 
ried June  6,  1861,  to  Nancy  Kelly,  ana- 
tive  of  Scotland,  and  by  this  union  has 
five  children — Margaret  E.,  Nannie  C., 
James  L.,  Charles  W.  and  John  A.  Mr. 
Barclay,  has  served  as  county  supervisor 
two  years,  as  township  clerk  two  years, 
and  as  a  commissioner  of  highways  seven 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  Camp  creek 
Presbyterian  church. 

James  Barclay,  another  son  of  James 
Barclay,  deceased,  was  born  December 
21,  1841,  in  Scotland,  and  came  to  this 
country  with  his  father's  family  in  1850. 
He  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  and 
educated  in  the  district  school.  In  1873 
he  settled  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives.  It  is  located  on  section  9, 
Scotland  township,  and  contains  160 
acres  of  highly  desirable  land.  In  the 
spring  of  1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  100 
hundred  days  service,  becoming  a  .mem- 
ber of  company  I,  of  the  137th  Illinois 
infantry.  He  served  until  the  expira- 
tion of  his  time  and  was  discharged  at 
Springfield,  Illinois.  He  was  united  in 
marriage,  November  26,  1874,  to  Jane 
McCallister,  a  daughter  of  Ronald  Mc- 
Callister  ot  this  township.  They  have 
two  children — John  F.  and  James  R. 
Mr.  Barclay  is  a  member  of  Camp  creek 
Presbyterian  church. 

Andrew  Barclay  is  a  son  of  James 
Barclay,  who  was  born  in  Scotland 
August  28,  1806,  and  came  to  America, 
and  Scotland  township,  McDonough 
county,  in  June,  1850.  Three  months 
later  he  settled,  where  Andrew  now  lives, 
on  section  26.  He  was  married  March 
16,  1832,  to  Agnes  Binnie,  a  sister  of 
Andrew  Binnie,  of  this  township.  She 
was  born  in  Scotland  March  22,  1808, 


and  is  still  living.  James  Barclay  died 
while  on  a  visit  to  Scotland,  September 
1,  1883.  They  raised  a  family  of  eight 
children— John,  Robert,  Agnes,  James) 
Margaret,  Andrew,  William  and  Alexan- 
der. Andrew  Barclay  was  born  in  Scot- 
land September  17,  1846,  and  came  here 
with  the  family  in  1850.  He  was 
brought  up  •  on  the  farm  where  he  and 
his  brother  Alexander  now  live.  He 
was  married  April  4,  1878,  to  Catherine 
McAlister,  and  by  this  union  has  four 
children — Albert  R.,  James  I.,  Anna  A. 
and  George  C.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  Camp 
creek  Presbyterian  church. 

Alexander  Barclay  was  born  on  the 
farm,  where  he  has  always  resided,  July 
25,  1852.  He  owns,  in  partnership  witli 
his  brother  Andrew,  210  acres  of  land, 
and  is  in  prosperous  circumstances. 

Robert  Barclay  is  a  son  of  James 
Barclay,  and  came  to  this  country  with 
his  father's  family  in  1850.  Robert  was 
born  in  Scotland,  June  1,  1835.  He  ob- 
tained his  education  in  his  native  coun- 
try, where  he  was  brought  up  on  a  farm. 
After  coming  to  Scotland  township,  he 
lived  with  his  parents,  and  worked  upon 
the  farm  until  the  spring  of  1864.  At 
that  date  he  located  on  his  present  farm 
.which  is  now  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township.  It  comprises  122  acres  on 
section  11.  He  owns  also  80  acres  on 
section  14.  He  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing, and  buys  and  feeds  considerable 
stock.  He  erected  his  commodious  res- 
idence in  1873,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  His 
barn,  which  is  large  and  convenient,  was 
built  in  1876,  costing  $1,775.  Mr.  Bar- 
clay was  elected,  in  1881,  to  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace,  which  he  still  holds. 


720 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


He  is  school  director  of  district  No.  1, 
and  a  prominent  and  worthy  citizen.  He 
is  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Camp  creek.  August  17, 
1866,  he  was  married  to  Jane  Donald- 
son, a  native  of  Scotland.  They  are  the 
parents  of  five  children — William,  Rob- 
ert, John,  Ellen  and  Jessie. 

Granville  B.  Bexroat  is  a  a  son  of 
Peter  Bexroat,  a  native  of  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  born  May 
2,  1802.  When  a  child  of  eight  years, 
Peter  removed  with  his  parents  to  Rus- 
sell- county,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
reared,  and  married  to  Morning  Hop- 
per, a  native  of  Virginia.  She  died  in 
October,  1874.  He  survived  until  April, 
1877.  They  had  a  family  of  six  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Granville  is  the  fifth.  In 
1846,  Peter  Rexroat  moved,  with  his 
family,  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  lived  18  months,  then  removed  to 
Des  Moines  county,  Iowa.  They  came 
from  thence  to  Scotland  township,  in 
the  spring  of  1853,  locating  on  section 
23,  where  Peter  Rexroat  died.  Gran- 
ville was  born  October  11,  1839,  in  Ken- 
tucky. He  resided  with  his  parents  un- 
til 1866,  when  he  settled  on  his  present 
farm  on  section  24,  Scotland  township, 
containing  300  acres  of  choice  land.  Mr. 
Rexroat  was  married  September  17, 
1865,  to  Mary  A.  Daldoch,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  are  the  parents  of 
eight  children  —  Adelia  V.,  Alice  M., 
Hettie  B.,  Anna  E.,  Minnie,  Delia, 
James  W.  and  Granville  E.  Mr.  Rex- 
roat was  assessor  of  Scotland  township 
in  1882.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church. 

Lawson  T.  Rexroat,  who  resides  upon 
section  24,  Scotland  township,  is  a  'son 


of  James  Rexroat,  and  was  born  in  Des 
Moines  county,  Iowa,  July  5, 1851.  In 
1853  the  family  moved  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Scotland 
township,  where  Lawson  was  reared,  and 
obtained  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  worked  upon  his  father's 
farm  from  the  time  he  attained  a  suita- 
ble age  until  1876,  when  he  located  on 
his  present  place.  He  has  160  acres,  all 
under  cultivation,  and  well  improved. 
He  was  married  September  2,  1875,  to 
Alice  Rexroat  of  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois. They  have  three  children — Sarah, 
Lela,  Harvey  Earl,  who  died  May  18, 
1880;  and  Alta  J.  In  the  fall  of  1882, 
Mr.  Rexroat  removed  with  his  family  to 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
sided two  years,  then  returned  to  Scot- 
land township.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  church. 

James  M.  Bexroat,  importer  of  Nor- 
man, English  and  Clyde  horses,  began 
this  business  in  1870,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Bexroat,  Moore  &  Westfall.  In 
1873  he  bought  out  his  partners'  inter- 
ests, and  has  since  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone.  Since  1873,  he  has  made 
three  trips  to  Europe  after  horses,  and 
has  imported  in  all,  24  head.  Mr.  Bex- 
roat is  a  native  of  Bussell  county,  Ken- 
tucky, born  January  22,  1828.  He  is  a 
son  of  Peter  Bexroat,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1802.  In  1809  his 
parents  removed  to  Kentucky,  thence  to 
this  county,  in  1853.  James  M.  came 
here  with  his  father's  family,  and  settled 
in  Scotland  township,  where  he  now 
owns  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  town- 
ship, which  comprises  320  acres  of  finely 
improved  land.  Mr.  Bexroat  was  mar- 
ried September  8,  1850,  to  Jane  Moyers, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


721 


a  native  of  Greene  county  .Illinois.  They 
have  ten  children — Lawson  T.,  Eliza, 
Winfield,  Sarah,  William  H.,  Jourdan 
H.,  Teleus  C.,  Robert  H.,  Edgar  L.  and 
Frederick  D.  Mr.  Rexroat  is  a  man  of 
sterling  qualities,  and  held  in  high 
esteem  throughout  the  community.  He 
has  held  all  of  the  local  offices,  and 
always  creditably.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge  and  chapter,  and  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  United  Brethren 
church. 

Andrew  Binnie,  deceased,  was  a  native 
of  Falkirk,  Scotland,  born  March  9, 
1805.  He  was  a  son  of  Robert  Binnie, 
also  a  native  of  Scotland.  Andrew  grew 
to  manhood  in  Scotland,  and  was  there 
married,  to  Agnes  Waddill,  who  was 
born  in  that  country,  October  14,  1813. 
They  had  a  family  of  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living  in  this 
township — Robert  and  John,  twins;  An- 
drew, James,  and  Annie,  wife  of  John 
F.  Watson.  In  June,  1849,  Mr.  Binnie 
emigrated  with  his  family  to  America, 
and  settled  at  Astoria,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  They  remained  there  but  three 
months,  then  removed  to  section  27, 
Scotland  township,  where  Mr.  Binnie 
died,  March  2,  1855.  His  widow,  Mrs. 
Agnes  Binnie,  survived  until  July  27, 
1879,  when  she  died,  in  this  township. 

John  Binnie,  son  of  Andrew  Binnie, 
was  born  in  Falkirk,  Scotland,  March 
14,  1842.  He  was  quite  young  when  his 
parents  settled  in  this  county,  where 
he  was  educated  and  grew  to  manhood's 
estate.  He  then  engaged  in  farming 
with  his  brother  Robert,  until  1878.  In 
April,  of  that  year,  he  removed  to  his 
present  home.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  of 
320  acres,  and  is  engaged  in  raising  and 


feeding  stock.  He  was  married  March 
28,  1880,  to  Effie  B.  Savage,  daughter 
of  James  S.  Savage.  They  have  two 
children — Alena  and  Eunice  D.  Mr. 
Binnie  is  a  member  of  the  Camp  creek 
Presbyterian  church,  and  in  1874  held 
the  office  of  assessor  of  Scotland  town- 
ship. 

James  Binnie,  son  of  Andrew  Binnie, 
is  located  on  section  5,  Scotland  town- 
ship, where  he  owns  a  well  improved 
farm,  comprising  200  acres.  Mr.  Binnie 
was  born  July  29,  1845,  in  Scotland,  and 
came  with  his  father's  family  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  in  1849.  He  remained 
living  with  his  parents  till  1868.  He 
then  worked  for  himself,  upon  his  fath- 
er's farm  until  1881,  at  which  time  he 
settled  upon  his  present  farm.  He  was 
married  March  4,  1874,  to  Maria  L. 
Moore,  a  daughter  of  John  C.  Moore,  of 
Scotland  township.  By  this  union  there 
are  three  children — Agnes  V.,  Alice  M., 
and  Raleigh  H.  Mr.  Binnie  is  a  prom- 
inent citizen  of  this  township,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church.  In  May 
1864,  he  enlisted  in  the  three  months 
service,  in  the  137th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  served  till  October,  1864. 

Robert  Binnie,  is  a  son  of  Andrew 
Binnie,  a  native  of  Scotland.  Robert 
was  also  born  there,  March  14,  1842. 
Early  in  the  forties  the  family  came  to 
America,  and  settled  in  Scotland  town- 
ship, McDonough  county,  Illinois.  Here 
Robert  grew  to  manhood,  and  received 
his  education.  In  his  youth  he  assisted 
his  father  upon  the  farm,  and  in  1863, 
rented  a  farm  in  this  township  and  be- 
gan business  for  himself.  Four  years 
later  he  removed  to  his  present  location, 
where  he  owns  277  acres  of  well  culti- 


722 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


vated  and  desirable  land.  He  owns  also, 
20  acres  of  timber  land  in  Industry  town- 
ship. February  25, 1869,  he  was  married 
to  Margaret  J.  Watson,  daughter  of 
James  C.  Watson,  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Binnie  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — Mary  A.,  William  A.,  and 
James  E.  They  are  Christian  people, 
and  members  of  the  Camp  creek  church. 
He  is  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of 
Scotland  township. 

John  V.  Haggerty,  a  well  known  stock 
dealer  and  farmer  of  Scotland  township, 
is  a  son  of  John  T.  and  Sarah  (Vance) 
Haggerty,  early  settlers  in  this  county- 
John  V.  was  born  in  Blandinsville  town- 
ship, McDonough  county,  Illinois,  Oc- 
tober 2,  1840.  He  was  brought  up  and 
received  his  education  in  this  county. 
In  1861,  he  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  dealing  on  section  22,  Blandins- 
ville township,  where  he  made  his  resi- 
dence six  years.  He  removed  to  his 
present  farm  in  1867;  it  consists  of  160 
acres  of  good  and  well  improved  land. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  March  17, 
1864,  with  Abigail  L.  Brewster,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania.  By  their  union  there 
were  four  children — Augustus  A.,  Emma 
L.,  Clarence  V.,  and  Ellen.  Mrs.  Hag- 
gerty died  July  2,  1872,  and  October  23, 
1873,  Mr.  Haggerty  was  married  to  Tina 
A.  Pearce,  who  died  May  15, 1877,  leaving 
two  children,  both  of  whom  are  now  de- 
ceased. William  L.,  was  born  August 
28,  1874,  and  died  August  14, 1879.  Alta 
M.,  was  born  April  9,  1877,  and  "died 
June  7,  of  the  same  year. 

Robertson  B.  Knowles,  the  present 
popular  and  gentlemanly  superintend- 
ent of  the  county  poor  farm,  is  a  native 
of  McDonough  county,  born  December 


18,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
Knowles,  who  came  to  McDonough 
county  from  Washington,  D.  C.,  in  1838. 
William  Knowles  was  born  in  that  city 
and  had  spent  all  his  life  there,  pre- 
vious to  coming  here.  He  was  married 
to  Lucinda  Eobinson,  and  by  this  union 
had  eight  children,  of  whom  Eobertson 
B.,  was  the  fifth.  He  died  in  Macomb, 
on  the  llth  of  February,  1877.  His 
wife  died  September  27,  1875.  Eobert- 
son B.  Knowles  was  reared  and  educa- 
ted in  this  county,  and  has  here  followed 
farming  and  merchandising  until  March, 
1883,  when  he  assumed  his  present  po- 
sition. He  is  well  fitted  for  his  duties, 
being  of  a  genial  and  kindly  nature,  and 
possessed  of  an  unlimited  amount  of 
patience.  He  has  entire  charge  of  the 
house,  farm  and  inmates.  He  was  mar- 
ried September  19, 1865,  to  Sarah  Nuun, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  They  are  the 
parents  of  six  children — Emma  E., 
Mary  A.,  William  I.,  Eebecca  L.,  Dora 
M.,  and  Gilbert  E.  In  the  month  of 
August,  1862,  Mr.  Knowles  enlisted  in 
company  H,  of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry, 
and  served  in  said  regiment  till  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  discharged  June 
10,  1865.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the 
G.  A.  E. 

Abner  Jones,  is  a  son  of  John  Jones, 
who  was  born  June  1,  1798,  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. John  Jones,  when  a  young  man, 
went  to  Hocking  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
lived  till  1851.  In  that  year,  he  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Chalmers  township.  In 
1856,  he  came  to  Scotland  township,  and 
settled  on  section  18.  He  was  married 
to  Eebecca  A.  DeMoss,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. They  had  a  family  of  nine  chil- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


723 


dren — William. T.,  Darius,  Lewis,  Ab- 
ner,  Russell,  Samuel,  David,  Rebecca  J., 
and  John.  John  Jones,  died  Dec- 
ember 16,  18G5.  His  widow,  Rebecca, 
survived  until  August  12,  1881.  Abner 
Jones  was  born,  March  15,  1833,  in 
Hocking  county,  Ohio.  He  removed 
with  his  parents,  to  this  county,  in  1851, 
remaining  with  them  until  1857.  He 
then  went  to  Linn  county,  Kansas, 
where  he  lived  three  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  this  county.  He  settled 
where  he  now  lives,  in  1871.  He  has  a 
desirable  farm,  containing  80  acres  of 
well  improved  land.  Mr.  Jones  was 
married,  March  23,  1871,  to  Mary  Blair, 
a  native  of  Ohio.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children — Walter  B,,  and  Harry 
A.  Mr.  Jones  is  an  enterprising  far- 
mer, and  a  worthy  citizen. 

Elijah  Herndon,  is  a  native  of  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  born  November  28,1850. 
He  is  a  son  of  Manson  Herndon,  who 
came  to  this  county  with  his  family  in 
1856.  Elija  was  reared  and  educated  in 
this  township,  remaining  with  his  par- 
ents until  1871.  At  that  date  he  located 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  but 
did  not  purchase  the  place  until  1882. 
He  has  160  acres  of  well  improved  land. 
Mr.  Herndon  was  married  March  20, 
1873,  to  Lucinda  Clarke,  a  native  of 
Morgan  county,  Illinois.  They  have 
four  children — Wilber  A.,  Howard,Edith 
and  Ivy.  He  is  one  of  the  well-to-do, 
prosperous  farmers  of  Scotland  town- 
ship, and  enjoys  the  respect  and  confi- 
dence of  all  those  who  are  happy  enough 
to  be  well  acquainted  with  him  and  his 
character.  Such  sterling  men  as  he  is 
are  a  blessing  to  the  community  in  which 
he  lives,  and  raises  the  population  in  the 


estimation  of  all  observant  people.  Mr. 
Herndon's  place,  in  its  neatness  and 
thrift,  manifests  his  knowledge  of  his 
business  of  farming. 

William  B.  Atherton,  located  on  his 
present  farm  on  section  36,  Scotland 
township,  in  October  1872.  He  has  a 
farm  of  125  acres,  well  improved,  and  is 
a  successful  farmer.  He  was  born  in 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  March  14,1842, 
and  is  a  son  of  Joseph  Atherton,  who 
came  from  Ohio.  In  1845,  the  family 
removed  to  Stark  county,  Illinois,  where 
William  was  reared  and  educated.  He 
followed  farming  there  until  he  came  to 
this  county.  In  February,  1864,  he  en- 
listed in  company  C,  of  the  14th  Illinois 
infantry  and  served  until  June  1865,  in 
Sheridan's  army.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  March  3,  1869,  with  Amelia 
Atherton,  and  by  this  union  has  two 
children — Nellie  and  Emma. 

William  F.  Jones  is  a  native  of  Ma- 
comb,  McDonough  county,,  Illinois,  born 
March  26,  1841.  His  father,  Samuel  R. 
Jones,  came  to  this  county  from  Ohio,  in 
1837,  and  four  years  later,  became  a  res- 
ident of  Scotland  township,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1883.  He  then  removed  to 
Nebraska,  where  he  now  lives.  William 
F.  has  spent  his  entire  life,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  years  in  the  army,  in 
Scotland  township,  obtaining  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools.  He  enlisted 
August  7, 1862,  in  company  C,  of  the  84th 
Illinois  infantry,  and  served  till  June, 
1865.  He  was  under  command  of  Gen- 
eral Thomas  at  the  battles  of  Stone  river 
Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Mis- 
sion Ridge,  Nashville  and  Franklin,  and 
with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  Atlanta. 
At  the  time  of  his  discharge  he  held  the 


724 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


rank  of  second  lieutenant.  When  he  re- 
turned home  from  the  army  he  engaged 
in  farming  on  the  place  where  he  now 
lives.  His  farm  is  a  desirable  one  and 
contains  80  acres  of  well  improved  land. 
He  was  married  October  23,  1866,  to 
Jennie  Hammer,  a  daughter  of  J.  E.  D. 
Hammer,  of  Pennington's  Point.  They 
have  three  children — James  E.,  Lulu^G. 
and  Beulah  B. 

Jerome  B.  Jones  is  a  son  of  Samuel 
R.  Jones,  and  was  born  September 
10,  1845,  in  Scotland  township,  where 
he  was  reared  and  educated.  In  1867, 
he  engaged  in  farming  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  26,  where  he  re- 
mained until  September,  1883.  He  then 
removed  to  his  present  farm  which  con- 
tains 170  acres,  and  is  located  on  the 
same  section.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 16,  1871,  to  Mary  J.  Standard,  a  na- 
tive of  McDonough  county.  They  have 
five  children — Annie  B.,  Joab,  Mabel, 
Jennie  and  Martha. 

Perry  C.  Jones  was  born  on  section  36, 
Scotland  township,  June  12,  1842,  and  is 
a  son  of  Samuel  R.  Jones.  Perry  C.  was 
educated  and  grew  to  manhood  in  his 
native  township.  In  early  life  he  fol- 
lowed farming.  May  24,  1861,  he  en- 
listed in  company  B,  of  the  16th  Illinois 
infantry,  and  served  until  the  end  of  his 
term.  He  was  in  the  army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  at  the  battle  of  Buzzard's 
Roost,  February  25,  1863,  and  was 
wounded  in  the  leg  and  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Chattanooga,  thence  to  Nashville, 
thence  to  Jeffersonville,  Indiana.  From 
the  latter  place  he  was  sent  to  Spring- 
field, where  he  was  discharged.  He  then 
returned  home  and  resumed  farming  on 
the  homestead  farm,  which  was  his  birth- 


place, and  is  still  his  home.  He  owns  80 
acres  of  land  and  has  a  desirable  farm. 
He  was  united  in  marriage  December  28, 
1865,  with  Julia  A.  Cox,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  Cox.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  are 
the  parents  of  seven  children — Iverson 
E.,  Samuel  L.,  Minnie  M.,  Nina  B.,  Bes- 
sie F.,  Jessie  A.  and  Alta  M. 

William  McMillan,  a  worthy  farmer  of 
Scotland  township,  is  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, where  he  was  born  February  18, 
1829.  He  left  Ireland  when  quite  young, 
and  came  to  America,  locating  in  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood's  estate  and  remained  until 
1852.  In  that  year  he  came  west  and 
settled  in  McDonough  county.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming  the  land  of  John  D. 
Walker,  near  Macomb,  remaining  on  the 
same  place  until  1863,  when  he  removed 
to  his  present  farm.  He  was  married  in 
October,  1851,  to  Elizabeth  Storks.  Two 
children  have  blessed  their  union — Mary 
J.  and  David  H.  Mr.  McMillan  has  held 
the  office  of  commissioner  of  highways 
for  seven  years. 

Cyrus  Walker,  is  a  son  of  Cyrus  Wal- 
ker, Sr.,  the  noted  lawyer,  and  was  born 
in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  September 
25,  1832.  The  following  year  the  family 
moved  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  located  in  Scotland  township,  where 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  now  resides. 
He  grew  to  manhood  here,  and  has  spent 
the  greater  portion  of  his  life  upon  the 
homestead  farm,  of  which  he  took  charge, 
after  the  death  of  his  father.  He  owns 
180  acres  of  well  improved  land,  located 
on  section  34.  Mr.  Walker  was  married 
September  11,  1860,  to  Mary.  J.  Mc- 
Gaghey.  They  have  eight  children — 
John  C.,  Flora  H.,  Cynthia  A.,  Arthur, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


725 


Guy,  Grier,  Pitt  M.,  and  Nancy.  Mr. 
Walker  is  a  member  of  the  Camp  creek 
Presbyterian  church,  an  upright,  honest 
man  and  an  esteemed  citizen.  He  has, 
all  his  life,  been  identified  with  the  in- 
terests of  this  township,  and  is  well 
known  throughout  the  county,  as  an 
early  settler,  and  a  member  of  the  hon- 
ored family  of  Walker. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

According  to  the  last  annual  report  of 
the  county  superintendent,  for  the  school 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  it  is  learned 
that  Scotland  township  has  287  children 
of  school  age,  259  of  whom  are  enrolled  in 
the  nine  different  schools  of  the  town- 
ship, the  average  number  of  months  of 
school  per  annum  being  seven  and  four- 
ninths.  There  were  two  new  school 
houses  erected  in  the  township  during 
the  year,  making  a  total  at  present  of 
nine,  all  of  which  are  frame.  The  high- 
est monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 
is  $45,  and  the  lowest  $35,  while  the 
highest  wages  paid  female  teachers  is 
$35  and  the  lowest  $22  per  month.  Scot- 
land is  free  from  any  bonded  indebted- 
ness, except  about  $75,  with  an  estimated 
value  of  school  property  of  $6,650  and  a 
tax  levy  for  the  support  of  her  educa- 
tional institutions  of  $2,750. 

Crown  Point,  District  No.  1.— This  dis- 
trict was  organized  April  21,  1856,  at  a 
meeting  held  at  the  residence  of  John 
Upp\  A  small  frame  house  was  erected 
the  same  year.  The  district  increased 
in  wealth  and  population  so  rapidly  that 
they  were  compelled  to  erect  a  new  build- 
ing, which  they  did  in  1874,  on  the  site 
of  the  old  one,  and  at  a  cost  of  $1,469. 
It  is  located  on  section  1.  The  first  direc- 


tors were  Green  Lane,  S.  S.  Chapman 
and  F.  Laughlin.  The  first  to  wield  the 
birch,  was  Levi  W.  Elliott.  The  present 
teacher  is  Jennie  Bethel. 

Maple  Grove,  District  No.  2. — The 
building  situated  on  section  4.  The  dis- 
trict organized  in  April,  1856.  During 
the  first  year,  school  was  held  in  a  log 
dwelling,  on  a  knoll  about  a  mile  west  of 
the  present  building,  called  Mount  Nebo. 
In  1857,  a  good  frame  building  was 
erected,  which,  on  the  1st  of  March,  1868, 
was  burned.  In  the  same  year,  the  pres- 
ent house  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,500, 
and  is  24x32  feet  in  size.  The  first  direc- 
tors of  the  district  were  J.  H.  Swigart, 
T.  M.  Fox  and  Edmund  Palk.  T.  Mc- 
Mahan  was  the  first  teacher.  Those  serv- 
ing the  district  as  directors  at  present 
are,  John  Barclay,  Philip  Hesh  and  Chas. 
Taylor.  Laura  Gesler  is  the  teacher  at 
present. 

District  No.  3. — The  school  building 
in  this  district,  is  located  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  section  6.  Is  a  good  frame 
structure,  valued  at  $600. 

District  No.  4.-The  school  house  stands 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  section  20.  It 
was  erected  several  years  since,  and  in 
1883,  a  new  house  was  built,  and  at  pres- 
ent, is  valued  at  about  $900. 

District  No.  5. — This  district  has  a 
good  frame  school  house,  and  is  known 
as  "Center  school."  The  building  is  on 
the  southeast  corner  of  section  16. 

Union,  District  No.  6. — The  district 
organized  and  building  erected  in"  1857. 
The  house  located  on  section  13,  and  was 
built  at  a  cost  of  $700.  In  1882,  the  dis- 
trict erected  a  new  building  on  the  site 
of  the  old  house,  which  was  purchased 
by  J  ames  Rexroat  for  a  tenement  house, 


726 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  is  situated  about  one  mile  north. 
The  new  building  was  completed  at  a 
cost  of  about  $1,000. 

District  No.  7. — The  school  building 
is  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 26,  and  is  valued  at  $500. 

District  No.  8. — The  school  house 
stands  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
33.  It  was  built  several  years  ago,  and 
was  repaired  and  remodeled  in  1883.  It 
is  valued  at  present,  at  about  $800. 

District  No.  9. — The  building  is  situ- 
ated on  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
29.  The  district  was  organized  in  April, 
1847.  A  Jbuilding  18x28  feet  was  then 
erected,  one-half  mile  south  of  the  pres- 
ent one.  In  1863  they  moved  into  their 
new  building. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  township  was 
preached  by  Eev.  William  K.  Stewart,  of 
Macomb,  in  December,  1837,  at  the  resi- 
dence of  Cyrus  Walker. 

The  United  Brethren  have  a  church 
building  on  section  13.  The  society  was 
organized  in  1860.  ( See  Ecclesiastical 
chapter. 


ORGANIZATION. 

At  the  time  of  the  division  of  the 
county,  in  1857,  Scotland  township  was 
constituted.  The  first  township  election 
was  held  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  of  that 
year,  and  J.  H.  Swigart  and  John  Clark 
were  elected  justices  of  the  peace;  F. 
F.  Hatch  and  Hugh  H.  McKee,  consta- 
bles. Isaac  P.  Moiitfort  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  township  on  the  board  of 
supervisors. 

The  present  township  officers  are  as 
follows:  Supervisor,  Hugh  Watson; 
clerk,  Andrew  Binnie;  assessor,  J.  E. 
Cooper;  collector,  W.  G.  Biggins;  high- 
way commissioners,  Bob.ert  Barclay, 
James  Allison  and  Duncan  McMillan; 
justices  of  the  peace,  J.  G.  McGaughey 
and  Andrew  Binnie;  constables,  Robert 
Merrill  and  T.  G.  Walker. 

The  first  election  was  held  at  the 
house  of  Samuel  Mitchell,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  W.  W.  Henderson. 

FIRST    ITEM. 

* 

The  first-.death  was  that  of  the  Rev. 
Ezekiel  Campbell,  who  died  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  34,  in  1834. 


CHAPTKR    XXIX. 


INDUSTRY   TOWNSHIP. 


,  This  township  embraces  all  of  con- 
gressional township  4  north,  range  2 
west,  and  is  one  of  the  earliest  settled 
in  the  county.  It  is  bounded  on  the 


north  by  Scotland,  on  the  east  by  Eldo- 
rado, on  the  south  by  Schuyler  county, 
and  011  the  west  by  Bethel.  It  is  one  of 
the  timbered  townships,  though  not  so 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


727 


much  so  as  some  of  its  neighbors,  espe- 
cially those  on  the  west. 

In  the  south  part  of  the  township,  and 
probably  underlying  every  square  foot 
of  soil  in  all  parts,  may  be  found  coal  in 
great  abundance,  the  veins  averaging  33 
inches.  Ebenezer  Jones,  James  A.  Vaw- 
ter,  William  Dupees  and  others  are  work- 
ing good  veins  of  an  excellent  quality. 
About  two-fifths  of  the  township  was 
originally  timber  land,  but  a  portion  of 
this  has  been  brought  under  cultivation. 
Grindstone  creek  (formerly  called  Tur- 
key creek)  is  the  principal  stream  pass- 
ing through  the  township,  it  coming  in 
on  section  1  and  passing  out  at  section 
19.  Camp  creek  passes  through  a  por- 
tion of  sections  5  and  6.  Thus,  the 
township  is  well  watered.  All  things 
taken  into  consideration,  the  division  of 
the  township  into  timber  and  prairie 
land,  the  abundance  of  coal,  stone  for 
building  purposes,  etc.,  Industry  town- 
ship may  well  be  said  to  be  favored. 
Grindstone  and  Camp  creeks  and  their 
tributaries  afford  abundant  supplies  of 
water  for  irrigation,  drainage  and  stock 
purposes.  This  township  has  as  yet  no 
railroad  passing  through  it,  but  the 
town  of  Industry  affords  a  good  trading 
point,  and  a  market  for  their  grain  is 
within  easy  access. 

Many  interesting  events  in  the  early 
history  of  the  county  cluster  around  the 
records  of  the  happenings  in  this  town- 
ship, and  reference  thereto  will  be  found 
in  more  than  one  chapter  of  this  work. 

EAKLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Previous  to  1826,  none  had  inhabited 
this  region  save  the  red  man,  and  when, 
in  the  spring  of  that  year,  William  Car- 


ter and  Biggs  Pennington  first  set  foot 
within  the  borders  of  what  is  now  Indus- 
try township,  they  found  the  country 
abandoned  by  the  aborigines,  and  none 
but  the  wild  animals  tenants  of  the  soil. 
They  settled  in  one  neighborhood,  about 
one  mile  southeast  of  where  the  town  of 
Industry  now  stands,  and  commenced 
hewing  out  homes  for  their  families  in 
the  wilderness,  for  like  all  other  pioneers 
of  that  day,  they  preferred  to  clear 
their  farm  land  in  the  timber,  rather 
than  to  cultivate  that  already  prepared 
for  their  use  by  the  hand  of  nature. 
The  neighborhood  was  named,  in  honor 
of  one  of  its  pioneers,  Carter's  settle- 
ment. A  few  years  afterward,  Mr.  Car- 
ter removed  to  Missouri.  Mr.  Penning- 
ton, probably  a  year  afterward,  removed 
to  Knox  county,  this  state.  He  resided 
there  until  the  spring  of  1837,  when  he 
went  to  Texas,  where  he  died. 

Stephen  Osborne  made  a  settlement  in 
Industry  township,  'near  the  house  of 
William  Carter,  in  1826.  The  next  year 
he  left,  going  to  Knox  county. 

In  the  fall  of  1827,  William  Stephens 
built  a  cabin  on  section  24,  and  settled 
down  as  an  inhabitant  of  the  county.  It 
was  in  his  house  that  Elder  Logan  de- 
livered the  first  sermon  heard  in  McDon- 
ough  county. 

Rev.  John  Logan  made  a  settlement 
in  this  township  in  1828,  spending  the 
winter  in  the  old  log  fort,  where  he  took 
up  his  residence.  In  the  spring  he  re- 
moved into  the  cabin  built  by  Stephen 
Osborn,  on  what  is  now  the  Hushaw 
place.  That  fall  he  left,  going  to  Schuy- 
ler  county.  He  returned  to  the  county 
later,  settling  in  Hire  township.  A 
sketch  of  him  is  given  elsewhere. 


728 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


John  Wilson  settled  on  section  23, 
during  the  year  1828.  He  was  married 
October  30,  1828,  to  Martha  E.  Vance, 
and  the  next  year  built  a  cabin  on  his 
farm  into  which  he  removed  in  1830.  He 
was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Tennessee, 
November  2,  1806.  His  father,  Hugh 
Wilson,  moved  to  near  Vincennes,  Indi- 
ana, and  from  there  to  Christian  county, 
Kentucky,  thence  to  Missouri,  and  in 
1825,  to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  In 
the  spring  of  1827,  he  started  for  Han- 
cock county,  but  stopped  at  the  Job  set- 
tlement for  a  short  time,  when  he  moved 
on  westward.  John  then  started  for  him- 
self, coming  here  as  above  mentioned. 
He  was  the  father  of — Elizabeth  A., 
Mary  V.,  Susannah,  Hugh,  Sarah  V., 
James  V.,  W.  V.,  Christopher,  Lewis  R., 
Rufus  R.,  Martha  R.,  and  Margaret  R. 
V.,  many  of  whom  are  still  residents  of 
the  county. 

Isaac  Fowler  made  a  settlement  in  the 
fall  of  1828,  or  spring  of  1829,  on  section 
25,  where  he  resided  some  years.  He  has 
long  since  left  the  county. 

John  Bridges  and  family  came  in  No- 
vember, 1829,  and  located  in  Industry 
township.  He  was  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina in  1797.  His  wife,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Margaret  Vance,  was  born  in 
Tennessee  in  1800.  They  were  married 
in  the  state  of  Tennessee  in  1816.  He 
died  in  this  township  in  1844.  On  their 
route  from  Tennessee  to  this  county,  the 
family  stopped  in  Morgan  county  from 
1823  to  1829.  Mrs.  Bridges  still  sur- 
vives. 

Charles  Shannon,  was  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  this  township,  settling  where 
the  town  of  Industry,  now  stands  in  1830. 
Here  he  lived  until  1858,  when  he  died. 


William  Shannon  also  appeared  as  a 
settler  about  this  time. 

Charles  R.  Shannon  is  a  son  of  Wm. 
and  Mary  (Miller)  Shannon,  who  were 
natives  of  Tennessee,  The  former  was 
born  September  12,  1804,  and  the  latter 
November  25, 1812.  They  were  married 
January  12,  1832,  in  Industry  township; 
which  event  was  among  the  earliest  mar- 
riages of  this  county.  They  brought  up 
nine  children— Rachel  A.,  deceased  ;Eliz- 
abeth  A.  Nellie  E.,  Charles  R.,  John  F., 
James  P.,  William  H.,  Harvil  M.,  and 
George  G.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  M.  E.  church.  William,  the  father, 
died  January  22,  1866,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Vance  cemetery.  He  was  a  man 
of  some  prominence  in  the  county;  came 
originally  from  Knox  county,  Tennessee, 
arriving  here  May  9, 1830.  Was  justice" 
of  the  peace  here  for  20  years.  Charles 
R.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
January  13,  1838,  in  Bethel  township,  of 
this  county.  He  worked  for  his  father 
upon  the  farm  until  death  took  away  the 
elder  Shannon.  He  was  married  De- 
cember 24,  1871,  to  Alice  A.  Norton,  and 
his  mother  is  living  with  them  on  the 
old  homestead.  They  have  six  children 
— Effie  L.,  Orria  B.,  James  K.,  Beryl 
M.,  Mary  E.,  and  Roscoe  K.  Mr.  Shan- 
non owns  111  1-2  acres  of  good  land 
which  is  well  improved,  having  good 
buildings,  well  fenced,  and  tile  drained. 
Politically  he  votes  with  the  democratic 
party. 

Austen  Coker  and  family  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  in  1830,  and  took  up 
their  location  in  Industry  township.  He 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  his  wife, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Susan  Tomber- 
lin,  was  a  native  of  Virginia.  Their  son 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


George  W.  and  his  family,  are  still  res- 
idents of  the  township. 

During  the  summer  of  1830,  John 
Rogers  erected  himself  a  log  house  on 
the  prairie,  in  this  township,  but  the 
winter  coming  on,  he  concluded  it  would 
be  better  for  him  to  move  to  the  timber, 
which  he  accordingly  did,  taking  his 
cabin  with  him;  but  the  snow  beginning 
to  fall  before  he  had  finished  rebuilding, 
he  enclosed  the  cabin  in  a  tent,  and 
managed  to  live  in  it  during  the  long 
winter  that  followed,  his  only  food  being 
hominy,  without  salt.  This  so  disgusted 
him,  that  the  next  spring  he  left  the 
county  never  to  return. 

A.  H.  and  Sanders  Walker  and  their 
families  removed  to  the  south  side  of 
Camp  creek,  in  this  township,  in  the  fall 
of  1831,  where  they  improved  farms. 

Daniel  Sandidge  came  to  this  county 
in  the  spring  of  1832,  and  located  in 
Industry  township.  He  resided  here 
till  the  fall  of  1833,  when  he  removed 
to  Eldorado  township.  He  died  in  Oak- 
land township,  Schuyler  county,  August 
5,  1882. 

John  P.  Kinkade  and  family  came  in 
1832,  and  located  on  section  5. 

John  P.  Kinkade,  deceased,  was  a 
native  of  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  born 
in  1810.  In  the  year  1830,  hs  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Morgan  county, 
where  he  was,  soon  after,  married  to 
Eliza  -D.  McClure,  who  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Kentucky,  in  1808. 
He  remained  in  Morgan  county,  one 
year,  then  removed  to  Rushville,  and, 
one  year  later,  came  to  Industry  town- 
ship, and  located  on  section  5,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  land.  He  re- 
sided here  until  his  death,  in  1851.  In 


1859,  his  widow,  Mrs.  Eliza  D.  Kinkade, 
was  married  to  Jesiah  Kirkpatrick,  who, 
in  1870,  died,  leaving  her  again  a  widow. 
Her  death  occurred  in  1879. 

William  Kinkade,  son  of  J.  P.,  and  Eliza 
D.  Kinkade,  was  born  December  31, 1839, 
in  Industry  township.  He  remained  at 
home  until  21  years  old,  His  childhood 
and  youth  were  spent  upon  the  farm 
which  furnished  him  employment  dur- 
ing a  greater  part  of  the  year.  His  ed- 
ucation was  obtained  by  attending  the 
district  school,  winters.  In  1860,  he 
was  married  to  Phebe  A.  Strader,  a 
daughter  of  Simeon  Strader,  of  Chal- 
mers township.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren— Mary  A',  William  H.,  Dorcas  E., 
Effie  M.,  and  Roscoe  E.  Mr.  Kinkade 
owns  110  acres  of  land,  located  on  sec- 
tions 8  and  17.  He  lives  on  section  8, 
where  he  has  a  pleasant  residence.  He 
carries  on  general  farming.  He  is  a 
public  spirited  man,  and  a  useful  citi- 
zen. He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the 
county  board  of  supervisors,  since  the 
year  1876,  and  still  holds  that  office.  He 
has  been  school  director  for  the  past  14 
years,  besides  holding  other  offices  of 
minor  importance.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  has  three 
times  been  sent  as  delegate  from  Indus- 
try lodge,  No.  327,  to  the  Grand  Lodge, 
at  Chicago.  Politically  he  is  a  suppor- 
ter of  the  present  administration. 

Daniel  Stockton  came  to  this  county 
in  the  fall  of  1833,  and  located  in  Indus- 
try township,  on  the  Tuggle  farm.  Af- 
ter one  year's  residence  there,  he  re- 
moved to  section  30,  Eldorado  township, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death  occurred 
January  29,  1883.  He  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, August  17,  1800. 


730 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Walter  Janes  came  in   1834,  with  his 
wife  and  family,  and  located  on  section  7. 
John  Janes,  son  of  Walter  and  Ardra 
(Crook)  Janes,  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
in  the  year  1828,  and  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  McDonough  county  in  1834.  His 
father,  Walter  Janes,  bought  80    acres 
of  land  on  section  7,  Industry  township. 
John  remained  on  this   place  till  the 
death  of  his  father,  in  1853,  then  sold 
out  and  purchased  90  acres  on  section  9, 
upon  which  he  lived  15  years.     He  then 
again   sold  out  and  bought  of   Simon 
Smith,  the  valuable  farm  which  he  now 
owns  and  resides  upon,  comprising  127 
acres,   located  on   section  16,  Industry 
township.      Mr.  Janes  was  married  in 
January,   1854,    to   Nancy   Vanter,   the 
Reverend  Mr.  Borin  officiating  on  that 
occasion.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Janes  are  the 
parents  of  seven    children- — Paris    J., 
Amy  B.  Addie  E.,  George  W.,  Edgar, 
Paulina   and  Eliza  A.      Mr.  Janes  be- 
came a  member  of  the   Masonic  frater- 
nity in  1868,  when  he  joined  Industry 
lodge,   No.  237.      He  has   served  as  a 
steward  of  that  organization  one  year. 
He  has  held  the  office  of  school  director 
three  terms.      In    consequence  of    the 
meager  advantages  which    this  county 
afforded  during  his  youth  his  education 
is  limited.     He  has  however  a  high  ap- 
preciation of  the  v,alue  of  such  advan- 
tages, and  takes  much  interest  in   the 
cause  of  education.      The  Janes  broth- 
ers are  enterprising  and  prosperous  far- 
mers, and  much  respected  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  reside. 

Jesse  Janes,  of  Industry  township,  re- 
sides upon  section  20,  where  he  owns  an 
excellent  farm,  comprising  362  acres.  A 
portion  of  this  land  lies  in  section  21 


and  7,  but  is  adjoining  that  upon  which 
he  lives.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. Mr.  Janes  was  born  in  the  year 
1820,  in  Kentucky,  and  is  a  son  of 
Walter  and  Ardra  (Crook)  Janes,  who 
also  were. natives  of  Kentucky.  They 
removed  from  that  state  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1834,  locating  then  in 
Industry  township.  Walter  Janes  died 
here  in  1853,  and  his  wife  in  1881. 
Jesse  came  to  this  county  with  his  par- 
ents, with  whom  he  lived  until  21  years 
old.  December  31,  1846,  he  was  married 
to  Perlina  Vanter,  who  died  April  15, 
1860,  leaving  him  five  children — Wil- 
liam D.,  Sarah  E.,  Harriet  J.,  Mary  M. 
and  Thomas  C.  May  21,  1861,  Mr. 
Janes  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Vail, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Vail.  By  this 
union  there  are  two  children — Walter  V. 
and  Luella.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Janes  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church  at  In- 
dustry. Politically,  he  adheres  to  the 
republican  party. 

William  C.  McKamy  came  in  June, 
1834,  and  located  on  section  5.  He  was 
born  in  East  Tennessee  in  1810,  and 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
coming  to  McDonough  county.  He  was 
the  son  of  John  and  Jane  P.  (Walker) 
McKamy.  In  1855  he  removed  from 
his  first  location  to  the  west  half  of  sec- 
tion 4,  which  he  owns  and  cultivates. 
In  the  year  1837  he  commenced  preach- 
ing. He  was  ordained  at  Foster's  Point, 
and  licensed  in  the  old  brick  court  house 
at  Macomb.  Since  that  time  he  has  oc- 
cupied many  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
pulpits,  and  exhorted  many  andiences 
in  open  air,  private  houses  and  school 
buildings.  He  was  married  on  the  1st 
day  of  November,  1842,  to  Miss  O.  H. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


731 


Robertson.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children  —  Julia,  John,  J.  R., 
George,  Lucy,  Cooper  and  Elizabeth, 
all  of  whom  are  living. 

In  the  fall  of  1834,  Gilmer  Wal- 
ker located  on  the  banks  of  Grind- 
stone creek,  in  Industry  township.  He 
remained  but  a  short  time,  and  then  re- 
moved on  to  Camp  creek.  From  there 
he  removed  to  Walnut  Grove  township, 
where  he  was  an  early  settler. 

Among  those  who  settled  in  Industry 
township  during  the  year  1834,  was 
Joseph  Sullivan,  Sr.,  who  came  in  the 
spring  of  that  year.  He  resided  here 
but  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Scot- 
land township,  locating  about  three 
miles  south  of  Macornb,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death. 

Nelson  M.  Campbell  located  on  sec- 
tion 4,  Industry  township,  in  the  spring 
of  1835.  He  now  resides  on  section  28, 
Scotland  township.  He  was  born  in 
Cocke  county,  Tennessee,  on  the  llth  of 
October,  1844,  but  was  reared  in  Ken- 
tucky. 

In  May,  1835,  John  Allison,  Jr.,  came  to 
Industry  township,  where  he  remained 
till  December  of  the  same  year,  when 
he  removed  to  section  31,  Scotland 
township,  where  his  son  John  now 
resides.  He  lived  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  December  29 
1852.  He  was  born  in  Maryland,  in 
1871,  and  was  a  son  of  James  Allison,  a 
native  of  Scotland.  •  James  came  to 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  judge  in 
Washington  county,  in  that  state,  for  20 
years. 

In  the  fall  of  1834,  Wesley  Harlan  left 
Kentucky,  his  native  state,  and  with  his 
family  settled  in  Schuyler  county,  this 


state,  where  he  remained  some  18 
months,  when,  desiring  a  better  location, 
he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
upon  section  1,  Industry,  township 
erected  his  cabin,  improved  his  quarter, 
and  reared  his  family.  Shortly  after  his 
arrival  in  the  county,  he  erected  a  horse 
mill  near  his  residence,  which  was  ex- 
tensively patronized  by  farmers  through- 
out McDonough  ^and  adjoining  counties. 
At  that  time  there  were  no  steam  mills 
in  the  country,  and  when  the  streams 
were  low,  water  mills  would  occasionally 
quit  running,  causing  the  horse  mills  to 
have  quite  an  extensive  run  of  custom. 
All  persons  having  grain  to  grind  were 
compelled  to  furnish  their  own  horses  to 
run  the  mill ;  each  await  his  turn  to  be 
served.  Although  the  mill  had  a  good 
run,  yet  its  receipts  were  not  large,  on  an 
average  not  over  50  cents  a  day.  On 
November  2, 1826,  Mr.  Harlan  was  mar- 
ried to  Nancy  Greenup,  in  Monroe 
county,  Kentucky.  Ten  children  re- 
sulted from  the  union — five  sons  and  five 
daughters,  all  of  whom  are  now  living, 
save  James  W.,  who  died  in  the  service 
of  his  country  during  the  late  rebellion, 
as  a  member  of  the  10th  Missouri  regi- 
ment. The  members  of  the  family  now 
living  are — George  T.,  mentioned  in  New 
Salem  township,  William  M.,  Marcus  L., 
Lorenzo  D.,  Margaret,  wife  of  S.  F.  Ham- 
mer, who  owns  and  resides  upon  the  old 
homestead;  Rebecca, wife  of  Elihu  Stock- 
ton, of  Eldorado  township;  Hulda,  wife 
of  Daniel  Wooley,  of  Crawford  county, 
Kansas;  Eliza,  wife  of  Samuel  Kyle,  of 
Kansas,  and  Chloe,  wife  of  Frank  Hall, 
Mound  township.  Mrs.  Harlau  died  on 
the  24th  of  March,  1864,  and  on  the  4th 
of  December,  1867,  Mr.  Harlau  was 


732 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


again  married,  this  time  to  Mary  Os- 
borne,  with  whom  he  happily  lived  until 
parted  by  death.  She  resides  with  her 
step-daughter,  Mrs.  Hall.  Wesley  Har- 
lan  for  over  40  years  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church.  His  death 
occurred  January  17,  1874. 

Gideon  Standard  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1836,  and  located  on  section 
24,  Industry  township.  .  Here  he  resided 
until  1851,  when  he  removed  to  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  19,  where 
he  now  resides.  Gideon  Standard  is  a 
native  of  this  county,  and  was  born  in 
Eldorado  township,  September  5,  1860. 
His  parents  were  Barnett  and  Jane  (Alli- 
son) Standard.  The  former  is  yet  liv- 
ing, but  his  mother  died  in  Eldorado 
township  in  1876.  Gideon  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  remained  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  of  age.  May 
19,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Leanta 
Goesuch,  whose  father  was  a  native  of 
old  Virginia.  They  have  had  one  child, 
Cora,  born  in  December,  1883,  Mr. 
Standard  owns  120  acres  of  good  land, 
and  has  at  the  present  time  seven  head 
of  horses  and  13  head  of  cattle.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming.  Politically, 
he  adheres  to  the  doctrines  and  princi- 
ples of  the  republican  party. 

Thomas  Ausbury  located  in  Industry 
township  in  the  fall  of  1836,  and  im- 
proved a  farm  of  60  acres.  He  now  re- 
sides in  Eldorado  township. 

OTHER  PROMINENT  PEOPLE. 

Among  those  whose  sketches  follow, 
are  many  whose  families  were  early  set- 
tlers of  the  county,  though  not  strictly 
pioneers  of  this  township.  The  others 


mentioned,  are  deserving  of  notice  for 
their  public  spirit. 

Ingram  N.  Ausbury,  a  farmer  of  In- 
dustry township,  is  a  native  of  the  town- 
ship, where  he  now  lives,  and  was  born 
April  10,  1841.  His  early  education 
was  such  as  could  be  obtained,  as  he  had 
opportunity,  in  attendance  at  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  and  has  mainly  been  engaged  in 
that  business  the  most  of  his  life.  He 
was  married  November  24,  1867,  to 
Agnes  Kennedy,  of  Eldorado  township, 
and  the  union  has  been  blessed  with 
three  children — Edward  T.,  Nellie  V., 
and  John  F.  His  farm  consists  of  116 
acres,  and*  is  improved,  making  a  good, 
comfortable  home.  Mr.  Ausbury  has 
served  as  school  director  four  years,  and 
takes  a  commendable  interest  in  public 
affairs.  Politically,  he  affilliates  with  the 
democratic  party.  Mrs.  Ausbury  is  a 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church. 

Michael  Lawyer,  one  of  the  promi- 
nent residents  of  this  township,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  born, 
September  22,  1832.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Massy  (Cooper)  Lawyer,  and 
he  was  first  married  September  27, 1857, 
to  Sarah  E.  Skee.  By  that  union  there 
were  four  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infantcy  and  two  are  now  living — 
William,  born  June  14,  1862,  and  Lou- 
ella,  born  December  1,  1864.  Mr. 
Lawyer  again  entered  upon  the  married 
state  with  Mrs.  Manerva  Downen,  widow 
of  David  Downen,  and  by  that  marriage 
there  have  been  four  children — Martha 
E.,  born  June  8,  1869,  now  deceased; 
Sarah  M.,  born  August  25,  1873,  de- 
ceased; Johnny  N.,  born  May  12,  1874, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


733 


and  Katie  M.,  born  October  12,  1875. 
Both  the  latter  are  living.  Mr.  Lawyer 
has  followed  farming  all  his  life,  and  is 
prosperous,  and  financially  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  the  county;  a  public 
spirited  citizen,  and  a  well-wisher  of  the 
moral  and  religious  interests  of  the  land 
and  country. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Skiles  is  a  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Matilda  (Bridge)  Decamp. 
Joel  Decamp  was  born  in  Pennsylvania. 
His  wife  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  were 
married  in  the  latter  state,  and  in  the 
year  1839,  removed  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  where  they  lived  eight  years, 
engaged  in  farming.  They  then  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  bought  160 
acres  of  land  in  Eldorado  township. 
They  resided  there  until  Mr.  Decamp 
died,  in  1847.  He  was  buried  in  the 
Vance  burying  ground,  in  Industry 
township.  His  widow  survived  until 
1873.  Elizabeth  was  born  April  16, 
1839,  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  She 
remained  with  her  parents  until  her 
marriage  to  William  Legere,  March  25, 
1858.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  -the  119th  Illi- 
nois infantry,  and  was  shot  and  killed  in 
a  skirmish  in  Louisiana.  Six  years 
later,  his  widow  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Charles  F.'  Skiles, who  was  a  farmer 
by  occupation.  He  died  April  18,  1876, 
and  was  buried  in  Schuyler  county. 
Mrs.  Skiles  had,  by  her  first  marriage, 
three  children — J.  M.,  J.  H.  and  Mattie 
E.  She  is  the  owner  of  a  good  farm, 
located  on  section  6,  Industry  township. 
In  her  religious  views,  she  is  a  Free- 
Will  Methodist. 

Orra  V.  Beaver  is  a  son  of  I.  N.  and 
Eana  (Hess)  Beaver,  natives  of  Ohio, 


who  came  to  Illinois  in  1864,  and  located 
then  in  Industry  township,  McDonough 
county.  Orra  V.  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  September  7,  1860,  and  came  here 
with  his  parents.  He  grew  to  manhood 
in  Industry,  receiving  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  the  village,  gradu- 
ating in  the  highest  departments,  then 
in  charge  of  Thomas  J.  Dudman.  Sep- 
tember 13,  1883,  he  was  married  to  Lana 
Mosser,  daughter  of  Jacob  T.  Mosser, 
Rev.  J.  L.  Towner  performing  the  cere- 
mony. Their  union  has  been  blessed 
by  one  child — Nellie  R.,  born  October 
31,  1884.  July  19, 1880,  Orra  V.  Beaver 
and  G.  G.  Shannon,  M.  D.,  formed  a 
partnership  and*  engaged  in  the  drug 
business,  in  the  village  of  Industry. 
This  they  continued  until  February  20, 
1885,  when  Mr.  Beaver  moved  to  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  9,  Industry 
township,  where  he  now  carries  on  farm- 
ing, having  formed  a  partnership  with 
J.  F.  Mosser,  to  whom  the  farm  belongs, 
It  contains  160  acres  of  valuable  land. 
Mr.  Beaver  is  an  energetic  and  industri- 
ous young  man,  and  will  be  undoubt- 
edly, a  successful  one.  He  is  a  supporter 
of  the  republican  party. 

James  Lawyer  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Massey  (Cooper)  Lawyer,  natives  of 
Virginia,  who  emigrated  to  Ohio,  in 
1825,  and  to  Illinois,  in  1839,  locating  in 
Eldorado  township,  of  this  county. 
His  father,  John,  died  in  that  township 
in  August,  1883,  and  his  mother  is  yet 
living,  making  her  home  with  her  son 
M.  V.  Lawyer.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  January  19,  1831,  in 
Fayette  county,  and  came  west  with  his 
parents,  with  whom  he  made  his  home 
until  his  marriage,  March  27,  1859,  to 


734 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Mary  Jane  Comer,  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert Comer,  deceased.  After  that  im- 
portant event  in  his  life,  he  bought  75 
acres  of  land  on  section  31,  Eldorado 
township,  and  there  lived  until  1873, 
then  sold  out,  and  purchased  126  acres 
in  Industry  township,  on  section  10, 
where  he  has  made  good  substantial  im- 
provements. He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming,  having,  and  raising,  good  grades 
of  stock  of  different  kinds.  His  farm 
is  a  good  one,  and  its  fine  condition  is 
evidence  of  the  thrift  and  enterprise  of 
its  owner.  They  have  two  children, 
both  of  whom  are  living — Martin  A., 
and  Nancy  A.,  and  one  deceased,  George 
W.  Mr.  Lawyer  is  politically  a  demo- 
crat, and  is  also,  with  his  wife,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

John  G.  McGaughey  is  the  son  of 
James  and  Nancy  (Grier)  McGaughey. 
The  former  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  16,  1772,  and  the 
latter  was  a  native  of  the  same  state, 
Pennsylvania.  James,  the  father  of  John 
G.,  died  April  4,  1848,  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  Nancy,  his  mother,  died  in  Industry 
township,  of  this  county,  in  1852.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  December 
9,  1808,  on  the  same  place  his  father 
first  saw  the  light  of  day.  The  same 
farm  is  owned  by  some  of  the  family, 
and  has  been  since  30  years  before  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  John  G.,  at  the 
age  of  18,  learned  the  trade  of  black- 
smith and  emigrated  to  Illinois,  in 
1844,  and  located  at  Doddsville,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  where  he  had  secured 
160  acres,  and  where  he  lived  for  11 
years,  then  sold  out  to  Darius  Runkle, 
for  $30  per  acre,  in  gold.  He  then 


bought  160  acres  on  section  9,  and  32 
acres  of  timber  land  on  section  16.  He 
was  married  June  18,  1835,  to  Hester 
Walker.  Ten  children  have  been  born 
to  them — J.  G.,  Mary  A.,  Andrew  W., 
Mary  J.,  Nancy,  Hugh,  John,  William, 
and  an  infant  son  and  daughter,  both 
deceased,  were  named  Robert  and  C.  W. 
He  has  24  grand-children  now  living. 
His  wife,  Hester,  died  May  12,  1874. 
He  was  again  married,  October  2,  1875, 
to  Mrs.  Susan  M.  Ellis.  They  are  both 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Mr.  McGaughey  has  been  an  industrious 
man,  and  now  has  a  fine  property,  is 
comfortably  situated,  and  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  a  home  fairly  won,  a  compe- 
tence fairly  gained. 

Isaiah  Odenweller  is  the  son  of  Leon- 
ard and  Elizabeth  G.  (Danley)  Oden- 
weller— the  former  a  native  of  Germany 
and  who  emigrated  to  America,  in  1836, 
and  to  Macomb,  in  1845,  and  engaged  in 
work  as  a  blacksmith;  the  latter  is  a  na- 
tive of  Ohio,  and  both  are-  living  at  this 
date  (1885),  in  Macomb,  Illinois. 
Isaiah  was  born  November  29,  1856,  in 
Scotland  township,  and  made  his  home 
with  his  parents  until  the  time  of  his 
marriage  to  Elizabeth  Ellie,  of  Industry 
township,  October  2,  1879,  He  now 
owns  83  acres  of  good  land  on  section  4, 
Industry  township,  and  17  acres  on  sec- 
tion 33,  Scotland  township.  His  place 
is  well  improved,  and  he  is  engaged  in 
general  farming.  They  have  had  one 
child  born  to  them — Bertha  M.  Mr. 
Odenweller  is  the  present  school  direc- 
tor for  district  No.  6.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  organ- 
ization. Politically,  he  is  a  republican. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


735 


Peter  F.  Smith,  who  resides  upon  sec- 
tion 20,  Industry  township,  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Lenton)  Smith. 
John  Smith  was  a  native  of  Kentucky 
and  his  wife,  of  Ohio.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  the  year  1835.  Peter  F.  was  born 
February  16, 1838,  in  Kentucky.  In  1850 
he  removed  with  his  parents  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  remaining  with  them  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  The  following 
year,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  F,  of 
the  119th  Illinois  infantry,  commanded 
by  Captain  Josiah  Stack.  He  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service  at  Quincy  Illinois) 
and  went  immediately  to  the  front.  He 
participated  in  the  engagements  of  Pleas- 
ant Hill,  Marksville  Prairie,  Yellow 
Bayou,  Tupelo,  Nashville  and  Forts 
Blakely  and  Spanish.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Mobile,  and  discharged  from  the 
service  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  Mr.  Smith 
purchased  his  present  farm  on  section  20, 
in  1866,  and  now  has  a  pleasant  and  com- 
fortable home.  His  business  is  general 
farming.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
August  1,  1868,  with  Dica  A.  Ausbury. 

J.  Albert  Butcher  is  located  on  section 
7,  of  this  township,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  general  farming.  He  has  under  cul- 
tivation, 180  acres,  and  raises  a .  large 
amount  of  .corn  and  wheat,  also  much 
stock.  Mr.  Butcher  is  a  son  of  James 
and  Lavina  (Scillen)  Butcher,  natives 
of  Ohio,  who  came  to  McDonough  county 
in  1861,  where  they  still  live.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  1859,  in 
the  state  of  Indiana.  He  grew  to  man- 
hood, upon  a  farm,  obtaining  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school,  which  he  at- 
tended winters,  spending  the  remainder 
of  the  year  at  work  upon  the  farm.  He 
lived  with  his  parents  until  he  attained 


his  majority,  soon  after  which  he  was 
married  to  America  Gorsuch,  a  resident 
of  Schuyler  county,  where  her  parents 
still  resides.  They  were  married  on  the 
30th,  of  September,  1880,  by  Eev.  J.  L. 
Towner.  Three  children  have  been  born 
to  them — Charles  B.,  William  and  an  in- 
fant daughter.  Mr.  Butcher  is  politic- 
ally, a  supporter  of  the  republican  party. 

Daniel  Munson,  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Vermont  in  1815,  and  is  a  son  of 
Theodore  and  Lydia  (Filbroock)  Mun- 
son, natives  of  Massachusetts,  who  were 
married  about  1800.  They  had  a  family 
of  five  children,  two  daughters  and  three 
sons.  In  the  year  1831,  the  family  came 
west,  locating  at  Kushville,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  where,  in  1845,  Theodore 
Munson  died.  His  wife,  Lydia,  died  in 
McDonough  county  in  1865.  Daniel 
Munson  was  married  in  1845,to  Rosrimia 
Costine,  and  by  this  union,  four  children 
were  born — Charles,  George,  Anna  and 
Udora,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Mun- 
son removed  from  Bushville  to  his  pres- 
ent home,  in  the  spring  of  1851.  He 
purchased  then  160  acres  on  section  7, 
Industry  township,  paying  for  the  same, 
$850.  He  has  added  to  this  until  he 
owns  at  present  325  acres,  located  in  sec- 
tions 5,  6  and  7.  He  has  a  large  and 
comfortable  dwelling,  and  a  barn  36x40 
feet.  He  has  in  his  barnyard,  a  large 
tank  which  is  kept  constantly  supplied 
with  pure  water  from  a  spring  420  feet 
distant;  he  discovered  this  spring,  while 
digging  a  well  for  the  use  of  his  stock. 
He  is  a  thorough  going  and  prosperous 
farmer. 

Charles  Munson,  eldest  son  of  Daniel 
and  Rosanna  (Costine)  Munson,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Schuyler  county,  born  in  August, 


736 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1846.  He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm, 
and -obtained  his  education  by  attending 
the  district  school  during  the  winter 
seasons,  his  summers  being  spent  in 
working  upon  the  farm.  He  was  mar- 
ried by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mullen,  in  1872,  to 
Annie  Kirkpatrick.  Two  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now  living — Daniel  R.  George  is  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Munson  is  a  republican  in 
politics.  His  brother,  George  Munson, 
was  born  in  Schuyler  county,  in  1848. 
His  early  life  was  spent  upon  his  father's 
farm.  He,  like  his  brother,  attended  the 
district  school  during  the  winter  and  fol- 
lowed farming  the  remainder  of  the  year. 
In  December,  1882,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Jennie  Meadors,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Meadors,  of  this  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Munson  are  parents  of 
twin  daughters,  born  December  1,  1884. 
He  owns  195  acres  of  land,  located  on 
sections  7  and  18,  Industry  township, 
with  120  acres  under  cultivation.  He  is 
politically,  a  republican.  The  brothers 
Munson,  are  enterprising  farmers  and 
esteemed  citizens. 

T.  J.  Pennington,  deceased,  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  McDonough 
county,  having  located  at  Penningtons 
Point,  in  1829.  In  1847,  he  removed  to 
section  17,  Industry  township,  where  he 
died  September  27,  1875.  His  death 
was  caused  by  dropsy  of  the  heart.  He 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1810. 
He  was  married  November  29,  1827,  to 
Polly  H.  Vanters,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 14,  1807,  and  died  August  3,  1840. 
April  15,  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  Pen- 
nington was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  J. 
(Smithers)  Rogers.  She  came  to  this 
county  in  1834  with  her  father,  Thomas 


Smithers,  Sr.  She  was  united  in  mar- 
ried in  Macomb,  January  28,  1835,  with 
Mr.  Rogers,  who  died  in  1840,  leaving 
her  with  one  child — Catherine  J.  She 
has  six  children  by  her  second  marriage 
—Thomas  R,  S.  M.,  S.  Douglas,  Alonzo, 
Nancy  J.,  and  Jemima  H.  The  Pen- 
nington estate  consists  of  a  farm  of  160 
acres  on  section  17,  Industry  township. 
Mrs.  Pennington  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church  for  38  years. 

David  A.  Pennington,  son  of.  Joel  and 
Elizabeth  (Smith)  Pennington,  was  born 
October  8,  1828,  in  Schuyler  county,  Illi- 
nois. His  parents  were  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  were  married  March  14, 1822. 
Joel  Pennington  died  May  7,  1865,  and 
Elizabeth,  his  wife,  February  14,  1861. 
David  A.,  remained  at  home,  working 
upon  his  father's  farm  until  he  was  24 
years  old.  He  improved  such  oppor- 
tunities as  were  to  be  had,  for  obtaining 
an  education,  attending  the  district 
school,  winters,  his  time  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year  being  spent  in  farm 
work.  He  was  married  in  1853,  to  Eliz- 
abeth Sharman,  daughter  of  William 
Sharman,  a  very  early  settler  of  McDon- 
ough county.  Seven  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  only  two  of  whom  are  now 
living — Ruan  B.  and  Arthur  H.  Those 
deceased  are — Dona  E.,  Minerva  C.,  Ger- 
trude G.,  Mary  E.,  and  an  infant  daugh- 
ter. Mr.  Pennington  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  198  acres,  the  greater  part  of  which 
is  located  on  section  10,  and  the  remain- 
der upon  section  22,  Industry  township. 
His  residence  is  on  section  10,  and  is 
commodious  and  comfortable.  His  barn 
is  large  and  convenient  and  was  built  at  a 
cost  of  $600.  Mr.  Pennington  has  always 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


737 


followed  his  present  business  and  is  in 
prosperous  circumstances.  He  is  a  dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and,  with  his  wife,  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church. 

William  Hammack,  of  Industry  town- 
ship, was  born  December  10,  1839,  in 
Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  and  is  one  of  the 
11  children  of  John  T.  and  Sarah  (Bob- 
ins)  Hammack,  natives  of  Virginia. 
Their  children  were — Ann,  Susan.Guilly, 
Mary,  Marcia,  Charlie,  Jane,  Elizabeth, 
William  and  two  who  died  in  infancy, 
John  T.  Hammack  died  in  1845,  in  Law- 
rence county,  Ohio.  William  came  to 
Eldorado  township  in  1863.  He  followed 
farming  there  until  1880,  then  moved  to 
Industry  township.  Three  years  later 
he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  remained  six 
months,  then  came  back  and  located  in 
the  village  of  Industry,  where  he  lived 
two  years.  December  22,  1884,  he  re- 
moved to  the  farm  where  he  now  resides 
on  section  3,  of  this  township.  May  25, 
1856,  Mr.  Hammack  was  married  to  Ten- 
nessee Suiter,  a  native  of  Lawrence 
county,  Ohio.  They  have  no  children  of 
their  own,  but  have  one  adopted  daugh- 
ter— Florence  V.  Hammack.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hammack  were  formerly  members 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 
He  belongs  to  the  Blue  lodge,  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Eastern  Star,  a  degree  of  that  order. 
He  has  always  been  in  political  matters, 
a  democrat. 

Alpha  Teats,  a  farmer  of  Industry 
township,  was  born  March  3,  1831,  in 
Preston  county,  West  Virginia.  His 
parents  were  Adam  and  Elizabeth  ( Mos- 
ser)  Teats,  who  were  likewise  natives  of 
West  Virginia.  His  father  was  born  in 
1790,  and  his  mother  July  13,  1793. 


Their  marriage  occurred  in  1813,  and 
the  former  died  in  1865,  the  latter  in 
1869.  Alpha  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
and  received  his  education  as  opportu- 
nity offered  in  the  common  schools,  work- 
ing hard  during  the  summer  months  on 
the  farm.  He  remained  with  his  par- 
ents, engaged  in  the  various  duties  inci- 
dent to  farm  life,  until  22  years  old,  and 
then  worked  out  by  the  month  for  about 
three  years.  He  then  came  west,  and 
first  lived  with  Nathaniel  Scott,  in  Chal- 
mers township,  of  this  county,  about  two 
years,  working  by  the  month.  Subse- 
quently he  worked  for  other  parties  until 
1860.  Upon  the  6th  day  of  March,  of 
that  year,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Vail, 
daughter  of  John  Vail,  of  Industry  town- 
ship. By  that  union  were  five  children 
— Lucinda,  born  August  1,  1861;  Ada- 
line,  born  July  16, 1864;  Nancy  L.,  bom 
September  24,  1865;  John  E.,  born  Jan- 
uary 23,  1868,  and  died  August  21,  1869, 
and  Bertha  S.,  born  January  18,  1877. 
Mr.  Teats  is  now  engaged  in  general 
farming,  and  owns  a  farm  on  section  8, 
Industry  township,  which  is  fairly  well 
improved.  Himself  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  Politi- 
cally, he  has  always  been  a  democrat. 

Joseph  Brown  came  to  this  county 
first  in  June,  1838,  and  located  in  Indus- 
try township,  but  soon  after  purchased, 
and  removed  to  a  farm  in  Fulton  county, 
where  he  lived  two  years.  He  then  sold 
out  and  went  to  Schuyler  county,  remain- 
ing there  until  1843,  In  that  year  he 
moved  to  Iowa,  and  resided  near  Bur- 
lington until  1851,  then  returned  to  the 
home  of  his  parents  in  Ohio.  Six  months 
later  he  came  back  to  Industry  town- 
ship, and  bought  80  acres  of  land  on  sec- 


738 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tion  2,  within  two  miles  of  Industry, 
which  has  been  his  home  since  that 
time.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  son  of  Christopher 
and  Mary  ( Cormany )  Brown,  natives  of 
West  Virginia.  Christopher  Brown  was 
born  in  Virginia,  January  13,  1784,  and 
died  in  March,  1863,  in  Ohio.  His  wife 
Mary,  was  born  in  May,  1783,  and  died 
in  May,  1854.  Joseph  was  born  Janu- 
ary 13, 1812,  in  Wythe  county,  Virginia. 
At  the  age  of  three  years  he  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Warren  county,  Ohio. 
Four  years  later  they  removed  to  Butler 
county  in  the  same  state,  where  Joseph 
remained  until  24  years  old.  He  was 
married  September  15,  1835,  to  Elenor 
Wickoff ,  who  died  April  27,  1838.  They 
had  an  infant  son  who  died  March  30, 
1838.  He  then  came  to  this  county  in 
June,  1838.  He  was  again  married,  June 
9,  of  the  following  year,  to  Eliza  J.  De- 
lapp.  She  died  March  9,  1854,  leaving 
five  children — Mary,  born  April  2, 1840; 
Thomas,  born  July  22, 1841 ;  Christopher, 
born  February  13,  1843;  Francis  M., 
born  March  10, 1845;  and  Sarah  M.,  born 
February  8,  1847.  Mr.  Brown  was  mar- 
ried the  third  time,  to  Vashta  Baty,  who 
was  born  March  2,  1828.  Their  mar- 
riage took  place  September  7, 1854.  By 
this  union  there  were  two  children — Ed- 
ward T.,  born  March  15,  1866;  and  Del- 
lie  L,  born  October  9, 1866.  Mr.  Brown 
has  a  finely  improved  farm  and  a  pleas- 
ant home,  which  he  is  enjoying  in  his 
old  age,  surrounded  by  many  relatives 
and  warm  friends.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  also  of  the 
Christian  church.  Politically,  he  is  a 
democrat. 

William  H.  Smith  is  a  son  of  Joseph 
O.  and  Marian  H.  (Vail)  Smith,  natives 


of  New  York  state,  who,  in  1856,  emi- 
grated to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  at  Canton.  From  thence  he  re- 
moved, in  the  year  1860,  to  Jerseyville, 
Jersey  county,  Illinois,  where  Joseph  O. 
died,  in  the  year  1864.  His  widow  sur- 
vived until  in  the  year  1883.  William 
H.  Smith  was  born  October  6,  1837,  in 
Orleans  county,  New  York.  When  13 
years  of  age,  he  was  "bound  out"  for  a 
period  of  five  years  to  James  Dean,  of 
Dodge  county,  Wisconsin.  He  remained 
there  but  four  year,  however,  then  re- 
turned to  his  parents,  for  whom  he 
worked  six  years.  He  then  engaged  in 
farming.  For  the  past  25  years  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  McDonough  county, 
living  in  Eldorado  and  Industry  town- 
ships. He  now  resides  in  the  village  of 
Industry,  where  he  owns  considerable 
real  estate,  including  a  good  dwelling 
house  and  five  lots.  He  is  the  proprietor 
of  a  steam  thresher,  which  he  operates. 
Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  I860*  to 
Frances  Way,  a  daughter  of  Uriah  B. 
Way,  of  Eldorado  township.  They  have 
had  two  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now.  living — Mary  V.  Florence  May, 
the  first  born,  is  deceased.  Mr.  Smith 
is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Industry  lodge,  No.  327,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  democratic  party. 

James  H.  Carnahan,  a  farmer  of  In- 
dustry township,  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and 
Elvira  (Mitchell)  Carnahan,  who  were 
from  Ohio.  The  former  was  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  and  the  latter  was  born  in 
Kentucky.  They  are  both  deceased. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  January  3,  1814. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  re- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


739 


mained  on  tke  old  homestead  until  22 
years  old.  He  was  married  August  25, 
1836,  to  Cynthia  A.  Murphy.  In  1852 
he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Scot- 
land township,  of  this  county,  on  section 
21.  He  there  remained  for  three  years, 
and  then  removed  to  Mason  county  and 
lived  about  six  months,  when  he  returned 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Industry  township, 
on  section  11,  where  he  has  since  lived. 
He  now  owns  200  acres  of  land  and 
and  about  25  acres  of  timber.  His  farm 
is  in  good  condition.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Car- 
nahan  have  had  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  still  living — Ann  M.,  Charles 
J.,  Safronious,  Sarah  A.,  Benjamin, 
Lafayette  K.  and  Mary  I. 

John  "W.  Miller  owns  280  acres  of 
good  land  on  section  13,  Industry  town- 
ship. Upon  this  land  are  good  improve- 
ments, and  the  appearance  of  the  place 
denotes  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  was 
born  August  23,  1837,  in  Industry  town- 
ship. His  parents  were  Lernie  B.  and 
Amy  (Bridges)  Miller,  native  Tennes- 
seeans.  His  mother  is  still  living,  but 
his  "father  died  when  John  was  quite 
young,  and  he  was  bound  out  to  an  uncle 
by  the  name  of  James  Vance,  who  took 
him  when  only  two  and  one-half  years 
old,  and  brought  him  up  on  a  farm. 
The  uncle  died  September  27,  1872.  On 
April  7,  1859,  John  Miller  was  married 
to  Louisa  A.  Russell,  and  she  died  July 
6,  1879,  leaving  four  children — James 
M.,  Mary  E.,  Lewis  R.,  Genaria  M., 
and  there  was  one  child  deceased,  named 
Amy  L.  He  was  again  married  March 
3,  1881,  to  Dilsey  C.  Fulton,  of  Macomb 
township.  By  that  union  there  was  one 
child — William  P.  Mr.  Miller  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church,  and  is, 


politically,  connected  with    the    demo- 
cratic party. 

George  Bennett  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and 
Betsey  (Tibergin)  Bennett,  natives  of 
West  Virginia.  They  were  married  in 
1818— the  former  died  in  Virginia,  and 
the  latter  in  Ohio,  in  1864.  George  was 
born  June  15,  1820,  in  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  and  remained  with  his  parents 
until  14  years  old,  when  he  worked  else- 
where on  a  farm  by  the  month.  He  was 
married  March  16,  1843,  to  Matilda 
Brown.  She  died,  February  23,  1860, 
leaving  one  child — John  R.  He  was 
again  married  April  27,  1862,  to  Maria 
Sanders.  By  that  union  there  has  been 
one  child — Mary  Belle.  Mr.  Bennett 
owns  272  acres  of  good  land  on  sections 
26,  25,  and  35.  His  place  is  well  im- 
proved, and  in  good  condition.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bennett  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church.  Politically,  he  is  a  republican. 
John  R.  Bennett  was  married  to  Colum- 
bia Sanders  July  4,  1866,  the  ceremony 
being  performed  by  Rev.  Evans,  in  In- 
dustry township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
R.  Bennett  have  an  adopted  daughter, 
Cora,  who  was  born  August  13,  1868. 
Their  child  Edgar  died  April  7,  1868. 

George  C.  Meador,  a  representative 
farmer  of  Industry  township,  is  a  son  of 
Jesse  and  Nancy  (Chuning)  Meador, 
who  were  formerly  from  old  Virginia. 
Jesse  was  born  in  1807,  and  Nancy  in 
1810.  The  former  died  during  the  fall 
of  1858,  and  the  latter  December  18, 
1865.  George  C.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  August  5,  1824,  in 
Nashville,  Tennessee.  In  the  spring  of 
1833,  he  came  with  his  parents  to  Galla- 
*tin  county,  Illinois,  near  Shawneetofi^/ 
where  they  lived  four  years,  when  they 


,740 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


removed  to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois, 
and  remained  with  them  until  he  was  24 
years  old.  He  was  married,  February 
15, 1849,  to  Mary  A.  Pitman,  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  the  ceremony  being  per- 
formed by  Rev.  William  Campbell.  She 
who  was  born  in  Todd  county,  Kentucky, 
June  18,  1828,  and  the  same  year  moved 
to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  with  her 
parents.  In  1835,  they  moved  to  Mc- 
Donough  county.  They  have  had  nine 
children,  and  all  are  now  living  but 
Elvira  S.,  who  died  in  1863.  Their 
names  are  as  follows — Eugene  B.,  born 
January  13,  1851;  Emma  T.,  born  No- 
vember 15,  1852;  Alice  G.,  born  March 

19,  1860;   William  J.,  born   September 

20,  1856;  Palestine,  born  May  26,  1858; 
Jennie  L.,  born  December  26, 1862;  Ona 
E.,  born  December  23,  1864;  and  Ina  A., 
born  November  19,  1866,     Mr.  Meador 
has  560  acres  of   good  land  in  Industry 
township.     He  has  improved  this  place 
by  putting  in   1,000  rods   of  drain  tile. 
His  buildings  are  good,  and  the  place  is 
quite  desirable  as  a  farm  and  home.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic   fraternity, 
and  politically,  may  be   called   a  green- 
backer. 

Jacob  W.  Flack  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  November  1,  1849.  His 
parents  were  Bartholomew  and  Elizabeth 
E.  ( Hertzel )  Flack,  natives  of  Germany. 
The  former  was  born  August  18,  1811, 
and  the  latter  August  15,  of  the  same 
year.  They  were  married  in  April, 
1833.  Jacob  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  of  age.  He  was  married 
December  24,  1872,  to  May  B.  Cordell, 
by  Rev.  Charles  Atherton.  They  have 
three  children — Edward  L.,  Oren  E., 
and  Rosa  May.  Mr.  Flack  received  his 


education  in  the  district  schools.  Him- 
self and  wife  are  members  of  the  M.  E. 
church,  and  politically  he  adheres  to  the 
principles  of  government  as  enunciated 
by  the  republican  party. 

Mrs.  Sarah  Cordell  is  the  daughter  of 
John  and  Martha  (Vance)  Wilson,  na- 
tives of  the  state  of  Tennessee.  John 
Wilson  was  born  November  2,  1806,  and 
his  wife  May  16,  1804.  The  former  is 
still  living.  The  latter  died  April  26, 
1882,  in  Industry  township.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Industry 
township,  October  7,  1833,  and  married 
March  9,  1862,  to  Collen  Cordell,  who 
was  born  January  4,  1834.  He  enlisted, 
August  2,  1862,  in  the  124th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, was  wounded  at  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg,  May  16,  1863,  and  died  in 
the  hospital  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  June 
6,  1863.  He  was  buried  in  Memphis. 
They  had  one  child — James  W.,  who  was 
married  April  3,  1884,  to  Dora  A.  Justus. 
By  this  union  there  is  one  child — Eva- 
lina.  Mrs.  Sarah  Cordell  is  the  owner 
of  a  farm  of  80  acres,  located  on  section 
21,  Industry  township,  where  she  has  a 
a  pleasant  and  comfortable  home.  She 
is  drawing  a  pension  from  the  "govern- 
ment, in  consequence  of  the  death  of  her 
husband.  She  is  a  Baptist  in  her  relig- 
ious belief. 

Frank  Duncan  is  a  son  of  Colonel 
Jonathan  and  Agnes  Leeper  Duncan, 
natives  of  York  and  Washington  counties, 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  born  November 
14,  1791,  the  latter  June  9, 1813.  Colonel 
Duncan  gained  his  title  by  gallant  ser- 
vice in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 10, 1876.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Agnes 
L.  Duncan,  is  yet  living.  Frank  Dun- 
can was  born  February  22,  1855,  in  Mer- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


741 


cer  county,  Illinois.  At  the  age  of  15 
his  parents  moved  to  Monmouth,  Illinois, 
where  he  entered  school,  which  he  at- 
tended three  years,  the  last  year  in  the 
Union  business  college.  He  was  mar- 
ried, March  10,  1875,  to  Clara  Eunkle,  of 
Industry,  daughter  of  Darius  Ruiikle. 
Three  children  have  been  born  to  them 
— Bertha,  Laura  and  Freddie,  all  of 
which  are  living.  Mr.  Duncan  is  a  far- 
mer, and  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  and  a  republican  in  politics. 
John  Tuggle,  a  representative  farmer 
of  Industry  township,  is  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, and  was  born  in  1817.  His  parents 
were  John  and  Elizabeth  (Genneny) 
Tuggle.  He  came  to  this  state  in  1836, 
first  locating  in  Morgan  county,  where 
he  remained  for  19  years.  He  then 
came  to  this  county  and  settled  near 
Middletown,  and  there  lived  two  years, 
then  came  to  Industry  township  and 
selected  a  home  on  section  16,  where  he 
resided  until  1882,  then  removed  to  sec- 
tion 29,  where  he  now  lives.  He  was 
married  in  1838  to  Martha  Jane  Kee, 
daughter  of  Peter  Kee,  a  native  of 
South  Carolina.  They  are  the  parents 
of  13  children — Crawford,  who  enlisted 
in  the  United  States  army,  in  the  war 
of  the  Union,  in  company  A,  84th  regi- 
ment of  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  three  years,  and  died  in  the  ser- 
vice, leaving  a  widow;  Maria  Elizabeth, 
the  wife  of  C.  M.  P.  Snow,  of  Jersey 
county;  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  G.  W.  Pat- 
terson, living  in  the  state  of  Tennessee; 
Thomas  Jefferson,  of  this  township,  who 
was  married  in  1881,  to  Hettie  Avery, 
daughter  of  Horace  Avery,  of  Bethel 
township;  Andrew,  living  in  Macomb; 
Ellen,  wife  of  Pares  Wheeler;  Sarah  J., 


wife  of  Samuel  Allesson ;  Fannie,  wife  of 
John  Gibson,of  Industry  township  ;Chas. 
B.,  at  home;  James  C.,  of  this  township, 
and  John  M.,  of  Bardolph,  who  is  there 
engaged  in  the  tile  business.  Mr.  Tug- 
gle takes  an  interest  in  educational 
affairs,  and  is  an  enterprising  citizen  of 
the  county.  He  has  been  school  director 
for  six  years,and  school  trustee  for  three 
years.  His  farm  consists  of  80  acres  of 
good  land.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Politically,  he  affiliates  with  the  demo- 
cratic party. 

Joseph  Newton  Adkisson,  of  Industry 
township,  may  properly  be  called  a  Mc- 
Donough  county  man,  having  been  born 
here  in  1832.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Gibson)  Adkisson,  who  were 
pioneers  of  the  county,  and  came  here 
in  1831,  settling  in  Industry  township. 
The  former  died  April  8,  1857,  and  was 
buried  in  Camp  creek  cemetery.  The 
latter  died  August  8,  1834.  The  father 
was  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church,  an  honest,  upright 
man,  and  one  who  was  closely  identified 
with  the  best  interests  of  this  section  of 
the  county  in  an  early  day.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1856,  to 
Cassa  Ann  Hardin,  daughter  of  Aaron 
Hardin,  of  Kentucky.  They  have  seven 
children — William  F.,  who  is  farming  in 
Nebraska;  Clara  C.,  wife  of  George 
Shirk,  a  resident  of  Macomb  township ; 
Mary  Margaret,  at  home;  John  H.,  liv- 
ing on  a  farm  near  Macomb;  George E., 
Thomas  M.,  and  Aaron  Arthur.  Mr. 
Adkisson  has  been  school  director  12 
years,  and  road  commissioner  three  years, 
and  these  positions  he  has  filled  credi- 
tably. Politically,  he  adheres  to  the 


742 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


principles  of  the  democratic  party.  He 
has  a  fine  farm  consisting  of  240  acres, 
and  is  engaged  mainly  in  raising  and 
feeding  stock. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

It  is  learned  from  an  examination  of 
the  superintendent's  annual  report  for 
the  school  year,  ending  June  30,  1884, 
that  the  estimated  school  property  of 
Industry  township  amounts  to  about 
$5,900,  and  the  amount  of  tax  levy  for 
the  support  of  schools  is  $2,915,  without 
any  bonded  indebtedness.  The  highest 
monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher,  is 
$60,  and  the  lowest,  $45,  while  the  high- 
est Avages  paid  to  female  teachers,  is  $38, 
and  the  lowest,  $20.  There  are  nine 
school  buildings  in  all,  in  the  township, 
all  of  which  are  good,  substantial  frame 
structures.  The  average  number  of 
months  of  school  taught  during  the 
year,  is  seven,  and  there  is  one  graded 
school  in  the  district  township.  The 
total  number  of  children  of  school  age 
in  the  township,  is  455,  of  whom  285  are 
enrolled  in  the  different  sub-divisions  of 
the  township. 

The  first  school  in  Industry  township 
was  taught  by  George  Dowell,  in  1830, 
in  a  log  cabin,  which  stood  but  a  short 
distance  from  the  present  site  of  the 
village  of  Industry. 

District  No.  1  has  its  school  building 
in  the  town  of  Industry,  'and  is  treated 
of  there. 

District  No.  2. — The  building  in  this 
district  is  better  known  as  the  Blazer 
school.  It  was  erected  in  1858,at  a  cost, 
for  the  building  proper,  of  $500.  It  is 
a  frame  structure,  and  is  24x30  feet  in 
ground  area.  The  grounds  consist  of 


one  acre  of  land,  of  which  one-half  acre 
was  donated  by  John  Blazer,  and  one- 
half  by  Daniel  Munson.  The  first  teacher 
in  this  house  was  William  McClellan. 
Zoe  Peniiington,  at  present,  holds  that 
position.  The  first  directors  of  this 
district,  were  Daniel  Miller,  Daniel 
Munson  and  William  Knowles.  The 
average  number  of  scholars,  is  20.  The 
school  house  is  on  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  8. 

District  No.  3. — This  school  is  known 
as  the  Runkle  school.  The  district  was 
organized  in  1866,  and  a  school  building 
erected  the  same  year,  at  a  cost  of  $700. 
It  is  a  frame  building,  18x28,  and  located 
on  section  28.  There  are  20  scholars  in 
the  district,  with  an  average  attendance 
of  10.  The  district  is  two  miles  wide 
and  three  miles  long.  Alice  Norton 
was  the  first  teacher. 

District  No.  4. — This  district  is  also 
known  as  Pleasant  Grove.  A  school 
building  was  'erected  in  1858,  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  22,  20x32 
feet  in  size.  .  It  was  built  at  a  cost  of 
$610. 

District  No.  5. —  The  building  used 
for  school  purposes  in  this  district  was 
erected  on  section  17,  in  188L  It  is 
26x36  feet  in  dimensions,  and  was  erect- 
ed at  a  cost  of  $700.  One  acre  consti- 
tutes the  grounds  of  this  school.  The 
first  teacher  was  N.  Knowlton,  and  the 
first  directors  were — G.  W.  Coker,  John 
Hushaw  and  G.  F.  Kugler.  There  is  a 
membership  of  52  in  this  school. 

District  No.  6. — The  school  house  of 
this  district  was  erected  in  1859,  at  a 
cost  of  $400.  It  is  located  on  section  9. 
Martha  Patrick  was  the  first  teacher, 
and  William  McKaniy,  Orsamus  Far- 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


745 


riiigton  and  John  G.  McGaughey  were 
the  first  directors.  There  is  an  enroll- 
ment of  20  scholars  in  this  district. 

District  No.  7. — The  building  of  this 
district  is  situated  on  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  section  12,  and  has  one-quarter  of 
an  acre  grounds.  It  is  familliarly 
known  as  the  "  Brown "  school  house, 
though  the  land  on  which  it  stands  was 
donated  by  J.  M.  Vail.  The  structure  is 
16x24  feet  in  dimensions,  and  cost  $300. 
The  first  directors  were— James  Carna- 
han,  Jesse  Brown  and  William  Beatty. 
The  building  was  erected  in  1856,  and 
the  first  term  of  school  was  taught  in 
that  year,  Robert  Follett  presiding  as 
teacher.  The  attendance  averages  35. 

District  No.  8. — This  district  was  or- 
ganized in  1864,  and  the  school  building 
erected  on  section  23,  the  same  year. 
The  size  of  the  building  is  24x30  feet. 

Black,  District  No.  9. — The  school 
house  of  this  district  is  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  30,  and  was 
built  in  1867  at  a  cost  of  $1,400;  size 
26x28  feet.  The  district  is  one  and  one- 
half  miles  wide  by  two  and  one-half 
miles  long. 

OKGANIC. 

This  township  was  organized  April  7, 
1857,  and  officers  elected  at  first  election 
as  follows — R.  L.  Dark  and  William 
Shannon,  justices;  William  B.  Peak  and 
John  Carroll,  constables. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township 
are  as  follows — supervisor,  W.  Kinkade; 
clerk,  A.  L.  Kemper;  assessor,  J.  W. 
Flack;  collector,  S.  M.  Pennington; 
highway  commissioner,  James  Crabtree; 
school  trustee,  John  B.  Vail;  justices  of 
the  peace,  P.  B.  Cordell  and  J.  W. 


Flack;  constables,  J.  C.  Tuggle  and  J. 
Utley. 

The  first  postoffice  established  in  the 
township  of  Industry  was  at  Doddsville. 

FIKST  ITEMS. 

The  first  marriage  in  Industry,  and 
also  the  first  in  the  county,  occurred 
October  30,  1828.  The  contracting  par- 
ties were  John  Wilson  and  Martha  R., 
daughter  of  James  Vance.  The  cere- 
mony was  performed  by  Elder  John 
Logan,  the  pioneer  Baptist  minister,  at 
the  house  of  the  bride's  parents. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  the  county 
was  organized  in  this  township,  at  the 
old  fort,  near  what  is  now  called  "  the 
cross-roads,"  two  miles  south  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Industry.  It  was  organized  by 
Rev.  John  Logan,  a  Baptist  minister. 

The  oldest  Sabbath  school  in  McDon- 
ough  county  was  organized  in  1833,  at 
the  house  of  John  Rodgers,  on  Camp 
creek,  in  Industry  township.  It  was  a 
union  school,  for  all  denominations,  and 
was  organized  by  Alexander  Campbell, 
who  was  its  first  superintendent.  The 
school  was  kept  up  for  several  years, 
and,  until  it  was  merged  into  a  church 
organization,  which  succeeded  in  erect- 
ing a  church  building  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. This  organization  still  exists,  in  a 
healthy  condition,  and  is  known  as  the 
Camp  creek  Presbyterian  church. 

There  is  a  saw  mill  on  section  5, 
which  was  erected  by  Wells  Norton,  in 
the  year  1860. 

TOWN  OF  INDUSTRY. 

In  1846,  Johnson  Downen,  living  on 
southeast  quarter  of  section  15,  5  north, 


746 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1  west,  Industry  township,  made  a  propo- 
sition to  John  M.  Price,  a  young  black- 
smith, to  give  him  an  acre  of  ground, 
and  the  neighbors  of  Mr.  Downen  of- 
fered to  erect  for  him  a  shop,  if  he  would 
settle  there  and  follow  his  trade.  This 
offer  Mr.  Price  accepted,  and  a  shop  was 
erected  for  him,  which  he  occupied  for 
many  years.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
the  present  village  of  Industry,  but  at 
the  time  no  thought  was  experienced  of 
a  town  being  there  located.  A  postofnce 
had  been  located  in  the  neighborhood, 
for  many  years,  in  charge  of  Joel  Pen- 
nington,  Esq.,  an  old  pioneer  of  the 
county,  who  kept  the  office  at  his  resi- 
dence. When  Mr.  Price  settled  here,  the 
country  around  was  in  a  wild  and  uncul- 
tivated state,  save  a  farm  here  and  there, 
the  greater  number  of  which  were  located 
east  and  southeast  of  the  present  town, 
around  the  old  Carter  settlement.  He 
has  stood  in  his  door  and  shot  wild  tur- 
keys, and  from  his  yard  killed  deer,  squir- 
rels, and  other  wild  game.  He  killed  a 
wolf  where  the  saw  mill  on  Main  street 
now  stands;  and  again,  when  the  mill 
was  located  about  the  center  of  the  street 
opposite  Vance's  Hotel,  upon  one  occa- 
sion, a  half  grown  deer  in  its  fright  ran 
into  the  mill  and  was  knocked  in  the 
head  with  an  ax. 

In  1860,  Cleon  and  Desa  Eeddick  came 
to  the  place  and  started  a  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store,  the  first  in  the  place.  This 
business  they  continued  for  two  years, 
when  J.  M.  Price  purchased  the  stock 
and  continued  the  business.  These  gen- 
tlemen were  the  first  to  settle  here  after 
Mr.  Price.  Next  came  Dr.  Duncan,  so 
well  and  favorably  known  through  the 
south  part  of  the  county.  He  was  the 


first  physician  in  the  place,  and  for  some 
years  the  only  one. 

The  first  survey  was  in  October,  1855, 
six  blocks  being  laid  off  by  William  H. 
Rile,  county  surveyor.  In  1858,  four  ad- 
ditions were  made  to  the  town,  viz :  East- 
ern, western,  southern  and  northern ;  and 
again,  in  1867,  Down  en's  addition  was 
surveyed.  The  place  was  given  its  name 
by  J.  M.  Price  and  Cleon  Eeddick.  A 
nickname  had  been  given  it  some  time 
previous  by  Springer,  who  had  called  it 
Pinhook,  for  what  reason  is  not  known 
by  even  the  oldest  inhabitant. 

Notwithstanding  the  place  was  laid  out 
in  1855,  it  was  not  incorporated  until 
1867,  when  it  was  organized  under  a 
special  charter,  the  first  meeting  of  the 
board  of  trustees  of  the  town  occurring 
the  evening  of  May  16,  1867.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  names  of  those  compris- 
ing the  first  board:  William  Sullivan, 
president;  Daniel  Carroll,  John  Shan- 
non, D.  M.  Creel  and  B.  F.  Botchlet. 
This  organization  of  the  place  was  con- 
tinued until  1873,  when  it  was  re-organ- 
ized, on  the  24th  of  January,  under  the 
general  law,  as  a  village,  with  the  follow- 
ing named  trustees:  John  McKinney, 
president;  J.  F.  Mosser,  John  W.  Flack, 
J.  D.  Goble  and  John  D.  Merrick. 

Industry  has  no  railroad,  yet  this  fact 
is  not  much  against  it,  as  there  is  no 
town  or  railroad  for  quite  a  distance  in 
any  direction,  which  fact  gives  the  town 
the  benefit  of  all  the  trade  within  a  ra- 
dius .of  several  miles.  Consequently 
there  is  no  more  prosperous  town  in  the 
county  than  Industry.  There  are  a  num- 
ber of  good  business  men  in  Industry,  a 
mention  of  whom  is  here  given. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


747 


II.  Beghtol  is  located  on  the  north  side 
of  Main  street,  in  a  building  owned 
by  George  Garrison.  This  building  was 
erected  in  1871.  It  is  a  frame  structure, 
22x46  feet  in  dimensions.  Mr.  Beghtol 
carries  a  good  stock  of  dry  goods  and 
groceries. 

J.  W.  Cordell,  dealer  in  hardware  and 
groceries,  is  located  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  street  between  Downing  and  Sulli- 
van. His  building  is  a  frame  structure, 
20x62  feet  in  dimensions.  In  it  he  com- 
menced business  in  1877.  He  has  a 
stock  valued  at  about  $1,500,  and  enjoys 
a  good  patronage.  The  postoffice  is  also 
located  in  his  building. 

James  W.  Cordell,  postmaster  at  In- 
dustry, is  a  son  of  James  W.,  Sr.,  and 
Catherine  (Cartwright)  Cordell,  natives 
of  Ohio.  James  W.  Jr.,  was  born  near 
Piqua,  Miami  county,  in  that  state,  in 
1842.  He  was  brought  up  by  his  grand- 
father, Alexander  Cordell,  with  whom 
he  lived  till  19  years  of  age.  He  then, 
February  1,  1862,  enlisted  in  company  I, 
of  the  62d  Illinois  infantry,  under  Capt. 
J.  M.  McLane.  He  took  part  in  a  num- 
ber of  skirmishes,  but  escaped  uninjured. 
He  was  mustered  out,  February  24, 1866. 
On  returning  home  he  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  at  Industry.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1873,  he  was  appointed  to  his 
present  office,  which  position  he  has  held 
since  that  time,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all. 
He  still  carries  on  the  grocery  trade  in 
which  he  has  been  very  successful,  and 
is  now  in  possession  of  a  competency. 
Mr.  Cordell  was  married  June  24,  1866, 
to  Annie  Springer,  and  by  this  union  has 
had  nine  children,  only  two  of  whom  are 
living — Francis  M.  and  James  O.  Mr. 
Cordell  is  a  republican. 


Sullivan  Brothers,  hardware  dealers, 
commenced  business  in  Industry  in  1880. 
Their  establishment  consists  of  three 
buildings,  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
street,  between  Sullivan  and  Downing. 
The  first  of  these  is  a  brick  structure, 
23x60  feet,  and  one  story  in  height, 
erected  in  1883.  Back  of  this  is  a  frame 
structure,  18x34  feet,  used  for  a  tin  shop. 
In  the  rear  of  this  is  their  warehouse, 
which  is  also  frame,  16x28  feet.  Their 
lot  is  99  feet  square.  Their  stock  con- 
sists mainly  of  hardware  and  groceries, 
and  will  average  $4,000  in  value.  They 
enjoy  a  large  country  trade. 

Henry  C.  Sullivan,  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  A.  (Adkinson)  Sullivan,  was  born 
November  10,  1841,  in  Industry  town- 
ship. His  father  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  his  mother,  of  Kentucky. 
Their  marriage  took  place  in  1840,  in 
this  township.  Henry  C.,  resided  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
at  which  time  he  was  married  to  Catha- 
rine M.  Vance.  Eight  children  have 
blessed  this  union — Rosa  C.,  Sarah  E., 
Wm.  A.  and  Eliza  A.,  twins,  Nellie,  Forest 
H., Florence  C.,  and  Lena.  In  1880,  Mr. 
Sullivan  formed  a  partnership  with  his 
brother,  Thomas  D.  Sullivan,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business,  the  firm 
name  being  Sullivan  Bros.  They  carry 
a  stock  of  about  $4,000,  and  have  a  full 
line  of  hardware,  groceries,  glass,  queens- 
ware  and  notions.  They  are  an  enter- 
prising firm  and  do  a  thriving  business. 

Thomas  D.  Sullivan,  of  the  firm  of 
Sullivan  Bros.,  hardware  merchants,  was 
born  in  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Sarah  ( Adkinson )  Sullivan.  Thomas 
D.  resided  with  his  parents  until  1884. 
January  13,  of  that  year,  he  was  united 


748 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


in  marriage  with  Mary  Anstine.  Mr. 
Sullivan  is  a  tinner  by  trade  and  has 
been  engaged  in  his  present  business, 
five  years.  Politically,  he  is  a  supporter 
of  the  prohibition  party. 

W.  S.  Hiatt,  druggist,  is  located  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Downing  streets. 
The  building  occupied  by  this  gentleman 
is  a  frame,  and  20x35  feet  in  ground 
area  and  two  stories  in  height.  Besides 
drugs,  he  carries  a  stock  of  cutlery,  jew- 
elry, glassware,  paints  and  oils,  books, 
stationery  and  cigars. 

W.  S.  Hiatt,  is  a  son  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  (Manlove)  Hiatt,  natives  of  North 
Carolina,  where  they  were  married  in 
1827.  In  the  year  1838,  they  emigrated 
to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  There, 
Isaac  Hiatt  died  in  1847.  Twenty  years 
later,  his  widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  Hiatt,  re- 
moved to  Industry  where  she  has  since 
resided.  Williamson  S.  Hiatt  was  born 
March  4,  1845,  in  Schuyler  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  came  to  McDonough  county, 
in  1867,  and  made  his  home  with  his 
brothers,  who  were  engaged  in  farming, 
until  1871,  when  he  established  his  pres- 
ent business.  Mr.  Hiatt  was  married 
December  12,  1871,  to  Celestia  E.  Hess. 
Four  children  have  blessed  their  union, 
two  of  whom  are  living — Bessie  B.  and 
Sarah  J.  Enos  E.  and  Arthur  H.  are 
deceased.  Mrs.  Hiatt  is  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church. 

Dr.  George  G.  Shannon  has  carried  on 
the  drug  business  in  Industry  since  July 
19,  1879.  He  is  located  in  a  building  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Downing  streets. 
He  carries  a  line  of  drugs,  paints  and 
oils,  cigars,  school  books  and  stationery. 
A  sketch  of  Dr.  Shannon  is  to  be  found 
in  the  Medical  chapter. 


The  building  occupied  by  J.  F.  Mos- 
ser,  general  merchandise  dealer,  was 
erected  by  him  in  1882,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500.  In  size  it  is  21x70  feet,  with  a 
wareroom,  21x36  feet  in  dimensions,  in 
the  rear  of  the  main  building.  He  car- 
ries a  full  line  of  such  goods  as  are 
usually  kept  in  stock  in  such  a  store. 
His  place  is  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
street,  between  Sullivan  and  Downing. 

Jacob  F.  Mosser,  one  of  the  leading 
merchants  of  the  village  of  Industry,  is 
a  son  of  John  and  Susan  ( Frankhouser ) 
Mosser,  natives  of  Virginia,  who  spent 
their  lives  in  that  state.  Jacob  F.  was 
born  December  2,  1833,  in  Preston 
county,  West  Virginia.  He  began  learn- 
ing the  blacksmith  trade  at  the  age  of 
18,  and  served  three  years.  October  29, 
1855,  he  came  te  Industry,  which  has 
been  his  residence  since  that  time.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  in  this  town,  on 
March  6,  1861,  with  Mary  Cordell.  By 
this  union  there  have  been  two  children 
— Charles  W.  and  Eva  Leona.  In  1868 
Mr.  Mosser  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandising, which  business  he  has  con- 
tinued until  the  present  time.  His  store 
building  was  erected  by  himself.  He 
is  a  live,  energetic  business  man,  and  is 
prospering  financially. 

J.  W.  Leach  has  a  large  building, 
23x110  feet  in  area,  on  the  corner  of  Sul- 
livan and  Hickory  streets,  in  which  he 
carries  on  the  agricultural  implement 
business.  This  is  used  as  a  display  and 
salesroom.  Besides  this,  he  has  a  ware- 
house, 24x75  feet  in  dimensions,  which 
is  used  for  the  storage  of  goods.  The 
business  was  established  in  1871. 

Mrs.  E.  B.  Kemper,  dressmaker  and 
milliner,  has  her  place  of  business  on 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


749 


the  south  side  of  Main  street.     She  has 
a  liberal  patronage  among  the  ladies. 

J.  M.  Kemper,  Jr.,  &  Son  have  an  es- 
tablishment on  the  south  side  of  Main 
street,  in  which  they  sell  boots  and 
shoes.  They  also  carry  on  the  restaurant 
business  there. 

-*  Benjamin  F.  Botchlett,  shoe  maker, 
is  located  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
street,  between  Downing  and  Sullivan, 
and  his  place  of  business  is  16x34  feet 
in  dimensions.  It  is  a  frame  structure, 
built  in  1867,  by  Morris  Merrick. 

William  H.  Sullivan  and  Wm.  Goble, 
commenced  the  blacksmith  business  in 
1878,  at  their  shop  on  the  south  side  of 
Main  street,  between  Downing  and  Sul- 
livan. They  do  plow  and  wagon  work, 
carriage  repairing,  horseshoeing,  and 
carry  on  a  general  job  business  in  their 
line. 

The  shop  of  J.  M.  Kemper,  wagon 
maker,  is  located  on  Downing  street,  be- 
Main  and  Hickory  streets. 

J.  McKinney,  shoe  maker,  commenced 
business  in  Industry  in  1856.  His  build- 
ing is  one  story  in  height,  14x20  feet  in 
dimensions,  and  is  located  on  Downing 
street,  north  of  Main. 

In  1883,  B.  F.  Botchlett  established 
himself  in  the  restaurant  business  in  In- 
dustry. His  place  of  business  is  on  the 
north  side  of  Main  street. 

HOTELS. 

Caleb  Hathaway,  hotel  keeper  at  In- 
dustry, is  a  son  of  Eleazer  and  Elizabeth 
(Flinn)  Hathaway.  Eleazer  Hathaway 
was  born  in  the  state  of  New  Jersey, 
and  when  quite  small  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Ohio.  Elizabeth  (Flinn) 
Hathaway,  was  born  and  brought  up  in 


Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Shelby 
county,  of  that  state,  in  1810,  and  there, 
Caleb,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  1825.  They  removed  to  Indiana 
in  1843.  About  six  years  later,Mrs.  Hath- 
away died  and  Eleazer,  subsequently 
removed  to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  died  in  1864,  aged  84  years. 
When  17  years  old,  Caleb  left  home  and 
went  to  Fort  Jefferson,  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  spent  a  year' in  learning 
the  blacksmith  trade  of  his  brother,  J. 
H.  Hathaway.  He  then  went  to  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  there  followed  his 
trade  two  years,  after  which  he  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Indiana.  In  1848, 
he  moved  to  Illinois,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Rushville,  Schuyler  county. 
He  was  married  there  to  Ehoda  J.  Veal, 
and  remained  three  years,  then  moved 
to  a  farm  in  Stark  county,  where  he 
lived  four  years.  He  then  returned  to 
Schuyler  county,, and  seven  years  later, 
removed  to  the  town  of  Industry.  In 
November,  1871,  Caleb  Hathaway  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Butler,  Bates 
county,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  about 
18  months,  and  then  returned  to  Indus- 
try. Mr,  and  Mrs.  Hathaway  are  the 
parents  of  three  children — William  C., 
born  in  1851;  Sarah  E.,  born  in  1855; 
and  Edgar  Lee,  born  in  1867.  Mr.  Hath- 
away is  the  supporter  of  the  democratic 
party,  and  is,  with  his  wife,  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church. 

OTHER  PROMINENT  CITIZENS. 

Presley  B.  Cordell,  formerly  one  of  the 
board  of  county  supervisors,  is  a  native 
of  Virginia,  born  February  1,  1820,  in 
Loudon  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Alexan- 
der and  Diana  (Wilson)  Cordell,  also 


750 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


natives  of  Virginia,  who  were  married  in 
that  state  and  remained  there  till  Octo- 
ber, 1828.  They  then  moved  to  Ohio  and 
remained  till  1847,  when  they  removed  to 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Littleton  township.  Presley  B.  resided 
with  his  parents  until  21  years  of  age. 
In  February  1841,  he  was  married  in 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  to  Elizabeth  H. 
Panabaker.  He  came  to  Rushville  in 
the  fall  of  1849,  a*nd  for  10  years  was  a 
resident  of  that  town,  coming  from  there 
to  Industry  in  1859,  since  which,  this  has 
been  his  home.  He  is  one  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  township,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  town  and  county  af- 
fairs. He  is  now  serving  his  fifth  term 
as  notary  public,  and  has  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  'peace  four  terms;  he  has 
also  filled  other  township  offices.  He  is 
a  democrat,  always,  in  politics.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cordell  have  five  children,  all  of 
whom  are  living — Mary  E.,  Emma  F., 
Sarah  R.,  Lydia  and  Horace. 

William  Pointer  is  a  son  of  Cornelius 
and  Rebecca  ( Snow )  Pointer,  the  former 
born  in  1788,  in  Pulaski  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  the  latter  in  1789,  in  Mary- 
land. William  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Kentucky,  November  30,  1810, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1829.  They  located  in  Morgan  county 
and  engaged  in  farming.  William  re- 
mained with  them  until  their  death.  His 
father  died  in  1833,  and  his  mother  in 
1835.  He  was  married  May  31,  of  the 
latter  year  to  Elizabeth  Morrison,  and  in 
1855,  removed  to  Hancock  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  followed  farming  until  the 
spring  of  1858.  At  that  date  he  removed 
to  McDonough  county  and  purchased  the 
hotel  known  as  the  Brown  house,  of  Si- 


las French.  He  run  the  house  one  year 
then  sold  it  to  James  Brown,  and  moved 
to  Scotland  township.  In  1873,  he  came 
to  Industry,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  is  now  engaged  in  farming,  also  keeps 
three  fine  imported  stallions.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pointer  have  four  children — Sarah 
R.,  Robert  C.,  George  D.  and  William  A. 
Mr.  Pointer  was  a  soldier  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  1831  and  1832.  He  is  an 
old  and  highly  respected  citizen.  He  was 
converted  and  joined  the  Methodist 
church  in  1869,  and  was  licensed  to 
preach  in  1871,  and  is  still  an  ordained 
local  elder  in  the  Free  Methodist  church. 
John  W.  Flack  is  a  son  of  Bartholomew 
and  Elizabeth  (Hircel)  Flack,  both  of 
whom  were  born  in  Germany  in  the 
month  of  August,  1811.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  America  in  1833,  and  in  1839,  set- 
tled in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  lived  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born,  on  the  30th  day  of  December, 
1840,  and  in  1849,  moved  to  McDonough 
county,  where  they  still  reside.  John  W. 
was  raised  on  a  farm,  living  with  his 
parents  until  he  was  19  years  old.  He 
was  then  married  to  Louisa  Osborn,  in 
McDonough  county,  on  the  18th  day  of 
March,  1860.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  he 
moved  to  Fremont  county,  Iowa,  and  not 
being  satisfied  with  the  outlook,  returned 
in  September  of  the  same  year,  and  lo- 
cated at  Industry,  where'he  now  resides. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flack  are  the  parents  of 
six  children — Elijah  A.,  Alice  B.,  Charles 
W.,  Willis  E.,  Lucy  E.  and  Louis  E.  The 
last  named  being  twins,  all  of  whom  are 
living.  Mr.  Flack  is  a  public  spirited 
man,  and  a  prominent  citizen ;  has  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  eight  years,  and 
was  re-elected  for  another  term;  as,  as- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


751 


sessor  five  years,  and  re-elected  for  1885 ; 
as  a  member  of  the  town  council  three 
terms;  as  school  trustee,  two  terms,  and 
as  school  director  one  term.  He  is  po- 
litically, a  democrat.  Religiously,  "As 
ye  would  that  men  do  to  you,  do  ye  even 
so  to  them." 

Mori  S.  Hall,  was  born  October  7> 
1859,  in  Fairfield,  Wayne  county,  Illi- 
nois. His  father,  Dr.  J.  H.  Hall,  was 
formerly  from  New  York  city.  His 
mother,  Louisa  (Andrews)  Hall,  is  a 
native  of  Ohio.  They  now  reside  in 
New  Salem  township,  McDonough 
county.  Mort.  S.,  was  sent  to  Hedding 
college,  Abingdon,  Illinois,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  completing  his  education,  but 
on  account  of  his  health,  he  was  unable 
to  remain  as  long  as  he  had  intended. 
In  1879,  he  commenced  teaching  school, 
which  occupation  he  has  followed  since 
that  time.  He  is  well  fitted,  both  by 
nature  and  education,  for  the  work  in 
which  he  is  engaged,  and  as  a  teacher,  is 
popular  and  successful.  He  is  now 
teaching  in  the  village  of  Industry. 
His  present  term  began  in  September, 
1884,  to  continue  eight  months.  He  is 
also  engaged  for  another  term  here,  be- 
ginning September  1,  1885.  Mr.  Hall 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
lodge  No.  572,  at  Bardolph,  in  which  he 
has  served  as  junior  deacon,  two-  years. 
He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  order  of 
the  Golden  Rule,  located  at  Industry. 

Thomas  Horton,  a  worthy  citizen  of 
the  village  of  Industry,  is  of  English 
birth.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Jane 
(Haddon)  Horton,  were  natives  of 
Northamptonshire,  England.  Joseph 
Horton  was  born  October  4,  1793,  and 
came  to  America  in  1853,  and  died  in 


October  25,  1866.  His  wife,  Jane  Hor- 
ton, was  born  March  14,  1791,  and  died 
June  14,  1868.  Both  died  in  Littleton. 
Thomas  came  to  America  at  the  age  of 
18,  and  located  in  Littleton,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  in  July,  1850.  From 
that  time,  till  1855,  he  was  engaged  at 
the  shoemaker's  bench,  and  also  in  farm- 
ing. During  the  latter  year,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Elvira  P.  Mid- 
dleton,  and  removed  to  a  farm  of  40 
acres,  in  Schuyler  county.  There  he 
followed  farming  till  1862.  In  that 
year,  he  enlisted  in  company  G,  of  the 
73d  Illinois  infantry.  He  participated 
in  a  number  of  battles,  and  was  taken 
prisoner  by  General  Morgan,  in  Ken- 
tucky. After  being  detained  by  the 
rebels  for  nearly  a  year,  he  was  ex- 
Changed,  and  subsequently  took  part  in 
the  Knoxville  campaign,  and  later  in 
Sherman's  march  through  Georgia. 
During  Sherman's  inarch  to  the  sea,  he 
was  under  command  of  General 
Thomas,  and  in  the  detachment  which 
whipped  at  Nashville,  and  pursued,  so 
closely,  the  rebel  general,  Hood.  While 
in  the  army  he  received  a  wound  in  the 
hand.  He  now  draws  a  pension  of  $12 
per  month,  on  account  of  rheumatism 
and  heart  disease,  contracted  during  the 
Georgia  campaign.  In  1881,  he  moved 
to  the  village  of  Industry,  but  returned 
to  his  farm,  two  years  later.  He  re- 
mained there-  but  one  year  and  six 
months,  however,  then  again  removed  to 
Industry,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  owns  land  here  upon  which  he  pur- 
chased, a  commodious  and  comfortable 
residence.  In  1859,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hor- 
ton adopted  Luther  Mathias,  to  whom 
they  gave  a  good  education,  and  who 


752 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


made  their  roof  his  home,  until  of  age. 
He  now  lives  in  Schuyler  county.  In 
1880,  they  took  another  little  boy  to 
bring  up — Albert  Horton.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Horton  are  Christian  people,  and 
have  been  connected  with  the  Baptist 
church,  of  Littleton,  for  32  years. 

Rev.  John  L.  Towner  was  born  in 
Steuben  county,  New  York,  August  20, 
1820,  and  was  the  eldest  of  eight  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  were  boys,  and  four 
girls.  His  parents  were  John  K.  and 
Hannah  (Loop)  Towner,  the  father  a 
native  of  New  York  and  his  mother  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  a  man  of 
marked  character,  having  occupied 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  be- 
stowed upon  him  by  his  fellow  citizens; 
he  was  likewise  a  true  Christian  man, 
and  for  the  advancement  of  the  cause  of 
Christ,  he  gave  his  time  and  nieans. 
His  mother  was  a  woman  of  remarkable 
mind,  having  an  extensive  knowledge  of 
the  scriptures,  and  her  wise  councils, 
and  the  purity  of  her  life,  had  much  to 
do  in  moulding  the  character  and  mind 
of  her  son.  In  1835,  the  parents  re- , 
moved  to  this  state,  settling  near  the 
town  of  Belvidere,  Boone  county,  of 
which  county  they  have  the  honor  of  be- 
ing the  first  white  settlers.  Indians 
were  then  all  around  there,  and  were 
frequent  visitors  to  their  cabin.  At  this 
time,  John  L.,  was  but  a  lad  of  15  years 
of  age.  After  erecting  his  cabin  the 
elder  Towner  sent  John,  with  a  team,  to 
Chicago,  to  bring  their  household  goods 
which  had  been  shipped  by  lake  there. 
The  present  mighty  city  was  then  but  a 
small  village  of  about  1500  inhabitants; 
to-day  it  numbers  more  than  a  half  mil- 
lion. All  the  advantages  in  the  way  of 


education  that  could  be  enjoyed  by  those 
dwelling  in  this  new  country,  were  given 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  had  the 
benefit  of  the  common  schools  in  his  na- 
tive county,  and  of  the  academy  erected 
at  Belvidere  at  an  early  day.  In  1843, 
under  the  ministration  of  Elder  Wil- 
liam Roberts,  he  made  confession  of  his 
sins,  and  was  baptized  into  Christ,  by 
that  man  of  God,  some  three  years  af- 
ter. Having  given  the  subject  much 
thought,  he  determined  upon  entering 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  giving  his 
time  and  whatever  talents  the  Lord  may 
have  given  him  for  the  advancement  of 
his  cause.  In  order  that  he  might  spec- 
ially prepare  himself  for  that  purpose, 
he  entered  the  Divinity  school,  Mead- 
ville,  Pennsylvania;  where  he  remained 
18  months.  In  1849,  he  entered  upon 
the  regular  work,  having  been  set  apart 
for  that  purpose,  since  which  time  he 
has  devoted  his  entire  time  to  the  proc- 
lamation of  glad  tidings.  His  work  has 
been  prosperous  to  a  great  degree,  and 
his  labors  have  extended  over  a  large 
territory,  having  received  calls  and 
served  as  pastor  of  churches  in  the 
towns  of  Belvidere,  Piano,  and  Indus- 
try, and  the  counties  of  Kendall  and 
Stephenson,  Illinois,  Greene  county, 
Wisconsin,  Grant  county,  Indiana.  In 
Industry,  where  he  now  resides,  he  la- 
bored faithfully  for  nine  years,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  members  of  his  own 
church,  and  the  community  in  general. 

Simon  Anstine,  a  resident  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Industry,  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Heindle)  Anstine,  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  who,  in  1840,  emigrated 
to  Ohio,  and  16  years  later,  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  Illinois,  and  located  in 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


753 


Industry  township.  John  Anstine  died 
here  in  1861,  and  his  wife  in  1874. 
Simon  Anstine  was  born  September  29, 
1821,  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania.  He 
was  reared  in  his  native  state.  He  came 
west  with  his  parents,  with  whom  he 
remained  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
March  4,  1861,he  was  married  to  Hannah 
Higby,  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  their 
marriage  took  place.  In  1870,  he  pur- 
chased 32  acres  of  land  on  section  15, 
Industry  township,  which  he  still  owns. 
He  also  has  80  acres  on  section  21,  and  a 
pleasant  residence 'in  the  village  of  In- 
dustry. Mrs.  Anstine  died  August  21, 
1882.  Ten  children  were  born  to  them, 
nine  of  whom  are  living — Luella  M., 
Mary  M.,  Hannah  A.,  Charles  C.,  Sarah 
A.,  Emma  L.,  Ruthie  E.,  Lottie  O.,  and 
Laura  E.  Frankie  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Anstine  is  a  democrat,  politically. 

Charles  W.  Greenup  removed  to  In- 
-  dustry  from  Scotland  township,  in  1880, 
purchasing  there  his  present  residence, 
which  is  located  on  the  main  street  of 
this  village,  where  he  is  pleasantly  sit- 
uated, and  has  a  desirable  home.  Mr. 
Greenup  was  born  March  15,  1829,  in 
Monroe  county,  Kentucky,  and  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Harland) 
Greenup,  also  natives  of  Monroe  county  ? 
the  former  born  in  1797,  and  the  latter 
1800.  They  were  married  in  1820.  John 
Greenup  died  in  November,  1876,  at 
Pennington's  Point,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  His  wife's  death  occurred  in 
1844.  Charles  W.  Greenup  resided  with 
his  parents  until  he  attained  his  major- 
ity. January  1,  1852,  he  was  married  to 
Frances  L.  Jones.  He  then  purchased 
80  acres  of  land  in  New  Salem  township, 
which  he  improved  and  lived  upon  until 


1862.  In  that  year  he  sold  the  place, 
and  bought  an  improved  farm  of  80 
acres  in  Scotland  township.  Two  years 
later,  he  sold  out,  and  bought  another 
farm  near  Center  Point  school  house,  on 
which  he  remained  two  years,  then  again 
sold  out  and  removed  to  another  farm  of 
120  acres,  which  he  purchased  in  the 
same  township.  There  he  resided  until 
1880.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenup  had  four 
children  born  to  them — Nelson  B., 
Martha  J.,  S.  Eugene,  %,nd  Eldora  K., 
deceased.  Mrs.  Greenup  died  October 
9,  1881,  and  Mr.  Greenup  was  again 
married  September  6,  1883,  to  Mattie 
Vance,  Mr.  Greenup  is  a  member  of 
the  M.  E.  church,  and  politically  a  prohi- 
bitionist. 

Christopher  Vail  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  and  of  Industry  township,  born 
May  28,  1838.  He  has,  therefore,  wit- 
nessed the  development  of  this  section 
of  country,  having  spent  all  his  life  here. 
He  is  a  son  of  John  B.  and  Sophia 
(Brown)  Vail,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Illinois,  in  1834,  and  still 
live  in  this  township.  Christopher  re- 
mained on  the  farm  with  his  parents 
attending  school  during  the  winter 
months,  and  in  the  summer  assisting  his 
father  in  the  various  employments  inci- 
dent to  farm  life,  until  24  years  old.  He 
was  married  April  27,  1862,  to  Eliza 
Hendrickson.  She  died  June  19,  1866, 
leaving  two  children — Lenora  L.  and 
Emma  E.  He  was  again  married  Sep- 
tember 6,  1868,  to  Sarophene  S.  Dace. 
By  the  latter  union  were  two  children — 
Martha  S.  and  Horace  M.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vail  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church.  Politically,  he  belongs  to  the 
democratic  party. 


754 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


John  B.  Vail,  is  a  sou  of  Thomas  and 
Nancy  (Bridge)  Vail,  who  were  natives 
of  New  Jersey.  She  removed  from 
that  state  to  Pennsylvania,  thence  to 
Ohio,  where  they  were  married  in  1810. 
They  came  to  McDonough  county,  Oc- 
tober 6,  1834.  The  father  died  Febru- 
ary 2,  1860.  They  were  both  buried  in 
the  family  cemetery.  John  B.,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  December 
18,  1811,  in  Butler  county  Ohio,  he  had 
a  twin  sister  wHo  died  in  infancy.  He 
remained  at  home  on  the  farm  until  22 
years  old.  He  received  a  limited  edu- 
cation in  the  subscription  school,  which 
he  was  privileged  to  attend  during  the 
winter  months.  He  was  married  May 
11,  1834,  to  Sophia  Brown,  and  with  his 
father's  family,  they  came  to  this  state, 
starting  011  the  16th  day  of  September, 
of  that  same  year.  He  located  in  Schuy- 
ler  county,  where  he  rented  a  farm  and 
remained  two  years,  then  came  to  this 
county  and  settled  on  section  14,  of  In- 
dustry township,  which  place  has  since 
been  his  home.  They  are  the  parents 
of  nine  children — Mary,  Nancy,  Chris- 
topher, Thomas  J.,  Adaline,  Lavina, 
Eliza  and  William.  Thomas  J.,  died 
while  in  the  army  at  Nashville,  Tennes- 
see, July  3,  1863,  aged  24  years.  Mr. 
Vail  has  400  acres  of  good  land  in  In- 
dustry township,  which  is  well  improved. 
The  condition  of  the  place  indicates  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  the  owner.  He 
has  put  in  800  rods  of  drain  tile,  and  ex- 
pects to  put  in  as  much  more  this  season, 
thereby  adding  materially  to  the  value 
of  the  place.  Mr.  Vail  is  a  much  re- 
spected citizen,  and  with  his  wife,  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Vail 
has  been  here  a  long  time,  and  witnessed 


the  development  of  this  country,  he  has 
seen  the  transformation  from  unbroken 
stretches  of  natural  wilderness,  to  com- 
fortable and  pleasant  homes,  and  in  this 
change  he  has  contributed  his  full  share 
of  labor  and  sacrifice. 

Ebenezer  Vail  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Nancy  Vail,  who  were  originally  from 
New  Jersey,  and  are  both  now  deceased. 
Ebenezer  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  December  14, 1821,  and  remained 
with  his  parents  until  31  years  of  age. 
March  20,  1855,  he  was  married  to  Amy 
Garrison.  The  ceremony  was  performed 
by  Presley  Cordell  and  occurred  in 
Schuyler  county.  They  have  had  six 
children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Alice  A.,  Elmer  I.,  Etna  A.,  and  Cora  A. 
Sarah  L.,  and  Lewis  H.,  are  deceased. 
He  owns  250  acres  of  good  land,  well 
improved,  having  225  rods  of  drain  tile, 
and  good  fences.  The  buildings  are  all 
good  and  the  place  is  in  fine  condition. 
Politically  Mr.  Vail  affiliates  with  the 
democratic  party. 

Henry  W.  Vail,  a  leading  citizen  of 
Industry,  is  a  son  of  Henry,  Sr.,  and  Par- 
melia  (Bridge)  Vail,  natives  of  the  state 
of  New  Jersey.  Henry  W.  Vail  was  born 
January  19, 1826,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio. 
When  he  was  six  years  old,  his  father 
died,  and  he  continued  to  reside  with  his 
mother  until  her  death,  which  occurred 
in  1851.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall 
of  1847,  and  located  then  near  Kushville, 
Schuyler  county,  where  he  resided  for 
20  years.  He  owned  a  fine  farm  of  292 
acres,  in  that  county,  and  carried  on  gen- 
eral farming.  In  1867,  he  purchased  a 
farm  in  Industry  township,  containing 
200  acres,  and  removed  thither.  He  re- 
sided upon  the  farm  until  1883,  when  he 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


755 


moved  into  the  village,  where  he  erected 
a  handsome  and  commodious  brick  resi- 
dence, in  which  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Vail 
was  married  in  Ohio,  September  20, 1849, 
to  Rachel  Cox.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children — A.  L.,William 
T.,  George  W.,  Orinda,  James  E.  and 
May.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vail  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church.  He  is  a  demo- 
crat, politically. 

George  W.  Vail  is  a  son  of  H.  W.  and 
Rachel  (Cox)  Vail,  both  natives  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  where  H.  W.,  was  born  in 
1826,  and  his  wife  in  1829.  They  were 
married  in  their  native  state,  and  in  1847, 
emigrated  to  Illinois.  They  are  now  liv- 
ing in  Industry  township.  George  W., 
was  born  January  5,  1854,  in  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm,  obtaining  his  education  in  the 
district  school,  which  he  attended  during 
the  winter  seasons.  In  March,  1878,  he 
was  married  to  Sarah  Butcher,  and  by 
this  union,  has  three  children — Delia  R., 
James  O.  and  Nellie.  Mrs.  Vail  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Vail  is  engaged  in  farming,  paying  par- 
ticular attention  to  fine  horses.  He  owns 
the  following  horses;  One  Clyde,  four 
years  old,  one  Norman,  of  the  same  age, 
two  English  shire  cart  horses,  eight  and 
five  years  old,  and  one  Cleveland  bay 
horse,  four  years  old.  He  has  a  large 
barn  conveniently  arranged  for  the  ac- 
comodation  of  his  horses  and  other  stock. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

On  the  north  side  of  Main  street,  and 
between  Downing  and  Sullivan,  is  sit- 
uated the  only  school  building  in  the 
town  of  Industry.  This  edifice  was  erec- 
ted in  1866,  and  is  22x40  feet  in  ground 


area,  and  two  stories  in  height.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  building  was  James 
B.  Campbell.  The  directors  were — E. 
Wright,  J.  W.  Leach  and  Dr.  Creel. 
The  attendance  at  the  school  is  about  75. 
The  destinies  of  the  scholars  are  presi- 
ded over  by  Mortimer  Hall,  principal, 
and  Mrs.  Scudder,  assistant.  The  first 
school  in  the  village  was  taught  by  John 
Claybaugh,  in  the  first  dwelling  house 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  present  town. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  congre- 
gation was  organized  in  November,  1843. 
( See  Ecclesiastical  chapter. ) 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Industry  dates  its  organization  back  to 
1855.  (For  particulars  see  Ecclesias- 
tical chapter. 

GOVERNMENT. 

The  present  town  board  of  Industry 
is  constituted  as  follows:  H.  W.  Vail 
Sr.,  president;  Simon  Anstine,  E.  Fish, 
William  Pointer,  Jacob  Sowers  and  D. 
M.  Creel.  Uream  Begthol  is  street 
commissioner;  W.  H.  Wyatt,  village  con- 
stable. 

SOCIETIES. 

Industrial  lodge  No.  367,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  was  established  on  the  third  day 
of  October,  1859,  with  the  following  char- 
ter members:  W.  S.  Hughy,  W.  D.  Vaw- 
ter,  O.  F.  Walker,  Henry  Downen,  W. 
K.  Hobert,  John  Kemper,  W.  B.  Pyle, 
and  W.  B.  Miller.  The  first  worshipful 
master  was  W.  S.  Hughy.  W.  D.  Vaw- 
ter  was  the  first  senior  warden,  and  O. 
F.  Walker  was  junior  warden.  The 
lodge  has  a  membership  of  30.  Their 
hall  is  located  on  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Downing  streets. 


756 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


A  lodge  of  the  Golden  Rule  was  or- 
ganized at  Industry  village  recently  with 
28  charter  members,  and  is  now  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  All  able-bodied 
persons,  of  both  sexes,  of  good  moral 
character,  are  cordially  invited  to  become 
members.  The  lodge  meets  on  Friday 
nights,  on  or  before  the  full  moon.  The 
following  persons  are  the  officers:  Chief 
patriarch,  Dr.  G.  G.  Shannon;  chief 
counsellor,  Mrs.  V.  L.  Odenweller;  chief 
captain,  J.  W.  Flack;  secretary,  J.  W. 
Cordell;  treasurer,  Emma  Botchlett; 
captain  of  the  guard,  M.  A.  Lawyer; 
first  guard,  C.  W.  Flack;  second  guard, 
Chas.  McGaughey;  sentry,  John  W. 
Wilhelm;  sentinel,  A.  O.  McCoy. 

INDUSTRY   MUTUAL  COUNTY  FIRE  AND 
LIGHTNING   INSURANCE   COMPANY. 

This  company  was  organized  and  com- 
menced business  June  20,  1877,  under 
an  act  of  the  legislature  concerning 
township  fire  insurance  companies.  Dur- 
ing the  session  of  the  legislature  in 
1877,  a  law  was  passed  providing  for 
county  insurance  companies,  and  also 
providing  that  township  companies 
could  reorganize  under  the  new  law  as 
county  companies.  This  company  was 
duly  reorganized  according  to  law  as  a 
county  company,  and  now  insures  farm 
property  in  all  parts  of  McDonough 
county.  The  company's  pamphlet  for 
1885  gives  its  membership  as  being  316 
in  numbers,  states  that  it  has  $450,000 
worth  of  risks  outstanding,  and  claims 
bright  prospects  for  the  future.  Many 
farmers  of  the  county  are  going  into 
this  company  as  their  policies  in  other 
companies  expire. 

The  officers  for  1885  are  as  follows: 


H.  W.  Vail,  Sr.,  president;  A.  J.  Wil- 
helm, treasurer;  J.  E.  Vail,  secretary. 
Board  of  directors,  H.  W.  Vail,  Sr.,  J. 
W.  Miller,  C.  E.  Shannon  and  A.  J.  Wil- 
hem,  of  Industry  township;  Hugh  Wat- 
son, of  Scotland  township;  L.  B.  Mourn- 
ing, Benjamin  Boyd  and  W.  A.  Hutch- 
inson,  of  Tennessee  township;  Darius 
Runkle,  Doddsville. 

SAW  MILL. 

There  is  a  saw  mill  in  Industry,  lo- 
cated on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Sullivan 
streets.  It  was  erected  in  1854,  by  Cor- 
nelius Adkinson.  It  is  now  owned  by 
Mosser  &  Sullivan,  and  is  operated  by 
J.  Hiatt. 

The  first  grist  mill  in  the  village  of 
Industry  was  built  by  Joel  Pennington, 
in  the  year  1849,  in  order  to  meet  the 
demands  for  such  an  institution  in  this 
vicinity.  It  was  built  on  the  site  of  a 
saw  mill,  which  had  been  put  up  some 
two  years  before.  This  grist  mill  is  now 
the  property  of  Wetherhold  &  Wells, 
wh6  are  doing  a  profitable  business  in 
the  milling  line.  The  mill  is  situated 
on  Sullivan  street. 

John  Stewart  Wells  is  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1832,  and  a  son  of 
Benjamin  H.  and  Eliza  (Stewart)  Wells, 
also  natives  of  that  state.  In  1840,  the 
family  moved  west,  settling  in  Iowa, 
where  they  remained  until  1858.  In 
that  year  they  removed  to  Missouri. 
Benjamin  H.  still  lives  in  that  state,  but 
John  S.,  subject  of  this  sketch,  remained 
there  only  one  year,  then  came  to  Illi- 
nois, and  located  in  Knox  county,  where 
he  was  employed  in  a  flouring  mill.  A 
number  of  years  later  he  went  to  Vic- 
toria, in  the  same  county,  and  there 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


757 


rented  a  mill  with  a  capacity  of  30  bar- 
rels per  day.  He  remained  there  a  year, 
then  moved  to  Wataga,  and  took  charge 
of  a  mill  at  that  place,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged three  years;  thence  he  went  to 
Bardolph,  McDonough  county,  where  he 
ran  a  mill  for  Henry  Booth  six  months. 
His  next  move  was  to  Macomb,  where 
for  five  years  he  remained  in  charge  of 
N.  P.  Tinsley's  mill,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Industry  and  entered  the  em- 
ploy of  Wetherhold  &  Penrose,  taking 
charge  of  their  mill.  In  1884  he  pur- 


chased a  further  interest  in  the  Industry 
flouring  mills.  Mr.  Wells  has  been 
twice  married;  first,  in  December,  1866, 
to  Rebecca  Patrick,  of  Knoxville,  Knox 
county,  Illinois.  She  died  September  5, 
1877,  in  Wataga,  leaving  two  children — 
Luella  and  Eddie  F.  The  latter  died  on 
September  19,  1884.  Mr.  Wells  was 
again  married,  May  19, 1879,  at  Victoria, 
Knox  county,  to  Maggie  Levalley.  By 
this  union  there  have  been  three  chil- 
dren— Harry  M.,  Winnie  F.  and  Ray  S. 
The  former  son  died  in  infancy. 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


PRAIRIE  CITY  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  lies  in  the  extreme 
northeastern  corner  of  the  county,  and 
consists  of  but  18  sections  of  land.  It 
was  originally  a  full  congressional  town- 
ship, but  in  1865  it  was  divided  in  the 
center  east  and  west,  by  an  act  of  the 
legislature,  the  north  half  retaining  the 
name  of  Prairie  City,  and  the  south  half 
taking  tbe  name  of  Bushnell. 

Prairie  City  is  an  excellent  body  of 
prairie  land,  there  being  no  timber  of 
any  consequence  within  its  borders,  ex- 
cept beautiful  artificial  groves  here  and 
there,  which  surround  many  of  the 
homes  of  its  inhabitants.  Two  branches 
of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad  pass  through 
the  township,  and  the  flourishing  village 
of  Prairie  City  is  located  in  the  north- 


eastern corner,  the  only  town  within  its 
borders.  But  little  was  done  in  the  set- 
tlement of  the  township  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  railroad,  when,  in  a  short 
time,  every  quarter  was  taken  up  and 
occupied. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Prairie  City  township  was  organized 
in  1857. 

The  first  township  election  was  held 
April  7,.  1857,  at  which  time  W.  H.  Ogles- 
bee  and  J.  R.  Parker  were  elected  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  and  Leonard  Neff, 
constable. 

R.  .H.  McFarland  was  the  first  police 
magistrate,  and  ex  officio  justice  of  the 
peace,  being  elected  January  15,  1858. 


758 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


At  the  time  of  the  organization,  Prai- 
rie City  was  a  full  congressional  town- 
ship, but  has  since  been  divided,  and 
the  present  township  of  Bushnell  erected, 
as  stated. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township 
are  as  follows:  Supervisor,  A.  Mead; 
clerk,  Robert  Burden,  Jr. ;  assessor,  John 
W.  Davis;  collector,  Robert  Burden, 
Sr.;  justices  of  the  peace,  C.  S.  Harris 
and  J.  R.  King;  highway  commissioner, 
A.  R.  Long;  constables,  Wm.  C.  Rush 
and  J.  W.  Cadwallader;  school  trustee, 
Z.  A.  Foster. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

From  the  last  annual  report  of  the 
county  superintendent,  for  the  school 
year  ending  June  30,  1881,  Prairie  City 
township  is  credited  with  459  children 
between  the  ages  of  6  and  21  years,  341 
of  whom  are  enrolled  in  the  six  schools 
in  the  district  township,  three  of  which 
are  graded  institutions  of  learning.  The 
average  number  of  -months  of  school 
taught  is  seven  and  a  half.  There  was 
one  new  school  building  erected  during 
the  year,  and  at  present  there  are  six 
frame  buildings  in  the  township.  There 
is  also  one  district  in  the  township  which 
has  a  library  of  157  volumes.  The  high- 
est monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 
is  $75,  and  the  lowest,  $40;  while  the 
highest  wages  paid  female  teachers  is 
$33,  and  the  lowest,  $19.  The  estimated 
value  of  school  property  is  $5,900,  with 
$2,175  as  the  amount  of  tax  levy  for  the 
support  of  the  schools.  The  district 
township  is  also  free  from  any  bonded 
indebtedness.  The  schools  are  the  pride 
of  the  people. 


EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

Though  the  first  settlement  in  Prairie 
City  township  located  here  over  half  a 
century  ago,  still,  nearly  all  the  other 
townships  were  settled,  to  a  greater  or 
less  extent,  previous  to  that  time.  Its 
growth  for  a  considerable  time  was  not 
very  rapid,  but  later,  was  all  that  could 
be  desired,  as  the  wonderful  productive 
qualities  of  the  soil  could  not  always  be 
left  neglected;  and  to-day,  no  township 
in  the  county  can  boast  of  a  better  class 
of  farms  and  improvements,  or  more 
enterprising  citizens. 

Henry  Brink  located  on  section  2,  in 
1835.  He  was  well  known  among  the 
early  settlers. 

John  Griffin  also  located  on  section  2, 
on  the  present  site  of  Prairie  City,  in 
1835.  His  name  occurs  in  connection 
with  some  of  the  first  events  in  the  his- 
tory of  Prairie  City. 

Edward  Goldsmith  was  also  a  settler 
of  1835.  He  is  mentioned  at  greater 
length  farther  on  in  this  chapter. 

Henry  Thompson  was  also  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  township.  He  took  up 
a  location  and  built  his  cabin  on  section 
13,  in  1836. 

As  the  history  of  this  township  is,  to 
a  great  extent,  identical  with  that  of  the 
town  of  Prairie  City,  all  necessary  de- 
tails will  be  found  in  connection  with 
the  record  of  that  place,  in  this  chapter, 
or  in  the  following  sketches  of 

PROMINENT   CITIZENS. 

John  W.  King  was  born  January  9, 
1820,  in  Jonesborough,  Tennessee.  He 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  father,  Rev. 
James  King,  in  the  year  1834.  February 
19,  1846,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


759 


Emily  T.  McClure,  who  was  born  in 
Berksville,  Cumberland  county,  Ken- 
tucky, July  19,  1820,  and  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Morgan  county  Illinois, 
about  1825,  and  to  McDonough  county 
in  1834.  Both  families,  King's  and  Mc- 
Clure's,  are  of  Irish  and  English  ances- 
try. During  the  month  following  his 
marriage,  Mr.  King  removed  to  Prairie 
City  township,  where  he  resided  until  his 
death,  October  18,  1865.  He  was  an 
earnest  and  sincere  Christian  gentleman. 
He  was  much  interested  in  the  cause  of 
education  and  in  politics,  was  a  conser- 
vative, yet  staunch  republican.  By  in- 
dustry and  economy  he  converted  the 
wild  unbroken  prairie  into  a  comfortable 
and  pleasant  home,  and  left  at  his  death, 
an  estate  valued  at  $25,000. 

J.  Richard  King,  a  farmer,  was  born 
in  Prairie  City  township,  October  29, 
1857.  He  is  a  son  of  •  John  W.,  and 
Emily  (McClure)  King.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  his  native  township,  and  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  attending  the 
district  school,  and  latter,  Hedding  col- 
lege, at  Abingdon,  Illinois.  He  subse- 
quently went  to  St.  Louis,  and  took  a 
course  of  instruction  at  the  Mound  City 
commercial  college,  of  which  institution 
he  is  a  graduate.  He  is  an  experienced 
teacher  in  the  public  schools,  and  was 
for  two  years,  principal  at  the  commer- 
cial department  at  Hedding  college.  He 
is  now  engaged  in  farming  upon  his 
father's  estate.  In  1885,  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace,  by  the  republican 
party,  to  serve  for  a  term  of  four  years. 
He  is  a  prominent  citizen  and  held  in 
much  esteem  by  all. 

James  M.  King,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Prairie  City  township,  is  a  son  of 


Thomas  and  Mary  (Holden)  King.  He 
was  born  in  1838  near  Colmar,  in  Ten- 
nessee township  in  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  He  lived  in  his  native  town  un- 
til 10  years  old,  then  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Warren  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1855. 
At  that  date  he  went  to  Missouri,  where 
he  remained  a  few  weeks,  and  returned 
to  McDonough  county,  locating  then  in 
Walnut  Grove  township,  where  he  re- 
sided 19  years,  then  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent home  on  section  9,  Prairie  City  town- 
ship. He  was  married  in  the  fall  of  1858, 
to  Mary  Tracy,  of  Ohio,  and  by  this  un- 
ion, has  seven  children — Oscar,  living  in 
Walnut  Grove  township;  F.  W.,  Laura, 
Nellie,  Harvey,  Maria  and  Joseph  E., 
living  with  their  parents.  Mr.  King 
owns  539  acres  of  land,  all  in  cultivation, 
with  fine  improvements.  He  pays  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  rearing  of  fine 
horses,  also  sheep,  cattle  and  other  stock. 
He  is  at  present  acting  as  school  director 
of  his  district,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Anti-Horse-Thief  society.  In  politics  he 
is  liberal,  and  not  bound  to  any  party. 
Mrs.  King  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church. 

Samuel  P.  King,  a  well  known  farmer 
of  Prairie  City  township,  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  (Holden)  King,  and 
was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in 
1847.  When  five  or  six  years  of  age,  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  McDonough 
county,  where  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
has  been  spent.  At  the  age  of  17  years, 
he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country, 
joining,  the  47th  Illinois  infantry  in  1864, 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  or 
about  one  year.  He  returned  home  from 
the  army  and  remained  with  his  parents 


760 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


until  26  years  old,  when  he  was  married 
December  24,  1873,  to  Zerilda  D.  Paugh, 
of  Brown  county,  Illinois.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  two  children — Ed- 
mund Eugene  and  Gertie  Clover.  In 
1875,  Mr.  King  removed  to  Union  county 
Iowa,  where  he  purchased  and  improved 
a  farm  of  80  acres.  He  resided  upon  the 
same  five  years,  returning  in  1880  to  this 
county,  and  purchasing  80  acres  of  land 
in  Prairie  City  township,  upon  which  he 
has  since  lived.  He  has  a  good  farm,  all 
cultivated  and  improved.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
King  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  G.  A.  R.  and  the  Anti-Horse-Thief 
association.  In  politics  he  is  independ- 
ent, and  is  a  worthy  and  esteemed  citizen. 
Sanger  S.  Stearns,  a  well  known  farmer 
and  leading  citizen  of  Prairie  City  town- 
ship, was  born  April  9,  1815,  in  Oneida 
county,  New  York.  His  parents  were 
Phineas  and  Mary  (Cooper)  Stearns,  the 
former  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
the  latter  of  New  Hampshire.  Sanger 
S.  Stearns  removed  to  Illinois  in  1839, 
and  settled  in  Fulton  county.  He  came 
to  McDonough  county,  December  25, 
1864,  and  located  where  he  now  lives,  on 
section  9,  Prairie  City  township.  He 
owns  400  acres  of  valuable  land,  all 
under  cultivation.  His  buildings  were 
erected  at  n  cost  of  $4,500,  and  are  com- 
modious and  comfortable.  He  carries 
on  general  farming,  and  is  in  prosperous 
circumstances.  Mr.  Stearns  was  mar- 
ried in  1843,  to  Clarissa  Foliatt,  of  New 
York.  She  died  February  21,  1861, 
leaving  him  four  children — Royal  De 
Kalb,  now  a  resident  of  Lincoln, 
Nebraska,]engaged  in  the  practice  of  law; 
Annette,  wife  of  Luther  Russell,  a  far- 


mer in  Iowa;  Olive,  who  was  married  to 
Edwin  Reagan,  and  died  March  12, 
1885;  and  Florence  R.,  wife  of  Allen 
Hall,  of  Prairie  City  township.  Mr. 
Stearns  was  married  in  1861,  to  Sarah 
Laughry,  by  whom  he  has  three  chil- 
dren— Paul  S.,  Clara  M.,  and  Josephine. 
Mrs.  Stearns  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  has  been  road 
commissioner  two  years,  and  school 
director  seven  years.  He  is,  politically, 
a  republican. 

Francis  T.  Emory,  son  of  John  and 
Deborah  (Towne)  Emory,  is  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  was  born 
July  24,  1811.  His  ancestors  for  several 
generations  past,  were  of  New  England 
origin,  his  great  grandfather  having 
been  in  the  French  war  of  1755  and  '65. 
His  grandfather  was  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  revolution,  and  lived  with  his 
wife  70  years.  Francis  T.  began  at  the 
age  of  16  years  to  earn  his  own  liveli- 
hood, and  at  25  gave  to  his  father's  fam- 
ily $600,  all  of  his  hard  earning,  and 
started  again  with  nothing.  He  now 
owns  a  splendid  farm  of  560  acres,  all 
under  cultivation,  and  finely  improved. 
He  came  to  McDonough  county  in  De- 
cember, 1855,  and  settled  where  he  now 
resides,  on  section  9,  Prairie  City  town- 
ship. He  was  married  November  5, 
1845,  to  Mary  Smith,  a  native  of  Eng- 
land. Three  children  have  blest  their 
union — Homer  and  Warham,  living  in 
Prairie  City  township,  and  Francis  F., 
living  in  Massachusetts.  The  latter  is 
by  profession,  a  mechanical  engineer, 
and  although  but  26  years  old,  is  a  mas- 
ter mechanic,  employed  in  that  capacity 
by  the  Fitchburg  steam  engine  company. 
Mr.  Emory  and  his  wife  are  members  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


761 


the  Congregational  church.  He  has 
acted  as  school  director  of  his  district 
for  a  number  of  years,  and  is  politically 
a  republican.  Mr.  Emory's  present 
prosperity  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  in- 
dustry and  wise  management,  he  having 
accumulated  his  large  property  without 
assistance  from  any  one.  He  is  one  of 
the  most  highly  respected  citizens  of  this 
township. 

John  J.  Serven  was  born  in  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  February  9,  1832. 
He  lived  with  his  parents  until  16  years 
old.  He  was  then  hired  out  by  his 
father  to  a  man  named  Benjamin  Gould, 
to  work  upon  a  farm  25  miles  from  home. 
He  remained  there  15  months,  receiving 
eight  and  one-third  dollars  per  month, 
his  father  taking  his  wages.  He  then 
returned  home,  and  assisted  his  father 
upon  the  farm  during  harvest  and  hay- 
ing, then  went  to  Huron,  New  York,  and 
began  learning  the  carpenter  and  joiner's 
trade  with  A.  M.  Gurnee,  with  whom  he 
worked  two  years,  receiving  $50  the  first 
year,  and  $60  the  second.  The  following 
year  he  worked  as  foreman,  for  $19  per 
month,  then  went  to  Seneca  county,  and 
remained  three  months,  employed  in  a 
shop.  The  following  summer  he  worked 
for  $19  per  month,  then  returned 
to  his  home  and  remained  for  a 
time.  He  next  went  to  Kelloggsville, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade.  In  the 
fall  of  that  year,  1854,  he  removed  to 
Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and  soon  after  to 
Canton,  Fulton  county,  Illinois;  thence, 
a  few  months  later,  the  worked  for  Mr. 
C.  Willcoxen,  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  lived  three  years,  then  moved 
to  near  Cuba,  Illinois,  and  followed  his 
trade,  two  years  after  which,  he  pur- 


chased, and  moved  to  the  farm,  where  he 
now  lives,  in  Prairie  City  township.  He 
has  a  large  and  well  improved  farm, 
which  he  manages  successfully.  Mr. 
Serven  was  married  April  29,  1859,  to 
Nancy  A.  Nebergall,  and  they  have  had 
10  children — William  H.,  born  August 
15,  1862;  Mary  E.,  born  October  24, 
1863;  Aaron  E.,  born  March  15,  1865; 
James  P.,  born  June  23,  1869;  Ephraim 
W.,  born  April  5, 1871;  Thomas  C.,  born 
December  30,  1872;  AlethaB.,  born  Sep- 
tember 23, 1874,  and  died  June  28,  1877; 
Emma,  born  September  29, 1877  ;Hannah 
P.,  born  May  14,  1880;  and  Perry,  born 
June  28,  1883.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Serven 
hold  membership  with  the  Christian 
church. 

James  H.  Serven,  farmer  and  stock 
dealer,  of  Prairie  City  township,  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Hannah  (Myers)  Ser- 
ven, natives  of  New  York.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  in  the  year  1839.  In 
1855  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in 
Fulton  county,  where  he  worked  for 
five  years  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
then  moved  to  section  11,  Prairie  City, 
his  present  residence.  He  has  a  desira- 
ble farm,  containing  227  acres,  all  in 
cultivation,  with  substantial  and  valua- 
ble improvements.  He  keeps  thorough- 
bred short-horn  cattle ;  also  two  Norman 
horses,  besides  other  stock.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Anti-Horse-Thief  asso- 
ciation, and  politically,  a  democrat. 
When  Mr.  Serven  settled  in  this  county 
he  was  in  comparatively  limited  circum- 
stances, but  has  been  successful  in  his 
undertakings,  and  is  now  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  financial  prosperity.  He  was 
married  February  23,  1863,  to  Mary  J. 


762 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Nebergall,  of  Cuba,  Illinois.  They 
have  four  children — Delia  Etta,  Lean- 
der  Peter,  Lillie  May  and  Florence  El- 
nora. 

John  H.  Dunbar,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Prairie  City  township,  is  a  son  of 
Noah  W.  and  Sarah  (Hope)  Dunbar, 
and  was  born  April  4,  1826,  in  the  state 
of  New  York.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
June,  1845,  and  settled  in  Fulton  county, 
where  he  remained  until  1853.  At  that 
date  he  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  where  he  now  resides,  on 
section  13,  Prairie  City  township.  He 
owns  240  acres  of  land,  which  is  well 
cultivated  and  improved.  His  residence 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and  is 
commodious  and  comfortable.  His  barn 
and  other  buildings  are  of  the  best  class. 
Mr.  Dunbar  was  married  in  1851,  to 
Nancy  Hendricks,  of  Ohio,  and  by  this 
union  had  one  child  —  Henry,  who  is 
now  a  Nebraska  farmer.  Mrs.  Dunbar 
died  in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  in  June, 
1853,  Mr.  Dunbar  was  married  to  Mar- 
tha J.  Eolle,  of  Ohio.  They  are  the  pa- 
rents of  five  children — Maggie,  wife  of 
Milton  Campbell,  of  Iowa;  Elmer  O., 
who  is  married  and  living  on  a  farm 
rented  of  his  father;  Clarence  S.,  Grace 
and  Albert,  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dunbar  are  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  He  is,  politically,  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  has  served  as  school  director 
nine  years. 

William  H.  Martin  is  a  son  of  Lucius 
T.  and  Elizabeth  (Kreider)  Martin. 
Lucius  T.  Martin  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1853,  and  located  in  Prairie 
City  township,  where  he  resided  until 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  1867.  His 
widow  now  resides  upon  the  homestead 


with  her  son  Benjamin  Martin,  and 
daughter  Eva  Martin.  William  H. 
Martin  was  born  in  Prairie  City  town- 
ship in  the  year  1855,  and  was  reared 
and  educated  in  this  county.  In  1879 
he  was  married  to  Hattie  E.  Leard,  of 
Prairie  City,  and  by  this  union  has 
three  children — Lucius  T.,  Maggie  Z. 
and  Nora  E.  He  has  a  good  farm,  com- 
prising 180  acres  of  well-improved  land, 
and  is  engaged  in  general  farming. 
Mrs.  Martin  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  Mr.  Martin  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  poli- 
tically, a  republican. 

F.  J.  Breiner  is  a  native  of  Alsace, 
that  province,  at  that  time,  being  a  part 
of  France,  but  now  belongs  to  Germany. 
He  was  born  about  the  year  1815.  At 
the  age  of  two  years  he  came  to  America 
with  his  parents,  landing  at  Philadel- 
phia, in  August,  1817.  His  father  was 
a  weaver  by  trade,  and  followed  that  oc- 
cupation in  this  country  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  September  19,  1839.  He 
resided  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died. 
His  widow,  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  died  in  that  state  in  1872. 
F.  J.  Breiner  was  married  to  Anna 
Oberbeck,  and  removed  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  in  1852.  Three  years 
later  he  came  to  Prairie  City  township, 
and  in  1857  moved  to  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  5,  Prairie  City  township.  He 
is  by  trade  a  carpenter,  but  for  the  past 
25  years  has  been  engaged  in  farming. 
On  account  of  impaired  health  he  has 
been  unable  to  perform  hard  labor  for 
four  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Breiner  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  They  have  had  born  to  them 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


763 


13  children — Joseph,  born  November  3, 
1835,  married  to  Anna  Swigle;  Wil- 
liam, born  September  6,  1839,  married 
to  Elizabeth  Dunbar;  Alfred  A.,  born 
March  17,  1841,  and  died  September  1, 
1852;  Lewis,  born  October  18,  1842, 
married  to  Mary  King;  George  D.,  born 
August  28,  1844,  married  to  Frances 
Alexander;  Margaret  0.,  born  Septem- 
ber 4,  1846,  married  to  Hugh  M.  Kin- 
kade;  Eliza,  born  October  26,  1848,  and 
died  June  3,  1852;  Jacob,  born  October 
2,  1850,  married  to  Ella  Harris,  who 
died  in  1883,  and  he  is  now  married  to 
Jane  Harris,  a  sister  of  his  former  wife; 
Mary  E.,  born  June  7,  1856,  now  the 
wife  of  N.  P.  Devaughn;  and  Frank, 
born  August  28,  1859,  married  to  Mattie 
Smith.  Three  children  died  in  infancy. 
Silas  Houghton  is  a  native  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  a  son  of  Joel  and  Peggy 
Houghton.  In  early  life  he  learned  the 
carpenters'  trade.  In  1837  he  emigrated 
to  this  state,  and  located  at  Quincy,  fol- 
lowing his  trade  as  contractor  and 
builder,  uuntil  1849,  when  he  emigrated 
overland  to  California,  with  ox  teams. 
There  he  was  employed  in  packing  and 
mining.  After  an  absence  of  three  years 
he  returned  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  fol- 
lowed his  former  occupation.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Lucy  C.  Tibbies,  of 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  but  formerly 
from  Ohio.  She  died  in  1857,  leaving 
one  child,  named  Eva.  The  mother  was 
buried  in  the  Bushnell  cemetery.  In 
1861  he  was  again  married  to  Lucinda 
M.  Fuller,  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
formerly  from  New  York.  He  then 
moved  to  Bushnell,  McDonough  county, 
where  his  second  wife  died,  in  1865, 
and  was  also  buried  in  the  Bushnell 


cemetery.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Since 
the  death  of  his  second  wife  he  has  re- 
sided most  of  the  time  on  his  farm,  in 
Prairie  City  township.  His  daughther, 
Eva,  was  married  in  1880  to  Simeon 
Pigman,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  but  they 
now  reside  at  Ogden,  Utah  territory. 

Jonah  Lindsay,  deceased,  a  former 
resident  of  Prairie  City  township,  was 
born  in  Ohio,  June  16,  1807.  He  was 
a  son  of  Stephen  and  Rachel  ( Eandel ) 
Lindsay.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  to 
Anna  Stoop,  February  1,  1826,  and  by 
this  marriage,  had  six  children — Ra- 
chel, wife  of  C.  Andrews,  of  this 
county ;  Ellen,  who  was  married  to  Shad- 
rack  Overbay,  and  died  in  1858;  Marga- 
ret, who  was  married  to  David  Barn- 
hart,  and  died  July  26,  1868;  Nathan, 
living  in  Walnut  Grove  township; 
Stephen,  who  died  in  1884,  and  Serena, 
wife  of  Edward  Hunt,  of  this  county. 
Mr.  Lindsay  owned  200  acres  of  well- 
improved  land  in  Prairie  City  township, 
where  he  settled  in  1856.  Mrs.  Lindsay 
died  some  time  previous  to  this,  and  he 
was  again  married,  in  1856,  to  Mrs. 
Mary  (Sandidge)  Clark,  widow  of  Ed- 
ward Clark,  and  daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Permelia  (Tate)  Sandidge.  Her 
first  husband,  Edward  Clark,  died  No- 
vember 19,  1854,  leaving  her  with  one 
child,  Permelia,  now  the  wife  of  E.  T. 
Wolfe.  Jonah  Lindsay  died  January  29, 
1873,  at  his  home,  in  Prairie  City  town- 
ship, where  his  widow  now  resides,  with 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  T.  Wolfe. 

William  A.  Posey,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  December 
25,  1827,  and  was  a  son  of  William  C. 
and  Sarah  (Rannells)  Posey.  William  A. 


764 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Posey  was  married  November  4, 1851,  to 
Mary  M.Ward,  of  Bourbon  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  in  1853,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  in  the  fall  of  1854  settled  on 
section  18,  Prairie  City  township,where 
he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
November  2,  1883.  He  owned  240  acres 
of  land,  a  well-cultivated  and  desirable 
farm,  upon  which  his  widow  now  resides 
with  her  daughter.  He  was  a  consistent 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
once  belonged  to  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  He 
was  elected  and  served  one  year  as  asses- 
sor of  this  township,  about  1870  or  1872. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Posey  were  the  parents  of 
four  children — William  Ward,  now  liv- 
ing in  Las  Vegas,  New  Mexico,  and  is  a 
railroad  conductor  on  the  Hot  Springs 
branch  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa 
Fe  railroad;  John  A.,  who  is  engaged 
in  farming,  in  Nebraska;  Mary  Olive, 
wife  of  Gilham  Hall,  of  this  township, 
and  Martha  Ida,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
two  years. 

William  H.  Tannehill,  son  of  John 
F.  and  Althea  (King)  Tannehill,  was 
born  in  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  in  1846. 
He  came  to  McDonough  county,  and  Sep- 
tember 1,  1871  was  married  to  Ettie  J. 
Matthews,  daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob  Mat- 
thews, aminister  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Two  children  have  been  born 
to  them — Anna  M.  and  Harvey  H.  Mr. 
Tannehill  owns  a  fine  farm,  containing 
160  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  im- 
proved, and  is  engaged  in  farming.  He 
is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  ranks 
among  the  best  class  of  McDonough 
county's  citizens. 

Enoch  Hall  came  to  McDonough  coun- 
ty 1861,  and  located  then  in  Mound  town- 
ship, where  he  remained  till  1867.  In 


jhat  year  he  removed  to  Bushnell  town- 
ship. He  has  an  excellent  farm  contain- 
ing 200  acres  of  land,  all  under  cultiva- 
tion and  well  improved,  He  is  a  good 
farmer,  everything  about  his  place  indi- 
cating thrift  and  comfort.  Enoch  Hall 
was  born  in  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  is  a  son 
George  W.  and  Elizabeth  ( Gilham )  Hall, 
the  former  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  Enoch  was  married  in 
1853,  to  Elizabeth  Linton,  of  Ohio,  and 
by  this  union  has  eight  children — Mattie 
J..  wife  of  Frank  Leard,  of  Prairie  city 
township;  John  P.,  in  Bushnell  town- 
ship; L.  Allen,  in  Prairie  city  township; 
Gilham  F.,  in  the  same  place;  Dora 
Olive,  William  H. ;  Ed.  H.  and  Minnie 
May  living  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Hall 
has  been  commissioner  of  highways,  and 
is  a  republican  in  politics.  George  W. 
Hall  died  in  Ohio  in  1873.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth  (Gilham)  Hall,  died  in  1855. 

PRAIRIE  CITY. 

This  town  is  situated  on  a  beautiful 
rolling  prairie,  surrounded  by  a  country 
which,  in  fertility  of  soil,  is  not  surpassed 
in  the  state  of  Illinois.  The  whole  coun- 
try is  dotted  over  with  some  of  the  finest 
and  best  improved  farms  in  the  county. 
Prairie  City  is  truly  a  city  of  the  prairie, 
and  its  founders  could  not  have  selected 
a  more  beautiful  and  eligible  location,  or 
a  name  more  appropriate  for  the  town. 
The  place  was  laid  out  on  the  projected 
line  of  the  Northern  cross,  now  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  in  1854, 
by  Ezra  Cadwallader,  Anson  Smith,  Ezra 
D.  Smith  and  Edwin  Reed,  men  of  excel- 
lent judgment  and  more  than  ordinary 
business  qualifications.  In  the  store- 
room of  Parker  &  Barnes,  Rev.  Truman 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


765 


Grigsby,  a  Baptist  minister,  preached 
the  first  sermon  in  the  town.  Rev.  Sam- 
uel Dilly,  a  Congregationalist  minister, 
was  next,  preaching  a  short  time  there- 
after in  the  house  of  Ezra  Smith.  The 
town  is  laid  out  with  streets  running 
east  and  west,  and  north  and  south.  The 
original  town  comprised  only  40  acres, 
and  lots  were  made  66x120  feet.  Several 
additions  have  since  been  made  to  the 
town,  and  it  now  covers  considerable 
ground;  but  the  principal  portion  of  it 
is  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  1,  of  Prairie  city  township,  17 
miles  from  Macomb.  In  1855,  a  frame 
school  house  was  built,  in  size  20x30 
feet,  on  Clay  street.  The  following  year, 
( 1856  )the  Presbyterians  erected  a  church 
building,  being  the  first  in  the  town. 
Ezra  Cadwallader  erected  the  first  build- 
ing for  hotel  purposes— the  City  Hotel. 
In  1856,  Alonzo  Barnes,  James  R. 
Parker  and  Joseph  Drake  platted  the 
first  southern  addition  to  the  town,  giv- 
ing a  lot  to  any  one  who  would  build  a 
house  thereon,  costing  not  less  than  $150. 
This  had  the  desired  eff ect,inducing  many 
to  come  here  and  make  their  homes.  The 
place  now  grew  so  rapidly  that  it  became 
necessary  to  incorporate  as  a  town.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  Saturday,  January  10, 1857, 
a  public  meeting  was  held  and  the  ques- 
tion voted  for  or  against  incorporation. 
Thirty-nine  votes  were  cast  for  and  five 
against.  The  proposition  having  been 
carried,  an  election  was  held  on  Saturday, 
January  24,  at  two  o'clock  p.  M.,  for  the 
purpose  of  choosing  five  trustees,  when 
the  following  were  elected:  Daniel  Neg- 
ley,  L.  H.  Bradbury,  J.  B.  Robinson, 
George  Hittle  and  M.  T.  Hand.  A.  Fisher 
was  chosen  as  the  first  clerk  of  the  board. 


HOW  PRAIRIE  CITY  WAS  NAMED. 

The  following  is  gleaned  from  an  ar- 
ticle in  the  opening  number  of  the 
Prairie  City  Bugle:  "In  the  spring  of 
1854  only  one  house  marked  the  spot 
where  now  stands  Prairie  city.  It  was 
in  that  year  that  the  project  of  building 
the  Northern  Cross  railroad  through 
the  Military  Tract  was  talked  of.  The 
same  year  Alonzo  Barnes,  and  Major 
J.  R.  Parker,  of  Canton,  concluded 
to  remove  to  those  parts.  A  man  named 
named  Edward  Goldsmith  and  his  family 
occupied  the  only  house,  in  what  is  now 
Prairie  city.  It  was  a  frame,  and  stood 
on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad,  and  is 
now  used  as  a  barn  by  Daniel  Marsh. 
Messrs.  Parker  and  Barnes  applied  to 
the  Goldsmiths  for  a  room.  They  were 
looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  this  wor- 
thy family,  who  could  not  see  what 
in  the  world  they  wished  a  room  away 
out  in  the  prairie  for.  They  secured  the 
room,  however,  Mr.  Barnes  returning  to 
Canton,  and  from  there  to  St.  Louis  to 
purchase  goods,  and  the  Major  remain- 
ing to  fit  the  room  up  as  a  store.  By 
this  time  the  road  was  completed.  While 
purchasing  goods,  Mr.  Barnes  was  asked 
where  he  desired  them  shipped.  Here 
was  a  question  that  even  puzzled  the 
the  squire.  He  knew  that  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  old  state  road  (now  Main 
street)  and  the  Northern  Cross  (now  C. 
B.  &  Q.)  railroad,  was  the  place  he 
wanted  the  goods,  but  it  had  no  name. 
Ezra  Cadwallader,  from  Ellisville,  had 
staked  off  a  town  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  street,  but  had  not  named  it. 
"Well,"  said  the  squire,  "ship  them  to 
Prairie  City,  Illinois."  The  goods  came, 
and  the  name,  like  Messrs.  Parker  & 


766 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Barnes,  stuck  to  the  place.  They  suc- 
ceeded. Prairie  city  became  a  thriving 
village;  new  stores  and  dwellings  were 
erected;  churches  and  school  buildings 
followed. 

THE   BEGINNING. 

Edward  Goldsmith  and  family  were 
the  first  who  resided  on  the  present  site 
of  Prairie  City.  They  had  been  there 
some  time  before  the  town  was  thought 
of.  About  1862  the  family  removed  to 
Fulton  county,  locating  on  Spoon  river. 
They  resided  there  until  1883,  when 
they  went  out  to  Kansas,  to  live  with 
two  of  their  sons,  who  resided  there. 
They  lived  there  till  March,  1885,  when 
they  returned  to  Prairie  City.  Here,  in 
the  very  place  where  he  was  the  first 
white  resident,  he  died,  within  a  day  or 
two  after  his  return  from  Kansas. 

The  next  to  come  in  were  Evan  Davis 
and  family.  Mr.  Davis  built  the  first 
dwelling  house  erected  in  Prairie  City, 
after  the  site  was  chosen  in  the  spring 
of  1854.  It  is  now  standing  in  the  east 
part  of  town,  and  belongs  to  the  Lyon's 
estate.  It  is  occupied  by  Prof.  Harris, 
principal  of  schools.  Ezra  Cadwallader 
and  Ezra  D.  Smith  erected  the  second 
house  in  the  new  town.  The  first  busi- 
ness in  the  new  town  was  done  by  Major 
J.  B.  Parker  and  Alonzo  Barnes,  in  a 
room  of  Goldsmith's  house,  in  the  spring 
of  1854.  They  kept  a  general  stock.  Mr. 
Barnes,  shortly  afterward,  erected  a 
store  building  and  increased  his  stock, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1856,  Alexander 
Fisher  entered  into  partnership,  the  firm 
name  being  Barnes  &  Fisher.  Mr. 
Barnes  afterward  sold  out  and  engaged 
in  the  hardware  trade,  which  he  contin- 


ued until  1882,  when  he  removed  to  Lin- 
coln, Nebraska,  where  he  still  resides. 

The  next  merchant  was  Joseph  Drake. 
He  built  a  store,  and  put  in  a  general 
stock.  The  building  which  he  erected 
is  still  in  use,  being  occupied  by  the 
Prairie  City  bank.  Drake  remained  in 
business  here  until  about  1863,  when  he 
engaged  in  buying  horses  and  mules  for 
the  army.  After  the  war,  he  commenced 
hauling  goods  across  the  plains.  He  is 
now  farming  in  Fulton  county,  south  of 
Canton. 

Davis  Brothers  built  the  next  store, 
in  1855,  opening  up  with  a  general  stock 
in  December,  of  that  year.  The  post 
office  is  now  in  that  building.  In  the 
spring  of  1856,  they  sold  out  to  Terpin 
and  Brinkerhoff. 

Charles  C.  Davis,  also  built  a  store 
about  that  time.  His  was  also  a  general 
stock. 

E.  Cadwallader  opened  the  first  furni- 
ture store  in  Prairie  City,  in  1855,  in  a 
portion  of  the  hotel  building  owned  by 
him,  and  which  was  afterward  destroyed 
by  fire. 

L.  H.  Bradbury  engaged  in  the  furni- 
ture business  in  1855,  on  the  west  side 
of  Washington  street.  He  afterward 
added  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  which  he 
continued  a  number  of  years,  when  he 
took  his  son  into  partnership.  He  af- 
terward retired  from  the  firm  and  re- 
moved to  Kansas.  His  son,  Benjamin 
F.,  continued  the  business  until  the 
spring  of  1883,  when  he  disposed  of  the 
stock  to  W.  F.  Wilson  &  Co.  This  firm 
ran  the  business  about  a  year,  when  they 
sold  out  to  Jefferson  Louk,  who  in  turn 
sold  to  Scott  &  Scott,  the  present  repre- 
sentatives. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


767 


Sanford  and  Babcock  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  general  merchandise  during  the 
year  1856,  and  continued  the  same  until 
February  17,  1858,  when  they  were 
closed  up  by  the  sheriff. 

Vanloon  and  White  opened  a  general 
store  in  1856,  which  they  continued  two 
years,  when  they  closed  out  the  stock, 
Vanloon  moving  away.  Mr.  White  is 
still  a  resident  of  Prairie  City,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  dry  goods  firm  of  White 
&  Foster. 

M.  T.  Hand,  also,  opened  a  general 
store  during  the  year  1856.  He  ran  the 
same  a  couple  of  years  when  he  closed 
out  the  stock  and  has  since  led  a  retired 
life,  being  still  a  resident  of  Prairie  City. 

Moses  T.  Hand  was  born  in  Essex 
county,  New  Jersey,  on  the  4th  day  of 
November,  1807.  His  parents,  Henry 
and  Sarah  (Davis)  Hand,  were  also  na- 
tives of  New  Jersey.  His  father's  an- 
cestors were  natives  of  Holland,  and 
his  mother's  of  England  and  Holland. 
When  Moses  was  but  a  child,  his  par- 
ents removed  to  New  York  city,  and  from 
there  to  what  was  then  known  as  the 
Genesee  country,  now  Genesee  county, 
where  they  remained  until  Moses  was  12 
years  old.  They  then  removed  to  a  point 
six  miles  above  Mount  Morris,  known  as 
"White  Woman's  Tract."  There  they 
lived  about  six  years,  then  moved  to  Hu- 
ron county,  Ohio,  where  his  father  died 
in  1831.  In  1835,  Moses  went  to  Green- 
bush,  Ohio,  and  resided  in  that  township 
nearly  22  years,  all  of  the  time  on  one 
place.  In  the  fall  of  1856,  he  removed 
to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  lo- 
cated in  Prairie  City,  where  he  now 
ranks  among  the  early  settlers,  and  where 
he  has  ever  since  resided.  Mr.  Hand 


was  married  in  Ohio,  May  4,  1831,  to 
Sarah  Ann  Squire,  who  died  in  Ohio, 
February  9,  1835,  leaving  him  one  child 
— Henry,  now  married  to  Catherine 
Buckner,  and  living  in  Shenandoah,  Iowa, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  imported  stock 
business.  December  23,  1835,  Mr.  Hand 
was  married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Crawford, 
widow  of  Thornton  Crawford,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Alexander  Stapp.  She  was  born 
and  reared  in  Nicholas  county,  Ken- 
tucky, where  her  father  died.  Her  mother 
moved  to  Warren  county,  in  1835,  and 
died  near  Greenbush,  in  that  county, 
November  26,  1860.  Mrs.  Hand  had  two 
children  by  her  first  marriage — John  and 
Sarah.  John  Crawford  was  married  to 
Rebecca  Morris,  and  died  near  Walnut 
Grove,  in  McDonough  county;  Sarah 
Crawford  is  the  wife  of  Henry  T.  Park, 
and  lives  near  Bushnell.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hand  are  the  parents  of  seven  children 
— Mary,  wife  of  Richard  Silver,  living 
near  Seward,  Nebraska;  Ann  Eliza,  wife 
of  James  F.  Hartford,  living  in  Warren 
county;  Giles  F.,  married  to  Eliza  Jane 
Brink,  and  living  in  Fremont  county, 
Iowa;  Caroline,  wife  of  John  Cope,  the 
hardware  merchant  at  Prairie  City;  Jane, 
wife  of  R.  P.  Maxwell;  Oscar,  married 
to  Mary  Curtis,  and  living  in  Prairie 
City,  and  Elizabeth,  married  to  William 
H.  Ferguson,  a  son  of  Rev.  James  Fer- 
guson, a  Methodist  minister  of  Avon, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Hand  has  now  retired 
from  active  pursuits.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hand  have  always  been  leading  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church,  and  are 
now  highly  esteemed  by  all. 

L.  I.  Washburn  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
drugs  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street, 
in  the  spring  of  1856,  which  he  operated 


768 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


until  1866,  when  he  disposed  of  the  same 
to  D.  C.  Folsom  &  Company,  going  to 
Gilson,this  state,and  afterward  to  Griggs- 
ville,  where  he  later  failed  in  business. 

John  Black  came  in  1856,  being  the 
first  dentist  in  the  place.  He  remained 
about  three  years,  when  he  went  to 
Rushville,  and  afterward  removed  to 
Cuba,  this  state. 

The  first  doctor  was  Henry  Kreider, 
who  came  in  March,  1856.  The  next 
physician  was  A.  L.  Kimber,  who  also 
came  in  1856.  He  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Dr.  Kreider,  continuing  one 
year,  although  he  lived  in  Prairie  City, 
about  three  years. 

W.  W.  Amos  was  the  first  painter. 
He  now  resides  near  Olathe,  in  Johnson 
county,  Kansas. 

The  first  carpenter  was  named  Daniel 
Kiggs. 

Jack  and  Evans,  and  McFarland  and 
Lancaster,  opened  wagon  shops  in  the 
place  in  1855. 

BUSINESS  INTERESTS. 

In  1884,  A.  Mead  erected  a  handsome 
brick  building  on  the  north  side  of  Main 
street,  in  which  he  keeps  a  large  and 
varied  assortment  of  dry  goods,  grocer- 
ies, boots  and  shoes,  carpets,  curtains, 
etc.  His  building  is  a  handsome  struct- 
ure, 23x70  feet,  and  two  stories  in  height, 
the  upper  fioor  being  used  principally 
for  the  storage  of  goods,  and  the  lower 
floor  for  his  salesroom.  He  commenced 
business  here  in  1867,  in  the  building 
now  occupied  by  A.  P.  Lanphere. 

Alfred  Mead  came  with  his  parents  to 
McDonough  county,  in  1841,  and  settled 
in  Walnut  Grove  township.  He  was 
born  October  8,  1839,  in  Macon  City, 


Missouri,  and  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and 
Nancy  (Hand)  Mead,  natives  of  New 
York  state.  Alfred  Mead  was  married 
November  26,  1865,  to  Ruth  Holcomb, 
of  Plymouth.  Four  children  have  blessed 
this  union — Frank,  Eva,  George  and 
Mabel.  Mr.  Mead  is  an  ordained  minis- 
ter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  was  on  the  circuit  two  years.  He  is 
now,  church  trustee  and  Sabbath  school 
superintendent.  He  is  prominent  also 
in  county  and  town  affairs,  being  at  pres- 
ent, one  of  the  board  of  county  supervi- 
sors, and  has  served  upon  the  city  board 
seven  years,  being  chairman  one  year, 
and  seven  years  school  director.  He  has 
always  been  in  sympathy  with  the  repub- 
lican party  and  is  an  earnest  advocate  of 
the  cause  of  temperance,  favoring  prohi- 
bition. He  enlisted  during  the  war  of 
the  rebellion,  in  October,  1861,  in  com- 
pany F,  of  the  55th  Illinois  infantry,  and 
served  three  years.  He  acted  as  wagon - 
m  aster  of  the  15th  army  corps,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Rus- 
sell House,  siege  of  Corinth  and  Col- 
liersville.  He  is  the  owner  of  consider- 
able real  estate  in  Prairie  City.  Has 
been  in  business  the  most  of  the  time 
since  1867,  and  is  now  handling  a  general 
stock  of  merchandise. 

J.  A.  Hamilton  occupies  one  of  the 
handsome  brick  blocks  on  the  north  side 
of  Main  street,  with  a  general  stock.  He 
commenced  the  business  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  street,  in  1855,  and  contin- 
ued there  until  October,  1884,  when  his 
new  store  building  was  finished,  It  is 
24x70  feet  in  size,  and  two  stories  high. 
He  carries  a  large  stock  of  clothing, 
gents'  furnishing  goods,  hats  and  caps, 
boots  and  shoes,  etc.  He  also  handles 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


769 


furniture  and  undertaking  goods.  Mr. 
Hamilton  is  well  known  as  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  Prairie  City.  Having 
been  connected  with  the  place  during, 
nearly  the  entire  period  of  its  existence, 
he  has  always  been  in  the  front  rank  in 
all  public  enterprises,  as  will  be  seen  by 
a  perusal  of  these  pages. 

George  A.  Seeley,  general  merchant, 
is  located  on  the  north  side  of  Main 
street,  in  the  brick  block.  He  began  the 
business  November  1,  1884.  He  carries 
a  stock  of  groceries,  hardware,  boots  and 
shoes,  hats  and  caps,  etc.  His  store 
room  is  25x75  feet  in  size. 

J.  N.  Fast,  dealer  in  general  merchan- 
dise, is  located  on  the  south  side  of 
Main  street,  the  first  door  east  of  the 
railroad.  His  building  is  a  two-story 
frame  20x40.  He  commenced  business 
in  1882. 

A.  P.  Lanphere,  grocer,  is  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Main  street,  in  the  first 
store  building  west  of  the  railroad.  He 
commenced  business  here  in  1878.  He 
has  a  well  assorted  stock  of  family  gro- 
ceries, canned  goods,  flour,  cigars,  etc. 
His  store  building  is  18x44  feet  in  ground 
area,  two  stories  in  height. 

A.  P.  Lanphere  is  a  son  of  Caleb  P. 
and  Lucinda  Martin  Lanphere,  natives 
of  New  York.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New  York» 
January  28,  1831.  In  1842,  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Monmouth,  Warren  county, 
this  state,  where  he  remained  until  1857. 
In  that  year  he  removed  to  Whiteside 
county,  where  he  remained  until  1862. 
In  that  year  he  enlisted  in  company  I, 
112th  regiment  Illinois  infantry,  Col. 
Thomas  J.  Henderson,  commanding  reg- 
iment. He  held  the  rank  of  first  sergeant 


and  did  gallant  service  for  three  years, 
during  which  time  he,  with  the  regiment, 
was  in  18  general  engagements  and  over 
100  skirmishes.  After  the  war  closed,  he 
came  to  Prairie  City,  this  county.  In 
1866,  he  was  married  to  Julia  A.  Barnes, 
one  of  the  teachers  in  the  old  academy, 
in  Prairie  City,  and  formerly  of  Canton, 
Illinois.  They  have  four  children — 
Frank,  Hattie,  Albert  and  Laura.  He  is 
the  owner  of  a  fine  residence  and  store 
building,  and  has  been  in  the  grocery 
business  for  over  eight  years.  He  was 
formerly  in  the  carriage  manufactory 
with  F.  A.  Woodmansee,  of  this  place. 
Himself  and  wife  are  Baptists  in  relig- 
ious faith,  and  he  is  a  staunch  republican 
in  politics.  He  has  been  elected  three 
terms  as  village  trustee,  and  held  one 
term  as  president  of  the  board. 

P.  P.  Bigdon,  dealer  in  groceries  and 
provisions,  is  located  on  the  south  side 
of  Main  street.  He  commenced  busi- 
ness on  the  1st  of  April,  1885.  His  build- 
ing is  a  two-story  frame. 

L.  T.  Drake,  grocer  and  butcher,  has 
his  place  of  business  on  the  north  side  of 
Main  street.  He  commenced  business 
in  February,  1885.  His  building  is  25x70 
feet. 

L.  T.  Drake  is  a  son  of  Israel  and  Cyn- 
thia ( Humes )  Drake,  natives  of  the  state 
of  New  York.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  in  the  same  state  in  1850.  At 
the  age  of  20  yfcars  he  left  his  native 
home  and  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
Avon,  Fulton  county,  where  he  resided 
10  years.  In  the  spring  of  1880,  he  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  and  lo- 
cated at  Prairie  City,  where  he  is  now  a 
resident.  He  was  united  in  marriage 
February  3,  1875,  with  Ida  F.  Sebree,  a 


770 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


daughter  of  Charles  W.  Sebree,  of  Ful- 
ton county.  They  are  the  parents  of  one 
child — Luther  Harley.  Although  only  a 
short  time  a  resident  here,  Mr.  Drake 
has  manifested  an  interest  in  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  young  city  which 
he  has  chosen  for  his  home,  and  is  an  es- 
timable and  worthy  citizen. 

J.  B.  May  commenced  business  here 
in  January,  1884.  He  handles  groceries, 
queensware,  etc.  His  store  is  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Main  street,  and  is 
28x80  feet  in  dimensions. 

Alfred  H.  Wagner,  jeweler,  is  located 
near  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Main 
streets.  He  commenced  business  in  the 
fall  of  1865. 

F.  A.  Woodmansee  has  the  only  livery 
and  feed  stable  in  Prairie  City.  It  is  lo- 
cated on  the  west  side  of  Washington 
street,  between  the  business  center  and 
the  depot.  Robert  Coombs  built  the  sta- 
ble and  commenced  business  in  1874. 
He  sold  out  to  the  present  proprietor. 
His  building  is  80x44  feet  in  size. 

H.  W.  Kreider,  druggist,  is  located  on 
the  south  side  of  Main  street.  The  bus- 
iness was  established  by  him  in  1867. 
He  handles  drugs,  toilet  articles,  patent 
medicines,  druggists'  sundries,  books 
and  stationery,  paints,  oils  and  wall  pa- 
per. A  sketch  of  Dr.  Kreider  will  be 
found  in  the  Medical  chapter. 

E.  M.  L.  Brinkerhoff,  druggist,  com- 
menced business  in  Pfairie  City  in  No- 
vember, 1860.  He  is  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Washington  street,  in  a  building 
20x60  feet  in  size. 

W.  T.  Magee,  dealer  in,  and  manufac- 
turer of  harness  and  saddlery,  is  located 
on  the  south  side  of  Main  street,  and  his 
building  is  the  last  business  structure  on 


the  east  end  of  that  street.  He  com- 
menced business  in  January,  1866.  He 
has  the  only  establishment  of  the  kind 
in  Prairie  City,  and  receives  a  large  pat- 
ronage. 

W.  T.  McGee,  the  proprietor,  is  a  son 
of  Bev.  A.  McGee,  of  Prairie  City.  He 
was  born  in  1835,  in  New  Concord, 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  settled  at  Farm- 
ington.  One  year  later,  he  went  to 
Livingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
resided  two  years.  August  15,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  the  39th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  was  in  the  service  four  years  and 
four  months.  On  his  return  from  the 
army,  he  came  to  Prairie  City  and  en- 
gaged in  harness  making.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  November,  1866,  to  Carrie  E. 
Conklin,  of  Canton,  Illinois.  They 
have  two  children — Andrew  and  Nina 
N.  Mr.  McGee  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity,  and  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

J.  W.  Cope  &  Company,  deal  in  hard- 
ware, implements,  furniture,  and  under- 
taking goods.  They  commenced  busi- 
ness in  January,  1884,  in  their  present 
location,  on  the  north  side  of  Main 
street.  Their  building  is  24x70  feet, 
and  two  stories  in  height. 

The  art  gallery  of  N.  C.  Cox,  is  lo- 
cated on  the  south  side  of  Main  street. 
He  came  here  in  March,  1885,  and  has 
already  won  a  reputation  as  an  artist. 
He  is  prepared  to  do  all  kinds  of  photo- 
graphing and  enlarging. 

N.  C.  Cox,  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane 
(Hampton)  Cox,  was  born  in  1834,  in 
the  state  of  Kentucky.  His  mother 
was  a  sister  of  the  Hon.  Wade  Hamp- 
ton. In  1865,  N.  C.  Cox  moved  to  Lo- 
gan county,  Ohio,  where  he  resided  20 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


771 


years,  coming  to  Prairie  City,  McDon- 
ough  county,  from  that  state,  in  1885. 
He  was  married  in  1854,  to  L.  A.  Nor- 
vill,  a  daughter  of  Ruf  us  Norvill.  They 
have  two  children — John  G.,  and  Albert 
C.,  Mr.  Cox  enlisted  in  1862,  in  the 
84th  Illinois  infantry,  and  participated 
in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment,  serv- 
ing as  sergeant  of  company  A.  He  is 
now  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  at  Ma- 
comb.  Mr.  Cox  and  all  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church. 

George  C.  Steach,  wagon  and  car- 
riage maker,  has  his  shop  on  the  corner 
of  Main  and  Center  streets.  He  has 
facilities  to  make  carriages  and  wagons 
to  order,  and  does  all  kinds  of  repairing. 
His  shop  is  two  stories  in  height,  and 
18x50  feet  in  size. 

The  blacksmith  ing  and  repair  shop  of 
R.  R.  Steach,  is  located  on  the  north 
side  of  Main  street,  west  of  the  rail- 
road. He  commenced  business  in  1872, 
He  does  horse-shoeing,  repairs  agricul- 
tural implements,  and  does  general  job 
work. 

Robert  R.  Steach,  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Julia  (Shaw)  Steach,  was  born  in 
Franklin,  Venango  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  the  year  1836.  He  came  to  this 
state  in  1855,  and  to  McDonough  county 
in  1869.  January  1,  1863,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Emily  Boman,  of  Iowa. 
They  are  the  parents  of  five  children, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters — George, 
Carrie,  Arthur,  Grace,  and  Elden.  Mr. 
Steach  is  a  prominent  citizen  of  Prairie 
City,  and  has  been  for  the  past  four 
years,  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees, of  Prairie  City,  and  still  holds 
that  position.  He  is  a  supporter  of  the 
democratic  party.  He  owns  considera- 


ble real  estate  in  Prairie  City,  compris- 
ing two  houses,  a  shop,  and  six  lots,  and 
other  property. 

Thomas  E.  Bivens,  carriage  and  wag- 
on maker,  has  his  shop  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  street,  west  of  the  rail- 
road. He  commenced  business  here  in 
1863. 

Thomas  E.  Bivens,  a  resident  of  Prai- 
rie City,  was  born  August  26,  1833,  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (McClure) 
Bivens.  Thomas  E.  Bivens  came  to  this 
county,  May  10,  1850.  March  22,  1860, 
he  was  married  to  Margaret  Games,  a 
daughter  of  Richard  S.  Games,  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children — Catherine  E.,  wife  of  Edwin 
Haw,  of  Prairie  City;  Florence  E.,  wife 
of  William  Sherwood,  of  Fulton  county; 
Arnetta  V.,  wife  of  Robert  Hoge,  of  Ava, 
Illinois;  George  S.,  Samantha  J.,  Ros- 
coe  B.,  and  Anna  Maria,  living  with 
their  parents.  Mr.  Bivens  enlisted  July 
14,  1861,  in  company  C,  of  the  1st  Mis- 
souri engineers,  and  served  until  Octo- 
ber 9,  1862.  He  participated  in  four 
battles.  At  the  siege  of  Corinth,  May 
28,  1862,  he  had  his  right  leg  shot  en- 
tirely off  by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  He 
is  the  owner  of  real  estate  in  Prairie 
City,  consisting  of  a  dwelling  house,  shop 
and  two  lots.  He  is  a  republican  and 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Hugh  Robertson  has  a  blacksmith 
shop  adjoining  G.  C.  Steach's  wagon 
shop.  He  does  horse  shoeing  and  gen- 
eral blacksmithing.  This  shop  was  es- 
tablished by  J.  B.  Robinson  shortly  af- 
ter the  town  was  started.  He  afterward 
removed  to  Peoria,  where  he  subse- 
quently died. 


772 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Hugh  Robertson  is  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, born  January  9,  1834,  and  is  a  son 
of  Robert  and  Janet  Robertson.  He  em- 
igrated to  America  in  1855,  and  settled 
in  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  where 
he  remained  until  May,  1857.  At  that 
date  he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
located  at  Prairie  City.  On  his  arrival 
here  he  entered  the  employ  of  Matthew 
McComb,  and  continued  working  for 
him  until  January  1,  1860,  when  he  be- 
came a  partner  of  Mr.  McComb.  July 
1,  1861,  this  partnership  was  dissolved, 
Mr.  Robertson  then  enlisted  in  company 
Or,  of  the  1st  Illinois  cavalry.  He  served 
three  months  and  nine  days  and  was  dis- 
charged  while  a  prisoner  of  war.  He 
was  blacksmith  of  his  company.  He  es- 
caped injury,  with  the  exception  of  a 
slight  wound  received  at  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  Missouri.  After  returning 
from  the  army,  he  bought  out  the  black- 
smith shop  of  his  former  partner,  Mr. 
McComb,  and  has,  since  that  time,  fol- 
lowed that  occupation  in  Prairie  City. 
He  owns  in  addition  to  his  shop,  a  dwell- 
ing house  and  13  lots  in  Prairie  City. 
In  1863,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Hattie  N.  Lupper,  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Lupper,  of  Crawford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. By  this  union  there  are  six  child- 
ren living— Joseph  L.,  now  engaged  in 
teaching  school  in  Fulton  county;  Ros- 
coe  B.,  living  on  a  farm  in  Prairie  City 
township;  Robert  M.,  Starr  B.,  Maggie 
M.,  and  Leslie  M.  Four  children,  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  are  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robertson  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  po- 
litically, a  republican,  and  an  advocate 
of  temperance.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  has  been  for  three  years 


treasurer  of  the  lodge.  Mr.  Robertson 
is  one  of  the  sterling  citizens  of  Prairie 
City,  and  enjoys  the  respect  of  all. 

Heslip  Phillips,  who  combines  the 
business  of  painter  and  designer,  with 
that  of  carpenter  and  builder,  com- 
menced in  these  lines  in  Prairie  City,  in 
1858.  Heslip  Phillips,  the  earliest  set- 
tler of  Prairie  City,  now  residing  here, 
was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
August  19,  1830.  His  parents  were 
George  and  Susan  (Lemon)  Phillips, 
the  former  of  English,  and  the  latter  of 
German  descent.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  reared  in  his  native  state,and 
came  to  McDonough  county  in  1853. 
He  located  at  Virgil,  a  little  east  of 
Prairie  City,  where  he  resided  till  1858, 
then  removed  to  Prairie  City,  which  has 
since  been  his  home.  July  10,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  the  9th  Missouri  infantry — 
the  call  for  Illinois  being  full.  The 
regiment  rendezvoused  at  St.  Louis. 
Their  first  service  was  at  Cape  Girar- 
deau,  after  which  they  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  thence  to  Lexington,  Booneville, 
Springfield,  after  Price,  culminating  in 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  He  was  then 
transferred  to  the  59th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  reported  to  General  Grant's  army, 
at  Corinth,  where  he  took  part  in  the 
engagement,  thence  to  Shiloh,  and  was 
soon  after  transferred  to  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland.  On  the  14th  of  April, 
1862,  he  was  appointed  second  lieuten- 
ant, his  commission  bearing  the  signa- 
tures of  Governor  Richard  Yates,  Sec- 
retary of  State  C.  M.  Hatch,  and  Allen 
Fuller,  adjutant  general  of  Illinois  state 
militia,  and  read,  "Promoted  for  merito-* 
rious  conduct  at  Pea  Ridge,  March  6,  7 
and  8."  After  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  he 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


773 


was  in  Buell's  army  of  the  Ohio,  serving 
in  Kentucky,  and  participated  in  en- 
gagements at  Perryville,  Stone  River, 
Nashville,  Franklin,  and  many  others. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  July  10, 
1864,  and  mustered  out  at  Camp  Chase, 
Ohio.  He  then  returned  to  Prairie  City. 
Mr.  Phillips  was  married  June  1,  1856, 
to  Eliza  Dunbar,  and  by  this  union,  has 
three  children — Hiram,  living  in  Den- 
ver; Virginia,  living  at  Hastings,  Ne- 
braska, and  Heslip.  Mrs.  Phillips  died 
in  Prairie  City,  March  1,  1875.  Mr. 
Phillips  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army 
post,  and  also  of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M. 

S.  P.  Tobie,  jeweler  and  watchmaker, 
commenced  business  in  this  city,  in 
1860.  He  handles  watches,  clocks,  sil- 
verware, and  sporting  goods.  His  build- 
ing is  14x40. 

The  bakery  business  of  Prairie  City 
is  carried  on  by  Henry  Trumpy. 
Henry  Trumpy,  a  resident  of  Prairie 
City,  is  a  native  of  Switzerland,  where 
he  was  born  in  the  year  1833.  He  came 
to  this  state  in  1848,  and  settled  at  East 
St.  Louis.  In  1867,  he  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  located  at  Prairie 
City,  which  has  since  been  his  resi- 
dence. Mr.  Trumpy  was  married  in 
March,  1855,  to  Mahala  Cunningham,  a 
native  of  Indiana.  Their  union  has 
been  blessed  with  five  children — Fred- 
erick, living  in  Havana,  Illinois ;  George, 
a  resident  of  Avon,  Illinois;  Mattie, 
married  to  Robert  Burden,  and  living 
in  Prairie  City;  Sophia  and  Henry,  liv- 
ing with  their  parents.  Mr.  Trumpy 
owns  residence  property  in  Prairie  City. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  in 
which  he  now  holds  the  office  of  past 
grand. 


Crissey  &  Bostwick  were  established 
in  the  lumber  business  in  Prairie  City 
in  1878.  They*  have  a  good  trade,  not 
only  at  home,  but  in  the  country  sur- 
rounding, and  are  the  only  lumber  deal- 
ers in  the  town.  Besides  lumber,  lath 
and  shingles,  they  handle  lime  and 
cement,  and  carry  in  stock,  doors,  sash 
and  blinds. 

George  L.  Bostwick,  lumber  dealer  at 
Prairie  City,  is  a  native  of  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  and  a  son  of  Alanson 
and  Abigail  E.  (Crissey)  Bostwick,  na- 
tives of  Connecticut.  Alanson  Bost- 
wick died  in  1876,  and  his  wife,  Abigail, 
died  in  1844.  George  L.  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  in  1878,  and  located  at 
Prairie  City,  where  he  is  now  a  promi- 
nent citizen.  The  same  year  he  was 
married  to  Minta  L.  Rounds,  of  War- 
ren county,  Illinois.  They  have  two 
children — Victor  A.  and  Mabel.  Mr. 
Bostwick  enlisted  in  1862,  in  the  83d 
Illinois  infantry,  and  was  in  the  service 
three  years,  holding  the  rank  of  corpo- 
ral. He  participated  in  a  number  of 
engagements,  and  at  the  second  battle  of 
Fort  Donelson,  was  wounded  in  the 
foot  by  a  musket  ball.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  village  board  of  trustees 
of  Prairie  City,  for  two  years.  Mrs. 
Bostwick  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Bostwick  owns 
a  half  interest  in  the  lumber  yard,  also 
a  house  and  lot  in  this  city. 

GRAIN. 

G.  W.  Barnett,  of  Galesburg,  built  an 
elevator  in  Prairie  City,  in  1878.  It  is 
now  operated  for  that  gentleman  by  H. 
M.  Forsman.  He  buys  grain  from  all 
the  surrounding  country,  and  ships 


774 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


principally  to  Peoria  and  Chicago,  The 
elevator  building  is  located  on  the  east 
side  of  the  railroad  track,  and  conveni- 
ently situated  for  loading  and  unloading. 
H.  M.  Forsman  is  a  native  of  Lycom- 
ing  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  son  of 
Robert  J.  and  Sarah  (McCormick) 
Forsman,  both  natives  of  that  state. 
He  was  born  October  4,  1820.  In  1847 
he  went  to  Paris,  West  Tennessee,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  plows, 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion. 
During  the  war  he  was  employed  by  the 
United  States  government  as  inspector 
of  arms,  serving  in  that  capacity  from 
1861  till  1863.  The  following  year, 
1864,  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  which  has  been  his  home  since 
that  time.  He  resides  in  Prairie  City, 
where  he  has  a  pleasant  residence.  He 
owns  also,  200  acres  of  land  in  Fulton 
county.  After  coming  to  Prairie  City 
he  was  engaged  for  15  years,  in  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  Mr.  Forsman  was 
married  in  1855,  to  Ann  Eliza  McCor- 
mick, a  daughter  of  Samuel  McCormick, 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  four  child- 
ren living — John  W.,  Sallie,  Jessie  and 
Jennie.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Fores- 
man  is  an  Ancient  Odd  Fellow,  and  po- 
litically is  a  democrat. 

HOTELS. 

A  hotel  was  erected  by  Westley  Cope, 
in  1856,  which  was  known  as  the  Cope 
House,  and  run  by  J.  C.  Canfield.  It 
was  built  on  the  north  side  of  Main 
street,  wes^  of  the  railroad.  It  has 
been  occupied  the  greater  part  of  the 
time  as  a  hotel,  but  is  used  as  a  private 
residence  at  present. 


The  first  hotel  was  built  by  Ezra  Cad- 
wallader,  in  1854  or  1855,  and  was  after- 
ward known  as  the  McDonough  House. 
Cadwallader  occupied  it  at  first,  and  it 
was  afterward  operated  by  several  differ- 
ent parties.  The  building  was  destroyed 
by  fire  on  the  14th  day  of  November, 
1870.  Mr.  Cadwallader  also  built  an- 
other hotel  near  the  depot,  in  1857, 
which  was  known  as  the  Eagle  House. 
It  was  first  kept  by  Daniel  Bear,  who 
failed,  in  November,  1858.  The  prop- 
erty was  then  sold  to  Samuel  Hunter, 
who  operated  it  as  the  Central  House. 
The  building  is  occupied  at  present  as  a 
private  residence. 

The  hotel  in  Prairie  City  at  present 
is  known  as  the  Transient  house  and  re- 
ceives the  greater  part  of  the  transient 
patronage,  and  is  well  fitted  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  guests.  Isaac  Weaver  is 
the  landlord  and  proprietor.  He  com- 
menced the  hotel  business  in  1884.  His 
building  is  16x28  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
two  stories  in  height,  with  an  ell  16x26, 
of  the  same  height.  It  is  located  on  the 
south  side  of  west  Main  street.  Mr. 
Weaver  is  known  as  an  honorable  and 
upright  man  in  all  his  dealings,  and  is 
an  accommodating  landlord. 

Isaac  M.  Weaver,  son  of  William  and 
Mary  ( Cornwell )  Weaver,  was  born  July 
13, 1819,in  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  that 
state.  He  emigrated  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  in  April,  1835.  He  resided 
there  until  April,  1857,  when  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  located  at  Prairie 
City,  and  engaged  in  the  lumber  and 
grain  business,  in  partnership  with  Ezra 
Cadwalader  and  Milton  Foster.  This 
firm  erected  the  first  elevator  in  Prairie 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


775 


City.  He  continued  in  the  same  busi- 
ness until  1870,  when  he  engaged  for  a 
short  time,  in  merchandising.  In  1865, 
he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
served  in  that  capacity  16  years,  also 
practiced  law.  He  has  been  assessor, 
and  commissioner  of  highways,  several 
years,  and  a  member  of  the  county  board 
four  or  five  terms.  In"1872,  he  was  the 
republican  candidate  for  county  judge, 
but  was  defeated  by  a  small  majority,  by 
J.  H.  Baker.  Mr.  Weaver  was  united 
in  marriage  in  December,  1839,  with 
Harriet  C.  Eeeve,  of  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, formerly  of  New  York  state.  By 
this  union  there  were  five  children — 
Eliza  M.,  wife  of  George  W.  Beer,  of 
Fulton  county;  Mary  Emily,  who  died 
August  10,  1864;  William  E.,  living  in 
Fulton  county;  Harriet  C.,  wife  of  Sam- 
uel S.  King,  of  Christian,  Iowa,  and 
Isaac  F.,  living  in  Stuttgart,  Arkansas. 
Mrs.  Weaver  died  January  27,  1873,  and 
is  buried  in  a  private  cemetery  in  Ful- 
ton county.  Mr.  Weaver  was  married 
February  2,  1882,  to  Mrs.  Sarah  Opitz, 
widow  of  Charles  F.  Opitz,  of  Prairie 
City,  and  daughter  of  Joel  Nickols.  She 
has  one  daughter-— Mina  Opitz.  Mr. 
Weaver  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  highly  respected  citizens  of  this 
county. 

PEATRIE   CITY   BANK. 

This  institution  was  first  established 
in  1866,  by  H.  W.  Kreider  &  Co.  It 
continued  as  a  private  enterprise  until 
June,  1875,  when  it  was  changed  to  a 
National  bank,  with  H.  W.  Kreider, 
president,  and  J.  H.  Wilson,  cashier.  In 
January,  1879,  it  went  into  voluntary 
liquidation,  and  no  business  was  trans- 


acted until  April,  1879,  when  the  institu- 
tion was  re-opened  as  a  private  bank.  G. 
W.  McMahill  is  president,  and  J.  H. 
Wilson,  cashier.  They  make  city  col- 
lections a  specialty. 

James  H.  Wilson,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Prairie  City,  was  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, in  the  year  1830,  and  is  a  son  of 
Fleming  and  Sarah  (Ten  Brook)  Wil- 
son, also  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  He 
came  to  McDonough  county  in  1856, 
and  located  in  Prairie  City,  where  he 
has  since  been  a  resident.  He  is  the 
owner  of  considerable  real  estate,  in 
this  city,  including  his  residence,  which 
is  spacious  and  comfortable,  and  three 
other  houses  and  lots.  Mr.  Wilson  was 
married  in  1856,  to  Alvina  McCormick, 
daughter  of  S.  S.  McCormick,  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  by  this  union  has  had 
eight  children — Julia  E.,  living  at  home; 
Fleming  McCormick,  who  is  cashier  of 
a  bank  in  Templeton,  Iowa;  Elmer  S., 
Samuel  S.,  Alvina,  Sadie  and  J.  Waldo. 
Mr.  Wilson  is  a  democrat  politically, 
and  is  at  present  serving  as  a  member 
of  the  board  of  village  trustees.  He, 
with  his  wife  and  three  children,  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  he  is  an  elder,  and  also  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  is  a 
man  of  sterling  qualities,  on  account  of 
which  he  is  deservedly  held  in  high  es- 
teem. 

PRAIRIE    CITY   TILE    WORKS. 

In  the  fall  of  1881,  Eobert  Davis  com- 
menced the  construction  of  the  Prairie 
City  tile  works,  and  had  things  ready  to 
begin  operations  in  the  spring  of  1882. 
He  carried  on  the  business  for  about 
one  year,  and  in  May,  1883,  he  sold  the 


776 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


plant  to  B.  R  Bradbury,  J.  W.  Cope 
and  Thos.  Leard.  In  January,  1884, 
Mr.  Cope  retired  from  the  firm,  Mr.  W. 
W.  Shoop  taking  his  place.  The  firm 
name  is  Bradbury  and  Company.  A 
capital  of  $24,000  is  invested  in  the  busi- 
ness, divided  equally  among  the  part- 
ners. 

The  dry  house  and  engine  room  are  in 
one  building,  which  is  164x36  feet  in 
ground  area,  and  16  feet  in  height.  The 
kiln  shed  is  40x110  feet  in  dimensions, 
and  16  feet  high. 

There  is  also  a  coal  and  clay  shaft  op- 
erated in  connection  with  the  works. 
This  shaft  has  been  sunk  to  the  depth 
of  130  feet.  A  vein  of  coal,  22  inches 
in  thickness  is  met  at  a  depth  of  50  feet. 
Under  this  vein  is  found  a  bed  of  fire 
clay  three  and  one-half  feet  in  thickness 
At  a  depth  of  100  feet  below  the  surface 
another  vein  of  fire  clay  is  reached. 
This  is  16  feet  in  thickness,  but  only 
eight  feet  of  this  is  mined. 

The  works  are  supplied  with  two  en- 
gines, each  of  25-horse  power.  One  of 
these  runs  the  machinery  of  the  works 
proper,  while  the  other  is  used  as  a 
hoisting  engine,  for  raising  the  coal  and 
clay  from  the  shaft.  The  buildings 
were  erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  The 
expense  for  sinking  the  shaft  was  about 
$1,000. 

When  running  to  their  full  capacity, 
they  employ  a  force  of  about  25  men, 
and  manufacture  an  average  of  1,040,000 
feet  of  tile  per  annum.  This  article 
constitutes  the  bulk  of  their  product. 
Their  shipment  to  Illinois  points  are 
very  extensive,  and  they  have  a  large 
Iowa  trade.  They  have  an  excellent 
quality  of  clay  to  work  with,  and 


the  excellence  of  their  manufactured 
goods  is  shown  from  the  fact  that  some 
farmers  drive  past  other  factories  to  get 
their  tiling  from  these  works.  B.  F. 
Bradbury  is  the  business  manager. 

Levi  H.  Bradbury  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
where  he  was  born  in  1810.  He  was 
raised  in  his  native  state  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1835.  *  He  located  in  Fulton 
county  and  engaged  in  keeping  a  store 
in  Troy.  He  afterwards  followed  farm- 
ing in  that  county.  In  the  fall  of  1855 
he  came  to  Prairie  City,  and  embarked 
in  mercantile  business,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  spring  of  1876.  He 
then  sold  out  to  his  son,  B.  F.  Bradbury, 
and  went  to  Osage  Mission,  Kansas,  and 
there  engaged  in  banking.  He  is  still 
living  at  that  place,  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business.  He  was  married,  in  Ohio, 
to  Mary  Turner,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
Five  children  were  born  to  them — 
James  Monroe,  living  in  Texas;  Wil- 
liam W.,  living  in  Fulton  county;  Na- 
than, who  died  at  the  age  of  17  years; 
Benjamin  F.,  and  Jesse,  deceased.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1849. 

Benjamin  F.  Bradbury  was  born  in 
Fulton  county,  November  4,  1844.  In 
the  fall  of  1855  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents, Levi  H.  and  Mary  (Turner)  Brad- 
bury, to  Prairie  City,  where  he  grew  to 
manhood,  and  received  his  education. 
He  has  always  resided  here  since  that 
time,  and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  the  place.  He  was  clerk  in 
his  father's  store  seven  years,  then  be- 
came a  partner  in  the  business,  which 
he  continued  until  1875,  when  he  pur- 
chased his  father's  interest,  and  became 
sole  proprietor.  He  carried  on  general 
merchandising  until  January,  1883,  then 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


777 


sold  out  and  engaged  in  the  clothing 
trade.  In  the  spring  of  1883,  he  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  tile  works,  and 
in  October,  1884,  sold  his  stock  of  cloth- 
ing to  A.  Mead*  He  is  now  business 
manager  of  the  tile  works.  Mr.  Brad- 
bury was  married  October  15,  1865,  to 
Sarah  M.  Winners,  a  native  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  daughter  of  John  Winners. 
They  have  four  children — Orie,  Harry, 
Earl  and  Marion.  Mr.  Bradbury  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
treasurer  of  the  lodge.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  town  council  a  number  of 
years,  and  still  holds  that  office.  He  is 
the  owner  of  80  acres  of  land  in  Warren 
county,  which  he  uses  for  stock  pur- 
poses. He  has  held  the  office  of  road 
commissioner  one  year,  and  that  of  con- 
stable four  years. 

COAL. 

About  1862  Dunham  &  Humphrey 
were  seeking  a  well  for  their  mill,  and 
when  they  had  reached  a  depth  of  52 
feet,  they  struck  a  vein  of  coal  22  inches 
in  thickness.  They  then  squared  the 
well  off  for  a  shaft.  They  mined  the 
coal  for  a  few  months  and  then  aban- 
doned it.  The  shaft  lay  unused  until 
1875,  when  it  was  again  operated  by 
Peter  McCann.  He  run  it  about  one 
year,  when  Charles  Millett  bought  him 
out.  After  one  year  he  abandoned  it. 

On  giving  up  the  old  shaft,  Mr.  Mil- 
let sank  another  one  not  far  from  it, 
striking  the  same  vein  at  an  equal 
depth.  He  used  this  shaft  in  his  min- 
ing operations  for  six  years,  taking  out 
between  24,000  and  25,000  bushels  annu- 
ally. On  the  5th  day  of  April,  1882,  he 
commenced  sinking  another  shaft,  and, 


on  completing  it,  used  the  last  one  as  an 
air  shaft.  While  engaged  in  sinking 
the  last  one,  the  locality  was  visited  by 
some  pretended  experts,  who,  after  bor- 
ing to  a  considerable  depth,  said  they 
had  struck  a  vein  43  inches  in  thickness. 
Mr.  Millett  had*  taken  in  two  partners, 
each  with  a  quarter  interest,  and  the 
firm  was  known  as  Millett,  Emery  and 
Stearns.  They  sunk  a  shaft  7x14  feet, 
to  a  depth  of  166|  feet,  but  on  reaching 
the  vein  promised  by  the  prospectors, 
found  it  to  be  worthless.  They  drilled 
it  40  feet  more,  but  found  nothing  save 
clay.  So  their  mining  was  done  from 
the  52  foot  level.  The  work  was  done 
at  a  cost  of  $2,400,  In  May,  1883,  Ed- 
ward Hart  purchased  the  interests  of 
Messrs.  Emery  and  Stearns,  and  the 
firm  is  now  Millett  and  Hart.  They 
have  now  got  their  shaft  in  such  shape 
that  they  can  take  out  any  amount  of 
coal  necessary  to  meet  the  largest  de- 
mands on  them,  the  estimated  capacity 
being  500  bushels  per  day.  The  hoist- 
ing apparatus  is  operated  by  horse 
power. 

Charles  Millett  is  a  native  of  England, 
born  in  Cornwall,  December  10,  1826. 
His  parents  were  Adam  and  Catherine 
Millett.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  left 
home,  and  went  to  sea  as  cabin  boy.  He 
followed  •seafaring  life  for  13  years, 
working  his  way  up  until  he  was  a  full- 
fledged  sailor.  He  was  in  the  coasting 
trade  of  England  during  the  summer, 
and  in  the  winter  would  sail  up  the 
Mediterranean.  His  last  voyage  was 
from  Havre  to  New  Orleans.  After  com- 
ing to  America,  he  sailed  on  the  lakes, 
twelve  years.  He  then  came  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  and  bought  50  acres  of 


778 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


land,  and  engaged  in  coal  mining.  He 
remained  there  until  he  came  to  Prairie 
City,  in  1872.  Here  he  at  once  engaged 
in  the  coal  trade,  which  he  has  continued 
ever  since.  He  was  married  at  Two 
Rivers,  Wisconsin,  July  17,  1856,  to 
Margaret  Rowlands,  a  "native  of  South 
Wales  and  daughter  of  Edward  Row- 
lands. Mr.  Millett  is  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  He  visited,  in  the 
course  of  his  seafaring  life,  many  parts 
.of  the  globe,  and  has  had  much  experi- 
ence and  met  with  many  thrilling  adven- 
tures and  hair-breadth  escapes. 

John  E.  Dunham  sank  a  shaft  in 
Prairie  City  in  the  fall  of  1882,  striking 
a  24-inch  vein  at  a  depth  of  about  52 
feet.  This  mine  gives  employment  to 
eight  men,  and  furnishes  coal  for  Prairie 
City,  as  well  as  for  the  general  market. 

OTHER   LEADING   MEN. 

Following  are  sketches  of  leading  men 
of  Prairie  City,  not  included  in  the  bus- 
iness mention: 

G.  W.  Hamilton,  a  resident  of  Prairie 
City  village,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  was  born  in  Bucks  county, 
September  24,  1829.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  A.  and  Mary  A.  (McCerren) 
Hamilton.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  extrac- 
tion, his  mother  having  been  born  on 
the  "Emerald  Isle,"  and  hifr  father  of 
Scotch  descent.  He  was  brought  up  in 
the  city  of  Canton,  Fulton  county,  where 
he  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and  early 
became  familiar  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits, working  on  a  farm  each  summer. 
His  residence  in  this  state  bears  date 
from  November  1,  1837,  at  which  time 
he  settled  in  Canton,  Fulton  county.  He 
there  remained  until  the  spring  of  1855, 


when  he  came  to  this  county,  settling  in 
Prairie  City  township,  and  engaging  in 
farming,  which  occupation  he  there  fol- 
lowed a  number  of  years,  then  moved  to 
the  village.  He  wa^*first  married  to 
Hannah  Hays,  a  daughter  of  Samuel 
Hays,  of  Clinton  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  September,  1852.  She  died  in  July, 
1878,  and  in  April,  1881,  he  was  again 
married  to  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Cook,  daugh- 
ter of  Ephraim  Foster,  of  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  mer- 
chant in  Prairie  City  for  10  years,  three 
years  in  the  grain  business,  and  was 
among  the  best  business  men  of  the 
place.  He  is  now  retired  from  the  more 
active  scenes  of  life,  and  living  in  peace 
and  comfort.  Mr.  Hamilton  has  three 
sons — C.  W.,  of  Clarinda.  Iowa;  W.  A., 
living  in  Superior,  Wisconsin;  and  G. 
F.,  a  resident  of  Prairie  City.  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton has  held  positions  of  trust.  Among 
other  offices  he  has  held  that  of  super- 
visor for  five  years,  and  chairman  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  McDonough 
county  for  two  years.  He  is  now  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  village  trustees.  He 
still  owns  a  farm  near  the  village,  and 
considerable  residence  property.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
politically,  republican. 

J.  M.  Hamilton,  a  resident  of  Prairie 
City,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
was  born  in  Morrisville,  Bucks  county, 
July  29,  1824.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  A.  Hamilton.  He  is 
of  Irish-Scotch  extraction;  his  father  was 
of  Scotch  parentage,  and  his  mother, 
Irish.  He  learned  the  carpenter's  trade 
in  Canton,  Illinois.  He  came  with  his 
father  to  Illinois,  in  1836,  one  year  be- 
fore the  family  moved  west,  and  ^ettled 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


779 


in  Canton.  In  the  spring  of  1855,  he 
came  to  this  county  and  settled  in  Prai- 
rie City,  and  commenced  business  as  a 
grain  and  lumber  merchant,  being  one 
of  the  first  and  most  successful  business 
men  of  the  place.  He  was  married  to 
Martha  A.  Gilmore,  daughter  of  Hamil- 
ton Gilmore,  of  Grant  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, April  16,  1848.  Mr.  Hamilton  has 
two  sons  and  two  daughters — J.  A.,  of 
Neola,  Iowa;  Robert  E.,  of  San  Fran- 
ciso,  California;  Addie  Trumpy,  of  Avon, 
Illinois,  and  Ella  Turpin,  of  Prairie 
City.  For  several  years  he  has  been  in 
the  grain  business  in  Chicago,  retaining 
his  residence,  however,  in  Prairie  City. 
Rev.  H.  G.  Woodworth  is  of  New  Eng- 
land stock,  being  a  son  of  John  and 
Chloe  (Bridgman)  Woodworth,  both  na- 
tives of  Dorchester,  New  Hampshire. 
He  was  born  in  Cherry  Valley,  Ashta- 
bula  county,  Ohio,  July  12,  1826.  His 
parents,  in  1822,  emigrated  from  Saint 
Albans,  Vermont,-  where  they  at  first 
commenced  house-keeping,  to  the  West- 
ern Reserve,  of  Ohio.  His  father  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  partici- 
pating in  the  battle  of  Lake  Champlain. 
Both  of  his  parents  died  in  the  Western 
Reserve,  his  father,  in  June,  1860,  aged 
84  years,  and  his  mother,  in  August,  * 
1831,  aged  51  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  brought  up  in  Ohio,  and  ob- 
tained his  education  at  his  home,  at 
Chester,  Geauga.  county,  Ohio,  and  at 
Hillsdale,  Michigan.  He  read  theology 
as  a  private  study.  When  in  his  nine- 
teenth year,  he  began  teaching  school. 
In  1852,  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  at  the  LaFayette  quarterly 
meeting,  of  the  Free  Will  Baptists,  held 
at  Rush,  JoDaviess  county,  Illinois.  His 


first  pastorate  was  at  Fayette,  LaFayette 
county,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained 
until  April,  1855.  He  then  received  and 
accepted  a  call  to  Warren,  JoDaviess 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  built  up  a  good 
church  and  congregation.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  accepted  a  call  to  Hudson, 
Lenawee  county,  Michigan,  and  contin- 
ued there  until  1859.  His  next  charge 
was  at  Wheatland,  Kenosha  county,  Wis- 
consin. In  1860,  he  returned  to  Warren, 
Illinois.  In  1863,  he  enlisted  in  the  96th 
Illinois  infantry,  as  chaplain.  After  a 
few  months  service  he  was  discharged  on 
account  of  disability.  In  September, 
1863,  he  went  to  -Vineland,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  preached  till  May,  1864,  thence 
to  Hudson,  Michigan.  He  ca'me  to  Prai- 
rie City,  first,  in  April,  1865,  and  re- 
mained till  December,  1869,  then  went 
to  Darlington,  Wisconsin,  thence  in  187L 
to  Harvard,  Illinois,  then  again,  in  1874, 
to  Prairie  City,  thence  in  1875,  to  Hud- 
son, Michigan,  thence  to  DesPlains,  Illi- 
nois, thence  in  April,  1878,  to  Warren, 
Illinois,  and  in  March,  1880,  to  DeSmit, 
Kingsbury  county,  Dakota,  whither  he 
went  for  his  health,  which  was  impaired. 
He  came  again  to  Prairie  City,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1884,  and  has  here  presided  over  a 
congregation  since  that  time.  He  was 
married  in  Fayette,  LaFayette  county, 
Wisconsin,  in  November,  1847,  to  Fran- 
ces J.  Jurney,  a  native  of  Fayette  county, 
Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  11 
children,  of  whom  six  are  living — Mary 
C.,  wife  of  L.  B.  Sanford,  of  Prairie 
City;  Edson  S.,  married  to  Hattie  Lake, 
of  Harvard,  Illinois,  living  at  Minne- 
apolis, where  he  is  vice-president  of  the 
Citizen's  bank,  and  engaged  in  shipping 
grain,  flour  and  feed;  James  Grant,  as- 


780 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


sistant  general  agent  for  the  Union  Pa- 
cific Railroad  company,  at  Portland,  Ore- 
gon; Benjamin  Holland,  book-keeper  of 
Peavy  &  Co.'s  elevator  at  Minneapolis; 
Walter  Scott  and  Richard  Paul,  living  at 
home.  Mr.  Woodworth  is  an  earnest 
worker  in  the  cause  of  the  Master,  and 
possessed  of  much  zeal  and  ability. 

Rev.  S.  T.  Dodge,  is  a  native  of  Har- 
din  county,  Kentucky,  born  August  18, 
1830,    and    a    son    of  Josiah  and  Ann 
(George)    Dodge.     When    he    was    10 
years    of   age,    his  parents  removed  to 
Warren  county,  where  he  grew  to  man- 
hood.    He  was  ordained  a  minister  of 
the  gospel,  of  the   Free  Will    Baptist 
denomination,  on  the  26th  day  of  Nov- 
ember, 1871.     He  had   been  preaching 
for  two  years  previous  to  that  time,  as 
an  evangelist.     His  labors,  since  his  or- 
dination,   have  been   mostly  in   Knox, 
Warren,  Fulton,  McDonough  and  Han- 
cock counties.     He  did  much  toward  the 
building  up  of  the  Cotton  wood  church, 
also  the  church  now  known  as  the  North 
Fandon    church.       He    organized     the 
churches  at  Webster,  Hancock  county, 
and  Oak  Grove.     The  latter  has  since 
been  consolidated  with  the  Prairie  City 
church.     Among  the  most  noted  reviv- 
als which  he  has  conducted,  are  the  fol- 
lowing:     near     Clarksburg,       Kansas, 
where  there  were  30  conversions;  Wood- 
burn,  Iowa,  where  80  were  converted; 
Warren  Chapel,    Warren  county,   Illi- 
nois, with  40  conversions;    Smithfield, 
Illinois,   with  13,   and  Haynes  chapel 
Knox   county,   Illinois,   where  90  were 
converted.     Mr.  Dodge  was   married  in 
Macomb,  September  18,  1856,  to  Mary 
Elizabeth   Cope,    daughter  of    Wesley 
and  Elizabeth   (Smith)    Cope,  who  re- 


moved to  this  county  from  Fulton  county 
in  1854.  Wesley  Cope  died  in  this 
ounty,  in  May,  1865.  His  widow  is 
still  living.  Having  no  children  of 
their  own,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dodge  have 
taken  two  children  of  his  brother — Nora 
E.,  and  Erma  Alma.  Soon  after  his 
marriage,  Mr.  Dodge  located  about  six 
miles  south  of  Bushnell,  where  he  re- 
sided three  years,  then  removed  to  a 
farm  west  of  Prairie  City.  In  1870,  he 
moved  into  Prairie  City,  which  has 
since  been  his  residence.  He  has  been 
located  as  pastor  in  several  places.  In 
his  evangelistic  work  he  has  had  much 
assistance  from  his  wife,  who. is  an  earn- 
est and  faithful  worker  in  the  cause, 
Mr.  Dodge  is  a  man  of  untiring  zeal 
and  energy  and  also  much  ability,  to 
which  is  due  his  wonderful  success  as  a 
revivalist. 

Rev.  A.  Magee  was  born  in  Hunting- 
don county,  Pennsylvania,  near  French- 
town,  March  22,  1807,  and  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  and  Charity  (Matthews)  Magee. 
When  but  six  years  of  age,  his  parents 
removed  to  Lewistown,  Miffin  county,  of 
the  same  state.  In  1832,  the  family 
moved  to  Cambridge,  Ohio.  During 
their  residence  there,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  began  the  study  of  medicine  with 
Dr.  John  Hull.  After  a  thorough  prepa- 
ration for  that  profession,  he  commenced 
practice  aj  Claysville,  where  he  con- 
tinued one  year,  when  he  decided  to 
abandon  the  medical  profession,  and 
become  a  preacher  of  the  gospel.  From 
his  early  youth,  he  had  ever  felt  a  deep 
interest  in  the  study  of  .theology,  but 
had  no  expectation  until  that  time,  of 
pursuing  a  ministerial  career.  Before 
going  to  Claysville,  he  had  been  ap- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


781 


pointed  a  local  preacher  by  the  quar- 
terly conference,  and  during  his  stay  in 
that  place,  had  been  preaching  quite 
regularly.  In  1840,  he  joined  the  Pitts- 
burg  conference,  and  was  assigned  to  the 
Norwich  circuit,  where  he  labored  one 
year,  then  two  years  on  the  Barnesville 
circuit,  then  at  New  Washington,  West- 
chester,  Summerfield,  Deerville,  Adams- 
ville,  Cambridge,  and  New  Philadelphia, 
remaining  two  years  at  each  place.  He 
was  then  transferred  to  the  Peoria  con- 
ference, with  which  he  united  in  1856. 
His  first  appointment  here,  was  at  Farm- 
ington,  then  at  Canton,  remaining  two 
years  in  each  place.  He  was  then,  for 
two  years,  elder  of  Macomb  district,  then 
again  sent  to  Farmington,  two  years 
later,  to  Galesburg,  where  he  preached 
three  years,  then  two  years  at  Peoria, 
one  year  at  Monmouth,  two  years  at 
Bushnell,  and  three  years  at  Prairie 
City.  He  then,  after  this  prolonged 
career  of  active  labor,  was  superannu- 
ated, and  settled  permanently  at  Prairie 
City,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
preached  alternate  Sabbaths  here  since 
that  time.  Thus  far,  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury, has  he  labored  faithfully  and  ac- 
ceptably in  the  cause  of  the  Master. 
He  has  been  four  times  elected  to  the 
general  conference — first  in  1852,  when 
he  represented  the  Pittsburg  confer- 
ence, and  in  1860-64,  representing  the 
Central  Illinois  conference.  He  at- 
tended general  conference  at  the  cities  of 
Boston,  Buffalo,  and  Philadelphia.  He 
was  elected  to  attend  the  same  at  Chi- 
cago in  1868,  but  resigned.  Possessed 
of  much  ability  and  talent,  of  a  high 
order,  Mr.  Magee  has  been  abundantly 
blest  in  his  work,  and  now,  in  the  even- 


ing of  his  life,  while  resting  from  his 
more  arduous  labors,  he  may  well  feel 
the  assurance  that  his  life  has  not  been 
spent  in  vain.  Mr.  Magee  was  married 
January  20,  1828,  to  Elizabeth  Fultz,  a 
native  of  Germantown,  Pennsylvania. 
She  died,  January  24,  1879.  Eight 
children  were  born  to  them — Sarah,  de- 
ceased; Edmund  and  Charity,  deceased; 
William  Thomas,  one  of  the  business 
men  of  Prairie  City;  John  Andrew,  de- 
ceased; Martha,  who  died,  November  9, 
1864,  aged  20  years;  Susan,  wife  of  W. 
F.  Taylor,  -of  Portsmouth,  Ohio,  and 
Mary,  wife  of  Eugene  Durst,  of  Bush- 
nell. 

A.  B.  Cooper,  of  Prairie  City,  was 
born  in  1812,  in  the  state  of  Kentucky, 
and  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Ken- 
ner)  Cooper.  A.  B.  Cooper  came  to  Ill- 
inois in  1854,  locating  then  in  Henry 
county.  In  1858,  he  moved  to  Abing- 
don,  Knox  county,  where  he  lived  five 
years,  after  which  he  came  to  Prairie 
City,  and  engaged  in  hotel  keeping  one 
year,  then,  in  merchandizing,  which  he 
continued  eight  years.  He  then  estab- 
lished his  present  business,  dealing  in 
pictures  and  frames.  Mr.  Cooper  was 
married  in  1833,  to  Nancy  Rawlings,  a 
daughter  of  Jonathan  Rawlings,  of  Ken- 
tucky. Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  nine  children — S.  Jacob,  living  in 
St.  Augustine,  Illinois;  Letha  H.,  wife 
of  James  Haiina,  of  Emporia,  Kansas; 
William  F.,  living  in  Missouri;  Kittie, 
deceased  wife  of  Marshall  Dowdy; 
Eliza,  wife  of  George  Rodecker,  living 
in  Missouri;  Asa  B.,  living  in  Lincoln, 
Nebraska,  married  to  Hattie  Barnes,  a 
daughter  of  Alonzo  Barnes;  Milton  D., 
and  Hickison  B.,  living  in  California, 


782 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  Charles  A.,  residing  with  his  par- 
ents. Mr.  Cooper  is  the  owner  of  a 
dwelling  house,  a  store  room  and  three 
lots,  in  Prairie  City.  He  is,  with  his 
wife,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  politically,  a  democrat. 

J.  W.  Davis  came  to  Illinois  in  1837, 
accompanying  his  parents,  who  settled 
near  Fairview,  in  Fulton  county.  He 
came  to  Prairie  City  in  1855,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  resident  here. 
Mr.  Davis  was  born  August  7,  1833,  in 
the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a  son 
of  Evan  and  Letitia  (Conly)  Davis,  also 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1862,  J. 
W.  Davis  was  married  to  J.  A.  Harlan,  a 
daughter  of  Abner  Harlan,  of  Kentucky. 
They  had  four  children — May,  Willie 
F.,  Ella,  and  Gracie.  Mrs.  Davis  died 
in  June,  ,1883.  All  of  the  children  are 
living  with  their  father  in  Prairie  City, 
where  they  have  a  pleasant  home.  Mr. 
Davis  is  a  prominent  and  public  spirited 
citizen.  During  the  war  he  was  ap- 
pointed provost  marshal,  to  succeed 
Randolph.  He  has  also  held  the  office 
of  assessor  and  collector  of  the  township 
and  was  postmaster  through  the  last  ad- 
ministration. 

Robert  Burden,  Jr.,  is  a  son  of  Robert 
and  Eliza  (Byng)  Burden,  natives  of 
New  York  city,  where  Robert,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  1856.  They  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1864,  and  settled  in 
Prairie  City.  Robert  Burden,  Jr.,  was 
married  in  1882,  to  Mattie  Trumpy,  a 
daughter  of  Henry  Trumpy,  of  Prairie 
City.  Mr.  Burden  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  this  city,  and  was  appointed  to 
his  present  position,  assistant  postmas- 
ter, in  1882,  by  J.  W.  Davis.  He  had 
previously  been  engaged  as  a  dry  goods 


salesman.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  politically  a  republican.  Rob- 
ert Burden,  Sr.,  is  still  a  resident  of 
Prairie  City. 

J.  A.  Jones  settled  in  Canton,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  in  1851.  He  remained 
a  resident  there  until  1866,  when  he 
came  to  Lee,  Fulton  county,  where  he 
lived  until  1874,  then  moved  to  Prairie 
City,  and  for  three  years  followed  paint- 
ing, then  in  1877,  engaged  in  his  present 
business,  keeping  a  grocery  store.  Mr. 
Jones  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  is  a 
son  of  Samuel  Jones,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, He  was  married  April  8, 
1869,  to  Nancy  C.  Hulick,  of  Fulton 
county.  By  this  union  there  are  four 
children — Isaac  A.,  Jennie  F.,  Nora  B., 
and  Emma  A.  Mr.  Jones  enlisted  in 
his  country's  service,  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  serving  six  months  in  the  132d 
Illinois  infantry.  In  February,  1865,  he 
re-enlisted  in  the  51st  Illinois  regiment, 
and  served  eight  months.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  Royal  Douglas 
post,  of  which  he  was  post  commander 
during  the  year  1884.  He  also  belongs 
to  the  order  of  the  Golden  Rule.  Mr. 
Jones  was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
eight  years,  and  from  that  time  was 
obliged  to  earn  his  own  living,  without 
assistance.  He  is  now  in  prosperous 
circumstances,  and  one  of  Prairie  City's 
best  citizens.  He  is  a  republican,  polit- 
ically. 

James  Skean,  a  resident  of  Prairie 
City  township,  was  born  in  1815,  in 
-Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Thatcher)  Skean,  the  former  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  New 
York.  James  Skean  first  came  to  this 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


783 


state  in  the  fall  of  1854,  and  remained 
one  winter  at  Pekin.  The  following 
spring  he  settled  in  Prairie  City  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides.  He  owns  a 
farm  of  80  acres,  in  good  cultivation. 
He  was  married  in  September,  1849,  to 
Eliza  Lichtenthaler,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
They  have  four  children — James,  living 
in  Prairie  City;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Walter 
P.  Smith,  of  Quincy,  Illinois;  Wilbert, 
living  in  Prairie  City,  and  Elmer  E.,  in 
Albia,  Iowa.  Mr.  Skean  is  a  member  of 
the  Disciples'  church,  and  his  wife  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is,  politi- 
cally, a  supporter  of  the  republican 
party,  and  &  worthy  and  respected  citi- 
zen. 

Robert  M.  Cox,  teacher  of  vocal  and 
instrumental  music,  at  Prairie  City,  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Carver) 
Cox,  and  was  born  in  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  in  1845.  He  lived  in  his  native 
state  till  1856,  then  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Lee  township,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  Two  years  later  they  removed 
to  Knox  county,  and  located  near  St. 
Augustine.  In  1861,  Robert  M.  Cox  en- 
listed in  company  K,  of  the  55th  Illinois 
infantry.  He  served  as  a  private  one 
year,  then  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of . 
corporal,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
three  years.  He  participated  in  27  of 
the  32  battles,  in  which  his  regiment  was 
engaged,  and  was  in  Sherman's  cam- 
paign, including  the  grand  review,  at 
AVashington.  At  the  battle  of  Kenesaw 
mountain,  in  Georgia,  he  was  wounded 
in  the  left  arm,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  was  off  duty  60  days.  He  was  mar- 
ried December  13, 1865,  to  Sarah  Bryte, 
daughter  of  Nathaniel  Bryte,  of  Prairie 
City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  have  had 


seven  children  born  to  them — Arminda, 
Eliza,  Jessie,  May,  Eddie,  Charles  S., 
deceased,  and  Christena.  Mr.  Cox  owns 
a  residence  in  Prairie  City,  and  is  here 
engaged  in  teaching  music,  for  which 
profession  he  is  highly  qualified,  both  by 
nature  and  education.  He  is  the  pres- 
ent commander  of  the  post  of  the  G.  A. 
R.,  at  Prairie  City.  His  father,  William 
Cox,  died  in  Knox  county,  in  the  spring 
of  1861. 

Daniel  C.  Ackerman  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  from  New  Jersey,  in  1866. 
He  had  been  engaged  in  New  York  city, 
as  a  commission  merchant  for  six  years. 
He  was  born  May  16,  1822,  in  Bergen 
county,  New  Jersey,  and  is  a  son  of  Cor- 
nelius and  Elizabeth  (Yeoman)  Acker- 
man. Mr.  Ackerman,  on  coming  to  this 
county,  purchased  a  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Prairie  City  township,  on  which  he  lived 
seven  years,  then  removed  to  the  village 
of  Prairie  City,  his  present  residence. 
He  still  owns  and  carries  on  his  farm. 
He  was  married  in  1855,  to  Anna  Ter- 
hune,  of  Passaic  county,  New  Jersey. 
They  have  four  children — Lizzie,  wife  of 
Charles  Hamilton,  of  Prairie  City,  now 
living  in  Iowa;  Mary,  wife  of  Walter 
Tobie,  of  Prairie  City,  now  living  in  Illi- 
nois; Helen  and  Walter,  living  with  their 
parents.  Mrs.  Ackerman  is  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Acker- 
man's  parents  were  natives  of  New  Jer- 
sey, and  they  came  out  here  in  1855,  but 
both  died  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  his 
father  in  1881;  and  his  mother,  in  1872. 
Mr.  Ackerman  is  a  democrat,  politically, 
and  a  good  citizen. 

Charles  S.  Harris  is  a  son  of  Dr.'Ralph 
and  Mary  P.  (Wilson)  Harris,  and  was 
born  March  24,  1852,  in  Macomb,  Me- 


784 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Donough  county,  Illinois.  In  1863,  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Warsaw, 
Illinois,  and  remained  four  years,  re- 
turning then  to  Macomb,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1872.  In  that  year  he  went 
to  Mount  Sterling,  Brown  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  engaged  as  clerk  in  a  store,  re- 
maining there  four  years.  In  1876  he 
was  married  to  Addie  B.  Anderson,  a 
daughter  of  John  S.  Anderson,  of  Mount 
Sterling.  Soon  after  marriage  he  re- 
moved to  Du  Quoin,  Perry  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  lived  two  and  a  half  years 
engaged  in  commission  business,  then 
returned  to  this  county  and  followed 
school  teaching,  two  years  in  the  country 
and  one  and  a  half  years  in  Blandins- 
ville.  He  then  followed  the  same  occu- 
pation at  Good  Hope  one  year,  after 
which  he  came  to  Prairie  City,  where  he 
*now  resides.  Since  coming  here  he  has, 
for  two  years,  held  the  position  of  prin- 
cipal of  the  public  schools.  In  August, 

1884,  he  was  awarded  a  teacher's  state 
certificate,  having  passed  the  requisite 
examination   before   the   state  board  of 
education.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  lawyer  as  well 
as  a  professional  teacher,  having  been 
admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court 
of  the  state,  at  Ottawa,  Illinois,  in  March 

1885.  He  has  fitted  himself  for  the  lat- 
ter profession  by  studying  in  a  law  office 
.during   his  vacation  for  the  past  four 

years,  and  will  undoubtedly  be  eminently 
successful,  possessing  as  he -does,  great 
energy  and  perseverance,  in  addition  to 
his  natural  ability.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Har- 
ris have  two  children — Nina  and  Lillian 
C.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  and  politically,  a  republican. 

Hugh  S.  Steach,  son  of  Adam  and  Ju- 
lia A.  (Shaw)  Steach,  was  born  in  Penn- 


sylvania, in  1833.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1856,  and  in  the  year  1869,  settled  in 
Prairie  City,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
is  the  owner  of  real  estate  in  this  city,  a 
residence  and  four  lots,  also  a  black- 
smith shop.  He  carries  on  business  in 
the  latter,  being  a  blacksmith  by  trade. 
He  was  married  in  March,  1862,  to  Celia 
Vandyke  of  Greene  county,  and  by  this 
union,  has  three  children — Ida  N.,  wife 
of  W.  E.  Lewis,  of  this  city;  Charles  L. 
and  Maud,  living  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  Steach  resigned  the  office  of  city 
marshal,  after  holding  the  same  three 
years.  He  has  been  commissioner  of 
roads  also,  three  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Golden  Rule,  and  politically,  a 
democrat. 

The  following  sketch  should  have  ap- 
peared in  the  medical  chapter: 
•  Dr.  D.  L.  Russell,  practicing  physi- 
cian of  Prairie  City,  is  a  native  of  High- 
land county,  Ohio,  born  December  4, 
1834,  and  a  son  of  James  R.  and  Sarah 
(Lincoln)  Russell.  In  the  fall  of  1843, 
his  parents  moved  to  Brown  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  reared.  He  began 
fitting  himself  for  his  profession  in  1854, 
with  Dr.  Vandeventer,  with  whom  he 
continued  two  years,  then  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  'Bond,  with  whom  he  studied 
two  years,  after  which  he  practiced  in 
partnership  with  Dr.  Bond  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  entered 
the  army  as  an  assistant  surgeon,  in  the 
department  of  General  Sherman.  The 
medical  department  of  this  state  had  an 
army  board  in  Chicago,  of  which  Dr. 
Brainard  was  chief.  By  this  board,  Dr. 
Russell  was  examined  and  on  receiving 
his  certificate,  went  into  the  field  and 
made  an  engagement  with  the  medical 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


785 


staff,  by  which  he  was  engaged  as  sur- 
geon until  the  close  of  the  war,  thus  hav- 
ing a  splendid  opportunity  for  familiar- 
izing himself  with  actual  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery,  and  which  he 
abundantly  improved.  At  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  returned  to  Brown  county, 
and  practiced  his  profession  at  Ripley, 
where  he  had  an  extensive  practice,  until 
the  fall  of  1880,  when  he  moved  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  located  first  at 
Bushnell,  where  he  remained  till  1883, 
then  came  to  Prairie  City.  Deciding  to 
make  this  his  permanent  home,  he  re- 
moved his  family  and  opened  an  office. 
He  has  an  extensive  and  ever  increasing 
practice  in  Prairie  City  and  vicinity.  He 
was  married  in  Brown  county,  October 
5,  1875,  to  Euth  E.  Glenn,  daughter  of 
William  and  Polly  Glenn,  of  that  county. 
They  have  an  adopted  daughter  named — 
Bertha  Frances.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

William  C.  Rush  of  Prairie  City,  is  a 
native  of  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  born 
February  1,  1843.  His  parents  were 
Robert  Guy  and  Mary  (Castlebury) 
Rush.  The  former  died  in  Mercer 
county,  in  June,  1883 ;  the  latter  is  still 
living.  William  C.,  was  reared  in  his 
native  county  and  there  enlisted  Septem- 
ber 21,  1861,  in  company  A,  of  the  30th 
Illinois  infantry.  The  regiment  rendez- 
voused at  Cairo  and  were  assigned  to 
the  16th  army  corps,  under  Gen.  John 
A.  McClernand.  He  was  with  General 
Grant  in  the  battle  of  Belmont,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1861.  From  there  they  went  down 
the  river,  and  the  next  engagement  in 
which  they  participated,  was  at  Fort 
Henry,  next  at  Fort  Donelson,  where 
Buckner  surrendered  unconditionally. 


At  Fort  Donelson  Mr.  Rush  received  a 
wound  in  the  right  hand,  in  consequence 
of  which  he  was  discharged  at  Jackson, 
Tennessee.  He  afterwards  received  an 
appointment  as  clerk,  in  the  llth  Illi- 
nois cavalry.  He  continued  with  that 
regiment  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  in  the 
winter  of  1865.  He  returned  from  the 
army  to  Mercer  county,  and  the  follow- 
ing spring,  came  to  McDonough  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  On  coming 
here  he  engaged  for  *a  short  time,  in 
farming,  then  began  the  practice  of  med- 
icine, for  which  profession  he  had  pre- 
pared himself  previous  to  the  war,  spend- 
ing two  years  in  studying  in  tne  office  of 
Dr.  Clendennon,  of  Mercer  county.  He 
continued  his  medical  practice  until 
about  1877,  then  engaged  in  dealing  in 
stock.  He  now  does  a  general  collection 
business  at  Prairie  City. 

Joel  'C.  Barnes,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Prairie  City,  was  born  in  Hancock  county, 
Illinois,  December  27,  1857.  The  same 
year  his  parents,  Joel  S.  and  Ambrosia 
( Cutler )  Barnes,  moved  to  Fulton  county 
and  settled  at  Canton,  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  remained  until  he  came 
to  Prairie  City,  in  1864.  His  father  was 
here  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
for  15  years  but  in  May,  1882,  removed 
to  Englewood,  Illinois,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. Joel  C.  has  a  farm  of  60-  acres, 
situated  within  the  corporate  limits  of 
Prairie  City,  where  he  carries  on  farm- 
ing. In  March,  1885,  he  was  elected 
city  marshal  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused 
by  the  resignation  of  Hugh  Steach.  He 
was  married  in  August,  1877,  to  Kate 
Sanford,  who  died  December  14,  1878. 
He  was  married  again  December  23, 


786 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1879,  to  Martha  Morrow,  daughter  of 
Thomas  B.  Morrow,  of  Prairie  City. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children — 
Vera  and  Edith  May.  Mr.  Barnes  is  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  of  Prai- 
rie City,  and  has  been  through  the  chair 
both  in  the  encampment  and  the  subor- 
dinate lodge.  He  was  sent  as  represen- 
tative to  the  Grand  Lodge  session  at 
Springfield,  in  September,  1883,  and  to 
Galesburg  in  September,  1880.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Anti-Horse-Thief  society 
of  Prairie  City.  " 

Dr.  C.  H.  Pearson,  a  leading  citizen 
of  Prairie  City,  is  a  native  of  New  Eng- 
land, born  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hamp- 
shire, June  26,  1832.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Harriet  (Carleton)  Pearson, 
of  English  descent,  the  latter,  a  sister  of 
Guy  Carleton,  and  a  near  relative  of  Sir 
Guy  Carleton,  governor  general  of  Can- 
ada. Mrs.  Pearson  died  when  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  six  years  old. 
When  he  was  11  years  of  age,  he  went 
with  his  father  to  Portland,  Maine,  where 
they  lived  several  years,  then  removed 
to  Newburyport,  Massachusetts,  Dr. 
Pearson  received  an  academic  and  theo- 
logical education  at  New  Hampton,  New 
Hampshire.  On  finishing  his  theologi- 
cal studies  he  was  ordained  and  served 
as  pastor  a  number  of  years,  but  inherit- 
ing from  his  mother  a  tendency  to  pul- 
monary consumption,  failing  health  com- 
pelled him  to  leave  the  pastorate.  His 
case  baffled  the  skill  of  the  doctors,  till 
against  his  medical  prepossessions,  as  a 
dernier  resort  he  consulted  Dr.  S.  M. 
Gale,  of  Newburyport,  Massachusetts, 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  University,  and  a 
learned  physician,  but  who  had  become 
a  homoeopathist.  Restored  to  health  in 


a  singularly  short  time  under  the  new 
system,  a  slumbering  penchant  for  the 
profession  of  medicine  was  revived,  and 
he  began  its  study  under  the  supervision 
of  Dr.  Gale,  continuing  his  studies  two 
years  more,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Wm.  H. 
Lougee,  of  Lawrence,  Massachusetts,  a 
graduate  of  Jefferson  medical  college, 
Philadelphia,  but  then,  also  a  'homoeo- 
pathist of  repute.  Early  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  the  compounding  of 
medicines  was  carried  to  excess,  and 
tended  to  scientific  uncertainty  in  ad- 
ministering drugs,  he  soon  began  a  course 
of  independent  research  into  the  pro- 
perties, powers  and  affinities  of  drugs 
singly  administered  in  varying  doses, 
giving  much  attention  to  neglected  medi- 
cinal plants,  in  which*  experiments  he 
received  invaluable  suggestions  from  Dr. 
S.  M.  Allen,  a  practitioner  of  the  regu- 
lar school  and  a  medical  botanist,  whose 
observations  had  been  turned  in  the 
same  direction.  In  this  way  many  bene- 
ficent and  curative  agents  were  dis- 
covered, which  years  after  were  intro- 
duced into  the  materia  medica  as  "new 
remedies."  He  then  took  a  course  of 
medical  lectures  at  the  Philadelphia  uni- 
versity, where  he  graduated,  then  took 
another  course  at  Hahneman  medical 
college,  that  city,  and  clinics  at  Penn- 
sylvania hospital,  Blockley  hospital  and 
Hahneman  hospital.  Besides  attend- 
ing the  regular,  and  a  spring  course  at 
Hahneman  medical  college,  he  received 
a  diploma  for  a  special  course,  each  in 
practical  obstetrics  and  practical  and 
surgical  anatomy.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  in  Philadelphia 
where  he  remained  for  a  time.  His  last 
practice  was  at  Southington,  Connecticut, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


787 


where  he  resided  until  he  came  to 
Prairie  City  in  May,  1882.  He  has  spent 
a  considerable  portion  of  his  life  in  liter- 
ary work.  He  edited  the  Home  Monthly, 
of  Boston,  besides  contributing  editor- 
als,  sketches,  etc.,  to  various  papers  and 
periodicals  there.  He  is  the  author  of 
a  number  of  works  published  by  Lee 
&Sheppard.  The  Congregational  pub- 
lishing house  also  published  one  of  his 
works.  When  Dr.  Pearson  left  South- 
ington,  Connecticut,  he  was  presented 
with  a  written  testimonial  from  126  of 
the  leading  society  people  of  the  city, 
besides  testimonials  from  the  physicians, 
and  also  from  the  capitalists,  showing 
the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  in 
his  New  England  home,  "as  a  physican, 
a  Christian,  and  a  gentleman."  He  was 
married  in  Southington,  May  6,  1880,  to 
Julia  Hills.  Since  coming  to  Prairie 
City  he  has  devoted  the  greater  portion  of 
his  time  to  literary  work.  The  follow- 
ing article  speaking  of  his  venerable 
father,  is  from  the  pen  of  the  son  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Withington,  of  the  Newbury- 
port  (Mass.)  Herald.  "Deacon  John 
Pearson,  now  at  the  age  of  90  years,  is 
very  low  in  health  from  structural 
disease  of  the  heart.  The  old  gentleman 
retains  his  faculties  of  mind  to  a  very 
remarkable  degree.  He  is  of  the  best 
New  England  stock,  and  he,  and  his 
numerous  descendents,  of  the  most  sub- 
stantial character,  and  an  honor  to  any 
community." 

George  W.  Bird,  is  a  son  of  James  H. 
and  Amanda  C.  (Tribby)  Bird,  and  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  April  2, 
1857.  When  he  was  14  years  of  age,  his 
parents  removed  to  Abingdon,  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  completed  his 


education  at  Hedding  college.  In  1875 
he  entered  the  railroad  office  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy  company, 
for  the  purpose  of  learning  telegraphy, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1876,  was  appointed 
night  operator.  After  serving  in  that 
capacity  some  months,  he  was  placed  on 
extra  work  at  a  number  of  different 
places,  on  the  main  line  and  branches, 
then  returned  to  Abingdon,  and  again 
served  as  night  operator,  for  six  months, 
at  the  end  of  that  time,  July,  1880,  lie 
was  transferred  to  Prairie  City,  where 
he  has  since  had  charge  of  the  station  as 
agent  and  operator.  He  was  married 
October  20,  1881,  to  Allie  M.  Westfall, 
daughter  of  Amos  P.  Westfall.  Mr.  Bird 
has,  by  his  genial  and  accommodating 
manners,  and  strict  attention  to  business, 
won  many  friends.  His  father  died  Octo- 
ber 17,  1883.  His  mother  is  living  at 
Abingdon. 

James  A.  Rose,  police  magistrate,  hag 
his  court  room  up  stairs,  three  doors 
west  of  the  railroad,  on  the  south  side 
of  Main  street.  He  was  elected  in 
April,  1881,  for  the  term  of  four  years. 
He  attends  also  to  collections.  In  the 
same  building,  down  stairs,  he  makes 
boots  and  shoes  to  order,  and  does 
repairing. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  population  of  Prairie  City  in  1860 
was  nearly  1,500.  This  included,  how- 
ever, nearly  100  students  of  the  academy 
that  was  then  there.  In  1875,  the  pop- 
ulation without  the  academy,  was  800. 
For  some  time  the  town  was  at  a  stand- 
still, but  it  is  now  progressing  again,  and 
gaining  in  population,  while  the  entire 
aspect  of  the  place  is  being  changed  by 


788 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COtJNTY. 


the  erection  of  new  and  handsome  brick 
business  structures.  The  building  of 
these  new  business  houses  was  encour- 
aged by  the  liberality  of  the  town  au- 
thorities, who,  a  few  years  after  the  fire, 
purchased  the  burnt  district  and  offered 
140  feet  in  depth,  with  all  the  frontage 
desired,  to  any  one  erecting  a  two-story 
brick  building.  The  first  one  to  take 
advantage  of  that  offer,  was  George  V. 
Everly,  who  erected  a  handsome  struc- 
ture 22x80  feet  in  dimensions,  with  plate- 
glass  front,  and  of  the  requisite  two 
stories  in  height. 

SOCIETIES. 

McDonough  lodge,  No.  205,  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  organ- 
ized October  17,  1856.  The  charter 
ter  members  were :  Samuel  L.  Stewart, 
Alonzo  Barnes,  Solomon  L.  Babcock, 
C.  H.  Wycoff,  Abner  E.  Barnes,  Wm. 
A.  Martin,  and  Andrew  T.  Irwin.  The 
first  officers  were:  A.  E.  Barnes,  N.  G.; 
Samuel  Stewart,  V.  G. 

•  The  lodge  was  allowed  to  die  out  in 
1862,  caused  by  the  departure  of  its  act- 
ive members  to  the  war.  It  was,  how- 
ever, reinstated,  August  5, 1875,  by  Dep- 
uty Grand  Master  Kaiser,  of  Bushnell, 
lodge,  No.  322,  on  petition  of  J.  A.  Ham- 
ilton, Joseph  Humphrey,  and  A.  T.  Ir- 
win, former  members  of  the  lodge;  S.  T. 
Young  and  G.  J.  Gosselia,  of  No.  322, 
and  W.  T.  Magee,  of  No.  44.  Officers 
were  then  elected  as  follows  J.  A.  Ham- 
ilton, N.  G.;  S.  T.  Young,  V.  G.;  A.  T. 
Irwin,  secretary ;  W.  T.  Magee,  treasurer. 
The  present  officers  are:  W.  R.  Emery, 
N.  G. ;  C.  S.  Harris,  V.  G. ;  M.  R.  Turpin, 
secretary;  Hugh  Robertson,  treasurer. 
The  membership  of  the  lodge  is  45,  and 


the  condition  is  highly  prosperous,  as  a 
great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  lodge 
is  shown  by  nearly  all  the  members. 
Their  hall  is  23x70  feet,  and  is  well  fur- 
nished. Prairie  City  encampment,  of 
this  lodge,  was  instituted  October  10, 
1876,  with  the  following  charter  mem- 
bers: J.  Alex.  Hamilton,  I.  F.  Weaver, 
A.  M.  Stearns,  A.  N.  Davis,  J.  A.  Ham- 
ilton, G.  W.  Smith,  C.  A.  Helm,  W.  T. 
Magee,  C.  W.  Hamilton,  J.  M.  Helm, 
L.  Neff,  Oliver  Reeves,  Joseph  Humph- 
rey, J.  A.  Funk,  and  A.  J.  DeHaas. 
The  first  officers  were:  J.  A.  Hamilton, 
C.  P.;  J.  A.  Hamilton,  H.  P.;  C.  W. 
Hamilton,  S.  W.;  I.  F.  Weaver,  scribe; 
G.  W.  Smith,  treasurer;  J.  A.  Funk,  J. 
W.  The  present  officers  are;  J.  B. 
Kuhn,  C.  P.;  J.  B.  Grey,  S.  W.;  Edward 
Singleton.  J.  W.;  Geo.  Myers,  H.  P.; 
M.  R.  Turpin,  scribe;  J.  A.  Hamilton, 
treasurer. 

Golden  Gate  lodge,  No.  248,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  was  organ- 
ized June  2,  1857.  The  charter  bears 
date, October  1, 1857,  and  contains  the  fol- 
lowing names:  J.  B.  Robinson,  R.  H. 
McFarland,  C.  H.  Hemenover,  J.  C. 
Hamilton,  J.  C.  Brinkerhoff,  H.  Phil- 
lips, S.  Lancaster,  and  C.  H.  Payne. 
The  first  officers  were:  J.  B.  Robinson, 
W.  M.;  R.  H.  McFarland,  S.  W.;  C.  H. 
Hemenover,  J.  W.;  J.  C.  Hamilton, 
treasurer;  J.  C.  Brinkerhoff,  secretary. 
The  officers  for  1885 are:  G.  W.  Hamil- 
ton, W.  M.;  W.  W.  Shoop,  S.  W.;  J.  E. 
Pearsall,  J.  W.;  B.  F:  Bradbury,  treas- 
urer; A.  A.  Wheeler,  secretary;  J.  T. 
McGrew,  S.  D.;  E.  White,  J.  D.;  A.  N. 
Davis,  tyler.  The  lodge  erected  a  hand- 
some brick  block,  24x70  .feet  in  size,  and 
two  stories  in  height,  in  1884.  They  let 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


789 


out  the  lower  floor,  and  have  fitted  up 
the  second  story  in  handsome  style  for 
a  lodge  room.  The  cost  of  the  building 
proper  was  $4,000.  The  furniture  cost 
$300.  The  hall  was  dedicated  on  the 
30th  of  December,  1884,  by  General  J. 
C.  Smith,  deputy  grand  master  of  the 
state. 

Koyal  Douglas  post,  No.  179,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  is  the  latest  so- 
ciety organized  in  Prairie  City.  The 
charter  bears  the  date  of  January  17, 
1883.  The  first  meeting  was  held  on 
the  24th  of  January,  in  Kreider's  Hall, 
and  the  post  was  fully  organized,  with 
the  following  charter  memBers:  Dan- 
ford  Taylor,  G.  C.  Steach,  W.  T.  McGee, 
George  Wiley  Martin,  Enos  A.  Boynton, 
O.  M.  Hoagland,  J.  D.  Hughson, 
Thomas  Carroll,  C.  D.  Hendryx,  Hes- 
lip  Phillips,  S.  W.  Dallam,  Robert  M. 
•  Cox,  A.  H.  Wagoner,  T.  E.  Bivens,  and 
W.  C.  Rush.  The  first  officers  were: 
Danford  Taylor,  commander;  G.  C. 
Steach,  S.  V.  C.;  W.  T.  Magee,  J.  V.  C.; 
W.  C.  Rush,  surgeon;  C.  D.  Hendryx, 
O.  D. ;  Heslip  Phillips,  adjutant;  Enos 
A.  Boynton,  Q.  M.;  R.  M.  Cox,  O.  G.; 
Thomas  Carroll,  chaplain.*  Danford 
Taylor  resigned  at  the  expiration  of 
three  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  G. 
C.  Steach,  who  served  the  remainder  of 
the  term.  The  officers  for  1884  were; 
J.  A.  Jones,  commander;  Joseph  N. 
Perry,  S.  V.  C.;  Adam  Burnell,  J.  V.  C.; 
A.  H.  Wagoner,  surgeon;  William  Clo- 
vis,  O.  D. ;  W.  C.  Rush,  adjutant;  Har- 
vey Oatman,  Q.  M. ;  Thomas  B.  Moul- 
ton,  O.  G.;  R.  M.  Cox,  chaplain.  For 
1885,  the  following  offices  were  chosen: 
Robert  M.  Cox,  commander;  J.  N.  Perry, 
S.  V.  C.;  G.  C.  Steach,  J.  V.  C.;  Thos. 


A.  Bivens,  surgeon;  J.  A.  Jones,  chap- 
lain ;  Enoch  Raywalt,  jQ.  M. ;  Jacob  San- 
ford,  O.  D. ;  Stephen  Brink,  O.  G. ;  W. 
C.  Rush,  adjutant.  The  post  was  mus- 
tered in  by  William  Venable,  of  Ma- 
comb,  appointed  for  the  purpose  by  de- 
partment commander,  Thomas  G.  Law- 
ler.  The  membership  has  increased  un- 
til it  now  numbers  28,  and  a  greater  de- 
gree of  interest  is  beginning  to  be  man- 
ifested by  the  members.  Meetings  are 
held  in  the  G.  A.  R.  hall,"  over  White  & 
Foster's  store,  which  is  leased  by  the 
post.  There  have  been-  no  deaths  of 
members  since  the  organization,  nor  has 
there  been  any  demand  on  the  benefi- 
ciary fund.  The  post  received  its  name 
in  honor  of  Royal  Douglas,  who  en- 
listed from  here,  and  was  the  first  sol- 
dier buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Prairie 
City. 

PRAIRIE  CITY  ACADEMY. 

This  institution  was  started  in  1857, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Free  Will  Bap- 
tist church.  The  building  was  erected 
in  that  year,  and  on  the  14th  day  of  May, 
1858,  it  was  blown  down.  It  was  re- 
built in  the  fall  of  that  year,  at  a  cost  of 
$3,050,  the  contractor  being  L.  H.  Brad- 
bury. The  school  was  opened  on  the  3d 
of  December,  1859.  Daniel  Branch  and 
wife  were  the  first  teachers.  For  sev- 
eral years  the  "institution  met  with  good 
success,  students  being  attracted  there 
from  many  of  the  adjoining  counties, 
and  a  bright  future  seemed  before  it, 
but,  for  some  cause,  dissatisfaction  arose 
as  to  its  management,  and  the  town, 
which  had  a  half  interest  in  it,  with- 
drew its  influence  and  support,  and  the 
church  not  being  able  to  support  it 


790 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


alone,  it  was  compelled  to  suspend. 
The  property  was  sold,  the  town  becom- 
ing the  purchaser,  and  it  is  now  used 
for  the  purpose  of  a  public  school. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  class  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  of  Prairie  City,  was  organized 
in  1856.  ( See  Ecclesiastical  chapter. ) 

The  Free  Will  Baptist  church,  of 
Prairie  City,  was  organized  in  Septem- 
ber, 1857,  by  Elder  John  B.  Fast,  and 
others.  ( See  Ecclesiastical  chapter. ). 

In  1841,  a  Presbyterian  congregation 
was  organized  at  the  residence  of  George 
Kreider,  in  Fulton  county,  and  from 
this  organization  sprang  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  of  Prairie  City.  All  other 


information  pertaining  to  religious  mat- 
ters, of  this  church  and  others  in  Prai- 
rie City,  will  be  found  in  the  Ecclesias- 
tical chapter. 

FIRST   ITEMS. 

The  following  item  is  taken  from  a 
diary  kept  by  Dr.  Kreider  at  an  early 
day.  "The  first  surprise  party  in  Prairie 
City  took  place  at  my  house  January  26, 
1858.  This  was  given  by  the  young 
people.  I  received  nothing  except  a 
large  number  of  sweet  kisses  from  the 
young  ladies,  in  way  of  redeeming  pawns 
during  the  exercises." 

Addie  Hamilton,  daughter  of  J.  M. 
Hamilton,  and  the  first  child  born  in 
Prairie  City,  was  born  September  6, 
1855. 


CHAPTER     XXXI. 


ELDOKADO  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  lies  at  the  extreme 
southwest  corner  of  the  county,  and  is 
known  as  township  4  north,  range  1 
west.  It  was  first  settled  in  1830.  It  is 
bounded  upon  the  north  by  New  Salem 
township,  on  the  east  by  Fulton  county, 
on  the  south  by  Schuyler  county  and  on 
the  west  by  Industry  township.  About 
one-fifth  of  the  township  is  timber  land, 
the  balance  being  a  beautiful  prairie. 
The  timber  land  all  lies  in  the  southern 
part,  with  the  exception  of  about  500 
acres  in  the  northeast  part,  comprising 


all  of  section  1,  and  part  of  section  2. 
Divided  up,  we  have  21,292  acres  of 
improved  land; '1,490  acres  of  unim- 
proved. In  the  southeastern  part  of 
the  township,  coal  is  found  in  great 
quantities,  and  of  a  good  quality.  Sev- 
eral small  streams  run  through  the 
township,  furnishing  living  water  for 
stock  in  all  seasons  of  the  year.  Sugar 
creek  and  its  branches  are  the  principal 
water  courses.  As  showing  the  value 
of  the  township  for  all  purposes,  we 
compile  the  following  facts  and  figures 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


791 


of  its  products,  for  the  year  1875,  to- 
gether with  the  number  of  head  and 
value  of  all  kinds  of  stock:  There 
were  21,293  acres  of  improvecfland,  of 
which  number  7,634  acres  were  in  corn, 
1,457  in  wheat,  1,467  in  oats,  and  656  in 
other  products.  There  were  also  2,270 
head  of  cattle— value,  $47,574;  hogs, 
4,192— value,  $22,982;  horses,  747— value, 
$31,200.  There  are  no  towns  in  the 
township,  and  her  people  can  truly  be 
said  to  be  agricultural  in  their  tastes 
and  habits.  In  churches  and  schools, 
the  township  is  behind  none.  On  the 
southwest  corner  of  section  15,  is  a  good 
town  hall,  known  as  the  Eldorado  hall, 
mention  of  which  is  made  further  on  in 
this  chapter.  Eldorado,  politically,  may 
be  classed  as  democratic. 

EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

Becords  of  early  settlement  and  pio- 
neer times  in  Eldorado  township,  are 
interesting,  and  they  are  not  without 
their  instruction.  By  the  light  of  the 
past,  we  follow  in  the  foot-prints  of  the 
adventurous  and  enterprising  pioneer. 
We  see  him,  as  it  were,  amid  the  labors 
and  struggles  necessary  to  convert  the 
wilderness  into  a  fruitful  field.  We  sit 
by  his  cabin  fire,  partaking  of  his 
homely  and  cheerfully-granted  fare,  and 
listen  to  the  accounts  which  he  is  only 
too  pleased  to  give  us  of  pioneer  life, 
and  of  the  dangers,  trials,  hardships 
and  sufferings  of  himself  and  others,  in 
their  efforts  to  make  for  themselves 
homes  in  regions  remote  from  civiliza- 
tion. Through  these  pioneer  records 
we  make  our  way  along  to  the  present. 
From  small  beginnings,  we  come  to  the 
mighty  achievements  attained  from  in- 


dustry, the  complex  results  of  daring 
enterprise,  subduing  and  creative  energy 
and  untiring  perseverance.  Following 
on  in  the  path  of  progress  and  improve- 
ment, we  see  once  waste  places  rejoicing 
under  the  kindly  care  of  the  husband- 
man; beautiful  farms,  with  all  the  fix- 
tures and  appurtenances  necessary  to 
make  the  tillers  of  the  soil  and  their 
families  contented  and  happy,  are  spread 
out  before  us ;  villages  are  built  up  as  if 
by  magic,  and  by  hundreds,  human  souls 
are  congregated  within  their  precincts; 
the  marts  of  trade  and  traffic,  and  the 
work-shops  of  the  artizans  are  thronged; 
common  schools,  union  schools  and  high 
schools  have  sprung  up;  young  and 
ardent  minds — children  of  the  rich  and 
poor — may  press  forward  in  the  acquisi- 
tion of  science,  literature  and  art; 
churches  are  built  with  their  spires 
pointing  heavenward,  and  a  Christian 
minister  is  sustained  for  the  inculcation 
of  religious  sentiments  and  the  promo- 
tion of  piety,  virtue  and  moral  goodness; 
the  press  is  established,  from  whence 
floods  of  light  may  emanate  for  the 
instruction  and  benefit  of  all;  railroads 
are  built  to  bring  the  products  of  every 
clime,  and  the  people  from  afar,  to  our 
doors;  and  the  telegraph  "upon  the 
lightning's  wing"  carries  messages  far 
and  near.  Let  the  records  of  the  pio- 
neers be  preserved  in  after  years,  our 
children  and  our  children's  children  will 
look  over  them  with  pleasure  and  profit. 
Anson  Mathews  settled  at  what  was 
afterwards  called  Foster's  Point,  and 
erected  a  cabin  in  1827  or  1828.  He 
was  a  practical  tinner  by  trade.  Shortly 
after  his  settling  here  he  sold  out  to 
Foster.  He  is  believed-  to  have  been 


792 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  first  to  settle  in  this  township,  but  of 
this  there  it  much  doubt  in  the  minds 
of  old  settlers,  the  committee,  giving  it 
as  their  opinion  that  the  question  as  to 
who  was  the  first,  could  not  be  certain 
at  this  late  day. 

William  Moore,  a  Georgian,  made  a 
settlement  north  of  where  the  Hushaw 
farm  now  is,  in  1828.  The  following 
year,  he  became  demented,and  was  taken 
by  his  wife,  back  to  the  place  from 
which  they  came. 

George  Dowell  settled  in  this  town- 
ship late  in  1829,  or  early  in  1830,  and 
put  up  a  cabin.  He  did  not  remain 
long,  but  left  the  place. 

Joshua  David  came  to  the  township 
early  in  1830,  and  as  he  was  pleased  with 
the  location,  he  was  soon  followed  by  his 
father,  who  brought  his  family. 

In  the  summer  of  1830,  Abraham 
David  and  family  settled  in  Eldorado. 
He  was  a  native  of  Hardin  county,  Ken- 
tucky, while  his  wife  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee. They  first  settled  near  the  town 
of  Industry,  but  removed  the  same  sum- 
mer to  this  township.  Mr.  David  died 
here  in  1863,  and  was  well  and  favorably 
known  throughout  McDonough  county. 
Mrs.  David  died  in  1878. 

Arthur  J.  Foster  and  family  came  to 
Eldorado  township  in  1831,  and  located 
on  section  2.  There  he  resided  until  the 
time  of  his  death,  in  1843. 

James  Hor  ris  settled  in  Eldorado  town- 
ship, on  section  1,  northeast  quarter,  at 
an  early  day.  He  came  from  New  York. 

John  Hushaw  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  April,  1832,  and  located  in  El- 
dorado township.  He  came  from  Foun- 
tain county,  Indiana.  He  was  married 
to  Tamer  Comer. 


Daniel  Sandidge  came  to  this  township 
in  the  fall  of  1833,  from  Industry  town- 
ship. He  resided  here  until  1850,  when 
he  went*to  Schuyler  county,  where  he 
died  in  1882. 

Daniel  Sandidge,  deceased,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  born  February  23, 1804,. 
and  a  son  of  John  Sandidge.  Daniel  San_ 
didge  was  married  in  1826,  to  Permelia 
Tate,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Tate,  of  Casey  county,  Kentucky. 
In  the  spring  of  1832,  Mr.  Sandidge 
moved  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  settled  in  Industry  township,  where 
he  remained  one  and  a  half  years,  then  re- 
moved to  Eldorado  township,  which  was 
his  residence  until  1850.  In  that  year 
he  removed  to  Schuyler  county,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  August  8,  1882. 
He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  dy- 
ing in  February,  1845.  In  August  of  the 
same  year  he  was  again  married  to  Cyn- 
thia Phillips,  daughter  of  Samuel  Phil- 
lips. By  his  first  marriage  he  had  11 
children — Lucy  Jane,  wife  of  Isom 
David,  of  Eldorado;  William,  in  Mon- 
tana; John,  in  Vermont,  Illinois;  Mary, 
widow  of  Jonah  Lindsay,  of  Walnut 
Grove;  Harriet,  wife  of  L.  Gorsuch,  of 
Schuyler  county;  Eugenie,  wife  of  Albert 
Pittenger,  of  Walnut  Grove;  Permelia, 
who  died  in  1845 ;  Virginia,  wife  of  Na- 
than Lindsay;  Daniel,  of  Brown  county; 
Charles  Clayton  and  Larkin,  living  in 
Montana.  He  had  by  his  second  mar- 
riage, two  children — Ellen,  wife  of  M. 
McCarty,  of  Shelby  county,  Missouri, 
and  Samuel,  who  died  when  quite  young. 

1  John  Sandidge,  son  of  Daniel  Sandidge 
was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky, 
August  12,  1829,  and  came  with  his 
father  to  this  county  in  the  spring  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


795 


1832,  and  continued  to  reside  with  him 
in  Industry  and  Eldorado  townships  un- 
til March,  1850.  He  then  went  to  Cali- 
fornia and  remained  there  until  Septem- 
ber 1873,  engaged  in  mining  and  stock 
raising.  During  that  time,  however,  he 
returned  to  the  east,  and  was  married 
November  19,  1871,  to  Emma  N.  Stock- 
ton, daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Stock- 
ton, the  former  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  latter,  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
Saudidge  returned  soon  after  his  mar- 
riage, to  California,  where  he  had  a  large 
amount  of  property,  including  a  gold 
mine,  he  having  been  very  successful  in 
business  while  there.  He  disposed  of  his 
gold  mine  in  1873,  and  in  1875,  sold  his 
other  interests  in  that  state,  and  came  to 
Illinois  and  purchased  400  acres  of  land 
in  Oakland  township,  Schuyler  county, 
where  he  lived  till  November,  1884.  At 
that  date  he  moved  to  the  town  of  Ver- 
mont, Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
at  present  resides.  He  now  owns  603 
acres  of  improved  land.  He  has  upon 
his  home  farm,  a  handsome  and  commo- 
dious dwelling  house,  a  fine  barn  and 
splendid  accommodations  for  stock.  He 
owns  also,  three  acres  of  ground  and  a 
residence  in  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sandidge  have  two  children — John  F.  and 
Ida  L. 

Isaac  Powers  and  family  came  in  1833, 
and  took  up  land  on  sections  1  and  12, 
Eldorado  township.  He  had  got  im- 
provements well  under  way,  when,  on  the 
10th  of  February,  1836,  he  was  killed  by 
a  runaway  team. 

Daniel  Stockton  located  on  section  30, 
Eldorado  township,  in  the  fall  of  1834. 
There  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  January  29,  1883. 


Robert  Comer  located  in  Eldorado 
township  in  1836,  on  section  18. 

Wm.  R.  Pennington  came  to  the  county 
in  April,  1836,  and  located  in  Industry 
township.  He  afterwards  removed  to 
Eldorado  township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
18. 

William  R.  Pennington  is  a  son  of 
Joel  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Pennington, 
and  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Illi- 
nois, March  16,  1824.  When  two  years 
of  age,  he  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  where  they 
remained  10  years,  then,  in  1836,  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  settled  in 
Industry  township.  In  1858,  William 
R.  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Conner, 
and  removed  to  section  18,  Eldorado 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
He  owns  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  334 
acres,  with  good  and  substantial  im- 
provements. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pennington 
are  the  parents  of  10  children — Elnora, 
wife  of  Henry  Snowdon,  of  Eldorado 
township;  J.  M.,  living  at  home;  Letitia, 
wife  of  Ross  Miller,  of  Industry  town- 
ship; Roswell,  Edgar  R.,  Elliott,  Angel- 
ine,  Charlie,  Edith  and  Archie,  living  at 
home  with  their  father.  Mr.  Penning- 
ton has  held  the  offices  of  constable  and 
justice  of  the  peace.  He  has  also  acted 
as  school  director  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  is  politically  a  democrat,  and  one  of 
the  influential  citizens  of  Eldorado  town- 
ship, and  the  county.  Mrs.  Sarah  Ann 
Pennington,  wife  of  William  R.  Pen- 
nington, died  December  25, 1879. 

Joel  Pennington  was  born  in  Kentucky 
in  1803,  and  died  in  May,  1865.  He 
settled  in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  in 
1826,  there  being  then  only  12  white 


796 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


families  in  the  county.  He  served  there 
as  sheriff  for  seven  years  previous  to 
1836.  He  was  also  sheriff  of  McDonough 
county  before  its  organization.  He  re- 
moved to  this  county  in  1836,  where  he 
was  also  a  prominent  and  honored  citi- 
zen. He  here  acted  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  county  commissioner  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  one  of  the 
leading  men  of  this  portion  of  the  county. 
In  politics  he  was  sensible,  sincere,  but 
not  radical.  He  was  often  solicited  to 
be  a  candidate  for  office,  but  declined 
with  the  exception  of  the  instances  above 
mentioned.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  in 
the  spring  of  1861. 

OTHER   CITIZENS. 

Some  of  those  mentioned  below  are 
comparatively  early  settlers,  though  not, 
strictly  speaking,  pioneers;  the  others 
are  enterprising  people,  justly  worthy  of 
note  in  this  connection. 

John  N.  Foster,  a  farmer  of  Eldorado 
township,  is  a  son  of  Arthur  J.  and  Sarah 
Foster,  natives  of  South  Carolina.  He 
was  born  February  8,  1829,  in  the  state 
of  Indiana.  In  1881  he  removed  with 
his  parents  to  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  located  on  section  2,  Eldorado 
township,  where  his  father  died  in  1843. 
John  N.  Foster  was  married  in  1852  to 
Frances  J.  McClintock,  of  Ohio.  They 
have  three  children  living — Sanford 
Karr,  born  in  1854;  Lois,  born  in  1858, 
now  the  wife  of  Jacob  Barley,  of  Ma- 
comb;  and  Willie  M.,  born  May  1, 1869. 
One  daughter,  Josephine,  died  when 
quite  young.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foster  are 
members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyter- 
ian church.  He  has  held  the  offices  of 
supervisor  and  assessor,  the  former  for 


two  years,  the  latter  for  three.  He  owns 
a  fine  farm  of  240  acres  of  farming  land, 
and  27  acres  of  timber.  His  residence 
is  a  commodious  structure,  erected  at  a 
cost  of  $3,000,  and  his  barn  and  other 
farm  buildings  are  of  equally  good  con- 
struction. He  is  a  republican,  politi- 
cally. 

William  Cox  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Cox, 
who  was  born  in  Chester  -county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1801,  and  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois in  1853.  In  1856  Thomas  Cox  came 
to  this  county,  and  located  on  section  11, 
Eldorado  township,  where  William  Cox 
now  resides.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Ohio,  October  8,  1848.  His  mother  was 
formerly  Emma  Johnson.  His  childhood 
and  youth  were  spent  in  his  native 
county,  and  he  was  there  married,  Sep- 
tember 30,  1874,  to  Ritta  Beal,  daughter 
of  David  Beal,  of  Vermont,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  By  this  union  there 
are  three  children — Bertha, born  Septem- 
ber 19,  1875;  Mabel,  born  March  26, 
1877;  and  Clifford,  born  February  15, 
1879.  Mr.  Cox  has  a  good  farm,  con- 
taining 140  acres.  He  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  and  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

Henry  S.  Leighty,  son  of  Henry  and 
Sarah  (Smith)  Leighty,  was  born  in 
Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  8, 
1825.  He  came  to  McDonough  county, 
in  the  fall  of  1848,  and  located  on  section 
15,  Eldorado  township.  In  1849,  he  was 
married  to  Margaret  McFadden,  who  af- 
terwards died.  In  1852,  Mr.  Leighty 
crossed  the  plains  to  California,  and  re- 
mained in  that  country  two  years,  en- 
gaged in  mining,  then  returned  to  Eldo- 
rado township.  In  1854,  he  was  again 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


797 


married  to  Eliza  A.  Reach,  daughter  of 
E.  D.  and  Anna  Reach,  of  Ohio.  By 
this  union  there  are  eight  children — 
M.  D.,  married,  of  Eldorado  township; 
Elwood,  not  married;  Emma  G.,  wife  of 
Wade  Campbell;  Everett  R.,  married, 
and  living  in  this  township;  S.  Anna, 
Henry  U.,  Viola  and  James  F.  Mr. 
Leighty  owns  760  acres  of  land,  and  is 
an  "enterprising  and  successful  farmer. 
He  has  a  handsome  and  commodious 
residence,  one  of  the  best  in  the  town- 
ship, which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 
He  is  a  republican,  (formerly  a  whig)  in 
politics,  and  has  held  the  office  of  asses- 
sor, two  years.  Mrs.  Leighty  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church.  Mr.  Leighty  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Eldorado,  and  highly  re- 
spected by  all. 

Samuel  M.  McFadden,  of  Eldorado 
township,  was  born  in  Fayette  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  25, 1824,  and  is  a  son 
of  Joseph  and  Eachel  (Newell)  McFad- 
den. In  1849,  he  located  in  Adams  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  six  months, 
then  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
settled  upon  his  present  farm,  on  section 
16,  where  he  owns  260  acres  of  land,  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  splendid 
improvements.  He  was  married  in  1847, 
to  Elizabeth  Golley,  daughter  of  Peter 
Golley,  of  Pennsylvania.  She  died  at  a 
later  date,  leaving  him  three  children — 
Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Frank  Wylie,  of 
Adams  county;  Joseph  C.  and  Nancy, 
who  is  now  married.  Mr.  McFadden  was 
again  married,  to  Louisa  Eeve,  and  by 
this  union,  had  two  children — Living- 
ston and  Elizabeth,  who  died  when  quite 
young.  Mr.  McFadden  served  six  months 
in  the  army,  during  the  war  of  the  Re- 


bellion, being  a  member  of  company  F, 
of  the  84th  Illinois  infantry.  He  is  polit- 
ically, a  republican,  and  has  been  school 
director  arid  constable  of  this  township, 
and  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  leading 
citizens. 

William  B.  Morau  resides  upon  sec- 
tion 3,  Eldorado  township,  where  he  set- 
tled in  1853.  He  came  to  Illinois  in 
November,  1836,  and  settled  then,  in  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  remained  until  he 
removed  to  his  present  home.  He  was 
born  near  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the 
year  1826,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  J.  Moran,  natives  of  the  same 
state.  William  B.,  was  married  in  Jan- 
uary, 1852,  to  Sarah  J.  Turner,  daugh- 
ter of  Horace  and  Jane  Turner,  who 
died,  leaving  him  one  child — Sarah  Jane, 
now  the  wife  of  James  M.  Arnold,  of 
Adair,  Illinois.  November  6,  1856,  Mr. 
Moran  was  married  to  Mary  J.  Turner, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sallie  Turner, 
of  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  By  this  union 
he  has  five  children — Sarah  Julia,  wife 
of  William  Leighty,  of  New  Salem  town- 
ship; Mary  E.,  wife  of  Thomas  G.  Moran, 
of  Adair,  Illinois;  Susie,  Elizabeth  and 
Samuel  T.,  living  with  their  parents. 
Mr.  Moran  has  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres, 
well  cultivated,  a  nice  residence  costing 
$4,000,  a  spacious  and  convenient  barn, 
and  other  farm  buildings  of  a  good  de- 
scription. He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  is  a  thorough -going  and  suc- 
cessful agriculturist. 

Joseph  Conner  was  born  in  Eldorado 
township  in  the  year  1839.  His  parents, 
Eobert  and  Nancy  (Wilson)  Conner, 
were  natives  of  Ohio,  but  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county  from  Indiana,  in  1836. 
They  settled  on  section  18,  Eldorado 


798 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


township.  Joseph  Conner  grew  to  man- 
hood and  received  his  education  in  this 
township.  He  was  married  in  1872  to 
Frances  Craig,  daughter  of  Richard 
Craig,  of  Kentucky.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  children — Gilbert  E.,  Mary 
E.,  Eettie  M.,  George  W.  and  Charles  E. 
Mr.  Conner  is  the  owner  of  a  large  farm, 
comprising  257  acres  of  desirable  land. 
His  improvements  are  of  a  good  class, 
and  substantial  and  comfortable.  He  is 
a  thrifty  and  well-to-do  farmer,  having 
accumulated  his  property  without  assist- 
ance from  any  one.  He  is  a  democrat, 
politically,  and  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Industry  lodge,  No.  328.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Conner  are  members  of  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

Jonas  Hushaw,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was 
born  in  Eoss  county,  of  that  state,  in  the 
year  1814.  He  remained  in  Ohio  until 
13  years  of  age.  In  1839,  he  came  to 
McDonough  county  and  located  in  Eldo- 
rado township,  where  he  has  ever  since 
resided.  He  has  a  good  farm  upon  sec- 
tion 16,  containing  150  acres,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  He'  was  mar- 
ried October  29,  1839,  to  Matilda  Jane 
David,  daughter  of  Abraham  David,  of 
Hardin  county,  Kentucky.  Mr.  Hushaw 
is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  por- 
tion of.  McDonough  county.  The  first 
election  at  which  he  voted  in  this  county, 
was  at  Industry,  when  there  were  but 
five  votes  cast  for  four  townships.  He 
took  part  in  the  Mormon  war,  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  capture  of  Nauvoo,  and 
witnessed  the  shooting  of  Joe  Smith. 
Mrs.  Hushaw  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
the  year  1824.  They  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  one  adopted 
daughter — Mary  Jane,  wife  of  David  C. 


Harris.  She  now  resides  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hushaw.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris 
have  one  daughter — Elizabeth  Jane,  mar- 
ried to  Shelton  David. 

John  H.  Leighty  has  been  a  resident 
of  Eldorado  township  since  the  fall 
of  1848,  when  he  settled  on  section 
16.  He  is  a  native  of  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  born  in  1836,  and  a  son  of  Daniel 
and  Mary  G.  (Hamilton)  Leighty,  *the 
latter,  a  daughter  of  John  Hamilton,  a 
native  of  Ireland.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  April  18,  1877,  to 
Eebecca  T.  Campbell,  daughter  of  Eev. 
William  S.  Campbell,  from  Tennessee. 
In  the  fall  of  1862,  Mr.  Leighty,  enlisted 
in  company  B,  of  the  84th  Illinois  infan- 
try, and  served  three  years  as  color- 
bearer.  He  participated  in  the  engage- 
ments at  Murfreesboro,Einggold,  Dal  ton, 
Eesaca,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Nashville, 
Franklin  and  Atlanta.  He  was  a  brave 
and  fearless  soldier  and  did  gallant  ser- 
vice, until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a 
republican*  politically,  and  has  been 
elected  constable,  but  declined  to  serve. 
He  has  a  good  farm  of  193  acres  with 
excellent  improvements  and  carries  on 
general  farming. 

J.  B.  Standard  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  1836,  and  settled  then,  on 
section  24,  Industry  township,  where 
he  resided  until  1851.  He  then  moved 
to  section  19,  which  has  since  been  his 
residence.  He  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
June  23,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Gideon 
and  Sina  (Wyatt)  Standard.  He  came 
to  Illinois  when  a  boy  of  eight  years, 
and  lived  in  Morgan  county  until  he 
came  here.  Mr.  Standard  is  one  of  the 
most  extensive  land  owners,  and  one  of 
the  wealthiest  farmers  of  McDonough 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


799 


county.  He  has  1,050  acres  of  land,  all 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  except  188 
acres  of  timber.  His  improvements  are 
among  the  finest  in  the  county,  his  resi- 
dence, barn,  and  other  buildings  being 
commodious  and  substantial.  He  keeps 
a  large  number  of  cattle,  horses,  and 
other  stock,  and  carries  on  farming  on 
an  extensive  scale.  He  began  life  poor, 
and  his  success  is  an  example  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  industry,  per- 
severance, and  good  management.  Mr. 
Standard  was  married  in  1849,  to  Jane 
Allison,  daughter  of  John  Allison,  of 
Pennsylvania.  By  this  union  there  are 
seven  children — Mary,  wife  of  Jerome 
Jones,  of  Scotland  township;  Margaret, 
wife  of  Thomas  Jones,  of  Clay  county, 
Nebraska;  Julia,  wife  of  E.  F.  Wheeler, 
of  Kansas  City;Malinda,  wife  of  George 
W.  Russell,  of  Bethel  township ;  Gideon, 
living  in  Industry  township;  John,  also 
in  Industry ;  and  George,  living  at  home. 
Mrs.  Standard  died  September  25,  1876, 
and  was  buried  in  the  Vance  cemetery, 
near  Industry.  In  September,  1880, 
Mr.  Standard  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Martha  Duncan,  widow  of  Dr.  Duncan, 
and  daughter  of  Morris  Merrick.  By 
his  second  marriage,  Mr.  Standard  has 
one  child — Fannie. 

Thomas  Lawyer,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Eldorado  township,  was  born  in  Fay- 
ette  county,  Ohio,  December  7,  1826,  and 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Massie  (Cooper) 
Lawyer,  the  former  a  native  of  Virginia, 
and  the  latter,  of  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of 
1837,  Thomas  came  with  his  parents  to 
Industry  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  They  resided  two  years  in  In- 
dustry, then  removed  to  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  30,  Eldorado  town- 


ship. Thomas  remained  at  home  until 
1852.  He  was  married  January  15,  of 
that  year,  to  Catherine  Connor,  of  Eldo- 
rado township.  By  this  union  there  are 
seven  living  children — John  R.,  living 
in  Seward  county,  Nebraska;  F.  P.,  now 
in  New  York  city,  where  he  is  fitting 
himself  for  the  ministry  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  having  pre- 
viously been  ordained;  James  N.,  a  far- 
mer of  Eldorado  township;  Joseph  F., 
who  has  been  attending  commercial  col- 
lege, at  Burlington,  Iowa,  but  now  at 
home;  Mary  P.,  wife  of  William  Moore, 
of  Eldorado  township;  Emma  and 
Charles,  living  at  home.  Annie  E.  died 
in  1863,  aged  seven  months.  Mr.  Law- 
yer owns  a  most  desirable  and  well- 
improved  farm,  containing  146  acres. 
He  is  quite  extensively  engaged  in  stock 
raising.  He  is  a  democrat  politically, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
county  supervisors.  He  has  also  served 
as  road  commissioner  of  this  township, 
for  nine  years;  has  been  school  director 
15  years,  and  school  trustee  12  years. 

P.  M.  Leftridge  was  born  in  the  state 
of  Indiana,  in  June,  1844,  and  is  a  son  of 
Henry  and  Rachel  (Swink)  Leftridge. 
Henry  Leftridge  removed  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Illinois  in  1857,  and  settled  at  that 
time  in  Eldorado  township,  where  he  re- 
mained five  or  six  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Lincoln  county,  Missouri,  and 
engaged  in  farming  there  one  year, 
thence  to  Macon  county,  Missouri,  and 
three  years  later,  to  Lawrence  county, 
of  the  same  state,  where  they  lived  18 
months,  then  moved  to  Monroe  county, 
Missouri,  thence,  three  years  later,  to 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  where  they  re- 
sided nine  years.  They  removed  from 


800 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Schuyler  to  McDonough  county,  and 
located  on  section  7,  Eldorado  township. 
October  8,  1868,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  to  Sarah  Jane  Brun- 
ner,  daughter  of  David  Brunner,  of 
Eldorado  township,  and  by  this  union 
has  three  children — Rhoda,  Maria,  and 
Fannie.  Mr.  Leftridge  is  the  owner  of 
a  good  farm  of  80  acres,  with  substantial 
and  comfortable  improvements.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  but  is  pre- 
paring to  go  into  the  fine  stock  business. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leftridge  are  members  of 
the  West  Prairie  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church.  He  is  a  republican,  and 
has  served  as  road  commissioner.  He  is 
a  man  of  much  intelligence,  and  a  genial 
and  pleasant  gentleman. 

Henry  Mershon,  a  worthy  and  influ- 
ential citizen  of  Eldorado  township,  now 
deceased,  was  born  in  Chester  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1817.  He  was 
a  son  of  Henry  and  Ruth  (Dilbert)  Mer- 
shon, and  was  reared  a  Quaker.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  184-8,  and 
settled  in  Vermont.  In  1842  he  was 
married  to  Izella  C.  Thomas,  a  native  of 
Gloucester  county,  now  Jersey,  and  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Amelia  Thomas. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mershon  had  six  children 
born  to  them — James  T.,  Henry  A.,  liv- 
ing in  Stafford,  Kansas;  Louisa  A,  Fan- 
nie V,,  Benjamin  G.  and  Mary  A.  Mr. 
Mershon  died  October  25,  1870,  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Vermont  cemetery.  He 
left  a  large  estate  to  be  divided  among 
his  children  and  heirs,  including  760 
acres  of  land,  together  with  two  houses; 
one  valued  at  $3,000,  upon  the  home- 
stead farm  in  Eldorado,  and  the  other 
in  Vermont,  valued  at  $5,000;  property 
in  Macomb,  consisting  of  a  house  and 


two  lots;  and  two  store  buildings,  one 
valued  at  $4,500,  and  a  warehouse,  in  Ver- 
mont. Mr.  Mershon's  sons  James  and 
Benjamin,  reside  upon  the  farm  with 
their  mother,  and  are  leading  farmers  of 
Eldorado  township.  They  deal  largely 
in  stock,  feeding  and  shipping  several 
car-loads  of  cattle  annually.  They  also 
keep  about  forty  head  of  horses.  They 
are  shrewd  business  men,  and  are  con- 
stantly adding  to  their  already  large  es- 
tate. 

Elisha  Reach,  son  of  E.  D.  and  Ann 
(Brewer)  Reach,  was  born  April  4, 
1835,  in  Ohio.  His  parents  were  also 
natives  of  that  state.  He  remained  with 
his  parents,  removing  with  them  to 
Coles  county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  and  to 
Fulton  county  in  1845.  He  came  from 
thence  to  McDonough  county  in  1853, 
and  settled  on  section  22,  Eldorado  town- 
ship, but  now  resides  on  section  6,  same 
township.  He  has  160  acres  of  land, 
which  is  well  cultivated  and  finely  im- 
proved. His  residence  is  large  and 
handsome,  and  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$3,000.  He  makes  a  business  of  hand- 
ling stock,  feeding  three  or  four  car- 
loads of  cattle  annually.  Mr.  Reach 
was  married  in  February,  1862,  to  Eliza- 
beth Miles,  of  Eldorado  township,  and 
daughter  of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  Miles. 
They  have  nine  children — L.  M.,  Ira  M., 
Lizzie  May,  Ulman  R..  Rosa  Bell, 
Amanda  Jane,  Howard  Wells,  Sarah 
Daisy  and  Hardin  H.  Mr.  Reach  is  at 
present,  road  commissioner  of  this  town- 
ship. He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church;  also  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  a  strong  tem- 
perance man,  and  favors  the  cause  of 
prohibition. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


801 


Henry  Hushaw  settled,  with  his  par- 
ents, in  Eldorado  township,  in  April, 
1838.  He  was  born  in  Fountain  county, 
Indiana,  September  27,  1828,  and  was  a 
son  of  John  and  Tamar  (Conner)  Hu- 
shaw. He  grew  to  manhood  in  this 
township,  and  was  married  May  3,  1860, 
to  Emily  J.  Little,  of  Fulton  county. 
Six  children  have  been  born  to  them — 
Mary  A.,  Charles  E.,  Athie  E.,  Samuel 
P.,  Addie  and  J.  Evert.  Mr.  Hushaw 
has  a  fine  farm  of  240  acres,  with  good 
improvements,  and  carries  on  general 
farming.  He  is  democratic  in  politics, 
and  has  held  the  office  of  commissioner 
of  highways  and  school  director.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyte- 
rian church,  and  his  wife,  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.  He  is  an  advocate  of  tem- 
perance, and  a  popular  and  esteemed 
citizen. 

Samuel  Kee,  a  well-known  citizen  of 
Eldorado  township,  is  a  son  of  William 
and  Mary  (Fisher)  Kee,  the  former  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  the  latter,  of 
Brownsville,  Pennsylvania.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1853,  William  Kee  removed  with 
his  family  to  Vermont,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  and  the  following  March  came 
to  Eldorado  township,  and  settled  on 
section  30.  Three  years  later  he  moved 
to  section  17  of  the  same  township, 
where  he  died  July  10,  1882.  He  was 
born  January  5,  1806.  His  widow  is 
still  living  upon  the  farm  in  Eldorado 
township.  Samuel  Kee  was  born 
March  7,  1847,  and  resided  with  his 
parents  until  his  marriage,  March  28, 
1876,  to  Edith  E.  Marshall,  daughter  of 
John  S.  and  Harriet  (Craft)  Marshall, 
of  Vermont,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
John  S.  Marshall  was  born  in  Ohio,  and 


his  wife  in  Kentucky.  They  came  to 
this  state  in  1834.  Mr.  Kee  owns  160 
acres  of  land,  with  good  improvements, 
and  is  an  enterprising  farmer.  He  is  a 
democrat,  politically,  and  at  present  ser- 
ving as  school  director  of  his  district. 
Mr.  Kee  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church. 

James  M.  Little,  son  of  Patrick  S.  and 
Mary  A.  (Riley)  Little,  is  a  native  of 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  born  March  2, 
1842.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1851,  and  settled  upon  section. 
16,  Eldorado  township.  In  1863,  he  was 
married  to  E.  E.  Royal,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Joseph  B.  Royal,  of  Vermont,  and  by 
this  union  has  five  children  living — 
Henry  M.,  Frank  P.,  Joseph  B.,  Myrtie 
May  and  Royal  E.  One  son,  Irwin,  died 
December  28,  1879.  Mr.  Little  owns  a 
farm  of  100  acres,  with  80  acres  im- 
proved, and  20  acres  of  timber.  He  is 
a  republican,  politically.  For  the  past 
15  years,  he  has  been  township  clerk, 
and  has  served,  also,  as  collector  five 
years,  and  as  assessor,  one  year.  His 
father,  Patrick  Little,  died  in  1869,  at 
the  age  of  58  years.  His  mother  is  still 
living  with  her  son,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch. 

Charles  Dennis,  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  Eldorado  township,  was  born  in 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  in  the  year 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  Isaiah  and  Esther 
Dennis.  Isaiah  Dennis  was  from  Ohio, 
and  his  wife,  from  Kentucky.  In  1851, 
they  settled  in  this  county  on  section  26, 
Eldorado  township.  Charles  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  until  his  marriage 
in  1871,  to  Anna  Snowden,  daughter  of 
John  Snowden,  of  Eldorado  township. 
In  1861,  both  Charles  and  his  father 


802 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


enlisted  in  the  service  of  their  country, 
in  the  28th  Illinois  infantry,  and  each 
served  three  years  in  that  regiment,  and 
Charles  one  more  year  in  the  141st  reg- 
iment. Isaiah  Dennis  held  a  commis- 
sion as  first  lieutenant  of  company  H, 
and  participated  in  engagements  at  Shi- 
loh,  where  he  was  wounded,  Corinth, 
Vicksburg  and  Hatch's  Run.  Charles 
took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Vicksburg,  and  Jackson,  where 
he  was  wounded  in  the  left  foot,  July 
12,  1863.  He  returned  from,  the  army 
to  his  home  in  this  township.  His 
father  now  lives  in  Rocky  Ford,  Colo- 
rado. Charles  Dennis  has  a  farm  of  320 
acres,  with  fine  improvements,  and  is 
engaged  in  general  farming.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dennis  have  four  children — Sadie, 
Lillie,  Addie  and  Pearl.  Mr.  Dennis  is 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  an  enterpris- 
ing farmer,  and  a  popular  and  esteemed 
citizen. 

Mason  Miller,  a  worthy  citizen  of  El- 
dorado township,  is  a  son  of  Richard  and 
Ann  (Barrett)  Miller,  natives  of  Ohio. 
Mason  Miller  was  born  December  7, 
1842.  In  1865,  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
located  on  section  34,  Eldorado  town- 
ship, McDonough  county,  where  he  has 
continued  to  reside  until  the  present 
time.  He  has  a  good  farm,  containing 
100  acres,  with  comfortable  improve- 
ments. August  22,  1862,  Mr  Miller  en- 
listed in  the  122d  Ohio  volunteer  in- 
fantry, and  served  14  months.  He  was 
wounded  at  Winchester,  Virginia,  June 
14,  1863,  in  consequence  of  which  he 
was  discharged  from  the  service.  Mr. 
Miller  was  married  May  26,  1867,  to 
Sarah  Ann  Miller,  daughter  of  Stephen 
Miller,  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  they 


have  four  children — Marion,  Elmore, 
Lucy  and  Catherine.  Mr.  Miller  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming,  and  is  a  gen- 
tleman of  much  enterprise  and  intelli- 
gence. He  is  a  republican,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A.  R. 

George  Schisler,  settled  upon  the 
place  where  he  now  resides,  section  34, 
Eldorado  township,  in  1868.  He  owns 
160  acres  of  land,  with  120  under  culti- 
vation. His  farm  is  a  good  and  desir- 
able one.  Mr.  Schisler  was  born  in 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  24, 
1832,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Lydia 
(Shinburger)  Schisler.  He  came  to 
this  state  in  1853,  and  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois  since  that  time.  He  was 
married  in  1857,  to  Sarah  Albright,  and 
by  this  union  has  three  children — Wil- 
liam A.,  Sophia  and  Lucy  Ann.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Schisler  are  members  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church.  He  is  a  dem- 
ocrat in  politics,  and  has  been  road  com- 
missioner five  years.  He  has  acted  as 
school  director  of  his  district  12  years, 
and  is  an  enterprising  and  worthy  citizen. 

John  Snowden,  is  a  native  of  Brooke 
county,  Virginia,  born  May  8,  1827. 
His  parents  were  David  and  Jane 
( Woodrow )  Snowden.  He  came  to  Illi- 
nois, in  the  year  1844,  and  settled  in 
Fulton  county,  where  he  remained  until 
1852.  In  that  year,  he  located  in  Eldo- 
rado township,  McDonough  county, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  March 
27,  1852,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mary  Jane  Adams,  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Adams,  of  Ohio.  By  this  union 
there  are  11  children — Annie,  wife  of 
Charles  Dennis,  of  Eldorado;  Melissa, 
wife  of  Thomas  Fowler,  also  of  Eldo- 
rado; Amos,  at  home;  David  T.,  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


803 


ried  to  Elsa  Cooney,  and  living  in  this 
township;  Woodrow,  William  E.,  both 
of  this  township;  Nancy  E.,  wife  of  Lewis 
Swink,  of  Rocky  Ford,  Colorado;  Cora, 
wife  of  Henry  Bogne,  of  Eldorado; 
Nelson,  Lewis,  Kay,  and  Lee,  living 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Snowden  car- 
ries on  general  farming,  and  raises  fine 
horses.  He  is-  politically,  a  democrat, 
and  has  served  as  road  commissioner, 
three  years,  and  school  director  ten 
years.  His  father  died  in  1876.  His 
mother  now  resides  with  him,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  82  years. 

Thomas  F.  Schroder,  is  a  son  of 
Christopher  and  Louisa  (Stockton) 
Schroder.  He  was  born  in  Industry 
township,  McDonough  county,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1850,  and  remained  in  his  native 
town  until  November  27,  1880.  At  that 
date  he  was  married  to  Amanda  Hill,  a 
daughter  of  Jesse  Hill.  Soon  after 
marriage,  he  located  on  section  37,  El- 
dorado township,  where  he  still  lives. 
He  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  hav- 
ing an  excellent  farm  of  160  acres,  with 
a  fine  residence  and  other  substantial 
improvements.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schroder 
are  the  parents  of  three  children — Car- 
rie I.,  Louisa  Ann,  and  Nettie  Jane. 
He  is  politically,  a  democrat. 

Sherod  R.  Standard,  a  prosperous 
farmer  of  Eldorado  township,  is  a  native 
of  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  born  in  1833. 
His  parents  were  Gideon  and  Sina  J. 
(Wyatt)  Standard,  natives  of  Virginia. 
They  removed  to  Morgan  county,  in  1832, 
from  Kentucky,  and  in  1836,  came  to 
McDonough  county,  and  settled  in  In- 
dustry township,  where  Sherod  R.  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  was  married 
in  1859,  to  Almira  Jane  Russell,  daugh- 


ter of  James  Russell,  and  soon  after 
located  in  Eldorado  township,  where  he 
is  now  among  the  leading  citizens.  He 
owns  235  acres  of  land,  with  fine  im- 
provements, and  carries  on  general 
farming.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  church,  and  politi- 
cally^ republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stand- 
ard have  three  children — Letha  Ann, 
wife  of  E.  Leighty,  of  Eldorado;  Edward 
E.,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Phillips,  and 
Mattie  A.,  at  home. 

Joshua  Sandidge  settled  where  he  now 
resides,  on  section  20,  Eldorado  town- 
ship, in  1844.  He  is  a  native  of  Lincoln 
county,  Kentucky,  born  in  1812.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Patience  San- 
didge. Joshua  was  married  in  1834,  to 
Mary  Hoag,  daughter  of  Andrew  Hoag, 
who  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary 
war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sandidge  ate  the 
parents  of  seven  children — Mary  A., 
wife  of  Jacob  Micky,  of  Bushnell,  Illi- 
nois; Patience,  wife  of  M.  El  well,  of 
Hancock  county;  William,  who  died  in 
1866,  leaving  a  wife  and  two  children; 
Irvin,  of  Eldorado  township;  Pullam,  of 
Schuyler  county;  Amanda,  wife  of 
Samuel  McDonald,  of  this  township ;  and 
James,  living  in  Nebraska.  Mr.  San- 
didge owns  a  good  farm  of  80  acres,  and 
carries  on  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  is  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen. 

Alexander  Adams  is  a  son  of  Haw- 
thorn and  Mary  (Wirts)  Adams,  and 
was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1838.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  he 
came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Fulton 
county,  where  he  resided  until  1866.  In 
that  year  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located  on  section  28,  Eldo- 
rado township,  where  he  still  lives.  He 


804 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


owns,  in  company  with  his  brother,  160 
acres  of  desirable  land,  with  comfortable 
improvements,  and  is  engaged  in  general 
farming.  In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Adams 
enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country,  in 
company  F,  of  the  84th  Illinois  volun- 
teer infantry,  and  was  in  the  service 
three  years.  He  was  wounded  in  an  en- 
gagement at  Elk  river,  Tennessee.  Mr. 
Adams  has  accumulated  his  property 
without  assistance,  having  begun  life  in 
very  limited  circumstances. 

S.  J.  Price,  a  prominent  citizen  of  El- 
dorado township,  is  a  son  of  John  Price, 
who  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1803,  and  died  in  Illinois,  in 
1867.  His  widow,  the  mother  of  S.  J. 
Price,  was  Catherine  (McElhaney) 
Price,  who  survived  her  husband  until 
1877.  Both  are  buried  in  Vermont 
cemetefy.  S.  J.  Price  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  this  state  in 
the  fall  of  1849.  They  settled  in  Fulton 
county,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
resided  until  the  spring  of  1856.  At 
that  date  he  located  on  section  27,  Eldo- 
rado township,  which  was  his  residence 
until  1879,  when  he  removed  to  his  pres- 
ent home,  on  section  20,  of  the  same 
town.  In  1870,  he  was  married  to  Laura 
Kennedy,  daughter  of  William  Kennedy, 
of  Eldorado  township.  By  this  union 
there  are  two  children — John  W.  and 
Ellen  M.  Mr.  Price  owns  a  farm  of  120 
acres,  with  valuable  improvements.  He 
has  acted  as.  school  director  six  years, 
and  is  politically,  a  democrat.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

George  L.  Price,  of  Eldorado  town- 
ship, was  born  here  in  the  year  1858, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  E. 


(Breeze)  Price.  He  grew  to  manhood, 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
township.  In  1883,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Etta  Schroder,  daughter 
of  C.  Schroder,  of  this  township.  Mr. 
Price  is  a  young  man  of  good  habits,  en- 
terprising and  energetic,  and  possessing 
all  the  qualifications  necessary  to  insure 
success  in  life.  He  is*  a  democrat  in 
politics. 

M.  V.  Lawyer  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Ohio,  in  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Massie  (Cooper)  Lawyer.  He  came  to 
McDonough  county  in  1857,  and  located 
then  on  his  present  farm,  which  is  on 
section  30,  Eldorado  township.  -His  farm 
comprises  290  acres  of  valuable  land. 
His  residence  is  a  substantial  and  com- 
fortable structure,  and  his  barn,  sheds, 
etc.,  commodious  and  convenient.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  also  deals 
quite  extensively  in  cattle  of  a  high  grade. 
Mr.  Lawyer  was  married  in  1866,  to 
Sarah  Cann,  daughter  of  David  Cann,  of 
Vermont,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children — Alba, 
Jesse,  Bertha  and  Blanche.  Mr.  Lawyer 
is  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  township 
where  he  resides,  and  much  respected. 
He  is  a  democrat  in  politics. 

James  Harris,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Plainfield,  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1782. 
At  the  age  of  nine  years  he  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Berkshire  county,  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  lived  eight  years. 
When  17  years  old  he  started  west  in 
search  of  a  country  better  adapted  to  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  than  the  rough  hills 
of  his  native  New  England.  He  went 
first  to  Canada,  where  he  remained  three 
years,  after  which  he  returned  to  Massa- 
chusetts, and  was  there  married  to  Pru- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


805 


dence  Harris.  After  marriage  he  re- 
moved to  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  and, 
in  a  few  years,  to  Onondaga  county,  the 
same  state.  They  remained  in  the  latter 
place  until  1834,  then  came  to  Illinois, 
the  father  having  come  to  this  county 
two  years  before,  and  located  upon  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  1,  Eldorado 
township,  McDonough  county,  and  here 
resided  until  their  death.  Mr.  Harris 
carried  on  farming  and  dairying,  keeping 
from  30  to  40  cows,  and  supplying  the 
home  market  with  butter  and  cheese. 
-He  was  politically,  a  whig,  and  in  re- 
ligious belief,  a  Universalist.  Universa- 
lism  was  at  that  time  a  very  unpopular 
belief,  but  he  did  all  in  his  power  to  fur- 
ther its  peculiar  doctrines,  and  the  first 
Uuiversalist  sermon  ever  preached  in 
this  county,  was  preached  at  his  house  by 
the  Rev.  Aaron  Hinne  in  the  year  1835 
or  1836.  Mr.  Harris  was  an  upright, 
honest  and  thoroughly  good  man,  and 
died  much  regretted  by  the  entire  com- 
munity. 

Jonas  Rude  Harris,  youngest  son  of 
James  and  Prudence  Harris,  was  born 
April  8,  1831,  in  Onondaga  county  New 
York,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county.  He  remained  with  them  until 
their  death,  and  now  owns  and  resides 
upon  the  homestead  farm.  He  is  the 
owner  of  640  acres  of  land,  also  a  furni- 
ture store  and  lumber  yard  in  Table 
Grove.  He  has  been  quite  an  extensive 
dealer  in  stock,  and  is  in  highly  prosper- 
ous circumstances.  Mr.  Harris  was  mar- 
ried in  1859,  to  Mary.  M.  Warner,  a  na- 
tive of  Onondaga  county,  New  York, 
born  in  1833,  taught  school  five  years  be- 
fore her  marriage.  They  have  raised 
two  children— Daniel  O.,  son  of  James 


Harris,  Jr.,  born  in  1865,  whose  mother 
died  when  he  was  two  years  old,  and  Hat- 
tie  Oakes,  whose  parents  died  in  1877. 

Gregg  Castlo,  deceased,  was  a  native 
of  Ireland,  and  was  born  in  county 
Gal  way.  He  came  to  America  about 
the  year  1832,  and  made  his  first  stop 
in  Howard  county,  Missouri,  thence  he 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  was  poor 
in  this  world's  goods,  and  upon  his  ar- 
rival here,  possessed  only  a  pair  of  will- 
ing hands  and  a  steady  head  as  capital. 
With  these  he  went  to  work  at  whatever 
he  could  find  to  do,  and  at  such  wages  as 
he  could  get.  In  August,  1844,  he  was 
married  to  Rachel  J.  Miller.  Her  par- 
ents were  Alexander  and  Katie  ( Hughes ) 
Miller,  who  were  native  Kentuckians, 
and  moved  to  Indiana, and  thence  in  1836 
to  Illinois.  After  their  marriage,  Gregg 
made  two  crops  on  the  farm  of -Robert 
Carithers,  then  bought  him  a  team  and 
rented  land,  farming  during  the  summer 
and  chopping  wood  and  splitting  rails 
in  the  winter.  In  1850,  he  came  to  this 
county,  and  rented  a  farm  from  James 
Abernathy,  where  he  lived  for  four 
years.  He  then  bought  40  acres  of  the 
northwest  of  the  north  west  of  section  4, 
of  Eldorado  township.  Subsequently  he 
he  purchased  the  south  half  of  the  north 
east,  of  section  32,  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship, and  the  south  half  of  the  west  half, 
of  the  northwest  of  section  4,  in  Eldo- 
rado township.  He  also  had  five  acres 
of  timber  on  section  2,  and  ten  acres 
in  Fulton  county.  Mr.  Castlo,  was  a 
hard  working,  industrious  man,  and  ac- 
cumulated a  competency,  making  a  home 
for  his  family,  and  died  February  5, 
1880,  leaving  them  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances. They  had  born  to  them 


806 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


nine  children — John  H.,  born  April  23, 
1846,  was  married  to  Martha  A.  Hosf  ord, 
January  30,  1868,  and  by  that  union  are 
five  children — Rosa  J.,  born  March  11, 
1869,  and  died  February  6,  1880;  Bertha 
E.,  born  August  4,  1871;  Mary  E.,  born 
September  25, 1873 ;  and  twins,  who  were 
born  in  1876,  but  died  in  infancy.  The 
next  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Castlo,  was 
Catharine  J.,  born  June  12,  1848,  she  is 
now  the  wife  of  John  Stracken,  living 
in  Eldorado  township;  then  Anna  M., 
born  July  14,  1850,  now  the  wife  of  Jos- 
eph Bingham,  living  at  Table  Grove; 
James  M.,  born  October  12,  1853,  and 
died  August  29,  1863;  George  W.,  born 
January  27,  1855,  married  to  Rosan  D. 
Vancise;  Mary  E.,  born  September  1, 
1857,  married  to  George  Phippins ;  Mar- 
tha E.,  born  April  1,  1860,  is  the  wife  of 
John  Derry;  Sarah  M.,  born  January  20, 
1863,  now  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Swartz;  and 
William  A.,  who  was  born  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1865. 

John  H.  Costlo,  is  a  native  Illinoisian, 
and  was  born  in  Fulton  counfy,  April 
23,  1846.  His  parents  were  Gregg  and 
Rachel  (Miller)  Costlo.  He  is  of  Irish 
extraction, .  and  lived  with  his  parents 
until  23  years  old.  During  the  great 
war  of  the  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the 
union  army  in  February,  1865,  in  com- 
pany C,  151st  regiment,  Illinois  volun- 
teer infantry.  He  served  one  year  and 
was  then  mustered  out  at  Columbus, 
Georgia.  He  was  paid  off  and  honor- 
ably discharged  at  Camp  Butler,  near 
Springfield,  Illinois.  He  now  owns  40 
acres  of  land  all  under  cultivation,  and 
located  on  the  northwest  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  32,  New  Salem 
township. 


Isaac  W.  Dailey,  one  of  the  farmers  of 
Eldorado  township,  was  born  October 
6,  1829,  in  West  Virginia.  He  is  a  son 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  ( Mclntosh )  Dailey, 
who  were  also  natives  of  the  same  state, 
and  came  to  this  state  in  1835,  locating 
near  Springfield.  Thomas  Dailey  was 
born  in  September  1783,  and  Sarah,  his 
wife,  April  13,  1790.  They  were  mar- 
ried September  22,  1814,  and  raised  a 
family  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
were  boys.  Of  these  living,  two  in  this 
county,  one  in  Dane  county,  Wisconsin, 
one  in  Seward  county,  Nebraska,  and 
two  in  Jewell  county,  Kansas.  Isaac  W., 
is  the  seventh  child.  The  family  re- 
mained in  Springfield  one  year,  then 
came  to  this  county,  and  settled  in 
Eldorado  township  on  section  6,  where 
he  owned  two  quarters  of  prairie  land, 
which  he  improved  and  where  they  lived 
the  remainder  of  their  days.  He  died 
January  1,  1854,  and  she,  November 
21,  1862.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
came  west  with  his  parents,  when  but  a 
small  boy,  and  with  them  remained  un- 
til their  death. .  He  now  owns  212  acres 
of  good  land  on  section  6,  which  is 
well  improved.  He  was  married  Novem- 
ber 19,  1867,  to  Emily  Craig,  daughter 
of  Richard  Craig,  of  Industry  village. 
They  have  three  children — Warren  M., 
born  November  3,  1868;  Irena  A.,  born 
December  31,  1871,  and  Lucy  H.,  born 
September  1,  1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dailey 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church.  Poli- 
tically he  is  a  republican,  and  took  an 
active  part  in  war  for  the  suppression  of 
the  rebellion,  enlisting  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States,  August  14,  1862,  in 
company  C.  84th  Illinois  volunteer  in- 
fantry. He  was  one  of  the  number  that 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


807 


followed  General  Bragg  through  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Nashville,  April  24,  1863. 

Jacob  Lawyer  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Massey  (Cooper)  Lawyer,  who  came 
from  Ohio.  Jacob  was  born  December 
7,  1841,  in  Industry  township,  and  lived 
with  his  parents  until  of  age.  He  was 
married  to  Nancy  E.  Standard,  February 
3,  1881.  They  have  had  nine  children, 
all  living  but  Alba  W.  and  Walter. 
Those  living  are — Arthur  E.,  Alvin  C., 
Dallas,  Alva  L.,  Shered,  Franklin  and 
George.  He  now  owns  320  acres  of 
land,  which  is  well  improved.  He  has 
put  in  940  rods  of  drain  tile  on  his 
place,  and  now  it  is  an  excellent  farm. 
He  has  been  the  highway  commissioner 
for  six  years. 

Samuel  J.  Foster,  now  a  wealthy  citi- 
zen and  farmer  of  Eldorado  township, 
was  born  here  December  7,  1832,  being 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Eldorado 
township.  His  father  was  A.  J.  Foster. 
He  grew  to  manhood  and  received  his 
education  in  his  native  county.  Sep- 
tember 19,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Mary 
McMahan,  daughter  of  James  N.  and 
Helena  (Kelso)  McMahan.  By  this 
union  there  have  been  nine  children — 
Sarah  V.,  wife  of  William  T.  Vail,  of 
Eldorado  township;  Alonzo  D.,  also  in 
this  township;  James  M.,  John  L., 
Henry  L.,  Eva  H.,  Nellie  C.,  Luella  and 
Samuel  Roy.  Mr.  Foster  and  his  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  republi- 
can in  politics,  and  has  held  the  office  of 
road  commissioner  three  years  and  that 
of  assessor  two  years.  He  owns  500 
acres  of  land  with  fine  improvements, 
and  carries  on  general  farming. 


EDUCATIONAL. 

From  the  superintendent's  annual  re- 
port for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1884, 
it  is  learned  that  there  are  nine  schools 
in  Eldorado  township,  none  of  which 
are  graded.  There  are  312  children  be- 
tween the  ages  of  9  and  21  years,  256  of 
whom  are  enrolled  in  the  various  schools ; 
the  average  number  of  months  of  school 
being  seven  and  one-ninth. 

There  are  nine  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  all  frame,  one  of  which  was 
erected  during  the  year.  The  highest 
monthly  wages  paid  any  male  teacher 
is  $40,  the  lowest,  $30;  while  the  high- 
est wages  paid  females  $33,  and  the  low- 
est, $20. 

The  amount  of  district  tax  levy  for  the 
support  of  schools  was  $2,550,  the  esti- 
mated value  of  school  property  being 
$6,400,  while  the  township  is  entirely 
free  from  any  bonded  indebtedness. 

One  of  the  early  schools  in  this  town- 
ship was  obtained  and  conducted  in  an 
entirely  original  manner.  A  man  who 
was  sub-director  for  his  district  induced 
a  friend  to  represent  him  to  the  county 
superintendent  as  being  well  qualified 
for  the  position  of  teacher.  His  excuse 
for  not  seeing  that  official  in  person  was 
urgent  business  in  another  direction. 
The  friend  secured  a  certificate  for  him, 
and  being  sub-director,  he  hired  himself 
and  taught  by  proxy,  his  wife  doing,  or 
pretending  to  do  the  teaching.  She  be- 
gan with  six  or  seven  pupils,  but  they 
dropped  off,  one  by  one,  until  she  had 
but  two  or  three  left.  One  day,  a  neigh- 
bor from  another  district,  seeing  one  of 
her  former  pupils  running  at  large, 
asked  him  why  he  was  not  in  school. 
"Oh,  'cause  the  school  ain't  worth  a ; 


808 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  school-marm  washes,  cooks,  sweeps 
and  keeps  school  all  at  one  time;  then 
she  doctors  folks,  too,"  She  taught  in 
the  same  shanty  in  which  the  family  re- 
sided, and  when  the  sub-director  went  to 
draw  his  pay,  he  brought  in  a  bill  for 
fuel,  house  rent  and  teacher's  salary. 

School  district  No.  1.— The  school 
house  stands  upon  the  northeast  corner 
of  section  11.  It  is  valued  at  $700. 
Until  1872,  this  district  was  two  miles 
and  a  half  long,  north  and  south.  At 
that  time  districts  1  and  6  were  divided, 
forming  1,  6  and  7,  as  now  known. 

District  No.  2. — The  first  school  house 
in  this  district  was  built  in  the  year 
1865,  being  at  the  time  the  township  was 
divided.  It  was  an  old  building,  costing 
about  $400,  and  in  1884  it  was  worked 
over  and  $350  in  repairs  put  on,  making 
a  good  building  for  schools. 

District  No.  3. — This  district  had  its 
first  teaching  about  1850,  in  a  log  build- 
ing 18x18  feet  in  dimensions.  Bobert 
Comer  and  Thomas  Ausbury  were  di- 
rectors then.  The  first  teacher  was 
Jackson  Wayworth.  The  second  build- 
ing used  was  erected  in  1856,  at  a  cost  of 
$300,  and  was  20x24  feet  in  dimensions. 
The  present  school  house  was  built  in 
1881,  at  an  expenditure  of  $800.  The 
first  teacher  in  this  school  was  Emma 
Tolen.  The  directors  are:  Samuel 
Price,  Samuel  Lee  and  Anthony  Aus- 
bury. Samuel  Holton  is  the  teacher  at 
present.  The  enrollment  is  now  about 
30. 

District  No.  4. — The  first  school  house 
was  an  old  log  building;  after  which,  in 
1861,  a  new  one  was  built,  costing  about 
$600,  and  in  1880  a  new  one  was  erected, 
costing  probably  $800  to 


District  No.  5. — The  school  house  of 
this  district  stands  on  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  section  22.  It  is  a  good  frame 
building,  erected  in  1869,  at  a  cost  of 
$1,500;  it  is  now  valued  at  $1,000.  It  is 
24x30.  This  school  is  familiarly  known 
as  "Sixteen."  Wm.  Carothers  was  the 
first  teacher. 

District  No.  6. — The  school  house  of 
this  district  was  erected  in  1872,  at  a 
cost  of  $800.  It  is  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  section  14. 

District  No.  7. — The  school  building 
was  erected  in  1875,  and  is  valued  at 
$700.  It  is  located  on  the  northwest 
corner  of  section  36. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  8  is 
situated  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  27,  and  is  valued  at  about  $200. 

In  1875  the  school  house  in  district 
No.  9  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 


HALL. 

Eldorado  Hall  was  built  in  1871,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,800,  to  serve  the  uses  of  the 
public  at  elections,  meetings,  etc.  It  is 
located  on  the  southwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 15.  The  building  committee  was 
Isaiah  Dennis  and  William  Beckwith. 

OKGANIC. 

Eldorado  township  was  organized  at 
the  time  of  the  division  of  the  county, 
in  1857,  and  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  of 
that  year,  the  first  township  election  was 
held.  At  that  election  Thomas  Cox  and 
E.  D.  C.  Haines  were  elected  justices  of 
the  peace,  and  William  Price,  constable. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township 
are  as  follows:  Supervisor,  J.  P.  Mar- 
shall; clerk,  J.  M.  Little;  assessor,  J.  N. 
Foster;  collector,  W.  B.  Morau;  high- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


809 


way  commissioner,  S.  J.  Foster;  justices 
of  the  peace,  Thos.  Cox  and  Jesse  Fow- 
ler; constables,  J.  M.  Adams  and  Alex. 
Robinson;  school  trustee,  S.  K.  Mus- 
grove. 

HISTOEICAL. 

At  the  residence  of  Father  Harris, 
living  on  section  1,  was  performed  the 
first  marriage  ceremony  in  the  township 
—Mr.  Cleon  Reddick  and  Miss  Lucy 
Harris,  by  Rev.  Aaron  Kinney,  a  Uni- 
versalist  minister,  in  the  year  1839. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Nimrod 
Foster,  son  of  Henry  Foster,  in  the  fall 
of  the  same  year. 


Lucy  Harris  taught  the  first  school  in 
1837. 

The  first  birth  was  Samuel  J.  Foster, 
son  of  A.  J.  and  Sarah  Foster,  who  was 
born  in  the  fall  of  1831. 

RELIGIOUS. 

On  section  2,  Eldorado  township,  is 
located  the  Sugar  Creek  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  edifice.  (See  Ec- 
clesiastical chapter.) 

The  West  Prairie  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church  building  is  located  on 
section  9,  Eldorado  township.  (See 
Ecclesiastical  chapter. ) 


CHAPTER     XXXII 


CHALMERS  TOWNSHIP. 


Chalmers  township  is  one  of  the  in- 
land sub-divisions  of  the  county,  and  is 
known  as  township  5  north,  range  3 
west.  It  was  first  organized  in  1857  as 
a.  full  congressional  township,  and  so 
remained  until  1880,  when  Colchester 
township  was  formed,  at  which  time  all 
of  sections  5,  6,  7,  8,  17,  18,  19,  30  and 
31,  and  the  west  half  of  sections  20,  29 
and  32  were  taken  therefrom,  and  now 
compose  a  part  of  the  newly-organized 
township.  Chalmers  is  one  of  the  old- 
est settled  townships  of  the  county.  It 
contains  more  timber  land  than  any 
other  township  in  the  county,  which 
doubtless  accounts  for  its  early  settle- 


ment and  subsequent  growth.  It  was 
first  christened  Erin,  but  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  in 
May,  1857,  it  was  changed  to  its  present 
cognomen.  A  portion  of  the  city  of 
Macomb  lies  in  the  northeast  corner  of 
this  township.  By  reference  to  the  re- 
turns of  the  assessors,  we  learn  that 
there  are  yet  7,760  acres  of  timber  land, 
a  greater  number  than  any  other  in  the 
county.  The  fuel  question,  so  far  as 
they  are  concerned,  is  settled.  There 
are  here  many  good  farms,  the  most  of 
which  are  small,  there  being  very  few 
large  landholders.  This  is  far  better 
for  the  general  good. 


810 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

It  is  believed  that  Elias  McFadden 
was  the  first  to  settle  in  Chalmers  town- 
ship. In  1828,  he  located  in  the  north- 
east part  of  the  township,  in  company 
with  his  son  David,  and  nephew,  after- 
wards his  son-in-law,  Wylie  McFadden. 
This  was  on  what  is  now  the  Hunter 
farm.  A  history  of  this  family  is  given 
elsewhere,  they  having  made  themselves 
infamous  during  the  early  days  of  the 
county's  existence,  by  a  dastardly  mur- 
der. 

James  Edmonston  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Chalmers.  He  came  in 
1829,  and  located  in  the  south  part  of 
the  township.  He  did  not  remain  at 
that  location  very  long,  but  removed 
over  the  line  into  Bethel.  In  a  few 
years  he  removed  again  into  Chalmers 
township,  locating  on  section  32,  at  the 
edge  of  what  is  now  Middleton.  He 
afterwards  went  with  his  family  to 
Schuyler  county,  and  there  resided  un- 
til his  death. 

William  O'Neal  came  from  North 
Carolina  to  this  township  in  1829,  with 
his  family,  and  located  on  section  24. 
He  went  to  Iowa  a  few  years  later. 

Truman  Bowen  came  to  this  county  in 
October,  1830,  and  located  on  section  3, 
Chalmers  township.  He  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1786,  and  when  yet  a 
young  man,  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he 
married  Nancy  Lewis,  in  1811.  Mr. 
Bowen  died  in  the  March  following  his 
arrival  in  this  county.  His  wife  died  in 
1858. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  Chalmers 
was  John  Massingall.  He  had  a  cabin 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  33. 
He  did  not  pay  any  attention  to  agricul- 


ture, but  was  known  as  a  great  deer 
hunter.  He  afterwards  died  in  the 
county. 

James  Clarke  settled  in  Chalmers  in 
1830.  He  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
the  city  of  Macomb,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death.  A  sketch  of  this  gentleman 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

David  Troxwell  came  to  the  township 
prior  to  the  summer  of  1828,  locating  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  21.  In 
November  1830,  Troxwell  left  for  parts 
unknown. 

William  I.  Pace,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  in  1830,  settling  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Kobert  'Venard.  Five 
years  later  he  removed  to  Scotland  town- 
ship, on  the  farm  now  owned  by  A.  J. 
Pace,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in 
1855. 

William  Edmonston  located  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  26,  in  1829. 
He  came  from  Indiana,  and  became 
widely  and  favorably  known  within  a 
short  time  after  coming  to  the  county. 
He  is  spoken  of  in  the  representatives' 
chapter,  he  having  represented  this 
county  in  the  general  assembly. 

John  Wilson,  who  was  afterwards 
murdered,  in  1834,  by  the  McFaddens, 
settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town- 
ship, in  1830. 

David  Clarke  the  same  year  located 
in  this  township,  but  did  not  remain 
very  long,  removing  to  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb. 

Willis  Way  land,  Sr.,  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  the  spring  of  1832,  and 
located  on  section  34.  He  was  born '  in 
Orange  county,  Virginia,  in  1795,  and 
was  there  reared.  He  removed  from 
there  to  Carroll  county,  Kentucky,  and 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


811 


from  there  to  this  county,  as  before  stated. 
He  was  twice  married  and  13  of  his  chil- 
dren are  living.  He  died  in  this  town- 
ship in  1861. 

James  McClure  located  on  section  33, 
in  the  year  1832.  He  was  born  and 
reared  in  Kentucky,  and  from  that  state 
removed  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in 
an  early  day.  From  there  he  removed 
to  this  county,  choosing  a  location  as 
aforesaid.  He  was  almost  deaf,  and  is 
remembered  by  old  settlers  for  his  odd 
way  of  approaching  and  listening  to  any 
one  speaking  to  him.  He  died  in  this 
county. 

William  Champ  is  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers of  Chalmers  township.  He  is  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  and  was  born  in  Oc- 
tober, 1802,  in  Madison  county,  where 
he  followed  farming.  In  September, 
1834,  he  came  to  this  county  and  located 
in  Chalmers  township,  where  he  resided 
until  1857,  when  he  moved  to  Colchester, 
his  present  home.  He  was  married  to 
Frances  Maupin,  who  died  February  8, 
1884.  They  had  seven  children. 

Andrew  M.,  his  second  child,  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  in  1830.  In  early  life  he 
followed  farming,  but  after  coming  to 
Colchester,  worked  at  carpentering  for 
some  time.  He  began  the  study  of  law 
in  1867,  and  has  been  city  attorney  of 
Colchester  since  1877.  In  1862,  he  was 
married  to  Phoebe  Wood,  and  by  this 
marriage  they  have  five  children. 

Reuben  Alexander  was  a  settler  of 
1833.  He  located  on  section  34,  but  sold 
his  place  the  next  year  to  Wesley  Way- 
land,  and  removed  to  Lamoine  township, 
where  he  died. 

Wesley  Wayland  came  to  the  county 
in  1834,  and  located  on  section  34,  where 


he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1874.  He  came  from  Car- 
roll county,  Kentucky. 

Israel  Camp   and  family    located  on 
section  3,  in  1835. 

Farman  B.  Camp  lives  on  section  3, 
'  Chalmers  township,  where  he  was  born 
November  13, 1836.  His  parents,  Israel 
and  Anna  (Barnes)  Camp,  came  here  in 
1835,  from  Vermont.  They  are  now 
both  dead.  Farman  was  brought  up  on 
the  farm,  and  acquired  his  education  by 
attending  the  district  school.  He  was 
bereaved  by  the  death  of  his  mother, 
when  11  years  old.  His  father  died  10 
years  later.  Mr.  Camp  has  followed 
farming  with  the  exception  of  eight 
years,  from  1856  to  1864,  during  which 
he  operated  a  saw  mill  in  this  township, 
and  two  years  spent  in  working  at  the 
carpenters'  trade.  He  now  owns  a  por- 
tion of  the  homestead  farm,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming.  Mr.  Camp 
has  several  times  visited  Kansas  and 
Colorado,  once  on  prospecting  tours. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  has 
always  been  identified  with  that  party, 
also  strongly  favors  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance, having  been  for  the  past  20 
years  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the 
Good  Templars.  He  was  assessor  of 
Chalmers  township  one  year,  and  has 
been  director  of  school  district  number 
2,  for  many  years. 

Alexander  Provine  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  the  spring  of  1835,  and 
located  on  section  36.  He  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  the  7th  day 
of  November,  1806,  and  there  resided 
until  coming  to  this  county  to  make  his 
home.  He  died  in  Maconib,  on  the  3d 
day  of  May,  1853. 


48 


812 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


William  Allison  located  on  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  24,  in  the  spring 
of  1835.  He  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1775.  He  was 
reared  in  that  state.  He  died  Decem- 
ber 10,  1857. 

John  McCormick  settled  on  section  33,' 
in  the  fall  of  1835.  He  was  born  in 
Maryland,  in  1789,  but  was  reared  in 
Kentucky,  and  came  from  there  to  this 
county.  He  was  married  in  Kentucky 
to  Nancy  Cox.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children.  Mr.  McCormick  died 
December  18, 1880,  and  his  wife  died 
May  31,  1838. 

OTHER   LEADING   CITIZENS. 

Under  this  heading  are  placed  the 
sketches  of  those  who,  while  not  pio- 
neers, are  yet  worthy  of  prominent  men- 
tion on  account  of  their  standing  in  the 
township. 

William  F.  Steckel  is  a  native  of  Le- 
high  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born 
September  25,  1835.  He  is  a  son  of 
Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Frantz)  Steckel, 
who  were  of  German  descent,  but  natives 
of  the  same  state.  Daniel  died  August 
18,  1871,  and  his  wife  March  16,  1879. 
William  was  brought  up  and  educated 
in  his  native  county.  In  1859,  he  went 
to  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
taught  school  until  1861.  In  that  year 
he  enlisted  in  company  B,  of  the  10th 
Indiana  infantry,  in  which  regiment  he 
served  three  months.  He  then  re-en- 
listed in  the  same  regiment  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  a  detachment  of  a  company, 
which  was  afterwards  used  to  fill  up  an- 
other company,  so  he  returned  to  Indi- 
ana, and  resumed  teaching,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  the  spring  of  1863.  At  that 


date  he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
engaged  in  teaching  in  the  Oakwood  dis- 
trict. He  taught  there  two  terms,  then 
in  1864,  settled  on  his  present  farm,  in 
Chalmers  township.  In  the  winter  of 
1872,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  remained  until  1876,  then  came  back 
to  this  county,  and  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery trade  at  Macomb,  continuing  the 
same  three  years,  after  which  he  went  in 
the  sewing  machine  business,  in  the 
same  place,  until  the  spring  of  1880, 
when  he  again  located  on  his  farm  near 
Salem  church.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 17,  1863,  to  a  daughter  of  John  Saf- 
fell,  of  this  township.  She  died  Sept- 
ember 25,  1872,  leaving  him  two  children 
— Mattie  E.  and  Henry  R.,  deceased. 
Mr.  Steckel  was  married  May  9,  1876,  to 
Emma  M.  Kachline,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. By  this  union  there  is  one 
child — May  Iva.  Mr.  Steckel  is  one  of 
a  numerous  and  prosperous  family  in 
which  the  medical,  the  legal  and  the 
ministeral  professions  are  equally  and 
fully  represented.  Personally  of  a  mind 
that  aims  not  at  public  praise  or  posi- 
tion, the  community  in  which  he  resides, 
has  nevertheless  from  time  to  time,  mani- 
fested its  appreciation  of  him  as  a  wor- 
thy citizen,  by  electing  him  as  president 
of  the  Bible  society,  superintendent  of 
Sunday  schools,  etc.,  which  positions  he 
now  creditably  occupies. 

Mrs.  W.  F.  Steckel  was  born  in  White- 
hall, Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  of 
kind  and  most  estimable  parents,  Aaron 
J.  Kachline,  of  German  descent,  and 
Clara  Tice,  English  born.  The  former 
departed  this  life  November  20, 1872.  In 
early  years  became  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Reformed  church,  at  Egypt,  Penn- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


813 


sylvania,  under  the  ministrations  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Dubbs.  At  the  age  of  11,  attended 
school  at  the  Allentown  seminary,  which 
was  then  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Kessler. 
Several  years  later  went  to  school  at 
Jonestown,  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, Professor  I.  L.  Rupp,  principal.  The 
institution  is  now  known  as  Swatara 
collegiate  institute.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  internecine  war,  was  a  member  of 
the  senior  class  at  Washington  female 
college,  Maryland.  Returned  home  and 
taught  school  at  Ballietville  and  Hoken- 
dauqua.  During  1868-69  was  principal 
teacher  of  the  female  high  school  in  the 
city  of  Allentown.  May  9,  1876,  she  was 
married  and  came  west,  leaving  home 
and  friends  with  the  heartfelt  conviction 
that  memories  of  her  were  fraught  only 
with  the  pure  thoughts  of  a  life  of  virtue 
and  rectitude. 

Robert  W.  Saffell  is  a  son  of  John 
Saffell,  who  was  born  in  Harper's  Ferry, 
Virginia,  in  1811.  John  Saffell  was 
reared  in  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  about  the  year  1837,  went  to 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  lived 
13  years.  He  then  removed  to  Highland 
county,  of  the  same  state,  from  whence 
he  came,  in  October,  1854,  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  and  located  on  section  22, 
this  township.  In  1860,  he  removed  to 
the  place  where  his  son,  Robert  W.,  now 
lives.  He  was  married  in  Pennsylvania, 
to  Martha  Wilson,  a  native  of  that  state. 
They  had  two  children.  John  Saffell 
died  September  8,  1876.  Robert  W.  Saf- 
fell, the  only  surviving  son  of  John  Saf- 
fell, was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio, 
February  11,  1837.  In  1854,  he  came  to 
this  county,  with  his  parents,  and  has  re- 
sided here  since  that  time.  He  now  lives 


upon  the  homestead  farm,  formerly 
owned  by  his  father,  and  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming.  He  was  married  July  28, 
1863,  to  Isamile  Wolf,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — George  V.,  William  F.,  Chas. 
W.  and  Minnie  M.  Mrs.  Saffell  died 
February  24, 1885.  Mr.  Saffell  has  been 
for  the  past  two  years,  supervisor  of  the 
township.  He  has  also  held  the  offices 
of  township  treasurer  and  commissioner 
of  highways. 

George  W.  Kruse,  a  prominent  far- 
mer and  stock  dealer  of  Chalmers  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Dirk  S.  M.  Kruse,  who 
was  born  in  Germany,  in  1776.  In  1835, 
he  emigrated  to  America,  and  located  in 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
mained until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1860.  George  W.,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  is  the  youngest  of  seven 
sons,  and  was  born  June  12,  1832.  He 
was  reared  by  a  brother  in  Germany, 
and  in  his  youth,  learned  the  baker's 
trade.  In  1857,  he  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica, and  located  at  Rushville,  Illinois, 
where  he  continued  one  year,  then  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  settled  at 
Macomb,  where  he  managed  a  large  bak- 
ery until  February  22,  1867,  at  which 
date,  the  establishment  was  burned  out. 
In  the  spring  of  1868,  he  moved  to  the 
farm  where  he  is  now  living,  on  section 
23,  Chalmers  township.  He  has  380 
acres  of  land,  and  is  largely  engaged  in 
feeding  and  shipping  stock.  He  has  at 
present,  a  large  number  of  cattle  and 
hogs  on  his  place.  Mr.  Kruse  was  a 
member  of  the  board  of  county  super- 
visors, for  the  term  extending  from  1880 
to  1882,  and  for  six  years  previous, 
commissioner  of  highways.  He  was 


814 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


married  in  October,  1859,  to  Kinne  M. 
Grovewold,  a  native  of  Germany,  who 
died  November  19,  1867,  leaving  him 
four  children — Frank  H.,  'Emma,  Eliz- 
abeth, and  Herman  G.  In  January, 
1869,  Mr.  Kruse  was  married  to  Agnes 
McCann,  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  by 
this  union,  has  five  children — William, 
Anna,  George  H.,  Peter,  and  Clara. 

William  M.  Reid  is  a  son  of  John 
Reid,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  was  born 
in  New  York  city,  April  9,  1842.  He 
came  to  this  county  in  1858,  and  located 
at  Macomb,  and  there  followed  the  car- 
penter's trade  until  1860.  In  the  spring 
of  that  year,  he, began  farming  in  the 
neighborhood,  which  he  continued  until 
August,  1864.  At  that  date  he  enlisted 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  was  as- 
signed to  company  A,  of  the  8th  Tennes- 
see regiment.  He  served  until  April. 
1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returned  home,  to  Macomb,  where 
he  lived  one  year.  He  then  settled  where 
he  now  lives,  on  section  15,  Chalmers 
township.  He  has  100  acres  of  land, 
which  is  well  cultivated  and  valuable. 
January  20,  1864,  Mr.  Reid  was  married 
to  Mary  E.  Curtis,  a  native  of  New  York. 
They  have  seven  children — Charles  D., 
Mary  E.,  Nellie  E.,  Jessie  E.,  William 
M.,  Mabel  and  an  infant.  Mr.  Reid  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

John  Reid  was  born  in  1804,  and  mar- 
ried in  his  native  country,  to  Mary  Mc- 
Kay. They  emigrated  to  America,  and 
located  in  New  York  city,  from  whence 
they  came  to  Macomb,  in  the  year  1857. 
He  was  here  employed  as  a  carpenter 
and  builder,  until  his  death,  in  1868. 

August  Plassmann,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, was  born  May  20,  1837.  He  re- 


sided in  Germany  until  he  arrived  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  then  came  to  Amer- 
ica, and  located  at  New  Orleans,  Louisi- 
ana, where  he  remained  three  months. 
He  then  went  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  two  months  later,  to  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois. He  worked  on  a  farm  in  the  vic- 
inity of  that  city,  two  and  a  half  years, 
after  which,  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  worked  on  the  farm  of  An- 
drew H.  Allison,  by  whom  he  was  em- 
ployed 18  months,  He  then  rented  the 
farm  of  Harmon  Allison,  upon  which  he 
lived  eight  years.  In  1865,  he  settled 
on  his  present  farm  on  section  23,  Chal- 
mers township,  where  he  now  owns  260 
acres  of  land.  He  ranks  among  the  suc- 
cessful farmers  of  the  township.  He 
has  been  commissioner  of  highways 
three  years,  and  school  director  six 
years,  and  is  an  esteemed  citizen.  He 
was  married,  October  28,  1857,  to  Char- 
lotte Rethorst,  a  native  of  Germany. 
They  have  seven  children  living — Anna, 
Emma,  Frederick,  Maggie,  Lou,  Lillie, 
and  William.  There  were  two  other 
children — Charles  and  Henry,  both  de- 
ceased. 

Orrin  Peck,  is  a  son  of  Lyman  Peck, 
who  came  to  this  county  in  1839,  and  lo- 
cated near  Blandinsville.  The  latter 
was  born  in  Essex  county,  New  York, 
February  22,  1806.  He  was  brought  up 
in  his  native  county.  In  1835,  he  set- 
tled in  Sandusky  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
resided  four  years,  then  removed  to  this 
county  at  the  time  above  stated.  He  re- 
mained in  Blandinsville  township  until 
1859,  then  moved  to  section  21,  Chal- 
mers township,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  February,  1872.  He  was  married  in 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


815 


NeAV  York  to  Cynthia  Steele,  and  by  this 
union  had  nine  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living.  His  widow  survived 
until  April,  1881.  Orrin  was  born  in 
Ohio,  May  5,  1837,  and  was  two  years 
old  when  he  came  to  this  county,  where 
he  was  reared  and  received  his  educa- 
tion. In  1859,  he  located  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Peck  enlisted, 
December  13,  1861,  in  company  A,  of 
the  64th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served  un- 
til March,  1863,  when  he  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability,  after  which  he 
returned  home  and  resumed  farming. 
He  has  130  acres  of  land,  well  improved. 
He  was -married  January  15,  1857,  to 
Sarah  J.  Merritt,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
by  this  union  has  seven  children — Artie 
M.,  Owen  L.,  Caddy  M.,  Lois,  Birdie, 
Dot  and  Orrin.  In  1880,  Mr.  Peck  dis- 
covered upon  his  farm,  the  mineral 
springs,  which  have  since  made  his  place 
famous.  Observing  that  the  water  had 
a  beneficial  effect  upon  stock,  he  deter- 
to  have  it  analyzed.  For  account  of 
this,  see  further  on. 

Willis  F.  Wayland  is  a  son  of  Willis 
Wayland,  a  native  of  Orange  county, 
Virginia,  born  in  1795.  He,  Willis  Sr., 
removed  to  Kentucky,  where  he  worked 
at  the  cooper's  trade  until  1832.  In  that 
year  he  became  a  resident  of  McDon- 
\3ugh  county,  locating  on  section  34, 
Chalmers  township.  He  died  in  1861. 
He  was  married  in  Kentucky,  to  Sydney 
Haines  by  whom  he  had  14  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  now  living — Willis  F., 
Joshua,  John  W.,  Garrett  H.,  Eliza,  Lo- 
rinda,  Julius,  Elizabeth  and  Eliza  J. 
His  wife  died  in  1849.  He  was  then 
married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Dennett,  a 
widow,  and  by  this  union,  had  four  chil- 


dren—Ann M.,  Eose  B.,  Lucy  and  Geo. 
T.  Willis  F.  Wayland,  the  oldest  living 
child  of  the  pioneer,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, June  28,  1824,  and  came  with  his 
parents  to  this  county.  He  was  here 
reared  and  educated,  settling  on  his  pres- 
ent farm  in  1848.  He  was  married  March 
13,  1862,  to  Emma  T.  Forsee,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  They  have  two  children — 
Frank  E.  and  Eva  L. 

Henry  B.  Walker,  son  of  Solomon 
Walker,  was  born  in  Des  Moines  county, 
Iowa,  February  3,  1855.  The  following 
year,  Solomon  Walker  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on 
section  13,  Scotland  township  where 
Henry  B.  was  brought  up.  He  attended 
the  district  school  of  this  township,  thus 
obtaining  a  fair  education.  In  1877,  he 
located  on  a  farm  on  section  14,  Scotland 
township,  and  began  business  for  him- 
self. He  continued  there  until  the  fall 
of  1881,  when  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm  in  Chalmers  township.  He  has 
83  acres  of  desirable  land,  which  is  fairly 
improved,  and  deals  some  in  cattle  in 
addition  to  farming.  Mr.  Walker  was 
married  November  23,  1876,  to  Alia 
Yeast,  a  sister  of  L.  Yeast,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Sciota  township.  They  have 
four  children — Bertha,  Glenn,  Perry  E., 
and  Harry.  Mr.  Walker  was  elected  a 
justice  of  the  peace  in  the  spring  of  1884, 
also  holds  the  office  of  school  trustee 
and  highway  commissioner  of  Chalmers 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chris- 
tian church. 

James  Andrews  was  born  in  Somer- 
setshire, England,  May  20,  1832.  He 
was  reared,  in  his  native  country,  to 
agricultural  pursuits,and  there  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1854.  At  that  date  he 


816 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


emigrated  to  America  and  settled  in 
Scotland  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  He  resided  in  that  township 
until  1859,  when  he  rented  a  farm  in 
Chalmers  township,to  which  he  removed. 
Ten  years  later  he  located  upon  his 
present  place,  on  section  26,  Chalmers 
township,  where  he  owns  a  good  farm  of 
80  acres,  Mr.  Andrews  was  married  in 
July,  1854,  to  Rosanna  Brown,  a  native 
of  England.  They  have  six  children — 
John  T.,  James  A.,  Mary  E.,  Ann  E., 
Jessie  W.  and  Ehoda  B.  Mr.  Andrews 
carries  on  general  farming. 

William  Andrews,  son  of  John  M.  and 
Ann  (Biddlecome)  Andrews,  was  born 
in  Somersetshire,  England,  February  2, 
1835.  He  there  grew  to  man's  estate, 
and  at  the  age  of  18  years,  emigrated  to 
this  country.  He  settled  then,  ( 1853 )  in 
Scotland  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  resided  five  years.  In 
1858  he  removed  to  section  25,  Chalm- 
ers township,  where  he  made  his  home 
till  1879.  He  then  moved  to  section  26, 
of  the  same  township  where  he  at  pres- 
ent resides.  He  has  a  desirable  farm 
comprising  280  acres,  and  is  engaged  in 
general  farming. 

Hugh  McClure  is  a  son  of  Samuel  L. 
McClure,  who  came .  to  McDonough 
county  in  1844,  and  rented  a  farm  in 
Industry  township.  The  following  year 
he  settled  where  his  son  now  lives. 
Samuel  L.  McClure  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Kentucky,  June  23, 
1811.  He  came  to  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1835,  there  remaining  until  the 
date  at  which  he  came  here.  He  was 
married  July  9,  1835,  to  Elizabeth  Tay- 
lor, a  native  of  Christian  county,  Ken- 
tucky. They  reared  six  children — James 


T.,  Edward,  Nancy  J.,  Hugh,  Lorenzo 
D.  and  Elianor  P.  Mr.  McClure  died 
January  26,  1877.  Hugh  McClure,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  the 
house  where  he  now  lives,  November  3, 
1846,  and  was  reared  and  educated  here. 
In  1864  he  enlisted  in  company  I,  of  the 
78th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served  under 
General  Sherman  in  the  14th  army 
corps,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  discharged  in  July  1865,  at  Chi- 
cago. He  then  returned  home  and  re- 
sumed farming.  In  1867  he  went  to  Ne- 
braska, thence  to  Kansas,  being  absent 
from  this  county  two  years.  He  owns 
the  homestead  farm  of  70  acres.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

W.  S.  McClelland,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  September  1856,  from  Can- 
field,  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
was  born,  June  20,  1831,  his  parents  be- 
ing, Robert  L.,  and  Rebecca  (Stewart) 
McClelland.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm  and  obtained  a  limited  education. 
At  the  age  of  18  years,  he  was  bereaved 
by  the  death  of  his  father,  July  3,  1849. 
He  remained  with  his  mother  on  the  old 
homestead  until  21  years  old.  He  then 
worked  out,  two  years  at  farming.  He 
was  then  married  to  Betsey  Blair,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Huron  county. 
Their  marriage  took  place  in  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  November  14,  1854.  He 
settled  then  upon  the  homestead  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  the  date  of  his 
coming  here.  He  first  settled  on  what 
was  then  the  county  farm,  under  contract 
to  keep  paupers,  should  there  be  any. 
During  his  residence  on  the  place,  he 
kept  a  number,  and  the  first  one,  of  the 
county.  He  remained  there  six  years, 
then  moved  to  section  18,  Scotland  town- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


817 


ship,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  of  75 
acres,  also  20  acres  of  timber  in  Chal- 
mers township.  Six  years  later  he  sold 
this  place  to  John  M.  Kelly,  and  re- 
moved to  section  12,  Chalmers  township, 
where  he  purchased  126  acres,  on  which 
he  now  lives.  He  is  engaged  in  general 
farming,  feeding  all  of  his  corn  to  stock. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClelland  have  had  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living, 
Charlie  H.,  married  to  Anna  Reden,  and 
living  in  Fairfield,  Iowa;  Nellie  G.,  liv- 
ing at  home,  engaged  in  teaching  school ; 
Ada  M.,  at  home;  Harry  B.,  who  died 
October  12,  1872,  aged  eight  years  and 
seven  months;  Carrie  R.,  William  G., 
and  George  H.,  living  at  home.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McClelland  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church  at  Macomb.  He  served 
as  commissioner  of  highways,  in  Scot- 
land township  and  has  been  school  direc- 
tor a  number  of  terms.  Politically,  he 
affiliates  with  the  republican  party. 

Ladson  Mills, the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  January  9,  1820,  in  Ruther- 
ford county,  North  Carolina.  He  re- 
ceived a  common  school  education  and 
remained  at  home  until  he  had  reached 
the  age  of  21.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 8,  1843,  to  Sarah  M.  Hill,  who  was  a 
native  of  North  Carolina.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  11  children,  of  whom 
seven  are  still  living.  John  A.,  Me- 
lissa, James  E.,  Charles  W.,  Anna,  Mary, 
Seth,  Sarah,  Kate,  Thomas  and  Etta. 
Mr.  Mills  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  and 
for  seven  years  farmed  for  a  share  of  the 
crops,  and  in  1857,  purchased  80  acres 
of  land,  to  which  he  has  added  from 
time  to  time,  until  he  now  owns  200  acres 
of  fine  prairie  land.  Mr.  Mills  is  a  re- 
publican in  politics,  and  is  always  ready 


to  pull  off  his  coat  and  do  valiant  work 
for  the  party  of  his  choice.  He  is  a 
prominent  figure  in  the  affairs  of  Bethel 
township. 

Robert  J.,  son  of  Ladson  Mills,  was 
married  March  22,  1871,  to  Marcella 
Hammer,  who  is  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
They  have  five  children  —  Lula  V.,  Mel- 
vin  A.,  William  N.,  Frank  L.,  and  Ethel 
Blanche.  Robert,  like  his  father  is  a 
republican. 

Robert  Hunter,  a  son  of  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Harvey)  Hunter,  resides  on 
section  1,  Chalmers  township,  where  he 
was  born  July  7,  1855.  He  was  here 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  living  at  home 
with  his  parents,  and  attending  school 
as  opportunity  afforded.  His  father 
moved  to  town  in  the  spring  of  1878, 
since  which  time,  Robert  has  been  man- 
aging the  farm.  The  farm  consists  of 
160  acres  on  the  home  place,  and  120 
acres  detached,  in  Scotland  township, 
Mr.  Hunter  was  married  February  28, 
1878,  to  Ella  Chamberlain,  a  native  of 
Morgan  county,  Illinois.  Two  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Harvey  Palmer, 
and  James  Roy.  Mr.  Hunter  carries  on 
general  farming,  and  is  enterprising  and 
successful.  He  is  politically  a  republi- 
can. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

It  is  learned  from  an  examination  of 
the  last  annual  report  of  the  county  su- 
perintendant,  for  the  school  year  end- 
ing June  30,  1884,  that  the  district  town- 
ship of  Chalmers  has  658  children  of 
school  age,  575  of  whom  are  enrolled  in 
the  10  sub-districts  of  the  township, 
which  have  an  average  of  7  and  19-20 
months  of  school  per  year.  There  is 
one  brick  and  nine  frame  school  houses 


818 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


in  the  township,  which  have  an  estimated 
value  of  property  amounting  to  $4,600. 
The  highest  monthly  wages  paid  any 
male  teacher  is  $40,  and  the  lowest  $40, 
while  the  highest  salary  paid  lady  teach- 
ers is  $35  per  month  and  the  lowest  $20 
per  month.  The  amount  of  tax  levy  for 
the  support  of  schools  is  $1,844,93. 
Chalmers  is  free  from  any  educational 
indebtedness.  In  the  township  are  12 
districts,  four  of  which  are  union  with 
other  townships.  As  regards  educational 
matters,  Chalmers  occupies  the  same  ter- 
ritory as  it  did  previous  to  the  time 
Colchester  township  was  created.  Al- 
though separate  townships,  Chalmers 
and  that  part  of  Colchester  taken  from 
the  original  territory  to  form  the  latter 
township,  are  recognized  one  and  the 
same  with  reference  to  educational  mat- 
ters. 

The  school  building  in  district  No.  1, 
is  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  1. 

In  district  No.  2,  the  school  house  is 
situated  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 3. 

District  No.  3,  has  a  school  building 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8, 
and  is  in  what  is  now  known  as  Colches- 
ter township. 

District  No.  4.— The  school  building 
was  erected  in  1867,  on  section  17;  it  is. 
brick,  20x30,  and  cost  $900.  Previous 
to  the  building  of  this  house,  school  was 
held  in  an  old  log  house,  which  was 
built  about  1847.  The  school  house  in 
this  district  is  also  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Colchester  township. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  5  is 
situated  on  the  northwest  corner  of  sec- 
tion 22. 


The  school  house  stands  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  14,  in  district  No.  6.  It  was 
erected  in  1857,  at  a  cost  of  $600.  John 
Saffell,  Eugene  Pierce  and  Eobert  Hun- 
ter were  the  first  directors.  The  present 
directors  are  George  W.  Reid,  Robert 
McCutchen,  and  Michael  McGan. 

In  district  No.  7  the  school  building 
is  located  on  section  25.  It  is  a  good 
frame  structure,  and  was  completed  at  a 
cost  of  about  $500. 

District  No.  8. — This  school  is  known 
as  the  "Long  Nine  School."  The  build- 
ing is  located  on  section  33.  It  is  a 
good,  frame  house,  and  formerly  stood 
in  Middletown,  and  used  as  a  business 
house.  It  was  purchased  by  the  district 
in  1866,  for  $600,  and  moved  to  its  pres- 
ent site.  The  district  was  organized 
April  2,  1866. 

Union  district,  No.  1,  has  a  school 
house  located  in  Bethel  township,  on  sec- 
tion 1. 

The  building  in  union  district,  No.  2, 
is  located  in  the  town  of  Colchester. 

The  school  house  in  union  district, 
No.  8,  is  located  on  section  19,  in  what 
is  now  Colchester  township. 

In  union  district,  No.  12,  the  school 
house  is  situated  in  Middletown. 

SAW  MILL. 

The  Wilson  saw  mill  was  built  by  J. 
O.  C.  Wilson  and  Devine  Anderson,  on 
section  14,  about  the  year  1840,  who 
operated  it  until  about  1856,  when  it  was 
destroyed  by  fire.  Another  mill  was 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  one  by 
Wilson,  Thornburg  &  Ferguson.  It  was 
afterward  ownexd  by  Wilson  &  Thorn- 
burg,  then  by  Wilson,  then  Eugene 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


819 


Pierce,  then  John  Saffell  &  Son,  then 
Thomas  Cornelius,  then  John  McCoy, 
and  lastly,  by  Samuel  Fox,  who  after- 
ward disposed  of  the  machinery.  The 
building  was  then  torn  down,  and  part 
of  the  timbers  entered  into  the  construc- 
tion of  the  barn  on  the  place  of  Robert 
McCutcheon. 

MINEKAL    SPRING. 

On  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  21,  is  a  mineral 
spring  which  is  destined  to  make  its  pro- 
prietor widely  known,  as  well  as  to  be  a 
never  failing  source  of  revenue  to  him. 
It  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Orrin  Peck,  the 
owner  of  the  property,  in  1880.  At  that 
time  he  did  not  know  of  its  valuable 
properties,  and  probably  would  never 
have  suspected  them  had  he  not  noticed 
the  beneficial  effects  of  the  drinking  of 
the  spring  water  on  his  stock.  This 
fact  led  him,  .in  1883,  to  have  the  "water 
analyzed.  Accordingly,  Professor  Long, 
M.  D.,  professor  of  chemistry,  pharmacy 
and  toxicology  in  the  Chicago  medical 
college,  was  employed  to  make  the  analy- 
sis, which  he  did  on  October  16,  1883. 
As  a  result,  it  was  found  to  contain  in- 
gredients in  the  following  amounts,  per 
U.  S.  gallon  of  the  water:  Chlorate  of 
sodium,  .623  grains;  sulphate  of  sodium, 
1.045;  sulphate  of  potassium,  1.092;  sul- 
phate of  calcium,  39.181;  bi-carbonate  of 
magnesium,  20.756;  bi-carbonate  of  cal- 
cium, 15.683;  bi-carbonate  of  iron,  2.877; 
silica,  1.389;  alumina,  large  trace;  or- 
ganic matter,  small  amount.  At  the 
spring  he  has  a  commodious  pleasure 
house,  built  in  1883,  which  is  16x30  feet 
in  ground  area.  Another  smaller  build- 
ing is  situated  just  below  the  spring,  re- 


ceiving water  from  it  through  pipes. 
This  water  is  guaranteed  to  cure  Bright's 
disease  in  all  stages,  liver  troubles,  pal- 
pitation of  the  heart,  neuralgia,  rheuma- 
tism and  every  curable  ailment.  Mr. 
Peck  feels  confident  that  a  trial  of  the 
water  of  his  spring  will  convince,  any 
skeptic  of  their  medicinal  value.  He 
sells  it  in  quantities  to  suit  purchasers. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Chalmers  was  organized  as  a  full  con- 
gressional township  in  1857,  but  in  1880, 
some  of  its  western  territory  was  cut  off 
and  is  part  of  the  present  township  of 
Colchester.  The  first  township  election 
was  held  April  7,  1857,  at  which  time  J. 
C.  Simmons  and  Gholson  Lane,  were 
elected  justices  of  the  peace,  and  Charles 
Dickerson.  Jr.,  and  Michael  Strader,  Jr., 
were  elected  constables.  Isaac  McCown 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  township  on 
the  board  of  supervisors.  The  present 
officers  of  the  township  are  as  follows: 
Supervisor,  Robert  Mitchell ;  clerk,  John 
W.  Way  land;  assessor,  B.  K.  Frisbie; 
collector,  Henry  D.  Hoyt;  highway  com- 
missioner, H.  B,  Walker;  justices  of  the 
peace,  James  Cochrane  and  James  Hays, 
constables,  Jesse  D.  Bowen  and  J.  A. 
Black. 

HISTORIC. 

The  first  marriage  was  John  W.  West- 
fall  and  Icemenda  Neece.  They  were  uni- 
ted by  James  Clarke,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  December  15,  1834. 

The  first  birth  was  Martin,  son  of 
Robert  Phelps,  during  the  year  1830. 

The  first  death  was  Truman  Bowen, 
who  died  in  1830,  at  the  residence 
of  David  McFadden*  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  William  Hunter,  near  the  city 


820 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


of  Macomb.  He  was  buried  in  the  old 
grave  yard  near  Macomb,  and  was  the 
second  person  interred  therein. 

The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev. 
John  Barker,  about  the  year  1830,  at 
house  of  Daniel  Troxwell,  on  the  south 
side  pf  the  township,  near  Troublesome 
creek. 

The  pioneer  school  was  taught  by 
William  Shelton,  on  section  20,  about 
the  year  1833. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Jesse 
Neece,  and  Isaac  McCown  was  the  first 
supervisor. 

MIDDLETOWN. 

This  was  laid  out  in  the  spring  of 
1837,  by  Major  John  Patrick  and  James 
Edmonston,  Esq.  The  first  house  was 
erected  by  Major  Patrick.  The  first 
settlers  were  James  Edmonston  and 
John  Gibson.  Andrew  Cox  started  the 
first  store.  It  was  called  Middletown 
from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  central 
point  or  middle  town  between  Beards- 
town,  on  the  Illinois  river,  and  Burling- 
ton, on  the  Mississippi  river.  It  was 
also  the  crossing  of  the  Beardstown  and 
Burlington,  and  the  Peoria  and  Quincy 
public  roads.  The  first  public  sale  of 
town  lots'  occurred  in  April,  1837,  lots 
realizing  from  $15  to  $30  each.  Very 
few  have  at  any  time  commanded  a 
higher  price  than  this. 

Although  the  town  never  grew  to  any 
considerable  size  or  importance,  it  was 
at  one  time  a  busy  and  prosperous  vil- 
lage, as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
article  taken  from  the  McDonough  Inde- 
pendent of  Qstober.31,  1853: 

"A  few  days  since  we  paid  a  flying 
visit  to  this  beautiful  village  in  the 


western  part  of  this  county.  We  were 
much  pleased  with  the  evidences  of 
prosperity  which  the  town  presents.  It 
contains  about  180  inhabitants,  3  dry 
goods  stores,  3  taverns,  several  black- 
smith shops,  and  a  splendid  steam  saw 
mill,  which  does  a  fine  business.  Col. 
Patrick,  who  is  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  has  just  received  an  ex- 
tensive stock  in  store,  which  were  shown 
us  by  Captain  Lipe,  his  gentlemanly 
clerk." 

The  country  in  the  vicinity  of  Middle- 
town  is  thickly  settled  by  a  good  class  of 
farmers,  and  is  generally  level  prairie 
land,  well  drained  and  fertile.  There 
was  no  portion  of  the  county  that  labored ' 
harder  to  secure  the  line  of  the  North- 
ern Cross  railway  than  Middletown, 
which  was  to  be  on  the  main  line  of  the 
contemplated  road.  At  an  election  held 
August  20,  1853,  for  the  purpose  of  vot- 
ing for  or  against  the  county  subscribing 
$75,000  to  this  railroad,  Middletown  pre- 
cinct cast  198  votes  for  and  and  but  2 
against  the  proposed  enterprise.  The 
road,  however,  when  it  was  finally  brought 
to  completion,  failed  to  be  a  benefit  to 
the  town;  it  was  on  the  other  hand, 
the  means  of  taking  her  established  trade 
from  her,  and  causing  many  of  her  more 
prominent  and  enterprising  citizens  to 
seek  other  locations.  The  reason  was, 
that,  instead  of  the  road  running  through 
the  town,  it  ran  five  miles  north,  where 
new  towns  sprang  up,  which  with  the 
advantages  of  the  railroad,  commanded 
the  patronage  and  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple in  the  surrounding  country.  It  is 
due  the  citizens  of  Middletown  at  the 
time  the  railroad  was  projected,  to  record 
that  the  failure  of  the  road  to  pass 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


821 


through  their  town,  was  not  a  want  of 
interest  in  the  enterprise,  or  lack  of 
earnest  labor  on  their  part  to  secure 
the  road,  for  as  before  mentioned,  none 
worked  harder  to  secure  it  than  they, 
but  it  was  on  account  of  the  condition  of 
the  country  through  which  the  road 
would  necessarily  have  to  be  constructed. 
The  business  interests  are  few  at  present 
and  the  postoffice  is  known  as  Fandon. 

Douglas  Dunsworth,  dealer  in  general 
merchandise,  commenced  business  in 
1885.  The  store  was  started  by  Elias  Hat- 


field  in  the  spring  of  1870.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Winston  Hatfield,  who  sold  out 
to  the  present  proprietor.  He  carries  a 
stock  which  he  values  at  $2,500,  consist- 
ing of  such  goods  as  are  usually  kept  in  a 
country  store.  The  building  he  occu- 
pies is  16x48  feet  in  size. 

V.  Stookey,  M.  D.,  is  located  at  Mid- 
dletown. 

Josiah  H.  Voorhees,  blacksmith,  com- 
menced business  in  1875,  buying  out  the 
shop  of  W.  W.  Moore.  He  does  horse- 
shoeing and  general  repairing. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 


BUSHNELL  TOWNSHIP. 


The  township  of  Bushnell  consists  of 
18  sections  of  land,  the  most  part  of 
which  is  prairie,  there  being  but  very 
little  timber  within  its  borders.  The 
land  is  as  good  for  agricultural  purposes 
as  can  be  found  in  the  Military  Tract 
and  has  increased  very  rapidly  in 
wealth  and  population  since  the  comple- 
tion of  the  first  railroad.  The  thriving 
town  of  Bushnell  is  located  on  sections 
27,  28,  33  and  34,  and  is  the  centre  of 
three  lines  of  railroad,  furnishing  the 
best  railroad  facilities  for  the  shipment 
of  the  products  of  the  soil  of  any  town- 
ship in  the  county. 

EAELY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  to  make  a  settlement  within 
the  limits  of  what  is  now  Bushnell  town- 


ship was  Matthew  B.  Robinson,  who, 
in  the  fall  of  1836,  located  upon  section 
30,  where  he  put  up  a  house  and  com- 
menced to  open  up  a  farm.  For  several 
years  he  was  there  almost  alone,  when  a 
few  more  came  to  his  neighborhood. 
But  sparsely  settled  at  the  time  of  the 
laying  out  of  the  city  of  Bushnell,  its 
history  is  almost  identical  with  the 
growth  and  development  of  that  place. 

The  first  birth  in  this  township  was 
that  of  Missouri  E.,  daughter  of  M.  B. 
Robinson,  in  the  autumn  of  1837.  The 
first  death,  that  of  John  W.  Clarke,  in 
September,  1847. 

The  first  marriage  took  place  in  Octo- 
ber, 1841,  at  the  residence  of  M.  B. 
Robinson,  when  Rev.  W.  K.  Stewart  sol- 
emnized the  rite  of  matrimony,  joining 


822 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  destinies  of  Permenium  Hamilton 
and  Elizabeth  A.  Robinson. 

David  Robinson  is  said  to  have  taught 
the  first  school  in  1838,  and  about  the 
same  time  the  first  religious  services 
were  held  at  the  house  of  M.  B.  Robin- 
son, by  Rev.  William  K.  Stewart,  at  that 
time  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  located 
in  Macomb. 

But  little  was  done  toward  the  settle- 
ment of  the  township  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quin- 
cy  railroad,  when,  in  a  short  time,  every 
quarter  was  taken  up  and  occupied.  The 
history  of  this  township  is  so  interwoven 
with  that  of  the  city  of  Bushnell  and  the 
residents  of  the  city  and  township  that 
it  would  but  lead  to  repetition  were  we 
to  place  it  in  detail  here.  The  reader  is 
consequently  referred  to  the  places  men- 
tioned. 

REPRESENTATIVE    CITIZENS. 

No  township  in  the  county  can  boast 
of  a  better  class  of  people  than  can 
Bushnell.  The  following  sketches  are 
those  of  representative  men  of  this  town- 
ship: 

John  C.  Cadwalader  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont township,  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
January  5,  1834.  His  father,  a  native  of 
of  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  was  born 
August  18,  1806,  and  is  still  living.  His 
mother,  who  is  also  living,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  April  12,  1812.  John  C. 
resided  with  his  parents  until  21  years 
old.  He  was  then  married,  January  11, 
1855,  to  Eliza  J.  Miller,  who  was  born 
July  16,  1833.  After  marriage  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  trading  in  stock  in 
Vermont  township,  where  he  resided  till 
1870.  In  that  year  he  purchased  and 


moved  to  the  farm  where  he  now  lives, 
located  on  the  the  northeast  quarter  of 
28,  Bushnell  township.  He  has  120 
acres  of  land  which  is  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  His  improvements  are 
among  the  best  in  the  township.  Since 
his  residence  here  he  has  been  much  of 
the  time  in  office,  holding  the  position 
of  supervisor  six  and  one-half  years, 
commissioner  of  highways  four  years, 
and  has  been  school  director  almost  con- 
tinuously. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cadwalader 
have  had  six  children  born  to  them — 
Charles  L.,  living  with  his  parents;  Mat- 
tie  H.,  wife  of  Jacob  H.  Gingle,  living 
in  Nebraska;  Millie  A.,  wife  of  William 
Osrum,  of  Bushnell  township;  Ella  M., 
living  with  her  parents;  Adda  and  Liz- 
zie dying  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cadwalader  are  members  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  Politically,  he  is  a  sup- 
porter of  the  republican  party. 

Benjamin  Tainter,  deceased,  a  for- 
mer resident  of  Bushnell  township,  was 
a  native  of  the  state  of  New  York,  born 
in  1819.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Tainter,  also 
a  native  of  New  York,  He  was  married 
in .  1859,  to  Minnie  Stanton,  of  Ohio. 
They  had  three  children — 'Henry  L, 
John  N.  and  Benjamin,  all  now  living 
with  their  mother  in  this  township.  Mr. 
Tainter  owned  a  fine  farm,  comprising 
360  acres  of  land  on  section  25,  Bush- 
nell township,  where  Mrs.  Tainter  and 
her  sons  now  reside.  John  N.,  the 
second  son,  carries  on  the  farm.  Mr. 
Tainter  died  December  21,  1879.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
church,  also  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and 
a  man  well  deserving  of  the  respect  and 
esteem  with  which  he  was  regarded  in 
the  community.  Mrs.  Tainter  was  born 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


823 


in  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
a  daughter  of  Jas.  Stanton,  who  was 
nearly  related  to  Secretary  Stanton,  who 
came  to  this  county,  and  settled  in  Prai- 
rie City,  in  July,  1859.  She  is,  in  her 
religious  faith,  a  Congregationalist. 

William  H.  Cowperthwaite,  a  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Bushnell  township,  set- 
tled where  he  now  resides,  in  1867.  He 
owns  200  acres  of  well-cultivated  land, 
located  on  section  25.  He  has  good  and 
substantial  improvements,  and  carries  on 
general  farming.  He  was  born  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois,  November  10,  1839, 
and  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Cowperthwaite, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to 
Illinois  in  1836,  and  who  now  lives 
in  the  city  of  Bushnell.  William  H. 
came  to  this  county  from  Fulton  county 
in  1859,  and  located  in  Bushnell  town- 
ship. October  2,  1862,  he  was  married 
to  Margaret  Yant,  of  Ohio.  They  have 
three  children — Charles  C.,  Emma  May, 
and  Elizabeth  E.,  all  living  at  home. 
Mr.  Cowperthwaite  has  acted  as  school 
director  of  his  district  for  six  years.  He 
is  a  democrat  in  politics.  He  came  to 
this  county  in  limited  circumstances,  but 
by  economy,  industry  and  judicious  man- 
agement, has  accumulated  a  comfortable 
property. 

Jacob  H.  Wisherd,  of  Bushnell  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine 
( Stahl )  Wisherd,  and  was  born  in  Ful- 
ton county  in  1858.  He  was  reared  in 
his  native  county,  obtaining  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  school.  In  the  year 
1880,  he  was  married  to  Eveline  Blan- 
chard,  and  by  this  union  has  two  chil- 
dren— Jacob  Lewis  and  Sheldon.  He 
came  to  this  county  from  Fulton  county, 
and  is  engaged  in  farming.  He  is  a 


stirring,  energetic  young  man.  and  an 
enterprising  farmer.  His  father, 
Jacob  Wisherd,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1823,  and  was  a  son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Cole)  Wisherd. 
He  was  married  in  1842,  to  Catherine 
Stahl,  of  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  had  five  children — Johji  M.,  now 
in  Missouri;  David  N.,  living  in  Quincy; 
Jeremiah,  living  in  Vermont,  Illinois; 
and  Jacob  H.  Mr.  Wisherd  died  April 
22,  1863,  and  was  buried  in  Virgil  ceme- 
tery. He  owned  at  the  time  of  his  death 
480  acres  of  land,  and  was  in  prosperous 
circumstances.  His  widow,  Catherine 
Wisherd,  is  still  living  upon  the  home- 
stead farm.  She  is  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Christian  church.  / 

Matthew  Williamson  is  a  native  of 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  born  November 
20,  1838.  He  lived  with  his  parents  in 
that  county  until  he  reached  the  age  of 
19  years,  then  went  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  employed  upon  a  farm. 
He  then  came  to  Illinois,  and  worked  for 
a  time  at  farming  in  McLean  county, 
thence  to  Peoria  county,  where  he  car- 
ried on  farming  in  partnership  with 
William  Fahnstock.  He  was  married  in 
the  fall  of  1873,  to  Sybilla  Potter,  who 
was  born  February  14,  1847.  He  con- 
tinued living  in  Peoria  county  for  one 
year  after  marriage,  then  removed  to 
Knox  county,  and  two  years  later  to  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  remained  six  years, 
still  engaged  in  farming.  From  Fulton 
county  he  came  to  McDonough,  and  lo- 
cated on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
22,  Bushnell  township,  where  he  still  re- 
sides. He  has  fine  improvements,  inclu- 
ding his  residence,  barn,  sheds,  corn- 
cribs,  etc.  He  has  upon  his  place  about 


824 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


four  miles  of  Osage  hedge,  and  300  rods 
of  drain  tile.  He  pays  considerable  at- 
tention to  stock  raising,  particularly  fine 
horses.  He  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  stal- 
lion, one  half  Clyde,  one-quarter  Nor- 
man, and  one-quarter  Copperbottom ; 
four  fine  brood  mares,  and  a  pair  of 

trotting  horses  that  won  the  blue  ribbon 

'    « 

at  the  Bushnell  fair,  in  the  fall  of  1884, 
Mr.  Williamson  devotes  his  time  entire- 
ly to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  and 
the  care  of  his  stock.  He  is  politically, 
a  republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williamson 
are  the  parents  of  four  children — Wil- 
liam H.,  now  married  to  Mary  Hood; 
Delbert  H.,  Wardie  E.  and  Jennie  M. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

According  to  the  report  of  the  county 
superintendent  for  the  fiscal  year,  end- 
ing June  30,  1884,  the  township  of  Bush- 
nell had  852  children,  between  the 
school  ages  of  six  and  21  years,  650  of 
whom  were  enrolled  in  the  eight  schools 
of  the  township  district,  two  of  which 
are  classified  as  graded  institutions  of 
learning,  seven  months  and  a  half  being 
the  average  number  taught  annually. 
There  are  eight  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  seven  of  which  are  frame,  the 
other  a  brick  structure.  One  school 
house  was  also  built  in  the  township 
during  the  year.  The  highest  salary 
paid  to  any  male  teacher  is  $125  per 
month,  and  the  lowest  is  $25,  while  $50 
is  the  highest  paid  to  females,  and  $20 
the  lowest.  The  estimated  value  of 
school  property  amounts  to  over  $22,000, 
and  the  tax  levy  for  the  support  of  edu- 
cational institutions,  amounts  to  $4,800. 
Bushnell  is  free  from  debt,  as  far  as  edu- 
cational purposes  are  concerned. 


ORGANIC. 

On  the  12th  day  of  June,  1866,  the 
board  of  supervisors  ordered  Prairie 
City  township  divided,  the  north  half  to 
retain  the  name  of  Prairie  City,  and  the 
south  half  to  be  known  as  Bushnell. 

At  the  first  township  election,  April  2, 
1867,  the  following  officers  were  elec- 
ted: J.  H.  Smith,  supervisor;  Hiram 
Conover,  collector;  Pardon  Wooley, 
assessor;  E.  Combs,  clerk;  E.  Lincoln 
and  P.  Wooley,  constables;  D.  M.  Wyc- 
koff,  J.  T.  Spear,  and  J.  D.  Devor,  com- 
missioners of  highway;  J.  H.  Epper- 
son, justice  of  the  peace;  A.  S.  Clark, 
overseer  of  the  poor. 

The  present  officers  of  the  township 
are  as  follows:  supervisor,  Levi  S.  Mills; 
clerk,  O.  C.  Hicks,;  assessor,  N.  Hey; 
collector,  A.  B.  Sperling;  highway  com- 
missioner, Albertson  Moore;  justices  of 
the  peace,  B.  W.  McKinney  and  J.  B. 
Spicer;  constables,  Samuel  Long  and 
C.  C.  Morse.  * 

CITY  OF  BUSHNELL. 

The  flourishing  city  of  Bushnell  is 
located  in  this  township,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  some  of  the  finest  country  in 
the  state,  which  partially  accounts  for 
its  rapid  growth  and  thriving  condition. 
It  was  laid  out  in  1854,  before  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroad.  John  D.  Hail,  of  Ma- 
comb,  sold  a  two-third  interest  in  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  33,  to  D.  P. 
Wells  and  Iverson  L.  Twyman,  also  of 
the  city  of  Macomb,  and  the  three  to- 
gether determined  on  the  establishment 
of  a  town  on  that  site.  William  H.  Bile, 
then  county  surveyor,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Hail,  Twyman,  and  Wells,  laid 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


825 


off  the  town,  running  the  streets  parallel 
with  that  railroad,  which  had  been  gra- 
ded through  the  proposed  site,  and 
which  extended  across  the  quarter,  en- 
tering 35  chains  south  of  the  southwest 
corner,  and  passing  out  the  same  num- 
ber of  chains  north  of  the  northeast 
corner.  The  quarter  was  divided  into 
48  blocks  of  12  lots  each,  the  blocks  be- 
ing 360  feet  square.  Two  streets,  run- 
ning parallel  with  the  railroad,  one  on 
either  side,  were  made  70  feet  wide,  and 
all  others  60.  The  first  public  sale  of 
lots  was  made  in  May,  1854.  About  70 
lots  were  sold,  realizing  about  $6,000, 
the  prices  varying  from  $30  to  $120  each. 

The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  N. 
Bushnell,  at  that  time  president  of  the 
Northern  Cross  railroad,  the  name  by 
which  the  present  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  railroad  was  then  known. 

When  the  town  was  laid  out,  there 
was  nothing  on  its  proposed  site  but  a 
large  "wolf  pole,"  a  pole  erected  on  the 
highest  eminence  in  the  neighborhood 
where  it  could  be  seen  by  the  parties 
engaging  in  the  wolf  hunt  and  to  which 
all  would  attend,  meeting  in  one  common 
center.  The  nearest  houses  were  those 
of  M.  B.  Robinson,  Joseph  Crawford 
and  J.  H.  Spicer,  some  three  miles  west. 
For  miles  around  not  a  rod  of  land  was 
enclosed  by  a  fence,  and  not  a  road  was 
located  in  the  neighborhood.  The  coun- 
try was  just  as  wild  as  when  created  by 
the  Author  of  the  Universe,  and  upon 
the  trackless  prairies  there  was  as  much 
danger  of  being  lost  as  in  a  dense  forest. 

Scarcely  was  the  town  laid  out  before 
the  proprietors  of  the  town  erected  a 
small  store,  built  of  slabs,  which  on  com- 
pletion they  sold  to  Hiram  Markham, 


when  he  and  his  brother,  Daniel,  moved 
into  it  a  small  stock  of  goods  as  related 
further  on.  Shortly  after  this  Hiram 
Conover,  John  Beach,  William  Ervin, 
and  William  Vickers  made  a  settlement 
here,  erecting  houses  in  which  to  place 
their  families.  These  were  the  first  set- 
tlers in  the  town.  John  Crawford  com- 
menced the  erection  of  the  first  hotel, 
but  before  completion  sold  it  to  John  D. 
Hail,  who,  in  the  summer  of  1855,  com- 
pleted the  same  and  opened  it  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  traveling  public. 

The  growth  of  the  town  was  not  very 
rapid  the  first  year,  the  railroad  not  being 
completed  and  the  people  not  accustomed 
to  push  things  through  with  lightning 
speed.  But  in  the  second  year,  as  the 
sound  of  the  locomotive's  whistle  could  be 
heard  in  the  distance,  they  began  to  pour 
in,  and  by  the  time  the  merry  call  of  the 
conductor  "all  aboard,"  was  heard  the 
town  was  fairly  alive,  and  the  spirit  of 
young  America  seemed  to  pervade  every 
citizen  of  the  little  village,  and  dreams 
of  future  growth  and  greatness  pervaded 
the  minds  of  all.  A  class  of  citizens 
came  to  the  village  possessed  of  indom- 
itable perseverance  and  grit,  and  with  a 
determination  to  make  the  town  one  of 
the  best  in  the  state  of  Illinois.  Among 
the  early  settlers  who  worked  for  the 
best  interest  of  the  place  were  Hiram 
Markham,  James  Cole,  James  Kelly,  Dr. 
Clarke,  Daniel  Negley,  James  Smith,  S. 
West,  A.  Everett  and  A.  Hess. 

The  original  proprietors  of  the  place, 
imbued  with  a  spirit  of  liberality,  gave 
to  the  town  two  blocks  of  land — one  on 
the  east  side  of  the  railroad,  and  one  on 
the  west.  They  also  gave  lots  to  such 
religious  denominations  as  would  build 


826 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


houses  of  worship.  There  is,  therefore, 
to-day,  two  beautiful  parks  and  several 
beautiful  and  pleasant  church  edifices, 
and  the  community  a  moral  and  intelli- 
gent one. 

The  first  three  or  four  years  were  dis- 
astrous to  the  welfare  of  the  town,  in 
consequence,  principally,  of  the  failure 
of  the  crops.  Many  farms  had  been 
opened,  but  the  farmers  had  used  up  all 
their  means  in  improvements,  trusting 
they  would  be  rewarded  with  good  crops, 
which,  failing  them,  left  them  in  debt  to 
the  merchants  of  the  place.  The  conse- 
quence of  this  state  of  affairs  was  that 
the  merchants  were  unable  to  meet  their 
bills,  which  caused  the  suspension  of 
several.  Notwithstanding  all.  this,  im- 
provements were  constantly  made,  build- 
ings for  stores  and  dwellings  were  being 
erected,  and  the  population  was  rapidly 
increasing. 

In  1867,  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw 
railroad  company  surveyed  a  line  through 
this  place,  and  the  city  and  the  citizens 
subscribed  to  its  capital  stock  to  aid  in 
its  completion.  This  road,  which  is  now 
a  part  of  the  Wabash  system,  crosses 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  road, 
at  this  point,  making  this  considerable 
of  a  railroad  center,  which  added  to  the 
several  manufacturing  establishments 
that  have  been  instituted  here,  promise  a 
future  for  the  town  that  certainly  is 
bright  enough  for  its  citizens.  Two 
branches  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q  railroad  fur- 
nish facilities  for  freighting  as  Avell  as  the 
Wabash,  placing  Bushnell  in  a  favored 
position  toward  offering  inducements  to 
manufacturers  to  locate  here. 

Hiram  and  Daniel  Markham  were  the 
pioneer  merchants  of  Bushnell,  com- 


mencing business  in  the  summer  of  1854, 
in  a  small  building  constructed  of  slabs, 
on  the  site  of  the  present  normal  college. 
They  had  a  small  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, which  comprised  a  small 
amount  of  most  everything.  At  that 
time,  the  town  consisted  of  a  couple  of 
shanties,  only.  They  afterwards  erected 
the  store  building  now  occupied  by  Ball 
&  Son's  carriage  shop,  where  they  did 
business  for  a  couple  of  years.  They 
then  discontinued  it,  and  after  a  few 
years  Hiram  moved  to  Kansas. 

The  second  merchant  here  was  James 
Cole.  He  commenced  business  in  De- 
cember, 1855,  in  a  building  on  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  store  of  T.  F.  Sei- 
bert.  The  building  was  framed  in 
Quincy,  and  brought  here  by  Mr.  Cole, 
who  also  brought  a  carpenter  with  him 
to  complete  it.  It  was  16x48  feet  in  size 
upon  the  ground,  one  story  high.  It  was 
afterward  removed  to  New  Philadelphia. 
In  this  structure,  when  it  was  finished, 
Mr.  Cole  placed  about  $2,000  worth  of 
general  merchandise,  which  he  had  pur- 
chased in  Quincy,  on  credit.  He  has 
been  identified  with  the  business  inter- 
ests of  the  town  ever  since,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  the  grain  and  banking  busi- 
ness, having  closed  out  his  general  mer- 
chandise business,  and  merged  the  capi- 
tal invested  into  his  banking  operations. 

James  Cole,  of  the  firm  of  J.  Cole  & 
Co.,  merchants  and  bankers  of  Bushnell, 
is  a  native  of  Berkeley  county,  West 
Virginia,  and  was  born  on  the  20th  of 
of  August,  1824.  His  parents  were 
William  and  Mary  (McNally)  Cole,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  of  Mary- 
land, and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Mrs. 
Cole  died  when  James  was  an  infant, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


827 


and  her  husband  died  in  1835.  In  1832 
James  Cole  was  apprenticed  by  the 
overseer  of  the  poor  to  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Philip  Stone,  who  took  him  to 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  re- 
mained until  15  years  of  age,  when  he 
ran  away  and  engaged  in  steamboating. 
He  hired  out  as  second  cook  on  the  Ar- 
kansas river,  and  gradually  worked  him- 
self up,on  different  boats,until  he  became 
captain  of  a  small  boat.  In  1846,  he 
engaged  in  the  confectionery  business 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  one  year.  He  then  went  to 
Chicago,  where  he  resided  until  1849, 
then  going  to  Quincy,  and  engaging  in 
the  confectionery  business  there.  He 
remained  in  business  at  that  point  until 
1855,  when  he  came  to  McDonough 
county  and  located  at  Bushnell,  estab- 
lishing the  second  store  in  that  city.  In 
1878,  he  engaged  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness, in  connection  with  his  store  and 
grain.  He  has  now  closed  out  his  stock 
of  goods,  with  the  intention  of  making 
banking  his  permanent  business.  He 
has  also  been  engaged  in  the  grain  trade, 
ever  since  opening  up  in  that  city. 
James  Cole  and  Eliza  J.  Peckham,  a 
native  of  Indiana,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, at  Quincy,  Illinois,  on  the  25th 
of  March,  1854.  They  now  have  three 
children  living — Lucy  L.,  Harry  E.  and 
George  W.  Mr.  Cole  also  has  one 
child  living  by  a  former  marriage — 
Frances  A.,  now  Mrs.  D.  C.  Neff.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  as  is  he 
also  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  held  the  office  of  mayor  of  Bush- 
nell, in  1878,  and  has  also  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  board  of  education,  and  of 
the  city  council,  having  been  elected 


alderman  to  the  first  council.  Mr.  Cole, 
owing  to  the  hardships  of  his  early  life, 
and  the  loss  of  his  parents,  had  no  chance 
to  obtain  an  education  by  the  usual 
method,  having  only  attended  school 
for  about  three  months,  in  Virginia,  but 
by  sheer  hard  work,  and  personal  appli- 
cation he  has  attained  more  than  a  com- 
mon education,  and  that  a  good  practi- 
cal one. 

About  April,  1856,  Negley  &  Angle, 
from  Canton,  Fulton  county,  came  to 
this  place  and  opened  a  store  for  the 
sale  of  general  merchandise,  in  the 
building  where  Ball  &  Son  are  now  sit- 
uated, erected  by  Hiram  Markham,  and 
first  occupied  by  him.  Negley  after- 
wards sold  out  to  William  Aller,  and  the 
business  was  continued  for  a  time  under 
the  firm  name  of  Aller  &  Angle.  Mr. 
Aller  dying,  the  stock  was  disposed  of 
by  his  surviving  partner,  to  James  Cole. 

About  the  same  time,  1856,  Wykoff  & 
Shreeves  opened  a  stoije  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  Elliot  &  Brewster.  They 
came  to  the  city  of  Bushnell  from  Fair- 
view.  Some  time  afterward  Wykoff 
disposed  of  his  interest  in  the  business, 
and  later  moved  to  Iowa.  Mr.  Shreeves 
took  in  a  partner  by  the  name  of  Joseph 
Parks,  and  the  firm  failing  after  a  time, 
he  moved  to  Kansas,  his  present  home. 

From  this  time  forward  the  immigra- 
tion to  this  part  was  quite  large,  and 
followed  one  another  rapidly,  until,  at 
the  close  of  the  year  1856,  when  there 
were  125  buildings  upon  the  town  site, 
including,  residences,  stables,  barns,  etc. 

PRESENT  BUSINESS. 

The  mercantile  establishment  of  S.  A. 
&  J,  W.  Hendee  was  commenced  in 


828 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


April,  1860,  on  the  east  side  of  the  rail- 
road, by  Wilson  &  Co.,  S.  A.  Hendee 
being  the  latter.  In  1861,  the  firm  be- 
came S.  A.  &  C.  A.  Hendee,  but  the  fol- 
lowing year  it  became  Hendee  &  Wilson, 
and  so  remained  until  1865,  when  the 
name  was  changed  to  Hendee  &  Clarke. 
In  the  fall  of  1867,  this  firm  was  dis- 
solved, and  S.  A.  Hendee  operated  it 
singly  until  1872,  when  by  the  admis- 
sion of  J.  L.  Griffiths  and  D.  F.  Chid- 
ester,  the  firm  name  and  style  was 
changed  to  Hendee,  Griffiths  &  Co.  In 
1874,  Griffiths  and  Chidester  retired,  S. 
A.  Hendee  &  Co.,  continuing.  In  1880, 
D.  F.  Chidester  became  a  member  of 
the  firm,  which  was  continued  as  S.  A. 
Hendee  &  Co.  In  1882,  Mr.  Chidester 
retired  from  the  firm,  Mr.  Hendee  con- 
tinuing the  same  under  the  firm  name 
of  S.  A.  Hendee,  until  in  January, 
1885,  when  J.  W.  Hendee  entered  the 
firm,  which  was  then  changed  to  S.  A. 
&  J.  W.  Hendee.  They  carry  a  stock  of 
about  $10,000,  and  are  doing  a  fine 
business. 

S.  A.  Hendee  was  born  in  Windham 
county,  Connecticut,  March  9,  1830,  and 
was  a  son  of  Amasa  Hendee,  who  was  a 
native  of  Vermont.  When  Stephen  was 
nine  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed 
to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
reared.  In  1852,  he  Avent  to  California, 
and,  after  a  stay  of  some  two  years,  went 
to  Central  America,  and  remained  four 
months,  then  returning  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  In  1854,  he  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising at  Marietta,  Illinois,  which 
he  continued  for  two  years.  He  then 
engaged  in  trade  at  Bardolph,  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  remaining  until  1860, 
in  which  year  he  removed  to  Bushnell, 


and  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Wilson  &  Company,  as  above  stated.  In 
addition  to  merchandising,  Mr.  Hendee 
is  interested  in  the  grain  business  with 
D.  F.  Chidister,  they  having  elevators  in 
Bushnell,  Colchester,  Bardolph,  Swan 
Creek,  Youngstown,  Roseville,  Table 
Grove,  Adair  and  Epperson.  On  the 
second  of  November,  1858,  Stephen  A. 
Hendee  and  Sarah  N.  Groenendyke,  a 
native  of  New  Jersey,  were  united  in 
marriage,  and  their  union  has  been 
blessed  with  six  children — Luan  B.,  Ad- 
rienne  G.,  Nathan  B.,  Leo  N.,  Edgar 
and  Fannie.  Mr.  Hendee  has  given  his 
entire  attention  to  his  business  interests. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order, 
and  also  of  the  Knights  of  Honor. 

Joseph  M.  Parks  embarked  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  trade  in  Bushnell,  in 
partnership  with  William  Shreeves,  in 
1864,  under  the  firm  name  of  Shreeves 
&  Parks.  This  continued  until  1867, 
when  they  sold  out  to  James  Ayres.  Mr. 
Parks  entered  their  employ  as  a  clerk, 
and  with  G.  S.  Nevins,  who,  later, 
bought  the  stock,  but  three  months  after 
this  transfer,  Mr.  Parks  bought  the  stock 
and  has,  since  then,  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness. He  carries  a  stock  of  about  $4,000. 

Theodore  F.  Seibert  has  a  store  room 
20x86  feet  in  size,  where  he  carries  about 
$8,000  worth  of  general  merchandise. 
This  store  was  established  in  March, 
1870,  by  Aller,  Seibert  &  Co.,  but  after 
about  two  years,  became  the  property  of 
Mr.  Seibert,  and  has  been  carried  on  by 
him  ever  since. 

John  W.  Haynes,  dealer  in  general 
merchandise,  clerked  for  S.  C.  Haines 
for  a  time,  and  afterwards  had  an  inter- 
est in  that  house.  In  1874,  he  bought 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


829 


out  E.  Chidester,  and  has  continued  to 
carry  on  business  alone  ever  since.  He 
carries  a  stock  of  about  $9,000  worth  of 
goods. 

Samuel  C.  Haines,  dealer  in  dry  goods, 
etc.,  in  the  Opera  House  block,  began 
business  in  August,  1864,  as  the  succes- 
sor of  Wilson  &  Simonson.  He  contin- 
ued in  this  business  until  1876,  when  he 
sold  out  and  entered  into  the  real  estate 
business,  but  in  1881,  bought  out  M.  F. 
Hunt,  and  has  continued  in  this  business 
since. 

Kaiser  &  Brother,  dealers  in  dry  goods, 
carpets,  cloaks,  shoes,  etc.,  are  among 
the  heaviest  dealers  in  the  city.  This 
stand  originated  in  March,  1866,  as  a 
general  store,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
street.  In  the  fall  of  1869,  they  moved 
to  their  present  location,  having  previ- 
ous to  this,  in  January,  admitted  a  part- 
ner in  the  person  of  Stockton  West,  and 
the  firm  name  changed  to  West  & 
Kaiser.  In  1875,  by  the  admission  of 
S.  H.  Greenbaum  and  .Joseph  Katsen- 
stein,  the  firm  changed  to  West,  Kaiser 
&  Co.  While  this  firm  did  business, 
they  occupied  three  stores,  seperating 
the  various  stocks  of  dry  goods,  grocer- 
ies and  clothing.  In  1877,  Messrs.  West 
and  Greenbaum  retired,  and  the  firm 
made  Kaiser  Brothers  &  Co.,  and  so  re- 
mained until  February  16,  1885,  when 
the  firm  dissolved,  Kaiser  Brothers  tak- 
ing the  dry  goods  department,  and  Joseph 
Katsenstein  the  clothing.  Kaiser  Bros., 
carry  a  stock  that  is  valued  at  $15,000, 
and  occupy  both  floors  of  their  store 
building,  which  is  24x65  feet,  and  which 
they  own. 

Louis  Kaiser,  the  senior  member  of 
the  above  mentioned  firm,  is  a  native  of 


Saxony,  Germany,  having  been  born  on 
the  29th  day  of  July,  1842.  He  re- 
mained there  until  he  had  attained  his 
17th  year,  then  emigrated  to  this  country, 
and  located  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  where 
he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  for  two  years. 
In  April,  1861,  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising in  Kirkwood,  Illinois,  which  he 
continued  until  1866,  at  which  time  he 
removed  to  Bushnell  and  established 
himself  in  business,  as  heretofore  men- 
tioned. He  has  taken  a  very  active  part 
in  the  building  up  of  Bushnell,  and  to 
him  is  largely  due  the  success  of  the 
city  high  school.  As  one  instance  of  the 
high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his 
fellow  citizens,  we  will  mention  the  fact 
that  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  mayor 
from  1879  to  1883,  his  election  being  al- 
most unanimous,  each  time  having  a 
larger  majority  than  any  other  man  who 
has  ever  been  elected  to  that  office.  This 
certainly  speaks  volumes  for  Mr.  Kaiser. 
He  takes  a  .leading  interest  in  the 
mechanical  and  agricultural  affairs  of 
the  county,  and  has  served  as  president 
of  the  Bushnell  Mechanical  and  Agricul- 
tural Fair  association.  Louis  Kaiser 
and  Nannie  Simmons  were  united  in 
marriage,  at  Monmouth,  Illinois,  in 
September,  1863.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children — Glady  B.,  Gustavus 
E.  and  Cordia.  Mr.  Kaiser  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  lodges  of  Bush- 
iiell.  He  was  again  elected  as  mayor 
this  spring,  for  the  term  of  two  years. 

Gustavus  A.  Kaiser,  the  junior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm,  is  also  a  native  of  Sax- 
ony, Germany,  and  was  born  July  7, 
1845.  He  received  his  education  in  his 


830 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


native  country,  where  he  remained  until 
his  17th  year,  when  he  emigrated  to 
America.  He  landed  in  New  York  city 
and  made  his  home  there  for  two  years, 
then  going  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  where 
he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  until  1862.  He 
then  went  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  ac- 
cepted a  position  as  bookkeeper  with  a 
wholesale  clothing  firm,  remaining  with 
them  two  years,  and  then  going  to  Kirk- 
wood,  Illinois.  Here  he  remained,  in 
the  capacity  of  a  clerk,  until  the  month 
of  April,  1864,  at  which  time  he  enlisted 
in  company  E,  138th  Illinois  infantry, 
and  served  till  the  November  following, 
when  he  received  an  honorable  dis- 
charge. He  then  returned  to  Kirkwood, 
Illinois,  and  engaged  in  business  with 
his  brother,  which  he  continued  until 
1866,  then  coming  to  Bushnell  and  estab- 
lishing himself  in  business,  as  noted 
above.  Mr.  Kaiser  is  a  member  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
of  Bushnell,  and  is  at  present  the  grand 
senior  warden  of  the  grand  encampment 
of  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  is  also  an 
honored  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and 
the  K.  of  H.  lodges  of  this  city.  He  is 
one  of  Bushnell's  prominent  and  enter- 
prising merchants,  and,  as  a  citizen,  is 
highly  prized  for  his  many  good  quali- 
ties. 

Lemuel  Aller,  dealer  in  dry  goods, 
etc.,  began  business  here  in  1867,  in  con- 
nection with  his  brother,  under  the  firm 
name  of  J.  H.  Aller  &  Co.  In  the  fall 
of  1869,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  and  has  since  carried  it  on 
alone.  He  has  a  stock  of  about  $4,000, 
and  has  a  fair  share  of  trade. 

Melville  M.  Aller,  a  native  of  Bush- 
nell, engaged  in  business  in  this  place  in 


April,  1880,  and  carries  a  stock  of  about 
$5,000  worth  of  dry  goods  and  notions. 

The  firm  of  West  Brothers,  dealers  in 
groceries,  crockery  and  queensware,  was 
composed  of  A.  Appleton  and  L.  and  C. 
West.  They  commenced  this  business 
in  March,  1879.  They  occupied  both 
stores  of  a  building  24x100  feet  in  size, 
in  which  they  carried  about  $6,000  worth 
of  goods.  Their  store  was  the  finest  in 
internal  fitting,  and  they  were  the  heav- 
iest dealers  in  this  line  in  the  city.  On 
the  first  of  March,  1885,  the  firm  dis- 
solved, Lewis  West  continuing  the  busi- 
nes,  however. 

G.  W.  Alexander,  dealer  in  groceries, 
began  business  in  1880,  as  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Logsdon  &  Co.  In  1882,  he 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner. 
He  carries  a  fine  stock,  valued  at 
$3,500. 

Miller  &  Krouser  established  the  first 
store  for  the  sale  of  furniture  about  the 
year  1859,  a  little  east  of  the  Bushnell 
house. 

The  hardware,  stove  and  tinware 
business,  now  conducted  by  the  Hoover 
Brothers,  was  established  in  the  month  of 
August,  1875,  by  Dyer  &  Amos,  who 
continued  the  business  until  1877,  the 
firm  then  becoming  Griffith,  Amos  & 
Co.  In  1879,  M.  L.  Hoover  bought  an 
interest,  the  firm  name  then  being 
changed  to  Griffith,  Amos  &  Hoover.  P. 
C.  Hoover  bought  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Griffith  in  1881,  the  title  of  the  firm  then 
becoming  Hoover,  Amos  &  Hoover, 
which  was  again  changed  in  September, 
1882,  to  Hoover  Brothers.  They  carry  a 
$7,000  stock,  and  are  the  principal  mer- 
chants in  their  lines  in  the  city  of  Bush- 
nell. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


831 


Martin  L.  Hoover,  of  the  above  men- 
tioned firm,  is  a  native  of  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  being  born 
there  on  the  13th  of  August,  1854  In 
1866,  his  parents  removed  to  Bushnell, 
where  they  still  reside.  In  1873,  Luther 
returned  to  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  tin- 
ner's trade,  returning  to  Bushnell  in  the 
fall  of  1875,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1879.  He  then  became  a 
member  of  the  firm,  as  heretofore  stated, 
and,  being  particularly  adapted  to  the 
business,  has  been  very  successful.  He 
is  an  honored  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge,  of  Bushnell. 

His  father,  Joseph  Hoover,  now  liv- 
ing a  retired  life,  was  also  a  native  of 
Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
being  born  November  3,  1813.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  county, 
where  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
until  1866,  at  which  time  he  removed  to 
McDonough  county,  and  located  in 
Bushnell,  still  being  an  honored  citizen 
of  that  city.  He  has  served  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  his  ward  in  the  city  council, 
and  at  present  is  a  member  of  the  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons  lodge  of 
that  city.  He  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  1839,  with  Martha  Cotterman,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  the 
parents  of  seven  children,  named,  re- 
spectively— Amelia,  Benjamin,  Perry 
C.,  Ella,  Joseph,  Angelina,  and  Martin 
Luther.  Mrs.  Joseph  Martin  died 
March  30,  1885.  Mr.  Hoover  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  grocery,  crockery  and  queensware 
business  now  conducted  by  Squire  Logs- 
don  &  Son,  was  established  in  the  year 
1879,  by  the  gentleman  who  is  now  the 


head  of  the  firm.  In  connection  with 
different  parties,  he  has  been  in  the  busi- 
ness ever  since.  In  1882,  his  son  Elmer 
became  associated  with  him  in  the  busi- 
ness. They  carry  a  $6,000  stock  of  goods 
and  have  a  very  large  trade,  which  keeps 
constantly  increasing. 

Squire  Logsdon,  of  the  aforementioned 
firm,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky,  having 
been  born  in  Madison  county,  on  the  5th 
day  of  January,  1838.  When  our  sub- 
ject was  six  years  of  age,  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Brown 
county,  where  he  received  his  education 
and  was  reared  on  a  farm.  He  was  there 
united  in  marriage  with  Mary  A.  Mob- 
ley,  on  the  25th  of  April,  1856.  In  1870, 
Squire  Logsdon  and  family  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  located  near  Prairie  City, 
McDonough  county,  where  he  followed 
agricultural  pursuits  until  1878,  in  which 
year  he  removed  to  Bushnell  and  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  tile  manufacturing 
business.  This  he  continued  for  one 
year,  and  then  engaged  in  the  grocery 
trade,  as  heretofore  mentioned.  Mr. 
Logsdon  is  now  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  Bushnell,  and  has  built  up  a 
reputation  for  fair  and  honorable  deal- 
ing, of  which  he  may  justly  feel  proud. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Or- 
der of  Odd  Fellows,  as  well  as  of  the 
Knights  of  Labor.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Logs- 
don are  the  parents  of  four  children — 
Elmer,  Belle,  Ruth  and  Lulu. 

In  February,  1879,  Alexander  and 
Haines  established  a  furniture  store  in 
Bushnell,  which  they  operated  until  Aug- 
ust, 1883,  when  Mr.  Alexander  disposed 
of  his  interest  to  Mr.  Tainter,  and  the 
firm  of  Haines  &  Tainter  was  formed. 
They  carried  a  large  stock  of  furniture, 


832 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


that  invoiced  about  $5,000,  and  did  a 
large  trade  in  this  line.  They  were,  also, 
the  leaders  in  the  undertaking  line,  in 
this  section  of  the  country.  In  April, 
1885,  the  business  was  disposed  of  to 
Dean,  Fisk  &  Co.,  who  continue  the 
same. 

Oblander  Brothers,  furniture  dealers, 
succeeded  J.  F.  Cowgill,  in  1869,  and 
have  been  in  trade  ever  since.  They 
carry  a  stock  of  about  $5,000. 

In  the  hardware  line,  the  first  institu- 
tion devoted  to  it  exclusively,  was  opened 
by  E.  P.  Kinney  &  Co.,  during  the  year 
1857. 

Elliott  &  Brewster,  in  August,  1884, 
came  from  Ellwood,  Peoria  county,  and 
opened  a  stock  of  about  $8,000  worth  of 
hardware  and  furniture.  The  firm  con- 
sists of  T.  E.  Elliott  &  G.  A.  Brewster. 

The  pioneer  drug  store  of  Bushnell, 
was  opened  by  B.  F.  Pinkley,  in  the  fall 
of  1856,  in  the  building  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  Craig,  as  a  cigar  manufactory.  Prior 
to  this,  drugs  had  been  sold  by  the  gen- 
eral store  of  James  Cole,  but  this  was 
the  first  devoted  to  this  line  exclusively. 

Albert  S.  Clarke  &  Co.,  are  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  drugs.  This  establishment 
was  initiated  in  1857,  by  the  senior  part- 
ner, who  was  a  practicing  physician. 

Among  the  dealers  in  drugs,  paints, 
oils  and  wall  paper  in  Bushnell,  are  the 
firm  of  Zook  &  Johnson,  who  commenced 
business  in  March,  1876,  as  the  succes- 
sors of  J.  B.  Bell.  They  carry  a  stock 
of  about  $4,000,  and  own  the  brick  store 
occupied  by  them,  which  is  20x60  feet 
in  size,  two  stories  high. 

Joseph  Katsensteiii  came  to  Bushnell, 
in  1875,  and  formed  one  of  the  firm  of 
West,  Kaiser  &  Co.,  as  has  been  already 


related.  Jn  February,  1885,  he  dissolved 
connection  with  the  Kaiser's,  and  con- 
tinued the  clothing  department  lately 
carried  on  by  the  late  firm.  He  carries 
about  $15,000  worth  of  goods,  and  does 
a  good  trade. 

The  first  to  engage  in  the  lumber 
trade,  was  Dickhut  &  Meisser,  of  Quincy, 
in  the  early  part  of  1856.  They  carried 
an  immense  stock,  one  of  the  largest 
ever  in  the  county.  They  operated  the 
same  four  or  five  years. 

J.  C.  and  A.  W.  Miner,  who  were 
among  the  early  pioneers  in  the  lumber 
trade  in  this  town,  engaged  in  the  sale 
of  agricultural  implements  and  machin- 
ery, in  April,  1856,  which  they  continued 
until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when 
the  business  was  suspended,  they  both 
entering  the  service.  In  1865,  J.  C. 
Miner,  on  his  return  engaged  in  this 
business  which  he  has  continued  ever 
since.  He  occupies  a  large  brick  build- 
ing erected  by  him  in  1882,  which  is 
50x190  feet  in  size. 

E.  D.  C.  Haines,  dealer  in  lumber, 
lath  and  other  building  material,  began 
this  business  here  in  the  fall  of  1865. 
In  January,  1866,  he  sold  out  his  stock 
of  lumber  and  purchased  an  interest  in 
another  yard,  then  run  by  Alexander  & 
Mills,  when  the  style  of  the  firm  was 
changed  to  Alexander  &  Haines.  It  so 
remained  until  January,  1882,  when  Mr. 
Haines  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  and  has  continued  alone  ever 
since.  He  carries  a  stock  of  about 
$6,000  and  is  the  leading  merchant  in 
this  line.  He  is,  also,  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Haines  and  Tainter. 

E.  D.  C.  Haines,  lumber  merchant, 
and  also  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Haines 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


833 


&  Tainter,  dealers  in  furniture  and  un- 
dertakers goods,  is  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  on 
the  28th  of  January,  1822.  His  parents, 
William  E.,  and  Maria  (Cheyney) 
Haines,  were  also  native  Pennsylvani- 
ans,  the  former  of  Lycoming  county, 
and  the  latter  of  Chester  county. 
Young  Haines  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  where  he  worked 
on  a  farm  during  the  summer  months, 
and  taught  school  through  the  winters, 
until  March,  1851,  at  which  time  he  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  settled  on 
section  17,  Eldorado  township,  where  he 
farmed  until  1864,  then  coming  to  Bush- 
nell  and  engaging  in  the  grocery  trade 
for  one  year.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business,  which  he  has  ever 
since  continued,  now  being  the  leading 
dealer  in  that  line  in  Bushnell.  In  ad- 
dition to  this  business,  in  February, 
1879,  he  established,  in  connection  with 
Mr.  Alexander,  the  furniture  and  under- 
taking house  in  which  he  is  still  inter- 
ested, with  Mr.  Tainter  as  a  partner,  he 
having  bought  out  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Alexander.  During  the  early  period  of 
his  life,  Mr.  Haines  imbibed  those  hab- 
its of  sturdy  industry,  and  inflexible  in- 
tegrity that  have  since  marked  his  busi- 
ness career.  In  addition  to  his  other 
business,  he  is  a  member  of  the  Bush- 
nell Creamery  company,  and  is  the  pos- 
sessor of  160  acres  of  as  fine  land  as 
can  be  found  in  the  county.  He  has 
been  quite  active  in  township  and  city 
affairs,  having  been  a  member  of  the 
city  council  several  terms,  a  supervisor 
of  this  township  one  year,  and  justice  of 
the  peace  of  Eldorado  township  several 
years.  Margaret  Bailey,  a  native  Vir- 


ginian, and  the  daughter  of  E.  Bailey, 
of  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  became  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Haines,  in  June,  1854.  As 
a  result  of  this  union,  they  have  four 
children  living— Ella  E.,  Emma  C.,  Wil- 
liam E.,  and  Winifred  E.  Mr.  Haines 
is  a  member  of  the  Bushnell  lodge  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Brown  &  Son,  began  the  lumber  busi- 
ness here  in  February,  1882,  with  a  new 
stock  of  lumber.  The  firm  is  composed 
of  William  Brown  and  his  son  Oscar. 
They  carry  about  $3,000  worth  of  stock. 

M.  L.  Walker,  the  leading  jeweler  of 
the  town,  began  business  here  in  1872, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  business  interests  of  the  town. 
He  occupies  part  of  the  room  with  W.  J. 
Frisbie,  druggist,  and  carries  about  $3,- 
500  worth  of  stock. 

Rogers  Brothers,  dealers  in  musical  in- 
struments, sewing  machines,  sheet  music 
etc.  This  firm  succeeded  J.  S.  Perrine 
&  Co.,  which  was  one  of  Bushn ell's  old 
business  firms.  In  November,  1883,  J. 
S.  Rogers  became  a  member  of  that  firm, 
and  January  1, 1885,  A.  B.  Rogers  bought 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Perrine,  the  firm 
name  then  being  changed  to  Rogers 
Brothers.  They  occupy  a  store  room  one 
door  east  of  the  postoifice,  and  are  the 
most  extensive  dealers  in  their  lines  in 
the  county,  carrying  a  stock  valued  at 
over  $2,500.  The  store  room  in  which 
they  carry  on  their  business  is  24x60  feet 
in  dimensions. 

John  S.  Rogers,  the  senior  member  of 
this  firm,  is  a  native  of  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  having  been  born  there  on  the  18th 
day  of  December,  1853.  He  received  his 
education  and  was  reared  in  his  native 
county,  where,  after  reaching  a  suitable 


834 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


age,  he  engaged  in  farming,  which  he 
followed  until  attaining  his  majority,  and 
then  entered  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk,  at 
Smyrna,  Ohio.  In  1878,  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  located  at  Adair, 
where  he  remained  until  1880,  then  go- 
ing to  Bardolph,  where  he  worked  at  the 
potter's  trade.  In  September,  1882,  he 
engaged  with  Perrine  &  Co.,  as  a  clerk, 
and  later  became  a  member  of  the  firm, 
as  heretofore  noted.  On  the  16th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1878,  John  S.  Rogers  and  Luella 
W.  Phipps,  a  native  of  Ohio,  were  united 
in  marriage.  As  a  result  of  their  union, 
they  are  now  the  parents  of  two  children 
— Horace  B.  and  Gladys  Fern.  Mrs. 
Rogers  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  while  Mr.  R.  is 
claimed  as  an  honored  member  of  the 
Bardolph  lodge  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

A.  B.  Rogers,  the  junior  member  of  the 
firm  of  Rogers  Brothers,  was  born  on  the 
23d  of  April,  1856,  in  Harrison  county, 
Ohio.  He  became  a  resident  of  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1875,  and  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  January  1,  1885, 
at  which  time  he  became  a  member  of 
the  present  firm.  A.  B.  Rogers  and  Anna 
Ritter,  a  native  of  McDonough  county, 
and  a  daughter  of  William  Ritter,  were 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
on  the  20th  day  of  February,  1879.  They 
are  now  the  parents  of  two  children — 
William  R.  and  Clyde  E.  The  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  claim  him  as 
an  honored  member.  The  Rogers  Bros, 
are  among  the  leading  business  men  of 
Bushnell,  and,  as  citizens,  are  highly  re- 
spected. 

J.  M.  Campbell,  the  veteran  pioneer 
of  the  county,  is  the  proprietor  of  the 
fancy  goods,  book,  stationery  and  notion 


store.  It  is  operated  principally  by  his 
sons,  Mr.  Campbell  having,  to  a  great 
extent,  retired  from  active  life.  The 
stock  is  full  and  complete,  much  too 
large  for  the  town,  and  they  do  a  good 
business. 

Nessel  &  Klein,  who  are  engaged  in 
carrying  on  a  meat  market,  are  the  suc- 
cessors of  Nessel  Brothers,  who  estab- 
lished the  business  in  1869.  These  par- 
ties ran  it  until  November  22d,  1882, 
when  Mr.  Klein  became  a  member  of  the 
firm.  The  building  they  occupy,  and 
their  slaughter  house  are  both  owned  by 
Conrad  Nessel. 

Conrad  Nessel,  of  the  above  mentioned 
firm,  is  a  native  of  Bavaria,  Germany, 
and  was  born  on  the  5th  of  February, 
1845.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  country,  where  he  also  learned 
the  shoemaking  trade.  In  1866,  he  came 
to  America,  located  at  Galesburg,  Illi- 
nois, and  worked  at  his  trade.  In  July, 
1868,  he  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  at  Bushnell,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  until  1869,  then  engaging  in 
the  butcher  business.  Starting  in  a  small 
way,  he  built  up  a  large  trade,  and  has 
been  eminently  successful.  With  a  lim- 
ited education,  and  relying  on  his  own 
resources  as  he  did,  he  certainly  is  wor- 
thy of  much  praise  for  his  rapid  advance- 
ment. On  the  third  of  June,  1868,  Con- 
rad Nessel  and  Anna  B.  Kline,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Kline,  were  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony.  Their  union 
has  been  blessed  with  three  children — 
Frank  C.,  Katie  E.  and  Anna  M.  Mrs. 
Nessel' s  father  is  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  McDonough  county.  Mr.  Nessel 
is  a  member  of  the  German  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  as  is  he  also  of  the  I. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


835 


O.  O.  F.  and  A.  O.  U.  W.  lodges,  of  Bush- 
nell. 

Peter  Klein,  of  the  firm  of  Nessel  & 
Klein,  of  Bushnell,  is  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, and  was  born  May  6,  1843.  His 
father,  Clemens  Klein,  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Bushnell,  and  was  born 
in  Germany,  May  7,  1800.  He  came  to 
America  in  November,  1853,  and  located 
at  Pomeroy,  Ohio,  from  whence  he  re- 
moved to  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  1854,  and, 
from  there  to  Bushnell,  in  the  winter  of 
1855.  He  was  a  tailor  by  trade,  which 
occupation  he  followed  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death,  which  occurred  January  2, 
1869.  He  was  married  in  Germany  to 
Catherine  Roeser,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children,  Peter  being  the  only  son.  Mrs. 
Klein  was  born  in  Germany  on  the  14th 
of  March,  1818,  and  is  at  present,  a  resi- 
dent of  Bushnell,  being  in  her  67th  year. 
Peter  Klein  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
received  his  education  in  this  county.  In 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  F,  43d  Illi- 
nois infantry.  He  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant,  and  served  in  the  15th 
army  corps  under  General  Steele,  until 
September,  1865,  when  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  After  his  discharge,  he  re- 
turned to  Bushnell,  and  engaged  as  a  rail- 
road laborer,  but  gradually  worked  him- 
self up  until  he  was  made  roadmaster  of 
the  St.  Louis  division  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad.  He  re- 
tained his  position  until  November,  1882, 
when  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Nessel  &  Klein.  On  the  23d  of  March, 
1868,  Peter  Klein  and  Maria  Slock,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  were  united  in 
marriage.  They  are  now  the  parents  of 
three  children — George  C.,  Edward  and 
Katie.  Mr.  K.  is  a  member  of  the  Ger- 


man Methodist  Episcopal  church,  as  is 
he  also  of  the  Knights  of  Honor,  Knights 
of  Labor,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  the  G.  A.  E. 

Among  the  grain  dealers  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  probably  the  heaviest  are 
S.  A.  Hendee  &  Co.  In  1861,  Stephen 
A.  Hendee  embarked  in  this  line  of  busi- 
ness, and  continued  it  until  1865.  In 
1869,  he  again  engaged  in  it,  and  in  1880, 
when  the  present  firm  was  formed  by 
the  admission  of  D.  F.  Chidester,  the 
elevator  at  this  place  was  built  by  them. 
This  edifice,  which  is  strongly  and  com- 
pactly built,  is  42x66  feet  upon  the 
ground,  and  has  a  capacity  of  27,000 
bushels.  Besides  this  building,  they  own 
elevators  and  do  grain  business  at  Col- 
chester, Bardolph,  Swan  Creek,  Youngs- 
town,  Eoseville,  Orion,  Table  Grove, 
Adair  and  Epperson.  They  do  an  im- 
mense business,  using  a  capital  of  over 
$40,000  in  their  operations. 

Among  the  prominent  dealers  in  grain 
at  this  point,  is  Stockton  West,  who  com- 
menced this  business  in  1859,  in  connec- 
tion with  James  Cole,  as  partner,  and 
has  followed  that  line,  both  with  him  and 
other  partners,  and  alone  ever  since.  He 
has  been,  also,  identified  with  several 
mercantile  firms  in  the  town,  as  is  noted 
in  the  histories  of  the  different  firms,  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
the  town,  both  enterprising  and  public 
spirited,  and  hence  nearly  always  suc- 
cessful. 

Among  the  leading  business  men  of 
Bushnell, we  will  mention  Stockton  West, 
previously  a  dealer  in  grain  and  mer- 
chandise, but  now  dealing  in  grain,  wood 
and  coal,  the  second  son  of  seven  in  suc- 
cession, of  Charles  and  Eebecca  ( Sparks ) 
West.  He  was  born  in  Hunterdon 


836 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


county,  New  Jersey,  on  the  26th  day  of 
July,  1817.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  and  his  mother  of  Mary- 
land. When  Stockton  was  nearly  three 
years  of  age,  his  parents  emigrated  to 
Dayton,  Ohio,  thus  becoming  an  early 
settler  of  that  section,  but  soon  moved 
again  to  Hamilton  county,  about  nine 
miles  north  of  Cincinnati,  where  he  was 
reared  to  manhood.  At  that  time  land 
could  be  bought  at  from  five  to  nine  dol- 
lars per  acre.  His  father  bought  80 
acres.  Some  few  acres  were  cleared,  and 
some  that  was  called  "deadening,"  on 
which  were  cabins  or  buildings,  for  the 
stable  and  house.  The  house  was  built 
of  logs,  much  too  long  for  its  size,  some 
of  the  logs  extending  some  three  to  four 
feet  beyond  the  corners.  The  inner  fin- 
ish was  a  puncheon  floor,  there  being  no 
saw  mills  in  the  country.  The  outside 
was  ornamented  with  a  horrible  mud  and 
stick  chimney.  But  Mr.  West's  father 
was,  no  doubt,  proud  of  his  new  home. 
His  first  ownership  of  land,  inspired 
with  hope  and  ambition,  enabled  him  to 
add  more  acres,  and  build  brick  build- 
ings in  place  of  the  primitive  logs.  He 
lived  to  his  83d  year.  It  was  at  this 
early  home  that  Stockton  made  his  first 
effort  to  help  his  father  in  his  agricul- 
tural pursuits,  consisting,  chiefly,  of 
clearing  new  land,  and  holding  the  plow 
among  roots  and  stumps,  But  Mr. 
'West's  father  added  coopering  to  his 
business,  and  Stockton  become  a  me- 
chanic. He  manufactured  a  great  deal 
of  the  good  timber,  in  which  that  county 
abounded,  into  vessels,  to  contribute  to 
the  Cincinnati  pork  business,  then  the 
largest  in  the  world.  In  1853,  Mr.  West 
moved  to  Dayton,  and  engaged  exten- 


sively in  the  coopering  business,  in  con- 
nection with  merchandising,  which  he 
continued  for  over  two  years,  then  came 
to  Bushnell,  in  1856,  engaging  in  busi- 
ness, as  heretofore  mentioned.  Mr. 
West  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every- 
thing tending  to  the  advancement  of 
BushneH's  interests.  He  has  been 
chosen  three  times  to  fill  the  office  of 
mayor.  In  discharge  of  the  important 
duties  connected  with  that  office,  he  gave 
entire  satisfaction  to  the  members  of 
both  political  parties.  Mr.  West  was 
united  in  marriage  May  12,  1843,  with 
Catherine  Bevis,  a  native  of  Ohio.  She 
died  in  June,  1849,  in  the  26th  year  of 
her  age,  leaving  four  children — Harriet, 
Alice,  Martin,  and  Catherine.  In 
March,  1850,  Mrs.  Mary  Applegate,  nee 
Stout,  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  West.  As 
the  result  of  this  union,  they  are  the 
parents  of  four  children — Lewis,  Thomas, 
Charles,  and  George.  Mrs.  West,  by  a 
former  marriage,  had  two  sons — Ira  and 
Albert  Applegate.  Mr.  West's  life  has 
been  marked  by  a  restless  activity,  and 
an  energetic  and  enthusiastic  devotion  to 
whatever  he  has  become  interested  in, 
and  can  look  over  his  past  life  without 
any  regrets  of  bad  conduct. 

The  livery  stable  operated  by  John 
Roach  is  located  on  the  corner  of  West 
Main  and  First  streets.  The  main  build- 
ing is  45x80  feet  in  size,  with  a  shed 
15x80  feet,  in  addition.  It  will  accom- 
modate 65  head  of  horses.  Mr.  Boach 
makes  a  specialty  of  buying  and  selling 
this  kind  of  stock,  shipping  large  num- 
bers, besides  managing  the  livery.  The 
barn  was  erected  in  1885. 

John  Roach,  the  accommodating  and 
popular  livery  man  of  Bushnell,  has 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


837 


been  carrying  on  his  present  business  in 
that  city  about  10  years.  He  came  to 
the  county  from  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  born  on  the  29th  of  De- 
cember, 1844,  and  was  engaged  in  farm- 
ing up  to  the  time  of  his  removing  to 
Bushnell.  He  has  been  very  successful 
in  business,  and  now  has  one  of  the  best 
livery  barns  in  the  county.  His  animals 
and  rigs  are  always  in  good  condition, 
and  he  takes  especial  pains  to  please  his 
patrons,  and  is  very  accommodating. 
John  Roach  and  Elizabeth  Cunningham 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony in  1869.  Their  union  has  been 
blessed  by  three  children,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living  at  home  with  their  par- 
ents. They  are  named,  respectively — 
William  T.,  Cornelius  A.,  and  John  L. 

J.  M.  Varner  &  Son  are  engaged  in 
keeping  a  fine  lunch  room,  which  they 
started  in  February,  1882.  In  March, 
1885,  they  suffered  severely  by  fire,  but 
their  loss  was  largely  covered  by  insur- 
ance. 

John  J.  Varner,  the  junior  and  active 
member  of  the  firm  of  J.  M.  Varner  & 
Son,  was  born  in  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania, on  the  9th  of  June,  1854.  His  fa- 
ther, John  M.,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, being  born  in  March,  1817.  The 
family  removed  to  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1857,  and  in  1867,  came  to  Bush- 
nell, McDonough  county,  where  the  fa- 
ther engaged  in  the  restaurant  business. 
John  learned  the  foundry  trade  in  this 
city,  and  continued  at  the  same  until 
going  into  partnership  with  his  father 
in  the  depot  lunch  room.  They  have 
been  very  successful  in  their  enterprise, 
and  are  doing  on  an  average,  a  business 
amounting  to  at  least  $7,000  per  annum. 


On  the  7th  of  September,  1879,  John  J. 
Varner,  and  Sophia  Pettingill,  a  native 
of  the  state  of  Maine,  were  united  in 
marriage.  As  a  result  of  this  union, 
they  are  now  the  parents  of  three  child- 
ren, who  are  named,  respectively — Chas., 
Clyde,  and  Boy.  Mrs.  Varner  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  church  of  Bushnell, 
while  Mr.  V.,  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 
and  A.  M.,  being  at  present  one  of 
the  officers  of  the  Bushnell  lodge. 

Henry  D.  Spaulding  opened  the  Opera 
House  restaurant  on  the  10th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1883,  and  has  one  of  the  finest  fit- 
ted up  places  in  this  part  of  the  county. 

James  Cole,  .one  of  the  representatives 
of  the  banking  business,  established  this 
in  connection  with  his  general  merchan- 
dise trade  in  1878,  and  has  continued  it 
ever  since.  He  recently  closed  out  his 
stock  in  trade,  that  he  might  enter  into 
this  line  without  being  hampered  with 
the  other  business,  and  which  adds  to 
the  amount  of  capital  at  his  disposal. 

Ball  and  Sons'  carriage  and  wagon 
manufactory,  is  one  of  the  industrial  in- 
stitutions of  Bushnell.  In  the  month  of 
April,  1861,  Ira  D.  Ball  established  a 
wagon  shop  at  Bushnell,  and  his  busi- 
ness kept  constantly  increasing  and  fin- 
ally drifted  into  its  present  large  pro- 
portions. Mr.  Ball  has  taken  his  four 
sons  into  partnership;  and  they  carry 
quite  a  large  stock  of  carriages  and  wag- 
gons, and  have  a  very  extensive  trade. 
They  manufacture  on  an  average  of  100 
buggies  per  year,  and  employ  12  hands 
during  the  busy  season.  They  are  the 
owners  of  the  property  where  they  carry 
on  their  business,  and  have  two  reposito- 
ries, each  28x48  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
and  two  stories  high.  In  the  back  part 


838 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


of  each  of  their  repositories,  there  is  a 
blacksmith  and  wagon  shop.  They  have 
invested  in  this  business  some  $12,000. 

It  is  not  the  province  of  the  biographer 
to  indulge  in  fulsome  eulogy,  but  to  pre- 
sent in  faithful  outline  the  history  and 
character  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
With  this  fact  in  view  we  may  simply 
say  that  wherever  true  greatness  is  meas- 
ured by  the  benefits  conferred  by  indi- 
viduals of  the  human  race,  the  name  of 
Ira  D.  Ball  will  be  awarded  a  place 
among  the  prominent  men  of  McDon- 
ough  county.  He  is  a  native  of  Newark, 
New  Jersey,  and  was  born  March  4, 
1818.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  state,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  millright.  At  the  age  of  19 
years,  he  went  to  Newark,  Ohio,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  for  10  years,  then 
going  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  here  he 
remained  for  four  and  a  half  years.  His 
next  location  was  Hannibal,  Missouri, 
where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Snyner,  Ball  &  Co., 
which  partnership  continued  for  four 
years.  The  three  succeeding  years  he 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Fast  & 
Ball,  of  Canton,  Illinois.  In  1861,  he 
removed  to  Bushnell,  and  engaged  in 
business  as  before  mentioned.  In  the 
month  of  September,  1844,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Anna  Dean,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  are  now 
the  parents  of  nine  children — Mary  and 
Miriam,  twins,  Julia,  George,  Manford, 
Lydia,  Carrie,  Frank  and  James.  The 
four  boys  are  now  engaged  in  business 
with  their  father. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  insti- 
tuted by  Augustus  Downey,  in  1856.  He 
is  still  a  resident  of  Bushnell,  but  not 


actively  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
trade. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Clemens  also 
engaged  in  the  trade  about  the  same 
time,  but  did  not  remain  long. 

John  Leib,  dealer  in  harness,  saddles, 
whips,  carriages,  buggies,  etc.,  is  the 
leader  in  his  line  in  Bushnell.  The  har- 
ness department  was  established  by 
George  Duncan,  and  in  January,  1874, 
Mr.  Leib  became  a  partner  in  the  busi- 
ness, which  partnership  continued  until 
the  following  October,  when  Mr.  Leib 
became  the  sole  proprietor.  He  contin- 
ued the  harness  business  until  1880, 
then  adding  a  line  of  carriages,  buggies, 
etc.  He  carries  a  $4,500  stock,  and  does 
a  very  extensive  business,  owning  the 
building  in  which  he  conducts  his  enter- 
prise. The  building  is  two  stories  in 
height,  and  is  26x60  feet  in  dimensions. 
He  occupies  the  upper  floor. 

Mr.  Leib  is  a  native  of  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  November 
1,  1848.  He  was  reared  and  educated  in 
his  native  county,  where  he  learned  the 
trade  of  a  harness  maker,  following  the 
same  there  until  1869,  in  which  year  he 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  located  at  Bushnell.  He  accepted  a 
situation  with  Mr.  Duncan,  and  contin- 
ued working  for  him  until  January, 
1874,  then  buying  an  interest  in  the  bus- 
iness, of  which  he  is  now  the  sole  pro- 
prietor. John  Leib  and  Addie  Hay,  a 
native  of  this  state,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage in  the  month  of  December,  1876. 
As  a  result  of  this  union,  they  are  now 
the  parents  of  two  children — Flora  and 
Ella.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leib  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
Mr.  Leib  is  also  a  member  of  the  A.  F. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


839 


&  A.  M.,  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both 
subordinate  and  encampment. 

James  Cole  purchased  the  first  load  of 
grain  ever  brought  to  this  market  to 
sell.  It  was  wheat,  and  brought  here  by 
John  C.  Koss,  who  resided  near  Ver- 
mont. Mr.  Cole  was  also  the  first  to 
buy  cattle  and  hogs  at  this  point. 

E.  H.  Fehr  leads  the  business  as  an 
artistic  sign  painter.  He  also  makes 
kalsomining  and  graining  a  specialty. 
He  commenced  operations  in  Rushnell, 
in  1877,  and  has  won  the  confidence  of 
those  requiring  this  class  of  work  done. 

Among  the  many  enterprises  that  have 
made  Bushnell  quite  famous  throughout 
this  section  of  the  state  is  the  Agricul- 
tural and  Mechanical  association  fairs, 
which  are  held  here  each  year.  A  full 
account  of  this  society  and  the  various 
fairs  has  been  given  in  chapter  XVI,  to 
which  the  reader  is  referred. 

HOTELS. 

The  first  hotel  building  in  Bushnell 
was  commenced  in  1855,  by  John  Craw- 
ford, but  before  its  completion,  it  was 
purchased  by  John  D.  Hail,  who  at  once 
finished  it,  and  opened  it  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  public. 

The  leading  hotel  in  the  town,  if  not 
in  this  portion  of  the  state,  is  the  Hendee 
house.  This  edifice  was  erected  in  the 
summer  of  1871,  by  S.  A.  Hendee,  after 
whom  it  is  named.  When  it  was  finished, 
it  was  opened  by  J.  S.  Clarke  &  Son,  by 
whom  it  was  run  for  about  two  years. 
After  this  it  passed  through  several 
hands,  but  it  is  now  kept  by  Boyington 
&  Son,  who  evidently  know  "how  to  keep 
a  hotel,"  as  their  house  is  well  known  to 
be  the  best  on  this  line  of  road  from 


Galesburg  to  Quincy.  Mr.  Boyington, 
being  an  old  commercial  traveler,  knows 
just  the  wants  of  that  class  of  trade,  and 
supplies  them. 

The  Bushnell  house  is  another  of  the 
prominent  hotels. 

S.  S.  Bradfield,  landlord  of  the  Bush- 
nell house,  at  Bushnell,  Illinois,  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, February  17,  1828.  He  lived  with 
his  parents  until  he  reached  his  21st 
year.  He  was  then  married  to  Nancy 
Gardner,  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Ohio,  born  October  25, 1827.  After  mar- 
riage he  engaged  in  farming  which  occu- 
pation he  followed  three  years,  then  re- 
moved to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  resided  15  years  upon  a  farm  which 
he  purchased  and  improved.  He  next 
removed  to  Avon,  Fulton  county,  and 
there  kept  hotel  and  livery  stable,  four 
years  after  which  he  came  to  Bushnell, y 
McDonough  county,  and  bought  the 
hotel  property  known  as  the  Bushnell 
house  which  he  has  since  owned  and 
kept.  His  house  is  well  and  neatly  kept 
and  a  favorite  stopping  place  for  the 
traveling  public.  Mr.  Bradfield  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
politically,  a  republican.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bradfield  have  had  eight  children  born 
to  them — Zachariah  T.,  married  to  Alice 
Sebra,  James  A.,  married  first  to  Ella 
Cole,  but  now  living  with  a  second  wife; 
Esthmareld,  wife  of  Hiram  Hunter,  of 
Table  Grove,  Illinois;  Sarah  S.,  wife  of 
K.  S.  Harris,  of  Chicago;  Margaret, 
Enala,  wife  of  O.  K.  Deliker  of  Omaha, 
Nebraska;  Mary  Ella,  wife  of  Charles 
West,  of  Bushnell;  William  W.  and 
Charles  L.,  living  at  home  with  then- 
parents. 


840 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


MILL. 

The  Excelsior  steam  flouring  mill  was 
erected  by  Nevious  Bros,  in  1866,  and  it 
was  run  by  them,  and  by  G.  A.  Nevious, 
until  July,  1881,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Chandler  &  Co.  These  latter 
parties  operated  it  until  the  fall  of  1884, 
when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  re- 
ceiver, being  involved  in  the  failure  of 
the  Farmers  National  bank,  of  which 
Chandler  &  Co.  were  the  managers.  The 
building  is  36x56  feet  in  ground  area, 
and  36  feet  high,  with  the  addition  of  a 
capacious  boiler  and  engine  room.  It  is 
fitted  up  in  a  most  complete  manner 
with  first  class  machinery  and  is  a  fine 
piece  of  property,  valued  at  about  $14,000. 
At  the  time  of  the  trouble  it  was  doing 
a  good  business,  but  now  is  doing  little, 
if  anything. 

EOSEVILLE  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY. 

The  establishment  now  owned  by  the 
cdmpany  with  the  above  name,  was  in- 
stituted by  Pierpont  and  Tuttle,  who  put 
in  the  plant  during  the  winter  of  1873, 
and  the  spring  of  1874.  They  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  plows  until  June, 
1882,  when  the  present  company  became 
the  owners,  and  have  continued  the  same 
line  of  manufacture.  The  building  is  a 
two-story  brick  one,  75x100  feet  in  ground 
area,  with  the  addition  of  a  foundry 
30x60  feet  in  size,  besides  warehouses 
and  lumber  sheds.  The  company  have, 
here,  some  five  acres  of  ground,  and  have 
a  capital  stock  of  $40,000.  The  officers 
are  the  following  named:  Eli  Dixson, 
president;  Eli  B.  Dixson,  secretary  and 
manager;  Eli  Dixson,  Eli  B.  Dixson,  A. 
C.  Slens,  W.  H.  Lee,  G.  W.  Malcolm 
and  Seth  F.  Pratt,  directors. 


Eli  B.  Dixson,  the  manager  of  the 
Roseville  Manufacturing  company  of 
Bushnell,  is  a  native  of  Greene  county, 
Indiana,  and  was  born  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1851.  When  Eli  was  three 
years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to 
Warren  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
reared  and  educated.  From  1868  to 
1873,  he  attended  the  Hedding  college, 
at  Abingdon,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated.  He  then  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  from  1875  to  1878,  was  doing  a 
manufacturing  business  at  Koseville, 
Illinois.  From  there  he  went  to  Mays- 
ville,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising, which  he  continued  until  1881; 
then  returning  to  Roseville,  Illinois,  and 
again  becoming  connected  with  the  man- 
ufacturing business.  In  1882  the  com- 
pany, of  which  Mr.  Dixson  is  a  member, 
bought  the  plant,  and  removed  it  to 
Bushnell,  where  now  it  is  one  of  the 
popular  institutions  of  that  city.  Besides 
being  the  manager  of  the  company,  Eli 
B.  is  also  one  of  the  directors,  as  well  as 
secretary.  Although  a  resident  of  Bush- 
nell but  a  comparatively  short  time,  he 
is  already  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  that  city.  He 
is  one  of  the  present  city  councilmen, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen  lodge,  of  Bush- 
nell. On  the  24th  of  September,  1873, 
Eli  B.  Dixson  and  Laura  Doane  were 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony, 
and  as  a  result  of  their  union,  they  are 
now  the  parents  of  three  children — Ma- 
bel, Earl  S.,  and  Ethel. 

TILE  WORKS. 

In  1878  a  company,  styling  itself 
Cleveland,  Morton  &  Company,  started 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


841 


the  Bushnell  tile  works.  They  soon 
took  in  Mr.  Logsdon,  and  the  firm  name 
was  changed  to  Cleveland,  Morton, 
Logsdon  &  Company.  In  1880  the  con- 
cern was  incorporated  and  was  known  as 
the  Bushnell  fire  clay,  tile  and  brick 
works,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $12,000. 
The  first  officers  chosen  were  —  J.  E. 
Chandler,  president;  T.  B.  Morton,  sec- 
retary and  vice-president.  The  present 
officers  are — T.  B.  Morton,  president; 
C.  C.  Cummings,  secretary;  and  J.  B. 
Cummings,  treasurer.  The  dimensions 
of  dry  rooms  are  36x128,  two  stories  in 
height,  with  a  factory  adjoining,  30x40. 
Drain  tile  is  the  principal  feature. 

BUSHNELL  PUMP  COMPANY. 

The  works  operated  by  the  above  com- 
pany were  established  in  Bushnell 
in  1872,  by  the  firm  of  Nelson, 
LaTourette  &  Company.  It  was  run  by 
them  for  a  number  of  years,  when  it  was 
changed  to  a  joint  stock  company,  under 
the  above  name,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$40,000.  They  occupy  a  large  frame  build- 
ing opposite  the  site  of  the  old  Wabash 
depot,  and  manufacture  wooden  pumps, 
wind-mills,  croquet  sets,  ornamental 
stands  and  various  other  pieces  of  furni- 
ture. The  officers  of  the  company  are — 
James  LaTourette,  president;  and  R.  W. 
Wheeler,  secretary,  treasurer  and  super- 
intendent of  the  works. 

A  history  of  the  late  Farmers'  National 
bank  of  Bushell  is  given  in  the  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  J.  B.  Cummings, 
which  here  follows: 

Prominent  among  McDonough  coun- 
ty's citizens  is  John  B.  Cummings,  who 
settled  at  Macomb  in  the  fall  of  1851, 
coming  from  Lawrence  county,  Penn- 


sylvania. He  is  a  native  of  Maryland, 
having  been  born  there  on  the  17th  of 
January,  1824.  His  father  died  in  that 
state,  and  subsequently,  when  John  B. 
was  12  years  of  age,  his  mother  removed 
with  her  family  to  Ohio,  and,  three  years 
later  to  Pennsylvania,  where  our  subject 
was  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  Centreville, 
Butler  county,  the  family  residing  on  a 
farm.  Eleven  years  later,  Mr.  Cum- 
mings removed  to  Illinois,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1851,  came  to  the  county  as  here- 
tofore mentioned.  On  the  3d  of  March, 
1847,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Evaline  W.  Pearson,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. By  that  union  there  were  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living- 
Clarence  B.,  born  December  27,  1847, 
now  engaged  as  bookkeeper  and  dealer 
in  real  estate,  in  Bio  Grande  county, 
Colorado;  Leonidas  B.,  who  married 
Georgie  Westgate  of  Quincy,  and  now 
resides  at  Bushnell;  James  E.,  who  mar- 
ried Matilda  J.  Perrine,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Bushnell,  where  he  conducts 
a  job  printing  office;  Charles  C.,  who 
resides  at  home,  and  is  a  stockholder 
and  book-keeper  for  the  Bushnell  fire 
clay,  tile  and  brick  works;  Eva,  the 
wife  of  C.  W.  Dickerson,  of  Chicago,  at 
present  cashier  for  Lord,  Owens  & 
Company,  wholesale  druggists;  Minnie, 
the  sixth  child,  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Cummings  departed  this  life  on  the  16th 
of  November,  1862.  Mr.  Cummings 
was  again  married  April  19,  1864,  to 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Parkinson,  nee  Chambers, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  who  was  born 
near  Lexington.  Her  parents  removed 
to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1844.  By  her  first  marriage  Mrs. 
Cummings  was  the  mother  of  two  chil- 


842 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


dren,  now  deceased  —  Charles  Henry 
and  Ann  Elizabeth.  Her  father,  William 
Chambers,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Macomb,  and  a  sketch  of  whom  will 
be  found  elsewere  in  this  volume.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cummings  are  the  parents  of 
one  child — William  C.,  who  was  born  on 
the  16th  of  January,  1865,  and  resides  at 
home.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1865,  Mr. 
C.  removed  to  Bushnell,  bought  resi- 
dence property,  and  engaged  in  the  pri- 
vate banking  business  with  Charles 
Chandler,  they  doing  business  under  the 
firm  name  of  Chandler  &  Cummings. 
They  continued  this  business  until  1871, 
and  then  organized  as  the  Farmers'  Na- 
tional bank,  with  Charles  Wilson  as 
president;  and  Mr.  Cummings  as  cash- 
ier. Mr.  Wilson  died  in  March,  1884, 
and  J.  E.  Chandler  succeeded  him  as 
president.  Mr.  Cummings  continued  in 
this  business  until  the  present  year, 
when  the  bank  was  closed.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and  Accep- 
ted Masons,  as  well  as  of  the  Independ- 
ent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

OPERA   HOUSE. 

The  edifice  known  as  Randall's  opera 
house  was  erected  in  1883,  by  E.  S.  Ean- 
dall,  S.  Houghton  and  H.  L.  Ean- 
dall.  It  was  commenced  in  June  and 
finished  January  1,  1884.  It  is  one  of 
the. finest  and  most  complete  halls  of 
amusement  in  this  part  of  the  state.  It 
is  60x90  feet  in  ground  area,  and  60  feet 
high.  Two  store  rooms  are  on  the 
ground  floor  while  the  opera  house 
proper  occupies  the  second  story.  The 
stage  is  25x60  feet  in  dimension  and  is 
handsomely  fitted  up  with  drop  curtain, 
scenery,  stage-fitting,  and  all  other  ac- 


cessories of  a  well  kept  theatre.  The 
building  is  valued  at  $22,000.  The  audi- 
torium is  fitted  with  opera  chairs  and 
everything  is  arranged  for  the  comfort 
of  the  patrons. 

BUSHNELL  CREAMERY. 

In  the  spring  of  1884,  a  company  was 
incorporated,  under  the  state  law,  which 
is  known  far  and  wide  as  the  Bushnell 
creamery  association.  It  commenced 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $10,000,  and  with 
the  following  officers:  J.  E.  Chandler, 
president  and  treasurer,  and  H.  T. 
Clark,  secretary.  They  at  once  invested 
some  $5,000  in  buildings  and  the  neces- 
sary machinery,  the  latter  of  which  is 
of  the  most  improved  character.  It  is 
situated  just  north  of  the  town,  and  will 
prove  one  of  the  leading  industries  of 
this  place.  It  has  a  capacity  of  turning 
out  some  2,500  pounds  of  butter  per 
day,  and  from  May  to  December,  1884, 
the  actual  output  was  80,000  pounds, 
most  of  which  was  exported,  the  balance 
sold  in  the  east.  They  paid  out  last 
year,  to  the  farmers  for  cream,  over 
$15,000. 

Henry  T.  Clark  came  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  in  1857,  from  New  York 
city.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
having  been  born  in  that  state  on  the 
7th  day  of  May,  1836.  He  was  brought 
up  to  mercantile  pursuits  in  a  small 
town  in  his  native  state,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1857,  at  which  time  he  went 
to  New  York  city.  Shortly  afterwards 
he  came  to  this  county  and  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits,  as  did  he  also  in 
the  dry  goods  business.  He  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 
raising,  having  since  disposed  of  his  in- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


845 


terest  in  the  dry  goods  store.  He  is 
now  the  possessor  of  400  acres  of  good 
land,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of 
20  acres,  is  located  in  Fulton  county.  In 
addition  to  farming  and  stock-raising, 
he  is  also  interested  in  the  Bushnell 
creamery.  During  the  year  1879,  Henry 
T.  Clark  and  Susan  Livingston,  a  native 
of  New  York  state,  and  who  was  brought 
up  on  the  Hudson,  were  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony.  By  this 
union  three  children  have  been  born  to 
them,  two  of  whom  are  living — B.  G.  and 
Sallie,  now  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Lyons,  of 
Bushnell.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  very,  valuable 
citizen  and  is  highly  prized  by  all  who 
know  him,  for  his  many  good  qualities. 
He  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  bids 
fair  to  enjoy  many  more  years  of  useful- 
ness. 

CEMETERY. 

Bushnell  cemetery  was  laid  off  May 
12,  1863,  by  J.  T.  Sanders,  A.  S.  Clarke, 
Stockton  "West,  William  Shreeves  and 
E.  P.  Livingston,  trustees.  The  land 
which  it  occupied,  six  acres  in  extent, 
was  purchased  of  Joseph  McConnell, 
the  consideration  paid  being  $360,  or 
$60  per  acre.  This  city  of  the  dead  was 
surveyed  and  platted  by  David  Shreeves, 
on  the  20th  of  November,  1863.  It  is 
located  south  of  the  town,  on  section  34. 
The  first  interment  was  that  of  Provi- 
dence, wife  of  Joseph  Wells,  who  was 
buried  in  the  spring  of  1863,  before  the 
survey  was  made.  Four  additional  acres 
have  been  added  to  the  original  ceme- 
tery, the  land  being  purchased  of  Eman- 
uel  Aller,  February  15,  1877,  at  $125  per 
acre.  This  burial  place  is  nicely  im- 
proved, well  fenced,  and  free  from  debt. 


David  Kepple  is  one  of  the  well  known 
early  settlers  of  McDonough  county.  He 
was  born  in  Botetourt  county,  Virginia, 
in  1815,  and  was  a  son  of  Jacob  Kepple. 
When  David  was  a  child,  his  father  re- 
moved to  East  Tennessee,  and  from 
there  to  McDonough  county,  in  1832.  He 
lived  with  his  father  in  Mound  township, 
until  1837,  when  he  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  James  King.  He  then  re- 
moved to  section  20,  Mound  township, 
on  land  belonging  to  his  father.  A  por- 
tion of  his  time  he  spent  in  working  on 
the  farm,  and  the  remainder  he  occupied 
in  hauling  goods  to  Macomb,  from 
Quincy,  St.  Louis  and  Beardstown.  He 
had  been  engaged  in  this  business  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  before  his  mar- 
riage, for  four  years,  and  continued  it 
for  one  year  after  his  marriage.  By  his 
earnings  in  this  way,  he  paid  for  a  piece 
of  land,  the  west  half  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  36.  In  1839,  David 
removed  to  a  farm  in  Lamoine  township, 
which  was  given  to  him  by  his  father- 
in-law.  This  farm  consisted  of  120  acres 
on  section  8.  In  1845,  he  again  returned 
to  Mound  township,  and  having  bought 
the  south  half  of  section  17,  settled  on 
it.  He  improved  this  land,  and  bought 
other  tracts  in  the  vicinity,  until  he  had 
700  acres.  The  first  money  he  ever 
made  was  by  raising  wheat,  hauling  it  to 
Browning,  and  shipping  it  .to  St.  Louis 
when  the  river  opened.  As  soon  as  he 
got  a  little  start  in  this  way,  he  invested 
it  in  cattle  and  hogs,  and  in  1861,  he 
brought  the  first  shorthorn  cattle  into 
the  township,  which  he  bought  from  J. 
H.  Spears,  of  Menard  county.  He  was 
very  successful  in  his.^tock-raising  busi- 
ness. When  he  left  the  farm,  in  1882, 


846 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


he  sold  $7,000  or  $8,000  worth  of  stock. 
He  then  removed  to  Bushnell,  where  he 
and  his  wife  are  living  a  retired  life. 
While  in  Lamoine  township,  his  home 
and  possessions  were  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  as  it  was  butchering  day,  and  they 
could  save  nothing  from  their  house, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kepple  lost  everything  ex- 
cept the  clothes  they  had  on,  which  were 
the  poorest  they  possessed. 

Edward  Dyer  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  September,  1837,  from  War- 
saw, to  which  place  he  had  removed  from 
Philadelphia  the  previous  April.  He  is 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born 
on  the  8th  of  February,  1815.  His  par- 
ents, Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Kein) 
Dyer,  resided  on  a  farm  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, where  they  departed  this  life.  At 
the  age  of  16  years,  Edward  was  appren- 
ticed to  a  wheelwright  for  five  years,  but, 
before  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the 
master  died,  and  Edward  was  free.  He 
then  worked  as  a  journeyman  in  his  na- 
tive state,  until  1837,  then 'came  to  Illi- 
nois, as  noted  above.  Upon  coming  to 
this  county,  he  located  at  Macomb,  and 
opened  the  first  wagon  shop  in  that  city, 
where  he  also  followed  the  business  of  a 
wheelwright.  He  there  continued  in 
business  until  the  spring  of  1844,  when 
he  improved  the  farm  known  as  "Dyer's 
Mound,"  and  the  present  township  of 
Mound  was  named  in  his  honor,  he  hav- 
ing been  one  of  its  first  settlers.  He 
bought  75  acres  of  wild  land,  improved 
it,  and  there  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits until  about  1852,  then  selling.  He 
then  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  section 
15,  which  was  partly  improved,  and  con- 
tinued to  live  there  until  1865,  when  he 
removed  to  Bushnell.  Two  years  later 


he  removed  to  Bardolph,  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business,  and  seven  years 
later  returned  to  Bushnell,  bringing  his 
stock  with  him.  Here  he  continued  the 
business  for  three  years,  then  selling, 
and  now  leads  a  retired  life.  April  18, 
1838,  Edward  Dyer  and  Jane  Kepple 
were  unitetl  in  marriage.  She  is  a  na- 
tive of  Tennessee,  and  with  her  parents 
came  to  McDonough  county,  in  1834,  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Mound  township. 
They  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
that  township,  where  they  have  since 
died.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyer  have  been  the 
parents  of  11  children,  three  of  whom 
are  still  living — Jane  Maria,  now  the 
wife  of  G.  W.  Amos,  of  Kansas;  Eliza- 
beth, the  wife  of  N.  H.  Jackson,  of  Bar- 
dolph, who  is  engaged  in  the  hotel  busi- 
ness and  merchandising;  David,  who 
married  Amanda  McDonough,  and  now 
resides  in  Mound  township.  The  names 
of  the  deceased  children  are  as  follows: 
Margaret,  Jacob,  Susan,  Samuel,  Ed- 
ward, Mary  Ann,  George  W.  and  an  in- 
fant. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dyer  were  the  first 
couple  married  in  Mound  township,  the 
officiating  clergyman  being  Rev.  John 
P.  Richmond,  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church 
of  Macomb.  They  are  members  of  that 
denomination,  he  having  joined  the 
church  when  17  years  of  age,  and  she 
when  18.  Politically,  Mr.  Dyer  was  a 
democrat  up  to  the  time  of  the  repeal  of 
the  Missouri  compromise,  from  which 
time  until  1884,  he  acted  with  the  repub- 
lican party.  On  account  of  the  failure 
of  that  party  to  put  a  prohibition  plank 
in  their  platform,  he  now  votes  with  the 
prohibition  party.  At  the  time  of  Mr. 
Dyer's  settlement  in  Mound  township? 
he  erected  a  log  cabin,  16x18  feet  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


847 


dimensions.  The  country  was  then  in  a 
wild  state,  and  from  his  door  he  often 
saw  as  many  as  50  deer  grazing  in  the 
vicinity. 

J.  L.  Griffith  came  to  McDouough 
county  in  the  fall  of  1864,  from  Fulton 
county,  and  engaged  as  a  clerk  with  S. 
C.  Haines,  with  whom ,  he  remained  18 
months.  He  then  engaged  with  S.  A. 
Hendee,  subsequently  becoming  a  part- 
ner in  the  business,  the  firm  name  being 
Hendee,  Griffith  &  Co.  He  continued 
as  a  member  of  this  firm  for  a  number 
of  years,  finally  selling  his  interest  to 
Mr.  Hendee.  He  then  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  with  D.  F.  Chidister. 
They  were  also  members  of  the  hard- 
ware firm  of  Griffith,  Amos  &  Co.  The 
lumber  business  was  sold  to  Haines  and 
Alexander,  some  six  years  later,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  Mr  Griffith  disposed  of 
his  interest  in  the  hardware  business  to 
Mr.  Hoover,  who  was  a  clerk  for  the  firm. 
Mr.  Griffith  had  previously  bought  a 
farm  of  170  acres  on  Bushnell  township, 
which  he  still  owns,  and  is  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also  spec- 
ulates to  a  considerable  extent  in  land, 
south  and  west,  and  stock.  He  is  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  having  been  born 
in  that  state  on  the  25th  of  March,  1835. 
When  our  subject  was  six  years  of  age 
his  mother  died  and  he  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources.  He  remained  on  a 
farm  until  attaining  his  17th  year,  and 
then  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade  for 
27  months.  His  education  has  been  ob- 
tained chiefly  by  his  own  effort,  he  only 
being  able  to  attend  school  for  three 
months  out  of  the  year.  In  1854,  he 
left  Pennsylvania  for  Canton,  Illinois, 
from  which  place  he  removed  to  Bush- 


nell in  1864.  On  the  2d  of  August,  1860, 
J.  L.  Griffith  and  Martha  E.  Heister,  a 
native  Pennsylvanian,were  united  in  mar- 
riage. They  have  been  the  parents  of 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living — Boyd,  Leslie.,  and  John ;  Bennie, 
the  third  child,  is  now  dead.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Griffith  are  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist denomination,  while  he,  is  also  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.  lodges  of  Bushnell.  He  affili- 
ates with  the  democratic  party,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Canton  lodge  of  A.  F- 
&  A.  M.  From  boyhood  up,  Mr. 
Griffith's  life  has  been  marked  by  strict 
integrity  and  close  attention  to  business. 
Conscientious,  benevolent^  and  warm  in 
his  affections,  he  has  endeared  himself 
to  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  presents 
an  example  of  self -culture  well  worthy 
of  emulation. 

Not  many  genuine  examples  of  sturdy 
western  self-made  men  come  into  public 
notice.  Born  and  raised  in  indigence 
and  obscurity,  they  have  fought  the  bat- 
tles of  life  so  earnestly  and  well,  that 
they  .seldom  think  of  congratulating 
themselves  upon  their  ultimate  success, 
and,  in  general,  they  are  unwilling  to  be- 
lieve that  they  deserve  any  considera- 
ation  for  the  notable  examples  of  hon- 
est, healthy,  and  successful  life  which 
they  have  given  us.  S.  J.  Alexander, 
came  to  McDonough  county,  in  March, 
1854,  from  Ohio.  He  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  on  the  10th  of  July, 
1821.  When  our  subject  was  one  year 
old,  his  father  died  in  Wayne  county, 
where  the  mother  has  since  died,  at  the 
advanced  age  of  84  years.  S.  J.  Alex- 
ander spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  in  his 
native  state,'and  received  a  fair  common 


848 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


school  education.     When  he  attained  his 
23d  year,  he  removed  to  New  Westf all, 
Ohio,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  busi- 
ness.    One  year  later,  found  him  in  the 
same  business  in  Boston,  Wayne  county, 
Indiana.      Here  he  remained  one  and  a 
half    years,   and  then    went    to   Darke 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  engaged  in 
business  up  to  the  time  of  his  coming 
to  McDonough  county,  and. locating  near 
Bardolph.      One  year  later  he  removed 
to  Walnut  Grove  township,  where  he  re- 
sided  until  the  spring  of  1863,  at  which 
time  he  came  to  Bushnell,  bought  prop- 
erty, and  went  into  the  grocery  business. 
This  not  being  to  his   liking,  one  year 
later  he  sold  out  and  entered  into  the 
lumber     trade,     in      connection     with 
others,  having  a  good  yard  and  doing  a 
very  extensive  business.  January  1, 1880, 
he  retired  from  the  firm,  selling  his  in- 
terest to  E.  D.  C.  Haines,  one  of  the 
partners.     He  now  owns   a  fine  stock 
farm  of  240  acres  in  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship, having  a  tenant  on  it,  and  is  en- 
gaged in  the  stock  business.     S.  J.  Al- 
exander and  Hannah  Cowgill,  a  native 
of  Warren  county,  Ohio,  were  united  in 
marriage  on  the  24th  of  August,  1845. 
They  were  the  parents  of  five  children, 
all  of  whom  are  deceased.      At  present, 
Mr.  Alexander  is  engaged  to  a  consider- 
able  extent  in   loaning  money  and  in 
speculation.     Politically,  he  is  a  repub- 
lican, having  belonged  to  that  organiza- 
tion since  reaching  his  majority.     He  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons. 

George  P.  Seibert  came  to  McDon- 
ough county,  in  the  spring  of  1856, 
from  Fulton  county.  He  is  a  native  of 
Maryland,  having  been  born  in  Wash- 


ington  county,  on  the   17th  of    April, 
1828.       His   parents  were  Henry    and 
Catharine  ( Butterbaugh )    Seibert,  both 
of  whom  departed  this  life  in  Maryland. 
George  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and 
received  only  a  limited  common  school 
education.    .  He  remained  on   the   old 
homestead  until  his  17th .  year,  when  he 
started    out  on    the  voyage   of  life  for 
himself,  engaging  in  stock  buying  and 
various  other  kinds  of  business.     On  the 
20th  of  December,  1849,  he  was  united 
in  marriage   with   Elizabeth   Martin,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.     After  his  mar- 
riage, he  again  resided  on  the  old  farm 
for  some  three  years,  and  then  removed 
to  Fulton  county,  Illinois.     Here  he  was 
engaged   at  various   occupations  up  to 
the  time  of  his   coming  to  this  county, 
and    settling    at    Bushnell.       He    had 
bought  a  farm  of    60   acres  near  that 
city,   and   at  once  engaged    in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.     He  still  owns  this  land, 
to  which  he  has  since  added   100   acres, 
and  has  a  man  running  it  for  him.     He 
managed  the  farm  personally  up   to  a 
few  years  ago,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  engaged  in  buying  grain  and  stock 
in  Bushnell,   to  a  considerable  extent. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.   Seibert  have  no  children 
of  their  own,  but  have  raised  two   chil- 
dren—Lou Claybert,  who  now  resides 
with   them,  and  Maria   L.   Angel,  now 
the  wife  of  Ira  Applegate,  of  Bushnell.. 
Mr.  Seibert  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,   while  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
In  politics,  he  is  a  democrat,    but  votes 
for  men,  not  party.     The   crowning  suc- 
cess of  the  subject  of  this  biography  is, 
that  while  as  a  child  he  was  left  to  drift 
upon   the   tide   of  society,   even  to  his 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


849 


manhood,  without  apparently  a  guiding 
star,  he  was  never  lured  to  soil  his  char- 
acter by  the  siren  song  of  temptation, 
but  evenly  maintained  his  integrity,  and 
to-day  bears  an  unblemished  reputation 
for  honor,  and  as  a  gentleman,  has  high 
moral  purposes  of  life. 

Benjamin  M.  Coleman,  of  Bushnell, 
is  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Margaret 
Coleman,  natives  of  the  state  of  New 
Jersey,  who  came  to  Canton,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  and  to  Bush- 
nell township,  McDonough  county,  in 
1854,  and  located  then,  in  this  township. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Bushnell  township,  February  28,*  1859. 
He  was  brought  up  in  his  native  county, 
attending  the  district  schools  and  sub- 
sequently, Prajrie  City  academy.  *  Feb- 
ruary 13,  188L,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Sarah  Campbell,  and  by  this 
union '  has  two  children — Gracie  and 
John  Walter.  Mr.  Coleman  is  a  public 
spirited  young  man  and  a  worthy  citizen. 

Lee  H.  Greene,  is  of  French  and 
Spanish  descent,  and  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county,  Kentucky,  April  13, 
1850.  In  1857,  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  upon  a  farm, 
where  he  remained  until  1868.  His 
father  died  September  7,  1862.  In  the 
fall  of  1868,  he  went  to  Galesburg, 
Knox  county,  and  began  learning  the 
trade  of  an  engineer,  with  Engineer 
Fields,  who  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
Frost  Manufacturing  company  of  that 
city.  From  that  time  until  1873.  Mr. 
Greene  followed  engineering.  He  came 
to  the  city  of  Bushnell,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  September  19,  1883,  he 
entered  the  employ  of  the  American 
Express  company,  as  master  of  trans- 


portation, in  which  occupation  he  has 
since  been  engaged.  Mr.  Greene  was 
married,  December  15,  1872,  to  Lizzie 
Morgan,  and  by  this  union,  has  one 
child — Thomas  E.,  born  in  September, 
1874. 

Alexander  H.  McGahan,  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  agent  at 
Bushnell,  came  to  that  city  in  1861,  as 
agent  of  that  company.  He  is  a  native 
of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  born  December  7, 1840.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  his  native  state, 
and  at  the  age  of  14  years,entered  the  of- 
fice of  the  Waynesburg,  Pennsylvania, 
Messenger  as  an  apprentice,  where  he 
remained  some  three  years.  From  that 
time  until  1861,  he  worked  in  printing 
offices  in  Pittsburg  and  New  Brighton, 
Pennsylvania.  He  then  came  to  Prairie 
City,  McDonough  county,  where  for  four 
months  he  was  engaged  as  an  employee 
for  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
railroad.  He  was  then  given  a  position  • 
at  Oak  Hill,  as  agent  of  the  company, 
and  was  there  engaged  until  coming  to 
this  city,  as  heretofore  mentioned.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of  edu- 
cation for  the  past  four  years,  now  serv- 
ing second  term  as  president  of  board. 
On  the  27th  day  of  October,  1864,  Alex- 
ander H.  McGahan  and  Alice  West,  a 
daughter  of  Stockton  West,  of  this  city, 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony. As  a  result  of  this  union,  they 
are  now  the  parents  of  two  children— 
Willie  L.  and  Walter  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McGahan  and  children,  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge 
of  Bushnell,  being  the  present  grand 
representative  to  the  Grand  lodge. 


850 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


HISTORIC  ITEMS. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  town  occur- 
red upon  the  6th  of  November,  1858,  at 
which  time  W.  H.  Oglesbee,  a  justice  of 
of  the  peace,  performed  the  ceremony 
that  united  the  destinies  of  Augustus 
Downey  and  Matilda  Lindsey. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Edward,  a 
son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Cole,  who 
was  called  to  a  better  land  in  the  fall  of 
1856. 

The  second  child  born  in  the  village 
was  William  B.,  son  of  John  and  Har- 
riet Beach,  who  first  saw  the  light  on  the 
9th  of  February,  1856.  The  first  was  a 
child  of  Hiram  Markham's,  born  during 
the  year  1855. 

SOCIETIES. 

McDonough  encampment,  No.  79,  I. 
O.  O.  F.,  was  organized  October  23, 1867, 
with  the  following  charter  members.  J. 

B.  Cummings,  J.  P.  Dimmitt,  G.  C.  Rid- 
ings, I.  N.  Pearson,  S.  L.  Abbott,   J.  A. 
James,  G.  A.  Kaiser,  F.  C.    Grimm,  J. 
Cole  and  J.  E.  Miller.     The  first  officers 
chosen  to  fill  the   chairs  were:     J.  B. 
Cummings,  C.  P.;  G.  C.  Ridings,  H.  P.; 
J.  P.  Dimmitt,  S.  W.;  I.  N.  Pearson,  J. 
W. ;  J.  A.  James,  scribe;  and  S.  L.  Ab- 
bott, treasurer.  The  camp,  which  is  well 
attended,  now  has  60  members,  governed 
by  the  following  officers :  J.  D.  Murphy, 

C.  P.;  Thomas  Fairman,  H.  P.;   S.  C. 
Sperling,  S.  W.;H.  C.  Haines,   J.   W.; 
and  G.  A.  Kaiser,  scribe  and  treasurer. 

Bushnell  lodge,  No.  322,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  organized  at 
Bushnell,  in  November,  1865,  with  the 
following  12  original  members:  G.  C. 
Ridings,  J.  B.  Cummings,  I.  N.  Pearson, 
Charles  West,  W.  W.  Travis,  John  Wil- 


lis, Fred  Seibert,  E.  J.  Dunlap,  George 
Schaffer,  F.  C.  Grimm,  Thomas  Fairman 
and  John  Stokoe.  The  first  officers  were 
duly  elected  and  installed  with  the  proper 
ceremonies.  They  were:  J.  B.  Cum- 
mings, N.  G.;  G.  C.  Ridings,  V.  G.;  L  N. 
Pearson,  R.  S. ;  Charles  West,  P.  S.,  and 
John  Willis,  T.  This  lodge  is  now  in  a 
most  flourishing  condition,  having  a 
membership  of  118,  and  own  a  beauti- 
fully furnished  room  for  meeting,  and 
over  $3,000  in  the  lodge  treasury.  The 
present  officers  are:  E.  D.  C.  Haines, 
N.  G.;  B.  W.  Ervin,  V.  G.;  John  Leib, 
P.  S.;  A.  H.  Cleveland,  R.  S.;  G.  A. 
Kaiser*  T.,  and  R.  to  Grand  Lodge. 

Bushnell  uniform  degree  encampment 
No.  15,  is  a  new  lodge  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  was  duly  constituted  and  organized 
in  January,  1883.  The  first  officers  were 
the  following  named:  J.  B.  Pearson, 
commander;  Thomas  Fairman,  vice-com- 
mander; J.  D.  Murphy,  officer  of  the 
guard;  J.  E.  Cummings,  secretary;  and 
G.  A.  Kaiser,  treasurer.  The  camp  has 
now  a  membership  of  some  27,  and  is  in 
a  healthy  condition.  Its  officers  for  1885, 
are  the  following:  G.  A.  Kaiser,  com- 
mander; W.  E.  Haines,  vice-commander; 
J.  D.  Murphy,  officer  of  the  guard ;  Thos. 
Fairman,  secretary ;  and  E.  D.  C.  Haines, 
treasurer. 

Carter  Van  Vleck  post,  No.  174,  of 
the  G.  A.  R.,  was  duly  organized,  Janu- 
ary 3,  1883,  with  46  charter  members. 
The  first  officers  were  the  following 
named  comrades:  J.  B.  Pearson,  C. ; 
C.  C.  Morse,  S.  V.  C.;  A.  E.  Barnes,  J. 
V.  C.;  E.  F.  Currier,  Adj't;  H.  H.  Nance, 
Q.  M.;  John  Livingston,  O.  of  D. ;  and 
W.  F.  Wilson,  chap.  Commander  Pear- 
son dying  before  his  term  of  office  had 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


851 


expired,  the  senior  vice  commander  was 
promoted  to  the  vacant  place.  The  lodge 
of  battle-scarred  veterans  meet  in  their 
own  hall  twice  a  month,  and  has  a  mem- 
bership of  101.  The  post  was  called 
after  the  gallant  Colonel  Van  Vleck,  of 
this  county,  who  so  bravely  commanded 
the  gallant  78th  Illinois  infantry,  and 
was  killed  at  Atlanta.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  J.  H.  Johnson,  commander; 
L.  S.  Mills,  senior  vice  commander;  R. 
B.  Sperling,  junior  vice  commander;  J. 
H.  Laney,  adjutant;  J.  C.  Young,  officer 
of  the  day;  J.  M.  Gale,  quartermaster; 
and  J.  P.  Yoder,  chaplain. 

T.  J.  Pickett  lodge  No.  307,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  which  holds  its  convocations  in 
the  city  of  Bushnell,  was  duly  consti- 
tuted and  organized  on  the  15th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1859,  with  the  following  members: 
J.  IJ.  Smith,  J.  Seaburn,  Hiram  Cono- 
ver,  J.  W.  Kelly,  J.  Ewald,  J.  Wells, 
William  Keims,  R.  Lindsay  and  E.  P. 
Livingston.  J.  H.  Smith  was  the  first 
worshipful  master.  He  was  succeeded 
by  J.  W.  Kelly  and  he  by  John  Neff. 
The  masters  from  him  up  have  been: 
W.  J.  Frisbie,  1873  and  1874;  J.  H. 
Smith,  1875;  D.  D.  Pierce,  1876  and 
1877;  W.  J.  Frisbie,  1878;  J.  C.  Cad- 
wallader,  1879;  J.  F.  Cowgill,  1880  and 
1881.;,  W.  J.  Frisbie,  1882  and  1883; 
J.  W.  Haynes,  1884,  and  D.  D.  Pierce, 
the  present  one.  The  balance  of  the 
officers  are  at  present:  Ira  Applegate, 
S.  W.;  J.  W.  Haynes,  J.W.;  W.  J.  Fris- 
bie, T. ;  J.  C.  Cadwallader,  S.  The  pres- 
ent membership  of  the  lodge  is  about 
85,  and  in  a  healthy  condition.  Their 
lodge  room,  which  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest in  this  part  of  the  state,  is  45x50 
feet  in  size,  and  is  located  in  a  building 


which  they  own.  It  is  fitted  up  elegantly, 
and  with  more  regard  for  artistic  taste 
than  is  usual,  and  the  "brothers  of  the 
mystic  tie"  can  well  feel  proud  of  their 
lodge  room  in  Bushnell. 

Chevalier  lodge,  No.  101,  K.  of  P.,  was 
organized  under  a  charter  which  bears 
date  of  October  18,  1882,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members:  J.  Herring,  W. 
J.  Frisbie,  J.  H.  B.  Camp,  L.  O.  Gould, 
M.'  L.  Walker,  T.  F.  Seibert,  J.  E.  Chan- 
dler, J.  Varner,  G.  M.  Rose,  T.  J.  Sorter, 
A.  H.  McGahan,  M.  J.  Johnson,  J.  V. 
D.  Kelly,  D.  E.  Zook,  A.  T.  McElvain, 
J.  C.  V.  Kelly,  M.  L.  Hoover,  H.  H. 
Roman,  J.  W.  Parks,  E.  K.  Westfall,  A. 
W.  VanDyke,  L.  Schamp,  T.  B.  Morton, 
J.  C.  Thompson,  I.  Applegate,  H.  T. 
Clarke,  J.  C.  Cadwallader,  H.  M.  Harri- 
son, S.  H.  Parvin,  C.  T.  Coulter,  A.  B. 
Cooper,  J-  F.  Cowgill,  W.  M.  Scott,  A. 
Reed,  W.  Pontifex,  C.  S.  Bird,  G.  M. 
Ball,  J.  M.  Ball,  H.  Kaiser,  E.  Durst, 
W.  H.  Wilson,  J.  W.  Hayes,  C.  C.Bran- 
son, C.  J.  Mariner,  H.  L.  Benson.  The 
following  were  the  first  officers  of  the 
lodge:  A.  H.  McGahan,  P.  C.;  T.  I. 
Sorter,  C.  C. ;  Jacob  Herring,  Y.  C. ; 
Rev.  S.  H.  Parvin,  P.;  T.  T.  Seibert,  M. 
of  E.;  M.  L.  Walker,  M.  of  F.;  T.  H.  B. 
Camp,  K.  of  R.  and  S. ;  J.  F.  Cowgill,  M. 
of  A.;  M.  L.  Hoover,  I.  G.;  C.  F.  Coul- 
ter, O.  G. 

The  present  condition  of  the  lodge  is 
most  excellent,  the  membership  being 
148.  Meetings  are  held  twice  a  month, 
and  much  interest  is  felt  in  the  work. 
The  present  officers  are  as  follows :  L.  O. 
Gould,  C.  C.;  T.  H.  B.  Camp,  Y.  C.;  A. 
H.  McGahan,  P.;  A.  I.  Hewes,  K.  of  R. 
and  S.;  T.  F.  Seibert,  M.  of.  E.;  G.  M. 
Rose,  M.  of  F. 


852 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Harmony  lodge,  No.  867,  Knights  of 
Honor,  was  duly  organized  on  the  4th  of 
September,  1878,  with  the  following 
charter  members:  G.  A.  Kaiser,  H. 
Kaiser,  J.  W.  Sparks,  A.  H.  Roman,  J. 
Ayres,  J.  C.  Thompson,  T.  F.  Capp, 
George  Kuhn,  H.  E.  Tippit,  D.  T.  Mor- 
gan, J.  C.  Cadwallader,  H.  Darnielle,  H. 
E.  Whittier,  A.  Peterson,  S.  A.  Hendee, 
E.  F.  Currier,  A.  C.  Decker,  H.  L. 
Goudy,  A.  Logan,  and  J.  R.  Sperling. 
The  first  officers  were:  J.  C.  Cadwalla- 
der, dictator;  T.  F.  Capp,  vice-dictator; 
W.  E.  Whittier,  assistant  dictator;  E.  T. 
Currier,  reporter;  John  R.  Sperling, 
financial  reporter;  G.  A.  Kaiser,  treas- 
urer; and  J.  C.  Thompson,  past  dictator. 
The  present  are:  G.  W.  Fox,  dictator; 
Robert  Orr,  vice-dictator;  J.  Bowie,  as- 
sistant dictator ;W.  E.  Whittier,  reporter; 
G.  A..  Kaiser,  financial  reporter;  and  J. 

C.  Cadwallader,  treasurer. 

Phoenix  lodge,  No.  17,  Ancient  Order 
of  United  Workmen,  located  at  Bush- 
nell,  was  organized  October  2, 1876,  with 
the  following  members:  G.  A.  Kaiser, 
Charles  West,  Thomas  Fairman,  J.  Leib, 

0.  C.  Hicks,  W.  A.  Spader,  F.  Craig,  H. 

D.  Brooks,  C.  Nessel,  C,  E.  Weyman,  A. 
Applegate,  S.  A.  Greenbaum,  L.  Kaiser, 
J.  V.  Sorter,  G.  Kuhn,  R.  Fees,  H.  T. 
Walters,  F.  Nessel,  J.  Fees,  J.  Stephen- 
son,  L.  Mills,  J.  W.  Sparks,  J.  E.  Moore, 
H.   T.   Clarke,   J.   J.   Hosselkus,   J.  A. 
Gardner,  J.  B.  Seeley,  W.  E.  Whittier, 

1.  Applegate,  C.   A.   Davy,  A.  Schamp, 
and  G.   A.  McElvain.     The  first  officers 
of  the  lodge  were  the  following  named: 
G.  A.  Kaiser,  P.  M.  W.;  Charles  West, 
M.  W. ;  Thomas  Fairman,  F. ;  J.  Leib,  O. ; 
O.  C.  Hicks,  recorder;  W.  A.  Spader, 
financier;    F.    Craig,    receiver;    H.   D. 


Brooks,  G.;  C.  Nessel,  I.  W.;  C.  E. 
Weyman,  O.  W.  The  present  member- 
ship is  now  about  56,  and  meetings  are 
held  in  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  hall.  The  pres- 
ent officers  are :  J.  D.  Murphy,  P.  M. ; 
H.  T.  Walters,  M.  W.;'C.  A.  Baldwin, 
F. ;  W.  D.  Shrader,  O. ;  Thomas  Fairman, 
recorder;  M.  S.  Walker,  financier;  T.  F. 
Seibert,  receiver ;  J.  A.  Carson,  G. ;  W. 

E.  Whittier,  I.  W.;  S.  L.  Duntley,  O.  W. 

MUNICIPAL. 

At  an  election  held  March  24,  1869, 
for  or  against  the  adoption  of  a  city 
charter,  there  were  polled  284  votes  for, 
and  24  against  the  proposition.  At  the 
first  annual  election  for  city  officers, 
held  April  5, 1869,  the  following  named 
persons  were  elected:  J.  B.  Cummings, 
mayor.  Aldermen,  First  ward,  Manning 

F.  West,  one  year;  James  W.  Kelly,  two 
years.  .    Aldermen,  Second  ward,  James 
Ayres,  one  year;  James  Cole,  two  years. 
Aldermen,    Third    ward,     William    H. 
Oglesby,  one  year;  I.  N.  McElvain,  two 
years.     Aldermen,  Fourth  ward,  Fisher 
Brown,   one  year;  A.   E.    Barnes,    two 
years.   'M.  A.  Luce,  attorney  and  clerk; 
Joseph  Parks,  treasurer. 

Almon  Tainter,  the  present  mayor  of 
the  city  of  Bushnell,  and  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Haines  <fe  Tainter,  furniture 
dealers,  at  Bushnell,  Illinois,  is  a  native 
of  Genesee  county,  New  York,  born 
September  20,  1817.  He  is  a  son  of 
John  and  Rachel  (Hendricks)  Tainter, 
natives  of  the  same  state.  In  1820,  John 
Tainter  removed  with  his  family  to 
Huron  county,  Ohio,  where  they  re- 
mained until  1836.  In  that  year  Almon 
came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Fulton 
county,  where  he  was  a  very  early  set- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


853 


tier,  The  following  year  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  two  years  later,  went  to  New 
York  state,  where  he  remained  till  1840, 
He  then  came  back  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
until,  1871.  At  that  date  he  removed  to 
Independence,  Kansas,  and  there  fol- 
lowed merchandising  three  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  in  Bushnell.  Here  he  em- 
barked in  the  grocery  trade,  which  he 
continued  four  years,  then  sold  out,  and 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  He 
was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  in  the 
spring  of  1883.  He  was  married  in 
May,  1871,  to  Ann  Boyle,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity. 

EDUCATIONAL. 
[By  Arthur  Loomis.] 

In  writing  a  short  history  of  the 
Bushnell  public  schools,  I  will  mention 
briefly  the  condition  of  the  schools  first 
established.  In  all  of  the  western 
states,  the  privileges  of  having  good 
schools  were  formerly  very  scarce.  And 
in  tracing  the  history  of  any  of  the 
western  villages  at  the  present  time,  one 
cannot  fail  to  notice  the  wonderful  prog- 
ress that  has  been  made  in  the  school 
department. 

The  first  school  that  was  built  in 
Bushnell  was  located  on  what  is  now 
Sperry  street,  block  57,  in  the  year 
1856.  Dan  Markham  was  the  first 
teacher.  The  school  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Temperance  hall,  now  the  Nor- 
mal eating  house,  in  the  year  1860. 
The  first  teacher  here  was  Mr.  Snyder. 
Mr.  Frisbee  next  conducted  a  school,  in 
what  is  now  the  Catholic  church  build- 


ing, from  1864  to  1867.  In  1868  a 
graded  school  was  established,  of  which 
Mr.  Hyde  was  the  first  principal.  From 
this  time  down  to  the  year  1875,  there 
were  four  schools,  one  in  each  ward,  but 
the  people,  feeling  their  need  for  a  bet- 
ter school,  determined  to  build  and 
found  a  high  school.  In  1875,  the  walls 
and  foundation  of  the  present  school 
building  were  made,  and  in  1876,  the 
building  was  completed.  It  is  located 
in  the  northwest  part  of  town,  on  block 
20.  At  this  time  the  board  of  educa- 
tion was  composed  of  four  men,  viz:  C. 
M.  Baldwin,  J.  L.  Griffith.  E.  S.  Ean- 
dall  and  J.  W.  Sparks.  On  approach- 
ing the  building,  a  person  beholds  an 
elegant  structure.  It  is  built  of  brick, 
on  a  foundation  of  stone,  and  is  two- 
stories  high.  The  basement  walls  ex- 
tend about  10  feet  above  ground,  thus 
giving  the  building  the  appearance  of 
having  three  stories.  In  ascending  the 
steps  in  front  of  the  building,  a  person 
enters  through  double  doors,  and  an 
outer  hall  about  15x10.  At  the  further 
end  of  this  hall  there  is  a  raise  of  three 
steps,  where  a  person  again  passes  into 
a  hall  through  double  doors.  On  both 
sides  of  this  hall  there  are  two  doors, 
opening  respectively  into  rooms  3,  4,  5 
and  6.  At  the  extremity  of  this  hall 
there  is  a  flight  of  stairs  which  brings 
you  on  to  a  small  platform  from  which 
proceeds  another  flight  of  stairs,  in  the 
opposite  direction.  At  the  head  of  this 
flight  of  stairs  there  is  another  hall,  or 
corridor,  from  the  sides  of  which,  as 
below,  proceed  four  doors,  opening 
respectively  into  rooms  7,  8,  9  and  10. 
At  the  extremity  of  this  hall  there  is 
a  door  opening  into  the  superintendent's 


854 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


t  ':r1  '    kH-M"        V'lk 

»       ^;  :;;^ii    ^r  I 

B 

Wt 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


855 


room.  Besides  the  rooms  already  men- 
tioned, there  is  a  small  cloak  room  to 
each  room,  where  hats  and  wraps  are 
deposited  during  school  hours,  and  a 
small  closet  where  necessary  articles 
are  stored.  The  building  is  heated  by 
steam,  which  is  conveyed  along  the 
sides  of  the  room  by  a  number  of  pipes. 

There  is,  also,  a  smaller  building  on 
the  north  side  of  the  main  building 
which  was  built  for  the  convenience  of 
the  primary  scholars.  This  building  is 
composed  of  two  rooms,  but  as  I  have 
never  had  the  privilege  of  entering  this 
building,  I  cannot  further  describe  it. 

The  expense  of  finishing  and  fur- 
nishing such  a  building,  was  of  course 
quite  considerable.  The  building  and 
furnishing  in  the  first  place  amounted 
to  $22,000.  The  furnace,  pipes  etc., 
which  have  been  obtained  since  the 
building  has  been  in  operation,  amounted 
to  $1,750.  \The  expenses  for  teachers, 
fuel  etc..  amounts  to  $600  per  month. 
Incidentals  to  about  $400,  per  year. 

The  school  possesses  a  small  library 
containing  16  volumes  of  an  encyclope- 
dia, several  dictionaries,  etc. 

Among  the  branches  taught  in  this 
school,  are  physiology,  philosophy,  alge- 
bra, rhetoric,  geometry,  English  litera- 
ture, botany,  etc.,  besides  the  lower 
branches. 

Good  and  competent  teachers  are  em- 
ployed, so  that  considering  the  size  of 
the  town,  Bushnell  has  schools  of  which 
she  may  well  be  proud. 

John  P.  Yoder,  who  has  so  acceptably 
filled  the  position  of  superintendent  of 
the  Bushnell  schools  since  1880,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  having  been 


born  in  that  state  on  the  4th  day  of 
September,  1846.  When  John  was  3 
years  of  age,  his  father  removed  to  Me 
Lean  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  a 
farm,  following  farming  and  carpenter- 
ing. John  remained  at  home,  assisting 
his  father  on  the  farm  and  at  his  trade, 
until  reaching  his  17th  year.  He  then 
enlisted  in  the  150th  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  for  one  year  "or  during  the 
war,"  and.  received  his  discharge  after 
serving  14  months.  He  then  returned 
to  the  old  homestead,  and  attended  the 
State  normal  university,  at  Blooming- 
ton.  Previous  to  attending  the  univer- 
sity, his  education  had  been  obtained  in 
the  district  schools  and  by  personal  ap- 
plication at  home.  He  was  ambitious  to 
have  a  good  education,  and  as  a  conse- 
quence, was  very  studious.  While  at- 
tending the  university  he  taught  occa- 
sionally, to  procure  the  money  necessary 
to  pursue  his  studies,  and  finally  gradu- 
ated therefrom  in  1871.  He  then  ac- 
cepted the  position  of  principal  of  the 
Blue  Island,  Cook  county  schools,  in 
which  position  he  gave  entire  satisfac- 
tion. He  then  engaged  in  business  at 
Chicago,  but  one  year  later  resumed  his 
profession  at  Danvers,  McLean  county, 
where  he  continued  for  seven  years,  then 
coming  to  Bushnell,  as  before  stated, 
and  took  charge  of  the  city  schools. 
This  position  he  has  filled  with  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  all,  and  to 
his  efforts  is  largely  due  the  high  posi- 
tion which  the  schools  of  the  city  have 
attained.  John  P.  Yoder  and  Rebecca 
Lantz,  a  native  of  this  state,  were  united 
in  marriage  on  the  28th  of  December, 
1874.  They  have  been  the  parents  of 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 


856 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


living — Jennie  L.,  Arthur  E.  and  Hattie 
J.  Politically,  Mr.  Yoder  is  a  republi- 
can, having  been  a  member  of  that  party 


since  reaching  his  majority.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  organization. 


CHAPTER    XXXIV. 


BLANDINSVILLE  TOWNSHIP. 


This  is  a  full  congressional  township, 
comprising  the  territory  known  as 
township  7  north,  range  4  west,  and 
contains  36  sections  of  land.  It  is  loca- 
ted in  the  extreme  northwestern  part  of 
the  county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Warren  and  Hancock  counties,  on  the 
east  by  Sciota  township,  with  Hire  on 
the  south,  and  Hancock  county  on  the 
west.  It  is  mostly  prairie,  there  being 
now  but  about  4,000  acres  of  timberland 
within  its  borders.  At  an  early  day, 
along  the  streams,  there  was  a  consider- 
able amount  of  timber  which  has  to  a 
great  extent  been  cut  away,  and  the  land 
put  under  cultivation.  There  are  four 
small  streams  having  their  source  in 
this  township,  from  which  water  is  de- 
rived for  stock  and  culinary  purposes. 
One  in  the  southern  part  has  its  begin- 
ning in  section  '26,  and,  flowing  In  a 
southwesterly  direction,  passes  through 
sections  27,  33  and  32,  making  its  exit 
on  section  31.  The  next  one  north 
has  its  source  in  various  springs,  one  of 
which  is  situated  in  Sciota  township,  and 
pursuing  a  similar  direction,  passes 
through  section  13,  14,  23,  22  and  21, 
and  thence  along  and  near  the  dividing 


lines  between  sections  20  and  29,  then 
through  section  30,  leaving  the  town- 
ship from  the  latter  section.  The  third 
stream  has  a  source  near  the  northeast- 
ern portion  of  the  township,  in  different 
portions  of  sections  12,  1,  and  2,  and 
then  pursuing  a  southwesterly  course, 
passes  through  section  11,  a  portion  of 
10  and  15,  thence  through  16  and  17, 
making  its  exit  from  section  18.  The 
fourth  stream  passes  only  through  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  township.  Along 
all  these  small  creeks  there  is  considera- 
ble timber,  mostly  of  a  young  growth,  as 
there  is  very  little  heavy  timber  in  the 
township.  The  soil  along  the  streams, 
and  adjacent  to  the  wooded  lands  is  of 
fair  quality,  consisting  of  decayed  vege- 
table mould,  and  a  mixture  of  clay,  sand 
and  gravel  in  places.  It  is  generally 
well  adapted  for  the  growth  of  various 
cereals,  although  less  productive  than 
the  prairies.  The  surface  of  the  town- 
ship is  gently  undulating,  except  in 
places  along  these  streams,  where  it  is  a 
little  broken.  The  more  level  or  flat 
portions  in  most  cases  have  natural 
drainage,  so  the  township  may  be  con- 
sidered a  good  body  of  land.  The  early 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


857 


settlers,  as  will  be  seen,  were  mostly 
from  the  Southern  states,  and  the  popu- 
lation of  the  township,  is  generally  made 
up  of  Americans.  The  lands  are  owned, 
to  a  great  extent,  by  retired  men  who 
lease  them  to  other  parties.  The  im- 
provements on  the  latter  lands  are  gen- 
erally poor  compared  with  the  excellent 
buildings,  etc.,  upon  most  of  the  farms 
where  the  owners  make  their  homes. 
There  is  one  village  in  this  township 
called  Blandinsville,  a  history  of  which 
appears  elsewhere.  General  farming  and 
stock  raising  are  the  chief  pursuits  fol- 
lowed, and  some  of  these  interests  are 
noticed  under  their  proper  heads.  The 
Wabash  and  St.  Louis  railroad  traverses 
the  township  from  east  to  west  in  the 
southern  part,  affording  convenient  ac- 
cess and  transportation. 

EAELY    SETTLEMENT. 

Many  interesting  features  cluster 
around  this  branch  of  history — recollec- 
"tions  of  by-gone  days,  of  joys  and  sor- 
rows, of  prosperity  and  adversity.  All 
such  early  experiences  will  be  more  fully 
described  in  the  general  chapter  on  this 
subject.  The  early  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship came  at  a  time  when  it  tried  men's 
souls,  just  previous  to  the  winter  of  the 
great  snow,  and  at  a  time  when  a  start 
was  a  difficult  matter.  Consequently  it 
will  be  found  that  the  majority  of  the 
first  settlers,  thinking  that  they  had  ven- 
tured too  far  'north,  sold  out  or  aban- 
doned their  claims,  and  went  southward 
— some  of  them  to  again  return  and  find 
eventually  a  land  full  of  promise.  Dur- 
ing the  winter  of  1830-31,  many  were 
discouraged.  The  immense  quantity  of 
snow  interfered  with  the  construction  of 


the  log  house,  and  they  were  obliged  to 
live  together  in  such  habitations  as  had 
been  rudely  and  hastily  constructed, 
many  families  in  one  small  cabin.  That 
winter  seemed  to  try  the  grit  and  spirit 
of  many,  and  in  the  spring  quite  a  num- 
ber left  for  Missouri,  hoping  to  there 
find  a  more  congenial  clime.  After  that 
winter,  which  was  an  unusually  severe, 
one,  there  was  less  abandonment  of 
claims,  and  selling  out  for  the  season. 
Those  who  remained  through  those 
times  have  witnessed  the  development 
of  a  fine  country,  and  as  a  rule  have  re- 
ceived the  reward  of  industry  and  pa- 
tient endurance. 

The  first  person  to  make  a  settlement 
within  the  borders  of  what  is  now  Blan- 
dinsville township,  was  William  Job, 
who  came  from  Morgan  county,  this 
state,  in  company  with  several  other 
men,  to  look  for  land  and  a  home,  in  the 
fall  of  1825.  After  spending  some  time 
in  looking  over  the  county  he  returned 
to  Morgan  to  spend  the  winter,  and  the 
following  spring  brought  his  family  to 
the  county,  stopping  some  three  weeks 
with  a  man  by  the  name  of  Richard 
Dunn,  just  across  the  line  in  Hire 
township,  while  Mr.  Job  constructed  a 
cabin  of  split  logs  on  the  land  he  had 
previously  selected,  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  33.  The  rudely-con- 
structed habitation,  erected  by  Mr.  Job, 
was  their  home  but  a  short  time,  when 
it  was  replaced  by  a  hewn  log  cabin, 
which  was  well  built  for  the  kind  at  that 
time.  The  same  building  is  still  in  ex- 
istence, and  is  now  occupied  by  J.  C. 
Phillips  as  a  residence  in  the  village  of 
Blandinsville,  and  is,  consequently,  the 
oldest  building  now  standing  in  the  town- 


858 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ship.  More  modern  improvements  have 
been  made  to  it,  but  the  same  old  logs 
are  there  as  were  placed  ,by  the  Job 
family  almost  sixty  years  ago.  Pre- 
vious to  the  time  of  Mr.  Job  coming  to 
McDonough  county,  he  settled  in  Han- 
cock county,  on  the  Mississippi  river, 
but  at  that  time  the  Indians  were  so 
troublesome  that  they  only  remained 
one  season  and  then  removed  to  Mor- 
gan county,  three  miles  from  Jackson- 
ville. It  was  only  after  great  solicita- 
tion and  urging  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Job, 
after  he  returned  from  this  county  for 
his  family,  that  they  were  induced  to 
again  come  to  the  frontier,  as  Mrs.  Job 
was  deathly  afraid  of  the  Indians.  Even 
after  they  came  to  Blandinsville,  in  the 
spring  of  1826,  the  Indians  would  fre- 
quently nourish  their  tomahawks  over 
the  heads  of  the  children  and  women 
and  display  to  them  how  a  scalp  was 
taken.  This  pioneer  was,  in  his  way,  a 
determined  man,  and  resolved  to  here 
make  a  home,  notwithstanding  the  ap- 
parent difficulties  and  set  about  opening 
up  a  farm,  but  the  cold  hand  of  the  grim 
destroyer,  death,  came  upon  him  ere  his 
hopes  were  realized,  although  a  goodly 
start  toward  the  goal  of  his  ambition  had 
been  obtained,  and  he  passed  away,  on 
the  identical  spot  where  the  first  settle- 
ment was  made,  in  the  fall  of  1835.  One 
daughter,  Parmelia  Davis,  is  the  only 
survivor  of  that  pioneer  family,  who  re- 
sides on  the  old  Job  homestead,  at  an 
advanced  age. 

With  Mr,  Job  came  his  two  brothers- 
in-law,  Ephraim  Perkins  and  William 
Southward.  The  latter  selected  a  farm 
on  section  9,  where  he  lived  for  some 
years.  He  was  the  first  sheriff  of  Mc- 


Donbugh  county.  After  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  office,  he  followed  the  tide 
of  emigration  westward  into  Missouri. 
The  place  is  now  owned  by  William 
Woodside. 

In  the  spring  of  1826,  John  Vance 
made  a  home  in  the  same  vicinity,  which 
was  called  Job's  settlement,  a  name 
which  adhered  to  that  locality  many 
years  after  those  who  first  participated 
in  active  life  had  passed  away.  He  put 
in  a  crop,  returning  for  his  family  in  the 
fall,  who  arrived  at  the  settlement  De- 
cember 24,  1826.  Mr.  Vance  removed 
to  Iowa  in  1854,  where  he  died  Decem- 
ber 1,  1866.  Mrs.  Vance  was  a.  native 
of  Virginia,  removing  with  her  parents 
to  Kentucky  at  an  early  day,  thence  to 
Sangamon  county  and  then  to  McDon- 
ough county,  as  above.  She  died  May 
19, 1881,  at  the  residence  of  J.  T.  Hag- 
gerty,  in  Macomb. 

The  next  settler  was  Frank  Redden, 
who  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He 
built  a  cabin  and  opened  up  a  farm  on 
section  34.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
man  to  whom  frontier  life  had  no  ter- 
rors, and  adapted  himself  quite  nat- 
urally to  the  situation,  but  soon  became 
dissatisfied  and  removed  to  Iowa. 

During  the  years  1828,  1829  and  1830 
quite  a  number  were  added  to  this  town- 
ship, among  whom  was  Elijah  Bristow, 
who  settled  on  section  21,  a  place  now 
owned  by  Nathaniel  Grigsby.  Bristow 
afterward  sold  out  and  accompanied  by 
the  entire  family,  except  one  son,  who 
now  resides  in  Warsaw,  Illinois,  re- 
moved to  Oregon. 

John  Woodsides  was  also  among  the 
pioneers  of  this  township.  He  came 
from  his  native  state,  Virginia,  settling 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


859 


on  section  16,  where  he  resided  about 
10  years,  when  he  left  the  county  and 
state.  The  place  is  now  owned  by  the 
Nathan  Mustain  estate. 

John  Bagby,  a  Virginian,  came  about 
the  same  time  as  Woodsides  and  settled 
on  the  same  section,  but  soon  afterward 
sold  the  place.  He  improved  another 
farm  southwest  of  his  first  location,  but 
afterward  disposed  of  this  also,  and  re- 
moved to  Hancock  county.  Not  admir- 
ing the  county  as  well  as  he  had  antici- 
pated, he  returned  to  this  township, 
where  he  suddenly  dropped  dead  one 
day,  while  carrying  in  an  armful  of 
wood  at  his  home. 

On  the  14th  day  of  March,  1830,  John 
Huston  arrived  from  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  and  took  up  a  farm  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  3.  His  family, 
upon  their  arrival,  consisted  of  himself 
and  wife  and  one  child,  now  a  practicing 
physician  of  Blandinsville.  Their  pos- 
sessions in  life  were  few,  but  they  were 
determined  and  successful,  accumulated 
considerable  property  and  left  a  good 
record.  Mr.  Huston  died  July  8,  1854, 
leaving  seven  children.  Four  sons  are 
now  living  in  the  county,  two  are  dead, 
while  the  daughter  is  married  and  liv- 
ing at  Abingdon,  Knox  county,  Illinois. 
A  full  and  detailed  sketch  of  this  emi- 
nent gentleman  appears  under  the.  head 
of  members  of  the  general  assembly  in 
the  chapter  entitled  "National,  State 
and  County  Representation,"  he  having 
been  elected  to  that  office  in  1850. 

Rigdon  Huston,  the  third  son  of  John 
Huston,  whose  biographical  sketch  ap- 
pears elsewhere,  is  among  the  '  most  en- 
terprising of  McDonough  county  farmers. 
He  is  properly  and  thoroughly  a  McDon- 


ough man,  having  been  born  here  in  the 
township  of  Blandinsville,  October  26, 
1833.  He  has  witnessed  the  develop- 
ment of  this  county,  and  contributed  no 
small  share  of  brains  and  muscle  in 
effecting  the  transformation,  from  a  state 
of  natural  wildness,  to  one  of  cultivated 
farms  and  desirable  homes.  Mr.  Huston 
has  been  interested  particularly  in  fine 
cattle,  and  has  one  of  the  best  herds  of 
thoroughbred  short  horns  in  the  United 
States,  a  history  of  which  appears  else- 
where. He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm 
and  continued  on  the  old  homestead  till 
December  17,  1857.  His  education  was 
received  in  the  common  schools,  subse- 
quently supplemented  by  a  six  months 
course  of  instruction  at  Abingdon  acad- 
emy. His  father  had  but  a  limited  edu- 
cation, and  designed  giving  Rigdon  an 
opportunity  to  obtain  a  good  one,  but 
after  six  months  at  the  academy,  where 
he  expected  to  remain  three  years,  he 
was  suddenly  called  home  by  the  death 
of  his  father,  and  having  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  the  business  and  condition  of 
his  affairs,  he  and  Colonel  Berry  were 
made  executors  of  the  estate.  He  was 
thus  appointed  by  his  father's  will,  but 
being  under  age,  Colonel  Berry  was 
made  legal  executor,  under  whose  direc- 
tion Rigdon  and  he  transacted  all  the 
business,  and  was  thus  practically  execu- 
tor of  the  estate.  He  then  remained  at 
the  old  place,  managing  its  affairs,  and 
closing  up  the  business  of  his  father  from 
March,  1854,  to  March,  1857.  He  was 
married  to  Lucy  C.  Charter,  December 
17,  1857,  and  located  on  a  portion  of  the 
old  homestead.  He  there  remained  until 
March  4,  1868,  when  he  removed  to  sec- 
tion 11,  where  three  years  previously  he 


860 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


had  purchased  160  acres  of  unimproved 
land.  He  improved  the  place  and  in  1867, 
built  a  large,  commodious  residence.  He 
now  owns  a  farm  there  of  740  acres  of 
beautiful  land,  and  the  improvements 
are  among  the  best  in  the  county.  In 
addition  to  this  place  he  owns  510  acres, 
detached  and  under  cultivation,  except 
50  acres  of  timber.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hus- 
ton have  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living — Theodore,  now  living  on 
the  home  farm  and  married  to  Anna  B. 
Burhans;  J.  Allen,  who  died  February 
15,  1876;  Charles  R.,  married  to  Alice 
Blackhurst,  and  living  in  Blandinsville ; 
John  H.,  living  at  home  and  Luella.  Mr. 
Huston  is  among  those  men  of  this 
county  who  have  been  successful.  In 
the  selection  of  lands  and  of  stock  he 
has  had  good  judgement,  and  no  man  in 
the  county  is  better  qualified  to  pass 
judgment  upon  fine  grades  of  cattle. 
Everything  about  his  place  indicates  the 
thrift  and  enterprise  of  its  owner  and  he 
is  ever  ready  to  give  hearty  welcome  to 
all. 

Russell  Duncan  also  came  in  1830. 
He  occupied  a  part  of  Mr.  Huston's 
house  until  he  had  erected  one  for  him- 
self and  family  on  section  3,  which,  how- 
ever, he  intended  to  build  on  section  4, 
but  by  mistake  it  was  put  up  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  line.  He  came  from 
Tennessee,  and  after  his  cabin  was  com- 
pleted, he  immediately  moved  into  it. 
He  lived  there  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  very  suddenly  in 
in  the  spring  of  1840.  The  old  home- 
stead is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
Charles  Huston. 

Charles  Duncan  came  about  the  same 
time.  As  he  was  a  single  man,  he  took 


up  a  claim  with  his  brother,  Russell, 
with  whom  he  lived  until  his  father  came 
to  the  township.  He  afterward  removed 
to  Hancock  county,  but  did  not  remain 
there  a  great  while,  returning  to  this 
township:  He  subsequently  removed  to 
California,  where  he  now  resides. 

Section  32  also  received  a  settler  that 
season  in  the  person  of  John  Scroggins. 
He  here  built  a  cabin,  made  a  few  im- 
provements, and  after  a  short  time  sold 
out  and  left  the  state. 

During  the  early  spring  of  1830,  John 
Hardesty  came,  accompanied  by  his  fam- 
ily, consisting  of  his  wife  and  eight  chil- 
dren, and  settled  on  section  9.  He  there 
remained,  with  the  exception  of  four 
years  spent  in  Missouri,  until  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  August, 
1875.  His  son,  J.  V.  M.  Hardesty,  was 
a  resident  of  the  township,  living  near 
the  village  of  Blandinsville,  until  April, 
1885,  when  he  sold  out,  and  together 
with  the  family,  emigrated  to  Kansas. 

William  Dickens  also  came  in  the 
spring  of  1830.  The  winter  following 
drove  him  away,  and  he  hastened  to 
Iowa,  where  he  has  since  died.  The 
place  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  McGee,  who 
resides  thereon. 

The  spring  of  1830  also  brought  Enoch 
Cyrus  to  the  township,  who  came  from 
his  native  state,  Tennessee.  He  was  a 
man  of  considerable  education,  and 
taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  the 
township.  After  a  few  years  he  sold  out 
and  removed  to  Missouri.  He  afterward 
went  to  California,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred. Philip  George  now  resides  on 
the  place. 

Noble  Owsley  came  about  the  same 
time,  and  settled  near  Cyrus.  The  "big 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


861 


snow"  discouraged  him  also,  and  selling 
out  to  John  Parent,  he  removed  to  Iowa. 

In  the  fall  of  1830,  Joel  Duncan  came 
from  Tennessee,  and  moved  into '  the 
cabin  with  his  son  Russell,  on  section  4. 
He  immediately  commenced  operations 
for  the  erection  of  a  cabin  for  himself 
and  family,  but  being  overtaken  in  the 
work  before  its  completion  by  the  great 
snow  storm  of  1830-31,  he  was  unable  to 
finish  it  that  fall.  As  a  consequence  13 
lived  in  a  cabin  18  feet  square,  with  one 
door,  no  windows,  and  but  a  loft  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  many  sleepers. 
He  afterward  settled  on  another  place, 
south  of  there,  where  he  died. 

Jacob  Coffman  came  in  1830,  and 
erected  a  cabin  on  section  8.  After  a 
few  years  residence  here  he  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Missouri.  John  Mustain, 
Jr.,  is  the  present  owner  of  this  place. 
Mr.  Coffman  subsequently  returned  to 
the  county  where  he  died. 

During  the  fall  of  1830,  the  Grigsby's 
came,  where  the  father  died  in  1874.  A 
number  of  the  children  are  still  residents 
of  the  county. 

The  settlement  after  this  date  was 
very  slow  for  a  few  years,  and  then  the 
county  filled  up  rapidly.  In  the  fall  of 
1831,  John  Duncan  came  to  the  town- 
ship, and  here  died. 

Thomas  B.  Duncan  is  one  early  set- 
tler of  this  county,  having  come  here 
with  his  parents,  November  2,  1831,  and 
settled  on  section  18,  of  Blandinsville 
township.  He  is  a  native  of  Tennessee, 
and  was  born  in  White  county ;  June  18, 
1828.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Marga- 
ret (Wright)  Duncan.  He  continued 
to  make  his  home  on  the  old  farm  until 
the  time  of  his  marriage,  March  1, 1849, 


to  Martha  Ann   Woodside,  daughter  of 
'  Samuel  and  Eleanor  (Robinson)  Wood- 
side.     Soon  after   that  important  event 
he  moved  to  the    northwest  quarter  of 
section  14,  and  there  lived  until  1855.  He 
then  moved  to  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  8,  and   there    lived  in   a   small 
]  frame  house  until  March,  1858.     In  1858 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  and 
there  remained  until   1862,  .then  moved 
to  Blandinsville  village  and  engaged  in 
blacksmithing     until     1864.     He    then 
changed  his  business  and  went  into  the 
drug  trade  with  Dr.  J.  H.  Emery,  and 
continued  18  months,  when  he  sold  out 
to  Davis  Aldrich.     His   next  move  was 
in  the  fall  of  1865,  when  he  went  to  sec- 
tion 8  and  built  a  store   house,  and  en- 
gaged for  a  few  months  in  the  grocery 
business,  then  sold  out  to  C.  M.  Duncan. 
He  then  returned  to  the  village'of  Bland- 
insville, and  there  worked   at  his  trade 
until  the  fall  of  1869,  then  moved  to  his 
present  location  on  section  8.  Meanwhile, " 
desirous  of  viewing  some  other  country, 
he  took  a  trip  with  a  mule  team  across 
the  plains  to  Colorado,  and  to  the  pres- 
ent site  of  Leadville.     Thus  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Duncan  has  had  a  somewhat 
varied  experience.    He  has  also  been  in- 
terested in   public  affairs,  having  twice 
been  elected  justice  of 'the  peace.     Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Duncan  are    the    parents  of 
three  children,  Alice,  born  May  22, 1856, 
and  the  wife  of  J.  W.  Crenshaw,  of  Hen- 
derson   county,   Illinois;   Franklin  W., 
born  May  2,  1860,  now  living  in  Iowa; 
and  Louis  H.,  born  July  15,  1872.     Mr. 
D.  is  now  engaged  mostly  in  working  at 
his  trade.  '  Politically  he  is  a  democrat. 

Thomas  A.  Mustain,   deceased,  third 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Glen)  Mus- 


51 


862 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tain,  was  born  in  Pittsylvania  county, 
Virginia,  January  13,  1819.  He  came 
here  with  the  family,  in  1832.  He  re- 
sided on  section  16,  Blandinsville  town- 
ship for  many  years,  but  subsequently 
removed  to  section  9,  of  the  same  town- 
ship, where  he  died  November  9,  1880. 
He  was  married  March  15,  1865,  to 
Martha  E.  Charter,  daughter  of  Jona- 
than and  Nancy  (Ward)  Charter.  Six 
children  were  born  to  them,  four  of 
whom  are  living — Hattie  G.,  born  June 
5,  1868;  Harry  Hardin,  born  November 
29,  1871;  Ruby  C.,  born  February  5, 
1873,  and  Thomas  A.,  born  July  6,  1877. 
Mr.  Mustain  owned  a  large  and  finely 
improved  farm,  containing  720  acres, 
and  a  large  brick  residence,  erected  in 
1873,  at  a  cost  of  $11,000.  His  widow, 
now  resides  upon,  and  manages  the 
farm.  She  is  a  lady  of  much  energy 
and  good  judgment.  Thomas  A.  Mus- 
tain, participated  in  the  Mormon  war  in 
"  1844,  serving  as  lieutenant,  under  Geo. 
W.  Blandin.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  politically,  a  democrat. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appear- 
ance, being  six  feet  in  height,  and  weigh- 
ing more  than  200  pounds.  He  was 
strictly  honest  in  all  his  dealings,  and 
in  disposition,  genial,  kindly,  and  gen- 
erous. He  was  much  beloved,  and  died 
deeply  mourned  by  a  large  circle  of  rel- 
atives and  friends. 

William  D.  Mustain,  one  of  the  pion- 
eers of  McDonough  county,  and  an  old 
and  highly  esteemed  citizen,  came  here 
in  the  fall  of  1832,  accompanying  his 
parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  (Glen) 
Mustain.  They  settled  on  section  16, 
Blandinsville  township.  William  D., 
remained  with  his  parents  until  his  mar- 


riage, August  11,  1835,  to  Jane  Wood- 
side,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Bagby)  Woodside,  who  was  born  JFeb- 
ruary  24,  1817.  In  the  spring  of  1837, 
he  moved  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  until  the  fall  of  1839.  At 
that  date  he  returned  to  Blandinsville 
township,  and  lived  for  a  few  months  on 
section  16,  then  moved  to  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  32,  which  was  his  res- 
idence until  1849.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  home  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  the  same  section.  Upon 
this  place  stood  a  small  log  cabin,  con- 
taining two  rooms,  in  which  the  family 
lived  until  1876,  when  he  erected  a  large 
and  convenient  frame  house,  costing 
$3,000.  Mr.  Mustain  is  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, born  in  Pittsylvania  county,  June 
21,  1813,  and  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
nine  children.  Of  his  brothers  and  sis- 
ters, Daniel  C.,  was  born  in  1815; 
Thomas  A.,  in  1817,  Nathan  G.,  in  1819; 
Jane  M.,  in  1821;  Elizabeth  A.,  in  1827; 
James  A.,  in  1829;  George  W.,  in  1832; 
and  Gilley  G.,  in  1834.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam D.  Mustain  had  a  family  of  ten 
children — Nancy  Elizabeth,  born  Aug- 
ust 28, 1836,  married  to  William  T.  Moss 
and  died  May  1,  1863 ;  Sarah  Jane,  born 
May  8,  1838,  married  to  John  P.  Welsh, 
and  died  December  25,  1862;  Martha 
Ann,  born  March  3,  1840,  married  to  J. 
L.  Welsh;  John  David,  born  January 
21,  1843;  Mary  A.,  wife  of  John  Nelson, 
born  August  21,  1845;  Gilley  L.,  born 
April  11,  1848,  wife  of  W.  H.  Pugh; 
Margaret  V.,  born  July  24,  1850,  mar- 
ried to  I.  P.  Ray,  and  died  June  25, 
1879,  aged  28  years,  11  months  and  one 
day;  Wilmuth  M.,  born  November  9, 
1852,  died  December  28,  1871,  aged  19 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


863 


years  and  19  days;  Frances  A.,  born 
September  26,  1855,  wife  of  J.  M. 
Hughes;  and  Addie  D.,  born  October 
23, 1858,  and  married  to  J.  A.  Brakey. 
Mrs.  Mustin  died  January  26,  1862,  at 
the  age  of  44  years,  11  months  and  two 
days.  She  was  for  30  years,  a  consist- 
ent member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  a  very  estimable  woman.  Since  the 
death  of  his  wife,  Mr.  Mustain  has  re- 
sided with  his  daughter  upon  the  home- 
stead farm.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  politically,  a  dem- 
ocrat. Mr.  Mustain  was  justice  of  the 
peace  one  term,  assessor  twice,  collector 
twice  and  school  director  of  Blandins- 
ville  district  about  40  years.  The  fam- 
ily were  all  educated  in  McDonough 
county,  with  the  exception  of  the  father 
and  mother,  the  former  receiving  five 
years'  schooling  in  Pittsylvania  county, 
Virginia,  and  one  term  in  Illinois;  the 
latter  was  educated  in  the  western  coun- 
try. 

John  F.  Mustain  is  a  son  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Gleu)  Mustain,  both  natives 
of  Virginia.  John  F.  was  born  in  Pitt- 
sylvania county,  of  that  state,  November 
15,  1824,  and  came  with  the  family  to 
McDonough  county,  in  November,  1832. 
They  settled  on  section  16,  Blandinsville 
township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
lived  at  home  until  his  marriage,  on  the 
22d  day  of  December,  1846,  to  Elizabeth 
M.  Charter,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  and 
Nancy  (Ward)  Charter.  She  was  born 
November  22,  1829.  He  then  moved  to 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  16,  where 
they  resided  about  1  year,  when  they 
removed  to  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  21,  which  is  his  present  home. 
At  that  time  the  improvements  upon  the 


place  were  slight,  consisting  of  a  log 
cabin,  and  20  acres  broken.  They  lived 
in  the  cabin  until  the  fall  of  1853;  he 
then  built  a  small  frame  house,  to  which, 
in  1852,  he  built  a  large  addition,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,500.  Mr.  Mustain  has  been 
financially  prosperous,  and  is  in  posses- 
sion of  a  competency.  This  is  wholly 
due  to  his  own  industry  and  persever- 
ance. He  owns  240  acres  on  section  21, 
80  acres  on  section  20,  and  240  acres  on 
section  10,  Blandinsville  township;  also 
200  acres  in  Sciota  township.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mustain  had 
eight  children — Nathan  D.,  born  August 
2,  1848;  Nancy  J.,  born  February  14, 
1851;  George  D.,  born  October  20,1852; 
Thomas  C.,  born  August  3,  1854;  Eliza- 
beth L.,  born  November  30,  1856;  John 
A.,  born  July  20,  1859;  and  Carrie  I., 
born  January  3,  1861.  Mrs.  Mustain 
died  July  4,  1871.  Mr.  Mustain  was 
again  married,  on  the  17th  of  October, 
1872,  to  Sarah  A.  Darrah,  daughter  of 
Absalom  and  Minerva  A.  (Mealy)  Dar- 
rah, of  Ohio.  She  was  born  February 
25,  1852.  By  this  union  there  is  one 
child-  Ola  I.,  born  July  10,  1879.  Two 
of  Mr.  Mustain' s  daughters  are  deceased 
Nancy  J.,  who  was  the  wife  of  William 
T.  Hardesty,  died  February  20,  1873; 
and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in  August,  1869. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mustain  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  church.  He  is  politically  a 
democrat. 

Harrison  Hungate  came  to  this  county 
September  27,  1833,  and  is,  therefore, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers.  He  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Kentucky, 
February  28,  1810,  and  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Coffman)  Hungate.  Harri- 


864 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


son,  in  his  youth,  learned  the  miller's 
trade,  which  he ,  followed  a  number  of 
yfcars,  after  which  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  his  native  state.  Soon  after  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  bought  a  farm  in 
Blandinsville  township  and  lived  upon 
the  same  eight  years,  then  removed  to 
the  village  of  Blandinsville  where  he 
still  resides.  He  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  with  Silas  J.  Hopper  with 
whom  he  continued  about  six  years,  after 
which  he  was,  for  a  time,  in  the  grocery 
trade,  in  partnership  with  Victor  M. 
Hardiu.  Since  then  he  has  been  living 
a  retired  life.  He  was  married  March 
29, 1832,  to  Susannah  Ward. 

In  1833,  Hugh  Connor  settled  in 
Blandinsville  township.  He  came  from 
Jefferson  county,  Tennessee,  where  he 
was  born  in  1809.  He  afterward  died 
here.  His  wife  still  survives  him,  and 
is  still  an  occupant  of  the  old  homestead 
on  section  2. 

In  1834  Joseph  Duncan  entered  land 
on  section  4,  where  he  afterward  sud- 
denly died.  The  place  is  now  owned  by 
his  widow. 

OTHER  8ETTLEES. 

After  this  the  township  was  settled  up 
rapidly  and  it  would  be  impossible  to 
trace  the  settlers  with  any  degree  of 
regularity.  But  we  here  append  a  num- 
ber of  the  representative  citizens  of  to- 
day, which  will  impress  the  reader  with 
the  character  of  Blandinsville's  present 
inhabitants : 

Sewell  Leavitt  came  to  this  county  in 
1865,  from  LaHarpe,  Hancock  county, 
Illinois.  He  settled  then  on  section  14, 
Blandinsville  township,  which  is  still  his 
home.  He  purchased  160  acres  upon 
which  there  was  some  improvement.  He 


now  has  a  desirable  farm  of  210  acres, 
with  good  improvements.     Mr.  Leavitt 
was  originally  from  the  state  of  Maine, 
and  was   born  February  22,  1831.     He 
left  his  native  state  when  eight  years  old, 
removing  in  1839,  with  his  parents,  to 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm.     He  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  common  school, 
and  remained  at  home  until  1850,  when 
he  took   a  trip  to   California,  and  en- 
gaged in   mining    about    five    months. 
He    then    returned    to    his    home    in 
LaHarpe,    where    he    lived    till    1865, 
coming  then,  as  before  stated,    to  this 
county.     Mr.   Leavitt  was    married,  in 
1853,   to  Jane  Blackhurst,  a  native  of 
England,  who  died  in  1858,  leaving  him 
two    children,   William  and   Ida.     The 
latter  is  deceased.     In  1862  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Dorothy  Blackhurst,  a  sister  of 
his  former  wife.     By  this  union  there 
are   two   children,   Owen   and   Charles, 
both  living  with  their  parents.     Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Leavitt  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church.     He  is,  in  politics,  a  repub- 
lican. 

John  Gilfrey,  deceased,  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  during  the  winter  of 
1835-36,  and  settled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  20,  Blandinsville  town- 
ship. He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
having  been  born  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, July  1,  1793.  He  remained 
there  until  October,  1828,  then  removed 
to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  from  whence, 
in  October,  1835,  he  came  to  Illinois, 
and  settled  near  Canton,  Fulton  county. 
By  trade  he  was  a  brush  manufacturer, 
and  worked  at  that  trade  up  to  the  time 
of  his  coming  to  this  state.  On  the  2d 
of  February,  1814,  he  was  united  in  mar- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


865 


riage  with  Elizabeth  B.  McHam,  who 
was  born  September  9,  1793,  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  They 
had  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living — Henry  R ;  John 
T.,  a  resident  of  Oregon  since  1852; 
Thomas  M.,  of  Morris  county,  Kansas; 
and  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Hen- 
derson, of  Canton,  Missouri.  The  de- 
ceased children  were:  Margaret  R,  who 
died  in  Philadelphia  on  the  9th  of  Au- 
gust, 1823;  Sarah  E.,  who  married  John 
Gill,  and  died  in  Delaware,  May  3, 1872; 
and  George  L.,  who  died  in  Baltimore, 
June  30, 1835.  Mr.  Gilf  rey  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812. 

Henry  R  Gilfrey,  the  eldest  of  the 
above  named  children,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 6,  1815,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia, 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  old  In- 
dependence Hall.  He  remained  with 
his  parents  in  his  native  city  until  his 
13th  year,  when  they  removed  to  Balti- 
more, Maryland.  Here  he  remained  un- 
til the  spring  £>f  1836,  then  coming  to 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  settling 
on  the  same  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides. Upon  coming  here  he  built  the 
house  in  which  he  now  resides.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  August  16, 1849,  with 
Mary  C.  Thompson,  a  native  of  Scotland. 
They  have  been  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  all  of  whom  are  still  living — 
Sarah  E.,  born  June  28,  1850,  now  the 
wife  of  Emory  Runkle,  of  Macomb ;  Mar- 
garet E.,  born  September  26,  1852,  now 
the  wife  of  Thomas  Lusk,  of  Macomb; 
Louis  R,  born  August  24,  1857,  married 
Sarah  Haw,  and  now  residing  at  Wash- 
ington, Nebraska;  Henry  H.,  born  Janu- 
ary 11,  1864,  a  resident  of  same  place; 
William  R.,  born  January  10,  1867;  and 


Mary  E.,  born  August  23, 1871,  both  liv- 
ing with  parents.  Mr.  Gilfrey's  princi- 
pal occupation  through  life  has  been 
that  of  a  farmer,  although  for  some  time 
working  at  his  trade,  that  of  a  carpenter 
and  joiner. 

Charles  Conwell  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1874,  and  settled  on  section  18, 
of  Blandinsville  township.  He  pur- 
chased 160  acres  (the  northwest  quarter) 
of  N.  Hunt,  upon  which  were  very  slight 
improvements.  In  1881  Conwell  ejected 
a  commodious  residence.  His  barn  and 
other  improvements  are  also  new  and 
first  class,  and  his  farm  a  well  cultivated 
and  desirable  one.  He  is  engaged  in 
stock-raising.  Mr.  Conwell  was  born  in 
Janesville,  Washington  county,  Ohio, 
March  17,  1843.  His  father  was,  by 
trade,  a  millwright.  When  Charles  was 
12  years  old  his  father  moved  to  a  farm 
in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
until  the  fall  of  1864,  then  moved  to 
Hancock  county,  Illinois;  lived  there 
until  1874,  when  he  came  to  McDonough 
county.  He  obtained  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  that  county,  and 
there  followed  farming  until  he  came 
here.  His  parents  are  yet  living  in  Han- 
cock county.  He  was  married  Septem- 
ber 25,  1872,  to  Emma  Grigsby,  daugh- 
ter of  R.  Grigsby.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children — Cora,  Arthur  and 
Clifton.  Mr.  Conwell  is  a  thorough- 
going and  prosperous  farmer. 

Nathan  D.  Mustain  has  always  been  a 
resident  of  this  county,  and  of  Blan- 
dinsville township.  He  has  heeded  the 
old  adage,  that  "  a  rolling  stone  gathers 
no  moss  "  and  as  a  consequence,  he  now 
owns  126  acres  of  land,  and  is  comfort- 
ably situated.  He  was  born  in  the  town- 


866 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ship,  in  August,  1848,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  T.  and  Elizabeth  ( Charter )  Mus- 
tain.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  old 
homestead  with  his  parents,  attending 
the  district  school,  and  assisting  his 
father  in  the  management  of  the  farm. 
He  was  married  August  29,  1869,  to 
Almeda  Foster,  a  daughter  of  George 
H.  and  Mary  (Chandler)  Foster.  Soon 
after  this  important  event,  he  occupied 
a  farm  belonging  to  his  father  on  section 
22,  and  there  remained  one  year.  In 
the  spring  of  1871,  he  moved  to  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  17,  and 
there  lived  in  a  small  frame  house.  In 
1874,  a  more  commodious  structure  was 
ere'cted  for  him  by  his  father.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mustain  have  had  seven  children, 
four  girls  and  three  boys — Mary  E., 
born  February  22,  1871;  Mattie  I.,  born 
November  19, 1872;  Ethel  M.,  born  Oct- 
ober 1, 1875;  Jesse  T.,  born  January  5, 
1878,  and  died  on  the  28th  of  December, 
1879;  Orrin  D.,  born  February  19, 1880; 
Alta  E.,  born  May  25,  1882,  and  Bern- 
ard F.,  born  September  17,  1884.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mustain  are  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  Politically,  he  is  a 
democrat. 

George  W.  Mustain,  a  farmer  in  Bland- 
insville  township,  may  properly  be  con- 
sidered an  old  settler,  having  come  here 
in  the  fall  of  1832,  when  but  six  months 
old.  He  has  witnessed  the  development 
of  this  county,  grown  up  within  its  bor-. 
ders,  and  here  accumulated  a  competency. 
He  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born 
in  Pittsylvania  county,  March  2,  1832, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
(Glenn)  Mustain.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  on  the  farm,  on  section  16,  until 
October,  1859,  when  he  was  married  to 


Rebecca  Roberts,  daughter  of  M.  B. 
Roberts,  of  this  county.  The  next  year 
after  this  important  event  he  moved  to 
Sciota  township.  In  the  fall  of  1864 
he  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mustain  have  had  11  children,  7  of 
whom  are  now  living:  Arrilla  F.,  now 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Brockway,  of  Han- 
cock county;  Emma  F.,  deceased;  Ella 
J.,  at  home;  Owen  G.,  Amanda  E. ; 
Sarah  E.,  deceased;  Henry  W.,  Willis 
E. ;  Minnie,  deceased;  Winnie  I. ;  and 
George  B.,  deceased.  Mr.  Mustain  owns 
a  good  farm  of  320  acres  of  land. 

Charles  P.  Mustain,  a  resident  of 
Blandinsville  township,  was  born  upon 
the  place  where  he  now  resides,  May  23, 
1852.  He  is  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Han- 
nah Mustain.  His  early  life  was  spent 
in  attending  school  and  working  upon 
the  farm.  When  21  years  of  age  he  set- 
tled on  a  farm  which  he  had  purchased 
in  Sciota  township.  It  consisted  of  80 
acres  located  on  section  17.  September 
30,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Laura  Clug- 
ston,  daughter  of  John  B.  Clugston,  of 
Macomb.  For  two  years  after  marriage 
he  continued  to  reside  upon  the  farm, 
then  moved  to  Macomb,  where,  January 
17,  1877,  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  the  dry 
goods  store  of  L.  Johnson.  He  subse- 
quently bought  the  grocery  store  of  John 
B.  Simpson,  and  for  two  and  a  half  years, 
carried  on  a  grocery  and  meat  market. 
In  December,  1881,  he  sold  that  business 
to  Frost  and  Maury.  The  following 
February,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
A.  B.  Gilfrey  and  opened  a  restaurant. 
In  May,  1883,  the  partnership  was  dis- 
solved and  Mr.  Mustain  established  the 
art  gallery  on  the  east  side  of  the  square, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


867 


now  owned  by  Patterson  &  Co.  A  few 
months  later  he  bought  the  restaurant 
of  G.  S.  Gumbart,  and  again  engaged  in 
that  business,  which  he  continued  until 
February  1,  1884  Soon  after  he  engaged 
as  traveling  salesman  with  Kendall,  Bai- 
ley &  Co.,  cracker  manufacturers,  of  St. 
Louis,  and  Dodge  &  Steward's  candy 
house.  June  following  he  discontinued 
that  business  and  went  to  Quincy  where 
he  started  Wishard  &  ,  Mustain's  ice 
cream  factory.  August  15,  of  the  same 
year  he  returned  to  Macomb  and  worked 
in  the  restaurant  of  Twyman  &  Johnson, 
with  whom  he  remained  a  short  time 
after  which  he  removed  to  his  farm  on 
section  16,  Blandinsville  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Mustain  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  are  living — •  Arthur 
Eoweu,  born  September  4,  1877;  Glenn 
Ira,  born  June  11,  1879;  and  Fannie 
Alice,  born  November  14,  1881.  Mr. 
Mustain  is  a  staunch  supporter  *of  the 
democratic  party  and  a  member  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  also  of  the  A.  O.  M.  A.  and 
the  I.  B.  Mr.  Mustain  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church. 

George  D.  Mustain,  son  of  John  F. 
and  Elizabeth  (Charter)  Mustain  was 
born  October  20,  1852,  in  Blandinsville 
township.  He  resided  in  this  vicinity 
until  April,  1882,  when  he  moved  to 
Spink  county,  Dakota.  He  remained  in 
that  state  only  one  year  and  returned  to 
Blandinsville.  He  was  married  in  1871, 
to  Winnie  Heusley,  daughter  of  Nathan 
Heusley.  She  died  in  1872.  Mr.  Mus- 
tain was  again  married  March  4, 1877,  to 
Katie  Derk,  daughter  of  Peter  Derk,  of 
Sciota  township,  and  by  this  union  has 
one  child— Terry  Glen,  born  August  ,5, 
1884.  Mr.  Mustain  owns  80  acres  of 


land  on  section  16,  Blandinsville  town- 
ship, also  320  acres  in  Dakota.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  his 
wife  of  the  M.  E.  church.  Politically, 
he  is  a  democrat. 

Martin  Spiker,  farmer  and  stock 
raiser  in  Blandinsville  township,  is  a 
native  of  'Ohio,  and  was  born  in  Morgan 
county,  January  24,  1819.  He  is  a  son 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Spiker, 
and  came  to  this  county  in  1842.  He 
was  not  among  the  earliest  settlers,  but 
came  at  an  early  day,  and  has  witnessed 
the  development  of  a  fine  section  of 
country.  He  has  seen  many-  farms, 
which,  from  nature's  wildness,  have 
been  transformed,  and  made  to  yield 
their  crops  of  abundance  and  plenty. 
In  1851  the  important  event  occurred  of 
his  marriage  to  Mary  Jane  Duncan. 
They  have  had  seven  children — William, 
born  January  19,  1847;  Charles  S.,  De- 
cember 9,  1850;  Albert  E.,  June  23, 
1853;  Francis  E.,  Thomas  F.,  James  D., 
and  Louisa  J.  He  is  the  OAvner  of  a 
good  farm,  consisting  of  130  acros.  Mr. 
Spiker  is  a  man  -who  takes  an  interest 
in  public  affairs,  and  has  been  school 
director  a  number  of  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  has  a  good  reputation  for 
honesty  and  integrity.  Politically,  he 
votes  with  the  republican  party. 

William  Martin  Miller  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  and  was  born  in  Monroe  county, 
December  18,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  and  Martha  Jane  (Berry)  Miller. 
In  1848,  the .  family  left  Monroe  county, 
and  went  to  Adams '  county,  Illinois, 
from  thence,  in  1854,  to  this  county  and 
Blandinsville  township,  where  the  father 
bought  the  farm  now  owned  by  Preston 


868 


HISTORY  OF  MeDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Huston.  He  sold  this  place  in  1858, 
and  then  bought  the  farm  now  owned  by 
William  Robinson.  He  there  continued 
to  live  with  his  father  for  four  years, 
then  took  up  his  abode  on  section  9,  and 
continued  until  1868,  then  moved  to 
Nodaway  county,  Missouri,  and  there 
remained  until  1872,  then  returned  to 
Blandinsville  township,  and  on  October 
31,  of  that  year  was  married  to  Ellen 
Mustain,daughter  of  Nathan  and  Hannah 
Mustain.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  he 
moved  to  Sciota  township,  and  occupied 
a  place  belonging  to  his  wife,  on  section 
17.  That  was  his  home  until  1878,  when 
he  removed  to  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  9,  and  he  now  owns  a  farm  of 
130  acres.  This  place  was  formerly  the 
property  of  Dr.  John  Hardesty,  and  has 
been  in  cultivation  for  53  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Miller  have  had  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  now  living — Luna, 
born  November  22,  1873;  Frank  O.,  born 
April  12,  1876,  and  who  died  June  3, 
1877;  Bessie,  born  June  2,  1878,  and 
Edward,  born  July  9th,  1881.  Mr. 
Miller,  politically,  is  a  member  of  the 
democratic  party.  He  is,  religiously,  a 
member  of  the  church  of  Christ,  com- 
monly known  as  Disciples. 

Philip  W.  George,  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  prominent  citizen  of  Blan- 
dinsville township,  was  born  in  Germany 
February  23,  1835.  His  parents,  Henry 
and  Dora  E.  (Schaffer)  George,  came  to 
America  in  1848,  bringing  with  them 
their  family  of  seven  children — Henry, 
John  G.,  Jacob,  Catharine,  wife  of  John 
Ulrich,  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois, 
Philip  W.,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Henry 
Smith,  of  Hancock  county,  and  Andrew. 
In  1855,  Philip*  W.  George  came  to 


McDonough  county,  and  worked  upon  a 
farm  in  Tennessee  township,  for  William 
Allison,  one  summer,  then  one  month  for 
John  Kirk,  Sr.,  after  which  he  was  em- 
ployed upon  the  farm  of  Solomon  Kious 
until  the  fall  of  1856.  He  then  rented 
land  one  season  of  James  Welch.  De- 
cember 21,  1856,  he  was  married  to 
Harriet  Jane  Welch,  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (Sweasy)  Welch,  of  Ken- 
tucky. After  marriage  he  removed  to 
section  29,  Hire  township,  where  he 
built  a  log  house,  in  which  they  lived 
until  1863,  when  he  built  a  frame  house. 
In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  moved  to  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  30,  of  the 
same  township,  where  he  resided  till  the 
fall  of  1875.  At  that  date  he  purchased  of 
Alfred  Coffman,  a  finely  improved  farm 
of  200  acres,  located  in  section  18,  Blan- 
dinsville township,  his  present  residence. 
He  has  since  purchased  105  acres  more. 
His  dwelling  is  commodious  and  com- 
fortable, and  his  barn  and  other  build- 
ings are  of  the  best  class.  His  farm  is 
well  stocked  and  highly  cultivated.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  George  have  had  eight  chil- 
dren, five  of  whom  are  living  and  three 
dead — Amanda  E.,  deceased  wife  of  J. 
H.  Fowler;  Maggie,  wife  of  George  W. 
Henry,  of  Stark  county,  Illinois;  Albert, 
Mahala  A.,  Hattie  B.,  Charles  C.,  Luther 
B.,  who  died  September  2,  1877;  Henry, 
who  died  July  24,  1874.  Mrs.  Fowler's 
death  occurred  on  the  26th  of  September, 
1880.  Mr.  George  owes  his  present  pros- 
perity entirely  to  his  own  perseverance 
and  industry.  At  the  age  of  17  years 
he  left  home,  for  which  privilege  he  paid 
his  father  the  sum  of  $36.  He  then, 
without  means  or  material  assistance 
from  any  source,  commenced  the  battle 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


869 


of  life  on  his  own  responsibility.  He  is 
one  example  of  what  pluck,  energy,  and 
perseverance  can  accomplish,  for  thus 
early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  he 
has  been  successful,  and  may  properly 
be  considered  a  self-made  man.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  road  commissioner  two 
years,  and  school  director  seven  years. 
He  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in 
educating  his  children.  The  three  eld- 
est daughters,  Amanda,  Maggie,  and 
Mahala  have  been  engaged  in  school 
teaching.  Mahala  is  still  in  that  praise- 
worthy calling. 

John  T.  James  first  came  to  this 
county,  with  his  parents,  in  1854,  and 
settled  upon  section  20,  Blandinsville 
township,  where  they  lived  upon  rented 
land  till  March,  1856.  At  that  date 
they  removed  to  Sciota  township,  and 
located  on  a  farm  of  80  acres,  which 
they  purchased.  He  resided  in  that 
township  till  1879,  when  he  went  to 
Kansas  and  took  up  a  claim  on  the  Kaw 
Indian  reservation.  He  remained  in 
that  state  till  1882,  then  returned  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  and  purchased  of  A. 
Hungate,  a  farm  located  on  section  17, 
Blandinsville  township,  which  is  his 
present  residence.  He  owns  255  acres 
of  valuable  land,  35  acres  in  section  7, 
80  acres  in  section  19,  and  140  acres  in 
section  17.  Mr.  James  was  born  May 
20,  1840,  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  is 
a  son  of  Aaron  and  Eliza  (Brown) 
James.  He  was  married  July  16,  1865, 
to  Samantha  Hopper,  daughter  of  A.  P. 
Hopper,  a  native  of  New  York  state. 
Eight  children  blessed  their  union- 
Marvin  H.,  Eliza  A.,  Lucius,  Anselm  P., 
Mary  L.,  Aaron  T.,  Roy  Harlin  and 
Lena  B.  Mr.  James  is  politically  a  re- 


publican, and  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  the  township. 

Joseph  Smith  Dodds,  sou  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  (Smith)  Dodds,  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  England,  April  25, 1839.  He 
came  to  this  county  in  1864,  and  for  one 
year  was  engaged  in  mining  at  Colches- 
ter. He  then  purchased  land  in  section 
18,  Blandinsville  township,  upon  which 
he  opened  a  coal  bank.  He  has  resided 
here  since  that  time,  and  is  still  engaged 
in  mining  coal.  He  employs  eight  men 
the  entire  year,  and  takes  out  from  25,- 
000  to  30,000  bushels  of  coal  annually. 
His  coal  is  of  excellent  quality.  He  has 
still  30  acres  of  coal  land  undeveloped. 
He  was  married  in  1861  to  Isabel  Camp- 
bell, daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Camp- 
bell, natives  of  England.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dodds  have  had  10  children  born  to 
them — Mary,  born  in  England;  John, 
Jane,  Ann,  P.  Talmas,  William,  Robert, 
Joseph,  Isabel  and  Flora.  Mr.  Dodds 
casts  his  vote  with  the  democratic  party. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and 
a  man  of  intelligence  and  enterprise. 

William  B.  Kirkpatrick,  a  farmer  of 
Blandinsville  township,  is  a  native  of 
Iowa,  and  was  born  in  Lee  county,  that 
state,  March  18,  1839.  He  is  a  son  of 
Joseph  and  Maria  (Pratt)  Kirkpatrick. 
He  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents 
in  1855,  and  settled  on  section  25, 
Blandinsville  township.  William  B. 
remained  at  home  engaged  in  the  mul- 
tifarious duties  incident  to  farm  life, 
until  the  sound  of  war  was  heard 
through  the  land.  Moved  with  feelings 
of  patriotism,  he  could  not  sit  by  idly 
and  witness  the  attempted  disruption  of 
the  union,  consequently  in  the  fall  of 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  army  in  the  llth 


870 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


regiment  of  Illinois  cavalry,  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  three  years.  He 
participated  in  many  engagements, 
among  them,the  battle  of  Pittsburg  land- 
ing, Corinth  and  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
In  the  month  of  December,  1864,  he 
returned  and  again  engaged  in  farming. 
He  was  first  married  in  1868,  to  Ruby 
Bailey,  daughter  of  Harrison  and 
Harriet  Bailey.  By  that  union  were 
three  children — Caroline  S.,  Mary  and 
Fred  S.,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  His 
first  wife  died  in  August,  1879.  He  was 
married  the  second  time  to  Viola  Hew- 
ett,  January  6,  1881,  and  they  have  had 
one  child,  named  Clara.  He  is  now  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  raising 
fine  stock.  His  mother,  who  was  born 
in  1799,  lives  with  him  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  is  a  member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  and  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  His  place  is  a 
desirable  farm  of  160  acres,  well  im- 
proved and  in  good  condition. 

William  L.  Woodside  may  be  properly 
classed  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
this  county,  having  come  here  with  his 
parents  November  16,  1833.  They  set- 
tled on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
9,  Blandinsville  township,  where  Mr. 
Woodside  now  resides.  He  was  born 
February  2, 1833,  in  Washington  county, 
Virginia.  He  obtained  his  education 
in  the  public  schools,  and  has  always 
lived  in  Blandinsville  township.  He 
was  married  April  10,  1859,  to  Mary  I. 
Fritz,  a  daughter  of  Captain  James 
Fritz,  a  native  of  Virginia.  Her  mother, 
Julia  A.  Fritz,  was  a  native  of  Indiana. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodside  have  six  chil- 
dren, T.  Frank,  born  April  1,  1860; 
Emma  J.,  born  January  1,  1862;  Sarah 


L.,  born  July  23,  1864;  Mary  Ella,  born 
January  11,  1868;  Jennie  M.,  born  May 
14,  1870,  and  Mina  A.,  born  October  18, 
1874.  Mr.  Woodside  and  his  entire  fam- 
ily, except  Mina,  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  and  an  influential  citizen.  His 
farm  contains  240  acres  of  land  in  sec- 
tion 9,  60  acres  of  pasture  land  in  section 
5,  and  20  acres  of  timber  in  section  6, 
all  well  improved  and  highly  desirable 
land.  His  dwelling  is  a  handsome  and 
commodious  structure,  erected"  in  1872, 
at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  His  barn  and  other 
farm  buildings  are  of  a  good  class.  T. 
Frank  Woodside  teaches  school  a  por- 
tion of  the  time,  the  remainder  he  is  en- 
gaged in  farming.  One  daughter,  Emma, 
is  also  engaged  in  teaching,  for  which 
occupation  she  is  well  qualified. 

T.  Franklin  Woodside  is  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  born  April  1,  1860, 
and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Mary  I. 
( Fritz )  Woodside.  He  attended  the  dis- 
trict school  of  his  native  township  and 
completed  his  education  at  Abingdon  col- 
lege. Since  then  he  has  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  Mr.  Woodside  is  well 
fitted  both  by  nature  and  education,  for  a 
his  important  duties,  and  as  a  teacher  is 
well  liked.  He  possesses  in  a  marked 
degree,  that  necessary  requisite  of  a  good 
instructor,  the  faculty  of  imparting 
knowledge  to  others,  which  combined 
with  his  other  qualifications  insure  his 
success.  He  is  an  active  working  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  church,  also  a  mem- 
ber of  LaHarpe  lodge,  No.  195,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M. 

Charles  A.  Blandin,  a  son  of  Joseph 
L.  Blandin,  the  founder  of  the  village  of 
Blandinsville,  is  a  native  of  Vermont, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


871 


being  born  in  Windom  county  on  the 
30th  of  December,  1829.  With  his  par- 
ents he  came  to  Illinois,  in  June,  1837, 
settled  on  land  which  now  forms  a  part 
of  Blandinsville.  He  resided  with  his 
parents  on  a  farm  until  reaching  his  18th 
year,  and  attended  school  as  the  oppor- 
tunity offered.  At  the  age  of  18,  he  en- 
gaged as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  the  town, 
and  one  year  later,  in  company  with  an 
elder  brother,  he  bought  out  his  employer 
and  engaged  inbusiness  for  himself,  the 
firm  name  being  J.  0.  Blandin  &  Bro. 
Two  years  later,  Charles  bought  his 
brother's  interest,  and  one  year  later  he 
sold  to  George  W.  and  C.  R.  Blandin, 
who  continued  the  business.  In  the 
spring  of  1855,  Charles  went  to  Wiscon- 
sin, on  the  Black  river,  where  a  brother 
had  some  lumber  interests.  He  became 
a  partner  in  the  business,  and  engaged 
in  cutting  logs  and  rafting  them  down  to 
Oquawka,  where  they  built  a  saw  mill. 
He  continued  in  that  business  two  years, 
then  sold  out  to  Brooks  &  Co.  He  then 
bought  a  half  interest  in  another  mill 
and  lumber  yard  at  the  same  point,  and 
soon  afterward  sold  at  a  profit.  Then  in 
company  with  his  brother,  he  built  a 
large  saw  mill  at  East  Burlington,  which 
continued  to  run  for  two  years.  In  con- 
nection with  their  mill,  the  brothers 
bought  a  steamboat,  which  they  used 
for  transporting  lumber.  Charles  was 
captain  of  the  boat,  and  continued  run- 
ning it  on  the  river  for  some  time,  carry- 
ing passengers  and  freight.  He  then 
sold  the  boat  and  returned  to  Blandins- 
ville in  October,  1860,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  one  of  the  four  heirs 
to  the  family  estate,  and  he  purchased 
the  interests  of  the  other  heirs,  thns 


leaving  him  a  nice  farm  of  210  acres.  On 
this  he  continued  to  live  for  two  years, 
then  sold  part  of  it,  and  traded,  in  1863, 
for  the  Keithley  farm,  in  Hire  township, 
on  which  he  resided  for  three  years.  In 
the  meantime,  he  had  bought  of  C.  Chand- 
ler two  quarters  adjoining  this  land,  and 
in  1866,  sold  all  that  was  left  of  that 
farm  and  bought  the  Boughman  farm  of 
140  acres,  on  which  he  resided  one  sea- 
son. This  he  sold  in  1877,  and  removed 
to  the  village  of  Sciota,  built  a  mill  and 
elevator,  which  he  operated  one  year  and 
then  traded  for  a  farm  of  120  acres  in 
Sciota  township,  selling  the  same  in  1884. 
In  1879,  Mr.  Blandin  returned  to  Bland- 
insville and  occupied  and  managed  the 
Edel  house  for  a  short  time.  He  also 
engaged  in  the  grain  and  stock  business. 
On  giving  up  the  hotel  he  moved  into 
his  present  residence,  which  is  situated 
on  part  of  the  old  homestead  where  his 
father  settled  upon  qoming  to  the  county. 
His  father  departed  this  life  on  the  21st 
of  December,  1854,  and  his  mother  on 
the  19th  of  February,  1865.  They  left  a 
family  of  four  children,  all  of  whoin  are 
living — Charles  A.,  the  third  child  was 
united  in  marriage,  March  16, 1858,  with 
Lydia  A.  Wadleigh,  of  Oquawka,  Illinois. 
Their  union  has  been  blessed  with  seven 
clildren,  all  living — Samuel,  Alice  J.,  the 
wife  of  Ed.  G.  Mustain,  of  Beebe,  Ar- 
kansas; Ada  M.,  the  wife  of  Marion  Hus- 
ton, of  Blandinsville;  Phoebe,  Nellie, 
Grace  and  Charles  L.  .  Mrs.  Blandin 
and  three  of  her  daughters  are  members 
of  the  Christian  church.  Politically,  Mr. 
Blandin  is  a  consistent  republican,  and  is 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  Q.  F. 

Mathias  Fisher  is  a  native  of  Illinois, 
having  been  born  in  Hancock  county,  on 


872 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  24th  of  September,  1840.  He  re- 
mained on  a  farm  in  that  county  until 
eight  years  of  age,  his  parents  then  re- 
moving to  McDonough  county  and  mak- 
ing a  settling  in  Blandinsville  township, 
on  section  29,  near  the  present  site  of 
the  village  of  Blandinsville.  His  father 
rented  at  first,  and  remained  there  until 
1856,  when  he  removed  to  Henderson 
county,  and  seven  years  later  to  Hancock 
county,  where  he  remained  a  number  of 
years,  following,  as  he  did  in  each  of  the 
other  county's,  agricultural  pursuits.  He 
again  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
settled  near  Blandinsville,  where  he  died 
in  1874.  Up  to  the  time  of  his  father's 
death,  Mathias  resided  in  Hire  township, 
he  having  been  married  on  the  17th  of 
October,  1876,  to  Eliza  A.  Cotton,  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  of  Kentucky.  They  re- 
moved from  Hire  township,  in  1877,  to 
their  present  quarters,  which  constitutes 
76  acres  of  well  improved  land.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fisher  are  now  the  parents  of  one 
child — Francis  M.,  who  resides  at  home. 
Mrs.  Fisher's  mother,  at  present,  lives  in 
Hire  township,  at  an  advanced  age.  As 
a  citizen,  Mr.  Fisher  is  highly  respected 
for  his  many  good  qualities. 

William  Campbell,  a  successful  farmer 
of  Blandinsville  township,  is  a  native  of 
North  Carolina,  and  was  born  in  Rowan 
county,  October  13,  1823.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  received  a 
limited  education  in  the  old  log  school 
houses  with  puncheon  floors,  and  various 
similar  accessories,  common  at  that 
period  in  his  native  state.  Subsequently 
about  the  year  1834,  the  family  moved 
to  Indiana,  and  in  that  state  William  at- 
tended school,  as  he  had  opportunity.  . 
He  continued  farming  until  the  time  of 


the  war  with  Mexico,  when  he  enlisted 
in  the  army  and  served  until  its  close. 
He  had  various  experiences  during  these 
years,  and  among  them  an  occurrence  on 
his  trip  home,  is  worthy  of  mention.  He 
was  coming  up  the  river,  and  with  feel- 
ings of  pleasure  contemplating  a  meet- 
ing at  home  with  relatives  and  friends, 
when  the  boat  sunk  in  72  feet  of  water, 
and  it  was  sink  or  swim,  for  all  on  board. 
Twenty-six  of  the  passengers  were 
drowned,  but  fortunately  Mr.  Campbell 
could  swim,  and  thus  saved  his  life.  He 
boarded  the  next  boat  that  came  along 
and  subsequently  landed  near  Blooming- 
ton,  Indiana.  The  following  spring  he 
went  to  Missouri,  and  secured  some  gov- 
ernment land  to  which  he  was  entitled 
by  a  land  warrant,  received  for  service 
in  the  army.  He  spent  one  summer  in 
that  state,  near  Gentryville,  and  then  re- 
turned home.  The  following  fall  he  drove 
a  team  to  Adams  county,  Illinois,  for 
William  Berry,  to  whose  daughter, 
Amanda,  he  was  married,  January  28, 
1848.  He  remained  in  that  county  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  three  years,  and  in 
1851,  came  to  this  county.  He  here  en- 
gaged in  farming.  Two  years  afterward 
he  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  he 
now  lives.  He  has  been  successful,  and 
now  owns  considerable  property,  consist- 
ing of  real  estate  in  various  localities, 
and  town  property  in  the  village  of  Blan- 
dinsville. Although  Mr.  Campbell  was 
not  an  early  settler,  yet  at  the  time  he 
came,  this  section  of  the  country  was  in 
a  state  of  natural  wildness.  The  virgin 
sod  was  yet  unvexed  by  the  plow,  and 
the  wolves  held  high  carnival  on  all 
sides,  but  he  was  an  industrious,  ener- 
getic man,  and  went  to  work  with  a  will 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


873 


to  make  himself  a  home.  He  mowed 
down  the  hazel  brush  where  his  house 
and  barn  now  stand,  and  now  has  a  de- 
sirable home,  with  fine  improvements. 
He  has  had  two  sons,  the  first  was  born 
in  1851,  and  called  John  T. ;  he  died  in 
1881.  The  other  was  born  in  1856,  named 
George  F.,  who  is  now  living  at  home 
with  his  father.  His  wife,  Amanda,  died 
December  23,  1884.  The  family  are  all 
members  of  the  Christian  church. 

Lawson  G.  Carter  came  to  this  county 
October  22,  1854,  and  settled  on  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  8,  Blandins- 
ville township,  where  two  years  later  he 
made  permanent  improvements,  building 
a  two  story  house  at  a  cost  of  $1,800,  a 
good  barn  and  other  smaller  buildings. 
He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  January  31, 1841,  to 
Sarah  Lovit.  By  that  union  were  two 
children— Mary  Jane,  born  in  1841,  and 
Franklin  G.,  born  in  1856.  Two  years 
after  the  birth  of  the  last  child,  his  wife 
without  just  cause  or  provocation,  left 
his  bed  and  board,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  subsequently  obtained  a  divorce, 
and  in  April,  1884,  he  was  married  to 
Josephine  Panyburn,  of  Lyons  county, 
Iowa.  Mr.  Carter  was  elected  justice  of 
the  peace  in  1856,  and  served  for  more 
than  three  years.  He  is  by  trade,  a 
carpenter,  and  to  a  considerable  extent, 
is  at  present  engaged  in  that  business. 
His  daughter,  Mary  Jane,  died  January 
30,  1884,  and  was  buried  at  Hillsborough 
cemetery.  Mr.  Carter  is  .a  Christian  gen- 
tleman, and  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity.  Politically,  he  is  a  democrat. 

William  T.  '  Hardesty,  a  resident  of 
Blandinsville  township,  was  born  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  Illinois,  December  21, 


1848,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Susan 
(Hainline)  Hardesty.  William  T.  Har- 
desty was  married  in  January,  1871,  to 
N.  J.  Mustain,  a  daughter  of  John  T. 
Mustain.  By  this  union  there  was  one 
child.  Mrs.  Hardesty  died  in  January, 
1874.  Mr.  Hardesty  was  again  married 
in  1876,  to  Mary  E.  Wilkins,  of  Kentucky. 
Two  children  have  been  born  to  them — 
Nora  J.  and  William  H.  Mr.  Hardesty 
is  an  enterprising  and  public  spirited 
citizen.  He  is  politically,  a  democrat, 
and  in  1878,  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
constable,  which  he  resigned  before  the 
expiration  of  his  term.  He  is  engaged 
in  farming. 

Reuben  R.  Harris  was  born  in  this 
county  in  1846.  His  parents,  Keuben 
and  Allie  (Wolf)  Harris  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  here  and  were  from  Ten- 
nessee. Reuben  Harris,  Sr.  died  August 
15,  1870.  He  was  a  resident  of  this 
county  at  the  time  of  the  Mormon  war, 
in  which  he  participated.  His  widow, 
Allie  (Wolf)  Harris,  is  still  living  at  the 
advanced  age  of  80  years.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  married  January  12, 
1865,  to  Jane  Severns,  a  daughter  of 
James  Severns,  of  Ohio.  Eleven  chil- 
dren have  blest  their  union — Lizzie,  Ida, 
Allie,  Nettie,  Alta,  Alva,  Jennie,  Nellie, 
Dellie,  Laura  and  Charlie.  Mr.  Harris 
owns  a  highly  desirable  farm,  containing 
130  acres,  located  in  section  31,  Blandins- 
ville township.  He  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  a 
successful  farmer  and  a  good  citizen. 
His  politics  are  democratic. 

H.  H.  Duncan,  of  Blandinsville  town- 
ship, is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (White) 
Duncan,  natives  of  Tennessee.  H.  H. 
Duncan  was  born  in  this  township  De- 


874 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


cember  11,  1844,  and  here  grew  to  man- 
hood. October  22,  1875,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Mahala  Hamilton,  a 
daughter  of  James  Hamilton,  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  by  this  union  has  four  chil- 
dren— Albert,  Alfred,  John  Biley  and 
Clarence  E.  Mr.  Duncan  is  the  owner 
of  real  estate  in  this  township,  and  is  a 
worthy  and  respected  citizen.  He  is  po- 
litically, a  democrat. 

Arehart  Hickman  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1857,  and  for  six  years 
following,  worked  upon  the  farm  of 
Lewis  Eblesizer^  in  Blandinsville  town- 
ship. He  was  then  married  to  Mary 
Ann  Langford,  and  shortly  after,  pur- 
chased 80  acres  of  land  in  the  same 
township.  This  farm  is  located  in  sec- 
tion 36,  .and  at  the  time  of  his  purchase 
was  well  improved.  He  has  continued 
to  reside  upon  the  same  place  until  the 
present  time,  and  is  engaged  in  raising 
grain  and  stock.  Mr.  Hickman  was  born 
in  Floyd  county,  Indiana,  January  12, 
1829,  and  is  a  son  of  James  and  Eliza- 
beth (Sisloff)  Hickman.  At  the  age  of 
21  he  went  to  California,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  returning  to  Indiana 
in  June,  1853.  He  left  that  state  in  1857, 
coming  then,  as  before  stated,  to  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hickman  have 
10  children — James  W.,  Fannie  O.,  Pres- 
ton A.,  Olive  J.,  Fulton,  Willard  L., 
Gussie,  Jessie,  Noah  P.  and  Columbus 
L.  Mr.  Hickman  is  a  demecrat,  poli- 
tically, an  honest,  upright  man  and  an 
esteemed  citizen. 

Thomas  Bartlow  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  was  born  in  1820.  His  settlement 
in  Blandinsville  township  dates  from 
1850.  In  December,  1840,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Catherine  Westfall.  They  have 


had  six  children — John  H.,  Nancy  Ann, 
now  the  wife  of  Christopher  Spiker; 
Cynthia  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
Stapleton,  of  Blaudinsville ;  Basil, 
Frank  and  Jessie.  Mr.  Bartlow  owns  a 
small  farm,  is  an  honest,  upright  citizen, 
and  respected  by  the  community  in 
which  he  lives. 

Robert  T.  Bodkin,  of  Blandinsville 
township,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Snodgrass)  Bodkin,  and  was  born 
January  12,  1846,  in  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky. In  1849,  William  Bodkin  died, 
and  soon  after  his  death,  Robert  accom- 
panied his  mother  to  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  five  years.  When  he  was 
eight  years  old  he  went  to  Missouri,  and 
continued  to  reside  in  that  state  until 
the  fall  of  1868.  At  that  date  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Blandinsville 
township,  where  he  is  now  among  the 
leading  farmers.  He  owns  a  fine  farm 
of  173  acres,  with  good  and  substantial 
improvements.  His  house  and  barn  to- 
gether, cost  $3,200.  Mr.  Bodkin  "was 
married  October  26,  1871,  to  Margaret 
M.  Wright,  daughter  of  Isaac  Wright, 
of  Blandinsville.  They  have  had  seven 
children  born  to  them,  as  follows — Myr- 
tie  P.,  Hardin  L.,  Evert  G.,  Ira  B.,  El- 
pha  O.,  Sarah  L.,  and  Emma  E.  One 
daughter  died  January  24,  1884.  Mr. 
Bodkin  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, and  with  his  wife,  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is, 
politically,  a  democrat. 

A.  J.  Hankins  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  was  born  March  10,  1828.  His  fa- 
ther was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born 
in  1787,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1834, 
from  Coles  conuty,  this  state.  He  died 
in  Hire  township  in  1881,  and  was  in- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


875 


terred  at  Vermont,  in  Fulton  county. 
His  wife  was  accidentally  killed  by  a 
runaway  team  in  this  county.  A.  J. 
Hankins,  was  married,  August  28,  1845, 
to  Lydia  Pennington,  a  daughter  of  Joel 
Pennington,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  section.  He  is  now  a  resident  of 
Blandinsville,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
the  harness  business.  •  His  wife  died 
January  23,  1885,  and  was  buried  in 
Good  Hope  cemetery. 

Robert  W.  Davis  was  born  on  the  5th 
day  of  October,  1825,  in  Columbia 
c  Dunty,  Indiana.  He  came  to  this  county 
in  October,  1853,  and  settled  on  section 
24,  which  was  then  new  land,  with  no 
improvements.  He  built  a  small  house, 
which  was  however  a  good  one  for  the 
time,  and  lived  in  it  until  1866,  when  he 
erected  his  present  pretentious  residence, 
and  has  beside,  large  commodious  barns 
and  other  farm  buildings.  He  was  mar- 
ried, April  10,  1851,  to  Eliza  Warner, 
by  which  marriage  five  children  have 
been  born.  Mr.  Davis  owns  300  acres 
of  fine  land,  all  of  which  he  has  earned 
by  his  own  exertions  and  good  business 
management.  He  is  a  democrat  in  poli- 
tics. 

John  M.  Davis  was  born  February  23, 

1852,  in  Ashland  county,  Ohio,  and  is  a 
son  of  R.  W.  Davis,  who  was  a  native  of 
New  York.       He  came  to  the  county  in 

1853,  and  in  1877  removed  to  Kansas, 
where  he  remained  two  years  and  en- 
gaged in  buying  stock.     He  returned  to 
Illinois  in  1880,  and  has,  since  his  return, 
actively  engaged  in  the  stock  and  grain 
business.     He  was  married,  September 
6,  1873.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  in  politics  may  be  found  in 
the  democratic  ranks.     He  owns  a  nice 


residence  and  several  building  lots  in 
the  city,  and  is  also  engaged  in  the  im- 
plement business. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

It  has  been  truthfully  promulgated 
that  the  character  of  a  people  may  be 
judged  to  a  great  extent  by  the  attention 
given  to  schools,  and  the  opportunities 
afforded  for  securing  a  good  education. 
The  people  of  Blandinsville  township 
have  not  been  unmindful  of  the  neces- 
sity and  advantage  of  having  a  good 
system  of  public  schools;  and  although 
much  improvement  might  be  made  in 
many  districts,  yet  this  township  com- 
pares favorably  with  others  in  her  facil- 
ities for  imparting  instruction  to  the 
youth.  Even  at  an  early  day,  before 
there  was  much  settlement  and  but  few 
scholars,  arrangements  were  made  with 
Enoch  Cyrus,  an  early  settler  from  Ten- 
nessee, to  teach  a  school.  Accordingly, 
a  small  log  cabin  was  constructed — not 
by  the  skilled  artisan — but  by  the  muscle 
and  axe  of  the  pioneer,  on  section  18. 
This  building,  without  floor,  and  rudely 
furnished  with  inverted  slabs  resting  on 
wooden  legs  set  in  auger  holes  for  seats, 
was  the  first  institution  for  learning  in 
the  township,  and  among  the  first  in  the 
county.  The  style  and  teacher  were  de- 
cidedly primitive,  yet  it  truly  demon- 
strated a  commendable  appreciation 
of  desire  for  an  educated  generation  to 
subsequently  take  their  places  in  the 
active  duties  of  life.  Instead  of  stove 
or  furnace  was  the  fire-place,  with  its 
roaring  fire  of  logs,  which,  with  all  its 
objections,  furnished  a  more  perfect  ven- 
tilation than  any  school  building  in  the 
township  to-day.  The  chimney  was 


876 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


constructed  of  sticks  and  mud,  and  if  not 
beautiful  or  artistic,  afforded  the  neces- 
sary exit  for  the  smoke.  Although  the 
systems  or  methods  of  the  present  time 
were  unknown,  yet  from  "a  -  b  -  c  to  the 
rule  of  three,"  a  commendable  progress 
was  made  under  the  tutorship  of  this 
pioneer.  The  buiiding  has  long  since 
been  torn  down,  and  the  place  is  now 
owned  by  Nathan  Mustain,  Jr.  Some 
other  pioneer  schools  were  taught  in  this 
township  at  a  very  early  day,  among 
them  two  terms  by  James — or,  as  he  was 
familiarly  called—  "Jimmy"  Cyrus,  a 
brother  of  Enoch.  Some  of  the  scholars 
of  this  school  are  yet  living  in  the 
county,  among  them  Silas  Grigsby. 

John  G.  Woodside  was  among  the 
early  teachers  of  the  township,  and  the 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  agreement 
between  him  and  the  patrons: 

Articles  of  agreement  made  and  entered  into 
this  1st  day  of  April,  1835,  by  and  between 
John  G.  Woodside,  of  the  one  part,  and  the 
undersigned,  of  the  second  part,  both  of 
McDonough  county,  and  state  of  Illinois: 
I,  the  above  named  Woodside,  do  hereby 
agree  to  teach  a  school  in  the  school  house 
near   Levi    Parents'    for   the   term    of    six 
mouths,  five  days  in  each  week,  or  time  to 
that  amount.    I  do  agree  to  teach  spelling, 
reading,  writing  and  arithmetic  to  the  best 
of  my  skill  and  judgment.    I  also  bind  my- 
self to  keep  good  order,and  pay  strict  attention 
to  my  school.     And  we,  the  undersigned,  do 
promise  to  pay  the  said  Woodside  for  his  ser- 
vices one  dollar  per  scholar  in   money  and 
three  dollars  in  good,  merchantable  wheat, 
pork,  wool,  linsey,  flax,  or  work  at  the  mar- 
ket price  in  this  neighborhood,  to  be  deliv- 
ered at  said  Woodside's  house;  in  pork  to  be 
paid  at  the  usual  time  of  killing,  the  money 
part  or  other  articles  to  be  paid  at  the  expira- 
tion of  the  school.    And  we,  the  subscribers, 
do  bind  ourselves  to  fix  the  school  house  in  a 


comfortable  manner;  school  to  commence  the 
15rst  of  May,  or  sooner,  if  the  subscribers 
want  it.  I,  the  said  Woodside,  will  com- 
mence with  20  scholars,  and  any  large  scholar 
or  scholars,  that  will  not  submit  themselves 
to  the  rules  of  the  school,  shall  be  expelled 
from  said  school.  And  it  is  understood  that 
the  said  Woodside  is  to  have  the  liberty  of 
teaching  his  own  children.  If  either  of  the 
parties  should  become  dissatisfied,  the  school 
can  be  discontinued  by  the  teacher  or  a  ma- 
jority of  the  subscribers,  either  party  giving 
two  weeks  notice. 

It  is  learned  from  an  examination  of 
the  county  superintendent's  annual  report 
for  the  school  year  ending  June  30, 1884, 
that  Blandinsville  township  has,  527 
children  of  school  age,  492  of  whom  are 
enrolled  in  the  nine  schools  of  the  town- 
ship, one  of  which  is  a  graded  institution 
of  learning.  In  the  schools  of  Bland- 
insville there  is  an  average  of  eight  and 
one-ninth  months  of  school  taught  per 
annum.  Eight  frame  buildings  and  one 
brick  structure  grace  the  several  dis- 
tricts. The  highest  wages  paid  any  male 
teacher  is  $65,  and  the  lowest,  $30  per 
month;  while  the  highest  monthly  wages 
received  by  female  teachers  is  $40,  and 
the  lowest,  $22.  The  estimated  value  of 
school  property  is  $15,175,  and  the  tax 
levy  for  the  support  of  schools  is  $4,625. 
Blandinsville  has  a  bonded  school  debt 
of  $300. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  3  was 
erected  in  1855  or  1856,  on  section  18, 
and  is  18x24  feet  in  dimensions.  This 
is  known  as  the  Mount  Pleasant  dis- 
trict. 

In  1837  a  log  school  house  was  built 
in  district  No.  4,  William  Hall  teaching 
the  first  term  of  school  in  the  building. 
In  1858  a  frame  building  18x24  was 
erected  on  section  21,  at  a  cost  of  $600. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


877 


Among  the  early  teachers  in  this  build- 
ing were  E.  Dice,  Martha  Charter,  John 
Hungate  and  Rebecca  Mear.  The  first 
directors  of  the  district  were  Colonel 
Berry,  Nathan  Mustain  and  Nathaniel 
Grigsby,  while  the  present  are  William 
Campbell,  George  Mustain  and  Preston 
Huston.  The  teacher  at  present  is 
Emma  Woodside. 

In  1858  or  1859  the  first  school  house 
was  erected  in  district  No.  5.  It  was 
20x30  feet  in  size,  constructed  of  brick. 
The  present  house  was  built  in  1876  or 
1877,  and  is  a  large  structure,  24x40  feet 
in  dimensions.  Wesley  Bugg  is  the 
present  teacher,  with  A.  R.  Hickman 
and  P.  Baughman,  directors.  There  are 
61  scholars  enrolled  in  the  school. 

School  district  No.  11  has  a  school 
house,  19x22,  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
section  4,  which  was  erected  in  1882,  at 
a  cost  of  about  $1,200.  In  1864  a  build- 
ing, 18x24,  was  removed  to  this  site  and 
used  until  the  new  house  was  built.  The 
first  term  of  school  in  this  building  was 
taught  by  Thomas  Goodnight;  Isaac 
Miller  and  William  Hardesty  being  the 
first  directors  of  the  district.  The  pres- 
ent teacher  is  Dora  Hall,  and  William 
Miller  and  W.  L.  Woodside  are  the  pres- 
ent directors  of  the  district. 

MILL. 

At  an  early  day,  Frank  Redden  built 
the  first  grist  mill  in  the  township,  on 
the  quarter  section  of  34  where  he  had 
previously  settled.  It  was  a  rudely  con- 
structed concern,  unlike  the  modern  mill 
of  to-day,  operated  by  horse  power,  and 
by  its  slow  process  the  corn  for  the  sur- 
rounding neighborhood  was  cracked. 
Although  a  seemingly  useless  enterprise 


in  the  eyes  of  the  present  generation,  it 
served  very  profitably  its  purpose  in  the 
pioneer  days  of  the  county.  The  land 
upon  which  the  mill  was  formerly  located 
is  now  owned  by  Peter  Reiser.  Wheat 
was  also  ground  at  this  mill,  and  bolted 
by  hand,  at  an  early  day. 

CEMETERIES. 

A  place  for  the  interment  of  the  dead 
was  located  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  21  at  an  early  day,  probably  the 
year  1833,  and  was  called  Liberty  cem- 
etery. It  was  the  first  graveyard  in  the 
township,  but  was  never  platted. 

North  cemetery  is  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  33,  the 
ground  title  being  in  the  old  Blandin 
estate.  It  was  originally  intended  for 
private  purposes,  but  was  afterward 
made  public.  Louisa  Blandin  was  the 
first  burial,  which  occurred  August  2, 
1840.  Her  father,  J.  L.  Blandin,  was 
the  second  body  interred,  and  William 
Davis  was  the  third,  by  request,  after 
which  it  was  made  public.  The  ceme- 
tery contains  two  acres  of  fenced  land. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  character  of  the  early  settlers  of 
this  township  was  such  that  they  could 
not  long  remain  satisfied  without  some 
opportunity  whereby  they  might  assem- 
ble for  the  purpose  of  worship.  Although 
not  the  first  in  the  county  to  make  a 
move  in  this  direction,  yet  they  were 
early  found  establishing  the  preaching 
of  the  gospel,  and  when  the  pioneer 
preacher  came  among  them,  he  found 
hearts  warm  to  appreciate,  willing  ears 
to  hear  the  "gospel's  joyful  sound,"  and 
willing  hands  to  materially  assist  in  the 


sz 


878 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


good  work  of  church  building  in  their 
midst.  In  their  warm-hearted  zeal  they 
cast  aside  all  sectarian  spirit,  denomina- 
tional lines  were  forgotten,  and  under 
the  lead  of  Christian  and  Baptist  organ- 
izations, they  built  the  first  church  in 
the  township,  which  was  located  where 
Elijah  Bristow  first  settled.  The  well 
known  John  Logan,  now  deceased, 
preached  the  first  sermon  here.  Some 
meetings  had  been  previously  held  in 
cabins  and  barns,  where  others  officiated, 
but  Rev.  John  Logan  was  the  moving 
person  among  the  pioneers  of  that  day, 
so  far  as  their  spiritual  welfare  was  con- 
cerned. For  a  more  complete  digest  of 
the  religious  affairs  of  this  township, 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  Ecclesias- 
tical chapter  of  this  volume. 

HILLDALE   STOCK   FARM. 

Prominent  among  the  enterprises  of 
this  township  is  this  fine  stock  farm, 
owned  by  Rigdon  Huston  &  Son.  The 
place  consists  of  1,250  acres,  located  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  and 
with  its  many  improvements  and  natu- 
ral advantages,  is  admirably  adapted  to 
this  branch  of  business.  The  proprie- 
tors are  men  of  life-long  experience  in 
the  fine  cattle  trade,  which,  combined 
with  good  judgment,  has  enabled  them 
to  occupy  the  first  rank  among  short- 
horn breeders.  Rigdon  Huston  has 
made  Shorthorn  Durhams  a  study,  and 
no  man  in  this  section  of  country  is  bet- 
ter versed  in  "cattle  lore,"  or  more  thor- 
oughly understands  the  necessary  strains 
of  blood  to  constitute  a  good  and  valua- 
ble animal.  A  visit  to  this  farm  and  an 
inspection  of  the  stock,  is  necessary  to 
form  an  adequate  idea  of  the  superiority 


of  this  herd.  They  now  have  on  hand 
127  registered  cattle,  representing  a  large 
amount  of  money,  the  value  of  the  same 
running  from  $200  to  $15,000  each. 
Among  them  are  Airdrie  Duchesses, 
Kirk  Livington,  Wild  Eyes,  Barring- 
ton's  Hilpas,  Renick,  Rose  of  Sharons, 
Constances,  Young  PJiyllises,  Joseph- 
ines, etc.,  the  pure  duke  bulls,  22d 
duke  of  Airdrie  16695,  the  2d  duke  of 
Hilldale,  and  others.  We  clip  the  fol- 
lowing from  "Allen's  History  of  Short- 
horn Cattle,"  and  there  is  no  better  au- 
thority in  such  matters: 

"The  largest  private  sale  ever  made  in 
the  United  States  was  to  Rigdon  Huston 
&  Son,  of  Blandinsville,  Illinois,  in  1881, 
by  Colonel  LeG.  Cannon,  of  Vermont, 
consisting  of  32  head,  in  which  were 
four  (Bates)  Duchesses  and  one  bull, 
22d  duke  of  Airdrie,  together  with  others 
of  high  pedigree,  for  $50,000." 

This  would  seem  a  large  amount  to 
pay  for  32  head  of  cattle,  but  to  the 
thoroughly  informed,  the  sale  is  regarded 
as  much  in  favor  of  Huston  &  Son.  The 
lowest  estimate  upon  these  cattle  by  men 
of  judgment  in  such  matters  was  $65,000. 
The  wisdom  of  this  purchase  is  already 
apparent, .  and  the  outcome  more  than 
justifies  the  investment,  and  is  another 
evidence  of  the  rare  good  judgment  of 
the  purchasers.  Cattle  of  better  pedi- 
gree are  not  to  be  found  in  the  United 
States.  Ready  customers  for  such  cattle 
are  found  among  representatives  from 
Kentucky,  Canada,  New  York,  and  other 
states,  at  remunerative  prices. 

OEGANIC. 

Blandinsville  township  was  officially 
organized  at  the  general  election  held 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


879 


in  1856.  It  is  comprised  of  36  sections 
of  land,  and  known  as  a  full  congres- 
sional township.  William  W.  Moss  was 
the  first  supervisor  from  this  sub-divi- 
sion, to  represent  the  same  on  the  board 
at  the  seat  of  justice — Macomb. 

At  the  first  township  election,  April 
7,  1857,  the  following  officers  were  elec- 
ted: W.  W.  Gillihan  and  L.  G.  Carter, 
justices  of  the  peace.  The  first  police 
magistrate  and  ex-officio  justice  of  the 
peace  of  Blandinsville  was  A.  R.  Champ- 
lin,  who  was  elected  to  that  office  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1858.  The  present  officers  of 
the  township  are  as  follows:  supervisor, 
J.  M.  Davis;  town  clerk,  Fred  Williams; 
assessor,  Isaac  Argenbright;  collector, 
Vincent  Hardesty;  highway  commis- 
sioner, AVilliam  Campbell;  justices  of 
the  peace,  W.  W.  Gillham  and  C.  G. 
Hungate;  constables,  E.  Randall  and 
David  Hall;  school  trustees,  P.  W. 
George  and  R.  W.  Davis. 

HISTORICAL. 

The  first  child  born  in  Blandinsville 
township  was  James,  a  son  of  John 
Vance,  who  resided  on  section  29.  He 
was  born  in  the  spring  of  1830. 

The  first  school  building  was  con- 
structed of  logs,  about  the  year  1831,  on 
section  18.  Enoch  Cyrus  was  the  first 
teacher. 

Frank  Redden  and  Jacob  Coffman 
were  the  first  constables  from  the  third 
magistrate's  district,  of  which  Blandins- 
ville township,  formed  a  part,  and  of 
which  these  gentlemen  were  residents. 

The  first  sermon  was  preached  at  the 
barn  of  John  Hardesty,  by  that  pio- 
neer Baptist  minister,  John  Logan,in  the 
year  1830. 


The  Baptist  and  Christian  organiza- 
tions erected  a  union  church  on  section 
21,  in  1832,  which  was  the  first  in  the 
township. 

William  Job  was  the  first  settler  and 
erected  the  first  house,  during  the  spring 
of  182(5.  He  also  plowed  the  first  ground 
and  raised  the  first  crop. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  Na- 
than Ward,  and  the  first  supervisor  was 
William  Moss. 

TOWN  OF  BLANDINSVILLE. 

Joseph  L.  Blandin  came  here  from 
Vermont  in  June,  1837,  and  and  settled 
on  land  now  occupied  by  the  village, 
which  was  named  in  his  honor.  In  1842, 
he  had  the  town  platted  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  32.  There  was 
no  special  effort  put  forth  to  build  up 
the  place,  and  for  a  number  of  years  the 
growth  of  the  town  was  slow.  Without 
railroad  facilities  her  sister  towns,  hav- 
ing connection  with  the  outside  world 
through  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and 
Quiiicy  railroad,  had  the  advantage,  and 
her  strides  toward  prominence  were  dis- 
couragiiigly  short.  At  length,  when  the 
Toledo,  Peoria  <fe  Warsaw  railroad  was 
agitated,  her  citizens  interested  them- 
selves in  securing  this  line.  The  town 
raised  45,000  dollars  for  this  purpose, 
and  although  it  took  time,  yet  in 
the  future  a  railroad  was  an  accom- 
plished fact,  and  from  that  date  a  new 
spirit  of  life  and  enterprise  seemed  to 
animate  her  citizens,  and  improvements 
began  to  be  made  upon  every  hand. 
Fine  brick  buildings  were  erected,  new 
dwelling  houses  sprang  up  and  old  ones 
were  repaired  and  otherwise  improved. 
The  slow-going  manner  of  doing  busi- 


880 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ness  gave  way  to  the  young  America 
mode,  all  of  which  has  redounded  to  the 
advantage  of  the  place.  The  neighbor- 
hood in  which  the  town  is  located  had 
long  been  known  as  Job's  settlement, 
and  was  the  second  one  in  the  county, 
William  and  Ira  Job  having  located  here 
in  the  spring  of  1826.  Even  for  ten 
years  after  the  town  was  platted,  the 
people  of  the  county  would  still  fami- 
liarly call  it  by  its  old  name.  Blandins- 
ville  is  surrounded  by  as  fine  a  farming 
country  as  can  be  found  in  the  state, 
and  her  growth  has  been  uniform  with 
it.  No  effort  has  ever  been  made  to  es- 
tablish manufactories,  and  therefore  the 
mercantile  and  laboring  classes  are  de- 
pendent upon  the  trade  of  the  farming 
community.  The  mercantile  trade  of 
the  place  has  always  been  good,  its  busi- 
ness seemingly  never  to  have  been  over- 
done. The  town  is  very  pleasantly  sit- 
uated, and  various  additions  have  been 
made  to  its  territory,  the  first  being  by 
Thomas  J.  Davis,  who  had  laid  off  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  33;  after 
which  we  find  additions  recorded  by 
William  H.  Grigsby  and  Thomas  I.  Sor- 
ter on  section  thirty-three,  Joshua  Dun- 
ham on  section  32,  and  Mr.  Foster,  north- 
east quarter  section  5,  Hire  township. 
William  Mustain  also  made  an  addition 
to  the  town. 

BUSINESS. 

The  first  store  building  was  erected 
early  in  the  history  of  the  place,  by  Cap- 
tain Charles  B.  Hume  and  Joseph  C. 
Blandin,  who  were  the  first  parties  to 
engage  in  the  mercantile  trade  at  this 
point.  The  size  of  the  building  was  18x 
34  feet. 


Williams  &  Huston,  dealers  in  dry 
goods  and  groceries,  have  been  en- 
gaged in  the  business  about  three  years. 
This  firm  purchased  the  business  of 
Dines  &  Son,  who  had  previously  suc- 
ceeded Dines  Brothers  in  January,  1882. 
Messrs.  Williams  &  Huston  carry  a 
stock  valued  at  $12,000.  Their  store 
building  is  of  brick,  and  is  situated  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Harrison. 

In  March,  1880,  Thompson  Brothers 
purchased  their  present  grocery  estab- 
lishment from  M.  G.  Banks,  who,  in  turn 
had  purchased  of  Schoville  and  Mason. 
This  latter  firm  were  successors  to  a  man 
by  the  name  of  •  Carmack.  Thompson 
Brothers  carry  a  stock  of  about  $1,100, 
with  annual  sales  aggregating  about  the 
sum  of  $7,000. 

Holliday  &  Welch,  dealers  in  general 
merchandise,  purchased  the  business 
about  five  years  since  from  Pancake  & 
Co.  They  carry  a  stock  of  goods  valued 
at  $6,000,  with  annual  sales  amounting  to 
$20,000.  The  building  was  erected  in 
1867,  by  Huff  Brothers,  and  is  still  owned 
by  the  F.  M.  Huff  estate. 

L.  A.  Holliday,  of  the  firm  of  Holliday 
&  Welch,  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1865,  from  Missouri.  He  is  a  native  of 
Virginia,  having  been  born  in  that  state 
on  the  22d  day  of  January,  1829.  His 
father  being  a  farmer,  he  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  received  only  a  limited 
education,  attending  school  as  the  oppor- 
tunity offered.  He  remained  at  home  un- 
til attaining  his  majority,  then  engaging 
in  farming  on  his  own  account,  which  he 
continued  for  six  years.  The  three  suc- 
ceeding years  found  him  doing  a  general 
merchandise  business  in  Shelby  county, 
Missouri.  In  1865,  he  came  to  this  county 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


881 


and  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Bland- 
insville.  At  various  times,  he  has  been 
prominently  identified  with  the  lumber, 
stock  and  various  other  interests  of  that 
city.  In  fact,  he  has  been  considered 
one  of  the  leading  business  men  of  that 
section  of  the  county.  As  the  head  of  the 
firm  of  Holliday  &  Welch,  he  has  been 
engaged  in  his  present  business  for  about 
five  years,  and  now  has  a  large,  and  con- 
stantly increasing  business.  L.  A.  Hol- 
liday and  May  T.  Parker  were  united  in 
marriage  in  1853,  in  Virginia  state.  One 
child  by  this  union  is  living,  being  mar- 
ried and  at  present  residing  at  La  Harpe. 
Mrs.  Holliday  departed  this  life  in  1854. 
Mr.  H.  was  again  married  in  1860,  in 
Missouri,  to  Bertie  A.  Lyell.  This  union 
has  been  fruitful,  they  now  being  the 
parents  of  five  children — Annie,  Thomas 
L.,  of  Dakota;  Martha  P.,  Hattie  and 
Jessie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holliday  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church,  while  he  is 
also  a  member  of  the  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  as  well  as  of  the  L  O. 
O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  past  grand. 

H.  C.  Sumpter  is  one  of  the  represen- 
tatives of  the  grocery  business  at  Bland- 
insville.  He  engaged  in  this  branch  of 
trade  October  1,  1882.  The  building  is 
a  two-story,  brick  structure,  22x56  feet 
in  ground  area,  and  has  a  printing  office 
in  the  second  story.  His  stock  is  valued 
at  $1,800. 

H.  C.  Sumpter,  grocer  of  Blandinsville, 
is  a  worthy  example  of  that  class  of  men 
who  attain  to  success  by  cultivating  their 
own  powers  and  standing  in  their  own 
independence.  His  early  determination 
was  to  be  independent  of  circumstances, 
and  secure  for  himself  a  competency.  He 
was  born  on  the  13th  of  September,  1849, 


in  the  state  of  Kentucky,  his  parents  be- 
ing Edward  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Finch) 
Sumpter.  He  remained  at  home  until  at- 
taining his  13th  year,  and  then  attended 
college  at  Russellville,  Kentucky,  and 
also  at  Elkton,  at  which  places  he  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education.  At  an  early 
age  he  demonstrated  the  fact  that  he 
was  possessed  of  good  business  ability, 
and  at  the  age  of  18  years  we  find  him  in 
the  grain  business  in  Hancock  county, 
Illinois.  He  made  the  first  shipment  of 
grain  from  Bentley,  over  the  Wabash 
branch,  and  continued  in  business  at  that 
point  for  three  years,  meeting  with  good 
success.  He  then  retired  from  that  bus- 
iness and  engaged  in  general  merchan- 
dise, which  he  continued  nntil  1876,  then 
accepting  the  position  of  traveling  agent 
for  a  nursery.  One  year  later,  his  health 
failing  him,  he  resigned  his  position, 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Henderson 
county,  which  he  continued  until  coming 
to  McDonough  county,  in  1882,  and  en- 
gaging in  the  grocery  business  at  Bland- 
insville. His  success  at  this  point  is  due 
to  his  ability  as  a  merchant,  as  well  as  to 
the  reputation  he  has  made  for  himself 
by  fair  and  honest  dealing.  On  the  23d 
of  September,  1875,  H.  C.  Sumpter  and 
Mary  E.  Smith,  a  native  of  this  state, 
were  united  in  marriage.  Mrs.  Sump- 
ter's  home  was  near  Fountain  Green,  in 
Hancock  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sump- 
ter are  consistent  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church,  while  he  is  also  a  member 
of  the  select  Knights  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
In  the  various  changes  of  active  life,  Mr. 
Sumpter  has  gained  the  respect  of  a  large 
number  of  friends  and  the  confidence  of 
his  business  connections.  He  is  a  man 
of  good,  sound  understanding,  of  large 


882 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


practical  experience,  and  of  genial  cour- 
tesy. 

The  grocery  and  queensware  interest 
is  represented  by  H.  C.  Griffith,  who  has 
been  engaged  in  this  line  since  1876.  He 
owns  the  building  property,  and  usually 
carries  a  stock  valued  at  $1,000,  with  an- 
nual sales  amounting  to  about  $6,000. 

The  hardware  business  was  first  rep- 
resented in  Blandinsville,  by  John  Hud- 
son. He  first  opened  a  tin  shop,  and  af- 
terwards added  a  stock  of  hardware,  and 
later  sold  out  and  removed  to  Marysville, 
Missouri.  The  present  representatives 
in  this  line  are  Nathaniel  Thompson  and 
John  E.  Grigsby. 

John  E.  Grigsby,  is  a  hardware  mer- 
chant in  the  village  of  Blandinsville, 
where  he  was  born  in  1848.  He  is  a  son 
of  William  H.  and  Elizabeth  (Seybold) 
Grigsby,  who  were  early  settlers  here, 
and  natives  of  Kentucky.  John  E.,  was 
married  to  Salina  Dunham.  By  this 
union  there  were  nine  children,  six  of 
whom  are  now  living — Alice  M.,  Charles 
C.,  James  C.,  Ralph  A.,  Clarence,  and 
Elizabeth  P.  The  deceased  are — Wil- 
liam J.,  Charlie  and  Lemira.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  and  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm.  In  October,  1873,  he  concluded 
to  change  his  business,  and  bought  a 
stock  of  hardware  from  H.  Sappington 
He  has  since  continued  in  that  trade,  and 
is  a  genial,  accommodating  gentleman. 

Nathaniel  Thompson,  hardware  dealer, 
first  purchased  an  interest  in  the  firm 
of  Sappington  &  Pedrick,  as  third  part- 
ner. The  firm  did  business  under  this 
management  about  six  years,  when  Mr. 
Sappington  retired.  Pedrick  &  Thomp- 
son continued  the  business  as  partners 


for  about  four  years,  when  Mr.  Pedrick 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  the  latter 
named  gentleman,  since  which  time  Mr. 
Thompson  has  operated  the  business  for 
about  12  years.  He  carries  a  stock  of 
$3,000  or  $4,000. 

Frank  Ferman,  is  engaged  in  the  sale 
of  drugs,  on  Main  street.  He  com- 
menced business  February  3,  1873,  hav- 
ing purchased  the  same  from  Hardesty 
&  Emery.  He  has  a  stock  valued  at 
$2,000. 

The  firm  of  McCord  &  Coffman,  have 
been  doing  business  about  five  years. 
They  carry  a  stock  <  of  dry  goods,  boots 
and  shoes,  which  invoices  from  $5,000  to 
$7,000,  their  annual  sales  ranging  from 
$12,000  to  $15,000.  The  building  was 
formerly  occupied  by  J.  Creel,  from 
whom  Mr.  McCord  purchased.  Later, 
the  present  firm  was  established. 

Hon.  William  McCord,  one  of  the 
present  representatives  from  this  dis- 
trict in  the  general  assembly,  first  saw 
the  light  in  Pike  county,  Ohio,  on  the 
20th  of  September,  1839,  and  is  the  son 
of  Enoch  and  Anna  (Cluff)  McCord. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  his 
mother  of  Pike  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Mc- 
Cord came  to  McDonough  county,  in 
1857,  locating  at  first,  at  Bardolph. 
Here  he  resided  until  in  September, 

1861,  when,  in  response  to  the  call  of  his 
country,  he  enlisted   in   company   I,  of 
the  57th  Illinois  infantry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  Chadsworth.     He  took 
part  with  his  regiment,  in  the  fierce  and 
bloody    battles  of  Fort  Donelson,   and 
Shiloh,  or   Pittsburg  Landing,    and  in 
the  siege    of  Corinth.     In    the    fall  of 

1862,  he  was  wounded  at  the  last  battle 
at  the   latter   place,  in  consequence  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


883 


which  he  was  discharged  from  the  ser- 
vice, at  that  time  having  the  rank  of  sec- 
ond sergeant.  He  returned  to  Bardolph, 
but  soon  removed  to  Colchester,  where 
he  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  store? 
and  also  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  company. 
In  the  year  1867,  he  moved  to  the  town 
of  Blandinsville,  and  entered  a  store 
there  as  clerk,  but  in  1871,  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  on  his 
own  account,  and  has  followed  that  line 
ever  since.  He  has,  by  industry,  en- 
ergy, and  strict  probity,  conquered  for- 
tune, and  has  attained  quite  a  fine  prop- 
erty, in  Blandinsville,  and  owns  a  large 
tract  of  land  in  Nebraska.  He  was  el- 
ected to  the  office  of  member  of  the 
34th  general  assembly,  in  the  fall  of 
1884,  and  is  acting  in  that  capacity  at 
present.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  on 
the  20th  of  December,  1860,  with  Me- 
linda  Creel,  a  daughter  of  James  Creel 
of  Blandinsville.  She  is  a  native  of 
McDonough  county,  born  near  Bar- 
dolph. They  have  no  children  of  their 
own,  but  one  by  adoption — Jessie,  wife 
of  "W.  A.  Grigsby,  of  Blandinsville. 

M.  Coffman,  of  the  firm  of  McCord  & 
Coffman,  dry  goods  dealers,  in  Blandins- 
ville is  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  was 
born  January  10,  1849,  his  parents  be- 
ing Alfred  and  Sarah  E.  (Pemberton) 
Coffman.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm,  and  obtained  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  the  county.  With 
his  parents,  he  came  to  Blandinsville 
township,  in  1850,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
on  section  18.  He  thus  was  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  a  number  of  years, 
and  remained  on  the  home  farm,  assist- 
ing his  father  in  the  various  occupations 


incident  to  farm  life,  until  27  years  old. 
Having  a  desire  for  mercantile  life,  he 
then  moved  to  the  village  of  Blandins- 
ville and  engaged  in  the  clothing  busi- 
ness with  M.  A.  Terry,  and  continued 
18  months.  He  then  bought  out  a  gro- 
cery store  from  J.  H.  Grigsby,  and  re- 
mained in  that  trade  until  1878,  when  he 
sold  out  to  W.  H.  McCord,  and  clerked 
for  Dines  Bros.,  for  16  months.  He 
then  preferring  a  business  of  his  own, 
engaged  in  his  present  trade,  where  he 
has  since  continued,  and  being  a  genial 
accomodating  gentleman,  has  many 
friends,  and  a  good  patronage.  He  was 
married  November  15,  1876,  to  M.  J. 
Taylor,  a  daughter  of  Campbell  Taylor, 
a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  one 
child — Minnie. 

Huston  &  Bailey  are  dealers  in  cloth- 
ing, boots  and  shoes,  etc.,  and  have  been 
in  this  branch  of  trade  since  April,  1884. 
M.  Huston,  of  this  firm,  has  been  in  the 
business  since  January  10, 1882,  at  which 
time  he  succeeded  the  firm  of  Terry  & 
Banks,  the  latter  named  gentleman  hav- 
ing previously  purchased  an  interest  of 
M.  A.  Terry,  the  original  proprietor. 
Messrs.  Huston  &  Bailey  have  a  stock  of 
goods  valued  at  $5,000,  their  annual 
sales  amounting  to  $15,000.  They  are 
the  only  firm  in  the  place  who  deal  ex- 
clusively in  this  line. 

Marion  Huston,  of  the  firm  of  Huston 
&  Bailey,  is  a  native  of  this  county,  born 
January  5,  1863,  in  Blandinsville  town- 
ship. He  is  a  son  of  Preston  and  El- 
mira  Huston,  and  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm.  His  education  was  obtained  in  the 
district  schools  and  supplemented  by  a 
course  of  instruction  at  Eureka  college. 
He  made  his  home  with  his  parents  un- 


884 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


til  he  engaged  in  his  present  business  in 
1882.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  March 
16,  1884,  with  Ada  Blandin,  a  daughter 
of  C.  A.  Blandin.  She  is  also  a  native 
of  this  township.  The  firm  of  Huston 
&  Bailey  are  favorably  located  for  the 
business  in  which  they  are  engaged,  and 
have  already  established  a  good  trade. 
Mr.  Huston  is  a  young  man  of  fine  busi- 
ness qualifications,  steady  habits,  and 
much  energy.  He  is  related  to  the  fam- 
ily of  Hustons,  who  have  long  been 
among  the  substantial  men  of  the  county. 
His  wife  is,  also,  from  a  family  of  old 
settlers,  and  they  start  out  in  life  writh 
bright  prospects,  being  well  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  portion  of 
the  county  where  they  live. 

J.  C.  Bishop  is  engaged  in  the  restau- 
rant business,  having  purchased  the 
same  in  January,  1883. 

John  R.  Evans  was  the  pioneer  fur- 
niture dealer.  The  store  building  was 
located  on  Main  street,  and  is  now  oc- 
cupied as  a  dwelling  in  the  second  story, 
and  paint  shop  below.  He  established 
the  business  about  the  year  1855.  His 
successor  in  the  business  was  Thomas 
Sorter,  the  present  trustworthy  and  effi- 
cient county  treasurer.  This  gentleman 
operated  the  business  in  the  same  build- 
ing for  a  short  time,  when  John  Hud- 
son, who  was  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business,  purchased  the  stock  and  added 
it  to  his  trade.  He  afterward  sold  out 
and  removed  to  Marysville,  Missouri. 
In  the  meantime  Goodwin  Brothers  es- 
tablished furniture  and  undertaking  in 
the  village,  in  1858,  being  the  first  in 
the  latter  line.  They  continued  busi- 
ness until  1863,  when  Anthony  Thorn- 
ton took  possession,  and  in  1865,  Thorn- 


ton Gruber  entered  the  firm  as  a  part- 
ner, a  short  time  after  which,  Gruber 
&  Son  succeeded  this  firm.  In  1868, 
Andrew  Wilson  purchased  the  same  and 
operated  it  for  a  number  of  years.  In 
1874,  Spielman  Brothers  established  fur- 
niture and  undertaking,  and  in  1879, 
bought  out  Andrew  Wilson,  consolidat- 
ing the  two,  and  at  present  are  the  only 
dealers  in  this  line. 

The  lumber  interest  has  one  represen- 
tative firm  at  Blandinsville.  Brooks  & 
Roberts  established  the  same  about  six 
years  ago.  They  carry  a  stock  of  lum- 
ber valued  at  $6,000,  with  annual  sales 
averaging  $25,000.  These  gentlemen  are 
also  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping 
grain,  operating  the  only  elevator  in  the 
town.  The  firm  is  now  Brooks  &  Davis. 

F.  W.  Brooks,  dealer  in  lumber  and 
grain  at  Blandinsville,  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  and  engaged  in  his  present 
business  in  1873.  He  was  born  October 
1,  1848,  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  resided  with  his  parents,  B.  F. 
and  Eliza  (Curts)  Brooks,  until  15 
years  of  age.  He  received  a  fair  educa- 
tion. On  leaving  home  he  engaged  with 
an  uncle  in  the  lumber  business,  contin- 
uing the  same  in  his  native  county,  un- 
til he  came  to  Blandinsville.  He  was 
married  in  the  month  of  September, 
1878,  to  Elizabeth  Gillihan.  They  have 
two  children — Jessie  and  Florence.  Mr. 
Brooks  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity; also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  As  a 
business  man  he  is  possessed  of  superior 
qualifications,  and  by  upright  and  hon- 
est dealing  has  secured  a  large  share  of 
public  patronage. 

The  merchant-tailoring  business  is 
represented  by  H.  M.  Mason,  at  the  cor- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


885 


ner  of  Main  and  Harrison  streets.  He 
is  also  engaged  in  the  sale  of  sewing 
machines. 

H.  N.  Mason,  the  popular  dealer  in  ; 
sewing  machines,  etc.,  came  to  Blandins- 
ville,  McDonough  county,  in  the  spring 
of  1868,  from  Ohio,  of  which  state  he  is 
a  native,  having  been  born  there  October 
13,  1833.  On  his  mother's  side  he  is  of 
English  extraction.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Lucretia  Strickland,  she  being 
a  sister  of  William  P.  Strickland,  the 
renowned  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  divine.  Ho- 
ratio Mason,  the  father  of  our  subject, 
was  a  practicing  physician,  and  had  a 
very  extensive  practice.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  his  38th  year,  caused  by  over- 
work. After  his  father's  death,  H.  N. 
Mason  was  the  sole  support  of  his 
mother  and  sister.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  a  tailor,  after  which  he  opened  a 
clothing  store  and  merchant-tailoring 
establishment  at  New  Lexington,  Perry 
county,  Ohio,  and  soon  was  doing  a  good 
business.  Upon  President  Lincoln  is- 
suing his  call  for  75,000  volunteers,  Ho- 
ratio enlisted,  April  19,  1861,  in  com- 
pany C,  17th  Ohio  infantry,  as  a  drum- 
mer, but  was  afterwards  promoted  drum 
major.  After  his  term  of  enlistment  had 
expired,  he  re-enlisted,  this  time  for 
three  years,  in  the  62d  Ohio  infantry, 
but  only  served  two  years,  being  then 
discharged  on  account  of  disability.  In 
the  spring  of  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
Signal  corps,  and  served  until  the  25th 
of  September,  1865.  While  in  the  ser- 
vice he  participated  in  the  following  en- 
gagements: Winchester,  campaign  in 
Shenandoah  Valley,  Cedar  creek,  Sharps- 
burg,  Lynchburg,  and  the  last  two  days  of 
the  seven  days  fight  at  Richmond.  Be- 


sides these  he  was  engaged  in  a  number  of 
smaller  engagements.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  and  returned  to 
his  old  home,  where  he  remained  until 
coming  to  Blandinsville,  in  the  spring 
of  1868,  and  opening  his  present  estab- 
lishment. He  has  been  quite  successful  ? 
and  now  has  a  large  and  increasing 
trade,  being  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants in  his  line  in  the  county.  In 
1856,  Louisa  Gruber  became  his  wife, 
and  she  departed  this  '  life  July  2,  1872, 
leaving  two  children  —  William,  and 
Lillian,  the  wife  of  James  Grigsby, 
of  Blandinsville.  Mr.  Mason  was 
again  married  in  the  fall  of  1876,  to 
Hattie  Hopper.  By  this  union 
there  were  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  now  living  —  Bertha,  Louie  and 
Mary.  He  is  past  grand  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  a 
member  of  the  encampment.  He  is  a  se- 
lect knight  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  Iron  Hall  society,  a  ad  of  the  Mystic 
Brotherhood  of  Justice. 

David  Shrier,  merchant  tailor  of  Blan- 
dinsville, came  here,  first,  in  June,  1841, 
from  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  born  July  22,  1821,  his  parents 
being  John  and  Catherine  (Oldfield) 
Shrier.  At  the  age  of  15  years  he  left 
home  and  served  an  apprenticeship  at 
the  tailors'  trade,  and,  during  the  time} 
worked  with  his  master  in  many  differ- 
ent places.  In  1840  he  engaged  in  work 
for  himself,  locating  in  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  13  months, 
then  came  to  Astoria,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  thence  to  St.  Louis,  then  back 
to  Fulton  county.  He  was  engaged  in 
merchant  tailoring  at  Astoria,  where  he 


886 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


was  also  post  master  for  nine  years.  In 
1860  he  came  again  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located,  first,  at  Macomb  and 
subsequently  at  Blandinsville,  where  he 
has  since  remained.  Mr.  Shrier  was 
married  May  12,  1843,  to  Jane  Hopkins, 
a  native  of  Ohio.  Ten  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  of  whom  eight  are 
living — Juliet,  widow  of  John  Holling- 
worth,  who  died  in  the  army;  she  after- 
ward married  Alexis  Freeland,  also  de- 
ceased; she  is  now  living  at  home  with 
her  father;  Catherine,  wife  of  Joseph 
H.  Phelps,  of  Macomb;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Gordon,  of  Macomb;  William, 
married  to  Charity  Moss,  and  living  in 
Blandinsville;  Garrett,  now  living  in 
Peoria;  Lida,  wife  of  Frank  M.  Gormer, 
of  Blandinsville ;  George,  living  at  home, 
and  Sarah  E.,  living  in  Macomb.  Mr. 
Shrier  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, lodge  No.  100,  at  Astoria. 

In  the  spring  of  1869,  John  W.  Fow- 
ler established  a  harness  and  saddlery 
establishment.  He  erected  the  building 
and  conducted  the  business  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  June  11,  1881. 
His  son,  John  H.,  has  conducted  the 
business  since  that  time. 

John  W.  Fowler,  deceased,  came  to 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  in  March, 
1869,  from  New  Lexington,  Ohio,  of 
which  state  he  was  a  native.  He  ob- 
tained only  a  limited  education,  being 
enabled  to  attend  school  but  three  months 
in  the  year.  Until  reaching  his  eigh- 
teenth year,  he  worked  on  a  farm.  He 
then  learned  the  trade  of  a  harness 
maker,  and  followed  that  trade  princi- 
pally up  to  the  time  of  his  coming  to 
Blandinsville.  While  a  resident  of  Ohio, 
he  raised  a  company,  and  enlisted  in 


company  D,  30th  Ohio  infantry,  being 
commissioned  captain  of  the  company. 
He  did  gallant  service  for  some  four 
years,  participating  in  a  number  of  hard- 
fought  battles,  and  received  a  wound  at 
Antietam,  being  shot  through  the  left 
arm.  Upon  receiving  his  discharge,  he 
returned  to  Ohio,  but  soon  afterwards 
started  west  by  team,  going  to  Fremont, 
Nebraska,  and  other  western  points,  and 
returning  to  Ohio  in  the  fall  of  1868.  In 
March,  1869,  he  removed  to  Blandins- 
ville, McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and 
established  a  harness  shop,  and  contin- 
ued that  business  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  11,  1881.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen  societies  of 
this  city.  As  a  citizen,  he  was  quite 
popular,  and  his  death  was  mourned  by 
a  large  number  of  warm  friends.  He 
left  a  family  of  seven  children  to  mourn 
his  loss  —  Charles,  Luella,  John  H., 
Bert,  Edward,  William  and  Roy,  all  liv- 
ing at  home,  with  the  exception  of  Bert, 
now  of  Chicago,  and  Charles,  who  re- 
sides in  the  country.  John  H.  Fowler, 
the  successor  of  his  father  in  the  harness 
business,  is  keeping  up  the  excellent 
reputation  made  by  the  father,  and  has 
quite  an  extensive  trade,  which  keeps 
constantly  increasing.  He  has  the  well- 
deserved  reputation  of  turning  out  noth- 
ing but  first-class  work.  He  was  united 
in  marriage,  on  the  28th  of  May,  1884, 
with  Carrie  B.  Dennis.  Mr.  Fowler  is 
claimed  as  an  honored  member  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen. 

Hankins  &  Son  are  also  engaged  in 
the  sale  and  manufacture  of  harness, 
saddles,  etc.,  having  purchased  the  same 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


887 


of  O.  P.  Pemiington,  about  two  years 
ago,  the  latter  named  gentleman  being  a 
successor  to  the  firm  of  Pennington  & 
Snapp.  The  building  in  which  Hankins 
&  Son  are  doing  business,  is  owned  by 
Mrs.  Myers. 

In  1873,  F.  P.  Kellogg  engaged  in  the 
livery  business  at  Blandinsville.  In 
1881,  he  purchased  the  livery  interest  of 
Charles  Connell,  and  now  conducts  the 
only  stable  in  the  place.  The  stable  now 
used  by  Mr.  Kellogg,  was  originally 
erected  for  an  agricultural  house  by  Ed- 
mundson  &  Miner,  of  Bushnell.  Eight 
horses  are  kept  for  livery  use,  and  the 
barn  commands  a  very  good  trade. 

Epperson  &  Phillips  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  wagons,  carriages  and 
general  repairing,  in  1881.  Their  build- 
ing is  40x45  feet  in  dimensions,  and 
since  starting,  they  have  been  doing  a 
thriving  business. 

John  C.  Phillips  carries  on  general 
blacksmithing  in  Blandinsville.  He 
opened  the  shop  he  now  occupies,  in 
July,  1882.  He  is  a  native  of  Tuscarawas 
county,  Ohio,  born  January  4, 1831.  He 
remained  in  his  native  county  till  1855. 
In  August,  1856,  he  located  in  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  eight  miles  north 
of  Blandinsville.  The  following  March, 
he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
lived  in  the  township  of  Emmet  until 
August  14,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the 
124th  Illinois  infantry,  under  Captain 
Benjamin  Griffith.  He  served  three 
years,  and  returned  to  Emmet  in  the 
fall  of  1865,  and  soon  after  moved  to 
Blandinsville,  and  went  to  work  in  the 
blacksmith  shop  of  Sorter  &  Saunders. 
He  continued  in  their  employ  several 
months.  In  the  spring  of  1866,  he  be- 


gan work  for  Wilford  Keithley,  with 
whom  he  remained  till  1881.  Mr.  Phil- 
lips was  married  July  13,  1851,  to  Mary 
A.  Collins,  a  native  of  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  born  February  26,  1834.  Ten 
children  have  been  born  to  them- - 
Louisiana,  deceased;  Cerenia  C.,  born  in 
1855;  William  A.,  born  in  1856;  Vir- 
ginia A.,  born  in  1858;  John  Franklin, 
born  in  1861;  Mary  O.,  born  in  1862; 
James  B.  M.,  born  in  1866,  and  died  in 
1868;  Eddie  M.,  born  in  1868;  Lucy  A., 
born  in  1870,  and  Charles  O.,  born  in 
1872.  Mr.  Phillips  now  resides  in  the 
oldest  house  in  Blandinsville  township. 
He  is  a  worthy  citizen,  and  highly  re- 
spected. 

Not  only  the  early  settlers  are  en- 
titled to  representation  in  this  volume. 
The  young,  enterprising  men  who  have 
started  out  in  life  to  battle  for  them- 
selves and  make  their  name  honorable 
in  the  community  in  which  they  live, 
are  also  worthy  of  mention  in  a  work  of 
this  nature.  Of  this  class  is  W.  A. 
Phillips,  wagon  maker  of  Blandinsville. 
He  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  this 
state,  011  the  2d  day  of  November,  1856, 
and  is  a  son  of  J.  C.  and  Mary  ( Collins ) 
Phillips.  He  was  married  on  the  18th 
day  of  January,  1883,  to  Ann  Jackson, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Ellen  Jackson, 
of  Quincy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phillips  are 
the  parents  of  one  child — Daniel  Evert, 
who  was  born  May  4,  1884.  Mr.  Phil- 
.lips  is  a  member  of  the  M.  B.  of  J. 

C.  J.  Sanders  has  been  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  and  general  repairing  of 
wagons,  and  other  work  in  this  line,  for 
the  past  20  years.  The  building  and 
improvements  are  owned  in  partnership 
with  H.  K.  Prather,  who  is  engaged  in 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


general  blacksmithing,  horse  shoeing, 
etc.,  and  also  attends  to  the  iron  work  of 
the  wagon  manufactory.  Mr.  Prather 
commenced  business  here  in  October, 
1877. 

The  notion  trade  has  a  representative 
in  C.  M.  Duncan. 

Causby  M.  Duncan  was  born  in 
White  county,  Tennessee,  October  6, 
1824.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  attending  the  district  school 
as  he  had  opportunity.  He  resided 
with  his  parents  till  he  reached  the  age 
of  23.  March  21,  1847,  he  was  married 
to  Nancy  Ann  Cooper,  and  was  living  in 
Henderson  county,  Illinois.  Soon  after 
the  young  couple  setting  out  for  them- 
selves removed  to  a  farm  in  that  county, 
on  which  they  lived  for  25  years,  and 
then  sold  out  and  moved  to  McDonough 
county,  in  1874,  and  located  at  Blandins- 
ville,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mercan- 
tile business,  which  he  continued  about 
one  year  and  a  half.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  engaged  in  various  occupa- 
tions, having  no  regular  trade.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Duncan  have  had  11  children,  nine 
of  whom  are  now  living — Samuel  R., 
now  living  in  Oregon;  Matilda  Jane, 
married  to  Thomas  Metcalf,  of  Bland- 
ins  ville;  John  C.,  living  in  this  county; 
Charles  D.,  in  Missouri;  Mary  Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  Markwell,  also  in 
Missouri;  William  B.,  living  in  this 
county;  Thomas  F.,  in  Iowa;  George  W. 
and  Joseph  L.,  living  with  their  parents. 
Those  deceased  are — James  G.  and  Sar- 
dina  Catherine.  The  former  is  buried 
at  Portland,  Oregon,  and  the  latter  in 
Indiana. 

The  barber  business  is  carried  on  by 
Sylvester  McFall. 


Sylvester  McFall  was  born  in  New 
York,  in  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  Orrin 
and  Lydia  (Marsh)  McFall.  His  trade 
was  that  of  carpenter  and  cabinet 
maker,  and  in  1857  he  came  to  the  place 
in  which  he  now  lives,  and  worked 
at  his  trade.  In  1860  he  was  married 
to  Matilda  Harrison,  daughter  of  Josiah 
Harrison,  of  North  Carolina.  By  that 
union  are  three  children — Walter,  Effie 
and  Lawrence.  Mr.  McFall  enlisted  in 
the  army  of  the  union  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  rebellion,  in  the  78th  regi- 
ment of  Illinois  volunteers,  and  partici- 
pated in  many  engagements.  During 
the  series  of  battles  before  Atlanta,  he 
received  a  gun-shot  wound  in  the  right 
arm,  which  disabled  him  from  further 
service  and  he  was  consequently  dis- 
charged, after  spending  five  months  and 
five  days  in  the  hospital.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Blandinsville,  but  was  not 
able,  physically,  to  follow  his  former  oc- 
cupation, and  therefore  learned  the 
trade  of  barber,  which  has  since  been 
his  business.  He  is  an  energetic,  in- 
dustrious man,  and  has  accumulated 
considerable  property.  He  owns  two 
business  houses  and  lots  on  Main  street, 
and  a  residence  in  the  village.  He  is  a 
member  of  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  politically 
a  republican. 

BANK. 

The  banking  interest  was  established 
at  Blandinsville  by  T.  A.  Hardin  &  Co., 
who  continued  in  the  business  a  short 
time,  when  they  were  succeeded  by  Mc- 
Vey  &  Pancake.  May  1,  1882,  Grigsby 
Bros.  &  Co.  purchased  the  business, 
including  the  building,  and  it  is  now 
operated  as  a  private  institution,  being 


HISTOET  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


889 


the  only  bank  in  the  place.  They  have 
a  vault  and  a  burglar-proof  safe,  and  do 
a  correspondence  with  the  Mechanics' 
national  bank,  of  New  York,  and  the 
National  bank  of  America,  of  Chicago. 
The  building,  which  is  a  brick,  is  located 
on  Main  street.  The  bank  does  quite 
an  extensive  business 

Redman  Grisby,  deceased,  was  born 
in  the  state  of  Virginia  in  1801,  and  when 
seven  years  of  age,  removed  with  his  par- 
ents, to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  brought 
up  and  received  a  limited  education.  He 
was  married  in  that  state,  when  but  19 
years  old,  to  Nancy  Keeler,  who  died  in 
Kentucky,  leaving  him  six  children,  five 
of  whom  afterward  became  residents  of 
McDonough  county — James,  who  died 
in  1852;  William  H.,  Silas  J.  and  Nathan- 
iel, living  in  Blandinsville;  and  John, 
living  in  Nodaway  county,  Missouri.  Mr. 
Grigsby  was  married  the  second  time,  to 
Bhoda  Seybold,  who  died  in  this  county. 
There  were  no  children  by  this  union. 
In  1850,  he  was  married  the  third  time, 
to  Catherine  Bay,  who  is  still  living  in 
Blandinsville  township.  Mr.  Grigsby 
had  by  his  third  marriage,  two  children 
— Hezekiah  R.,  living  on  the  home  place 
and  Emma,  wife  of  Charles  Conwell,  of 
Blandinsville  township.  Mr.  Grigsby 
came  here  in  the  fall  of  1830,  from  Wash- 
ington county,  Kentucky,  and  settled  on 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  17.  Here 
he  built  a  log  cabin  which  they  lived  in 
one  winter,  with  no  floor  except  the 
ground.  The  nearest  mill  was  30  miles 
distant  and  that  being  the  winter  of  the 
big  snow,  it  was  impossible  to  reach  it, 
although  he  attempted  to  do  so,  in  order 
to  obtain  supplies,  consequently,  they 
were  obliged  to  live  through  the  winter 


by  beating  corn  in  an  improvised  mortar, 
made  by  sawing  off  a  log  and  burning 
the  center  of  one  end  until  it  was  suffi- 
ciently hollowed  out  to  hold  about  half 
a  bushel  of  corn.  The  pestle  was  made 
by  inserting  the  end  of  an  iron  wedge  in 
a  hickory  stick.  With  this  rudely  con- 
structed apparatus  the  family  milling 
was  done,  boys  and  girls,  men  and  women, 
each  taking  a  hand  at  furnishing  the 
necessary  power.  Mr.  Grigsby  remained 
upon  this  place  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing, until  the  time  of  his  death,  in  June, 
1874. 

Silas  J.  Grigsby,  third  son  of  Redman 
Grigsby,  was  born  in  Hardin  county, 
Kentucky,  August  6,  1823.  He  came 
with  his  father  to  this  county,  remaining 
with  him  until  the  fall  of  1844,  being 
then  21  years  old.  His  opportunities 
for  obtaining  an  education  were  meagre. 
He  attended  the  first  school  of  this  town- 
ship, taught  by  Enoch  Cyrus  and  an- 
other, taught  by  James  Cyrus,  a  brother 
of  Enoch.  He  was  married  November 
15, 1844,  to  Mary  F.  Epperson,  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  He  then  settled  in  this 
township,  purchasing  a  farm  of  160  acres 
of  prairie  and  60  acres  of  timber  land. 
He  improved  this  land  and  lived  upon 
it  three  years,  then  rented  out  the  place 
and  removed  to  section  21,  Blandinsville 
township.  One  year  later  he  sold  his 
farm  in  Hire  township,  to  Hiram  Ballou 
but  subsequently,  sold  it  again  to  Mr. 
James  Welch.  He  remained  on  section 
21,  about  three  years,  then  moved  to  sec- 
tion 28,  where  he  bought  the  southeast 
quarter,  which  was  slightly  improved. 
He  further  improved  it  and  resided  there 
until  April,  1882,  when  he  moved  into 
the  village  of  Blandinsville.  His  son 


890 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


now  lives  upon  the  farm.  Mr.  Grigsby 
now  owns  760  acres,  all  well  improved 
land,  except  30  acres  of  timber.  Four 
hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  this  is  in 
cultivation,  worked  by  tenants,  the  bal- 
ance is  in  pasture.  He  is  largely  en- 
gaged in  raising  and  feeding  stock.  He 
is  one  of  the  firm  of  Grigsby  Bro.  &  Co., 
bankers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grigsby  have 
had  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now 
living — John  L.,  married  to  Amelia 
Moore  and  living  in  Holt  county,  Mis- 
souri; Joseph  H.,  married  to  Jane  A. 
King,  also  in  Holt  county;  Francis  J., 
married  to  Ora  Groves,  and  living  in 
Nodaway  county,  Missouri;  Silas  J.,  mar- 
ried to  Fannie  Taylor,  and  living  on  the 
homestead  farm ;  Emma  J.,  wife  of  W. 
P.  Cherry,  of  Nodaway  county,  Missouri; 
and  William  V.,  living  with  his  parents. 
Mr.  Grigsby  was  associate  judge  of  this 
county  for  nearly  four  years,  just  pre- 
vious to  township  organization,  his  term 
however,  was  not  expired  at  the  time 
when  the  organization  was  effected.  He 
has  since  served  two  years  upon  the 
board  of  county  supervisors. 

S.  J.  Grigsby,  Jr.,  was  born  July  4, 
1859,  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
28,  Blandinsville  township.  He  is  a  son 
of  S.  J.  Grigsby,  Sr.,  who  now  lives  in 
Blandinsville.  His  mother,  formerly 
Mary  F.  Epperson  died  April  18, 1881. 
S.  J.  Grigsby,  Jr.,  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm  which  was  his  birthplace,  and  is 
still  his  home.  He  owns  120  acres  of  the 
homestead  farm,  which  is  in  a  good  state 
of  cultivation,  and  finely  improved.  He 
was  married  March  9,  1882,  to  Fannie 
Taylor,  a  native  of  this  county.  They 
have  had  one  child — Mabel,  born  March 
19,  1883. 


ELEVATOR. 

The  only  elevator  at  this  point  is  owned 
by  A.  P.  Hopper,  who  leases  the  same 
to  Brooks  &  Davis,  who  are  also  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  and  the  sale  of 
agricultural  implements.  Mr.  Davis  also 
deals  to  some  extent  in  stock. 

John  M.  Davis  is  a  native  of  Ohio,aud 
was  born  in  Ashland  county,  February 
23,  1852.  He  is  a  son  of  E.  W.  and  Eliza 
(Warner)  Davis,  who  was  formerly  from 
New  York.  John  M.  came  to  this  county 
in  October,  1853,  with  his  parents  and  re- 
mained on  a  farm  until  1877.  He  then 
went  to  Kansas,  and  there  engaged  in 
handling  live  stock  for  about  two  years. 
He  then,  in  1880,  returned  to  Blandins- 
ville, and  followed  the  same  business 
here,  also  bought  grain,  and  subsequently 
added  to  his  trade  agricultural  imple- 
ments. He  was  married  September  16, 
1873, to  Belle  Allshouse,  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  politically,  a 
democrat.  He  has  always  been  pro- 
nounced in  his  advocacy  of  the  now  dom- 
inant party. 

OPEEA  HOUSE. 

This  place  of  amusement  was  erected 
by  a  stock  company  in  1882.  The  stock 
was  subsequently  purchased  by  Grigsby 
Brothers  &  Co.,  who  are  the  present 
owners. 

HOTELS. 

The  Central  house  is  situated  on  Main 
street,  and  is  operated  by  E.  L.  Sapp, 
who  has  had  control  of  the  house  for 
three  years  past.  This  house  contains 
25  rooms.  The  present  rates  of  the  ho- 
tel are  $1.50  per  day.  The  succession  of 
proprietors  since  its  establishment  are 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


891 


John  Edmunds,  Charles  Travis,  J.  Sap- 
pington  and  John  Bond. 

The  hotel  now  known  as  the  Edel 
house  was  built  in  1858,  on  the  corner 
of  Harrison  and  Chestnut  streets,  by 
Thomas  J.  Davis.  The  building  is  three 
stories  high,  built  of  brick,  40x70  feet 
in  size.  The  lower  story  is  intended  for 
store  purposes  and  the  upper  for  a  hotel. 
The  upper  part  was  a  tenement  for  fam- 
ilies and  part  for  a  dancing  hall,  until 
1867,  when  E.  W.  Hume  bought  it  at 
administrator's  sale,  and  finished  the  up- 
per story  for  dwellings.  In  1871,  Mr. 
Hume  opened  it  as  a  hotel  and  run  it 
a  short  time,  when  he  sold  it  to  Joseph 
Edel,  who  remodelled  it  and  reopened 
it  as  the  Edel  house.  He  ran  it  a  short 
time,  when  he  rented  it  to  various  par- 
ties. Mr.  Edel  converted  the  store 
rooms  into  part  of  the  hotel.  In  1885, 
Nathaniel  Grigsby  and  Son  purchased 
the  property  and  leased  it  to  Dr.  A. 
White,  who  at  present  runs  it. 

Abner  White,M.  D.,came  to  this  county 
in  1868,  but  did  not  at  that  time  effect  a 
permanent  residence.  He  was  born  in 
Somerset  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber, 1825.  When  Abner  was  quite  young 
his  parents,  with  the  family,  removed  to 
Missouri.  The  climate  in  that  state  did 
not  seem  to  agree  with  his  mother,  and 
notwithstanding  the  finances  of  his  fa- 
ther had  run  quite  low,  it  was  thought 
best  to  remove  her  to  the  native  state  of 
Abner.  Consequently,  his  parents  re- 
turned to  Pennsylvania,  and  Abner,  at 
12  years  of  age,  was  thrown  entirely  up- 
his  own  resources.  He  then  led  a  rov- 
ing life,  being  variously  engaged  in  dif- 
ferent occupations.  He  never  had  the 
opportunity  of  attending  school,  but  by 


his  own  exertion  and  personal  applica- 
tion, obtained  a  fair  education.  In  1852, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in 
Perry  county,  Ohio,  at  New  Lexington, 
with  Dr.  Vanatta,  and  continued  nearly 
three  years.  He  there  commenced  prac- 
tice in  1856.  In  1879,  he  attended  med- 
ical lectures  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  there 
in  1880,  graduated  from  the  college  of 
physicians  and  surgeons.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession in  Schuyler  county,  Missouri, 
and  there  continued  nearly  two  years, 
then  came  to  Blandinsville  and  remained 
about  six  months,  thence  he  went  to 
Union  City,  Indiana,  where  he  had  pre- 
viously practiced  four  years,  and  re- 
mained about  one  year,  thence  to  Mis- 
souri, and  again  here  May  16,  1883, 
where  he  is  now  located.  In  addition 
to  the  practice  of  medicine,  he  is  the 
present  proprietor  of  the  Edel  house, 
the  leading  hotel  of  the  place. 

Besides  those  in  active  business  be- 
fore mentioned,  there  are  a  number  of 
others  who  must  be  mentioned  in  this 
connection  to  make  this  chapter  com- 
plete, Their  sketches  follow: 

Captain  O.  M.  Lisk  was  born  in  Coop- 
erstown,  New  York,  February  10,  1819. 
When  he  was  seven  years  of  age,  his 
parents,  Andrew  and  Nancy  (Phelps) 
Lisk,  removed  to  Jefferson  county,  of  the 
same  state,  and  settled  near  Sackett's 
Harbor,  In  the  fall  of  1842,  Captain 
Lisk  went  to  Warren  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  remained  till  the  spring  of 
1847,  when  he  removed  to  St.  Louis,  and 
there  engaged  as  deck  hand  on  board  a 
diving  bell  boat  named  the  Mermaid. 
He  was  there  employed  one  summer, 
going  up  the  Missouri  river.  In  the 


892 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


fall  of  the  same  year  the  Mermaid  sunk 
at  Big  Eddy,  below  St.  Louis.  He  then 
went  to  work  as  diver  for  the  noted  con- 
tractor, Captain  Eads,  by  whom  he  was 
employed  one  year,  after  which  he  went 
to  St.  Louis,  where  he  was  made  captain 
of  a  diving  boat,  and  engaged  in  the 
business  of  raising  sunken  vessels.  He 
followed  that  occupation  several  years, 
and  was  very  successful.  He  then  went 
to  New  Orleans,  where  he  built,  in  part- 
nership with  Marshal  Mathews  and 
William  Creeny,  a  boat  called  the  Peli- 
can, and  another  called  the  Independ- 
ence, and  still  another  called  the  South- 
erner, the  latter  a  freight  boat,  was  sold 
by  Captain  Lisk  to  General  Butler  dur- 
the  war.  In  the  fall  of  1862,  Captain 
Lisk  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
settled  upon  the  farm  formerly  owned 
by  his  father,  who  had  died  in  the  mean- 
time. His  especial  object  in  coming 
here,  was  to  care  for  his  aged  and 
widowed  mother.  He  remained  upon 
the  farm  till  1878,  when  his  residence 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  then  moved  to 
Blandinsville,  which  has  since  been  his 
home.  He  was  married  in  1869,  to  Helen 
Metcalf,  daughter  of  R.  Metcalf,  of 
Michigan,  and  by  this  union  has  two 
children — Louis  and  Guy.  He  may 
properly  be  called  a  self-made  man, 
having  made  his  own  fortune,  and 
secured  a  competence  by  his  own  indus- 
try. He  started  in  life  with  limited 
means,  and  without  material  assistance 
from  any  source,  has  placed  himself  in 
easy  circumstances,  and  is  thus  enabled 
to  spend  his  declining  years  in  peace  and 
comfort. 

Mrs.    Hannah    Mustain,      widow    of 
Nathan  G.    Mustain,  was    born    Octo- 


ber 27,  1822.  Her  deceased  husband  was 
born  March  2^,  1819,  in  Pittsylvania 
county,  Virginia,  and  came  to  this  county 
in  1831.  This  marriage  took  place, 
August  17,  1848.  She  was  formerly 
Hannah  Wilson,  and  a  resident  of  Hen- 
derson county,  but  a  native  of  Ohio. 
After  marriage,  they  resided  on  a  farm 
in  Blandinsville  township.  Mr.  Mustain 
owned  a  farm  upwards  of  1,000  acres  of 
land  in  McDonough  county.  His  house 
was  a  handsome  and  commodious  struc- 
ture, erected  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  His 
barn  and  other  farm  buildings  were  of 
the  best  class.  He  resided  upon  the 
farm  until  the  time  of  his  death,  Novem- 
ber 30, 1872.  Mrs.  Mustain  now  lives  in 
the  town  of  Blandinsville,  where  she 
owns  a  fine  residence.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mustain  had  a  family  of  10  children — 
Ellen,  John  L.,  Charles  P.,  James  A., 
Theodore,  Elizabeth,  Mary,  Edward, 
Alice,  and  Florence.  One  daughter, 
Mary,  is  deceased.  John  L.,  James  A., 
Alice  and  Florence,  reside  with  their 
mother.  Charles  P.  lives  upon  the  home- 
stead farm  on  section  16.  Ellen  is  the 
wife  of  W.  M.  Miller,  of  Blandinsville 
township.  Theodore  lives  in  Macomb, 
Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Williams, 
of  Blandinsville,  and  Edward  lives  in 
Arkansas.  Nathan  Mustain  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  this  county,  a  man 
of  sterling  qualities,  and  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial and  influential  citizens  of  his 
township.  He  died  deeply  regretted, 
and  his  loss  has  been  much  felt  through- 
out the  community  where  he  resided. 

Benjamin  Fowler  came  to  this  county 
during  the  fall  of  1847,  from  Indiana, 
bringing  his  family  with  him,  which 
consisted  at  that  time  of  his  wife  and 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


895 


nine  children.  He  bought  a  farm  of  a 
140  acres  about  a  mile  aijd  a  half  north- 
west from  the  present  town  of  Blan- 
dinsville,  and  moved  there  in  February. 
1848,  where  he  lived  for  some  21  years, 
when  he  moved  into  the  village,  but  af- 
ter 10  years  he  again4  returned  to  the 
farm,  remaining  two  years,  and  then 
again  returned  to  the  village  where  he 
now  resides.  He  still  owns  the  farm 
and  rents  it,  living  a  retired  life.  Mr. 
Fowler  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Kentucky,  June  &6,  1806.  He  worked 
for  his  parents  on  a  farm  until  23  years 
of  age,  receiving  but  little  of  the  advan- 
tages of  an  education.  He  was  married 
in  October,  1878,  to  Mary  Gordon,  also 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  soon  after  which 
he  moved  to  Edwards  county,  in  this 
state,  where  he  remained  18  months, 
then  moving  to  Owen  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  cleared  a  farm  which  he  occu- 
pied for  13  years.  Upon  selling  out 
there,  he  moved  to  McDonough  county. 
He  is  the  father  of  13  children,  all  but 
one  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Fowler  is 
in  politics,  a  democrat,  casting  his  first 
vote  for  Andrew  Jackson.  He  has  been 
commissioner  of  highways,  and  is  a 
much  respected  gentleman. 

Davis  Aldrich,  is  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  in  Plymouth,  Chenango 
county,  June  12,  1812.  His  parents 
were  farmers,  but  at  an  early  age,  Davis 
was  apprenticed  to  a  blacksmith,  and 
served  three  years.  He  then  went  into 
an  edged  tool  factory  and  served  four 
years.  He  then  carried  on  both  bran- 
ches of  his  trade  for  about  10  years  in 
his  native  state.  He  then  moved  to 
Farmingtoii,  Iowa,  and  followed  the 
same  business  for  three  years,  then 


moved  to  Keokuk,  and  carried  on  the 
same  business  four  years,  then  moving 
to  Hancock  county,  in  this  state,  where 
he  purchased  600  acres  of  land,  and  for 
10  years  he  carried  on  his  trade  in  con- 
nection with  farming.  He  then  moved 
to  this  county,  and  has  followed  the 
profession  of  a  horse  farrier  and  veter- 
inary surgeon.  He  was  married  in  New 
York  state  when  21  years  of  age,  to  Sal- 
lie  Henshaw.  She  died  leaving  three 
children,  all  of  whom  are  dead.  He 
was  married  again  after  moving  to  Keo- 
kuk to  Abigail  Dow.  By  this  union 
there  were  four  children  born,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living — John  and  Ella 
His  second  wife  died  in  Blandinsville, 
and  he  was  again  married,  November  19, 
1866,  to  Sarah  J.  Hess.  By  the  last 
marriage  there  are  six  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living.  Mr.  Aldrich  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  ancl  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity. 

William  W.  Moss,  a  resident  of  Blan- 
dinsville, was  born  August  27,  1802,  in 
North  Carolina.  He  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm,  and  remained  with  his  parents 
till  22  years  old.  He  was  educated  in 
the  common  school,  and  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  December  25,  1823,  he 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  I.  Couday,  and 
by  this  union,  had  seven  children,  Erne- 
line  M.,  born  November  17,  1825;  Mary 
C.,  born  November  10,  1826:  Luly  C., 
born  September  7,  1828 ;  Margaret,  born 
January  18,  1831 ;  Lizer,  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1830;  William  T.,  born  Novem- 
ber 3,  1838,  and  Oliver,  born  September, 
26,  1836.  Mrs.  Moss  died  October  30, 
1857.  Mr.  Moss  was  again  married  in 
1861,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Goodwin.  He  had 
by  his  second  marriage,  four  children — 


896 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Charity,  born  November  23,  1863,  mar- 
ried to  William  Shrier,  of  Blandinsville; 
Sarah  May,  born  January  7,  1866,  mar- 
ried to  Theodore  Herzog,  and  living  on 
a  farm  in  Blandinsville  township;  Mary 
C.,  born  February  16,  1867,  -  and  died 
March  14,  of  the  same  year,  and  Edgar 
P.,  born  March  6, 1869,  now  living  with 
his  parents.  Mr.  Moss  settled  in  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  engaged 
in  farming,  and  remained  there,  until  he 
removed  to  a  farm,  which  he  purchased 
in  1842,  located  one  and"  a  half  miles 
north  of  the,  village  of  Blandinsville. 
He  moved  here  in  1844,  and  remained 
upon  the  farm  until  1861,  then  became 
a  resident  of  the  village  where  he  has 
since  lived.  He  sold  his  farm  to  James 
Creel,  who  still  owns  it.  He  is  a  worthy 
and  respected  citizen. 

Howard  Campbell,  is  a  son  of  Eli  and 
Martha  (Smith)  Campbell,  natives  of 
North  Carolina.  He  was  born  in  Rowan 
county,  of  that  state,  January  20,  1813. 
His  paternal  grand-parents  were  George 
and  Polly  Campbell,  and  his  mother 
was  a  daughter  of  William  and  Polly 
Smith.  In  the  fall  of  1830,  Howard 
left  his  native  state  and  went  to  Monroe 
county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  till  1864.  He  was  married 
in  that  county,  March  3,  1836,  to  Han- 
nah L.  Givens,  daughter  of  John  A.,  and 
Jane  (Berry)  Givens,  natives  of  Ken- 
tucky. In  November,  1864,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell removed  from  Indiana,  to  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a 
farm,  where  he  remained  till  March  5, 
1872,  at  which  date  he  came  to  Bland- 
insville, where  he  now  resides.  Mrs. 
Campbell  died  February  27,  1883,  aged 
63  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  were 


the  parents  of  seven  children — James 
H.,  born  January  21,  1837;  Paris  D., 
born  February  23,  1839;  Henry  P.,  born 
February  10,  1842,  and  died  March  24, 
1843;  Newton  S.,  born  June  14,  1845; 
Addison  M.,  born  August  6,  1848;  Wil- 
liam B.  born  November  20,  1851,  and 
Mary  E.,  born  November  23,  1858. 
James  H.,  was  married  January  13, 
1859,  to  Mary  E.  Thrasher.  Paris  D., 
was  married  in  1864,  to  Maria  Rush. 
Addison  M.,  was  married  September  7, 
1869,  to  Catharine  Conner.  Newton  S., 
was  married  in  1870,  to  Lucretia  E. 
Dunham,  who  died  in  1875,  in  Nodaway 
county,  Missouri.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried August  15,  1882,  to  Nancy  E.  Burr. 
William  B.,  was  married  December  11, 
1873,  to  Eva  Wilson,  and  Mary  E.,  was 
married  June  14,  1877,  to  James  M. 
York.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a  supporter  of 
the  democratic  party.  During  his  resi- 
dence in  the  State  of  Indiana,  he  held 
the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for 
seven  years. 

Newton  S.  Campbell,  fourth  son  of 
Howard  Campbell,  remained  with  his 
parents  until  1875.  He  then  moved  to 
Marysville,  Missouri,  where  he  remained 
two  years  engaged  in  handling  stock,  af- 
ter which  he  returned  to  Blandinsville 
and  engaged  in  the  same  business  which 
he  still  continues.  His  wife  died  during 
his  residence  in  Missouri.  They  had 
two  children,  one  of  whom,  Charlie,  died 
in  that  state,  the  other,  Anna,  is  still  liv- 
ing. Mr.  Campbell  and  his  present  wife 
are  members  of  the  Christian  church.  In 
the  spring  of  1884  he  was  elected  mar- 
shal of  Blandinsville.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  M.  B.  of  J. 
Politically,  he  is  a  democrat. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


897 


J.  M.  Naramore,  station  agent  at  Bland- 
insville,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  W.  P.  and  Ann 
(Jones)  Nararaore,  born  September  20, 
1858,  in  Stephen  son  county,  Illinois. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  an  infant 
10  days  old,  and  he  was  taken  to  rear,  by 
a  family  named  Miller,  who  resided  in 
Woodford  county.  Seven  years  later  he 
removed  with  them  to  Kansas,  where  he 
remained  till  the  winter  of  1876.  He 
then  returned  to  Woodford  county,  ac- 
companying Mrs.  Miller.  He  attended 
school  until  1880,  and  learned  telegraphy, 
after  which  he  was  employed  as  extra 
operator  on  the  Wabash,  St.  Louis  & 
Pacific  railroad,  until  December  5,  1882, 
when  he  was  given  charge  of  the  station 
at  Blandinsville,  where  he  has  since  con- 
tinued. During  the  time  he  has  become 
known  to  the  public  as  an  accommodat- 
ing official  and  a  genial  and  pleasant 
gentleman.  Mr.  Naramore  was  married 
November  22,  1883,  to  Mary  L.  Pond,  a 
daughter  of  Valorous  Pond,  of  Ohio.  Dr. 
W.  P.  Naramore  is  now  living  at  Lena, 
Stephenson  county,  where  he  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has 
been  twice  married.  He  had  by  the  first 
marriage,  two  sons — W.  W.  and  J.  M., 
subject  of  this  sketch.  By  the  latter  un- 
ion, he  had  seven  children,  four  sons  and 
three  daughters.  Two  sons  and  three 
daughters  are  living. 

BAND. 

The  Glade  City  cornet  band  was  or- 
ganized with  a  membership  of  12,  Janu- 
ary 20,  1880.  The  first  officers  of  the  or- 
ganization were  as  follows:  J.  C.  Bush- 
nell,  president;  M.  A.  Terry,  secretary; 
James Pennington,  treasurer;  F.  A.  York, 
leader.  The  band  has  always  been  in 


good  running  order  and  since  its  organi- 
zation has  been  incorporated.  The  pres- 
ent membership  numbers  10,  with  the 
following  officers :  F.  A.  York,  president ; 
J.  H.  Fowler,  treasurer;  M.  A.  Terry, 
secretary;  F.  A.  York,  leader.  The  or- 
ganization is  in  good  condition  at  pres- 
ent, financially. 

MILLS. 

Hume  &  Blandin  established  the  first 
steam  grist  mill  at  Blandinsville.  It  was 
a  large  building,  40x40  feet  in  ground 
area,  four  stories  high  and  had  two  run 
of  buhrs.  It  was  subsequently  operated 
by  a  number  of  different  parties,  all  of 
whom  lost  considerable  of  money  in  the 
transaction,  and  the  mill  was  afterward 
torn  down.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Hop- 
per built  a  saw  mill  at  about  this  date 
and  purchased  the  engine  used  in  the  old 
grist  mill,  from  which  the  motive  power 
for  this  latter  enterprise  was  produced. 
Additions  were  afterward  made  by  Mr. 
Hopper  to  his  mill,  and  a  run  of  stones 
put  in,  some  time  after  which  it  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  It  was  again  built  and 
operated  by  Mr.  Hopper  for  a  number  of 
years,  when  he  purchased  the  elevator 
near  the  depot  and  tore  down  the  mill. 
In  1876  he  purchased  his  present  milling 
interest.  The  building  is  20x50  feet  in 
dimensions,  with  an  engine  room  20x30 
feet,  and  has  two  run  of  buhrs.  The  ca- 
pacity is  one  hundred  bushels  per  day. 
At  present  the  mill  is  not  in  operation, 
as  Mr.  Hopper's  attention  is  now  paid  to 
buying  grain  for  other  parties. 

•  EDUCATIONAL. 

In  the  cause  of  education,  Blandins- 
ville has  kept  pace  with  the  rest  of  the 


898 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


county,  her  public  schools  usually  being 
among  the  best.  At  an  early  date  the  j 
United  Brethren  established  in  the  j 
place  an  institution  of  learning,  to  which 
was  given  the  name  of  Blandinsville 
seminary.  During  the  short  period  of 
its  existence  it  accomplished  much  good. 
Not  being  financially  a  success,  the 
building  and  grounds  were  sold  to  the 
village,  and  were  afterward  used  for 
school  purposes. 

The  first  building  for  school  purposes 
was  erected  at  the  extreme  northwest 
corner  of  the  original  town  plat,  and 
was  constructed  of  logs.  Mrs.  Hume 
taught  the  first  term  of  school. 

Blandinsville  public  schools  are  in  a 
flourishing  condition.  The  enrollment 
for  the  years  1884-5  being  250,  with  an 
average  attendance  of  220.  School  is 
maintained  nine  months  each  year,  at  a 
cost  of .  $2,500.  There  are  five  depart- 
ments in  the  school.  The  high  school 
course  embraces  the  study  of  advanced 
arithmetic,  algebra,  geometry,  United 
States'  history,  geography,  grammar, 
rhetoric,  philosophy,  physiology,  botany, 
zoology,  astronomy  and  civil  govern- 
ment, and  continues  three  years. 

The  building  is  a  substantial  brick, 
containing  six  rooms.  Coal  is  used  for 
fuel.  The  school  is  only  partially  sup- 
plied with  apparatus.  The  corps  of 
teachers  for  the  years  1885,  consists  of 
the  following — R.  E.  Spangler,  princi- 
pal; E.  E.  Sherman,  Mrs.  Jennie  Pan- 
cake, Miss  Lee  McNutt,  and  Miss  Iva 
Epperson. 

R.  E.  Spangler,  the  present  popular 
principal  of  the  Blandinsville*  schools 
was  born  on  a  farm  near  Macomb,  on 
the  15th  of  October,  1857.  In  the  fall 


of  1864,  our  subject  went  with  his  par- 
ents to  Minnesota,  returning  to  McDon- 
ough  coifnty  in  1869.     He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  remained  with  his 
parents  until  reaching  his  majority.   He 
worked  on  the  farm  during  the  summers 
and  attended  school  during  the  winters. 
The  education  thus  obtained  was  supple- 
mented by   a  course  of    instruction   in 
the  normal  school,  at  Macomb.     When 
20    years    of    age    he  taught  his  first 
school  near  Bushnell,  in  Mound  town- 
ship.      His     next    school    was    taught 
in    the    fall    of     1878,    near    Macomb, 
and  he  resided  at  home.     His  work  for 
the     three     succeeding    terms    was    at 
Scottsburg,    Walnut    Grove    township, 
and  next  at  New  Philadelphia,  Mound 
township.     In  the  fall  of  1882,  he  came 
to    Blandinsville    as    principal    of    the 
schools,   which  position    he   has    since 
filled  with  entire  satisfaction.     He  has 
also  conducted  at  this  point  two  sessions 
of  the  normal   school,   which  were    of 
much   interest  to  the  teachers  and  all 
who  were  interested  in  educational  mat- 
ters.    The  Blandinsville  schools,  under 
his  management,  have  been  placed  in 
the  front  rank,  and  he  has  proved  him- 
sels  to  be  a  most  excellent  instructor. 
In  a  great  measure,  Mr.  Spangler  is  a 
self-made  man.      His  opportunities  for 
receiving  an  education  were  somewhat 
limited,  but,  by  perseverance  and    his 
own  endeavors,  he  has  succeeded  in  at- 
taining a  good  education.     He  has   a 
faculty  for  imparting  instruction,  which 
is  so  necessary  to  become  a  successsful 
teacher,  and  the  village  of  Blandinsville 
may  well  take  pride  in  having  secured 
the  services  of  so  competent  a  gentle- 
man to  take  charge  of  her  schools.  R.  E. 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


899 


Spangler  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
May,  1884,  with  Fannie  A.  Kellogg,  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  the  daughter 
of  A.  Kellogg,  of  Blandinsville  Mrg 
Spangler  is  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  as  is  he  also 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 


men. 


RELIGIOUS. 


With  respect  to  religious  privileges, 
the  town  has  as  many  advantages  as  any 
in  the  county,  there  being  large  congre- 
gations of  Baptists,  Christians,  Metho- 
dist Episcopal,  and  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  each  of  whom  have  fair  church 
buildings.  A  historical  sketch  of  each 
of  these  churches  is  given  in  the  Ecclesi- 
astical chapter  of  this  work.  Attention 
is  called  thereto. 

SOCIETIES. 

O.  P.  Courtright  post,  No.  267,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  was  organized  at 
Blandinsville,  in  June,  1883,  and  was  so 
named  in  honor  of  the  first  lieutenant  of 
company  C,  78th  Illinois  infantry.  The 
charter  of  the  post  includes  the  names 
of  the  following  comrades — C.  R.  Hume, 
C.  E.  Spielman,  C.  E.  Ballou,  William 
S.  Bailey,  George  Jacobs,  J.  J.  Ray, 
B.  F.  Gabbert,  J.  Phillips,  William  Hal- 
linbaugh,  Jesse  Rolston,  W.  H.  McCord, 
J.  M.  Duncan,  W.  O.  Sweeny,  Nathan 
Hainline,  S.  M.  Pancake,  John  Wright, 
William  Kirkpatrick,  Frank  York,  T.  B. 
Spielman,  M.  Baymiller,  C.  Batchlett,  T. 
Hamilton,  H.  Carnes,  H.  N.  Mason,  J.  M. 
Foley,  S.  A.  Webb,  A.  J.  O'Neal,  James 
Shryack,  J.  H.  Baughman,  J.  Q.  Wilson. 
The  present  officers  of  the  post  are  the 
following  named — C.  E.  Spielman,  C.; 


B.  F.  Gebbert,  S.V.C.;  F.  York,  J.V.C.; 
T.  B.  Spielman,  Q.M.;  H.  N.  Mason,  A.; 
S.  M.  Duncan,  S. ;  John  Phillips,  chap- 
lain; George  Jacobs,  O.G.;  Thomas 
Hamilton,  O.D. 

The  society  of  the  order  of  the  Golden 
Rule  was  organized  January  29,  1885, 
with  the  following  charter  members: 
J.  M.  Duncan,  Mary  J.  Duncan,  Alexan- 
der Todd,  E.  T.  Sapp,  Frank  Fuhr,  Lulu 
Fuhr,  Mattie  Dines,  Mamie  White,  Ab- 
bie  White,  W.  G.  Shrier,  Frank  Kel- 
logg, Jennie  Pancake,  Mrs.  Samuel 
Fowler,  and  Flo  White.  The  first  offi- 
cers of  this  society  were  as  follows :  J.  M. 
Duncan,  C.  P.;  Frank  Kellogg,  C.  C.; 
Mattie  Dines,  C.  C. ;  Frank  Fuhr,  secre- 
tary; Alexander  Todd,  treasurer;  Mamie 
White,  first  guard;  E.  F.  Sapp,  C.  G.; 
Lou  Fowler,  2d  G. ;  W.  G.  Shrier,  sentry. 

The  Mystic  Brotherhood  of  Justice 
was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1880,  with 
35  charter  members.  The  officers  elected 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
society  were:  J.  R.  Gamble,  W.  C.;  M. 
A.  Terry,  P.  C.;  S.  J.  Creighton,  V,  C,; 
S.  C.  Pancake,  treasurer;  E.  A.  Worley, 
marshal.  The  society  now  numbers 
about  100  members,  its  object  being  home 
protection  and  to  enforce  the  law  against 
criminals.  The  funds,  when  needed,  are 
created  by  assessments.  The  order  is  in 
a  flourishing  condition  and  has  its  grand 
lodge  established  at  this  place,  with  the 
following  officers:  G.  S.  Fuhr,  G.  W.  C.; 
M.  A.  Terry,  G.  S. ;  J.  F.  Anderson.  G.  T. 

The  charter  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  of  Blandinsville,  con- 
tains the  following  members :  Henry  T. 
Gilfrey,  Thomas  Lindsey,  Daniel  Wood, 
Charles  W.  McElroy,  and  Delevan  Mar- 
tin. The  lodge  was  organized  October 


900 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


15,  1858,  as  New  Hope,  No.  263.  In 
1867,  the  present  hall  was  built,  at  a  cost 
of  $1,000.  The  present  membership 
numbers  33,  with  the  following  officers: 
M.  A.  Terry,  N.  G.;  George  Russell,  V. 
G. ;  S.  Thompson,  R.  S. ;  C.  J.  Saunders, 
P.  S. ;  A.  P.  Hopper,  treasurer.  The  or- 
der is  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  Order  of  the  Iron  Hall  was  first 
organized  March  28,  1881,  at  Indianapo- 
lis, Indiana,  with  beneficiary  objects  in 
view.  October  15, 1884,  an  organization 
was  effected  at  Blandinsville,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  H.  N.  Ma- 
son, C.  E.  Ballou,  J.  M.  Duncan,  M.  D., 
J.  F.  Anderson,  James  K.  Boughman, 
W.  S.  Bailey,  J.  B.  Bailey,  Marion  Hus- 
ton, P.  D.  Campbell,  N.  S.  Campbell, 
W.  F.  Bond,  C.  N.  Wilson,  J.  M.  Foley, 
J.  M.  Hainline,  W.  H.  Nichols,  S.-W. 
Blandin,  John  Miller,  T.  P.  Fagley,  T. 
F.  Woodside,  E.  T.  Sapp,  J.  M.  Nara- 
more,  J.  H.  Grigsby,  and  Joseph  Edel. 
The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  J.  F. 
Anderson,  C.  J. ;  T.  F.  Woodside,  V.  C.  J. ; 
J.  M.  Naramore,  A.  C.  C.  T.;  J.  B.  Bai- 
ley, A.  A.  J. ;  P.  D.  Campbell,  prelate; 
H.  N.  Mason,  herald;  W.  H.  Nichols, 
watchman;  J.  M.  Duncan,  M.  E.  The 
society  meets  in  the  opera  house  every 
second  and  fourth  Tuesday  of  each  month. 


Since  the  organization  of  the  lodge,  three 
sick  benefits  have  been  paid,  amounting 
to  $125.  The  present  condition  of  the 
lodge  is  excellent,  and  its  future  pros- 
pects are  very  flattering  indeed. 

The  Ancient  Order  of  United  Work- 
men was  organized  November  9,  1876, 
with  33  charter  members.  At  the  time 
of  the  organization,  the  following  officers 
were  installed:  J.  W.  Fowler,  M.  W.; 
M.  A.  Terry,  P.  M.  W.;  H.  H.  Mason, 
recorder;  J.  C.  Fergley,  financial  secre- 
tary; J.  H.  Grigsby,  treasurer. 

Blandinsville  lodge,  No.  233,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  was  organized  at  Blandinsville, 
October  7,  1857,  with  the  following  char- 
ter members  as  first  officers:  Richard 
D.  Hammond,  W.  M. ;  John  E.  Hudson, 
S.  W.;  Henry  G.  Bristow,  J.  W.;  Clem- 
ent Gillihan,  secretary ;  Charles  R.  Hume, 
treasurer;  William  F.  Frost,  S.  D.;  Man- 
uel C.  Parkinson,  J.  D.  The  present 
condition  of  the  lodge  is  excellent.  They 
own  the  building  in  .which  the  hall  is  sit- 
uated, which  was  erected  in  1877,  at  a 
cost  of  $2,000.  The  present  officers  are: 
George  .S.  Fuhr,  W.  M.;  James  M.  Dun- 
can, S.  W. ;  Marshal  A.  Terry,  J.  W. ; 
Thomas  H.  Williams,  secretary;  Marion 
Coffman,  treasurer;  Reuben  E.  Spang- 
ler,  S.  D. ;  C.  Newton  Wilson,  J.  D. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


901 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 


NEW  SALEM  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  is  one  of  the  best  for 
agricultural  purposes  in  McDonough 
county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Mound,  on  the  east  by  Fulton  county, 
on  the  south  by  Eldorado,  and  on  the 
west  by  Scotland,  and  embraces  all  of 
congressional  township  5  north,  range  1 
west. 

The  land,  for  the  most  part  is  level 
and  gently  rolling  prairie,  with  a  patch 
of  timber  about  Pennington's  Point,  and 
little  belts  in  the  northeast  and  south- 
east corners  of  the  township. 

Camp  creek  has  its  origin  in  New 
Salem  township.  This  stream  was  so 
named  from  the  fact  that  William  Os- 
born  camped  on  its  banks  all  the  sum- 
mer of  1828,  on  what  is  now  the  farm  of 
Theophilus  Walker,  in  Scotland  town- 
ship. Its  two  branches,  commencing  re- 
spectively in  sections  3  and  25,  converge 
at  a  point  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  21,  forming  the  main  body  of 
Camp  creek,  and  passing  into  Scotland 
from  the  southwest  corner  of  section  19. 
These  streams,  with  the  many  little  riv- 
ulets, serve  to  irrigate  the  farm  lands, 
and  also  afford  water  for  stock  raising 
purposes  in  sufficient  quantities. 

The  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  division 
of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad,  runs  through 
a  good  portion  of  the  township.  Com- 
ing in  from  the  north  at  the  center  of 
the  north  line  of  section  3,  it  runs  directly 


south  until  it  touches  Reedyville,  when 
its  course  is  changed  to  the  southeast, 
and  it  passes  into  Fulton  county  from 
the  southeast  corner  of  section  25. 

No  township  in  the  county  has  a  bet- 
ter record  in  the  matter  of  stock  raising 
than  New  Salem. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

To  William  Pennington  belongs  the 
honor  of  having  made  the  earliest  set- 
tlement in  New  Salem  township. 

He  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1828,  and  on  the  1st  day  of  January,  of 
that  year,  located  at  what  is  now  called 
'Pennington's  Point,  the  locality  having 
been  given  its  name  in  honor  of  Stewart 
Pennington,  in  1834,  by  Cyrus  Walker. 
William  was  the  first  settler  in  that  im- 
mediate vicinity,  and  may  be  justly 
ranked  among  the  pioneers  of  the 
county.  He  was  born  in  the  state  of 
Virginia  on  the  25th  day  of  March,. 
1799,  and,  when  a  boy,  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Greenbrier  county,  Kentucky. 
On  reaching  manhood's  estate,  he  left 
home  and  removed  to  Indiana.  After  a 
few  years  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and 
finally  brought  up  in  McDonough  county 
as  stated.  He  engaged  in  farming,  and 
subsequently  purchased  land  in  Emmet 
township,  which  is  yet  owned  by  his 
sons.  He  was  married,  while  a  resident 
of  Indiana,  to  Rebecca  Osborn,  a  native 


902 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


of  North  Carolina.  They  both  have 
passed  away  since  coming  to  this  county, 
but  the  names  of  their  descendants  are 
still  familiar  in  some  localities  of  the 
county.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Their  names  are  as  follows —  Moses, 
Elijah,  Elisha,  Nancy,  Alfred,  Oliver  P-> 
William  R,  Eli  A.,  Joel  R,  and  John  L. 
Salem  Woods  bought  the  land  on 
which  his  son  Edward  now  resides,  in 

1827.  He  came  out  from  Pennsylvania, 
ta  look  at  it,  in  1828,  but,  finding  this 
region  of  country  too  thinly  settled  to 
suit  him,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
and  did  not  bring  his  family  here  to  make 
a  permanent  settlement  till  the  fall  of 
1831. 

Salem  Woods,  deceased,  is  a  native  of 
the  state  of  New  York,  and  was  born  in 
Madison  county,  June  4,  1799,  His 
father  was  Samuel  Wood.  He  was 
reared  in  the  state  of  New  York,  and 
removed  thence  to  Erie  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. There  he  followed  the  oc- 
cupation of  saddler  and  harness  mak- 
ing, having  learned  the  trade  in  his  na- 
tive state.  He  left  Pennsylvania,  and 
came  on  foot  to  McDonough  county,  in 

1828.  He  looked  over  the  land  in  this 
county,  particularly  a  tract,  now  on  sec- 
tion 30,  of  New  Salem  township,  which 
he  had  purchased  before  coming  here. 
He  remained  .a  few  weeks  and  then  re- 
turned to  Erie  county.  But  he  was  much 
pleased    with    the    country    here,    and 
thought  he  saw  in  the  rich  soil  great  pos- 
sibilities for  the  future,  and  having  de- 
termined to  make  this  his  home,  he  came 
again  in  the  fall  of  1831,  and  took  up  his 
permanent  abode  on  section  30,  New  Sa- 
lem township.     The  following  is  taken 


from  S.  J.  Clarkes  history,  as  a  reminis- 
ence  of  this  old  pioneer: 

"I  left  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  May 
28,  1828,  and  came  to  Terre  Haute,  Indi- 
ana, intending  going  to  Vandalia,  then 
the  -capital  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  While 
in  a  store  in  Terre  Haute,  I  met  the  cap- 
tain of  a  boat  who  told  me  he  would  take 
me  to  Vincennes,  if  I  would  work  my 
passage.  While  Vincennes  was  no  nearer 
Vandalia  than  Terre  Haute,  the  country 
was  better  settled,  and  I  decided  to  ac- 
cept his  offer.  Arriving  at  Vincennes,  I 
at  once  started  on  foot  to  Vandalia,  trav- 
eling one  day  30  miles  and  passing  but 
one  house.  At  the  capital  I  called  upon 
the  state  auditor  and  told  him  I  wanted 
to  pay  my  taxes  on  a  quarter  section  of 
land,  the  same  I  now  own  and  on  which 
I  have  lived  for  47  years.  He  asked  me 
if  I  had  any  state  paper,  when  I  an- 
swered that  I  had  nothing  but  silver. 
My  taxes  were  $1.60.  He  took  one-half 
of  a  $3  bill,  telling  me  to  add  10  cents  to 
it  and  it  would  settle  the  bill.  This  he 
let  me  have  for  75  cents.  I  therefore 
paid  my  taxes  for  85  cents  Being  very 
anxious  to  reach  McDonough  county,  I 
started  from  Vandalia  late  in  the  after- 
noon, thinking  to  stop  at  a  house  I  was 
informed  was  only  six  miles  on  the  road. 
This  house  I  reached  just  before  sun- 
down, where  I  found  the  woman  sick  and 
was  refused  admittance.  I  then  had  to 
trudge  on  six  miles  to  the  next  house, 
endeavoring  to  make  it  in  as  short  a  time 
as  possible.  The  night  was  very  dark, 
and  a  thunder  storm  came  up,  and  in  a 
short  time  I  was  drenched  to  the  skin. 
By  the  lightning's  flash  I  noticed  a  point 
of  timber  some  distance  ahead,  and 
reaching  it  gave  several  yells,  thinking 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


903 


it  possible  some  one  might  live  there.  I 
received  no  answer,  and  would  fain 
have  stopped  there  for  the  night,  but  was 
afraid  to  on  account  of  the  wolves, which 
were  then  in  great  numbers.  I  passed 
on,  crossing  a  creek  and  coming  to  an- 
other open  prairie,  and  after  traveling 
some  distance,  I  was  met  by  a  pack  of 
dogs.  I  called  loudly  for  some  one  to 
take  off  the  dogs,  and  my  call  was  an- 
swered by  a  man,  who  kindly  took  me 
in.  I  asked  for  some  bread,  but  this 
they  did  not  have,  and  for  a  supper  I 
had  a  bowl  of  milk.  I  then  lay  down  on 
the  floor  in  my  wet  clothes  and  slept 
soundly  during  the  remainder  of  the 
night.  In  the  morning  I  was  directed  to 
Beard's  Ferry,  now  Beardstown,  where  I 
intended  to  cross  the  Illinois  river.  There 
was  but  one  house  there  at  that  time,  al- 
though the  town  had  been  laid  out.  I 
came  out  into  Schuyler  county,  where, 
on  Sunday,  I  met  several  people  going 
from  church.  Of  them  I  enquired  of 
certain  lands,  telling  the  township,  range 
and  section.  One  of  the  "party  spoke  up 
and  said  that  he  had  the  adjoining  farm. 
This  was  William  Pennington,  who  now 
lives  in  Emmet  township,  and  who  had 
come  down  to  mill  and  was  compelled  to 
wait  several  days  for  his  grist.  He  di- 
rected me  on  to  Carter's  settlement, 
where  I  met  for  the  first  time,  Elder 
John  Logan,  the  pioneer  preacher.  From 
this  settlement  I  passed  on  to  hunt  my 
land,  intending  to  stop  at  William  Pen- 
nington's.  On  arriving  near  where  I 
thought  the  place  ought  to  be,  I  could 
find  no  house,  no  path,  or  any  signs  of 
life,  until  after  a  long  search  I  heard  a 
rooster  crow.  This  led  me  to  Mr.  Pen- 
nington's  house,  which  was  then  the  only 


one  in  the  township.  I  found  my  land 
beautifully  located  near  the  timber,  which 
I  thought  would  soon  be  cut  away. 

"There  was  a  piece  of  land  north  of 
Crooked  creek,  that  I  desired  to  see,  and 
I  told  Mr.  Pennington  that  if  he  would 
accompany  me,  I  would  work  for  him  as 
many  days  as  he  should  be  gone  from 
home.  He  accepted  my  offer,  and  we 
started  out,  having  plenty  of  "corn  dodg- 
ers" and  pork  to  take  along.  Southwest 
of  the  present  town  of  Macomb,  we  came 
on  to  a  number  of  wigwams,  from  which 
the  Indians  had  vacated,  but  very  re- 
cently. We  crossed  Crooked  creek, where 
Bacon's  mill  was  afterwards  built.  West 
of  Macomb,  after  passing  through  the 
timber,  which  but  few  white  men  had 
ever  trod,  we  came  to  a -large  prairie. 
Here  we  halted  and  could  see  nothing 
beyond.  I  told  Mr.  Pennington  it  was 
no  use  to  go  further,  as  I  did  not  want 
the  land  thus  situated.  So  we  retraced 
our  steps  and  arrived  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Pennington  the  next  evening.  I  thought 
it  a  beautiful  country,  but  not  enough 
timber  to  fence  even  a  small  portion  of 
the  vast  prairie. 

"Some  years  after  this  I  carried  eight 
bushels  of  wheat  to  Bacon's  mill,  on 
Crooked  creek,  to  get  ground,  but  on  ac- 
count of  low  water  I  was  unable  to  get 
my  grist.  I  came  up  from  home  after  it 
two  or  three  times,  and  still  failed  to  get 
it.  Being  out  of  flour,  I  took  my  wheat 
to  Ellisville,  in  Fulton  county,  and  find- 
ing so  many  teams  here  before  me,  I 
knew  my  chances  were  poor,  so  I  took 
my  eight  bushels  of  grain  on  to  Rush- 
ville,  where,  after  waiting  a  considerable 
length  of  time,  I  succeeded  in  having  it 
it  ground.  At  Ellisville  I  met  two  four- 


904 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


horse  teams  all  the  way  from  Burling- 
ton, Iowa,  and,  like  me,  they  had  to  go 
on  to  Bush  ville  to  have  their  grain  ground. 
Such  experience  as  this  would  terrify 
the  modern  farmer,  but  they  were  only 
a  specimen  of  what  the  early  settler  had 
to  undergo." 

Mr.  Wood  was  married  in  New  York 
state  June  12,  1823,  to  Cornelia  Grow,  a 
native  of  New  York  state.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children — Morillo, 
who  married  Martha  Hall,  living  in  Clay 
county,  Nebraska;  George  H.,  married 
to  Nancy  Jane  Harlan,  now  deceased, 
and  he  is  living  in  Conejos  county,  Colo- 
rado; Daniel  D.,  married  to  Jemima 
Hammer  and  living  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship; Almeda  L.,  wife  of  Randolph  Hall, 
living  in  Table  Grove;  Edward,  whose 
personal  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere, 
and  Jonas  Platt,  who  died  in  1844,  aged 
aged  four  years  and  ten  months.  As 
may  be  seen,  Mr.  Salem  Woods  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  some 
of  his  descendants  are  still  among  her 
representative  citizens.  He  lived  within 
her  borders  from  the  time  of  his  settle- 
ment until  his  death,  which  occurred 
September  27,  1879,  making  a  continu- 
ous residence  of  nearly  half  a  century 
in  McDonough  county.  His  widow  is 
now  living  with  her  son  Daniel  D.,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  81  years. 

Edward  Woods  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Salem  Woods,  and  was  born  on  section 
30,  New  Salem  township,  July  4,  1832, 
and  now,  after  three  years  more  than 
half  a  century,  is  still  residing  on  the 
farm  which  was  his  birth  place.  He  was 
reared  and  received  his  education  in 
New  Salem  township,  and  never  called 
any  other  place  home.  He  may  there- 


fore be  called  a  McDonough  county 
man.  He  was  married  January  8,  1857, 
to  Sarah  Adcock,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county,  Kentucky,  her  parents  being 
Thomas  and  Ann  ( Hall )  Adcock,  who 
came  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1837, 
and  located  in  Chalmers  township,  where 
they  lived  one  or  two  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Macomb.  Her  mother  died 
there  July  3,  1858,  and  her  father  died 
in  Nodaway  county,  Missouri,  October 
24,  1877.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woods  are  the 
parents  of  three  children — Manf  ord,  now 
married  to  Mary  E.  Harlan,  and  living 
in  this  township;  Lawrence,  who  died 
January  12,  1879,  aged  16  years  6 
months,  and  25  days;  and  Orel,  living  at 
home.  Mr.  Woods  is  a  live,  energetic 
man,  has  been  commissioner  of  highways 
three  terms,  and  has  been  connected  with 
the  schools  of  district  No.  9,  as  director. 
He  has  135  acres  of  land,  125  of  which 
are  under  cultivation,  and  the  remainder 
timber  land.  He  devotes  his  time  to 
general  farming,  and  to  some  extent 
raises  stock. 

Daniel  D.  Woods,  a  native  of  Erie 
county,  Pennsylvania,  was  born  April  1, 
1827.  In  1832,  he  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  settled  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  30,  New  Salem  township.  He 
resided  in  this  vicinity  till  1850.  In 
March,  of  that  year,  he  started  with  an 
ox  team  for  California,  crossing  the 
plains,  he  arrived  at  his  destination  in 
September,  of  the  same  year.  He  re- 
mained in  the  land  of  gold  about  two 
and  a  half  years,  then  returned  home. 
March  2,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Jemima 
H.  Hammer,  who  was  born  October  12, 
1832,  in  Monroe  county,  Kentucky.  In 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


905 


1855,  Mr.  Woods  purchased  and  moved 
to  the  farm  he  now  occupies,  comprising 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8,  New 
Salem  township.  His  residence  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  fall  of  1880. 
The  following  year  he  erected  the  more 
commodious  and  comfortable  dwelling, 
in  which  he  now  lives.  He  has  good 
farm  buildings,  including,  barn,  sheds, 
etc.  He  has  700  rods  of  Osage  hedge, 
in  good  condition,  and  about  the  same 
amount  of  drain  tile.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Woods  have  had  five  children  born  to 
them,  four  of  whom  are  living — Licetna 
A.,  born  December  13, 1854,  a*nd  married 
February  15,  1872,  to  Whitney  S. 
Leigh ty,  of  Kansas;  James  B.,  born 
March  19,  1856,  and  married  December 
19,  1878,  to  Luella  Seaburn,  and  living 
in  this  township;  Clara  G.,  born  October 
6,  1859,  and  married  April  19,.  1877,  to 
Austin  Pontious,  of  this  township,  and 
Laura  C.,  born  August  1,  1861,  married 
to  W.  O.  Thomas  November  20, 1881,and 
living  .in  Kansas  City.  Edgar  H.  was 
born  June  11,  1858,  and  died  November 
11,  1876.  He  is  buried  at  Pennington's 
Point.  Mr.  Woods  is  an  enterprising 
and  successful  farmer,  and  politically  a 
republican. 

T.  J.  Pennington  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  February,  1831,  and  located  at 
Pennington's  Point,  in  the  southwest 
corner  of  New  Salem  township.  He  died 
on  the  27th  of  September,  1875.  His 
widow  now  resides  on  section  17,  Indus- 
try township. 

Stewart  Pennington  was  a  settler  of 
1830,  entering  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  30.  He  was  born  in  North  Car- 
olina in  1793,  and  was  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Hannah  (Boone)  Pennington,  the 


latter  of  whom  was  a  sister  of  the  cele" 
brated  Daniel  Boone.  Mr.  Pennington's 
death  occurred  September  20,  1859,  at 
the  residence  of  his  son-in-law,  W.  B. 
Pile,  in  Industry  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Pennington  were  the  parents  of  13 
children — Nicholas  H.,  Thomas  J., 
Nancy,  Richard,  Abigail,  Warner,  Han- 
nah B.,  Elizabeth  Z.,  Stewart  M.,  Mary 
M.,  Leander  W.,  Joshua  J.,  and  Wm.  T. 
In  the  spring  of  1833,  Major  Stephen 
Yocum  came  with  his  family  to  this 
township,  settling  on  section  19.  He 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  17th  day  of  February, 
1800.  His  parents  were  George  and  Re- 
becca (Powell)  Yocum,  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  emigrated  to  Kentucky  before 
the  beginning  of  the  present  century, 
where  they  engaged  in  farming,  and  also, 
for  a  number  of  years,  in  the  milling 
business.  Their  family  consisted  of  11 
children,  four  boys  and  seven  girls.  As 
might  be  inferred,  Mr.  Yocum  was 
raised  on  a  farm,  and  in  the  occupation 
of  tilling  the  soil,  he  labored  until  called 
.to  his  rest.  Mr.  Yocum  remained  with 
his  parents  until  after  he  reached  his 
majority,  when  he  went  forth  into  the 
wide  world,  with  nothing  but  a  brave 
heart  and  willing  hands,  to  labor  for 
himself.  For  two  years  he  remained  in 
Kentucky,  making  his  home  with  a 
married  sister,  when,  thinking  to  better 
his  condition  in  life,  he  turned  his  steps 
toward  the  newly  opened  Prairie  slate, 
and  settled  in  Marion  county,  where,  on 
the  29th  of  September,  1829,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  Dorris,  daughter  of  John 
Dorris,  who  emigrated  from  Smith 
county,  Tennessee,  to  Marion  county, 
Illinois,  in  1827.  About  four  years  after 


906 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


their  marriage,  the  worthy  couple  came 
to  make  their  home  in  McDonough 
county,  arriving  here  in  the  spring  of 
1833,  settling  on  the  north  side  of  Camp 
creek,  where,  in  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
he  erected  his  cabin,  and  commenced  to 
improve  the  land  he  had  entered.  They 
were  the  first  couple  to  settle  upon  the 
north  side  of  the  creek,  and  to  encroach 
upon  the  broad,  fertile  prairie,  which  is 
now  dotted  over  with  fine  farm  houses 
and  barns,  being,  without  doubt,  the 
wealthiest  portion  of  the  county.  Mr. 
Yocum  settled  upon  section  19,  and 
there  lived  and  labored  the  rest  of  his 
life,  rearing  a  large  and  respected  fam- 
ily, and  improving  one  of  the  best  farms 
in  the  county.  While  living  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  state,  Mr.  Yocum  was 
elected  lieutenant  of  the  state  militia, 
and  afterwards  promoted  to  the  cap- 
taincy. When  the  war  against  the"  cele- 
brated Indian  chief,  Black  Hawk,  broke 
out,  he  was  by  the  governor,  commis- 
sioned as  major,  and  as  such,  served 
faithfully  during  the  war.  By  the  title 
bestowed  upon  him  he  was  ever  after- 
ward known.  Mr.  Yocum  was.  always 
kind  to  his  children,  and  liberally  pro- 
vided for  each.  There  were  in  all  11 
children,  nine  girls  and  two  boys,  one  of 
the  latter  dying  in  infancy,  the  other 
reaching  his  majority,  and  enlisting  in 
the  service  of  his  country  as  a  member  of 
company  C,  84th  regiment,  Illinois  vol- 
unteers. He  was  made  regimental  color 
bearer,  and  at  the  battle  of  Stone  river, 
December  31,  1862,  he  laid  down  his  life 
in  defense  of  his  country.  Unfortu- 
nately, that  part  of  the  field  was  taken 
by  the  enemy  soon  after  he  fell,  and 
whether  they  buried  him,  or  his  body 


was  interred  by  others,  was  never  known, 
as  his  body  was  never  recovered.  This 
was  a  sad  loss  to  his  loving  parents,  who 
doted  on  him  as  an  only  son,  and  would 
have  sacrificed  anything  to  give  him  a 
Christian  burial.  A  beautiful  monument 
has  been  erected  to  his  memory  in  the 
cemetery  at  Pennington's  Point.  Major 
Yocum  departed  this  life  on  the  22d  day 
of  October,  1874.  His  funeral  was 
preached  by  the  Rev.  W.  S.  Campbell,  a 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  minister,  and 
his  remains  were  consigned  to  the  tomb 
at  Pennington's  Point,  this  county.  His 
loss  was  deeply  felt  by  a  large  circle  of 
friends  all  over  the  county,  as  well  as 
elsewhere. 

William  B.  Pile  was  a  settler  of  the 
year  1833.  He  resided  here  until  1838, 
when  he  removed  to  Macomb,  where  he 
resided  many  years.  His  wife,  Hannah 
Boone  Pile,  nee  Pennington,  was  a 
daughter  of  Stewart  Pennington. 

William  Moore  came  to  Pennington's 
Point  in  November,  1835,  and  located 
on  section  31,  where  he  bought  53  acres 
of  land,  on  which  he  now  resides.  He 
was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1802,  and  was  reared  in  that  county, 
and  resided  there,  until  coming  to  this 
county. 

OTHEE  PKOMINENT  PEOPLE. 

Below  is  given  an  account  of  the  set- 
tlement and  other  facts  necessary  to 
give  a  proper  representation  to  those 
who,  while  they  were  not  pioneers  in 
this  township,  have  been  active  and 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  their  town- 
ship and  county: 

Stephen  Blackstone  is  a  native  of  Wis- 
consin, having  been  born  on  the  17th  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


907 


January,  1838,  in  Lafayette  county,  that 
state.  In  1840,  while  he  was  still  an 
infant,  his  parents  removed  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  and  having  pur- 
chased a  quarter  section  of  land  in  New 
Salem,  of  John  Greenup,  for  some  $300, 
settled  down  to  make  their  improve- 
ments. Stephen  is  the  oldest  child,  and 
only  son,  of  Beverly  and  Elizabeth 
(Blisset)  Blackstone,  having  two  sisters 
now  living,  one  in  Iowa  and  one  in  Ne- 
braska. Beverly,  the  father,  was  born 
and  reared  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
and  the  mother  was  a  native  of  England, 
coming  to  the  United  States  when  but 
nine  or  ten  years  of  age.  Beverly 
Blackstone  emigrated  from  New  York 
to  Wisconsin,  about  1836  or  1837,  and 
to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  as  above 
stated,  where  he  died,  January  2,  1861. 
Stephen  Blackstone  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial farmers  of  the  county,  having 
followed  that  occupation  all  his  life,  and. 
giving  his  whole  attention  to  it.  He  has 
a  fine  farm  of  640  acres,  all  finely  im- 
proved. He  has  put  in  2,200  rods  of 
drain  tile,  and  otherwise  brought  the 
place  into  a  high  state  of  cultivation, 
and  takes  a  just  pride  in  his  place.  He 
is  largely  engaged  in  raising  and  feed- 
ing stock,  mostly  cattle  and  hogs,  a  busi- 
ness which  he  commenced  about  1860. 
He  was  elected,  in  the  spring  of  1885, 
to  represent  New  Salem  township  on  the 
board  of  supervisors.  March  2,  1865, 
Stephen  Blackstone  and  Mahala  Smith, 
daughter  of  Reuben  and  Mary  Smith, 
were  united  in  matrimony.  They  have 
five  children — Beverly,  Lizzie,  George, 
Nettie  and  Clara.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
were  natives  of  Kentucky,  who  came 
from  their  native  state  to  McDonough 


county,  about  the  year  1848,  and  bought 
a  farm  near  Bardolph, where  Mrs.  Smith 
still  resides.  Mr.  Blackstone  is  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  having  made  a  profession 
of  faith  during  the  winter  of  1857-58. 
He  stands  very  high  in  the  community 
in  which  he  lives,  and  is  truly  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  the  county, 
one  of  the  bone  and  sinew  that  have 
helped  build  it  up  until  it  holds  the 
place  it  does  in  the  bright  galaxy  of 
counties  of  the  state  of  Illinois. 

James  E.  D.  Hammer  may  properly 
be  classed  among  the  pioneers  of  this 
county,  coming  here  in  June,  1834.  He 
found  the  country  in  its  state  of  natural 
wildness,  with  few  exceptions.  The 
virgin  soil  was  yet  unvexed  by  the  plow. 
The  nimble  deer,  thoughtless  of  danger, 
lightly  bounded  o'er  the  prairie,  or  con- 
tentedly grazed  upon  the  succulent 
grasses  of  the  plains.  Mr.  Hammer 
has  witnessed  the  development  of  this 
country,  and  contributed  his  full  share 
in  effecting  the  transformation.  He  is 
a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  April  28,  1809,  his 
parents  being  Richard  and  Anna(  Fisher ) 
Hammer.  When  he  was  10  years  old 
the  family  removed  to  Monroe  county, 
Kentucky,  where  in  1844  his  father  died, 
and  his  mother  in  1854.  In  1834,  James 
E.  D.  left  Kentucky  and  came  to  this 
county,  locating  on  section  24,  of  Scot- 
land township,  where  he  built  a  house 
and  commenced  improvements.  He 
broke  and  fenced  200  acres.  In  addi- 
tion, he  had  100  acres  of  timber  land,  a 
part  of  which  was  located  on  section  19. 
The  home  of  his  family  was  on  the 
original  farm  in  Scotland  township  un- 


908 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


til  1845,  when  he  removed  to  Penning- 
ton's  Point,  in  New  Salem  township, 
and  located  on  section  30.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Monroe  county,  Kentucky,  April 
15,  1821,  to  Nancy  Pennington,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Stewart  and  Jeremiah  ( Houser ) 
Pennington.  Her  parents  were  both 
born  in  Tennessee,  and  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  the  fall  of  1830,  and 
located  on  section  30,  at  what  is  called 
Pennington's  Point,  on  the  place  now 
occupied  by  James  Hammer.  Stewart 
Pennington  was  born  June  10,  1784, 
and  died  in  this  county  September  20, 
1859.  Mrs.  Stewart  Pennington  was 
born  February  24,  1788,  and  died  Sep- 
tember 22,  1852.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hammer 
are  the  parents  of  nine  children:  U.  J., 
Stewart  Franklin,  who  married  Marga- 
ret Harlan,  and  is  now  living  in  Linn 
county,  Oregon;  Jemima  H.,  married  to 
D.  D.  Woods,  living  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship; Richard  McKenzie,  married  to 
Susan  Bowles,  living  in  Adair;  William 
Jefferson,  married  to  Louisa  Woolley, 
residents  of  Crawford  county  Kansas; 
James,  who  died  at  the  age  of  25  years, 
September  19,  1866;  Josiah  Yancey, 
married  to  Mary  Hall,  and  living  at  Pen- 
nington's Point;  Lianda  Jane,  married 
to  William  Jones,  living  in  Scotland 
township;  David  Taylor,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  27  years,  November  29,  1876,  and 
who  was  the  husband  of  Clarissa  ( Woods ) 
Hammer;  and  Eva  Virginia,  the  wife  of 
Grow  Hall,  residents  of  Table  Grove. 
Mr.  Hammer  now  owns  200  acres  of 
good  land,  150  of  which  is  under  culti- 
vation. He  is  a  prominent  example  of 
what  pluck,  energy  and  perseverance 
can  accomplish.  Upon  his  arrival  here 
he  had  but  75  cents  in  money.  He  cut 


and  split  rails  through  the  day  and 
hauled  them  in  the  night.  Mrs.  Ham- 
mer has  often  related  how,  while  en- 
gaged herself  at  the  spinning  wheel  in 
the  middle  of  the  night,  she  has  heard 
him  throwing  off  rails  along  the  fence 
line.  Thus  it  appears  how  they  toiled 
to  make  a  start,  yet  by  these  very  sacri- 
fices they  can  now  the  more  fully  appre- 
ciate comfortable  surroundings,  and  have 
the  satisfaction  of  a  home  honestly  won, 
a  competence  fairly  gained.  Many  in- 
cidents of  interest  might  be  related,  in 
connection  with  the  settlement  in  those 
days.  Mr.  Hammer  was  a  fine  shot  with 
the  rifle,  and  one  of  the  best  deer  hunt- 
ers known  to  the  settlement,  and  un- 
lucky it  was  for  the  deer  that  came 
within  range  of  his  rifle.  On  one  occa- 
sion during  the  winter  of  1837-38  he  had 
business  in  Macomb,  and  on  his  way 
there,  arriving  at  "Kill  Jordan,"  he 
forded  the  stream.  About  two  hours 
afterward  John  Greenup,  who  was 
hauling  pork  for  him,  attempted  to  cross 
the  same  stream  with  a  team,  on  the  ice. 
This  was  a  sudden  turn  from  rainy 
weather  to  extreme  cold,  and  Mr. 
Greenup  actually  crossed  on  the  ice, 
where  so  recently  Mr.  Hammer  had 
forded  the  stream.  But  the  wagon  and 
load  broke  through  and  froze  fast,  and 
had  to  be  abandoned. 

Josiah  Yancey  Hammer  was  born  No- 
vember 14,  1843,  in  Scotland  township. 
He  was  brought  up  and  received  his 
schooling  within  half  a  mile  of  where  he 
now  resides.  In  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  army  in  company  C,  of 
the  84th  Illinois  volunteer  infantry  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
participated  in  all  the  battles  of  the 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


909 


army  of  the  Cumberland,  except  Stone 
river.  He  was  discharged  at  Springfield, 
June  22,  1865,  returning  home.  He  was 
here  married  October  23,  1866,  to  Mary 
C.  Hall,  daughter  of  Randolph  and  Al- 
meda  Hall.  They  have  one  child,  Delia 
A.  He  has  85  acres  of  land  all  under 
cultivation.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  Army  post,  at  Macomb,  and  has 
been  township  collector  one  year. 

Alvah  Clark  is  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, born  in  Franklin  county,  October 
29,  1804.  When  he  was  12  years  old,  his 
father  emigrated  to  Chautauqua  county, 
New  York,  where  Alvah  assisted  him  in 
clearing  a  farm  which  was  heavily  tim- 
bered. In  1840,  Alvah  Clark  came  to 
McDonough  county  and  purchased  the 
south  half  of  section  3,  New  Salem  town- 
ship, where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 
He  was  married  in  1842,  to  Sarah  Woods, 
a  native  of  Chautauqua  county,  New 
York,  born  June  23,  1823.  Their  first 
home  was  a  log  cabin,  in  which  they 
lived  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1876, 
Mr.  Clark  built  the  house  which  is  their 
present  residence.  It  is  a  commodious 
and  comfortable  structure  and  was  erect- 
ed at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  His  barn  was 
built  in  1867,  and  cost  $1,200.  His  other 
improvements,  including  buildings  and 
fences,  are  substantial  and  in  good  re- 
pair. He  has  nearly  800  rods  of  Osage 
hedge  upon  his  farm,  which  is  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  Mr.  Clark  has  been 
an  enterprising  and  industrious  farmer, 
and  is  now  in  prosperous  circumstances 
and  reaping  the  rewar^of  his  past  labors. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  had  a  family  of 
eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing— Antoinette,born  November  30, 1843, 
now  the  wife  of  Evan  Brown,  of  Prairie 


City  township;  Anderson  A.,  married  to 
Martha  Moore  and  living  in  Mound  town- 
ship; Ambrose,  married  to  America  J. 
Watson,  and  living  in  Marshall  county, 
Iowa;  Hiram,  living  with  his  father;  Al- 
vah J.,  married  to  E.  B.  McKinzey,  and 
living  in  Mound  township,  and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Samuel  Biggs,  of  this  township. 
Marion  and  Jonathan  died  in  infancy. 
All  of  their  children  were  born  in  the 
log  cabin  which  is  still  standing  and  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation.  Mr.  Clark, 
is  a  democrat,  politically,  and  has  held 
the  offices  of  road  commissioner  and 
school  director  several  terms.  He  has 
always  been  held  in  high  esteem  in  the 
community  where  he  has  been  so  long  a 
resident,  and  is  justly  deserving  of  the 
respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  all.  He 
has  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  af- 
fairs and  is  still  an  influential  citizen. 
He  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  first 
election  ever  held  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship. 

Joseph  M.  Leighty  came  from  Penn- 
sylvania, to  McDonough  county  in  1856, 
settling  then  in  Eldorado  township, where 
he  resided  till  1865.  In  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20,  New  Salem  township.  Two 
years  later  he  moved  to  section  17  of  the 
same  township,  where  he  lived  one  year; 
then  returned  to  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  20,  which  he  purchased,  and 
has  since  that  time  continued  to  reside 
upon.  He  owns  160  acres,  all  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  has  a  new,  two- 
story  frame  dwelling  house,  erected  in 
1884,  at  a  cost  of  $1,400;  also  a  tenant 
house,  which  cost  $330.  Mr.  Leighty 
spends  all  of  his  time  in  the  cultivation 
and  improvement  of  his  farm.  He  was 


910 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
February  18,  1824  His  early  life  was 
spent  in  his  native  state,  and  he  was 
there  married,  in  1846,  to  Rebecca  Harsh- 
inan.  Ten  children  have  blest  their 
union,  six  of  whom  are  living — Daniel, 
William,  Samuel,  Leroy,  George  and 
Mary.  .Those  deceased  are  Isaac,  Lyman, 
and  twins,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr. 
Leighty  is  an  enterprising  and  worthy 
citizen.  In  politics  is  a  republican. 

William  G.  Wjlkins  is  a  native  of  this 
county,  born  in  New  Salem  township, 
December  21,  1838.  At  the  age  of  four 
years  he  went  to  live  in  Fulton  county, 
with  a  man  named  William  Hitter,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  24  years  old. 
In  February,  1863,  he  was  married  to 
Susannah  Reedy,  and  the  same  year 
moved  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 15,  New  Salem  township,  where  he 
has  since  resided.  He  also  owns  30 
acres  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
same  section.  His  farm  is  a  valuable 
one  and  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
He  has  a  large  two-story  frame  house, 
built  in  1872,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000.  His 
barn  and  other  farm  buildings  are  of  the 
best  class.  Mr.  Wilkins  has  upon  his 
place  a  fish  pond  in  which  he  takes  espe- 
cial pride,  having  it  stocked  with  Ger- 
man carp,  which  are  in  a  flourishing 
condition  from  which  he  expects  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  fresh  fish.  He  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  is  in  a  prosper- 
ous condition  financially.  The  first  car 
load  of  corn  ever  shipped  from  Adair 
over  the  then,  Rockford,  Rock  Island  & 
St.  Louis  railroad,  was  shipped  by  Mr. 
Wilkins,  also  the  first  car  load  of  rye. 
Mrs.  Wilkins  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  and  came  with  her  parents 


to  Illinois  in  1856.  They  have  three 
children — Mary  L.,  Orion  R.  and  Uriah 
G.  Mr.  Wilkins  is  a  member  and  tiustee 
of  the  United  Brethren  church,  also  a 
trustee  of  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
at  Adair.  Politically,  he  supports  the 
democratic  party.  Mr.  Wilkins'  parents 
were  natives  of  England. 

Lafayette  Williams  came  to  this  county 
from  Ohio,  in  1854.  He  rented  a  farm 
in  Eldorado  township  one  year,  then,  in 
company  with  his  brother,  Washington 
Williams,  purchased  212  acres  of  land 
in  Bethel  township.  They  improved  the 
land  and  continued  to  reside  in  that 
township  until  the  fall  of  1862,  when 
they  sold  out  and  dissolved  partnership. 
The  following  spring,  Lafayette  Wil- 
liams bought  the  place  on  which  he  now 
lives,  located  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  15,  New  Salem  township.  In 
1870,  he  again  entered  into  partnership 
with  his  brother,  and  purchased  the  east 
half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section 
9,  New  Salem  township.  In  1874,  La- 
fayette sold  his  interest  in  this  land,  to 
his  brother,  Washington,  and  the  followr- 
ing  fall,  bought  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  16,  of  the 
same  township.  The  latter  place  is  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  well  improved 
and  fenced.  It  is  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
Williams'  son-in-law,  James  Elwell.  His 
home  farm  is  also  a  valuable  one  and 
splendidly  improved.  Lafayette  Wil- 
liams was  born  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  October  30,  1824.  His  wife,  for- 
merly Emily  S.  Dailey,  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  November  24, 1833.  They 
have  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  now  living — Virge,  born  September 
23,  1857,  now  married  to  James  Elwell; 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


911 


Lucy  E.,  widow  of  George  Pile,  born 
May  1,  1861;  Hattie  J.,  born  October  11, 
1863;  Mary,  born  August  10,  1868;  and 
Lotta  A.,  born  March  1,  1871.  Those 
deceased  are — Washington,  born  March 
20,1853,  and  Ellsworth,  born  April  6, 
1866.  All  of  the  children  were  born  in 
McDonough  county,  except  Washington 
who  was  born  in  Hocking  county,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Williams  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,of  which 
he  is  a  trustee.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics,  a  successful  farmer  and  a  good 
citizen. 

Thomas  Seaburn  is  a  son  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Megrady)  Seaburn.  Jacob 
Seaburn  was  born  in  Berkeley  county, 
Virginia,  October  22,  1791,  and  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was 
married  in  February  1823,  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  and  had  a  family  of  seven 
children,  five  of  whom  reached  matur- 
ity. His  wife  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  November 
29,  1793,  and  now  lives  with  her  son, 
George  Seaburn,  in  New  Salem  town- 
ship, McDonough  county,  Illinois.  Ja- 
cob Seaburn,  died  January  29,  1878, 
near  Table  Grove,  Fulton  county. 
Thomas  Seaburn  was  born  August  24, 
1830,  in  Ross  county,  Ohio.  He  re- 
moved with  his  parents,  to  Table  Grove, 
Fulton  county,  in  the  fall  of  1843.  In 
1851,  he  returned,  in  company  with  two 
others,  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  for  a  visit. 
They  traveled  on  horseback  the  entire 
distance,  and  did  not  cross  a  railroad. 
In  the  spring  of  1852,  he  was  employed 
by  a  Mr.  John  Entrekin,  an  extensive 
cattle  dealer  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
to  drive  a  herd  of  108  fat  cattle,  he  hav- 
ing entire  control  of  them,  from  that 


county  to  Philadelphia.     He  was  on  the 
road  52  days,  riding  the  same  horse   on 
which  he  had  started  from  his   home  in 
Table  Grove,  Illinois,  and  delivered  the 
cattle   safely  at  their  destination.     He 
returned  to  Table  Grove,  in   the  fall  of 
the  same  year,  and  in  1853,   bought  the 
northwest    quarter  of  section  22,    New 
Salem  township,   paying  for  the  same, 
money  borrowed,   at  10  per   cent.      In 
September,  1854,   he  had  a  severe  at- 
tack of  typhoid  fever,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  the  en- 
tire winter  following.     In  April,   1855, 
he  was  recovered  sufficiently  to  get  about 
on    crutches,    and    growing     gradually 
stronger,  was  able  during  the  summer  to 
walk  with  the   aid  of  a   cane.     He  has 
never  fully  recovered,  however,  from  the 
effects  of  that  illness.     On  the  21st  day 
of  February,    1860,  he  was  married  to 
Annie  E.  Johnston,  a  daughter  of  David 
and    Sarah    (Day)    Johnston,    of  Pike 
county,  Illinois,   of  whom,   the   former 
was  born  July  13,  1798,  in  Wythe  county, 
Virginia,  and  died  in   September,  1879; 
the  latter,  a  native  of  Grayson  county, 
Kentucky,  was  born  in  1801,  and  died  in 
September  1865,  in  Perry,  Pike  county, 
Illinois.     David  Johnston  was  surveyor 
of  that  county  for  a  number  of  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.    Seaburn  went  to  house- 
keeping March  13,  1860,  upon  his  farm 
in  New  Salem    township,    where    they 
have  ever  since  resided.     Five  children 
have  been  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living — Mary  Luella,  born  Septem- 
ber 22,  1861,  now  the  wife  of  J.   Bird 
Woods,  of  New  Salem  township;  John- 
ston S.,  born  June  3,    1864,    was  mar- 
ried to   Sallie   Baker,   of  Jacksonville, 
Illinois,    and    now    living  in  Macomb; 


912 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Frank  T.,  born  March  24,  1867,  now  at 
home  with  his  parents,  and  Jessie  May 
and  Edwin  J.,  twins,  born  August  20, 
1875.  Mr.  Seaburn's  residence  is  a 
handsome  and  commodious  structure, 
erected  in  1884,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 
His  barn  and  other  improvements,  are' 
very  good,  and  his  farm  is  one  of  the 
best  tiled  farms  in  the  township.  He 
has  upon  his  place,  a  large  amount  of 
Osage  hedge,  also  a  grove  of  cottonwood 
trees  planted  in  1868.  He  is  engaged 
extensively  in  feeding  stock,  also  carries 
on  general  farming,  and  is  a  thorough 
going  farmer,  everything  about  his  place 
indicating  thrift  and  comfort.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seaburn  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  Mr.  Seaburn  is  a 
staunch  supporter  of  the  republican 
party,  and  a  prohibitionist,  and  an  earn- 
est advocate  of  woman's  rights.  He  is 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  New 
Salem  township. 

Isaac  Holley,  of  New  Salem  township, 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  ( Stock- . 
well)  Holley,  natives  of  Virginia.  Isaac 
was  born  March  29,  1839,  in  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  reared 
upon  a  farm  where  he  remained  until  18 
years  old.  He  then  left  home,  still  fol- 
lowing farming.  January  17,  1864,  he 
started  west,  coming  to  Ottawa,  LaSalle 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in 
farming  one  year.  In  the  spring  of  1865, 
he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
lived  for  one  year  on  a  farm  in  New 
Salem  township,  which  he  rented  of  T. 
F.  Bandolph.  He  then  moved  to  Ful- 
ton county,  and  remained  until  the  spring 
of  1867,  working  by  the  month  on  the 
farm  of  J.  D.  Powell.  At  that  date  he 
returned  to  this  county  and  bought  80 


acres  of  land  in  Bethel  township,  which 
he  sold  the  following  year,  and  purchased 
his  present  farm.  The  latter  comprises 
the  east  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  17,  New  Salem  township.  He 
has  a  convenient  and  comfortable  dwell- 
ing, also,  good  stables,  sheds,  and  other 
farm  buildings.  The  land  is  highly  cul- 
tivated and  well  fenced,  He  has  about 
100  rods  of  Osage  orange  hedge,  which 
is  in  good  condition  and  well  kept.  Mr. 
Holley  was  married  January  14,  1869, 
to  Lorinda  Brundage,  and  by  this  union 
has  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living — Ellsworth  E.,  born  November 
10,  1869;  Nicholas  T.,  born  November 
10, 1872;  Mary  F.,  born  October  14, 1876; 
Olive  M.,  born  October  7,  1878;  and  Ed- 
ward E.,  born  October  11,  1883.  Mrs. 
Holley  was  born  November  30, 1846,  and 
is  the  daughter  of  John  and  Lucy  A. 
(McClure)  Brundage,  residents  of  this 
county.  Mr.  Holley  devotes  his  time 
entirely  to  the  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment of  his  farm.  He  is  democratic  in 
politics  and  has  served  six  years  as 
director  of  school  district  No.  4,  New 
Salem  township. 

Lycurgus  Merrell  came  to  this  county 
iu  1854,  and  went  to  live  with  Henry  S. 
Leighty.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  at 
the  time  of  coming  here,  was  10  years 
old.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Leighty  un- 
til 1879.  He  was  married  February  15, 
of  that  year,  to  Vadie  J.  Walker.  He 
lived,  after  marriage,  in  Eldorado  town- 
ship seven  months,  then  moved  to 
H.  S.  Leighty's  farm  where  he  lived  two 
years.  He  then,  in  1881,  purchased  his 
present  home  which  is  located  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  9,  New 
Salem  township.  He  has  a  valuable 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


913 


farm  and  good  improvements.  His  bus- 
iness is  general  farming.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Merrell  have  had  two  children  born  to 
them — Earl  Preston,  born  January  8, 
1882,  and  Edie,  who  was  born  January 
8,  1880,  and  died  February  22,  1881. 
Mr.  Merrell  is  a  republican  in  politics, 
and  a  good  citizen. 

Joseph  E.  Porter,  one  of  the  leading 
citizens  of  New  Salem  township,  is  of 
the  seventh  generation  from  John  Por- 
ter, who  was  born  in  Dorsetshire,  Eng- 
land, in  the  year  1596,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1635.  The  father  of  Joseph 
E.  was  Noah  Porter,  who  was  born  in 
Wendell,  Franklin  county,  Massachu- 
setts, September  26,  1792.  He '  ( Noah ) 
was  married  in  1815,  to  Nabby  Comins, 
of  Wendell.  They  settled  upon  a  farm 
in  their  native  town,  and  eleven  children 
were  born  to  them,  nine  sons  and  two 
daughters.  One  son  and  one  daughter 
died  in  childhood.  The  others  lived  to 
reach  maturity.  Noah  Porter,  in  order 
to  give  his  children  advantages  for  ob- 
taining a  good  education,  sold  his  farm 
in  Wendell,  and  purchased  another  in 
New  Salem,  also  in  Franklin  county.  It 
was  at  the  academy  in  that  town  that 
his  eight  sons  and  one  daughter  fitted 
themselves  for  teaching,  in  which  occu- 
pation they  all  subsequently  engaged. 
The  eldest  son,  Elijah,  has  since  held 
important  offices  in  the  town  where  he 
resided.  Another  son  has  been  twice 
elected  to  the  state  senate  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  has  occupied  the  position  of 
cashier  of  the  Cheshire  National  Bank, 
for  more  than  30  years.  Joseph  E. 
Porter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  in  Wendell,  Franklin  county,  Mas- 
sachusetts, July  9,  1821.  He  resided 


with  his  parents  until  21  years  old,  and 
in  his  youth  was  engaged  in  teaching 
during  the  winter,  farming  in  the  sum- 
mer, and  attending  school  in  the  spring 
and  fall  seasons.  September  14,  1842, 
he  was  married  to  Susan  M.  Cogswell, 
daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Lydia  Cogs- 
well, of  New  Salem,  Massachusetts,  na- 
tives of  Lunenburg,  in  the  same  state. 
Jonathan  Cogswrell  was  born  May  13, 
1792.  His  wife,  formerly  Lydia  Boyn- 
ton,  was  born  October  22,  1791.  Their 
marriage  took  place  October  19,  1816. 
In  1844  Mr.  Porter  moved  to  Framing- 
ham,  twenty  miles  west  of  Boston,  where 
he  worked  for  $14  per  month,  continu- 
ing eight  months,  and  during  the  winter 
cut  cord  wood  for  fifty  cents  per  cord. 
In  1848  he  returned  to  New  Salem,  and 
purchased  a  farm  on  which  he  lived  till 
1856.  In  that  year  he  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  and  located  in 
New 'Salem  township,  where  he  now  re- 
sides, purchasing  then  his  present  place, 
of  J.  H.  Baker.  It  comprises  the  south- 
west quarter  of  section  4.  It  was  then 
wholly  unimproved.  He  now  has  a 
finely  improved  and  highly  cultivated 
farm.  His  residence,  barn  and  other 
buildings  are  substantial,  commodious, 
and  models  of  convenience,  and  his 
place  is  altogether  one  of  the  most  de- 
sirable in  the  township.  Mr.  Porter  was 
formerly  a  whig  in  politics,  but  since 
the  organization  of  the  republican  party, 
has  been  identified  with  its  interests. 
His  eldest  son  was  attending  Abingdon 
college  when  President  Lincoln  called 
for  100-day  volunteers.  He  responded 
by  enlisting,  and  was  killed  while  in  the 
service,  at  Memphis,  Tennessee.  Mr. 
Porter  has  been  a  professing  Christian 


914 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


since  1844,  when  he  united  with  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Framingham, 
Massachusetts.  On  coming  to  this 
county,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Bardolph.  His 
present  church  connection  is  with  the 
Congregational  church  at  Macomb.  He 
has,  since  his  residence  here,  been 
much  of  the  time  in  office,  holding  the 
position  of  county  supervisor  three 
times,  justice  of  the  peace  six  years,  and 
school  trustee  15  years.  When  McDon- 
ough  county  was  divided  into  township 
organizations,  Mr.  Porter's  brothers  gave 
the  name  to  New  Salem  township,  in 
honor  of  the  town  where  they  were 
brought  up — New  Salem,  Massachusetts. 
Noah  Porter  died  October  8,  1855,  in 
this  township,  while  on  a  visit  to  his 
sons.  His  remains  were  taken  back  to 
Wendell,  Massachusetts,  and  laid  to  rest 
in  the  cemetery  where  four  generations 
of  his  ancestors  are  sleeping  side  by 
side.  His  widow,  Nabby  Porter,  sur- 
vived till  January  4,  1868. 
•  Kobert  G.  Eutledge  owns  and  resides 
upon  a  farm  located  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  3,  New  Salem  town- 
ship. He  purchased  the  place  and  set- 
tled here  in  1853,  and  now  has  an  excel- 
lent farm  with  good  and  comfortable' 
improvements.  Mr.  Eutledge  was  born 
May  2,  1821,  in  Greenbrier  county,  West 
Virginia.  He  resided  with  his  parents 
until  32  years  of  age.  He  was  then 
married  to  Elizabeth  A.  Portlock,  who 
was  born  January  30,  1833.  This  mar- 
riage took  place  November  18,  1852. 
Seven  children  have  blessed  their  union, 
three  of  whom  are  living — Jasper,  born 
July  31,  1858,  living  with  his  parents; 
Jane  V.,  born  January  13, 1863;  married 


to  Charles  C.  Effland;  and  Amanda  E., 
born  July  24,  1865,  living  with  her 
parents.  Those  deceased  are  —  Mary 
M.,  born  July  30,  1854,  and  died 
October  2,  1855;  Stephen  A.,  born 
February  14,  1860,  and  died  March  11, 
1862;  Lillian  E.,  born  January  20,  1869, 
and  died  September  25, 1870;  and  Maria 
F.,  born  March  3,  1856,  and  died  May  4, 
1875.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eutledge  have,  for 
years,  been  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  church  at  Pilot  Grove.  He 
has  served  as  steward  of  that  church  for 
the  past  10  years.  In  politics,  he  is  a 
democrat. 

Isaac  Opp,  an  early  settler  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  was  born  in  1822,  in 
Milton,  Northumberland  comnty,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  1837,  he  emigrated  with 
his  mother  and  step-father,  and  eight 
brothers  and  sisters,  to  Wooster,  Wayne 
county,  Ohio.  He  obtained  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  Milton 
and  Wooster.  In  the  spring  of  1842,  he 
removed  with  the  family  to  Stephenson 
county,  Illinois,  and  the  same  year  vis- 
ited this  county.  Two  years  later,  (1844) 
he  went  to  Fulton  county,  where  he  re- 
mained, living  with  his  brother-in-law, 
Jacob  Eitter,  until  May  3, 1846,  at  which 
time  he  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Crow- 
ell,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and  Priscilla 
(Fowler)  Crowell.  Charles  Crowell  was 
a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  his  wife,  of 
Virginia.  They  were  married  in  1825, 
and  reared  a  family  of  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  are  now  living.  They 
moved  to  Fulton  county,  in  1844,  and 
there  Mr.  Crowell  soon  after  died,  at  the 
age  of  39  years.  His  widow,  Priscilla, 
survived  until  1876,  when  she  died,  at 
the  residence  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Opp, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


915 


in  New  Salem  township,  McDonough 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Opp  have  had 
five  children  born  to  them,  four  of  whom 
are  living— Charles  Edwin,  Mary  Lo- 
vina,  Clara  Annetta  and  Austin  Albinus. 
Their  eldest  child,  a  daughter,  died  in 
infancy.  Mr.  Opp  settled  where  he  now 
resides,  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast 
of  Adair,  on  section  23,  New  Salem  town- 
ship, about  the  year  1865.  He  has  an 
excellent  farm,  containing  133  acres, 
but  not  all  in  a  body,  which  is  att  culti- 
vated. In  religious  belief,  he  inclines 
strongly  to  the  Christian  faith,  and  in 
politics,  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the 
democratic  party. 

James  Harris  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  was  born  in  Eldorado  township, 
December  8,  1834.  He  lived  with  his 
parents  until  21  years  old,  following  the 
various  occupations  incident  to  farm  life, 
handling  stock,  and  also,  meanwhile, 
teaching  school  a  number  of  years.  He 
was  married  January  21,  1864,  to  Ella 
E.  Wall,  in  Missouri,  where  he  taught 
school  two  years,  then  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, and  engaged  in  farming  in  this 
county  and  New  Salem  township,  until 
1865,  when  he  went  south  and  raised  cot- 
ton for  two  seasons.  In  1868,  he  went 
to  the  state  of  Texas,  and  was  there  and 
in  Kansas  in  the  cattle  business  three 
years.  He  then  came  back  to  his  farm 
in  New  Salem  township,  on  section  12, 
and  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
dealing  in  stock  for  six  years,  then  re- 
moved to  \he  farm  he  now  occupies,  the 
west  half  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 24.  This  place  is  well  improved, 
and  its  condition  marks  the  thrift  and 
enterprise  of  its  owner.  In  addition  to 
his  home  farm,  he  owns  the  west  half  of 


section  25,  94  acres  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  24,  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  12,  and  250  acres  on  section 
30,  of  Farmers  township,  Fulton  county. 
He  also  has  considerable  timber  land  in 
different  localities.  The  father  of  Mr. 
Harris  was  born  in  Cayuga  county,  New 
York,  May  5,  1806,  and  died  January  10, 
1868,  on  the  place  now  owned  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Madison  county,  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1806,  and  is  still  living  with  her 
son  James.  They  were  early  settlers  in 
the  state,  having  emigrated  from  the  east 
in  1832.  His  wife,  Ella  E.  Wall,  was 
born  September  26,  1841,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 11,  1868.  They  had  one  child  born 
to  them  June  6,  1865,  named  Daniel  O. 
Mr.  Harris  is  a  live,  energetic  farmer, 
and  deals  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
stock. 

William  Carlin,  deceased,  a  former 
resident  of  New  Salem  township,  was 
born  May  12,  1807,  in  county  Derry, 
Ireland,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of 
eight  children.  At  the  early  age  of 
12  years  he  learned  the  trade  of  linen 
weaver,  which  he  followed  during  the 
winter  seasons,  working  upon  a  farm  in 
the  summer,  from  that  time  until  the 
spring  of  1844  He  then  sailed  for 
America,  in  the  ship  City  of  Berlin. 
After .  an  ocean  voyage  of  nine  weeks 
and  three  days,  prolonged  on  account 
of  rough  weather,  he  landed  in  Phila- 
delphia, June  3d.  He  engaged  at  his 
trade  in  that  city,  with  a  brother, 
Thomas  Carlin,  who  had  preceded  him 
to  America.  The  trade  of  weaving  was 
then  a  lucrative  one,  particularly  the 
weaving  of  carpets  and  suspenders. 
November  2,  1847,  William  Carlin  was 


916 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  Dough- 
erty, and  in  October,  of  the  following 
year,  removed  to  Farmers  township, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided 
nine  years.  In  March,  1857,  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  and  located  on  tjie 
northwest  quarter  of  section  25.  New 
Salem  township.  Here,  on  account  of 
an  imperfect  deed,  he  was  compelled  to 
pay  twice  for  his  land.  He  lived  upon 
section  25,  until  his  death,  August  19, 
1884.  All  of  his  children  were  with 
him  during  his  last  illness.  For  20 
years  previous  to  his  death,  Mr.  Carlin 
had  not  been  engaged  in  laborious  farm 
work,  having  given  his  sons  entire 
charge  of  the  business.  He  devoted 
his  time  to  gardening  and  bee  culture, 
making  a  successful  business  of  the  lat- 
ter, and  always  having  from  60  to  100 
colonies.  Mrs.  Eliza  Carlin  was  born  in 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  March  14,  1825. 
She  was  left  an  orphan,  at  an  early  age, 
and  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1843, 
crossing  the  ocean  in  the  ship  Britannia, 
and  landing  at  Philadelphia,  where  she 
resided  until  after  her  marriage.  She 
died,  after  37 -years  of  wedded  life,  April 
8,  1884,  four  months  previous  to  the 
death  of  her  husband.  Both  are  buried 
in  the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Macomb. 
They  reared  a  family  of  nine  children — 
James  J.,  born  August  12,  1848,  in  Phil- 
adelphia; William  H.,  born  March  25, 
1850;  Angeline  C.,  born  February  11, 
1852;  Margaret  J.,  born  August  18, 
1854;  Alexander,  born  June  27,  1856,  in 
Farmers  township,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois; Amanda  J.,  born  June  24,  1858; 
John  E.,  born  February  2, 1860;  Stephen 
M.,  born  December  13,  1863,  and  Eliza 
R.,  born  August  2,  1867,  in  New  Salem 


township.  Of  these,  William  H.  and 
Alexander  are  deceased ;  the  former  died 
February  8,  1873,  and  is  buried  in  Bar- 
ker's cemetery,  Fulton  county,  and  the 
latter  died  May  29,  1871,  and  is  buried 
in  the  Catholic  cemetery  at  Macomb. 
Angeline  C.,  the  only  one  married,  is 
the  wife  of  Robert  F.  Parks.  They 
have  two  children,  Mary  and  Earl.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carlin  were  zealous  Catholics, 
and  reared  their  family  in  that  faith. 
Politically,  he  was  a  staunch  democrat. 
His  charities  were  equalled  only  by 
those  of  his  wife.  From  the  peculiar 
location  of  their  residence,  giving  for 
charity  was  almost  an  every  day  occur- 
rence, and  of  the  many  who  asked,  none 
ever  left  their  door  hungry.  They  left 
this  earth  without  an  enemy,  their  rule 
of  action  having  always  been,  "do  unto 
others  as  ye  would  that  others  should  do 
unto  you." 

John  F.  Miner  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1820.  His  home  was  with 
his  parents  until  he  was  17  years  old, 
when  he  lived  for  three  years  with  his 
brother  William.  He  was  married,  De- 
cember 23,  1841,  to  Susannah  Ward,  who 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  in  Butler  county,  August  7,  1819. 
By  that  marriage  there  were  11  children, 
all  of  whom  are  living — Eliza  J.,  born 
May  13,  1843,  and  married  to  Wilford 
Boyer,  n6w  living  in  this  county;  George 
G.,  born  February  6,  1845,  and  married 
to  Susan  Bossart,  now  living*  in  this 
county;  Martha  A.,  born  September  19, 
1846,  now  the  wife  of  Hiram  Hitter  and 
living  in  Fulton  county;  John  F.,  Jr.} 
born  January  25,  1849,  and  married  to 
Elizabeth  Ritter,  now  living  in  this 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


917 


county;  Charles  H.,  born  November  28, 
1850,  married  to  Florence  A.  Cadwalla- 
der,  and  now  living  in  this  county;  James 
E.,  born  December  19, 1852,  and  married 
to  Ancieville  A.  Meredith,  who  died 
August  28,  1883;  Mary  G.,born  Novem- 
ber 19,  1854,  now  the  wife  of  Smith 
Barker,  and  living  in  this  county;  Su- 
sannah N.,  born  December  16, 1856,  now 
the  wife  of  Charles  Mullen,  and  residing 
in  this  county;  Parkhurst  W.,  born  De- 
cember 5,  1858,  married  to  Florence  L. 
Randolph,  and  living  in  Fulton  county; 
Anna  E.,  born  November  27,  1860,  now 
the  wife  of  William  R.  Swango,  living 
in  this  county;  and  William  A.,  born 
April  8,  1863,  now  living  with  his  par- 
ents. Mr.  Miner's  parents  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  those  of  Mrs. 
Miner  came  from  New  Jersey.  Mr. 
Miner  bought  the  farm  he  now  occupies, 
in  1847.  It  is  located  on  section  13,  New 
Salem  township.  His  place  is  well  im- 
proved, and  is  adorned  with  a  handsome 
brick  residence,  37x30,  two  stories  high, 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $10,000;  the  other 
buildings  on  the  premises  are  also  in 
good  condition.  A  glance  at  this  farm 
shows  that  its  owner  must  be  a  man  of 
thrift  and  enterprise.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Miner  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church.  Politically,  Mr.  Miner  is  a 
democrat. 

Christopher  Wetsel  settled  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  in  1859.  It 
is  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  28,  New  Salem  township,  and 
contains  80  acres.  He  has  continued  to 
reside  here  since  that  time,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  years  spent  in  the  army. 
Mr.  Wetsel  owns  also  40  acres  on  section 
27,  this  township.  His  land  is  in  a  high 


state  of  cultivation,  and  his  improve- 
ments of  a  good  description,  including  a 
large  and  comfortable  dwelling,  built  in 
1883,  stables,  sheds,  corn  cribs,  etc.  He 
has  upon  his  place  a  good  orchard,  con- 
taining various  kinds  of  fruit  trees.  He 
has  also  a  large  amount  of  Osage  hedge 
in  fine  condition.  His  time  is  devoted 
wholly  to  the  care  and  cultivation  of  his 
farm.  Christopher  Wetsel  was  born  in 
Augusta  county,  Virginia,  April  14, 1831. 
He  remained  there  with  his  parents, 
George  and  Sally  (Nebergall)  Wetsel, 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  14,  then, 
with  them,  emigrated  to  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  and  lived  18  months  on  a  farm 
rented  of  W.  B.  Wright;  then  removed 
to  another  farm  in  the  same  county, 
owned  by  Hiram  Harris.  They  remained 
on  the  latter  place  six  years,  and  during 
that  time  Christopher  attained  his  ma- 
jority and  went  to  work  for  himself.  He 
began  by  breaking  prairie  with  an  ox 
team,  which  he  followed  two  seasons, 
working  during  the  winter  at  any  em- 
ployment that  would  bring  him  an  hon- 
est dollar.  On  October  20,  1853,  he  was 
married  to  Mary  E.  Ellwell,  and  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  rented  a  farm  in  Fulton 
county  of  J.  McFadden,  raised  one  crop, 
then  rented,  of  John  Chambers,  another 
farm  in  the  same  township.  One  year 
later  he  rented  and  moved  to  the  farm  of 
John  Harris,  in  McDonough  county, 
where  he  remained  until  his  removal  to 
his  present  home,  in  1859.  August  7, 
1862,  Mr.  Wetsel  enlisted  in  company  F, 
of  the  84th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served 
2  years  and  10  months.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  and  discharged  at  Camp  Harker, 
Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  participated 
in  all  of  the  engagements  of  his  regi- 


918 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ment,  except  those  at  Perryville,  Ken- 
tucky and  Stone  river,  Tennessee.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wetsel  have  had  five  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Martina  F.,  born  May  2,  1856,  now  mar- 
ried to  George  Leigh ty,  of  this  township, 
and  Hettie  F.,  born  January  10,  1867. 
Those  deceased  are — Eliza  J.,  born  Octo- 
ber 28,  1854;  Mary  E.,  born  January 
8,  1861;  and  Nora  E.,born  December  25, 
1869.  Mr.  Wetsel  has  been  a  consistent 
member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
for  nearly  35  years,  and  has  been  par- 
sonage trustee  and  class  steward  since 
1865.  Mrs.  Wetsel  joined  that  church 
in  1858,  and  still  holds  a  membership. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetsel,  at  the  time  of  com- 
ing to  this  county,  were  in  very  limited 
circumstances,  but  are  now,  owing  to 
their  own  energy  and  industry,  in  pro- 
session  of  a  competency.  Mr.  Wetsel 
belongs  to  a  long-lived  family.  He  is 
one  of  a  family  of  10  children,  7  sons  and 
3  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living. 
Both  of  his  parents  are  still  enjoying 
life.  His  father  was  born  in  1808,  and 
his  mother  in  18.10. 

John  W.  Swango  owns  and  occupies  a 
farm  of  120  acres,  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  21,  New  Salem  township. 
The  land  is  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  his  improvements  valuable.  He 
has  a  neat  and  comfortable  residence, 
24x28  feet,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,100. 
His  stabling,  sheds,  etc.,  are  ample  and 
convenient  for  the  accommodation  of 
stock.  He  makes  a  business  of  general 
farming.  Mr.  Swango  was  born  Octo- 
ber 25,  1860,  in  New  Salem  township, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois.  January 
14, 1883,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Ella  Hodgen,  also  a  native  of  New  Salem 


township,  born  January  14,  1863.  They 
have  one  child — Clyde  Ray,  born  Janu- 
ary 7,  1884. 

Eli  Ellwell,  deceased,  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  February  13,  1827.  He  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  March  1, 
1849,  was  married  to  Mary  A.  McKee. 
She  was  born  June  29,  1828,  in  Sanga- 
mon  county,  Illinois.  They  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  are  living,  namely 
— Jonathan  D.  born  May  16,  1850,  and 
now  married  to  Adelia  Silvernail,  and 
lives  on  the  farm  with  his  mother;  James 
M.,  born  February  1,  1852,  now  married 
to  Virge  Williams,  and  living  in  this 
county;  Julia  E.,  born  February  10,1854, 
now  the  wife  of  John  Dickey,  and  living 
in  Kansas;  Malissa  G.,  born  December 
11,  1861,  now  the  wife  of  Willis  Wetsel, 
and  living  in  Beardstown,  Illinois.  The 
three  deceased  were — Mary  E.,  born  June 
16,  1856,  died  August  7,  1856;  Frances 
E.,  born  September  7,  1859,  died  Janu- 
ary 15,  1861 ;  and  Thomas,  born  July  23, 
1857,  died  October  10,  1878.  Mrs.  Ell- 
well's  father  is  James  McKee,  who  was 
born  in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1803,  and  is  now  living  in  Missouri.  Her 
mother  was  Elizabeth  ( Plastens )  McKee 
and  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1805,  and  is  still 
living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  en- 
listed in  the  army  of  the  United  States 
August  7,  1862,  in  company  F,  84th  Illi- 
nois volunteer  infantry,  and  was  killed 
on  the  30th  day  of  December,  1862.  He 
was  buried  in  the  Foster  burying  ground, 
of  Eldorado  township.  The  farm,  located 
on  section  35,  consists  of  80  acres  of  well 
improved  land  and  is  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
Ellwell. 

David  Nebergall,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  New  Salem  township,  is  a  native  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


919 


Augusta  county,  Virginia,  born  Septem- 
ber 12,  1805.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
and  David  was  reared  to  that  occupation, 
obtaining  his  education  in  the  common 
schools.  He  lived  with  his  parents  until 
23  years  old,  then,  April  19,  1827,  was 
married  to  Mary  A.  Switzer,  daughter 
of  John  and  Catherine  (Fateley)  Switzer. 
She  was  born  March  4,  1804,  and  died 
April  1, 1879.  Mr.  Nebergall  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  about  the  year  1846,  coming 
with  teams,  and  for  five  years  lived  upon 
a  farm  rented  of  Rev.  George  Rutledge. 
In  March,  1851,  he  purchased  and  moved 
to  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives,  com- 
prising the  southeast  quarter  of  section 
12,  New  Salem  township.  It  is  now  a 
highly  desirable  place,  well  improved 
and  in  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  He 
owns,  also,  42  acres  of  timber  land  in 
Fulton  county,  30  acres  on  section  27, 
Harris  township,  and  12  acres  in  Farm- 
ers' township,  also  in  that  county.  Mr. 
Nebergall  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  church,  at  Pilot  Grove,  of  which 
he  has  acted  as  steward  for  a  number  of 
years.  His  wife  was  also  a  member  of 
that  church,  and  a  consistent  Christian 
woman.  He  is  in  politics,  a  republican. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nebergall,  had  13  children 
born  to  them,  nine  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing— Philip,  born  January  9,  1828,  was 
married  May  10,  1849,  to  Mary  A.  Hall, 
and  living  in  Fulton  county;  Amy  E., 
born  March  20,  1830,  married  to  Jacob 
Switzer,  April  12,  1849,  also  living  in 
Fulton  county;  Margaret  F.,  born  Au- 
gust 6,  1831,  married  to  Andrew  Pon- 
tious, April  15, 1851, living  in  Iowa;  Mary 
J.,  born  January  2, 1834,  married  to  John 
Switzer,  April  6,  1853;  the  latter  was  a 
member  of  company  G,  of  the  103d  Ill- 


inois infantry,  and  died  in  1863,  while  in 
the  service  at  Vicksbui*g.  His  widow 
has  since  been  married  to  Jacob  Goff, 
and  now  lives  in  Fulton  county.  Wil- 
liam H.,  born  September  5,  1836,  mar- 
ried March  20,  1861,  to  Martha  M.  Hart- 
ford, living  in  this  township;  Reuben 
J.,  born  August  6,  1833,  married  April 
9,  1870,  to  Etta  Carter,  living  in  Fulton 
county;  Martha  C.,  born  August  13, 1841, 
married  April  5, 1881,  to  Henry  Schroder, 
of  Fulton  county;  Sarah  M.,  born  No- 
vember 6,  1843,  living  at  home  with  her 
father;  Rebecca  E.,  born  March  4, 1849, 
married  to  John  Wilson,  March  6,  1871, 
living  in  New  Salem  township.  Joseph 
White,  an  adopted  son  of  Mr.  Nebergall, 
was  born  October  8,  1855,  and  married 
February  5,  1876,  to  Mary  Rutledge,  and 
is  now  living  in  this  county.  The  de- 
ceased children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Neber- 
gall, are — Sarah  W.,  born  February  20, 
1829,  and  died  July  13,  1830;  John 
Switzer,  born  September  6,  1832,  and 
died  August  13,  1834;  and  Jacob,  born 
February  26,  1835,  and  died  June  11, 
1850. 

C.  P.  McDonald  moved  to  his  present 
residence  onx  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  11,  New  Salem  township,  in 
March,  1857.  He  owns  160  acres  of  ex- 
cellent land,  in  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. His  residence  is  a  fine  one,  erected 
in  1882,  costing  $2,100.  His  barn  and 
other  improvements  are  of  the  best  class. 
He  has  upon  his  farm  a  small  lake,  which 
was  made  in  1880,  and  first  stocked  with 
catfish  and  suckers;  these,  in  1883,  were 
seined  out,  and  the  lake  was  stocked  with 
German  carp,  which  are  now  in  a  flourish- 
ing condition,  some  of  them  weighing 
three  and  four  pounds  each.  Mr.  Me- 


920 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Donald  was  born  December  16,  1830,  in 
the  state  of  Ohio,  where  he  remained, 
living  with  his  parents,  until  19  years  of 
age.  He  then  went  to  work  by  the  month 
for  a  man  named  Blodgett  Smith,  with 
whom  he  continued  one  year,  receiving 
for  his  services  $8  per  month.  He  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  in  1849,  and  worked 
for  six  months  on  the  farm  of  Charles 
Boss,  for  $12  per  month.  In  1851  he 
rented,  of  Charles  Ross  and  Jacob  Hitter, 
60  acres  of  land,  but  on  account  of  a  wet 
season,  failed  to  raise  a  crop.  The  fol- 
lowing fall  he  rented  a  farm  of  Daniel 
Harris,  and  lived  upon  ^ihe  same  five 
years.  He  was  married,  February  12, 
1852,  to  Lucy  Ann  Hollar,  who  was  born 
January  19, 1835.  Eleven  children  have 
blest  their  union,  seven  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Alexander,  born  December  18, 1852, 
married  February  20, 1879,  to  Mary  Ovfer- 
miller,  and  living  in  Kansas;  William 
H.,  born  June  21,  1855,  married  to  Lida 
Morris,  March  10,  1883,  also  living  in 
Kansas;  Uriah,  born  October  14,  1860, 
married  October  4,  1882,  to  Emma  Bur- 
rows, living  in  New  Salem  township; 
Perry  A.,  born  April  3,  1865,  living  in 
Clay  county,  Nebraska;  Anna  M.,  born 
October  12, 1867,  living  with  her  parents; 
Orion  P.,  born  April  24,  1870,  and  Isaac 
N.,  born  November  24,  1872,  also  living 
with  their  parents.  Those  deceased  are 
Abner,  born  February  15, 1858,  and  died 
March  4,  of  the  same  year;  Lydia  Ann, 
born  in  October,  1862,  and  died  in  1863 ; 
two  other  children  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
McDonald  died  February  28,  1875.  Mr. 
McDonald  was  again  married  to  Mrs. 
Martha  Switzer,  widow  of  John  Switzer. 
By  this  union  three  children  were  born 
—James  F.,  born  October  26, 1876;  John 


Emmet,  born  March  22, 1880;  and  Man- 
ford,  born  August  13,  1882.  Mrs.  Mc- 
Donald has  one  child  by  her  former 
marriage — Chauncey  Switzer,  born  May 
27, 1867,  and  now  living  in  Fulton  county. 
The  present  Mrs.  McDonald  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Jane  (Livingston) 
Litchfield,  and  was  born  February  20, 
1845.  Mr.  McDonald  came  to  this  county 
with  $5,  the  sum  total  of  his  worldly 
wealth,  but  is  now  in  possession  of  a 
comfortable  fortune. 

James  Burchett  was  born  in  Surrey, 
England,  February  12,  1813.  He  re- 
mained with  his  parents  in  his  native 
country  until  1833.  In  that  year  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  and  started,  on  a 
sailing  vessel,  for  America.  He  landed 
in  New  York  after  a  nine  weeks'  voyage, 
and  from  there  went  to  Upper  Canada, 
where  he  lived  two  years.  He  was  mar- 
ried there,  in  1834,  to  Martha  Mansfield, 
and  the  following  year  removed  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  and  for  seven  years  lived 
upon  a  rented  farm.  He  then  purchased 
53  acres  of  land  in  Farmers'  township 
of  the  same  county,  improved  and  lived 
upon  it  about  two  years,  then  sold  out 
and  moved  to  McDonough  county.  He 
purchased,  then,  40  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 3;  also  the  place  on  which  he  now 
lives,  comprising  the  southeast  quarter 
of  section  2,  New  Salem  township.  In 
addition  to  the  above  he  now  owns  an- 
other quarter  adjoining  it  on  the  south- 
east; also  80  acres  on  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  the  same  section,  and  40  acres  on 
section  11.  He  owns  in  Fulton  county 
80  acres,  partly  improved  and  part  tim- 
ber, located  in  Farmers'  township,  on 
section  6.  He  has  fine  improvements 
upon  the  farm  where  he  resides,  includ- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


921 


ing  his  residence,  barn  and  other  build- 
ings. His  other  farms  are  also  well  im- 
proved. He  has,  altogether,  about  seven 
miles  of  Osage  hedge  and  700  rods  of 
drain  tile.  He  is  an  energetic  and  thor- 
ough-going farmer,  everything  about  his 
place  indicating  thrift  and  comfort.  Mrs. 
Burchett  died  in  1842,  and  the  following 
year  Mr.  Burchett  married  Lucy  Woods. 
He  had,  by  his  first  marriage,  four  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  deceased.  By  the 
latter  union,  five  children  were  born,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living. 

L.  M.  Williams  came  to  McDonough 
county  with  his  parents  in  1855,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  a  resident  here. 
He  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
October  18,  1851,  and  resided  with  his 
parents  until  25  years  of  age.  October 
25,  1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Dora  Adcock,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Ann  (Hall)  Adcock.  After  marriage, 
Mr.  Williams  rented  the  east  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  9,  New 
Salem  township,  and  lived  upon  the  same 
six  years.  He  then  purchased  his 
father's  farm,  for  which  he  paid  $4,500, 
and  which  is  still  his  residence.  He 
has  a  valuable  and  well  cultivated  farm 
with  good  improvements.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Williams  have  had  two  children  born  to 
them — Walter,  born  January  24,  1878, 
and  died  in  infancy,  and  Clarence  B., 
born  October  14,  1883.  Mr.  Williams  its 
a  member  and  steward  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  at  Adair.  Mrs.  Wil- 
liams is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  is  a  man  of  good  education 
and  politically,  a  supporter  of  the  re- 
publican party. 

George  W.  Thomas  is  a  native  of 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born 


May  25,  1834.  He  was  married  to  Nancy 
E.  (Mitchell)  September  15,  1868.  They 
have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are 
living,  and  one  is  dead,  as  follows—Otis, 
born  June  6,  1869,  living  at  home  with 
his  parents;  Lena  L.,  born  September  1, 
1870;  Howard  and  Truman,  twins,  born 
December  22,  1873;  George  W,  born 
August  9,  1876,  and  Cora,  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1879.  Truman  died  January  22, 
1884.  Mr.  Thomas  remained  at  home  with 
his  parents  until  21  years  old.  He  came 
to  Illinois  in  1857,  and  hired  out  to  Jus- 
tice Kinne,  of  Fulton  county,  to  work 
on  a  farm  by  the  month.  In  1858,  he 
went  back  to  his  native  state,and  brought 
thither  his  mother  and  her  family.  In 
June,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States,  in  company  H,  28th 
Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and  remained 
in  the  service  four  years  and  eight 
months.  He  was  first  corporal  of  the 
company  for  three  years.  He  was 
always  ready  for  duty,  and  participated 
in  all  the  engagements  of  his  regiment, 
and  was  not  wounded,  except  at  Spanish 
Fort,  where  he  was  hit  by  a  piece  of 
shell,  but  not  seriously  injured.  He 
was  at  one  time  put  in  command  of  his 
company  on  detailed  service,  and  made 
a  successful  raid,  losing  one  man  in  a 
lively  little  skirmish,  was  out  four  days, 
and  proved  himself  competent  to  fill  the 
position  to  which  he  had  been  assigned. 
His  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  died  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in 
1858.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Thomas  were 
John  and  Phoebe  A.  (Britt)  Mitchell. 
The  former  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania,  January  27,  1799,  and  is 
still  living.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Virginia,  May  7,  1800,  and  died  in  this 


922 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


county,  October  17,  1880.  They  emi- 
grated from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  in 
1835,  thence  to  Illinois,  in  1858.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Thomas  are  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Adair,  and  he  is  the  class  leader  of  that 
organization.  Politically,  he  is  a  repub- 
lican. He  has  held  the  office  of  collec- 
tor one  term,  in  Scotland  township,  and 
is  a  Christian  gentleman. 

George  Bateson,  a  farmer  of  New 
Salem  township,  was  born  in  Perry 
county,  Ohio,  in  1849,  came  to  this  state 
in  1855,  and  here  followed  farming  until 
1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  United 
States  army,  in  company  A,  28th  Illinois 
volunteer  infantry.  He  served  18  months, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Brownsville, 
Texas.  He  then  came  back  to  this  state 
and  resumed  farming,  which  business  he 
has  since  continued.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Maryland,  born  in  1796,  and 
died  June  20,  1878,  in  Fulton  county. 
His  mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; was  born  in  1815,  ,and  died  in 
Fulton  county  in  1878.  Mr.  Bateson 
has  a  good  common  school  education, 
belongs  to  the  republican  party,  and  is  a 
good  citizen. 

Lewis«J.  Bateson,  a  resident  of  New 
Salem  township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  in  Perry  county,  January  28, 
1838.  He  came  to  this  state  in  the  fall 
of  1855,  and  has  always  made  farming  a 
business.  He  was  married  March  29, 
1866,  to  Lucinda  Ewing,  who  was  born 
June  15,  1835,  and  died  July  8,  1881. 
They  were  the  parents  of  two  children — 
Carrie  E.,  born  February  2,  1869,  and 
Croton  S.,  born  August  19,  1871.  Mr. 
Bateson  enlisted  in  the  army  of  the 
United  States  for  the  suppression  of  the 


rebellion,  March  22,  1862,  in  company 
F,  61st  Illinois  volunteer  infantry.  He 
was  a  corporal  for  11  months,  and  then 
discharged  on  a  surgeon's  certificate  of 
disability.  Recovering  somewhat  from 
his  ill-health,  he  re-enlisted  in  the  151st 
regiment,  served  one  year,  and  was  then, 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  mustered  out  at 
Columbus,  Georgia.  He  then  came  back 
to  Illinois,  and  has  since  followed  farm- 
ing. He  has  been  connected  with  the 
M.  E.  church  since  he  was  19  years  old. 
Politically,  he  belongs  to  the  republican 
party. 

George  Seaburn,  one  of  the  farmers  of 
New  Salem  township,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  was  born  March  14,  1828.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  lived  on  the 
old  homestead  with  his  parents,  assist- 
ing in  the  various  duties  and  employ- 
ments incident  to  farm  life,  until  22 
years  old.  August  11,  1850,  the  import- 
ant event  of  his  marriage  occurred  to 
Sarah  M.  Kerr.  She  is  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia, born  in  Augusta  county,  March 
17,  1833.  They  have  had  born  to  them 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  now 
living — Mary  J.,  born  July  3,  1851,  was 
married  to  Peter  Dougherty,  October  3, 
1872,  living  in  this  county;  Florence  E., 
born  October  8,  1855,  was  married  to 
Samuel  Leighty,  December  19, 1875,  liv- 
ing in  Adair  ;  Lizzie  K.,  born  October 
15«  1865,  living  at  home;  Bessie  B.,  born 
August  15, 1873,  living  at  home ;  George 
A.,  born  September  28,  1853,  died  De- 
cember 14,  1854;  John  H.,  born  May  8, 
1859,  died  July  5,  1861;  Johnston,  born 
May  3,  1863,  died  May  13,  1864.  His 
first  settlement  in  New  Salem  township, 
bears  date  in  1851,  and  he  first  located 
on  section  25.  On  the  28th  day  of  March, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


923 


1853,  he  started  across  the  plains  for 
California,  with  an  ox-team,  and  arrived 
there  August  26,  of  that  year.     He  re- 
mained in  California  until  June  of  the 
following  year,  then  started  for  Illinois, 
and  was  found  again  at  home  June  30, 

1854,  making  the  trip  by  steamer.     He 
there  bought  and  removed  to  the  farm 
he  now  occupies,  which  is  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  26.    This  place  is  well 
improved,  well  fenced  and  under  a  good 
state  of  cultivation,  making  a  good  farm 
and  a  desirable  home.     Mr.  Seaburn  en- 
listed in  the  Union  army,  August  7, 1862, 
in  company  F,  84th  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  with  that  regiment 
until  May  1,  1863,  when  he  was  run  over 
by  a  mule  team  and  crippled,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  was  taken  to  the 
field  hospital.     He  yet  suffers  from  the 
effects  of  the  injury  received  at  that  time. 
On  the  1st  day  of  July,  1863,  he  was 
transferred  to  the  veteran  relief  corps, 
and  sent  with  a  company  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  as  that  place  was  threatened 
by  John  Morgan.  They  were  successful 
in  keeping  him  out  of  the  city,  and  Mr. 
Seaburn  was  then  sent  to  the  state  of 
New  York,   to  assist  in  enforcing  the 
draft;  from  there  he  was  sent  to  Chicago, 
and  thence  December  3,  1863,  to  Rock 
Island,  to  guard  prisoners.  He  remained 
at  that  place  until  June  30,  1864,  when 
he   was   honorably   discharged  and  re- 
turned home.      Mrs.   Seaburn  came  to 
this  state  in  September,  1835.  Her  father, 
Amaziah   Kerr,  was  born   in  Virginia, 
June  2,  1798,  and  died  in  this  county, 
June  23,  1878.  Her  mother  was  likewise 
a  native  of  Virginia,  born  February  28, 
1808,  and  died  in  this  state  August  27, 
1866.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seaburn  are  both 


members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr. 
Seaburn,  politically,  affiliates  with  the 
republican  party,  is  a  man  of  good  sound 
judgment,  and  stands  well  among  the 
citizens  of  this  county. 

George  T.  Harlan  was  born  Decem- 
ber 29,  1827,  in  Monroe  county  Ken- 
tucky, and  m  1834,  removed  with  his 
parents,  Wesley  and  Nancy  (Greenup) 
Harlan,  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 
.He  assisted  his  father  in  improving  the 
farm  in  Industry  township,  located  on 
section  1.  December  25,  1856,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Talitha  C. 
Yocum,  who  was  born  October  17,  1832, 
a  daughter  of  Major  Stephen  and  Mary 
(Dorris)  Yocum,  who  settled  near  Pen- 
nington's  Point  in  1833.  Mr.  Harlan 
settled  at  the  time  of  his  marriage,  upon 
a  farm  located  on  the  south  half  of  sec- 
tion 31,  New  Salem  township,  "where  he 
still  resides.  They  are  the  parents  of 
11  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  liv- 
ing, four  having  died  in  infancy — Leroy 
P.,  the  eldest  now  living,  was  married 
March  31,  1881,  to  Emma  Chadderdon, 
and  has  one  child.  They  are  living  on 
the  farm  settled  by  his  grandfather  Har- 
lan. The  children  living  at  home  are — 
Emma,  James  F..  Ambrose  S.,  Inez, 
Julia  and  Alma. 

Marcellus  Herndon,  a  farmer  of  New 
Salem  township,  is  a  native  of  this  county, 
having  been  born  in  Scotland  township, 
November  1, 1858.  He  was  brought  up 
and  received  his  education  in  his  native 
township.  His  parents  are  residents  of 
Adair,  where  his  father  is  a  prominent 
merchant.  Marcellus  was  married  Oc- 
tober 31,  1878,  to  Lizzie  Rexroat,  daugh- 
ter of  Hasting  and  Patsy  ( Biggins )  Rex- 
roat. Her  father  was  a  prominent 


924 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


farmer  of  Scotland  township.  They  are 
the  parents  of  two  children — Archie  and 
Willie.  Mr.  Herndon  has  120  acres  of 
land,  35  of  which  is  under  cultivation. 
He  is  engaged  in  general  farming,  pay- 
ing some  attention  to  stock  raising. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  following  statistics  relative  to  the 
schools  of  New  Salern  township,  have 
been  gleaned  from  the  last  annual  report 
of  the  county  superintendent,  for  the 
year  ending  June  30,  1884:  New  Salem 
has  10  schools,  none  ef  which  are  graded. 
There  are  359  children  of  school  age 
within  her  boundaries,  over  300  of  whom 
are  enrolled  in  the  schools,  8^  being  the 
average  number  of  months  taught  dur- 
ing the  year.  There  are  10  school  build- 
ings in  New  Salem,  all  of  which  are  frame. 
The  salaries  paid  teachers  are  very  lib- 
eral, the  highest  monthly  wages  received 
by  any  male  teasher  being  $53,  while 
the  lowest  was  $30  dollars  per  month. 
The  largest  monthly  salary  paid  female 
teachers  was  $40,  $18  being  the  lowest. 
The  estimated  value  of  school  property 
was  $6,400,  with  a  district  tax  levy  of 
$3,500.  At  the  time  of  the  last  report 
there  was  a  bonded  indebtedness  in  the 
district  township  of  $500.  But  one  dis- 
trict in  the  township  had  a  library,  and 
it  contained  40  volumes. 

The  first  school  house  in  New  Salem 
township,  was  a  log  cabin,  erected  in 
1837,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
30.  Its  first  teacher  was  Martha  Camp- 
bell, a  sister  of  James  and  Nelson  Camp- 
bell. She  afterward  became  the  second 
wife  of  John  Milton  Walker. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  1  was 
built  in  1858.  The  first  directors  were : 


David  Nebergall,  James  Burchett  and 
Jesse  Carnahan.  The  first  teacher  was 
William  Harris.  The  directors  for  1885 
are:  C.  P.  McDonald,  William  Eitter 
and  William  Hefner.  Elizabeth  Hall  is 
the  teacher.  The  building  in  use  is  sit- 
uated at  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
11.  It  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $400. 

District  No.  2 — A  school  house  was 
moved  to  the  present  site  in  1858.  A 
new  building,  one  with  all  the  modern 
improvements,  was  erected  in  1870,  at  a 
cost  of  $1,450.  It  is  24x36.  It  is  loca- 
ted on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  4. 
The  first  directors  were:  A.  Hanson, 
Eobert  Eutledge  and  James  Partlock. 
The  present  directors  are:  William  E. 
Lance,  George  E.  Porter  and  David 
Coyner.  The  first  teacher  was  Susan 
Little.  Mary  M.  Kirkpatrick  is  the 
present  teacher. 

District  No.  3. — The  first  school  house 
in  this  district  was  erected  in  1855.  The 
present  building  was  put  up  in  1883,  at 
a  cost  of  $1,200.  It  is  located  on  the 
southeast  corner  of  section  6.  The  first 
directors  were:  J.  B.  Wood,  W.  L.  Eit- 
ter and  Henry  Sinnitt.  The  first  teacher 
was  Emma  Bethel.  Flora  Mann  is  the 
present  teacher. 

District  No.  5,  Eeedyville. — About  the 
year  1855,  a  log  house  was  moved  from 
Fulton  county  and  placed  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  22,  now  owned  by 
Emory  Lowens.  In  this  building  four 
terms  of  school  were  taught,  by  the  fol- 
lowing teachers:  E.  C.  Porter,  William 
Hammond,  Allen  Yaple  and  Elizabeth 
Miller.  On  the  districts  of  the  township 
being  divided,  in  1857,  the  school  was 
discontinued,  and  the  log  house  sold  at 
public  auction  for 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  CODNTY. 


925 


A  new  school  building  was  erected  in 
1884,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500,  located  at 
Reedyville.  The  contractor  was  Newton 
Willis,  of  Table  Grove.  The  first 
directors  were:  Jonas  Wissler,  W.  G. 
Wilkins,  Thomas  Elwell.  The  present 
directors  are — W.  G.  Wilkins,  Thomas 
Ellwell  and  John  Reedy.  Minnie 
Russell  was  the  first  teacher  here. 
James  Vail  now  holds  that  position. 
Forty  scholars  attend  this  school. 

District  No.  6. — The  school  house  in 
this  district  was  erected  in  1868.  The 
first  directors  were  John  Miner,  Sr., 
Charles  Ross  and  William  Ritter.  The 
first  teacher  was  Silas  McDugan.  Thos. 
Randolph,  Edward  Miner,  Jr.,  and  Tell 
Wilson  are  the  present  directors.  The 
school  building  is  situated  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  section  20. 

District  No.  7. — The  first  board  of  di- 
rectors in  this  district  was  composed  of 
Joseph  Lowens,  William  Kelly  and 
David  Harlan.  The  first  teacher  was 
Maria  Griffin.  The  school  house  is  loca- 
ted on  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
30.  It  was  built  in  1858,  at  a  cost  of 
$700,  and  was  rebuilt  in  1879.  H.  H. 
Harris  is  the  teacher  at  present.  <£.  C. 
Hammond  and  J.  J.  Carlin  are  directors. 

District  No.  8. — The  school  house  of 
this  district  is  located  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  section  33.  It  was  erected  in 
1858.  The  first  directors  of  this  dis- 
trict were:  John  Wetsel,  Hugh  Chap- 
man and  Addison  Griffin.  A.  B.  Wet- 
sel, M.  G.  Reedy  and  John  Grim  con- 
stitute the  present  board.  The  first 
teacher  was  Mrs.  Gregory.  J.  Ross 
Mickey  now.  holds  that  position. 

District  No.  9. — The  first  directors  in 
this  district  were:  S.  F.  Hammer,  Thos. 


Moore  and   Morillo  Woods.     The   first 

• 

teacher  was  Anna  Gool.  The  school 
house  was  built  in  1861,  at  a  cost  of  $350. 
The  present  board  of  directors  is  com- 
posed of  the  following  :  Thomas  Moore, 
George  F.  Harlan,  and  J.  Parker.  Carrie 
Bussart  is  the  teacher.  The  average  at- 
tendance at  this  school  is  22. 

District  No.  10. — The  school  house 
used  by  this  district  was  built  in  1881, 
at  a  cost  of  $675.  The  directors  are:  E. 
B.  Lowens,  Simon  Pontious  and  Benton 
Gregory.  The  teacher  is  Rebecca 
Lowens. 

HISTOEICAL   ITEMS. 

William  Pennington  plowed  the  first 
land  in  New  Salem  township  in  the 
early  part  of  1828.  This  land  was  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  30. 

He  built  the  first  cabin  on  the  saine 
section,  shortly  after  his  arrival  there, 
which  was  on  January  1,  1828. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Joshua  J. 
Pennington,  son  of  Stewart  and  Jemima 
Pennington.  He  died  on  the  10th 
day  of  September,  1838,  and  is  buried  at 
the  Pennington  Point  cemetery. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  township  was 
that  of  Morgan  Jones  and  Elizabeth  Os- 
born.  They  were  married  on  the  20th 
of  February,  1834,  by  'Squire  Joseph 
Osborn,  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's 
parents,  William  and  Coziah  Osborn. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  New 
Salem  township,  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Rebecca  (Osborn)  Pennington. 
This  child  is  Oliver  Perry  Pennington. 
He  still  resides  in  the  county,  living  at 
Blandinsville.  He  was  born  July  29, 
1831. 

Stewart  Pennington  was  the  first  com- 
missioner elected  in  the  township. 


926 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  first  school  was  taught  by  Mar- 
tha Campbell,  in  1837. 

The  first  sermon  preached  in  the  town- 
ship, was  delivered  at  the  house  of  Wil- 
liam Osborn,  by  the  Rev.  Harris,  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  in  the  summer  of  1834. 

OBGANIC. 

New  Salem  township  was  organized 
April  7,  1857.  The  judges  of  the  first 
election  were:  Alvah  Clark,  Thomas  Ad- 
cock  and  Salem  Woods.  Simon  Pontious 
and  Lyman  Porter  were  elected  justices 
of  the  peace. 

The,  first  clerk  of  New  Salem  town- 
ship, was  Joseph  Lowens. 

The  officers  elected  April  7,  1885,  are 
as  follows:  Stephen  Blackstone,  super- 
visor; J.  G.  Guff  ing,  clerk;  A.  B.  Wet- 
sel,  assessor;  J.  M.  El  well,  collector; 
Edward  Waters,  highway  commissioner; 
W.  B.  Wright  and  J.  C.  Hammond,  jus- 
tices of  the  peace;  H.  W.  Miller  and 
Aaron  Kinnie,  constables;  Thomas  Sea- 
burn,  school  trustee. 

PENNINGTON'S    POINT. 

The  locality  which  has  so  long  born 
this  name  is  on  section  30,  New  Salem 
township.  There  are  six  dwelling  houses 
there,  one  blacksmith  shop,  one  general 
store,  and  a  post-office.  The  blacksmith 
shop  was  started  in  1858,  but  in  1862,  it 
was  rebuilt  at  its  present  location.  It  is 
owned  by  Simon  Raby,  and  was  built  by 
him.  The  store  building  was  erected  in 
.1863.  The  business  is  carried  on. by 
Simon  Raby.  He  is  also  the  postmas- 
ter, and  has  held  that  position  since 
1858,  with  the  exception  of  four  years. 
The  place  has  never  attained  any  great 
importance. 


AD  AIR. 

Although  this  place  was  platted  under 
the  name  of  Reedyville,  which  has  never 
been  changed,  the  location  is  better 
known  as  Adair,  which  is  the  name 
given  the  post-office.  But  this  can  not 
be  said  to  be  the  true  name  of  the  town. 

Adair  is  situated  on  the  southeast  cor- 
ner of  the  northwest  quarter,  and  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  northeast  quar- 
ter of  section  15,  New  Salem  township. 
The  village  was  laid  out  in  August,  1870, 
by  John  Reedy  and  Jacob  Grim. 

The  RQck  Island  &  St.  Louis  division 
of  the*C.  B.  &  Q.,  railroad,  runs  through 
the  town.  That  part  of  the  plat  west  of 
the  railroad  track,  was  laid  out  by  John 
Reedy,  and  on.  the  east  side  by  Jacob 
Grim. 

The  first  building  was  an  old  house 
that  was  moved  on  to  the  town  site,  in 
1870.  The  first  dwelling  house  erected 
in'the  place  was  put  up  by  Thomas  Ell- 
well,  in  1870. 

The  first  store  was  built  in  that  year, 
by  Strickler  &  Bennett.  They  opened 
out  with  a  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
Strickler  sold  his  interest  to  Bennett,  in 
1872.  The  latter  continued  the  business 
till  1882.  He  then  sold  to  Arnold  & 
Moran,  who  continued  the  business  un- 
til the  fall  of  1883,  when  Herndon  & 
Company  purchased  the  business,  which 
they  still  operate. 

The  next  store  building  was  built  by 
A.  J.  Miner.  He  kept  a  general  store 
up  to  1883,  when  he  sold  to  Arnold  & 
Moran,  who  still  continue  the  business. 

There  is  one  drug  house,  built  in  1878, 
by  Byron  Pontious.  He  sold  to  Allison 
&  Duncan,  in  1880.  Duncan  sold  his 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


927 


interest  to  Allison,  in  1884.  Mr.  Alli- 
son is  now  running  the  store. 

A.  Hanson  built  a  grain  warehouse! 
in  1872.  He  was  the  sole  grain  buyer, 
tilM874.  In  that  year,  he  sold  to  S.  A. 
Hendee,  of  Bushnell,  who  still  retains 
the  control. 

In  1874,  S.  West,  of  Bushnell,  built  a 
grain  warehouse.  In  1879,  he  sold  it  to 
Jonas  D.  Wissler.  This  gentleman  is 
now  engaged  in  the  business  of  buying 
and  shipping  grain. 

Jonas  D.  Wissler,  grain  merchant  at 
Adair,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  was  born 
in  Pickaway  county,  May  4,  1834.  He 
resided  with  his  parents  until  he  reached 
the  age  of  27,  then,  in  October,  1851, 
emigrated  to  Fulton  coanty,  Illinois, 
where  he  followed  farming  until  1859. 
He  then  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
still  following  the  same  occupation.  On 
September  30,  1860,  he  was  married  to 
Nancy  A.  Mathewson,  a  native  of  Han- 
cock county,  Virginia,  born  June  2*7, 
1837.  Mr.  Wissler  enlisted,  in  the  spring 
of  1862,  in  company  L,  of  the  7th  Illi- 
nois cavalry.  On  the  llth  day  of  Octo- 
ber, of  the  same  year,  he  was  captured 
by  the  rebels  at  Collierville,  Tennessee, 
and  sent  to  Belle  Island,  where  he  was 
a  prisoner  until  March  20, 1863,  when  he 
was  paroled  and  sent  to  join  his  regiment. 
He  served  until  March  1,  1865,  and  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Eastport, 
Alabama,  reaching  home  March  16.  He 
resumed  farming,  which  he  continued 
until  March,  1871.  At  that  date  he  re- 
moved to  the  village  of  Adair,  New 
Salem  township,  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  In  addition  to  his 
grain  trade,  he, deals  also  in  stock,  lum- 
ber and  coal.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wissler 


have  two  children — Luella  B.  and  Homer 
K.,  both  living  with  their  parents.  The 
former  is  a  teacher,  having  taught  10 
terms  in  different  districts  in  this  county. 
Her  first  school  was  at  Pilot  Grove.  Mr. 
Wissler  is,  politically,  a  democrat,  and 
has  held  the  office  of  school  director  of 
district  No.  5,  New  Salem  township,  two 
terms.  He  is  an  energetic  business 
man,  and  has  quite  an  extensive  trade. 
He  bought  and  shipped,  in  March,  1885, 
between  the  23d  and  28th  days  of  that 
month,  12,420  bushels  of  corn  and  oats, 
shipping  at  one  time  21  car  loads.  Mr. 
Wissler' s  father,  George  Wissler,  was 
born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March  21,  1796,  and  moved  with  his  par- 
ents to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1806. 
His  .early  life  was  spent  in  that  county, 
and  he  was  there  married  to  Sarah 
Throgmorton,  who  died  in  1834,  in  Pick- 
away  county.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in 
the  fall  of  1851,  and  followed  farming 
here  until  the  time  of  his  death,  April 
4,  1884. 

There  is  one  harness  shop,  built  in 
1875,  by  George  Morgan.  In  1876  he 
sold  to  John  Armstrong,  who  in  turn 
sold  to  J.  J.  Wafer,  in  1877.  He  now 
carries  oji  the  shop. 

Chapman,  Ellwell  &  Co.  built  a  wagon 
and  blacksmith  shop  in  1875.  They 
conducted  the  business  until  1878,  when 
Chapman  sold  his  interest  to  the  Sylves- 
ter Brothers,  who,  in  1881,  sold  to  E.  M. 
Lowens.  He  sold,  in  the  fall  of  1884,  to 
Chapman  &  Leighty.  The  wagon  and 
wood- working  business  is  now  carried  on 
by  them,  while  Mr.  Ellwell  conducts  the 
blacksmith  shop. 

Thomas  Ellwell,  blacksmith  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Keedyville,  is  a  native  of  Kiiox 


928 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


county,  Ohio,  born  November  21,  1835. 
He  emigrated  to  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  and  located,  with  his  mother,  on 
a  farm  in  Eldorado  township.  In  the 
spring  of  1849  he  went  to  Vermont,  Ful- 
ton county,  and  there  engaged  with  T. 
G.  Wisdon  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade, 
and  with  whom  he  served  an  apprentice- 
ship of  three  years.  He  then  went  to 
Quincy,  Illinois,  and  worked  three 
months  as  a  journeyman  blacksmith, 
for  T.  J.  Weatherwax;  remained,  with 
him  three  months,  then  returned  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  worked  two  months 
at  his  trade  for  Andrew  J.  Donelson, 
after  which  he  went  to  Browning,  Schuy- 
ler  county,  and  remained  three  years, 
still  following  his  trade.  While  in  that 
place  he  was  married,  in  1858,  to  Ellen 
E.  Edwards,  who  was  born  in  Pittsfield, 
Pike  county,  Illinois,  August  16,  1839. 
They  have  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living — Mary  E.,  aged  25,  now  mar- 
ried to  C.  M.  Sylvester,  of  Fairfield, 
Clay  county,  Nebraska;  Henry  M.,  aged 
22;  Fannie  M.;  aged  18;  James  H.,  aged 
16;  and  Lewis  G.,  aged  13  years.  Ange- 
line  C.  is  deceased.  Mr.  Elwell  built 
the  house  which  he  now  occupies,  in 
1870.  It  cost  $500,  and  was  .the  first 
house  erected  in  the  village  of  Reedy- 
ville.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and 
an  enterprising  and  useful  citizen. 

HOTEL. 

The  hotel  was  built  in  1878  by  the 
present  proprietor,  R.  M.  Hammer.  It 
is  not  a  large  hotel,  but  furnishes  ample 
accommodations  for  those  coming  to 
Adair. 

R.  M.  Hammer,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  McDonough  county, 


November  4,  1834.  He  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  1875,  when  he  removed 
to  Crawford  county,  Kansas,  and  farmed 
until  1878,  when  he  returned  to  McDon- 
ough county,  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  the  village  of  Adair,  where  he  built 
the  hotel  property  which  he  now  occu- 
pies, a  two-story  frame  building  in  good 
repair.  Mr.  Hammer  owns  a  fine  team 
of  horses,  with  which  he  transports  pas- 
sengers and  baggage  to  different  parts  of 
the  country.  His  place  is  one  of  the 
neatest  in  the  country,  and  is  a  favorite 
resort.  Mrs.  Hammer  is  a  daughter  of 
Nelson  Bates,  and  was  born  in  Kentucky 
January  10,  1841.  They  have  had  four 
children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
Mr.  Hammer  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

A  building  for  •  a  hardware  store  was 
erected  in  1878  by  Leroy  Pontious.  He 
continued  the  business  until  1882,  when 
he  took  his  brother  Lyman  into  partner- 
ship. The  business  was  conducted  by 
the  firm  until  1883,  when  Herndon  &  Co. 
purchased  the  stock.  *"  The  Pontious 
Brothers  then  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  hedge  trimmers,  putting  in  ma- 
chinery for  that  purpose  in  the  building 
which  they  had  occupied  as  a  hardware 
store.  They  have  made  .additions  to 
that  building,  and  now  do  a  general 
machine  business,  repairing  and  manu- 
facturing. 

Samuel  Leighty  carries  on  the  agri- 
cultural implement  trade.  The  business 
was  started  in  1880,  by  C.  R.  Sylvester. 
He  sold  out  to  the  present  proprietor  in 
1882. 

Samuel  Leighty  is  a  native  of  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born 
March  12, 1851.  He  was  brought  up  on 
a  farm,  and  lived  at  home  on  the  old 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


929 


place  until  21  years  old.  He  then  started 
out  for  himself,  working  by  the  month 
on  the  farm.  He  was  thus  employed  for 
four  years,  when  he  engaged  in  running 
a  threshing  machine,  and  continued  that 
business  for  10  seasons,  working  mean- 
while on  the  farm  for  different  persons. 
He  then  continued  until  1875,  when  the 
important  event  occurred  of  his  marriage 
to  Eva  Seaburn,  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  (Kerr)  Seaburn.  They  have 
had  born  to  them  four  children— Fred> 
born  November  26,  1876;  Olive,  born 
July  29,1879;  Bessie  B.,  born  November 
20,  1881.  Mr.  Leighty  followed  farming 
until  1881,  then  removed  to  the  village 
of  Adair,  and  has  since  that  time  been 
engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement 
trade,  selling  machinery  of  all  kinds.  In 
1879,  he  was  elected  township  collector. 
Politically,  he  is  a  republican. 

J.  T.  Griffing  has  a  book  and  stationery 
stock  in  the  postoffice  building,  which  he 
carries  on  in  connection  with  his  duties 
as  postmaster. 

J.  T.  Griffing,  the  present  postmaster 
at  Adair,  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah 
( Moore )  Griffing.  Thomas  Griffing  died 
in  1859,  in  Jasper  county,  Illinois.  His 
widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  Griffing,  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Kendall  county,  Illinois.  J.  T. 
Griffing  was  born  in  Jasper  county,  on 
March  20,  1849.  His  early  life  was  spent 
upon  a  farm,  where  he  remained  until 
1866,  then  went  to  Fulton  county  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  Cumberland  county, 
Illinois,  and  was  there  employed  in 
teaching  school,  winters,  and  farming  in 
summers,  until  the  spring  of  1877.  At 
that  date  he  came  to  McDonough  county 


and  went  to  work  on  a  farm,  which  he 
continued  18  months,  then  again  engaged 
in  teaching  school.  He  followed  that 
occupation  until  the  spring  of  1884,  at 
which  time  he  was  appointed  to  his 
present  position.  In  addition  to  the 
postoffice,  he  keeps  a  stock  of  stationery, 
tobaccos,  cigars,  confectionery,  etc.  He 
is,  politically,  a  republican. 

Arnold  and  Moran  conduct  the  only 
lumber  yard  in  the  place.  They  handle 
lumber  of  all  kinds,  shingles,  lath,  lime, 
etc. 

There  are  two  billiard  halls  in  the 
place,  conducted,  respectively,  by  L.  W. 
Lybarger,  and  E.  Hodgson. 

FIRE. 

There  has  been  one  fire  in  the  town, 
which  destroyed  three  store  houses  and 
their  contents.  The  parties  burned  out 
were:  N.  J.  Miner,  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries; William  Miner,  general  stock, 
and  Pontious  Brothers,  drugs  and  hard- 
ware. All  were  partially  insured. 

William  G.  Wilkins  shipped  the  first 
car  load  of  corn,  and  the  first  car  of  rye, 
from  Reedyville,  or  Adair. 

PENNINGTON'S  POINT  CEMETERY. 

The  first  burial  on  the  site  of  this 
beautiful  city  of  the  dead,  was  that  of 
Agnes,  wife  of  Thomas  Ausbury,  in  1834. 
In  1845  or  1846,  the  land  was  purchased 
byJ.  E.  D.  Hammer,  and  afterwards 
deeded  to  the  county,  by  him,  and  in  the 
later  year  by  the  county  to  the  trustees. 
In  1881  or  1882,  it  was  surveyed  and  laid 
off  in  lots.  It  contains  about  two  acres, 
and  is  nicely  fenced  and  improved. 


930 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CHAPTER    XXXVI. 


SCIOTA  TOWNSHIP. 


Tliis  township  lies  in  range  7  north, 
3  west,  and  is  bounded  upon  the  north 
by  Warren  county,  on  the  east  by  AVal- 
nut  Grove  township,  with  Emmet  on  the 
south  and  Blandinsville  on  the  west.  It 
is  a  very  fine  body  of  land,  and  with  the 
exception  of  one-quarter  of  a  section  in 
the  southwest  corner,  it  is  entirely 
prairie,  and  nearly  all  available  for  cul- 
tivation. The  land  is  very  fertile,  and 
at  the  present  time  there  is  scarcely  a 
foot  of  soil,  outside  of  public  highways, 
but  what  is  under  fence,  and  all  under 
cultivation,  with  the  exception  of  the 
timber  land  mentioned  above,  and  a  lit- 
tle on  the  brakes  of  the  creeks.  The 
township  was  not  settled  until  1855  or 
1856,  to  speak  of,  although  a  few  settlers 
came  as  early  as  1834.  There  being  so 
much  prairie  land  within  its  boundaries, 
it  seemed  a  perfect  barrier  to  its  settle- 
ment. Where  was  the  timber  to  come 
from  for  fuel  and  fencing  purposes,  and 
what  protection  could  be  had  from  the 
cold  blasts  of  Boreas  during  winter? 
The  fuel  and  fencing  question  was 
effectually  solved  by  the  introduction 
of  the  railroad,  in  1856,  and,  from  ex- 
perience, it  was  found  that  one  could 
live  about  as  comfortably  upon  the  open 
prairie,  as  in  the  timber.  The  township 
is,  mainly,  well  watered,  the  Walnut 
Grove  branch  of  Crooked  creek  and  its 
tributaries  passing  through  some  10  or 


12  sections.  The  principal  products  are 
wheat,  corn  and  oats,  the  yield  of  which 
the  township  largely  predominates  over 
any  other  in  the  county.  There  are  two 
villages  in  the  township — Good  Hope 
and  Sciota,  the  latter  more  generally 
known  as  Clarksville,  in  years  gone  by, 
a  name  given  it  in  honor  of  William  B. 
Clarke,  who  established  the  point.  A 
description  of  these  villages  appears 
further  on  in  this  chapter. 

Presley  Purdy,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
came  to  Sciota,  in  1834,  making  a  set- 
tlement on  section  31,  where  he  erected 
a  cabin,  which  was  probably  the  first  in 
the  township.  Some  20  years  since  he 
emigrated  to  Oregon,  where  he  after- 
ward died. 

In  1834,  Victor  M.  Hardin  came,  set- 
tling near  Purdy,  on  section  31.  He 
lived  there  many  years,  and  afterward 
removed  to  Blandinsville,  where  he  died 
some  10  years  ago,  from  the  effects  of  a 
cancer.  He  was  an  infidel,  but  stood 
high  as  a  man  of  good  morals  and 
integrity. 

John  Hainline  and  family  came  in 
October,  1836,  settling  on  section  31, 
erecting  a  log  cabin  on  the  southeast 
quarter,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  June  28,  1861.  He  was 
born  in  Montgomery  county,  Kentucky, 
March  14,  1796,  and  was  married  in 
March,  1826,  to  Mary  Devary,  of  Clarke 


HISTORY  O.F  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


931 


county,  that  state.  They  had  10  child- 
ren— David  T.,  Susan  W.,  Mary  D., 
Henry  C.,  Thomas  S.,  John,  deceased; 
Joseph  H.,  Nancy  E.,  Baxter,  Sarah  I. 
and  John  W.  In  1840,  Mr.  Hainline 
erected  the  residence  in  which  John  W. 
now  resides,  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  31. 

John  W.  Hainline  is  the  10th  child  of 
John  Hainline,  the  pioneer,  mention  of 
whom  appears  above.  He  was  born 
May  10,  1846,  and  is  now  the  oldest  na- 
tive resident  of  Sciota  township,  where 
his  entire  life  has  been  spent.  He  owns 
a  good  farm,  the  same  one  on  which  his 
father  made  his  first  settlement  in  Sciota 
township,  in  October,  1836.  John  W. 
Hainline  was  married  November  25, 1869, 
to  Catherine  James,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
They  are  the  parents  of  seven  children 
— Charles  H.,  Laurence,  Fred,  Effie  J., 
Ernie  A.,  Wilmer  M.  and  Frank.  Mr. 
Hainline's  farm  contains  155  acres  of 
land  and  is  well  cultivated  and  improved. 
He  is  engaged  in  general  farming. 

Benjamin  Clarke  came  from  Kentucky 
to  Sciota,  in  1838,  and  entered  a  farm  on 
section  30,  where  he  died  about  the  year 
1854. 

In  1843,  Harrison  Head  settled  on  sec- 
tion 32,  where  he  lived  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  March,  1881.  He  was 
a  native  of  Washington  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1832,  settling  in  Emmet  town- 
ship. 

Thomas  W.  Head  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1832,  living  with  his  par- 
ents in  Emmet  township  until  March, 
1848,  when  he  came  to  Sciota  township, 
settling  on  section  32.  He  still  owns  the 
farm  on  the  above  named  section,  but  at 


present  is  living  a  retired  life  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Sciota.  His  sons  are  in  business 
in  Good  Hope. 

After  this  the  settlement  was  slow  and 
the  township  made  no  special  growth 
until  about  the  time  of  the  completion  of 
the  first  railroad  through  the  county,  in 
1856,  as  it  was  not  until  about  that  year 
progress  was  made  in  settling  upon  the 
prairie.  Previous  to  this  the  settlers  all 
hugged  close  to  the  wooded  lands  of  the 
timbered  townships.  Therefore,  after 
the  advent  of  the  railroad,  the  settlement 
was  rapid. 

In  the  spring  of  1856,  Zachariah  Rick- 
ets settled  upon  section  25.  He  lived 
here  until  his  death,  in  1870,  which  was 
occasioned  from  the  effects  of  being  bit- 
ten by  a  rattlesnake. 

Lewis  Woolley  settled  on  the  southeast 
quarter  of  section  12,  in  1856,  where  he 
resided  until  1863,  when  he  removed  to 
McLean  county,  Illinois.  He  was  a  man 
of  some  education,  but  was  possessed  of 
little  energy  or  business  ability,  and  as  a 
farmer,  was  a  failure. 

Hugh  Long  came  from  Fulton  county 
in  the  spring  of  1857,  and  entered  the 
farm  now  owned  by  William  Yeast.  He 
did  not  attain  a  very  savory  reputation 
during  his  stay  here.  In  1861  or  1862, 
he  escaped  from  jail,  where  he  had  been 
confined  for  some  petty  offense,  going  to 
Washington  territory.  He  afterward  re- 
turned and  finally  removed  to  Nodaway 
county,  Missouri. 

In  1857,  Henry  Baldwin  came  from 
Fulton  county,  purchasing  a  farm  of  80 
acres  on  section  11,  which  he  located 
upon  and  improved.  He  afterward  mar- 
ried one  of  the  Long  girls,  and  later  sold 
his  place  and  removed  to  Warren  county, 


932 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


but  lias  since  returned  and  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  this  township. 

William  and  Richard  Jones  came  to 
section  23,  in  March,  1857,  improving  a 
farm  on  the  northwest  quarter,  They 
came  from  Fulton  county  to  this  county. 
About  the  year  1870,  they  sold  out  and 
left,  Richard  going  to  Kansas  and  Wil- 
liam to  Keokuk,  Iowa. 

Lewis  Shaffer  located  on  section  12,  in 
the  spring  of  1858,  where  he  remained  till 
1862,  when  he  removed  to  Fulton  county. 

Robert  Bishop  came  to  the  township 
from  Walnut  Grove,  in  1859,  settling  on 
section  11,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Leonard  Yeast.  He  sold  out  a  year  later 
and  removed  to  Kansas.  His  father  was 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Walnut  Grove 
township. 

LEADING  PEOPLE. 

Under  this  head  are  placed  many,  who, 
though  not  strictly  early  settlers,  are 
still  thoroughly  identified  with  the  town- 
ship: 

Arlington  Reed  came  to  this  county 
in  April,  1865,  and  settled,  then,  in  Em- 
met township.  Three  years  later  he  lo- 
cated on  the  farm,  where  he  now  resides, 
on  section  23,  Sciota  township.  He  has 
a  well-improved  farm  of  160  acres.  Mr. 
Reed  is  a  son  of  Smith  W.  Reed,  who 
was  born  in  Tompkins  county,  New 
York,  July  16,  1806,  and  remained  there 
until  1865,  when  he  came  to  McDonough 
county.  He  was  married  to  Lydia  Hunt 
who  is  still  living.  They  reared  a  family 
of  six  children,  of  whom  Arlington  is 
the  fifth.  Smith  W.  Reed  died  in  July, 
1880.  Arlington  Reed  was  born  in 
Tompkins  county,  New  York,  in  March, 
1839.  He  was  br  :>ught  up  and  educated 


in  his  native  county,  there  learning  the 
moulders' s  trade,  which  he  followed  un- 
til 1861.  In  May  of  that  year,  he  enlis- 
ted in  company  A,  of  the  32d  New  York 
infantry,  and  served  two  years,  having 
been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  sergeant. 
He  re-enlisted  in  November,  1863,  in 
company  L,  of  the  21st  New  York  cav- 
alry, in  which  regiment  he  held  the 
same  rank,  and  continued  in  the  service 
until  February,  1865,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  a  wound  in  his 
hand,  by  which  he  lost  two  fingers.  He 
then  returned  home,  and  the  following 
April  came  to  this  county,  as  before 
stated.  He  was  married  March  28, 1883, 
to  Eliza  Barnhart,  of  this  county,  a 
daughter  of  George  Barnhart,  of  Scot- 
land township.  Mr.  Reed  is  a  member 
of  the  G.  A.  R.,  of  Macomb. 

John  L.  Yeast  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Susan  (Morley)  Yeast,  natives  of  Mary- 
land. Adam  Yeast  was  of  Dutch  de- 
scent. John  L.  was  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  April  4,  1836.  He 
lived  with  his  parents  in  his  native 
county  until  1858,  when  he  went  to  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing until  1863.  He  then  settled  on  a 
farm  four  miles  south  of  Bushnell,  and 
there  remained  three  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Fulton  county.  In  the 
spring  of  1868,  he  again  became  a  resi- 
dent of  this  county,  locating,  then,  on 
his  present  farm,  on  section  13,  Sciota 
township.  Mr.  Yeast  owns  one  of  the 
finest  farms  in  this  township,  splendidly 
improved,  and  comprising  560  acres. 
He  devotes  his  attention  to  stock  raising, 
and  is  enterprising  and.'  successful.  He 
was  married  July  3,  1857,  to  Nancy 
Griffin,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


933 


have  nine  children  living — William  L., 
Carrie,  Emma,  John  D.,  Edgar,  George, 
Andrew,  Harry  and  Leonard  B.  Mr. 
Yeast  served,  in  1882,  as  supervisor  of 
Sciota  township. 

William  E.  James  came  with  his  fath- 
er's family  to  Sciota  township,  in  1854, 
and  located  on  section  7.  He  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  May  11,  1843, 
and  is  a  son  of  Aaron  James.  The  fam- 
ily resided  in  Ohio  until  they  came  to 
this  county.  William  grew  to  manhood 
in  this  township,  and  in  August,  1863, 
enlisted  in  company  C,  of  the  78th  Illi- 
nois regiment,  and  served  in  the  army 
of  the  Cumberland,  participating  in  the 
march  to  the  sea,  in  many  engagements 
of  that  notable  campaign.  He  was  dis- 
charged June  21,  1865,  at  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois,-and  mustered  out  at  Washington. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  Sciota 
township,  and  the  following  year,  began 
farming  for  himself  on  section  18.  He 
removed  to  his  present  place  on  section 
15,  in  1876.  He  has  a  desirable  and 
well-improved  farm  of  160  acres.  Mr. 
James  was  married  April  2,  1867,  to 
Susan  Wright,  of  Ohio.  They  had  three 
children  born  to  them — Amanda,  Luella 
and  Clarence  W.  Mrs.  James  died 
September  12,  1873.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried February  3,  1876,  to  Martha  E. 
Conn,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  by  this 
union  has  one  child — George  C.  Mr- 
James  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

William  H.  James  came  to  this  county, 
in  the  spring  of  1868,  and  located  on  sec- 
tion 5,  Sciota  township,  where  he  has 
ever  since  resided.  He  has  a  good  farm, 
comprising  245  acres,  and  carries  on 
general  farming.  Mr.  James  is  a  son  of 


A.  F.  W.  James,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, November  26,  1808.  The  lat- 
ter came  to  McDonough  county  with  his 
family,  in  1868,  and  settled  where  his 
son,  William,  now  lives.  He  had  six 
children,  of  whom  William  is  the  sec- 
ond. He  died  April  12, 1882.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Baltimore 
county,  Maryland,  March  12, 1838.  His 
early  life  was  spent  in  his  native  county. 
In  1862,  he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C., 
where  he  worked  for  one  year,  as  a  black- 
smith, in  the  employ  of  the  government, 
then  as  clerk  for  the  Adams  Express 
company,  for  whom  he  worked  until 
1868.  He  was  married  July  4,  1858,  to 
Mary  J.  Scarff,  a  native  of  Baltimore 
county,  Maryland.  They  are  the  parents 
of  two  children — Stephen  N.  and  Harry 
W.  Mr.  James  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  He  is  one  of  the 
school  trustees  of  Sciota  township,  and 
served  as  tax  collector  in  the  year  1882. 
John  C.  James  was  born  May  26,  1814, 
in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  a 
son  of  Joseph  James,  a  native  of  the 
same  state.'  When  John  was  about  13 
years  of  age,  his  parents  moved  to  Bal- 
timore county,  Maryland,  where  he  grew 
to  man's  estate,  and  there  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming,  until  1838.  At 
that  date  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
sided one  year  in  Zanesville,  then  located 
on  a  farm  in  Perry  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1847,  when  he  moved  to 
Muskingum  county.  Seven  years  later, 
he  came  west  and  settled  in  Blandins- 
ville  township,  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  lived  till  1867.  In  that 
year  he  became  a  resident  of  Sciota 
township,  locating  upon  section  6,  his 
present  residence,  where  he  has  a  well 


934 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


improved  farm  of  287  acres.  He  was 
married  April  28,  1836,  to  Elizabeth 
Price,  a  native  of  Maryland.  They  have 
had  10  children  born  to  them — Sarah  E., 
Mary  K,  John  W.,  Caroline,  Charles  W., 
Joseph  F.,  Abel,  Eliza  A.,  Aaron  E.  and 
Franklin.  John  W.  James  was  killed 
on  the  battle  field  at  Jonesboro,  Geor- 
gia, by  storming  the  breast  works  on 
September,  1863. 

Aaron  James,  an  esteemed  citizen  of 
Sciota  township,  is  a  son  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  James,  who  were  natives  of 
Bucks  comity,  Pennsylvania.  Aaron 
was  born  in  York  county,  of  the  same 
state,  May  29,  1812.  When  about  20 
years  of  age,  he  removed  with  his  fa- 
ther's family  to  Baltimore  county,  Mary- 
land, where  he  remained  until  1838.  He 
then  moved  'to  Ohio,  and  lived  in  Perry 
and  Muskingum  counties,  until  1855.  In 
that  year  he  removed  to.  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Blandins- 
ville  township,  upon  rented  land.  In 
1857,  he  came  to  Sciota  township,  and 
located  on  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides, on  section  7.  His  farm,  origin- 
ally, comprised  200  acres.  He  now  has 
80  acres,  having  given  the  remainder  to 
his  sons.  Mr.  James  has  held  the  office 
of  commissioner  of  highways  of  this 
township.  He  is  a  sincere  and  earnest 
working  Christian.  He  was  for  many 
years,  a  class  leader  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  at  Liberty,  Ohio,  and 
has  held  the  same  position  here,  also, 
other  offices  in  the  church,  always  per- 
forming the  duties  devolving  upon  him 
in  a  faithful  and  efficient  manner.  He 
was  united  in  marriage,  in  September; 
1835,  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Deems,  nee 
Brown,  a  native  of  Maryland.  They 


have  five  children — Matilda,  John  T., 
William  E.  and  Salina  E.,  twins,  and 
Philander.  Mrs.  James  had  by  her  for- 
mer marriage,  three  children — Mary  A. 
Deems,  Margaret  E.  Deems,  and  Joseph 
F.  Deems. 

Abel  James,  son  of  John  C.  James, 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  October  31,  1849.  He  came  with 
his  parents  to  this  county  in  1855,  and 
was  here  reared  and  educated.  He  re- 
mained on  his  father's  farm  until  1872. 
In  that  year  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self on  section  6,  Sciota  township.  Three 
years  later  he  removed  to  his  present 
farm,  which  is  located  on  section  19, 
where  he  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  80 
acres.  Mr.  James  was  married  Septem- 
ber 26,  1872,  to  Martha  M.  Sellers,  a  na- 
tive of  Perry  county,  Ohio.  By  this 
union  there  are  four  children — Oriella, 
Alda  E.,  Essie  G.,  deceased,  Eva  and 
Perry  C.  Mr.  James  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  also,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  of  Sciota. 

John  Logan  is  a  son  of  Rev.  John 
Logan,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  Rock 
Bridge  county,  Virginia,  February  14, 
1793.  Samuel  Logan,  the  father  of  Rev. 
John  Logan,  and  grandfather  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Ireland, 
and  came  to  America  when  20  years  of 
age.  In  1801,  Samuel  Logan  removed 
with  his  family  from  Virginia,  to  Logan, 
now  Simpson  county,  Kentucky,  where 
John,  Sr.,  was  reared.  In  1817,  he  was 
there  married  to  Nancy  Newell,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Peter  and  Susana  (Durham) 
Newell,  of  England.  She  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  January  13,  1802.  Six 
years  after  marriage,  Rev.  John  Logan 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


935 


went  to  Indiana,  where  he  remained  till 
1828,  then  migrated  still  farther  west, 
and  located  in  Industry  township,  Mc- 
Donough  county,  there  living  in  the  old 
fort  until  1829,  when  he  moved  to 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  In  October, 
1835,  he  returned  to  this  county,  and 
took  up  his  permanent  abode  on  section 
8,  Hire  township,  where  he  died  in  Jan- 
uary, 1851.  Rev.  John  Logan  was  or- 
dained a  minister  of  the  Baptist  church, 
in  Indiana,  and  had  preached  for  some 
time  previously.  He  was  truly  a  a  self- 
made  man,  having  become  convinced  of 
his  duty  to  preach  the  gospel,  he  pre- 
pared himself  for  his  high  calling  un- 
aided. He  possessed  much  ability  and 
talent  of  a  high  order,  which,  combined 
with  untiring  zeal  and  energy,  made  him 
successful  in  bringing  many  souls  to  a 
knowledge  of  salvation.  He  was  the 
first  minister  who  ever  preached  in  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  preached  the  first 
sermon  ever  delivered  in  Macomb. 
John,  the  fourth  child  of  this  illustrious 
man,  was  born  in  Dubois  county,  In- 
diana, October  13,  1824,  and  came  with 
the  family  to  this  county  in  1828.  He 
was  reared  in  this  county,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  six  years  spent  in  Schuyler 
county.  He  lived  on  his  father's  farm 
in  Hire  township,  until  1847,  then  went 
to  Warren  county  and  remained  three 
years,  working  upon  a  farm,  and  at  the 
cooper's  trade.  He  then  returned  to 
Hire  township,  and  there  followed  his 
trade  until  the  spring  of  1858,  when  he 
located  on  his  present  farm  on  section 
16,  Sciota  township.  He  has  164  acres 
of  good  land.  He  was  township  clerk, 
in  1858,  and  has  served  many  years  as 
school  director.  He  is  a  member  of  the 


Baptist  church  in  Sciota.  Mr.  Logan 
was  married  May  20,  1852,  to  Jane 
Botts,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  Two  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them — Mary  A. 
C.  and  Joseph  W. 

George  D.  Breiner,  a  prominent  citi- 
zen of  Sciota  township,  was  born  Au- 
gust 28,  1844,  in  Hunterdon  county, 
New  Jersey.  He  is  a  son  of  Francis  J. 
Breiner,  of  Prairie  City  township.  The 
family  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
the  spring  of  1855,  locating  on  section  5, 
Prairie  City  township,  where  his  father 
now  lives.  Here  George  spent  his  early 
life,  and  obtained  his  education.  He 
was  employed  upon  his  father's  farm 
until  1868,  when  he  settled  on  his  pres- 
ent place,  on  section  3,  Sciota  township. 
He  owns  90  acres  of  land  in  this  county, 
and  160  acres  in  Warren  county,  Illinois. 
He  was  married  October  29,  1868,  to 
Mary  F.  Alexander,  a  native  of  Brown 
county,  Illinois,  but  brought  up  in  Mc- 
Donough county.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Elihu  Alexander,  of  Bushnell.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Breiner  are  the  parents  of  two  chil- 
dren— Austin  F.  and  George  M.  They 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Lewis  Breiner,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Sciota  township,  is  a  son  of  Francis  J. 
Breiner,  of  Prairie  City  township,  and 
was  born,  October  18,  1842,  in  Hunter- 
don county,  New  Jersey.  In  1852,  the 
family  removed  to  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, where  they  resided  three  years, 
then  came  to  McDonough  county,  and 
settled  in  Prairie  City  township,  where 
Lewis  was  reared  and  educated.  He  re- 
mained upon  the  farm  until  the  spring 
of  1862.  In  August  of  that  year,  he 
enlisted  in  company  C,  of  the  1st  Mis- 
souri Engineers,  and  served  till  Novem- 


936 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ber,  1864,  when  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged. He  then  returned  home  and 
engaged  in  farming  upon  his  father's 
farm.  In  1870,  he  went  to  Champaign 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing five  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  McDonough  county,  and  located  on 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  on  section 
16,  Sciota  township.  He  owns  165 
acres  of  well  improved  land.  He  was 
united  in  marriage,  December  27,  1866, 
with  Mary  King,  a  native  of  this  county, 
and  daughter  of  John  W.  King,  of  Prai- 
rie City  township.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  them — Edward,  Charles, 
John  F.,  Emma  L.,  and  Anna  O.  Mr. 
Breiner  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  was  assessor  of 
this  township  during  1884. 

John  Huff,  deceased,  was  an  early  set- 
tler of  Sciota  township.  He  was  born 
in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  September 
27,  1833,  and  reared  in  the  town  of 
Rushville.  About  the  x  year  1849,  his 
father,  Andrew  Huff,  removed  with  his 
family  to  Blandinsville  township,  Mc- 
Donough county,  and  there  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1853.  At  that  date, 
John  Huff  went  to  California,  and  re- 
mained three  years,  returning  then  to 
this  county.  In  1857,  he  located  on  sec- 
tion 28,  in  Sciota  township,  where  his 
family  now  reside.  He  was  married  to 
Rebecca  Anderson,  daughter  of  Preston 
Anderson,  and  old  settler  of  Blandins- 
ville township.  Their  marriage  took 
place  January  15,  1857.  They  had  five 
children — Joseph  F.,  Berry  L.,  Lewis  G*-, 
Oliver  N.,  and  Parley  J.  Joseph  F. 
Huff,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives,  May  1,  1860,  and  has  spent 
his  entire  life  in  this  township.  He  is 


a  good  and  worthy  young  man,  and  a 
member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Sciota. 
Berry  L.  Huff,  was  born  April  10,  1863, 
on  the  home  place.  They  have  a  finely 
improved  farm  of  160  acres  which  they 
successfully  manage,  and  are  engaged 
in  general  farming. 

James  R.  Wallingford  resides  upon 
section  34,  Sciota  township,  where  he 
owns  a  finely  improved  farm  of  100 
acres.  He  located  here,  January  1, 
1871.  Mr.  Wallingford  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  October  25, 
1820.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Reed) Wallingford,  the  former  a  native 
of  Virginia,  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. James  remained  in  his  native 
county,  until  1843,  then  removed  to 
Mason  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  re- 
sided for  more  than  20  years.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  there,  and  was  a  promi- 
nent citizen,  being  at  one  time,  the 
county  judge.  In  October,  1864,  he  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Emmet 
township,  McDonough  county.  He  re- 
mained in  Emmet  township  until  the 
date  at  which  he  came  here.  He  served 
in  1881,  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
supervisors  of  McDonough  county,  and 
is  a  much  esteemed  citizen.  He  was 
married  September  6,  1843,  to  Corlinda 
Farrow,  of  Kentucky,  and  by  this  union 
had  six  children — Mary  E.,  Alice  B., 
James  W.,  Kenaz  A.,  Sarah  L.,  and 
Charles  H.  His  wife  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1867.  January  1,  1871,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Emily  (Cook)  Murphy,  widow 
of  Andrew  Murphy.  Mr.  Wallingford 
is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

George  F.  Hauser  was  born  April  17 
1826,  in  Germany,  and  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  country.  He  was  reared 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


937 


upon  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  15  years 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  and  followed  the  same  till  1850. 
In  that  year  he  emigrated  to  America, 
and  settled  in  the  state  of  Connecticut, 
where  he  remained  till  1854.  He  then 
came  west  and  located  in  McDonough 
county,  two  and  a-half  miles  west  of 
Blandinsville,  on  "  Goose  Neck,"  where 
he  built  a  cabin  and  lived  two  years,  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  shoemaking.  He 
then  rented  land  in  different  places  in 
that  township  until  1864,  when  he  *pur- 
chased  his  present  farm.  He  has  160 
acres  of  good  and  well  improved  land, 
and  is  a  thrifty  farmer.  October  14, 
1854,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Dora  Winch,  who  was  born  in  Germany, 
June  14,  1826,  and  came  to  this  country 
in  1851.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  living,  and  four  dead.  Those 
living  are — Mary  C.,  Hermenia,  and 
Dora  N. 

Captain  Benjamin  A.  Griffith  is  a  son 
of  James  D.  Griffith,  of  Emmet  township, 
and  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
July  16,  1836.  His  early  life  was  spent 
in  Ohio,  where  he  remained  until  1853. 
In  that  year  he  removed  with  his  father's 
family  to  Emmet  township,  McDonough 
county,  Illinois.  He  resided  in  Emmet 
township  until  August,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted,  receiving  a  commission  as  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  company  I  of  the  124th 
Illinois  infantry.  July  8,  1863,  he  was 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain.  He 
served  under  General  John  A.  Logan  in 
the  McPherson  corps.  At  the  assault 
on  Vicksburg,  May  22,  1863,  he  was 
wounded  in  the  shoulder,  and  had  his 
thumb  shot  off  at  the  'engagement  at 
Champion  Hills,  May  16,  of  the  same 


year.  He  served  until  the  17th  of  Au- 
gust, 1865.  After  being  mustered  out, 
he  returned  home  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Hire  township.  He  located  upon 
his  present  farm  in  1870.  .  It  is  a  por- 
tion of.  section  31,  Sciota  township,  and 
contains  80  acres  of  good  land.  Captain 
Griffith  was  a  member  of  the  state  board 
of  equalization  from  1869  to  1873.  Sep- 
tember 29,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Belle 
Hainline,  daughter  of  John  D.  Hainline, 
of  Emmet  township.  They  have  three 
children — Edna,  Effie  and  Ethel.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. 

Martin  W.  Cozard,  of  Sciota  township, 
is  a  son  of  Benjamin  Cozard,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Benjamin  Cozard  was  born  Janu- 
ary 23,  1818,  and  in  1832  emigrated  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he  was  an 
early  settler.  He  was  there  married  to 
Martha  Webster,  and  by  this  union  had 
nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  dead. 
Martin  was  the  eldest.  Benjamin  died 
April  12,  p.  M.,  1861,  the  hour  and  day 
that  Fort  Sumpter  was  fired  on.  Martin 
W.  was  brought  up  in  Fulton  county. 
His  education  was  obtained  in  that 
county,  with  the  exception  of  one  year 
at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where,  for  six  months, 
he  studied  law  at  the  Dayton  law  school. 
After  finishing  his  education  he  devoted 
his  time  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  Ful- 
ton county,  until  March  17,  1874,  when 
he  came  to  McDonough  county,  and  set- 
tled on  section  22,  Sciota  township,  where 
he  now  lives,  and  owns  a  farm  of  80  acres. 
He  was  married  July  4,  1863,  to  Sarah 
Wagner,  who  was  born  near  Easton, 
Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 13,  1839.  She  died  September 
24,  1878,  leaving  him  five  children— Ed- 
ward W.,  William  O.,  Lizzie  B.,  Albert 


938 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


L.,  and  Anna  M.  Mr.  Cozard,  in  1876, 
held  the  office  of  assessor  of  Sciota  town- 
ship. On  May  16,  1885,  his  eldest  son, 
Edward  W.  Cozard,  died  at  the  residence 
of  his  uncle,  Edward  Wagner,  near  Prai- 
rie City,  where  he  went,  under  Doctor 
William  Randall's  directions,  so  he  could 
receive  professional  visits. 

Francis  Hallenbeck,  an  old  and  re- 
spected citizen  of  Sciota  township,  is  a 
native  of  Tompkins  county,  New  York, 
born  April  5, 1814.  His  parents,  Samuel 
and  Tamar  (Lawson)  Hallenbeck,  were 
of  Dutch  descent,  but  natives  of  New 
York.  Francis  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  county,  there  following 
farming  until  1837,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  stopped  for  six  months  in 
Chicago,  which  was  then  a  mere  hamlet. 
He  then  returned  to  New  York,  and  re- 
mained until  1852.  In  that  year  he  came 
back  to  this  state,  and  located  at  Beards- 
town,  Cass  county,  where  he  lived  two 
years,  then,  in  the  spring  of  1854,  came 
to  McDonough  county,  and  purchased 
the  land  upon  which  he  now  lives.  In 
1857,  he  took  up  his  permanent  abode 
here,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  company  F, 
of  the  88th  Illinois  infantry,  the  Chicago 
Board  of  Trade  regiment,  and  served  un- 
til mustered  out,  July  27, 1865.  He  was  a 
part  of  the  time  under  command  of  Phil. 
Sheridan.  Among  the  engagements  in 
which  he  participated  were  those  of 
Perryville  and  Stone  river.  He  re- 
turned from  the  army,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  September  30,  1844,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Rebecca  W. 
Jackson,  a  native  of  New  York,  who 
died  July  24,  1851.  He  was  married  to 
his  present  wife,  February  21,  1866.  She 


was  formerly  Clara  S.  Smith,  a  native  of 
Seneca  county,  New  York.  They  have 
no  children.  Mr.  Hallenbeck  owns  a 
nicely  improved  farm  of  160  acres,  all 
desirable  land,  also  10  acres  in  Emmet 
township.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  of  Sciota.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hallenbeck  are  visiting  in  New  York. 

Charles  A.  Warren,  manager  of  the 
firm  of  C.  D.  Elting  &  Co.,  of  Sciota,  is 
a  native  of  LaHarpe,  Illinois,  born  Au- 
gust 30, 1856,  and  a  son  of  Hon.  Benja- 
min Warren,  an  early  settler  of  Hancock 
county.  Charles  spent  his  early  life  in 
his  native  city,  partially  obtaining  his 
education  there.  In  1871  and  '72,  he 
attended  Macomb  college,  at  Macomb, 
Illinois.  In  1879  he  engaged  in  the  ag- 
ricultural implement  trade  at  La  Harpe, 
where  he  continued  in  the  same  busi- 
ness until  January,  1884.  At  that  date 
he  came  to  Sciota  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  Mr.  Warren  is  pos- 
sessed of  good  business  talent,  is  up- 
right and  honest  in  his  dealings,  and  a 
genial,  accommodating  gentleman.  He 
was  married  October  19,  1882,  to  Miss 
Emma  Bunger,  a  native  of  McDonough 
county.  They  have  one  child — Cora  M. 

Uriah  T.  Douglass,  manager  of  the 
Sciota  elevator  company,  is  a  native  of 
Columbus  county,  Ohio,  born  July  29, 
1830.  He  remained  in  his  native  state 
until  1856.  He  there  learned  the  ma- 
chinist's and  also  the  carpenter's  trade. 
He  followed  the  latter  there  as  a  con- 
tractor, until  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  in  1856.  Here  he  engaged  in  the 
same  business  two  years,  then,  in  1858, 
went  to  Missouri,  where  he  lived  till 
1861,  when  he  returned  to  this  county. 
In  August,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  St. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


939 


Louis,  Missouri,  in  company  A,  of  the 
8th  Tennessee  regiment,  and  the  follow- 
ing November,  was  discharged  for  disa- 
bility, and  returned  home  to  McDonough 
county.  He  then  engaged  in  carpenter- 
ing, which  he  followed  till  1877,  when  he 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  at  Sciota, 
continuing  the  same  four  years.  He  then 
assumed  his  present  position.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge,  chapter 
and  comtnandery.  Mr.  Douglass  was 
married  in  April,  1867,to  Julia  McKamy, 
and  by  this  union  has  four  children — 
Jessie,  Octavia,  William  B.  and  Boy. 

David  A.  Bobbins  is  of  New  England 
stock  born  June  24,  1810,  in  Cheshire 
county,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  reared 
there  upon  the  farm  settled  by  his  grand- 
father, William  Bobbins.  His  father, 
Samuel  Bobbins,  was  born  upon  the 
same  place,  January  19,  1776.  The  farm 
was  situated  on  the  southern  boundary 
of  the  state,  adjoining  Massachusetts.  In 
1865,  David  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  purchased  land  on  section  11,  Sciota 
township,  to  which  he  removed  his  fam- 
ily in  1868,  and  which  has  since  been 
their  residence.  He  was  married  Janu- 
ary 21,  1841,  to  Betsey  Coolidge,  by 
whom  he  has  had  one  daughter — Mary 
S.  His  wife  died  April  22,  1843,  and  he 
was  again  married,  June  30,  1844,  to 
Louisa  Stone,  a  native  of  Winchendon, 
Massachusetts.  By  this  union  there  are 
three  children — Ostrum  A.,  Harlan  S., 
and  Warren  A.  Harlan  S.  Bobbins  came 
to  McDonough  county  in  1867.  He  was 
born  in  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts, 
March  28,  1848.  He  returned  east  in 
the  fall  of  1867,  and  in  the  following 
February  came  again  to  the  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  The  family 


are  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
The  following  genealogy  of  the  Bobbins 
family  is  herewith  given  as  furnished  by 
the  gentleman  above: 

The  family  of  Bobbins  are  of  Eng- 
lish origin.  The  families  now  in  Mc- 
Donough county  bearing  the  name,  are 
descendents  of  Bichard,  who  lived  in 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts,  in  1640. 
His  son,  Nathaniel,  died  in  1719.  Among 
his  children  was  Joseph,  born  in  Cam- 
bridge, Massachusetts,  in  1689,  whose 
son  William,  born  in  1712,  was  the  father 
of  William,  born  in  Anatomy,  (now  West 
Cambridge,)  Massachusetts,  August  20, 
1741.  He  went  to  Biadge,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1764,  going  some  three  miles 
from  any  settlement,  into  the  wilderness, 
cutting  his  road  as  he  went,  through  the 
dense  forest.  He  was  the  first  settler  in 
that  part  of  the  township.  Here  he  lived 
until  his  removal  to  Winchendon,  Mas- 
sachusetts, in  1807,  where  he  died  in 
1824.  His  youngest  son,  Samuel,  born 
in  Bindge,  New  Hampshire,  January  19, 
1776,  married  January  1,  1807,  Sally- 
Steele,  of  Bindge,  New  Hampshire,  re- 
sided upon  the  same  farm  as  his  father, 
until  his  death,  in  1857 ;  his  widow  died 
in  1861.  They  had  eight  children,  three 
of  whom  now  live  in  McDonough  county. 
David  A.,  born  in  Bindge,  New  Hamp- 
shire, January  24,  1810,  married  June 
21,  1841,  Betsy  Coolidge,  of  Gardner, 
Massachusetts;  she  died  April  22,  1843. 
He  married  June  30, 1844,  Louisa  Stone, 
of  Winchendon,  Massachusetts.  He 
lived  upon  the  same  farm  as  his  father 
until  his  removal  to  Illinois,  in  1865, 
when  he  bought  of  Benjamin  Bobinson, 
the  northeast  of  section  11,  an  unim- 
proved quarter.  He  built  the  house  in 


940 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


summer  of  1866.  In  1867,  he  bought 
the  southeast  of  13,  of  William  Leper, 
Farmingtoli,  Illinois,  also  unimproved. 
He  built  the  house  in  1870,  his  son,  Os- 
trum  A.  Bobbins,  living  there  until  1876. 
In  1868  he  bought  an  unimproved  quar- 
ter, southeast  of  2,  of  Olcutt,  of  Fairview, 
Illinois.  His  wife  and  three  sons  com- 
ing here  in  1867-68.  They  had  to  en- 
counter all  the  hardships  and  privations 
incident  to  the  new  settler  in  breaking 
sod,  digging  wells,  setting  fences  and 
hedges.  In  1874  he  bought  the  south- 
west and  northwest  of  11,  of  Charles 
Chandler,  of  Macomb,  selling  the  north- 
west quarter  to  his  son,  Harland  S.  Bob- 
bins, in  1876.  In  1882  he  bought  the 
northwest  quarter  of  southwest  of  1,  of 
James  Ryan. 

Mary  S.  Robbins  was  born  in  Rindge, 
New  Hampshire,  November  15,  1841; 
married  November  3,  1864,  to  Horace  E. 
Lovejoy,  of  Rindge,  New  Hampshire, 
and  came  to  Sciota  township,  January, 
1876;  occupy  southwest  of  11.  They 
have  six  children — Elsie  A.,  born  in  Win- 
chendon,  Massachusetts,  July  13,  1865; 
F^ed  W.,  born  in  Winchendon,  Massa- 
chusetts, November  7,  1871;  Carrie  G., 
born  in  Ashburnham,  Massachusetts, 
June  10,  1875;  Mary  E.,  born  in  Sciota, 
Illinois,  January  22,  1879;  Charles  T., 
born  in  Sciota,  Illinois,  April  21,  1881; 
Samuel  A.,  born  in  Sciota,  Illinois,  July 
17,  1884.  Betsy  C.,  the  second,  was  born 
in  Rindge,  New  Hampshire,  April  16, 
1843,  died  May  6,  1864.  Ostrum  A.,  the 
third,  born  in  Rindge,  July  30,  1845; 
came  to  Sciota  township,  in  October, 
1867;  married  to  Francis  Spurgin,  of 
Greenbush  township,  September  15, 1870. 
They  have  four  children — Delbert  G.  and 


Delia  M.,  born  in  Sciota,  November  18, 
1871 ;  Charles  Sidney,  born  in  Sciota, 
July  29,  1874;  Alvin  Edson,  born  in 
Sciota,  June  13,  1880.  Harlan  S.,  the 
fourth,  born  in  Winchendon,  Massachu- 
setts, March  28,  1848.  Warren  A.,  the 
fifth,  born  in  Rindge,  New  Hampshire; 
April  18,  1850;  came  to  Sciota  township 
February,  1868;  married  Anna  M.  Ham- 
ilton, of  Sciota  township,  lives  on  north- 
east of  11,  has  one  child — Mary  Louisa, 
born  August  21,  1883.  Abigail  S., 
daughter  of  Samuel,  born  in  Rindge, 
New  Hampshire,  August  29,  1814;  mar- 
ried September  29,  1859,  to  Uri  Day,  of 
Royalston,  Massachusetts ;  she  came  to 
Illinois,  December,  1865,  now  lives  in 
Good  Hope.  Samuel  William,  son  of 
Samuel,  born  in  Rindge,  New  Hamp- 
shire, August  16,  1820;  married  Decem- 
ber 30,  1847,  to  Mary  Page,  of  Rindge, 
New  Hampshire ;  came  to  Illinois  in  1855, 
lives  in  Prairie  City. 

Thomas  R.  Wright,  a  prominent  and 
respected  citizen  of  Sciota  township,  is 
a  native  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and  was 
born  July  18,  1842.  He  is  a  son  of 
Isaac  Wright,  now  a  resident  of  Bland- 
insville  township.  When  Thomas  was 
five  years  old,  his  parents  removed  to 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
resided  until  1858.  In  October,  of  that 
year,  they  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  settled  in  Blandinsville  township, 
where  Thomas  began  farming  in  1864. 
He  continued  in  that  township  until  the 
spring  of  1868.  He  then  located  on  his 
present  farm,  which,  at  that  time,  he 
rented,  purchasing  the  same,  three  years 
later.  He  had  160  acres,  to  which  he 
has  added,  until  he  now  owns  622  acres, 
all  improved,  and  is  the  largest  land 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


941 


owner  in  Sciota  township.  He  deals 
quite  extensively  in  stock,  and  has  some 
fine  thoroughbred  short  horn  cattle,  also 
Clydesdale  horses.  He  has  held  a  num- 
ber of  local  offices  in  this  township. 
February  4,  1869,  he  was  married  to 
Frances  A.  Conwell,  a  native  of  Ohio. 
They  have  four  children  living — Willis 
P.,  Carl  E.,  Angie  E.  and  Sadie  B.  Their 
eldest  son,  Charles  O.,  is  deceased. 

Henry  S.  Baldwin  was  born  in  Rich- 
land  county,  Ohio,  April  8,  1833.  He 
is  a  son  of  .Charles  Baldwin,  formerly 
a  resident  of  this  county,  but  now  de- 
ceased. The  latter  came  here  in  1854, 
and  located  two  miles  south  of  Macomb, 
where  he  died  in  1856.  Henry  S.,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  resided  with  his 
parents,  coming  with  them  to  this  county 
in  1854.  In  1857,  he  located  on  section 
16,  Sciota  township,  where  he  followed 
farming  eight  years,  then  moved  to  the 
edge  of  Warren  county,  there  remain- 
ing till  1867.  In  that  year  he  settled  on 
section  3,  Sciota  township,  his  present 
home.  He  owns  720  acres  of  land, 
lying  in  McDonough  and  Warren  coun- 
ties, all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
well  improved.  It  is  worked  by  ten- 
ants, Mr.  Baldwin  not  being,  himself, 
engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married 
in  August,  1857,  to  Margaret  Long,  a 
daughter  of  William  Long,  an  early 
settler  of  Fulton  county.  They  have 
seven  children — Callista  A.,  Matie  I., 
Ulysses  G.,  Emma  M.,  Willis  D.,  Min- 
nie E.  and  an  infant.  One  son,  John  S., 
is  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  church. 

James  M.  Wallin,  an  old  and  promi- 
nent citizen  of  Sciota  township,  was 
born  in  Lee  county,  Virginia,  March  27, 


1813.  Much  of  his  early  life  was  spent 
in  Tennessee,  where  he  was  for  several 
years  a  merchant,  in  the  city  of  Cal- 
houn.  He  left  that  state  in  1852,  coming 
then  to  this  county,  where  he  has  since 
been  a  resident.  He  lived  three  years 
on  a  farm  in  Macomb  township,  then 
located  on  section  25,  of  Sciota,  where 
he  now  lives.  He  has  held  many  offices 
in  this  township,  having  been  justice  of 
the  peace  for  23  years,  also  assessor 
and  supervisor,  several  terms.  He  has 
been  school  treasurer  of  this  township 
for  the  past  10  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  order,  also  of  the  Bap- 
tist church,  with  which  he  united  in 
1843.  He  was  married  in  1837,  to 
Sarah  B.  Eose,  by  whom  he  had  two 
sons — James  H.  and  Isaac  S.  His  wife 
died  October  1,  1869,  and  on  September 
15,  1870,  he  was  again  married,  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  B.  Forrest,  a  native  of  the  state  of 
Tennessee. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

Sciota  township,  according  to  the  an- 
nual report  of  the  county  superintend- 
ent, for  the  school  year,  ending  June  30, 
1884,  has  452  children  of  school  age,  420 
of  whom  are  enrolled  in  the  schools. 
There  are  11  frame  buildings  in  the 
township,  in  which  an  average  of  eight 
and  four-elevenths  months  of  school  are 
taught.  The  highest  monthly  wages 
paid  any  male  teacher  is  $50,  and  the 
lowest  is  $21.50,  while  the  highest  wages 
paid  female  teachers  is  $45,  and  the  low- 
est $25  per  month.  The  estimated  value 
of  school  property  amounts  to  $7,525 
and  the  tax  levy  for  the  support  of  the 
schools  is  $3,850.  There  is  no  bonded 
indebtedness. 


942 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


An  early  school  in  the  history  of  the 
township,  was  taught  by  James  M.  Yap- 
pie,  at  the  house  of  Zachariah  Eickets, 
on  section  25. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  dis- 
trict No.  1,  school  was  held  in  a  build- 
ing located  about  one  mile  south  of  the 
present  school-house  site  of  this  district, 
and  was  then  known  as  district  No.  5. 
In  1871,  district  No.  5,  was  divided, 
forming  the  present  districts  of  1  and  6. 
The  present  building  of  district  No.  1, 
is  located  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  11. 

School  district  No.  2,  has  a  house  situ- 
ated on  the  southeast  corner  of  section 
4,  which  was  erected  in  1868,  the  same 
year  the  district  was  organized.  The 
size  of  the  building  is  20x28,  and  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $450. 

In  1868,  school  district  No.  2,  was  di- 
vided, forming  the  present  districts  of  3 
and  4.  The  house  was  removed  to  the 
northwest  corner  of  section  8,  this  dis- 
trict (No.  3,)  during  the  same  year.  It 
was  22x26  feet  in  size,  and  was  valued  at 
$150. 

District  No.  4,  was  organized  in  1867, 
and  a  school  house,  18x24  feet  in  size, 
erected  during  the  same  year,  at  a  cost 
of  $450.  The  district  is  also  familiarly 
known  as  Muddy  Lane. 

Center  district  No.  5,  was  organized 
as  district  No.  3,  in  1858,  and  a  building 
erected  on  section  22,  during  the  same 
year.  It  was  a  frame  structure,  20x24 
feet  in  size,  and  was  completed  at  a  cost 
of  $450.  During  the  winter  of  1884^5, 
Meredith  Davis  taught  the  school. 

The  school  building  in  district  No.  6, 
was  erected  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  14,  in  1872.  It  is  a  good  frame 


structure,  and  was  completed  at  a  cost 
of  $1,500. 

HISTORICAL   ITEMS. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  V.  M. 
Hardin  and  Nancy  Purdy,  on  the  16th 
day  of  April,  1840.  Rev.  Jesse  Chap- 
man, a  Baptist  divine,  performed  the 
marriage  ceremony.  On  June  20,  1841, 
Mary  E.  was  born  to  them;  hers  was 
probably  the  second  birth  in  the  town- 
ship. 

The  pioneer  school  house  was  built  in 
1846.  It  was  18x20,  constructed  of  na- 
tive lumber.  Louis  Goddard  taught  the 
first  term  of  school  therein. 

Rev.  Cyrus  Haines  preached  the  first 
sermon,  at  the  house  of  John  Hainline, 
in  the  summer  of  1837.  Mr.  Haines 
was  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church. 

William  Heath  was  the  first  super- 
visor, and  James  M.  Wallin  was  the 
second. 

The  first  death  was  that  of  Samuel 
Purdy,  which  occurred  in  September, 
1841. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  V. 
M.  Hardin,  who  was  elected  in  August, 
1839. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township 
was  John  H.  Hainline,  the  date  of  whose 
birth  was  January  2,  1837.  He  lived  on 
section  31  until  his  death,  January  12, 
1882. 

The  second  death  in  the  township  was 
that  of  John  Hainline,  who  died  Octo- 
ber 15,  1840,  at  the  age  of  five  years. 
The  remains  were  interred  in  Spring 
Grove  cemetery. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Townsend,  who 
entered  land  on  section  31,  in  the  spring 
of  1836,  broke  out  the  first  land  during 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


943 


the  following  summer  —  some  seven 
acres.  He  did  not  put  in  a  crop,  but 
left  the  township  in  the  fall. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  John  Hainline 
sowed  the  first  wheat  and  planted  the 
first  corn. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  organization  of  the  township  dates 
back  to  1856,  when  the  division  of  the 
county  into  townships  took  place.  The 
first  township  election  occurred  on  the 
7th  day  of  April,  in  1857,  at  which 
time  J.  M.  Seamans  was  elected  consta- 
ble; William  Heath4  supervisor;  Simeon 
Clarke,  clerk  and  collector;  Stephen 
Gillihan,  assessor;  William  B.  Clarke 
and  Mortimore  Waterus,  justices.  The 
latter  named  gentleman  failed  to  qualify, 
and  at  the  next  election,  James  M.  Wal- 
lin  was  elected,  serving  in  that  capacity 
for  23  years.  The  present  officers  of  the 
township  are  as  follows:  Supervisor, 
J.  A.  Allison;  clerk,  S.  B.  Norton; 
assessor,  Lewis  Breiner;  collector,  J.  M. 
James;  highway  commissioner,  H.  Tut- 
tle;  justices  of  the  peace,  J.  L.  Hardin 
and  W.  B.  Clarke;  constables,  William 
Furgie  and  Henry  Arbogast;  school 
trustee,  E.  Dice. 

GOOD  HOPE  VILLAGE. 

Scarcely  had  the  line  of  the  T.,  P.  & 
W.  railroad  been  surveyed,  before  J.  E. 
Morris  had  platted  a  town  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  31,  in  Walnut 
Grove  township,  to  which  was  given  the 
name  of  Sheridan.  In  July,  1867,  W.  F. 
Blandin  laid  off  a  few  blocks  a  little 
west  of  the  proposed  town  of  Sheridan, 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  25, 
and  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  36, 
Sciota  township,  and  christened  the  same 


Milan.  Here  there  were  two  rival  towns. 
A  postoffice  named  Goood  Hope  had 
been  in  the  neighborhood  for  some 
years,  and  the  different  names  by  which 
the  town  or  towns  were  called  were  a  little 
amusing.  The  railroad  company  issued 
its  first  tickets  to  Sheridan,  and  train  men 
called  out  -Milan  as  the  cars  stopped,  but 
all  letters  had  to  be  addressed  to  Good 
Hope.  This  state  of  affairs  continued 
for  some  time,  until  finally  both  names 
of  the  town  were  dropped,  and  the 
name  of  the  postoffice  chosen  as  the  one 
by  which  it  should  be  known.  Since 
that  time  two  or  three  additions  have 
been  made  to  the  original  surveys.  The 
railroad  runs  due  east  and  west  through 
the  town.  The  place  grew  quite  rapidly 
for  the  first  two  years,  after  which  no 
material  improvement  was  made  until 
the  year  1875,  when  new  life  was  infused 
into  every  department  of  industry,  new 
business  blocks,  dwelling  houses  and 
other  buildings  were  erected,  and  at 
present  Good  Hope  is  one  of  the  neatest 
young  towns  in  the  Military  Tract,  with 
good  churches,  schools,  etc.,  and  a  people 
that  are  generally  enterprising,  moral 
and  religious.  Probably  no  more  pleas- 
ant and  agreeable  little  place  can  be 
found,  to  make  a  home,  than  here.  Sur- 
rounding the  town  is  an  excellent  farm- 
ing community,  with  some  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  county. 

The  first  building  was  erected  on  the 
town  site  in  the  fall  of  1866,  previous  to 
the  time  the  town  was  laid  out,  by  David 
Jacobus.  It  was  used  for  dwelling  pur- 
poses, and  at  present  is  occupied  as  a 
residence  by  James  Statler. 

Robert  Morrison,  it  is  said,  built  the 
first  store  room,  on  the  old  Monmouth 


944 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


road,  and  kept  a  small  stock  of  confec- 
tioneries, etc. 

The  first  business  house  was  erected 
by  Samuel  Lock,  in  the  fall  of  1866,  and 
was  used  as  a  store  building  and  resi- 
dence combined.  He  put  in  a  general 
stock  of  goods,  between  Christmas  and 
New  Years.  The  building  was  located 
just  across  the  line,  in  Walnut  Grove 
township.  He  did  business  there  until 
the  summer  of  1868,  when  he  removed 
the  building,  after  the. town  was  platted, 
one  block  north,  still  on  the  east  side  of 
the  township  line.  He  remained  in 
business  there  until  the  fall  of  1870, 
when  the  building  was  removed  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  square.  In  1878, 
Mr.  Lock  disposed  of  the  stock  to  David 
Campbell  &  Son.  At  present  the  build- 
ing is  occupied  as  a  wagon  shop,  and  is 
situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  square. 

Samuel  Lock  &  Sons  are  engaged  in 
the  sale  of  general  merchandise,  enter- 
ing into  their  present  business  in  Sep- 
tember, 1883,  at  the  southeast  corner 
of  the  square.  They  carry  a  full  stock 
of  dry  goods,  boots  and  shoes,  hats,  caps, 
etc. 

Samuel  Lock  was  born  near  Colum- 
bus, Indiana,  November  10,  1821.  He 
is  one  of  a  family  of  10  children,  all  of 
whom  are  still  living.  When  he  was 
nine  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Adams  county,  Illinois.  Here  his  father, 
March  22,  1877,  died.  His  mother  had 
died  in  May,  1863.  Samuel  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm  and  received  a 
limited  education.  March  28,  1843,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Susan  Wal- 
lace, who  was  born  in  July,  1824.  He 
then  engaged  in  farming  in  Pike  county, 
Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Lock  died  in  April, 


1863,  leaving  five  children — Mary  E., 
Sarah  E.,  James  A.,  Lewis  O.  and  Ira  A. 
December  29,  1863,  Mr.  Lock  was  mar- 
ried to  Annie  Potter,  a  native  of  Adams 
county,  born  in  1836.  By  this  union 
there  were  three  sons — Arthur  G.,  Ed- 
win P.  and  Clarence  M.  (deceased).  The 
second  Mrs.  Lock  died  July  12,1874,  and 
September  21,  1875,  Mr.  Lock  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  N.  Creel,  who  was  born  in 
McDonough  county,  March  20,  1840.  In 
the  year  1866,  Mr.  Lock  removed  to  Good 
Hope  and  engaged  in  mercantile  trade. 
He  is  still  a  resident  of  that  place,  and 
carries  on  the  same  business  in  company 
with  his  sons,  Arthur  G.  and  Edwin  P. 
He  is  politically  a  democrat,  and  has 
held  local  office.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  Although  not 
possessed  of  a  liberal  education,  he  has 
much  natural  ability,  and  is  one  of  the 
substantial  business  men  of  Good  Hope. 
The  present  merchandise  business 
of  Brown  &  Company  was  first  estab- 
lished by  J.  E.  Morris,  of  Bushnell,  in 
1868.  He  erected  a  frame  building,  22x 
54,  two  stories  high,  the  second  story  of 
which  is  used  as  a  hall  by  the  Masonie 
fraternity.  He  continued  business  here 
until  1872,  when  he  sold  to  Rowley  & 
Company,  who,  in  turn,  were  suc- 
ceeded a  year  later  by  Allison  & 
Doughty.  They  operated  the  business 
until  the"  spring  of  1875,  when  J.  H.  Al- 
lison purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Doughty,  and  the  firm  became  Allison 
Brothers.  In  January,  1881,  Frank  L. 
Brown  purchased  an  interest,  and  the 
firm  was  changed  to  Allison  &  Brown. 
They  continued  to  do  business  until  Au- 
gust, 1884.  when  Mr.  Brown,  in  comT 
pany  with  John  M.  Monninger,  pur- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


945 


chased  the  business,  which  is  now  ope- 
rated under  the  firm  name  of  Brown  <fc 
Company.  They  do  an  annual  business 
of  about  $20,000,  and  carry  a  complete 
stock  of  dry  goods,  notions,  hats,  daps, 
boots  and  shoes,  etc. 

Frank  L.  Brown  was  born  in  Missouri, 
October  19,  1860.  The  family  moved  to 
Macomb  in  the  spring  of  1862,  and  after 
residing  there  a  few  months  moved  on  a 
farm  in  Walnut  Grove  towilship,  where 
they  still  reside.  The  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  is  James  A.  Brown, 
Sr.,  a  large  and  influential  farmer,  at 
one  time  one  of  the  most  extensive  live 
stock  dealers  in  the  county.  Frank  re- 
sided on  the  farm  with  his  parents  until 
13  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Ma- 
comb,  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools  for  two  years,  spending  his  vaca- 
tions at  home  on  the  farm.  At  the  age 
of  15  he  entered  the  Illinois  Industrial 
university  at  Champaign;  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  Returning 
from  the  university  he.  entered  the 
l§w  office  of  C.  F.  Wheat,  in  Macomb, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  but  on  ac- 
count of  failing  health  he  was  compelled 
to  relinquish  his  studies  and  return 
home.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  went  west 
and  traveled  through  Iowa,  Minnesota, 
Dakota  and  Nebraska,  returning  in  the 
spring  of  1879,  much  improved  in  health. 
Immediately  on  his  return  from  the 
west  he  commenced  teaching  a  very  suc- 
cessful term  of  school  at  the  Tank  school 
house,  one  mile  west  of  Good  Hope,  and 
boarded  with  his  brother-in-law,  J.  H. 
Allison,  who  ran  a  general  store  at  that 
place.  Frank  worked  in  the  store  morn- 
ings and  evenings  for  his  board.  In  the 
fall  of  1879,  Mr.  A.'s  business  had  so  in- 


creased as  to  require  a  clerk  and  book- 
keeper. Frank  hired  to  him  and  worked 
in  this  capacity  until  January  1,  1881, 
when,  with  the  assistance  of  friends,,  he 
was  enabled'  to  buy  an  interest  in  the 
business.  The  new  firm  increased  their 
stock  and  did  a  thriving  business,  under 
the  firm  name  of  J.  H.  Allison  &  Co., 
which  on  January  1,  1883,  was  changed 
to  Allison  &  Brown,  the  latter  becoming 
a  full  partner,  and  a  year  later,  he 
bought  Mr.  Allison's  interest  in  the  busi- 
ness, which,  in  connection  with  Mr.  J. 
M.  Monninger,  whom  he  took  in  part- 
nership in  August,  1884,  he  still  runs, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Frank  L.  Brown 
&  Co.  Mr.  Brown  is  an  ardent  repub- 
lican, has  been  a  member  of  the  village 
council,  and  is  the  present  treasurer.  He 
has  received  the  nomination  of  his  party 
for  a  township  office,  but  although  he 
ran  ahead  of  his  ticket  he  failed  of  elec- 
tion on  account  of  the  large  majority  of 
the  opposition  party.  During  the  sum- 
mer of  1884,  Mr.  Brown,  at  the 
age  of  24  years,  was  induced  by 
friends  to  enter  the  field  as  a  can- 
didate for  the  office  of  circuit  clerk, 
subject  to  the  decision  of  the  republican 
county  convention.  There  were  five  can- 
didates in  the  field,  and  the  canvass  for 
the  nomination  waxed  hot,  and  the  county 
convention,  which  met  in  August,  will 
long  be  remembered  as  one  of  intense 
interest  and  excitement.  After  10  bal- 
lots, Mr.  Brown  received  the  nomination 
but  was  defeated  at  the  polls,  in  Novem- 
ber, on  account  of  the  opposition  of  the 
friends  of  one  of  Mr.  Brown's  opponents 
for  nomination  in  the  convention.  Other 
unavoidable  circumstances,  for  which 
Frank  was  in  no  way  responsible,  worked 


946 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


to  his  detriment  in  the  canvass,  but  the 
above  reason  alone  was  sufficient  to  ac- 
complish his  defeat,  Mr.  Brown  is  a 
member  of  Good  Hope  lodge,  No.  670, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  He  was  married  January 
17,  1883,  to  Addie  Clark,  of  Macomb. 

John  M.  Monninger,  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  F.  L.  Brown  &  Co.,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
was  born  August  6,  I860.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  Monninger,  with  whom  he 
came  to  this  county  in  1869,  having  thus 
spent  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  here. 
He  received  a  good  education,  and  in 
August,  1881,  engaged  as  clerk  with  Al- 
lison &  Brown,  in  whose  employ  he  con- 
tinued until  October  14,  1882,  when  he 
became  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Mon- 
ninger &  Sapp.  This  partnership  was 
dissolved,  he  selling  his  interest  to  Sapp 
in  November,  1883.  He  then  returned 
to  the  employ  of  F.  L.  Brown,  and  in 
the  following  July  became  a  partner  of 
that  gentleman.  Mr.  Monninger  is  a 
young  man  of  ability,  and  possessed  of 
good  business  talent.  He  belongs  to  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  is  at  present 
P.  G.,-and  is  a  member  of  the  encamp- 
ment. 

In  1882,  James  Statler  engaged  in  the 
general  merchandise  business.  He  car- 
ries a  stock  of  about  $4,000,  and  owns 
the  building  occupied  by  him.  He  is 
also  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  as 
noted  elsewhere.  His  entire  business 
represents  an  invested  capital  of  about 
$20,000. 

James  Statler,  one  of  the  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  Good  Hope,  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  August  28,  1830. 
His  parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  (Harris) 
Statler,  were  natives  of  Virginia,  who, 


in  an  early  day,  emigrated  to  Ohio. 
James  grew  to  manhood  and  acquired 
1iis  education  in  his  native  county,  where 
he  followed  agricultural  pcrsuits  until 
1853.  He  then  settled  in  Knox  county, 
Illinois,  and  two  years  later  came  to  this 
county  and  located  in  Scioto  township, 
where  he  remained  one  year,  after  which 
he  moved  to  section  1,  Emmet  town- 
ship, which  was  his  residence  until  the 
fall  of  1865.  At  that  date  he  removed  te 
Macomb  and  engaged  in  merchandising, 
which  he  continued  three  years,  then  re- 
turned to  his  farm.  In  1877,  he  engaged 
in  the  grain  trade  at  Good  Hope,  where 
he  now  carries  on  an  extensive  business, 
dealing  also  in  groceries,  hardware, 
agricultural  implements  and  machinery, 
etc.  Mr.  Statler  was  one  of  the  town- 
ship supervisors  during  1884,  and  is  at 
present,  a  member  of  the  city  council. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
He  was  married  in  1851,  to  Huldah  J. 
Murphy,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  have 
five  children  living — Samuel,  Maria  A., 
Charles,  Emma  and  William  T. 

Allison  &  Heath  entered  into  business 
at  Good  Hope,  in  the  fall  of  1883.  They 
are  retail  dealers  of  groceries,  provi- 
sions, etc.,  and  are  also  shippers  of  live 
stock.  They  carry  a  stock  of  groceries, 
etc.,  averaging  about  $2,000. 

H.  Austin  Allison,  of  the  firm  of  Alli- 
son &  Heath,  is  a  native  of  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  born  February  2, 1849.  His  father, 
William  Allison,  was  an  early  settler  and 
prominent  citizen  of  this  county,  having 
settled  in  Tennessee  township  in  1852. 
William  Allison  was  born  in  Virginia, 
July  25,  1805.  When  young,  he  went 
to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  in  1829, 
to  Margaret  Eakle,  a  native  of  Virginia. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  «COUNTY. 


947 


She  died  in  1857.  He  survived  until 
1878.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  grew 
to  manhood  in  this  county  receiving  a 
good  education.  In  1866,  he  engaged  in 
the  live  stock  business-  in  Tennessee 
township.  Two  years  later,  he  located 
in  Good  Hope,  and  continued  the  same 
business.  In  1871,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Allison  Bro's.  general  merchants, 
which  in  1880,  sold  out.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  trade,  and  in  1883, 
became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Allison 
&  Heath.  Mr.  Allison  was  married 
September  2,  1875,  to  Jennie  Campbell, 
a  native  of  Good  Hope.  They  have  two 
children — Alvah  and  Charlie  M.  He  has 
been  a  member ,  of  the  city  council  and 
one  of  the  school  board.  He  belongs  to 
the  Masonic  fraternity  of  Good  Hope, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church.  He  has  been  su- 
perintendent of  that  Sunday  school  for  a 
number  of  years. 

Newton  B.  Mitchell  is  engaged  in  the 
sale  of  groceries,  crockery,  boots  and 
shoes,  etc.,  succeeding  the  firm  of  Mitch- 
ell Bros.,  in  June,  1884,  who  purchased 
the  business  of  Skean  Bros.,  February  1, 
1882,  Mr.  Mitchell  carries  a  stock  of 
about  $2,000  and  owns  the  building  occu- 
pied him. 

Newton  B.  Mitchell,  a  well  known  mer- 
chant of  Good  Hope,  is  a  native  of  East 
Tennessee,  born  November  20, 1853.  His 
parents,  Lewis  and  Adelphia  Mitchell, 
were  also  natives  of  Tennessee.  Newton 
B.,  was  reared  and  educated  in  his  native 
state,  and  there  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming  until  1882.  In  that  year  he 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
and  located  at  Good  Hope,  where  he  has 
since  been  engaged  in  his  present  busi- 


ness. He  is  the  present  mayor  of  the 
city,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  coun- 
cil. He  was  married  April  5,  1883,  to 
Mrs.  Agnes  Long,  daughter  of  William 
Hastie,  of  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mitchell  have  one  child — Carrie. 

The  first  stock  of  drugs  was  brought 
to  the  town  by  Jesse  McDowell,  in  the 
winter  of  1867.  He  also  carried  a  small 
stock  of  groceries.  He  continued  busi- 
ness but  a  short  time  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  B.  Brewster,  who  afterward 
sold  out  to  Hill  and  Wallin.  Mr.  Wal- 
lin  afterward  became  sole  proprietor  and 
in  May,  1884,  disposed  of  the  business  to 
John  E.  James,  the  present  proprietor. 

John  E.  James  is  a  native  of  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  born  December  25, 

1859.  His  father,  A.  J.  James,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  was  born  in  1830,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  his  native  state.     In  1853, 
he  was  married  to  Eliza  Ash,  who  was 
born  in  Virginia  in  the  year  1829.     The 
following  year,  1854,  they  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  in  Knox  county.    In 

1860,  they  removed  to   Fulton   county, 
where  they  lived  five  years,  then  came  to 
McDonough    county,    and     located    in 
Sciota  township.     In  the   fall  of   1870, 
they    moved  to    Lucas    county,    Iowa; 
thence,  in  1880,  to  Clarke  county.  In  the 
fall  of  1882,  they  returned  to  McDon- 
ough county,  and  settled  at  Good  Hope, 
where  they  now  live.      Mr.  A.  J.  James 
is  by  trade  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  which 
occupation  he  has  principally  followed 
through  life.  •  John  E.  James  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.      In  1876, 
he  entered  the  drug  store  of  Mr.  Wallin, 
as  a  partner  in  the  business.     He  con- 
tinued Avith  him  until  May,  1884,  when 
he  purchased  Mr.  Wallin' s  interest,  and 


948 


HISTOKY--OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


become  sole  proprietor  of  the  business, 
which  he  still  follows.  Mr.  James  was 
married  December  11,  1884,  to  Minnie 
E.  Sapp,  who  was  born  in  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  October  19,  1864.  Mr. 
James  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F., 
No.  670,  of  Good  Hope. 

G.  W.  Kenworthy,  of  Buslmell,  estab- 
lished the  first  hardware  store  at  Good 
Hope,  in  the  fall  of  1869,  Charles  Car- 
rier, a  nephew  of  Mr.  Kenworthy,  taking 
charge  of  the  business.  It  was  disposed 
of  a  short  time  afterward  to  other  parties. 

In  1878,  Collins  &  Hannaford  opened 
a  hardware  establishment,  and  are  still 
representatives  in  that  line.  They  are 
also  engaged  in  the  sale  of  lumber,  and 
have  a  capital  of  about  $7,000  invested. 

John  Collins  was  born  February  6, 
1820,  in  Cumberland  county,  Maine.  At 
the  age  of  15  years  he  went  to  Thomas- 
ton,  Maine,  where  he  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade.  He  remained  there 
three  years,  then  shipped  on  board  a 
schooner  named  the  Moscow,  bound  for 
Apalachicola,  serving  as  cook.  He  re- 
turned in  the  fall  of  1840,  having  been 
absent  six  months,  and  shipped  as  a 
sailor  on  another  schooner,  bound  for 
Alexandria,  Virginia.  He  continued  to 
follow  a  seafaring  life  until  the  fall  of 
1845,  and  during  that  period,  was  two 
years  on  the  lakes.  He  then  abandoned 
a  sailor's  life,  and  went  to  Boston,  living 
in  that  vicinity  four  years,  after  which 
he  came  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and 
there  folloAved  carpentering  one  year, 
then  returned  to  Boston.  One  year  later 
he  came  back  to  Peoria,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1852,  located  at  Galesburg, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade  till  1860, 
then  went  to  Tivoli,  Illinois,  where  he 


was  engaged  in  wagon  and  plow  making 
Wo  years.  He  then  returned  to  Gales- 
burg,  and  there  remained  until  he  came 
to  Good  Hope,  in  1869,  at  which  time  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business,  in  part- 
nership with  E.  K.  Hannaford.  Mr. 
Collins  was  married  May  13,  1851,  to 
Sarah  C.  Cole,  a  native  of  Maine. 

Edward  K.  Hannaford,  of  the  firm  of 
Collins  &  Hannaford,  is  a  native  of 
Peoria  county,  and  was  born  November 
22,  1839.  His  father,  Levi  A.  Hannaford, 
was  born  in  Maine,  and  came  to  Peoria 
county,  in  1837.  He  was  married  to 
Caroline  W.  Collins,  also  a  native  of 
Maine.  Edward  K.  was  brought  up  and 
educated  partially,  in  Peoria  county.  His 
education  was  supplemented  by  a  few 
months'  course  at  Westbrook  seminary, 
near  Portland,  Maine,  and  also  by  at- 
tendance, during  the  seasons  of  1860  and 
and  '61,  at  Lombard  college,  Galesburg, 
HMiiois.  He  then  spent  his  time  in 
farming  upon  his  father's  place  until 
1869,  when  he  came  to  Good  Hope,  and 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  He 
has  been  mayor  of  the  city,  and  also  a 
member  of  the  council.  Mr.  Hannaford 
was  married  to  Eva  M.  Billings,  of 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  October  9*  1883. 

The  first  lumber  yard  was  opened  in 
1868,  by  Dr.  Dungan  and  a  son-in-law. 
Lyford  and  Lawson  succeeded  this  firm, 
and  later  disposed  of  the  business  to  Col- 
lins &  Hannaford,  the  present  represen- 
tatives. 

Harden,  Wagner  &  Co.,  are  also  deal- 
ers in  lumber,  lath,  building  material, 
etc.,  at  present.  They  commenced  busi- 
ness in  November.  1882,  and  own  the 
ground  on  which  the  yard  is  situated. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


949 


Joseph  Long  opened  the  first  livery  in 
the  place  in  1868.  He  carried  on  the 
business  about  a  year,  when  he  sold  ou 
to  A.  Monger,  and  removed  to  Sciota, 
where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  Monger  was 
succeeded  by  the  present  owner,  Benja- 
min Murphy,  July  1,  1884.  He  keeps 
six  head  of  horses  and  necessary  buggies, 
etc.  He  is  also  interested  in  farming, 
owning  280  acres  of  land  in  this  and 
Walnut  Grove  townships. 

Benjamin  Murphy,  proprietor  of  the 
livery  stable  at  Good  Hope,  was  born  in 
Clinton  county,  Ohio,  November  15, 1828. 
He  was  reared  in  his  native  county,  and 
obtained  his  education  <  in  the  common 
schools.  He  followed  farming  there, 
from  the  time  he  reached  a  suitable  age, 
until  1856.  In  that  year  he  came  to  Mc- 
Donough  county  and  located  in  Sciota 
township,  where  he  has  since  been  a  res- 
ident. In  1865  he  located  on  section  25, 
where  he  has  a  fine  farm.  He  also  owns 
the  stable  and  ground  where  he  carries 
on  the  livery  business.  Mr.  Murphy 
was  married  March  18,  1858,  to  Louisa 
Monger,  a  daughter  of  Adam  Monger, 
an  early  settler  in  this  county.  They 
have  five  children — James,  John  W.,  Cyn- 
thia A.,  Ellsworth  and  Thomas.  Mr. 
Murphy  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

James  W.  Albertson  opened  the  first 
wagon  shop  in  the  fall  of  1867,  but  re- 
mained only  a  short  time. 

The  first  shoemaker  was  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Young,  assisted  by  his  son. 
They  did  not  remain  long. 

In  the  spring  of  1884,  Harden,  Wagner 
&  Co.,  lumber  dealers,  engaged  in  the 
furniture  trade,  and  sale  of  agricultural 
implements.  They  own  the  building  in 


which  the  stock  is   situated,  and  have 
about  $5,000  invested  in  the  business. 

The  first  work  at  blacksmithing,  at 
Good  Hope,  was  done  by  William  B. 
Milhone,  in  the  summer  of  1867.  He 
still  carries  on  the  business  at  this 
place. 

POST  OFFICE. 

Established  several  years  prior  to  the 
time  Good  Hope  was  laid  out,  at  the 
house  of  William  R  Blandin,  near  the 
present  site  of  the  village,  and  was  known 
as  Hawthorne  post  office,  with  Mr.  Blan- 
din as  postmaster.  In  1867  it  was  re- 
moved to  the  village,  after  which  the 
name  was  changed  to  Good  Hope.  Those 
who  have  served  as  postmasters  since  its 
organization  are:  Jessie  McDowell,  N. 
A.  Goodfellow,  Samuel  Lock,  E.  N. 
Campbell  and  David  Campbell.  The 
present  incumbent,  Peter  Van  Pelt,  re- 
ceived the  appointment  in  the  spring  of 
1882.  Good  Hope  was  created  a  money 
order  office  in  October,  1878. 

TILE  WOKKS. 

The  Good  Hope  tile  works  were  estab- 
lished in  the  spring  of  1883  by  George 
N.  Grigsby,  Joseph  Quick  and  J.  A. 
Brown.  Before  the  completion  of  the 
works,  however,  the  interest  of  Grigsby 
&  Quick  was  purchased  by  J.  H.  Allison, 
and  in  1884,  Mr.  Brown  sold  to  J.  L.  Yeast. 
The  business  is  now  carried  on  by  Alli- 
son &  Yeast,  who  manufacture  about 
600,000  tile  annually.  They  also  manu- 
facture fire,  paving  and  cellar  floor  brick, 
all  from  the  celebrated  McDonough 
county  clay. 

John  H.  Allison  was  born  in  Ross 
county,  Ohio,  December  27,  1851.  He 
is  the  son  of  William  Allison,  who  was 


950 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  July 
25,  1805.  William  married  Margaret 
Eakel,  a  native  of  the  same  state,  and 
soon  after  emigrated  to  Ross  county, 
where  J.  H.  was  born.  In  1852,  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Ten- 
nessee township,  McDonough  county, 
where,  in  1856,  Mrs.  Allison  died.  In 
1860,  Mr.  Allison  married  Rebecca  Lat- 
timer.  By  the  first  marriage  there  were 
nine  children,  J.  H.  being  the  youngest. 
The  elder  Allison  married  his  second 
wife  in  Knox  county,  where  he  was  then 
living,  and  where  he  died  in  August, 
1878.  John  H.,  was  brought  up  on  the 
farm,  and  received  a  common  school  ed- 
ucation. After  becoming  of  age  lie  went 
to  Kansas,  where  he  remained  until  1874, 
when  he  returned  to  McDonough  county 
and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business 
with  his  brother,  which  he  followed  until 
1882,  when  he  sold  out  and  then  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile, 
which  is  now  his  present  business.  Mr. 
A.  is  a  member  of  Milan  lodge  No.  617, 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.  at  Good  Hope.  He  was 
married  to  Arta  B.  Brown,  a  native  of 
Missouri,  April  25,  1878.  She  was  born 
May  4,  1859,  and  is  a  sister  of  Frank  L. 
Brown,  of  whom  mention  is  made  else- 
where. By  this  union  two  children  have 
been  born — James  B.,  born  July  3, 1879; 
William  J.,  born  October  18, 1883.  Mr. 
A.  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  Mrs.  A.,  of  the 
of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

William  H.  Parkin,  contractor  and 
builder,  came  to  Good  Hope  in  the 
spring  of  1870,  and  remained  one  year, 
then  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  re- 
mained also  one  year,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Good  Hope,  where  he  has 


since  resided.  He  was  born  in  Webster, 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  October  16, 
1842,  and  when  a  child,  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Fulton  county,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood  and  obtained  his  edu- 
cation. In  the  spring  of  1864,  he  enlisted 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  in  company 
C,  of  the  28th  regiment,  100  day  men, 
and  served  five  months.  In  March, 
1865,  he  re-enlisted  in  company  H,  of 
the  83d  Illinois  regiment.  He  also 
served  in  the  61st  Illinois  infantry.  He 
was  mustered  out  in  September,  1865, 
and  returned  to  Fulton  county,  where  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade.  In  1870 
he  came,  as  before  stated,  to  this  county. 
Mr.  Parkin  has  built  many  of  the  prin- 
cipal buildings  of  the  village  of  Good 
Hope,  and  has  gained  the  reputation  of 
being  an  honest  and  reliable  contractor, 
and  a  skilled  workman.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
On  January  25,  1872,  Mr.  Parkin  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Jennie  Hollis- 
ter,  a  native  of  Avon,  Illinois. 

CREAMERY. 

The  creamery  at  Good  Hope  was  es- 
tablished in  the  spring  of  1882,  by  Tur- 
ner and  Epps,  who  operated  it  until 
September,  1883,  when  they  disposed  of 
the  enterprise  to  A.  Allison  &  Son,  the 
present  owners.  The  building  is  a  one 
story  frame  structure,  40x80  feet  in 
ground  area,  with  double  walls  and  floors, 
and  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $1,755. 
It  is  operated  by  steam,  and  is  supplied 
with  all  modern  improvements,  having  a 
capacity  of  6,000  pounds  of  butter  per 
week.  They  generally  have  30  head  of 
milch  cows,  but  increase  that*  number 
during  the  spring  and  summer  seasons, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


951 


only,  during  which  time,  the  creamery  is 
in  operation. 

Andrew  Allison,proprietor  of  the  Good 
Hope  creamery,  is  a  son  of  William  Al- 
lison, formerly  once  a  resident  of  Ten- 
nessee township,  and  later  of  Abingdon, 
this  state,  but  now  deceased.  The  latter 
was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia, 
July  25,  1805.  He  was  married  to  Mar- 
I  garet  Eakle,  by  whom  he  had  nine  chil- 
dren, Andrew,  of  this  sketch,  being  the 
fifth.  Andrew  was  born  in  Augusta 
county,  Virginia,  November  16, 1837.  In 
1840,  his  parents  moved  to  Boss  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  till  1851.  In 
that  year  they  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  settled  in  Tennessee  town- 
ship. Andrew  remained  on  the  home- 
stead farm  till  1868,  when  he  located  on 
section  36,  Sciota  township,  where  he 
has  a  very  fine  farm  of  200  acres.  In 
1869,  Mr.  Allison  became  a  partner  in 
the  firm  of  Morris  &  Allison,  dealers  in 
grain  and  stock.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued eight  years,  the  firm  then  becom- 
ing Allison  Bros.,  which  was  dissolved 
in  18,83.  In  September  of  that  year,  Mr. 
Allison  engaged  in  his  present  business. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian church,  and  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
December  24,  1861,  he  was  married  to 
Lou  Russell,  daughter  of  T.  A.  Russell, 
of  Henderson  county.  They  have  three 
children  living — William  R.,  who  is  now 
attending  his  second  term  at  Rush  med- 
cal  college,  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  prepar- 
ing himself  for  a  medical  career;  Law- 
rence, who  is  attending  commercial  col- 
lege at  Burlington,  Iowa ;  daughter  Louie 
died  in  her  third  year ;  and  John  R.  They 
have  one  little  niece,  who  is  the  same  to 
them  as  a  daughter,  Jessie  Paul.  Wil- 


liam Allison  died  at  the  residence  of  his 
son  Andrew,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age. 

ELEVATOR. 

In  1876,  James  Statler  engaged  in  the 
grain  business  in  Good  Hope,  using  an 
elevator  which  was  owned  and  erected 
by  L.  Negley.  In  1879r  this  building 
was  consumed  by  fire,  when  the  present 
elevator  was  erected  by  Mr.  Statler.  It 
is  20x60  feet  in  ground  area,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  15,000  bushels  of  grain,  op- 
erated by  steam.  There  are  also  two  or 
three  other  buildings  in  connection,  used 
for  storage  purposes,  etc.  There  is  a 
corn  meal  mill  in  connection  with  the 
elevator  and  a  steam  sheller  attached. 
Mr.  Statler  is  also  buying  grain  at  Sciota. 

GRIST  MILL. 

Shortly  after  the  advent  of  the  T.  P. 
&  W.  railroad,  William  F.  Blandin 
erected  an  elevator  at  Good  Hope,  but  as 
it  did  not  prove  a  success,  financially, 
the  necessary  machinery  was  added,  and 
it  was  converted  into  a  flouring  mill. 
Mr.  Blandin  operated  the  mill  a  year  or 
two,  but  as  it  did  not  pay,  the  machinery 
was  taken  out  and  removed  to  Fort 
Worth,  Texas,  where  it  is  serving  its  use- 
fulness in  a  mill  there.  The  building 
here  is  now  used  by  James  Statler  as  an 
elevator  and  grain  house. 

William  F.  Blandin,  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  Good  Hope,  is  a  relative  of  the 
Blandins,  at  Blandinsville.  He  came  to 
the  county  at  an  early  day  from  the  east, 
was  enterprising  and  full  of  business, 
but  was  a  poor  financier.  He  remained 
here  until  about  1872  or  1873,  when  he 
removed  to  Texas,  where  he  still  resides, 
at  an  advanced  age  of  about  70  years. 


952 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUN.TY. 


SOCIETIES  OF  GOOD  HOPE. 

Milan  lodge,  No.  617,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  was  organized  un- 
der dispensation  in  the  fall  of  1868,  re- 
ceiving their  charter  October  5,  1869. 
The  charter  members  of  the  organization 
were:  David  Adams,  William  F.  Blandin, 
William  T.  Brooking,  T.  J.  Camp,  J.  P. 
Higgins,  H.  T.  Hunt,  F.  M.  Hensley, 
Samuel  Lock,  A.  H.  Reagan,  J.  M.  Wal- 
lin,  J.  E.  Morris,  J.  B.  Borden,  Ira  Hun- 
ter, I.  S.  Wallin,  J.  H.  Eaney,  N.  A. 
Goodfellow,  J.  C.  Buchanan,  Thomas 
Spencer,  J.  M.  Lane  and  F.  F.  Lane. 
The  first  officers  of  the  society  were  J. 
T.  Higgins,  W.  M. ;  William  F.  Blandin, 
S.  W.;  N.  A.  Goodfellow,  J.  W.;  A.  H. 
Reagan,  treasurer;  J.  M.  Wallin,  secre- 
tary; I.  S.  Wallin,  S.  D.;  H.  T.  Hunt,  J. 
D. ;  Ira  Hunter,  tyler.  The  present  offi- 
cers are:  J.  L.  Harden,  W..  M.;  E.  N. 
Campbell,  S.  W.;  Q.  P.  Manning,  J.  W.; 
J.  W.  Arnold,  treasurer;  S.  F.  Saunders, 
secretary;  I.  S.  Wallin,  S.  D.;  J.  H.  Alli- 
son, J.  D. ;  J.  N.  James,  S.  S. ;  Daniel 
Williams,  J.  S.;  W.  B.  Melhone,  tyler. 
At  present  there  is  a  membership  of  36, 
and  the  lodge  is  in  good  running  order. 
They  are  entirely  out  of  debt,  and  also 
own  the  hall,  in  which  regular  meetings 
are  held  once  a  month.  Of  the  charter 
members  of  the  lodge,  but  four  are  left 
ta  represent  the  number  who  constituted 
the  same  nearly  20  years  ago.  These 
gentlemen  are  Samuel  Lock,  J.  M.  Wal- 
lin, William  T.  Brooking  and  I.  S.  Wal- 
lin. 

MUNICIPAL. 

Good  Hope  was  organized  in  May, 
1869,  and  on  the  12th  day  of  that  moiith 
the  following  officers  were  elected ;  J.  E. 
Morris,  Joseph  H.  Whaler,  H.  B. 


Baker,  and  C.  H.  Creel,  trustees;  J.  E. 
Morris,  president;  J.  R.  Doughty,  clerk. 
H.  Rainey  was  appointed  constable,  and 
D.  Jacobus,  street  commissioner.  J.  R. 
Higgins,  was  the  first  police  magistrate. 
Again,  in  1875,  it  was  incorporated  un- 
der the  general  law  creating  villages, 
and  on  the  1st  day  of  June,  of  that  year, 
the  following  officers  were  chosen :  N.  A. 
Walker,  president;  H.  A.  Allison,  Alex- 
ander Monger,  E.  K.  Hannaford,  D. 
Jacobus,  trustees;  C.  Elliott,  clerk. 
Those  serving  the  town  in  an  official  po- 
sition at  present,  are  as  follows:  N.  B. 
Mitchell,  president;  J.  L.  Brown,  treas- 
urer; James  Statler,  P.  Van  Pelt,  John 
Barry  and  J.  H.  Allison,  trustees;  E.  K. 
Hannaford,  clerk;  George  Dewey,  con- 
stable; Marcus  Clarke,  street  commis- 
sioner; C.  H.  Creel,  police  magistrate. 

The  history  of  Good  Hope  can  be 
closed  in  no  better  manner,  than  by  giv- 
ing a  sketch  of  the  old  pioneer,  David 
Campbell,  the  ^fourth  child  of  Alexander 
Campbell.  He  was  born  June  15,  1819, 
in  Greene  county,  East  Tennessee,  and 
came  to  this  county  with  his  parents, 
and  remaining  with  them  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  22  years  of  age.  At  which 
time  he  was  married  to  Winnefred  W. 
Bridges,  a  native  of  Jackson  county, 
West  Tennessee.  She  was  born  Octo- 
ber 31,  1819.  By  this  union  there  were 
six  children — Elizabeth  C.,  John  A., 
Ebenezer  N.,  Margaret  L.,  Mary  J.,  and 
Ira  B.,  all  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mr. 
Campbell  lived  on  his  farm  in  Walnut 
Grove  towship,  until  the  year  1872, 
when  he  sold  out  and  moved  to  Good 
Hope,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  bus- 
ness.  After  following  this  line  of  trade 
for  three  years,  he  sold  out,  and  was  ap- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


953 


pointed  post-master  of  Good  Hope, 
which  office  he  held  for  five  years.  He 
then  resigned  this  position  and  retired 
from  public  life.  His  wife  died  Janu- 
ary 31,  1882.  Mr.  Campbell  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
47  years.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for 
William  Henry  Harrison,  and  he  has 
been  a  republican  since  that  party  was 
organized.  Mr.  Campbell  is  in  good 
health,  and  so  situated  as  to  enjoy  his 
declining  years. 

VILLAGE  OF  SCIOTA. 

This  town  was  laid  out  in  September, 
1867,  by  William  B.  Clarke,  and,  in 
honor  of  its  founder,  was  named  Clarkes- 
ville;  but  there  being  another  town  in 
the  state,  by  the  same  name,  the  post  of- 
fice established  there  was  called  Amicus. 
Having  the  town  known  by  one  name, 
and  the  post-office  by  another,  was  not 
satisfactory  to  the  people,  and  both  were 
changed  to  the  name  given  the  township 
— Sciota — so  named  by  settlers  from 
Ohio,  who  in  that  state  lived  near  a 
stream  known  as  the  Sciota  river.  Not- 
withstanding it  has  now  been  some 
years  since  the  name  Sciota  was  adopted 
the  town  is  familiarly  known  and  often 
called  by  its  former  name — Clarkesville. 
It  is  a  bustling  little  town,  situated  on 
the  T.  P.  &  W.,  railroad,  about  10  miles 
north  of  Macornb,  and  six  miles  east  of 
Blandinsville,  having  a  population  of  not 
less  than  300  souls.  It  is  entirely  sur- 
rounded by  prairie,  which  extends  north 
for  a  distance  of  30  miles,  and  south 
about  one  mile  to  a  small  body  of  tim- 
ber land.  The  first  plat  of  the  town, 
made  by  Mr.  Clarke,  contained  but  24 
lots,  60x170  feet,  but  since,  other  addi- 


tions have  been  made.  Lots  first  sold 
at  from  $50  to  $75  each.  J.  R.  Seybolds 
purchased  the  first  lot  and  erected  a 
small  residence  thereon.  Before  the 
town  was  laid  out,  Mr.  Clarke  was  farm- 
ing upon  the  site,  and  a  few  years  pre- 
vious to  this  purchased  the  quarter  sec- 
tion upon  which  it  lies,  for  the  sum  of 
$800.  During  the  first  few  years  of  the 
existence  of  the  town,  it  made  but  little 
progress,  but  has  since  prospered  and 
developed  into  a  lively  little  place.  It 
is  noted  for  being  one  of  the  largest 
grain  markets  in  McDonough  county. 
The  mercantile  trade  is  better  than  is 
usually  enjoyed  by  towns  of  its  size, 
and  her  business  men,  as  a  class,  are 
live,  enterprising,  and  work  for  the 
prosperity  of  the  place. 

THE   BEGINNING. 

The  first  store  building  erected  in 
Sciota,  was  by  L.  King.  William  H. 
Franklin,  agent  for  George  W.  Smith, 
of  Macomb,  put  in  a  stock  of  groceries, 
which  was  the  first  store  opened  in  the 
place.  He  operated  the  business  about 
six  months,  when  Mr.  Smith  sold  out  to 
William  Clarke.  Three  years  later  Mr. 
Clarke  sold  to  R.  L.  Shouse,  who  ran  the 
business  about  four  years,  and  then 
went  to  Kentucky. 

Kline  &  Painter  started  a  lumber 
yard  in  1869,  and  a  year  later  disposed 
of  the  same  to  L.  L.  King.  Several 
different  parties  afterward  owned  the 
business,  and  it  finally  wras  closed  out, 
leaving  Sciota  without  a  lumber  yard. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  opened 
by  Milton  Russell,  in  1867.  He  re- 
mained about  five  years,  and  now  re- 
sides in  Oregon. 


954 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  first  shoemaker  was  N.  J.  Sheron, 
who  came  in  1873.  He  still  resides 
here. 

John  Jones  opened  the  first  hotel,  in 
1871,  which  he  called  the  Sciota  house. 
The  building  is  now  used  as  a  private 
dwelling. 

The  first  livery  stable  was  opened  in 
1881,  by  Al.  Tipton.  The  business  is 
now  carried  on  by  William  Clarke,  the 
founder  of  Sciota. 

Jacob  Obermeyer  engaged  in  the  gen- 
eral merchandise  trade,  in  the  Kline 
building,  in  October,  1868,  being  the 
second  merchant  in  the  place.  A  year  later 
he  removed  the  stock  to  the  Henderson 
building,  and  in  1875,  he  erected  a 
building  of  his  own.  It  was  a  two- 
story,  frame  structure,  24x60  feet  in 
ground  area,  and  cost  $2,000.  In  1876, 
his  brother,  Herman,  became  a  member 
of  the  firm,  which  is  now  known  as 
Obermeyer  Brothers.  They  carry  a 
stock  of  dry  goods,  clothing,  boots, 
shoes,  etc.,  which  is  valued  at  $10,000. 

J.  Obermeyer  was  born  in  Germany, 
December  11,  1837.  His  childhood  and 
youth  were  spent  in  his  native  land, 
where  he  received  a  good  education.  He 
engaged  in  keeping  books  and  clerking, 
until  1853,  when  he  came  to  America, 
and  located  in  Rockbridge  county,  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  engaged  in  clerking  two 
years.  He  then  went  to  Rochester, 
New  Hampshire,  where  he  remained 
also  two  years,  thence  to  Fin  castle,  Vir- 
ginia, thence,  fliree  years  later,  1860,  to 
Bristol,  Tennessee.  In  1861,  he  entered 
the  confederate  army,  and  served  two 
and  a  half  years,  then  returned  to  Bris- 
tol, where  he  resided  until  1868.  At 
that  date  he  located  in  Sciota,  McDon- 


ough  county,  and  engaged  in  business. 
He  has  for  the  past  eight  years  held 
some  local  office,  and  is  at  present  city 
clerk.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
order,  and  of  the  chapter. 

Silas  A.  Webb,  dealer  in  drugs,  gro- 
ceries, etc.,  commenced  business  in  Sci- 
ota, in  August,  1876.  He  carries  a 
stock  of  $2,500,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  and  business  men  of  the 
place.  He  occupies  a  store  building  of 
his  own,  which  is  24x60  feet,  two-stories. 

Silas  A.  Webb  is  a  native  of  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  and  was  born  November 
7,  1845.  He  resided  in  that  county 
until  1862,  when  he  removed,  with  his 
father's  family,  to  Blandiusville,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  learned  the  millers'  trade, 
which  business  he  followed  for  seven 
years.  He  came  to  Sciota  in  1876,  and 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  He  is 
the  present  township  clerk  of  Sciota, 
and  the  first  republican  ever  elected  to 
office  in  this  township.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order  of  Blandins- 
ville,  and  of  the  G.  A.  R.  During  the 
late  war  he  joined  the  83d  Illinois  regi- 
ment, being  too  young  to  enlist,  and 
served  as  groom  for  Colonel  A.  C.  Hard- 
ing, afterward,  General  Harding.  After 
six  months,  he  enlisted  in  company  H., 
of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry,  and  served 
until  he  was  mustered  out  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas,  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  married  February  13,  1867,  to 
Mary  Filson,  a  native  of  Illinois.  They 
have  six  children — Quinton  A.,  Nellie 
E.,  Ella  G.,  Silas  A,  Aura  and  Cora. 

Head  Brothers  established  business 
here  in  April,  1882,  the  firm  being  com- 
posed of  Albert  and  Joseph  M.  Head. 
They  carry  a  stock  of  groceries,  crock- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


955 


ery,  queensware,  etc.,  valued  at  $2,500, 
and  are  doing  a  thriving  business. 

Albert  Head,  the  senior  member  of 
the  firm  of  Head  Bros.,  was  born  Janu- 
ary 14,  1849,  in  McDonough  county.  His 
father,  Thomas  W.  Head,  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  the  county.  Albert  has  spent 
his  life  in  this  township.  He  received  a 
good  education  in  the  public  schools,  and 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1882,  when  lie  embarked  with  his  brother, 
in  their  present  business.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  and  of  the  I. 
O.  O.  F.  of  this  city.  He  acted  as  town- 
ship collector,  in  }874.  He  was  married 
May  10,  1876,  to  Maggie  Perrine,  a  na- 
tive of  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  They 
have  one  child — Ora  A. 

J.  M.  Head,  of  the  firm  of  Head  Bros., 
was  born  here,  August  18,  1855.  He  was 
reared  and  educated  in  this  county,  and 
followed  farming  until  1882,  when,  as 
before  stated,  he  engaged  in  his  present 
business.  He  was  married  December 
23,  1880,  to  Jessie  Gutick,  a  native  of 
Beardstown,  Illinois.  They  have  one 
child — Delia  K.  Mr.  Head  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  of  the  I. 
O.  O.  F.  The  Head  Bros.,  are  live,  ac- 
tive business  men,  and  have  already 
built  up  a  thriving  trade. 

C.  D.  Elting  &  Company,  dealers  in 
groceries,  hardware  and  agricultural  im- 
plements, commenced  business  in  Janu- 
ary, 1884.  The  firm  was  composed  of  C. 
D.  Elting  and  Warren  &  Co.,  of  Peo- 
ria,  C.  A.  Warren  being  the  manager  of 
the  firm's  interests  at  this  place.  In 
June,  1884,  they  completed  the  store 
building  now  occupied  by  them,  which  is 
48x70  feet  in  dimensions.  They  are  also 
engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain. 


The  bpot  and  shoe  establishment  of 
John  W.  Tipton,  was  established  Octo- 
ber 21,  1881,  by  his  son,  Albert,  who 
operated  the  business  until  his  death,  in 
December,  1882,  at  which  time  John  W. 
took  the  stock.  He  carries  a  stock  which 
will  invoice  about  $1,000,  and  owns  the 
building  in  which  he  is  doing  business. 

Harness  and  saddlery  are  represented 
at  Sciota,  by  G.  A.  McCartney,  successor 
to  McCartney  Brothers.  The  latter  firm 
were  successors  to  W.  L.  Platt,  who  es- 
tablished the  business  in  1873.  The  pres- 
ent proprietor  assumed  sole  charge, 
March  9,  1885. 

G.  A.  McCartney,  harness  maker  at 
Sciota,  was  born  July  13,  1857,  in  War- 
ren county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained 
until  14  years  of  age.  His  parents  then 
removed  to  Prairie  City,  McDonough 
county,  where  he  worked  at  his  trade. 
In  July,  1879,  he  came  to  Good  Hope 
and  purchased  his  present  business.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  Sciota, 
of  which  he  is  at  present  N.  G.  His 
father,'  George  M.  McCartney,  is  a  na- 
tive of  Blount  county,  Tennessee,  where 
he  was  born  April  24,  1811.  In  1839  he 
removed  to  the  state  of  Illinois,  locating 
in  Warren  county,  and  has,  since  that 
time,  lived  in  Warren,  Henderson  and 
McDonough  counties.  He  was  married 
June  19,  1834,  to  Elizabeth  Hoge,  of 
Tennessee.  They  have  five  children- 
John  W.,  Samuel  H.,  Mary  L.,  Edward 
C.,  and  Gustavus  A.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  who  is  a  skilled  workman  at  his 
trade,  a  worthy  young  man,  and  well  de- 
serving of  the  patronage  which  he  re- 
ceives. 

William  B.  Clarke,  livery  stable  keeper 
at  Sciota,  is  a  son  of  James  Clarke,  a  na- 


956 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ive  of  Kentucky,  who  was  born  Septem- 
ber 26,  1877,  and  there  married,  in  May, 
1818,  to  Polly  Lewis,  a  native  of  North 
Carolina,  but  reared  in  Kentucky.  In 
1829  the  family  emigrated  to  what  is  now 
known  as  Cass  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  remained  one  year;  then,  in  1830, 
moved  to  McDonough  county,  and  lo- 
cated in  Chalmers  township,  two  miles^ 
south  of  where  Macomb  now  stands. 
Two  years  later  they  removed  to  Ma- 
comb,  where  James  Clarke  died  in  1877, 
his  widow  surviving  until  1881.  William 
was  the  eldest  of  a  family  of  10  children. 
He  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Kentucky,  March  31,  1819,  and  was  ten 
years  of  age  when  he  came  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
this  county,  and  in  1850  located  in  Emmet 
township,  where  he  operated  a  saw  mill 
four  years.  In  1854  he  located  on  sec- 
tion 29,  Sciota  township,  and  here  opened 
a  farm,  a  part  of  which  is  now  th.e  town 
of  Sciota,  and  upon  which  he  still  lives- 
He  engaged  in  his  present  business  in 
1883.  He  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace 
of  Emmet  and  Sciota  townships  for  32 
years.  He  served  for  a  short  time  in  the 
Mormon  war.  Mr.  Clarke  was  married, 
November  15,  1848,  to  Emma  Jacoby,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  by  this  union 
has  seven  children — Henry,  Alice,  Jere- 
miah, John,  William  F.,  Samuel  and 
Eva.  Mrs.  Clarke  died  July  15,  1857. 
March  7, 1878,  Mr.  Clarke  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Rebecca  E.  Hainline,  nee  Bugg. 
Mr.  Clarke  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
of  McDonough  county,  and  a  highly  es- 
teemed citizen. 

Ephraim  Dice  is  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  wind  mills,  pumps,  etc.,  estab- 
lishing the  business  in  March,  1881.  He 


is  the  inventor  and  manufacturer  of  the 
Economy  wind  mill,  and  is  also  the  in- 
ventor of  a  tile  ditcher.  He  has  a  cap- 
ital of  $2,500  invested. 

Ephraim  Dice  was  born  July  10, 1836, 
in  Seneca  county,  Ohio.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  his  native  county,  where,  in 
his  youth,  he  learned  the  carpenter's 
trade.  In  1857  he  came  to  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  upon  a  farm 
in  Walnut  Grove  township.  Four  years 
later  he  moved  to  Sciota  township,  and 
settled  on  section  5,  where  he  still  owns 
a  farm  of  160  acres,  upon  which  he  re- 
sided till  1881.  He  then  removed  to  the 
village  of  Sciota,  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  He  has  been  for  two 
terms  a  member  of  the  board  of  super- 
visors,and  has  held  the  offices  of  collector, 
commissioner  of  highways,  and  township 
clerk.  He  was  married  November  8, 
1860,  to  Caroline  Wilson,  a  native  of 
Ohio.  They  have  three  children — Maria 
J.,  Charles  J.  and  Susan  A. 

MUNICIPAL. 

At  an  election  held  March  15,  1870,  a 
vote  was  taken  for  or  against  incorpora- 
tion, which  resulted  in  the  adoption  of 
the  measure,  and  on  the  1st  Monday  in 
April  of  the  same  year,  the  following 
trustees  were  elected:  John  W.  Tipton, 
R.  N.  Henderson,  John  Walsh,  J.  R. 
Hunt  and  George  B.  Painter.  This 
board  met  on  the  1st  of  May  and  elected 
John  W.  Tipton,  president  and  R.  N. 
Henderson,  clerk.  From  want  of  interest 
and  the  opposition  against  incorporation 
no  further  election  was  held  until  the 
spring  of  1874,  when  the  following  named 
gentlemen^  were  elected  members  of  the 
board  of  trustees:  William  B.  Clarke, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


957 


M.  E.  Lavens,  John  R.  Seybold,  William 
Trower,  and  J.  Obermeyer.  After  this, 
elections  were  held  regularly  every  year. 
The  present  officers  of  the  village  are  J. 
H.  Shryack,  president;  Dr.  H.  Knappen- 
berger,  J.  B.  Duncan,  Ira  Bonwell,  Wil- 
liam McKinley,  Albert  Head  trustees; 
J.  Obermeyer,  clerk. 

ELEVATOR. 

One  of  the  largest  elevators  in  Mc- 
•  Donough  county  was  built  at  Sciota,  dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1883,  at  a  cost  of 
$8,000.  It  is  40x110  feet  in  ground  area, 
28  feet  high  and  has  a  capacity  of  40,000 
bushels.  It  was  erected  by  U.  T.  Doug- 
lass, but  is  at  present  owned  and  opera- 
ted by  Douglass  and  Elting,  who  engaged 
in  handling  grain  in  1883,  as  successors 
to  C.  D.  Elting.  They  also  handle  and 
store  the  grain  purchased  by  C.  D.  Elt- 
ing &  Co. 

HISTORICAL.  • 

J.  C.  Clarke,  son  of  William,  was  the 
first  child  born.  The  event  occurred 
February  22,  1855,  before  the  town  was 
laid  out,  but  was  on  the  present  site. 

The  first  death  occurred  in  1873,  being 
H.  J.  Kline.  The  body  was  buried  in 
the  Spring  creek  cemetery. 

Emma  Atkinson  taught  the  first  school 
ever  held  in  the  town. 

Rev.  John  McGinnis  preached  the  first 
sermon  in  the  town.  He  was  a  preacher 
of  the  M.  E.  church. 


The  first  postmaster  was   William  H. 

Franklin. 

SOCIETIES. 

Sciota  lodge,  No.  552,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was 
organized  October  4,  1874,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers :  J.  M.  Harrington,  N.  G. ; 
T.  S.  Hainline,  V.  G.  ;A.  V.  Ramsey,  sec- 
retary ;  Albert  Head,  treasurer.  Includ- 
ing the  above  officers,  the  following  are 
the  balance  of  the  charter  members: 
W.  W.  Ragon,  J.  H.  Head,  William  Per- 
rine,  M.  M.  Head,  A.  Gist,  J.  Roberts. 
The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  R. 
E.  Wilson,  N.  G.;  Ira  Bonwell,  V.  G.; 
Henry  Arbogast,  secretary ;  Ira  Bonwell, 
treasurer.  At  present  the  lodge  is  in  a 
flourishing  condition  with  a  membership 
of  34.  They  own  the  hall  in  which  they 
meet,  which  is  28x58  feet  in  dimensions. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In  1872,  a  good  school  building  24x36 
feet  in  size,  was  erected  a  a  cost  of  $1,- 
200.  In  1875,  an  addition  17x22  feet, 
was  built,  at  an  additional  cost  of  $600. 
The  building  has  now  two  large,  com- 
fortable rooms  and  two  teachers  are  em- 
ployed regularly  eight  months  in  the 
year.  The  school  has  a  large  average 
attendance  and  is  known  as  district  No. 
10.  It  is  two  miles  in  length,  north  and 
south,  and  one  mile  in  breadth,  east  and 
west.  The  first  term  of  school  in  the 
present  building  was  taught  by  H.  G. 
Boles. 


958 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


CHAPTKR    XXXVII. 


MOUND  TOWNSHIP. 


This    is   considered  one  of  the  best 
townships  in  the  county,  and  consists  of 
beautiful,  gently  undulating  prairie,  in 
a  good  state  of  cultivation,  there   being 
only  one  quarter, section  of  timber  land 
on  the  west  and  another  in  the   south- 
east corner.     On  section  14,  is  the  sum- 
mit of  a  very  high  mound,  perhaps  the 
highest  point  in  the   county ;  the   ascent 
is  very  gradual,  and  scarcely  percepta- 
ble.     When  the   summit  is  reached   a 
grand  view  of  the  surrounding  country 
presents  itself.      From  this   mound  the 
township  derives  its  name.     The  mound 
is  known  as   Dyer's   mound.      Kepple 
creek,  in  a  semicircle,  enters  Mound  from 
near  the  centre  of  the  west  side,   then 
easterly  to  the  center   of  the   township, 
and  turning  gently  north  and  west,  flows 
by  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  water  tank  to  its  junc- 
tion, just  below, with  Drowning  fork  from 
the  north,  and  thence  to  near  the   west 
line  where  it  unites  with  the  north  fork 
of  Crooked  creek,  which  enters  the  town- 
ship at  its  northwest  corner.     The  head 
waters  of    Shaw  fork  pass   eastwardly 
from  a  little  north  of  the   center   of  the 
township,  and  the  very   head  waters  of 
Camp    creek,   start  in  the  south  edge. 
The  township  is  well  watered  and  adap- 
ted to  stock  raising  as  well  as  the  pro- 
duction of  corn,  oats,  wheat,  rye,  clover, 
grass,   etc.       The  soil  is  a  dark  loam, 
chocolate  color,  but  when  wet,  very  black. 


There  is  a  fine  bed  of  fire  and  potter's 
clay  on  John  Booth's  farm,  north  of  Bar- 
dolph ;  also  an  extensive  bed  of  white  fire 
clay  on  Park  Hillister's  place,  on  Shaw 
fork,  which  supplies  both  of  the  Bush- 
nell  tile  works.  Good  coal  is  mined 
quite  extensively  at  the  Hood  and  Clark 
mines,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town- 
ship, where,  also,  good  sandstone  is 
quarried  for  building  purposes.  There 
is  a  rich  deposit  of  iron  ore,  one-half 
mile  south  of  Epperson,  on  D.  C.  Flinty's 
farm ;  so  says  Mr.  Worthen,  the  state  ge- 
ologist. It  is  probable  that  coal  under- 
lies most  of  trie  surface  of  the  township. 
Mound  lies  adjoining  Fulton  county 
and  the  fourth  principal  meridian  on  the 
east,  with  the  thriving  young  city  of 
Bushnell  on  its  northern  boundary,  New 
Salem  on  the  south,  and  the  village  of 
Bardolph  on  the  west  line.  The  C.  B. 
&  Q.  railroad,  traverses  the  northwestern 
portion  a  distance  of  five  miles.  The  St. 
L.  division  of  the  same  passes  through 
the  township  from  north  to  south  near 
the  center,  where  it  effects  a  junction 
with  the  Wabash  railroad,  which  enters 
about  the  middle  of  the  east  side,  and 
running  nearly  west,  passes  the  impor- 
tant shipping  point  of  New  Philadel- 
phia to  the  above  junction,  and  thence 
north,  parallel  with  the  former  to  Bush^ 
nell,  thus  giving  the  town  ship  three  rail- 
roads. The  station  of  Epperson  is  lo- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


959 


catecl  on  the  St.  L.  division  of  the  0. 
B.  &  Q.  railroad,  five  miles  south  of 
Bushnell.  New  Philadelphia  is  the  only 
village  within  the  limits  of  the  township. 
No  township  in  the  county  has  as  good 
railroad  facilities,  with  Bushnell  on  the 
north,  Bardolph  west,  New  Philadelphia 
the  east  part,  and  Epperson  the  center. 
Excellent  farms  with  many  fine,  large 
dwellings,  and  good  barns,  and  beautiful 
planted  groves  of  maple,  walnut  and  box 
elder,  with  fine  and  well  trimmed  hedges, 
and  orchards,  give  a  beautiful  appear- 
ance to  the  eye.  Some  farms  have  from 
eight  to  ten  acres,  planted  to  small  fruit, 
such  as  blackberries,  raspberries,  and 
strawberries. 

The  dairy  is  receiving  considerable  at- 
tention here.  L.  B.  Sperry  usually 
milks  from  30  to  40  cows,  and  furnishes 
milk  for  the  city  of  Bushnell;  and  W. 
H.  Greene  has  kept  from  20  to  30  cows 
and  made  cheese  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  has  acquired  a  reputation  for  a 
good  article  equal  to  New  York  or  West- 
ern Reserve.  The  fine  stock  business  has 
and  is  receiving  much  attention  by  such 
enterprising  citizens  as  J.  Kepple,  J. 
Shannon,  J.  Langford,  John  Work,  and 
others,  especially  in  rearing  Clydesdale 
horses  and  Short  Horn  cattle. 

EAKLY   SETTLEMENT. 

The  pioneer  settlement  of  Mound  was 
made  by  Joseph  Smith,  in  1830,  who 
settled  at  Wolf  Grove,  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  18,  coming  from  Ken- 
tucky. He  erected  a  cabin  of  round 
logs,  but  did  not  remain  long,  as  he  was 
of  a  restless  disposition,  and  did  not  en- 
joy living  in  the  county  after  it  began  to 
settle  up.  He  was  a  great  hunter,  quite 


poor,  and  removed  to  Missouri,  or  some 
other  state  further  west. 

A  son-in-law  of  Smith  by  the  name  of 
Osborne,  came  shortly  afterward  and 
located  near  Smith.  He  left  about  the 
same  time  as  did  his  father-in-law. 

Abner  Cox,  a  bachelor,  was  the  next 
settler,  coming  from  Louisiana.  He 
located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 20.  He  improved  the  place,  and  in 
1833,  sold  the  same  to  Jacob  Kepple. 
About  a  year  afterward  he  removed  to 
Fulton  county,  since  which  time  he  has 
not  been  heard  of. 

John  Snapp,  a  son-in-law  of  Jacob 
Kepple,  came  in  1833,  locating  on  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  where 
he  built  a  cabin.  He  came  to  the  county 
from  Washington  county,  Tennessee. 
He  remained  in  the  township  until 
about  1840,  when  he  removed  to  Macomb 
township.  In  1856,  he  went  to  Mercer 
county,  Missouri,  where  he  afterward 
died. 

Durham  Creel  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  the  spring  of  1833,  and  located 
on  section  18,  Mound  township,  where 
he  improved  a  farm.  He  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  came  to  this  county  from 
that  state.  He  died  in  1867,  and  his 
wife  followed  him  011  the  long  journey, 
in  1873. 

Jacob  Kepple  came  from  East  Tennes- 
see in  1833,  settling  on  the  northwest 
quarter  of  section  30,  on  the  farm  im- 
proved by  Abner  Cox,  who  had  built  a 
double  cabin  and  broke  out  several  acres 
of  land.  Mr.  Kepple  lived  on  the  home- 
stead several  years  and  afterward  re- 
moved to  Bardolph,  where  he  died.  Some 
of  the  family  are  still  residents  of  this 
county. 


960 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Silas  Creel  came  to  the  county  in  1833, 
with  his  parents,  and  located  near  Bar- 
dolph,  in  Mound  township.  At  that  time 
he  was  but  15  years  of  age.  He  is  at  the 
present  time  a  resident  of  Macoinb  town- 
ship. 

James  Chandler  came  in  the  spring  of 
1838,  settling  on  section  7,  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Bigger  Head,  where  he 
built  a  small  house  and  made  some  im- 
provements, and  afterwards  moved  away. 

Thompson  Chandler  came  in  the  spring 
of  1834,  locating  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  6.  He  soon  afterward  re- 
moved to  the  city  of  Macomb,  where  he 
still  resides.  A  sketch  of  this  gentleman 
appears  in  the  Representative  chapter  of 
this  volume. 

The  southwest  quarter  of  section  6,  was 
settled  about  the  same  time  by  a  brother- 
in-law  of  Thompson  Chandler,  Jacob 
Chase.  He  built  a  house,  made  some 
improvements  and  afterward  removed  to 
Rushville,  Schuyler  county. 

Elias  Gulp  came  in  1834,  settling  on 
the  north  half  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  19.  He  built  a  hewed  log 
cabin  and  improved  the  place.  He  sold 
his  farm  and  removed  to  Macomb  town- 
ship about  the  year  1841,  where  he  re- 
sided some  time  and  then  removed  to 
Iowa.  He  was  a  man  of  family,  having 
a  wife,  two  daughters  and  a  son.  He  was 
given  to  hunting  considerably,  but  was  a 
good  neighbor  and  citizen.  He  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Rev.  William  Howard  Jackson,  the 
father  of  the  Jackson  brothers  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Bardolph,  and  vicinity,  landed  in 
the  county  November  11,  1836.  The 
northwest  quarter  of  section  19  was  pre- 
viously purchased  by  George  Miller  for 


Mr.  Jackson,  before  he  came,  also  the 
timber  land  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  13,  Macomb  township.  He 
worked  Mr.  Miller's  place  in  Macomb 
township  the  first  season  after  arriving 
in  the  county,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837,  re- 
moved to  his  own  land  in  this  township, 
upon  which  he  erected  a  log  cabin  and 
Avorked  at  his  trade,  that  of  blacksmith- 
ing.  A  couple  of  years  after  settling  in 
Mound,  he  erected  a  hewed  log  cabin, 
in  which  his  widow  still  resides.  Mr. 
Jackson  was  born  in  Fauquier  county, 
Virginia,  March  1,  1804,  being  a  son  of 
Jacob  Jackson.  When  a  small  boy  the 
family  removed  to  Orange  county,  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  was  married  December 
24,  1824,  to  Ann  Miller,  who  was  born  in 
Rockingharn  county,  that  state,  April  25, 
1803,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  Miller.  Her  people  removed 
to  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  about  the 
year  1805,  and  two  years  later,  removed 
to  Boone  county,  that  state.  Her  father 
served  in  the  war,  1812,  and  shortly  af- 
ter his  return  to  Boone  county,  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  his  death  occurred.  In 
the  fall  of  1823,  she  returned  to  Virginia 
for  a  visit,  and  while  there  met  Mr.  Jack- 
son, to  whom  she  was  afterward  married, 
as  stated  above.  Jacob  Jackson  and 
wife,  the  father  and  mother  of  William, 
died  In  Orange  county,  Virginia.  After 
the  marriage  of  William  H.,  they  resided 
in  Orange  county  until  1834,  when  they 
removed  to  Fauquier  county,  from  which 
place  they  came  to  this  county.  Mr. 
Jackson  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  in  1828,  and  in  1831,  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  John  Hersey,  which  he 
followed  until  his  death,  September  2, 
1866.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  minis- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


961 


ters  of  this  and  Fulton  county,  and  was 
one  of  the  leading  advocates  in  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Methodist  church  at 
Bardolph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jackson  were 
the  parents  of  10  children  John  M., 
William  J.,  Mary  Frances,  James  W., 
Albert  L.,  Nathaniel  H.,  Hester  A.,  Mar- 
garet E.,  Joseph,  George  and  Thomas  A. 

James  W.  Jackson,  the  third  son  of 
"William  H.  and  Ann  (Miller)  Jackson, 
was  born  in  Virginia  December  6,  1830. 
He  remained  at  home  until  1852,  and  on 
January  28,  of  that  year,  he  was  married 
to  Margaret  Kepple,  a  daughter  of 
Jacob  Kepple.  She  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee January  22, 1831.  He  lived  with 
Mr.  Kepple,  and  helped  to  build  a  small 
cabin,  in  1854,  on  the  place  where  he 
now  resides.  In  1873,  he  erected  his 
present  home.  They  have  had  12  chil- 
dren, as  follows — Franklin  P.,  died  in 
infancy ;  Tamzin  Ann,  wife  of  Eli  Holler, 
of  Macomb  township ;  Charles  W.,  living 
in  Macomb  township;  Laura  J.,  de- 
ceased; Margaret  A.,  wife  of  Con  well 
Fleming,  living  in  Nebraska:  Lewis  A., 
living  in  Mound  township;  Harriet  Eva, 
at  home;  Ida  May,  deceased;  Minnie 
C.,  at  home;  John  M.,  deceased;  Mary 
Lizzie,  living  at  home;  James  Elba  I., 
at  home.  Mr.  Jackson  joined  the  M.  E. 
church  when  but  15  years  of  age,  and  has 
been  an  officer  in  that  body  for  many 
years.  He  has  also  been  school  director 
of  his  district,  more  or  less,  for  25  years. 

William  J.  Jackson,  the  second  son  of 
William  Jackson,  was  born  in  Orange 
county,  Virginia,  on  the  15th  of  April, 
1827.  He  remained  at  home  with  his 
father  until  August  23,  1848,  at  which 
date  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Hannah  Crabb,  a  sister  of  Daniel  Crabb. 


He  then  removed  to  the  farm  of  Michael 
Vincent,  in  Macomb  township,  and  one 
year  later  rented  another  farm.  In  the 
spring  of  1852,  he  removed  to  section  19, 
where  he  had  bought  40  acres  in  1848. 
Here  he  resided  until  the  summer  of 
1865,  when  he  built  his  present  residence 
on  the  west  half  of  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  20,  Mound  township.  His 
land  is  well  improved,  and  paid  for,  he 
now  being  one  of  the  most  substantial 
farmers  of  the  township.  Mrs.  Jackson 
departed  this  life  on  the  14th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1868,  leaving  a  husband  and  five 
children  to  mourn  her  loss.  She  was 
the  mother  of  seven  children,  two  of 
whom  preceded  her.  The  children  were 
named,  respectively — John  H. ;  Anna 
E.,  wife  of  James  Easton,  of  Bardolph; 
Frances,  deceased;  William  W. ;  Emma, 
wife  of  A.  W.  Fluke;  Minnie,  wife  of 
William  Mason,  of  Bardolph.  Mr.  Jack- 
son was  again  married  in  February, 
1869,  Mrs.  Rachel  A.  Bates  becoming 
his  wife.  By  this  marriage  there  are 
four  children  living — James  M.,  Jere- 
miah, Henry  Tilden,  and  Joseph  E. 
Two  of  their  children  died  in  infancy- 
Temperance  and  Jennie.  Mr.  Jackson 
has  been  a  church  member  since  his  boy- 
hood days,  and  at  present  is  a  member 
of  the  Bardolph  M.  E.  church.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  four 
years  in  Mound  township.  The  Masonic 
and  Odd  Fellows  lodges  claim  him  as  an 
honored  member. 

William  McCandless  located  upon  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  30,  in  1837, 
coming  from  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 
There  was  a  cabin  already  constructed 
upon  the  place  by  John  Snapp.  He  had 
a  family  of  two  sons  and  two  daughters, 


962 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  some  30 
years,  ago,  divided  the  farm  with  the 
sons,  Samuel  and  William,  Jr.  The  old 
gentleman  was  a  consistent  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  highly 
respected  by  his  many  friends  and  neigh- 
bors. 

David  Noel  and  family  came  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  and  settled  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  7,  where  he  re- 
sided until  his  death.  His  wife  also  died 
there. 

LEADING  CITIZENS. 

Under  this  caption  are  given  the 
sketches  of  representative  people  not 

mentioned  under  the  head  of   early  set- 

.» 

tlement: 

Levinus  Sperry,  born  in  Waterbury, 
Connecticut,  July  7,  1814,  is  one  of  a 
family  of  14  children,  of  whom  seven  are 
now  living,  scattered  through  five  states, 
from  Ohio  to  Colorado.  When  he  was 
five  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio, 
which  was  his  home  until  the  fall  of  1838. 
It  was  during  the  latter  part  of  this 
period  that  he  made  some  flat  boat  ex- 
peditions down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi 
rivers.  Spending  the  winter  on  the  lower 
Mississippi,  he  gained  some  knowledge 
of  the  workings  of  negro  slavery,  which 
in  after  years  made  him  a  stern  and  un- 
compromising abolitionist.  Late  in  1830, 
he  migrated  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
first  to  a  place  near  Fairview,  and  two 
years  later  to  Bernadotte.  Here  it  was 
that  he  became  a  member  of  that  cour- 
ageous band,  since  famous  as  the  con- 
ductors of  the  mysterious  "underground 
railroad";  men  who  chose  rather  to  risk 
the  penalty  of  an  infamous  law  than  to 
violate  the  dictates  of  conscience  and 
become  partners  in  crime  and  oppres- 


sion, by  aiding  to  drive  the  slave  back 
to  bondage;  men  who  chose  to  obey  God 
rather  than    man,   no  matter  what  the 
consequences  to  themselves;  and  he  en- 
tered into  it  with  that  same  zeal  and  in- 
flexible obedience  to   his  convictions  of 
right,  Avhich  form  so  marked   a  trait  of 
his  whole  life;  made  his  word   as  good 
as  his  bond,  and  caused  it  to  be  said  of 
him,  that,  "were  all  men  as  upright  as  he 
there  would  be  small  need  of  laws."    It 
was  at  Bernadotte,  in   1847,  that  he  was 
married    to    Charlotte    Churchill,   who 
proved  a  helpmeet  for  him  through  the 
"heat  and  burden  of  the  day,"  until  some 
10  years  later,  when  she  succumbed  to 
the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to 
frontier  life,  leaving  four  small  children 
to  be  brought  up  without   a   mother's 
love.     In  1849,  he  moved  to  what  is  now 
known  as  Seville  Mills,  in  Fulton  county, 
and  four  years  later,  in  1853,  began  im- 
provements  on  his    present  farm,  near 
where  Bushnell  now   stands.     No  town 
was  there  then,  nor  were  there  any  other 
settlers  within  sight.  In  1855,  he  moved 
his  family  to    his  prairie  home.     This 
farm    he   gradually  improved   and  en- 
larged until  it  was  one  of  the  largest  and 
best  in  this  vicinity.     February  11, 1857, 
he  was   married  to    Joan  Swayze,    his 
present  wife,   and  by  this  union  there 
was  one  son,  who  is  now  deceased.     She 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  in   Catawissa,  Columbia  county,  in 
1834.     The  following  is  clipped  from  the 
Western  Times,  as  showing  the  charac- 
ter of  work  in  which  she  is  engaged,  and 
the  estimation  in  which  she  is   held  in 
the  country    where    she    lives:     "Mrs. 
Sperry,  of  Pueblo,   Colorado,  president 
of  the  Ladies'  Benevolent  Union,  which 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


963 


she  herself  has  established  and  which  is 
doing  a  blessed  work  for  God's  suffering 
and  poor,  is  president  of    the  board  of 
charities  of  the  state,  and  accomplishes 
more  active  charitable  work,  in  a  "broad 
guage"    sense    than    any    one    man  or 
woman  we  have  ever  known.    She  is  like 
the  sunshine  of  heaven  all  over,  visiting 
the  sick,  relieving  suffering  everywhere ; 
taking  home  the   poor,  deserted,  dying 
wives,  and  folding  to  her  motherly  heart 
the  motherless  little   ones.     All  Pueblo 
helps  and  blesses  her.     The  Santa  Fe, 
and    Denver   &  Bio   Grande    railroads 
honor  her  request  to  carry  the  sick  and 
maimed  home.     How  glad  these  green 
places  in  the  deserts  of  human  selfishness 
makes  our  soul."     In  1861,  Mr.  Sperry 
found  his  usually   robust  health  so  im- 
paired by  overwork  that  he   was  forced 
to  abandon  farming,  and  determined  to 
cross  the  plains  to  the  "far  west,"  hop- 
ing thus  to   regain  his  health.     He  ac- 
cordingly started  with  teams,  accompa- 
nied by  his   sons,   Mentor   and  Lewis. 
After  traveling  six  months  they  reached 
the  territory  of  Idaho,  where  they  spent 
a  year,  engaged  in  mining   and  ranch- 
ing,  passing  through  the   rigorous  six 
months  winter,  with  seven  to  ten  feet  of 
snow.     Singularly   enough,   during  the 
time  spent  in  this  wild  region,  and  while 
on  the  journey  thither,  he   endured  the 
hardships  and  dangers  incident  to  that 
manner  of  life,  and  enjoyed,  meanwhile, 
almost  uninterrupted  good  health.  They 
returned  by  way  of  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
the  old  California  trail,  breaking  through 
the  mountains  northwest  of  Denver,  and 
reached  home  in  the  fall  of  1864.     He 
then  resumed  charge  of  his  farm,  which 
he  continued  until  he  emigrated  to  Col- 


orado, in  1876.  Ever  just,  ever  upright, 
ever  true  to  his  convictions  of  right,  with 
a  broad,  deep  and  liberal  judgment,  he 
sifted  every  question,  and  having  once 
decided  it  by  its  moral  rights,  no  power 
on  earth,  could  induce  him  to  change. 
Neither  the  open  threats  of  mob  law  by 
the  owners  of  fugitive  slaves,  nor  the 
offer  of  bribes,  could  persuade  him  to 
desist  helping  the  slave  to  his  freedom. 
So  in  every  important  question,  he  took 
a  bold  and  fearless  stand.  It  is  truly 
said  of  him,  that  you  could  sooner  turn 
back  the  mighty  Mississippi  in  its 
course,  than  prevail  on  him  to  do  or 
sanctkm  anything  that  was  morally 
wrong;  a  pure,  noble,  Christian  gentle- 
man, and  no  meed  of  praise  or  position 
of  honor  bestowed  can  be  greater  than 
such  a  name.  Mr.  Sperry  has  found  his 
health  much  improved  by  the  climate  of 
Colorado,  but  since  his  removal  there  has 
made  periodical  visits  to  the  old  home 
place  in  Bushnell  township.  His  son, 
L.  B.  Sperry,  now  resides  upon  the  place, 
which,  under  his  care,  has  been  not  only 
kept  up,  but  still  further  beautified  and 
improved. 

Henry  F.  Rogers  was  born  in  the 
province  of  Hanover,  Germany,  in  1835, 
on  the  20th  day  of  December.  His  fa- 
ther's name  was  Deitrich,  and  he  was 
born  at  the  same  place.  His  mother's 
native  place  was  near  that  of  his  father. 
When  17  or  18  years  old,  Henry  F.  de- 
cided to  try  his  fortune  in  the  new  world, 
and  accordingly,  after  bidding  good-bye 
to  home,  friends  and  relatives,  he  set  sail 
for  the  United  States.  Arriving  on 
America's  shores,  his  first  experiences 
were  the  same  as  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
average  new  immigrant.  He  finally 


964 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


brought  up  at  Staunton,  Macoupin 
county,  near  which  place  he  hired  out 
by  the  month.  He  was  then  engaged 
until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  26  years. 
He  was  married  on  the  3d  day  of  April, 
1861,  to  Christina  Miller.  She  was  born 
in  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  is  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Jacob  Miller.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  lived  in  Montgomery  county, 
until  1865.  He  then  removed  to  his 
present  home  on  section  6,  Mound  town- 
ship, where  he  had  bought  123  acres  of 
land.  He  set  to  work  improving  this 
farm,  and  now  has  a  very  creditable 
appearing  place.  Besides  the  above 
mentioned,  he  has  added  another  parcel, 
containing  50  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rog- 
ers are  the  parents  of  seven  children — 
Jacob  H.,  Mary  M.,  Adelaide  M.,  Katie 
E.,  John  M.,  deceased,  Benjamin  M., 
Edward  J.,  and  Bertha  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rogers  are  members  of  the  German  M. 
E.  church.  He  is  a  school  director  of 
district  No.  1,  and  has  held  that  position 
sor  nine  years.  The  family  are  intelli- 
gent and  highly  respected. 

John  M.  Wilcox  was  born  in  Carroll 
county,  Kentucky,  formerly  Gallatin 
county,  March  19,  1826.  His  father, 
Benjamin  Wilcox,  was  born  and  reared 
in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  but  after- 
words removed  to  Carroll  county,  where 
he  died  in  February,  1836.  The  maiden 
name  of  Benjamin's  wife  was  Flora  Mc- 
Cormick.  She  was  born  and  reared  in 
Lexington,  Kentucky.  After  her  hus- 
band's death,  Mrs.  Wilcox  removed  to 
McDonough  county,  locating  in  Chal- 
mers township,  two  miles  northeast  of 
Middletown.  She  brought  with  her,  her 
family  of  seven  children.  There  they 
lived  two  years,  then  removed  to  Bethel 


township.  In  1845,  Mrs.  Wilcox  re- 
moved to  Scotland  township,  where  she 
was  again  married.  She  died  in  Bar- 
dolph.  In  1879,  John  went  to  Califor- 
nia, where  he  was  engaged  in  the  mines 
for  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  returned  home,  having  been  quite 
successful  in  the  west.  In  1853,  he 
bought  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
31,  which  was  then  raw  prairie.  This 
land  has  since  been  brought  into  a  high 
state  of  cultivation.  He  also  owns  52 
acres  on  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
same  section,  besides  80  acres  in  Macomb 
township.  He  was  married  on  the  13th 
day  of  March,  1855,  to  Mary  Z.  V.  Yocum, 
daughter  of  Major  Yocum,  and  then  re- 
moved to  his  present  location.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  M.  Wilcox  have  had  six  chil- 
dren born  to  them — George  T.,  Elvira 
J.,  William  F.,  Mary  A.,  Robert  C., 
John  R.,  George  T.,  married  to  Hetty- 
Dorr,  they  live  in  Macomb  township.  El- 
vira J.,  died  March  12,  1869;  William 
F.,  died  April  8,  1884;  Mary  A,  married 
Eugene  L.  Lindsay,  they  live  in  Kearney 
county,  Nebraska.  Mrs.  J.  M.  Wilcox 
died  March  23,  1883.  His  niece,  Luella 
Wilcox,  is  keeping  house  for  him.  R. 
C.  and  J.  R.,  live  with  him  and  work  the 
farm.  He  has  been  director  of  schools 
in  district  No.  5. 

William  Stephens,  one  of  Mound  town- 
ship's substantial  citizens,  was  born  in 
Campbell  county,  Kentucky,  on  the  24th 
day  of  July,  1828.  His  parents  were 
James  and  Margaret  (Peck)  Stephens. 
Both  of  his  parents  were  of  old  Virginia 
families,  his  mother's  ancestors,  however, 
having  been  of  German  descent.  James 
Stephens,  father  of  William,  was  born  in 
Kentucky,  in  1801,  and  his  wife  was  born 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


965 


in  1808.     James  settled  with  his  family 
in  the  township  of  Industry,  McDonough 
county,  in  the  early  part  of  1836,  and  in 
March,  1838,  removed  to  Fulton  county, 
settling  in  the   southern    part.      Here 
James   and  his   wife  lived  until   their 
death.     William  went  to  Oregon  in  1853, 
and   staid  one  year.     He  then  went  to 
California,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
mines   for  four   and  a  half  years.     He 
came  back  to  Fulton  county  in  the  fall 
of  1859,  and  in  the  spring  of  1860,  went 
to  Colorado,  but  returned  in  the  winter. 
He  was  married  there  on  the  21st  day  of 
February,  1864,  to  Mary  Markley,  nee 
Welker.     They   came    to    McDonough 
county  in  1873,  and  located  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  9.     At  this  place 
the  family  have  made  their  home  ever 
since.     Mr.  and  Mrs.   Stephens  are  the 
parents  of  six  children — Margaret,  Etta, 
James  W.,  Helena,  Olney  and  Joseph. 
By  her  first  marriage,   Mrs.  Stephens 
was  the  mother  of  one  child — Mary  L., 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles  Combs. 
Besides  his  possessions  here,  Mr.  Steph- 
ens has  680  acres  of  land  in  the  southern 
part  of   Fulton  county.     He  has  large 
numbers  of  both  cattle  and  hogs.     Mr. 
Stephens  is  a  democrat,  in  politics,  and 
has  been  quite  prominent  in  township 
affairs,  having  been  assessor,  supervisor 
of  Mound  township  two  terms,  and  com- 
missioner of  highways  three  years.     He 
is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 
Garret  Ackerson  Cadwalader,  one  of 
the   prominent  citizens  of  Mound  town- 
ship, has  his   residence   on  section   11, 
where   he  owns   336   acres  of  excellent 
land,  and  some  40  acres  on  section  2.  He 
came  to  McDonough  county  in  February, 
1865,  and  for  the  following  four  years 


lived  north  of  Bushnell,  one  mile.     In 
1869,  he  removed  to  his  present  location. 
In  1877,  his  residence  was  destroyed  by 
fire,  when  he  commenced  the  erection  of 
his  present  dwelling.     His  farm,  which 
is  all  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  is 
situated  on  the  mound  from  which  the 
township  derives  its  name.     Mr.    Cad- 
walader is  a  native  of  Fulton  county,  Ill- 
inois, born  July  8th,  1835,  and  is  the  son 
of  Isaac  Cadwalader,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  that  county,  and  now  among 
the  wealthiest  of  her   citizens,   and  of 
Elizabeth  (Ackerson)  Cadwalader,  who 
were  married  in  1831,  in  Fulton  county. 
Garret  resided  at  home  until  his  mar- 
riage on  September  21,  1859,  to  Eliza- 
beth  Kost.     This   estimable   lady  died 
July  24,  1872,  leaving  four  children — 
Henry  L.,  now  in  Fulton  county;  Isaac 
L.,  a  resident  of  Mound  township;  Laura 
E.,  wife  of  John  Crawford,  also  a  resi- 
dent of  this  locality,  and  Ollie  M.,   at 
home.    On  the  22d  of  October,  1874,  Mr. 
Cadwalader  was   again  united  in  matri- 
mony, this  time  with  Mrs.  Nancy  Cash- 
man,  nee  Crawford.  This  union  has  been 
blest  by  one  child — "Willie  H.  Mrs.  Cad- 
walader,  by  her  former  marriage,  has 
two  children — George  W.  and  John  H. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Cadwalader  is,  and  has 
always  been  since  the  organization  of  the 
party,  a  republican,  and  has  held  the  of- 
fice of  assessor  since  1881.     He  is  also, 
one  of  the  school  board  of  the  township, 
and  takes  a  great  interest  in  educational 
and  church  matters.     In  the  latter  he  is 
a  church  trustee,  class  leader,  and  assist- 
ant superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school. 
He  is,  also,  a  member  of  the  time  hon- 
ored fraternity  of  Ancient  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  belonging  to  Bushnell 


966 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


lodge  No.  307.  A  truly  upright  man,  he 
squares  his  life  with  the  teaching  of  both 
church  and  society,  and  enjoys  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  of  all  his  neighbors. 

George  W.  Hutchins  was  born  in  Cum- 
berland county,  Kentucky,  January  24, 
1836,  and  is  the  son  of  William  and  Jane 
(Pace)  Hutchins.  His  father  died  in 
the  above  mentioned  state,  but  his 
mother  is  still  living  in  the  old  home. 
In  1853,  George  W.  came  to  McDonough 
county  with  his  brother  to  visit  an  un- 
cle, William  Pace,  but  decided  to  remain. 
He,  at  once,  entered  upon  his  work  here, 
first  driving  the  stage  from  Macomb  to 
Carthage,  but  soon  afterward  went  to 
work  for  Isaac  Grantham,  then  a  resident 
of  Macomb.  He  then  came  to  Mound 
township,  and  was  in  the  employ  of  Ed- 
ward Dyer,  for  a  time.  In  the  winter  of 
1854-5,  he  went  to  Missouri,  but  being 
taken  sick,  he  returned  to  Macomb,  and 
was  employed  in  the  slaughter  house 
during  the  winter.  For  several  years  he 
was  engaged  in  farming,  renting  farms 
for  that  purpose.  In  1860,  he  was  in 
Texas,  farming,  but  soon  came  back,  lo- 
cating in  the  township  of  Mound.  On 
the  breaking  out  of  the  great  rebellion  in 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  F,  55th  Ill- 
inois infantry  regiment,  at  Bushnell,  and 
was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
government,  at  Chicago.  In  the  san- 
guinary battle  of  Shiloh,  he  was  wounded, 
and  shortly  afterwards  was  transferred 
to  Quiucy,  Illinois,  where  he  acted  in  the 
hospital  corps.  He  was  mustered  out  at 
the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service,  and 
returning  to  this  locality  was,  on  the  2d 
of  December,  1864,  united  in  marriage 
with  Phebe  Beaver,  with  whom  he  lived 
until  July  12,  1877,  when  she  died,  leav- 


ing five  children — Sarah  J.,  Fannie  B., 
William  L.,  Mary  C.,  and  Charles  F.  In 
July,  1878  he  again  entered  upon  tht> 
married  state  with  Mrs.  Sarah  E.  Hel- 
lyer,  nee  Welch,  who  at  the  time  had 
three  children — Frederick  A.,  David  H. 
and  Minnie  B.  The  result  of  this  union 
has  been  three  children — Clarence  E., 
Herman  C.  and  Goldie  G.  When  Mr. 
Hutchins  was  first  married  he  resided  in 
Fulton  county  for  about  three  years 
when  he  came  back  to  this  township  and 
purchased  land  on  section  13,  but  in 
1875,  moved  to  his  present  location  on 
14,  owning  130  acres  of  fine  land.  He 
made  most  of  the  improvements.  He  is 
now  director  of  school  affairs  in  district 
No.  3,  and  has  been  road  commissioner 
since  1870. 

John  W.  Booth,  the  eldest  son,  was 
born  March  16,  1827,  in  Berks  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  married  at  Bar- 
dolph,  Illinois,  to  Mary  F.  Jackson, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Wm.  H.  Jackson,  Jan- 
uary 15,  1851.  They  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Mound  township^  on  section  18,  where 
they  still  reside.  Their  farm,  of  320 
acres,  is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  Their  family  consists 
of  seven  children,  of  whom  only  three 
are  living — John  F.,  Henry  L.  and  Clar- 
ence J.  Those  deceased  are — Alta  V., 
Albert  D.,  Herbert  L.,  and  Gracie  May. 
Alta  V.  Booth  was  born  November  27, 
1851,  died  July  25,  1874;  Albert  D.  was 
born  August  23,  1858,  died  October  22, 
1880;  Herbert  L.  died  in  infancy;  Gracie 
May  was  born  June  14,  1868,  died  No- 
vember 25,  1871. 

John  F.  Booth  was  married  to  Flor- 
ence B.  Archer,  on  December  30,  1875, 
and  resides  in  Macomb,  this  county, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


967 


where  he  is  engaged  in  the  grocery  bus- 
iness, with  his  brother  Henry  L.  Clar- 
ence J.  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the 
home  place. 

Geo.  Booth,  Sr.,  was  born  in  county  of 
Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  the  year  179G,  and  at 
the  age  of  27,  was  married  to  Isabel 
Orr,  of  the  same  county;  they  immedi- 
ately sailed  for  America,  landing  at 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  woolen 
goods,  continuing  the  business  for  seven 
years.  He  next  removed  to  Trurnbull 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, and  remained  there  until  the  year 
1843,  when  he,  with  his  family,  removed 
to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
continued  farming  the  balance  of  his 
life.  Unto  George  and  Isabel  Booth 
were  born  11  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living — John  W.,  George  J.,  Rob- 
ert, Mary  A.,  Sarah  J.  and  James  O. 
George  J.  Booth  died  at  the  age  of  47 
years,  at  his  residence,  in  Bardolph,  this 
county.  The  three  oldest  children  died 
in  infancy. 

Lewis  Smick  came  from  Boyle  county, 
Kentucky,  in  1851,  and  lived  in  the  city 
of  Macomb,  and  worked  at  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  two  years.  In  1853  he  bought 
240  acres  of  land  in  Mound  township, 
where  he  has  continued  to  reside.  He 
was  born  April  2,  1809.  His  father  was 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  a  hatter  by 
trade;  his  mother  was  also  from  Penn- 
sylvania; they  both  died  in  Kentucky. 
Lewis  was  married  in  that  state,  on  the 
17th  of  October,  1839,  to  Martha  Bard 
Adams,  a  native  of  that  state.  They 
have  raised  five  children — William  A. 
was  educated  at  Ashland  and  Louisiana, 
Missouri,  and  at  the  theological  school 


in  Princeton,  New  Jersey.  After  grad- 
uating, he  went  to  Bosebury,  Oregon,  as 
a  preacher  in  the  Presbyterian  church, 
where  he  now  is;  John  W.,  married 
Lydia  Woody,  and  now  lives  in  part  of 
the  house  with  his  parents;  Priscilla 
Jane,  married  Oman  Sperry,  and  lives 
on  a  farm  adjoining  her  father's;  James 
C.,  married  Lois  Fleming,  and  lives  on 
an  adjoining  farm;  Nancy  D.,  married 
P.  W.  Moor,  and  is  deceased.  Mr. 
Smick  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Re- 
form church.  Mr.  Smick  has  frequently 
been  honored  with  public  office,  and  has 
filled  the  position  of  justice  of  the  peace; 
he  is  now  school  trustee.  He  has  always 
been  an  earnest  republican. 

A.  J.  Fleming  was  born  in  Fauquier 
county,  Virginia,  on  the  27th  day  of 
February,  1831.  His  grandparents  on 
his  father's  side  were  from  Ireland,  and 
on  his  mother's  side  from  Scotland.  Both 
of  his  grandfathers  were  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  His  parents  were  born  in 
Fauquier  county,  Virginia.  In  the  fall 
of  1832,  when  A.  J.  was  yet  a  mere  child, 
his  parents  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Ohio,  locating  near  London,  in  Madison 
county.  The  family  consisted  of  the 
parents  and  seven  children,  six  of  whom 
were  girls  and  one  a  boy.  A.  J.  lived 
with  his  parents  until  the  spring  of  1851. 
He  then  came  west,  and  locatad  in  Mc- 
Donough county,  choosing  a  home  on 
section  16,  Mound  township,  and  has 
ever  since  been  a  resident  of  this  town- 
ship. He  was  married,  March  11,  1852, 
to  E.  C.  Melvin.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren, four  girls  and  one  boy.  Four  of 
the  children  are  married — Lois  Ida  was 
married  to  James  Smick;  Cornelia  was 
married  to  Wesley  Postlock;  Conwell,  to 


988 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Alice  Jackson ;  Francie,  to  Joshua  Lind- 
sey.  Mr.  Fleming  has  spent  his  life  in 
farm  work,  and  by  good  management 
has  accumulated  a  goodly  share  of  this 
world's  goods.  His  mother  died  June 
26,  1866,  and  his  father,  August  6,  1876. 
John  Slater  is  a  native  of  England, 
having  been  born  near  the  city  of  Man- 
chester, in  Lancashire,  June  24,  1826. 
He  is  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Anna  ( Tay- 
lor) Slater,  the  latter  a  relative  of  Zach- 
ary  Taylor,  "old  rough  and  ready,"  as  he 
is  familiarly  called.  Mr.  Slater  came  to 
America  in  1851,  and  on  the  23d  of 
December  of  that  year,  located  in  New- 
ark, New  Jersey,  where  he  worked  in  a 
machine  shop,  having  followed  that  line 
of  trade  in  the  cotton  mills  of  his  native 
place.  Here  he  remained  about  two 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Whitney ville, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  labored  in  a 
cotton  mill.  In  1865,  he  came  to  this 
locality  settling  in  Canton,  Fulton  county, 
where  he  lived  for  four  years,  when  he 
removed  to  this  county,  locating  at  New 
Philadelphia.  He  bought  the  80  acre 
lot  where  the  depot  now  stands,  but  soon 
sold  it,  and  purchased  the  place  he  now 
owns  and  resides  upon.  This  farm  con- 
sists of  120  acres  of  land  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  24,  85  acres  on 
section  17,  and  52  acres  on  section  23. 
Mr.  Slater  was  married  in  England  June 
14,  1851,  to  Esther  Butterworth,  a  na- 
tive of  "white  cliffed  Albion."  Six  chil- 
dren have  been  sent  to  bless  their 
hearth,  four  of  whom  are  living — Ed- 
mund T.,  Mary  H.  T.,  Sarah  E.,  and 
Adaline.  The  two  deceased  were  Vic- 
toria and  John.  Mr.  Slater  has  always 
been  interested  in  educational  matters, 
and  has  been  director  of  the  school  board 


from  district  No.  10,  for  the  past  nine 
years.  When  he  came  to  America  he 
was  poor,  like  so  many  others  who  cross 
the  ocean  to  better  their  condition,  but 
now,  with  a  comfortable  competency,and 
surrounded  by  all  the  conveniences  of 
life,  he  looks  back  with  pleasure  at  the 
road  he  has  traveled. 

Henry  H.  Nance,  M.  D.,  was  born  in 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  March  4, 
1841.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Susan 
Nance.  The  Nance  family  are  of  French 
descent,  but  William  was  born  in  In- 
diana. After  the  birth  of  Henry,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  the  family  re- 
mained but  three  weeks  in  Schuyler 
county,  and  then  removed  to  Vermont, 
Fulton  county.  As  an  illustration  of 
the  difference  between  those  times  and 
the  present,  it  may  be  related  that  they 
traveled  to  their  new  home  in  a  two- 
wheeled  cart,  drawn  by  calves.  Arriv- 
ing at  Vermont,  William,  the  father,  im- 
mediately set  up  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  which  was  that  of  medicine. 
While  thus  engaged,  his  son,  Henry, 
learned  to  like  the  healing  art,  and  was 
accustomed  to  assist  his  father,  while 
yet  a  boy,  in  the  handling  of  medicine. 
He  also  went  with  his  father  on  his  pro- 
fessional calls,  often  being  of  assistance 
to  him,  and  was  thus  enabled  to  acquire 
a  practical  insight  into  the  mysteries  of 
the  science,  in  his  daily  life.  He  was 
educated  at  Vermont,  and  upon  finishing 
his  schooling,  became  a  teacher,  in 
which  occupation,  though  quite  young, 
he  was  successful.  He  continued  in  this 
employment  until  after  he  had  reached 
his  20th  year.  The  dark  war  cloud  was 
then  hanging  like  a  pall  over  the  coun- 
try. The  young  and  ardent  patriotism 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


969 


of  our  subject  could  only  be  satisfied 
with  actual  service  in  defense  of  his 
country's  flag,  and  accordingly,  the  2d 
day  of  August,  1862,  found  his  name  en- 
rolled on  the  roster  of  company  B,  84th 
Illinois  infantry.  He  was  mustered  in 
at  Quincy,  and  soon  was  at  the  front  in 
the  gallant  army  of  the  Cumberland. 
This  enlistment  also  gave  him  splendid 
opportunities  for  advancement  in  his 
profession,  as  he  went  in  as  a  hospital 
attendant.  For  a  time,  he  served  as 
nurse  in  the  hospital  at  Quincy.  He 
was  then  assigned  to  Bowling  Green, 
Kentucky,  where  he  was  made  hospital 
steward.  By  order  of  General  Rose- 
crans,  he  was  detailed  to  division  head- 
quarters, and  then  to  department  head- 
quarters, on  the  staff  of  General  Sher- 
man, with  whom  he  started  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea.  After  the  cap- 
ture of  Atlanta,  he  was  put  in  charge  of 
the  dispensary  at  headquarters  in  that 
city.  After  the  evacuation  of  Atlanta, 
he  was  transferred  to  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, and  was  made  assistant  surgeon. 
There  he  remained,  serving  in  that  ca- 
pacity till  the  close  of  the  war.  At  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  he  came  home, 
and  after  three  months,  went  to  Ann 
Arbor  university,  in  September,  1865. 
He  graduated  there  in  the  medical  de- 
partment, on  March  10,  1866.  He  then 
went  to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia.  In 
the  meantime  he  was  married,  on  the 
27th  day  of  February,  1866,  to  Susan  E. 
Rinkes,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter 
of  Samuel  Rinkes.  Both  of  her  parents 
had  died  previous  to  her  marriage. 
Shortly  after  his  marriage,  the  doctor 
returned  again  to  Illinois,  and  practiced 
during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1866  at 


Vermont.  He  soon  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  purchased  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  4,  Mound  township, 
one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Bush- 
nell.  He  practiced  here  two  or  three 
years,  but  on  account  of  kidney  com- 
plaint, was  compelled  to  give  up  riding 
at  the  call  of  patients.  He  has  devoted 
considerable  time  and  means  to  making 
his  farm  a  model,  and  it  may  be  truly 
said  that  he  has  one  of  the  best  tile 
drained  farms  in  the  county,  he  being  a 
strong  advocate  of  tiling  for  farm  pur- 
poses. He  is  at  present  engaged  in  the 
life  insurance  business,  and  is  a  director 
in  the  Western  Mutual,  of  Bushnell. 
He  was  a  charter  member  of  the  G.  A. 
R.  post,  at  Bushnell,  and  was  its  quarter- 
master for  two  years.  Five  children  live 
to  bless  the  union  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nance. 
Their  names  are — Charles  M.,  William 
C.,  Mary  E.,  Kate  L.,  and  Susie  R. 

The  Jacobs  family,  Seth,  and  two  sis- 
ters, reside  on  the  west  half  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  16.  Their 
parents  were  Amasa  and  Lois  (Moore) 
Jacobs.  The  father  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut,  the  mother  of  Vermont,  but 
they  subsequently  removed  to  Onaii- 
daga  county,  New  York,  where  they 
were  married.  The  names  of  their  chil- 
dren were — Luther;  Peter;  Zerviah,  died 
in  New  York;  Francis  M.,  deceased; 
Amasa,  living  in  Cass  county,  Iowa;  Lois 
C.;  Sylvia,  deceased;  Clark,  deceased; 
Lucina;  Clarissa,  wife  of  Robert  Adcock, 
now  living  in  California;  Elmina,  de- 
ceased; and  James  G.,  deceased.  In  the 
fall  of  1844,  Luther,  Peter,  and  Lois 
came  west,  traveling  by  wagon,  and  set- 
tled at  Table  Grove,  Fulton  county,  this 
state,  where  Luther  taught  school.  In 


970 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1846,  the  parents  came  also,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  family,  except  Zerviah, 
who  died  in  New  York.  In  the  spring 
of  1848,  they  removed  to  New  Salem 
township,  McDonough  county.  Here 
Mrs.  Jacobs  died,  October  10,  1855;  Mr. 
Jacobs  died,  October  4,  1857 ;  they  were 
buried  at  Table  Grove.  The  children 
were  married,  with  the  exception  of 
Lois,  Lucina,  Elmina  and  Seth.  They 
located  four  and  one-half  miles  south  of 
Bardolph,  in  New  Salem  township. 
There  they  remained  four  years,  then 
sold  the  farm  and  went  to  Bardolph, 
where  they  bought  the  hotel  property. 
They  conducted  the  hotel  for  three 
years,  then  came  to  their  present  loca- 
tion, on  section  16,  Mound  township. 
On  the  22d  of  September,  1869,  Elmina 
died,  leaving  Seth  and  two  sisters  on  the 
farm.  The  latter  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  at  Mound. 
Their  parents  were  also  members  of  the 
same  church. 

Rufus  T.  Allen  is  a  native  of  Pulaski 
county,  Kentucky,  born  August  29, 1819. 
His  parents  were  David  and  Patsey 
(Harris)  Allen,  the  former  a  native  of 
South  Carolina,  and  the  latter  of  Vir- 
ginia. Rufus  T.  grew  to  manhood  in 
Pulaski  county,  Kentucky,  and  was  mar- 
ried there,  November  19, 1840,  to  Rhoda 
Adams,  a  native  of  Pulaski  county,  who 
was  born  December  15,  1819.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
Adams,  who  were  of  Irish  descent.  In 
1863,  our  subject  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located  about  one-half  mile 
north  of  what  is  now  Good  Hope.  There 
he  remained  but  a  short  time  before  he 
bought  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
33,  Mound  township,  to  which  he  re- 


moved. The  improvements  on  this 
farm  have  all  been  put  on  by  Mr.  Allen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  are  the  parents  of 
three  children — John,  James,  and  Eliza- 
beth, who  is  the  wife  of  William  In- 
gram. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allen  are  both 
members  of  the  Free  Will  Baptist 
church.  The  family  is  much  respected 
by  their  friends. 

James  K.  Kepple  is  the  oldest  child 
of  David  Kepple.  He  was  born  July 
31,  1838,  on  section  19,  Mound  town- 
ship, and  has  ever  since  been  identified 
with  McDonough  county.  He  was 
reared  on  the  home  place,  and  on  the 
24th  day  of  March,  1859,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Jane  A.  Greene,  a  sister  of  W.  H. 
Greene.  In  October,  1861,he  removed  to 
the  farm  which  his  father  had  given  him, 
on  the  east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  20.  He  soon  bought  the 
remainder  of  that  quarter,  and  now 
owns  the  north  half  of  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  17.  He  has  made  all 
the  improvements  on  his  place,  and  now 
has  a  splendid  farm.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kepple  are  the  parents  of  six  children 
— Clara  E.,  teaching;  Lucy  Ann,  Etta 
M.,  Richard  F.,  married  Delia  M.  Young, 
and  lives  in  this  township;  Ollie  J.  and 
Bessie.  Mr.  Kepple  has  been  making 
the  raising  of  shorthorn  cattle  a  spe- 
cialty, which  he  raises  and  sells  for 
breeding  purposes.  He  also  brought 
the  first  full-blood  Clydesdale  horse 
into  the  township,  going  to  Canada  for 
him,  in  1875.  He  has  handled  this  line 
of  horses  ever  since,  and  now  has  some 
fine  brood  mares.  He  also  has  fine 
stock  of  other  kinds,  and  is  known  as  a 
leading  competitor  at  the  state  fairs  of 
Iowa  and  Missouri.  Among  his  recol- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


971 


lections  of  early  life  in  McDonough 
county,  Mr.  Kepple  remembers  how, 
when  a  boy,  he  had  to  go  three  or  four 
miles'  to  school,  and,  if  returning  after 
dark,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  hear 
the  wolves,  which  then  abounded,  yelp- 
ing around  him.  He  has  served  the 
township  as  collector,  assessor  and 
supervisor,  and  has  been  school  director 
for  10  years.  He  is  a  popular  man,  and 
enjoys  the  esteem  of  his  fellow  cilizens. 
David  Beale  was  born  in  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  7th  day  of 
November,  1828.  His  parents  were 
Benjamin  and  Hannah  (Wykoff)  Beale. 
His  mother  was  of  German  descent. 
David,  Sr.,  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
died  in  Beaver  county,  and  Benjamin 
removed  to  Virginia,  where  he  and  his 
wife  both  died.  Our  subject  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  llth  day  of  May,  1847,  in 
Hancock  county,  Virginia,  to  Elizabeth 
A.  Allison.  In  1857  they  removed  to 
Illinois,  locating  in  Mound  township, 
this  county.  When  they  first  came  to 
this  township,  they  located  on  section 
21,  but  in  the  spring  of  1860,  they  re- 
moved to  their  present  location.  Mr, 
Beale  owns  the  east  half  of  the  north- 
east quarter,  and  the  northeast  quarter  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19. 
There  he  has  made  all  the  improvements, 
and  made  a  fine  farm.  His  wife  died 
on  the  9th  day  of  May,  1868.  By  their 
marriage  there  were  nine  children — 
Hannah  Mary,  deceased;  Lynna,  Sarah 
J.,  John  S.,  Agnes  B.,  Benjamin  F.,  Ed- 
ward M.,  Luella  F.  and  William  A. 
He  was  again  married  in  February, 
1871,  to  Mrs.  Layander  C.  McHenry, 
nee  Robertson.  By  this  marriage  there 
have  been  two  children— Elizabeth  May 


and  Nannie  G.  He  is  an  honored  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  also  of  the 
Golden  Rule. 

John  M.  Work,  was  born  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  8th  day 
of  November,  1834.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Margaret  (McCluskey)  Work. 
She  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania.  When  our  sub- 
ject was  yet  a  boy,  his  parents  removed 
to  southern  Ohio,  where  the  family  was 
reared.  In  1866,  they  removed  to  this 
county,  and  purchased  the  east  half  of 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  16, 
Mound  township.  There  the  parents 
lived  until  their  death,  Mr.  Work  dying 
in  1872,  and  his  wife  in  1869.  Both 
were  Presbyterians.  They  were  the  pa- 
rents of  eight  children.  Of  these,  seven 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood,  and 
six  are  now  living — four  sons  and  two 
daughters.  John  M.,  was  married  in 
Ohio,  in  1860,  to  Jane  Gibbony.  After 
his  marriage,  Mr.  Work  removed  with 
his  wife  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  this 
county  and  township.  In  1864,  he  lost 
his  wife  by  death.  There  were  three 
children  by  this  marriage,  of  whom  one, 
Alice  M.,  is  living.  He  was  married 
again,  on  the  28th  of  June,  1865,  to  Mar- 
tha J.  Hervey,  a  native  of  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania.  She  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Mary  ( Yates )  Her- 
vey. She  came  to  this  county  from  Pe- 
oria  county.  Mr.  Work  has  some  thor- 
oughbred horses,  than  which  no  finer 
are  to  be  found  in  the  country.  He  has 
them  for  breeding  purposes.  He  is  a 
man  with  sufficient  of  the  love  of  sport 
in  his  composition  to  be  fond  of  the 
chase,  and  owns  a  fine  pack  of  fox-hounds, 
with  which  he  often  indulges  in  his  fav- 


972 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


orite  amusement.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Work 
are  genial  people,  and  are  known  for 
their  hospitality,  on  any  and  all  occa- 
sions. J.  M.,aud  S.  Work  were  the  first 
importers  of  Berkshire  hogs  in  this  vici- 
nity. They  first  imported  from  M.  H. 
Cochrane,  Compton,  Quebec,  Canada, 
and  then  from  William  Echvard  Tombs, 
Oxfordshire,  England.  In  1869,  all 
their  importing  was  done  from  Canada. 
Since  1865,  they  have  paid  much  atten- 
tion to  this  business,  and  they  shipped 
and  showed  their  stock  together,  until 
within  a  recent  date.  Their  hogs  were 
kept  on  land  lying  in  sections  17  and  15. 
They  did  a  large  and  lucrative  business. 
John  M.,  still  follows  the  business  on 
his  farm. 

William  H.  Greene  was  born  in  Che- 
nan  go  county,  New  York,  January  25, 
1837.  His  parents  were  Jonathan  and 
Lucy  P.  ( Breed )  Greene,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  New  London  county, 
Connecticut.  The  family  is  of  English 
descent.  General  Greene,  of  revolu- 
tionary fame,  and  the  grandfather  of 
William  were  own  cousins.  In  1851, 
William  came  to  Farmington,  Fulton 
county,  and  there  started  a  dairy,  which 
was  the  first  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
In  1856,  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  on  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  17,  Mound  township.  Here 
they  have  made  all  the  improvements. 
Jonathan  died  December  19,  1873,  on 
this  farm.  His  wife  died  November  9, 
1877.  They  are  buried  at  Bushnell. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist 
church  at  Bushnell,  and  Jonathan  was  a 
life  member  of  the  Baptist  theological 
seminary,  at  Chicago.  Four  children 
were  born  to  them — William  H.,  with 


whom  this  sketch  was  commenced; 
Jane  A.,  wife  of  James  Kepple;  Ange- 
line  R,  wife  of  John  M.  Fleming; 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  A.  C.  Fleming,  now 
living  in  Quincy.  William  H.,  yet  re- 
tains the  old  homestead.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  C.  McLean,  on  March  23, 
1861.  She  died  October  15,  1864.  By 
their  marriage  there  were  three  chil- 
dren— Julia,  Annette,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 20,  1864,  and  one  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. He  was  again  married  to  Hattie 
W.  Bemis,  of  Elyria,  Ohio,  on  the  22d 
of  March,  1866.  By  this  marriage 
there  were  seven  children — the  first  died 
in  infancy — Willie  W.,  Mary  T.,  George 
H.,  deceased;  Hattie  M.,  Charles  E., 
and  Carrie  E.  William  H.  Greene,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  member  of 
the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  also  of  the  Golden 
Rule.  When  the  grange  movement  was 
popular  throughout  the  country,  he  was 
master  of  the  lodge  here  four  years.  In 
his  early  years  he  took  an  interest  in 
landscape  crayon  drawing,  and  has  in 
his  house,  some  fine  specimens  of  his 
work.  His  sons  also,  have  a  taste  in  the 
same  direction.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  church  at  Bushnell. 
Mr.  Greene  is  the  only  remaining  one  of 
the  organizers  of  that  church. 

Bigger  Head,  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  on  the  12th  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1812.  His  father  was  William 
Head,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Wil- 
liam's father  was  Bigger  Head,  who  was 
born  in  Wales,  but  removed  to  America, 
locating  in  Pennsylvania.  William,  the 
father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
went  to  Kentucky,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  McLaughlin,  a  native  of 
that  state.  A  short  time  after  the  mar- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


973 


riage  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  his 
family  of  14  children,  11  sons  and  three 
daughters,  were  born.  Four  of  them 
came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  McDon- 
ough  county.  Two  of  them  died,  and 
are  buried  in  Macomb,  while  one  re- 
turned to  Ohio,  so  that  Bigger,  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  is  the  only  one  of 
the  family  now  living  in  McDonough 
county.  Bigger's  first  settlement  in  Mc- 
Donough county,  was  in  the  year  1852, 
on  sections  26  and  23,  Macomb  township, 
where  he  owned  three  quarter  sections. 
He  still  retains  340  acres  of  the  original 
tract.  In  1876,  he  removed  to  section  7, 
Mound  township,  where  he  bought  80 
acres  on  the  northwest  quarter,  and  80 
acres  adjoining  in  Macomb  township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Head  have  had  11  chil- 
dren, whose  names  are  as  follows: — 
Harriet,  deceased;  Ellen,  deceased; 
James,  deceased;  Catharine;  Maria; 
Rennick  R.  S. ;  Jennie;  Alta,  deceased; 
Newton;  Johnnie,  deceased;  and  Hettie. 
All  are  living  near  the  home  place,  ex- 
cept Jennie,  Catharine  and  Newton. 
Jennie  is  in  Nebraska;  Catharine  is  in 
Missouri,  and  Newton  is  a  salesman  for 
a  Peoria  grocery  house.  Mr.  Head  now 
has  504  acres  of  land.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  M.  E.  church,  for  45 
years,  and  is  now  connected  with  the 
Bushnell  congregation.  He  has  held 
some  official  position  for  40  years.  He 
has  never  been  on  a  jury,  and  never  was 
in  a  court  room  two  hours  in  his  life. 
Mr.  Head  has  assisted  largely  in  build- 
ing six  churches.  He  is  always  a  lib- 
eral subscriber  to  things  of  that  char- 
acter. He  hewed  the  timber  for  three 
churches,  while  a  resident  of  Ohio.  He 
has  always  been  ready  to  extend  a  help- 


ing hand  to  those  in  need,  and  when 
any  one  has  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
home  by  fire  or  other  similar  accident, 
Mr.  Head  always  gives  liberally. 

James  C.  Updegraff  was  born  October 
16,  1813,  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Kin- 
sey)  Updegraff.  He  left  Ohio,  in  1841, 
and  settled  near  Lewiston,  Fulton  county, 
where  he  worked  in  a  grist  mill,  he  being 
a  miller  by  trade.  In  1856,  he  moved 
to  McDonough  county,  and  settled  on 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  27.  He 
turned  the  first  furrow  on  his  farm.  In 
1859,  he  made  a  profession  of  religion 
and  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Lewiston,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev. 
William  McCandish.  He  transferred 
his  membership,  in  1858,  to  the  Bar- 
dolph  church,  where  he  remained  a  con- 
sistent member  until  his  death.  He  was 
married  May  20,  1847,  to  Miss  Humph- 
rey. She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  at  Bardolph.  Five  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Updegraff— 
John  C.,  Mary  A.,  Frank  K.,  Elmer  J. 
and  Carrie  B.  Carrie  is  a  teacher,  hav- 
ing taught  several  schools  in  the  county, 
and  John  C.,  takes  care  of  the  home 
farm.  Mr.  Updegraff  died  October  27, 
1883,  and  is  interred  in  the  M.  E.  ceme- 
tery, in  Mound  township.  He  served  as 
supervisor  several  terms,  and  was  an  ac- 
tive republican  in  politics.  He  was 
deeply  interested  in  educational  matters, 
and  for  several  terms  served  as  town 
clerk,  the  town  meetings  being  held  at 
his  house  before  the  erection  of  the  town 
hall  at  Bardolph. 

Delas  Shannon,  the  youngest  son  of 
Joseph  and  Delilah  (Milner)  Shannon, 
was  born  October  2,  1850,  while  his  par- 


974 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ents  were  en-route  from  Ohio  to  Illinois. 
He  spent  his  early  life  in  McDonough 
county,  and  when  16  years  of  age,  left 
home  to  go  to  Henderson  county.  He 
remained  there  a  short  time  and  returned 
home.  In  1871-2,  he  traveled  in  Kan- 
sas and  Missouri,  returning  to  McDon- 
ough county  in  the  spring  of  1873.  He 
was  married  December  23, 1877,  to  Mar- 
tha Phillips,  daughter  of  David  Phillips. 
He  has  four  children — Fred,  Austin, 
Mary  and  Charles.  He  resides  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  25. 

James  C.  Smick,  the  youngest  son  of 
Lewis  and  Martha  Smick,  was  born  May 
11,  1855,  on  the  old  homestead,  on  sec- 
tion 10,  where  his  father  yet  resides.  He 
worked  on  the  farm  until  1875,  when  he 
commenced  a  course  of  study  at  Knox 
college,  Galesburg.  He  remained  in 
school  until  he  had  acquired  a  fair  edu- 
cation, and  January  18,  1879,  was  mar- 
ried to  Lois  J.  Flemrning,  a  daughter  of 
A.  J.  Flemrning.  He  now  resides  on  the 
east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  section 
15,  where  he  has  a  beautiful  home;  his 
residence  cost  about  $1,800.  They  have 
three  children — Con  well  H.,  Zella  Zoe 
and  Clara  F. 

Oman  Sperry  was  a  native  of  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  January  1, 
1833,  and  when  quite  young,  removed  to 
Summit  county.  From  this  point  he  re- 
moved to  Lee  county,  Iowa,  and  in  1860, 
returned  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and 
in  1861,  took  up  his  residence  in  Mc- 
Donough  county.  He  was  married  Jan- 
uary 1,  1862,  to  Priscilla  Smick,  and  for 
four  years  after  his  marriage,  farmed  on 
Mr.  Smick' s  land.  He  then  purchased 
a  farm,  which  he  afterward  traded  for 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  15. 


Here  the  father  died  in  1882,  and  is 
buried  in  the  Bushnell  cemetery.  He 
left  six  children — William  S.,  Albert  W., 
Robert  T.,  Lucy  J.,  Martha  E.  and  Win- 
nie M.  William  S.,  carries  on  the  farm. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

At  the  last  annual  report  of  ^he  county 
superintendent,  for  the  year  ending, 
June  30,  1884,  there  were  in  the  district 
township  of  Mound  423  children  of 
school  age,  334  of  whom  were  enrolled 
in  the  10  schools  of  the  township,  none 
of  which  were  graded.  Seven  and  a  half 
is  the  average  number  of  months  of 
school  taught  annually.  Mound  has  10 
school  buildings,  which  are  all  frame 
structures.  The  highest  monthly  wages 
paid  any  male  teacher  is  $50,  and  the 
lowest  $33,  while  the  highest  wages  paid 
female  teachers  is  $37.50,  and  the  lowest 
$20.  The  estimated  value  of  school 
property  in  Mound  is  $5,200,  while  the 
tax  levy  for  the  support  of  schools  is  $3- 
124.  The  township  is  entirely  free  from 
any  bonded  indebtedness. 

'  An  early  school  was  taught  by  Dur- 
ham Creel,  on  section  20,  near  James 
Kepple's  place,  in  1839,  or  1840.  It  was 
held  in  a  frame  school  house,  which  was 
probably  the  second  frame  building 
erected  in  the  township.  The  building 
was  also  used  for  church  purposes  and 
place  of  amusement. 

In  making  a  resurvey  of  school  section 
16,  in  1849,  the  trustees  were  William 
McCandless,  Joseph  Crawford  and  David 
Kepple.  It  was  surveyed  by  James 
Brattle  who  did  most  of  that  work  in  the 
county  at  that  time.  The  consideration 
was  $1.25,  to  $1.30  per  acre,  all  selling  at 
this  price. 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


975 


The  first  school  house  in   district  No. 

2,  was  built  in  1862,  at  about  the  center 
of  the  district  and  was  removed  in  1868, 
about  a  half   mile  south   to  its   present 
location  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 19.     The  building  is  20x22,  arid  was 
erected  by  H.  A.  White  of  Macomb,  at  a 
cost  of  about  $450,  the  building  commit- 
tee being  composed  of   John  W.    Booth 
and  James    Jackson.     Theodore    Ken- 
drick,   of  Macomb,  taught  the  first  term 
of  school  therein.     John  W.  Booth,  Da- 
vid Kepple  and  James  Jackson  were  the 
first  directors  of  the  district.     The  pres- 
ent directors  are  James  Jackson,  James 
Kepple  and  James  Logan,  and   Emma 
Bethel  teaches  the  school  at  present.  This 
was    the  highest  grade    school   at   one 
time  in  the   county,  outside  the   city  of 
Macomb. 

The  first  school  house  in  district   No. 

3,  also  known  as  Whitehall,  was  a  small 
affair  erected  about  the  year  1852,  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  14,  where  the  Mound  cem- 
etery is  now  located.     In  1864,  the  pres- 
ent building  was  erected  on  the  nortl^ 
west  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter  of 
section  13,  at  a  cost  of  $481.95. 

District  No.  4. — Previous  to  1855, 
scliool  was  held  in  Edward  Dyer's  house. 
In  that  year  a  frame  house  22x30  feet 
was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $325.  The  pres- 
ent building,  a  good  frame,  was  built  in 
1869,  at  a  cost  of  $1,200,  and  is  22x36 
feet  in  size.  It  is  located  on  section  22. 

Pleasant  View,  district  No.  5\ — The 
first  school  house  in  this  district  was 
erected  in  1858,  on  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  30,  about  80  rods  from  the 
corner.  The  building  was  18x26  feet  in 
size  and  served  the  district  until  the  pres- 


ent house  was  erected  in  1869.  In  the 
meantime  the  old  building  was  removed 
to  the  center  of  the  district  in  1862,  and 
the  new  house  was  constructed  on  the 
same  site  at  the  time  above  stated.  The 
directors  at  present  are  S.  V.  Portlock, 
Peter  Dougherty,  and  J.  T.  Kirkpatrick. 
Orie  Beam  is  the  teacher. 

Cotton  wood,  district  No.  6. — Building 
located  on  the  northeast  corner  of  section 
33.  It  was  erected  in  1865,  and  enlarged 
in  1877.  The  first  teacher  of  the  district 
was  Mary  Hipsley.  Mrs.  Clara  Kepple 
teaches  the  school  at  present. 

Langsford,  district  No.  7. — The  school 
house  was  moved  from  the  New  Phila- 
delphia district  to  its  present  location, 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  25,  in 

1863.  The  size  of  the  building  is  20x24 
feet. 

District  No.  8. — The  building  is  loca- 
ted on  section  2.  The  district  was  organ- 
ized in  1860,  and  the  house  erected  the 
same  year  at  a  cost  of  $600,  its  size  being 
20x26  feet.  The  first  directors  were  John 
Crowel,  Moses  Wilson,  and  William  Cox. 
Mary  Harper  was  one  of  the  first  teach- 
ers of  the  school. 

District  No.  9. — The  building  is  situa- 
ted on  section  10,  and  was  erected  in 

1864,  at  a  cost  of  $800;  size  22x32  feet. 
The  year  previous  school  was  taught  in 
a  dwelling  near  the  present  house. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  10, 
which  is  attended  by  children  from  New 
Philadelphia,  was  erected  in  the  fall  of 
1877,  by  W.  B.  Jellison  and  Perry  Clark, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  24. 
The  contract  for  the  erection  was  let  for 
$800,  and  after  completion  was  furnished 
by  the  district.  The  first  term  of  school 
in  this  buiding  was  taught  by  James 


58 


976 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Ross.  Previous  to  the  erection  of  this 
building  a  school  house  was  built  on  the 
same  site  several  years  ago,  which  was 
used  by  the  district  until  the  new  struc- 
ture was  completed. 

STONE   QUARRIES. 

A  good  sand  stone  is  found  on  sections 
1  and  12,  which  is  used  for  all  purposes. 
Quarries  are  developed  on  the  farms  of 
Millington,  Clark,  Prindle  and  Hood,  and 
large  quantities  of  the  stone  are  hauled 
to  Bushnell  and  other  points. 

CLAY  BANK. 

There  is  a  clay  bank  situated  on  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  12,  and  is 
owned  and  operated  by  Munson  and  Par- 
ker Hollister.  Most  of  the  clay  used  by 
the  Bushnell  tile  works  is  taken  from 
this  bank.  It  is  also  a  fine  potter's  clay, 
and  is  about  six  feet  in  thickness. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Mound  township  was  organized  at  the 
time  of  the  division  of  the  county  in  1857. 
The  first  township  election  was  held  on 
April  7th,  of  that  year,  at  which 
time  Lloyd  Thomas  and  William  Jackson 
were  elected  justices  of  the  peace,  and 
Samuel  H.  McCandless  was  chosen  to 
represent  the  township  on  the  board  of 
supervisors.  The  present  officers  of  the 
township  are  as  follows:  Supervisor, 
Joseph  Shannon;  clerk,  W.  C.  Swayze; 
assessor,  G.  A.  Cadwallader;  collector, 
E.  K.  Richards. 

CEMETERY. 

Mound  Chapel  M.  E.  church  cemetery 
was  laid  out  August  15,  1874,  on  the  land 
of  A.  J.  Fleming,  on  the  northwest  quar- 


ter of  section  22;  one  acre  was  sold  to 
the  society  for  $50.  The  first  burial  was 
that  of  Peter  Crownover.  Besides  he, 
Mrs.  Atherton,  Mrs.  Vinson  and  George 
Greene  were  buried  before  the  grounds 
were  laid  out  by  the  society. 

HISTORIC    ITEMS. 

David 'Carter  preached  the  first  ser- 
mon in  the  township  at  the  house  of 
Jacob  Kepple,  in  1835,  the  appointment 
here  being  in  what  was  known  as  the 
Pulaski  circuit. 

Joseph  Smith  built  the  first  cabin  in 
1832,  on  section  18. 

The  first  marriage  was  that  of  James 
Osborne  and  Ruth  Smith,  May  14, 1834. 

The  second  marriage  was  Edward  Dyer 
and  Jane  Kepple.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  by  Rev.  John  P.  Richmond, 
April  17,  1838. 

Josephine  Kulp  was  the  first  birth, 
about  the  year  1834. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  was  S. 
H.  McCandless,  who  was  also  the  first 
supervisor. 

.  The  first  church  was  organized  by  Rev. 
John  P.  Richmond,  a  Methodist  divine, 
at  the  house  of  Jacob  Kepple. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was 
that  of  an  infant  child  of  James  and  Ruth 
Osborne,  in  1835. 

NEW  PHILADELPHIA. 

The  first  plat  was  made  by  Lloyd 
Thomas,  in  August  and  September,  1858, 
when  the  railroad  was  first  surveyed. 
When  the  railroad  was  constructed,  it 
ran  about  half  a  mile  to  the  north  of  the 
first  survey,  and  J.  H.  and  B.  B.  Wilson 
platted  a  town,  in  1868,  on  the  railroad, 
and  called  it  Grant.  The  post  office  at 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


977 


New  Philadelphia  was  soon  afterward 
removed  thither,  sustaining  its  original 
name,  and  the  station  was  also  called 
New  Philadelphia,  so  that  the  present 
village  is  more  generally  known  by  this 
name,  although  its  present  plat  was  made 
and  appears  upon  the  records  as  Grant. 
There  is,  nothing  upon  the  old  site  to  in- 
dicate a  town  at  present.  All  the  busi- 
ness which  was  ever  transacted  there 
was  by  Lloyd  Thomas  and  his  son  John. 
The  former  built  the  first  store,  in  1859, 
and  put  in  a  stock  of*  dry  goods,  grocer- 
ies, etc.  He  operated  the  same  until 
1877,  when  he  closed  out'  the  stock. 
In  1860,  John  Thomas  put  up  a  store 
building  on  the  plat,  putting  in  a 
stock  of  groceries,  which  he  closed  out 
in  1878.  The  post  office  was  established 
in  1856,  and  Lloyd  Thomas  appointed 
postmaster. 

THE  NEW  TOWN. 

New  Philadelphia,  or  Grant,  is  located 
on  the  east  half  of  section  23,  on  a  rather 
flat  plain,  or  low  land.  It  is  situated  on 
the  line  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  War- 
saw railroad,  four  miles  south  of  Bush- 
nell,  and  in  a  valuable  farming  district, 
capable  of  supporting  a  town  of  consid- 
erable size.  The  first  lots  were  pur- 
chased by  Samuel  Kost,  in  1868,  who  put 
up  two  store  buildings.  In  the  fall  of 
1876,  W.  B.  Jellison  bought  14  acres  from 
the  main  street,  running  west,  and  Mar- 
tin Robinson  purchased  18  acres  running 
east  from  the  main  street.  Each  gentle- 
man laid  off  16  lots,  and,  through  com- 
petition, induced  buyers  to  purchase,  and 
succeeded  in  disposing  of  them.  A  great 
deal  of  the  building  improvements  of 
New  Philadelphia  were  made  by  Mr. 


Jellison.  About  1,500  cars  of  grain  and 
600  car  loads  of  stock  are  shipped  from 
the  place  annually. 

Jacob  Walters,  of  Bushnell,  opened 
the  first  store  in  one  of  the  Kost  build- 
ings. He  put  in  a  general  stock,  and 
operated  the  same  about  a  year,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Kost,  the 
owner  of  the  building. 

Plecker  &  Hunt,  of  Bushnell,  put  in 
the  second  stock  in  the  remaining  store 
building  erected  by  Samuel  Kost.  They 
carried  on  the  business  about  a  year, 
when  they  sold  out  to  LeMaster  and 
Swayze,  and  returned  to  Bushnell.  In 
1879  this  firm  was  succeeded  by  James 
F.  LeMaster,  who  carries  a  stock  of  gro- 
ceries, hardware,  etc. 

James  F.  LeMaster  was  born  in  San- 
gamon  county,  near  Springfield,  De- 
cember 17,  1848.  His  parents  were  Jos- 
eph and  Sarah  (Yocum)  LeMaster. 
They  came  to  McDonough  county  in  1863, 
but  in  the  spring  of  the  next  year,  the 
father,  with  his  son  James,  went  across 
the  plains  to  Oregon,  where  they  re- 
mained three  years  engaged  in  farming. 
After  returning  to  this  county,  he  re- 
mained one  year  on  a  farm,  and  then  re- 
moved to  Marshall  county,  Iowa,  and 
from  there  to  Indiana,  where  he  staid 
one  season,  and  then  returned  to  this 
county,  and  in  1872,  went  into  business 
in  New  Philadelphia,  keeping  a  general 
country  store.  He  died  in  the  spring  of 
1876,  his  wife  having  died  several  years 
previous.  James  was  the  only  surviv- 
ing-child.  In  1869,  he  started  out  for 
himself,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  un- 
til his  father's  death,  when  he  came  and 
took  the  store.  He  has  been  married 
twice,  the  first  time  to  Jane  A,  Sheets, 


978 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


September  8,  1870.  She  lived  until 
March  15,  1875,  when  she  died  leaving 
two  children — Ellis,  born  September  9, 
1871,  who  is  now  living;  and  John,  who 
died  shortly  after  his  mother's  death. 
His  next  marriage  occurred  September 
26,  1877,  to  Elizabeth  Cullumbia,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Cullumbia,  in  Mound  town- 
ship. She  died  October  28,  1882,  leav- 
ing no  children.  Mr.  LeMaster  is  well 
known  as  the  present  postmaster  of  New 
Philadelphia,  having  succeeded  to  that 
position  on  the  death  of  his  father. 

In  the  fall  of  1877,  Martin  Kobinson 
erected  a  building,  20x50  feet,  two  stories 
high,  in  which  he  put  a  stock  of  grocer- 
ies. He  ran  it  about  a  year,  with  a  very 
small  trade,  after  which  the  building 
laid  idle  until  occupied  by  W.  H.  Miner, 
in  the  fall  of  1878,  who  put  in  a  stock 
of  general  merchandise.  In  July,  1884, 
Mr.  Miner  removed  his  stock  to  the 
building  made  vacant  by  the  assignment 
of  Porter  &  Cowperthwaite,  where  he 
is  still  carrying  on  business.  The  build- 
ing is  20x50  feet  in  ground  area  and  two 
stories  high. 

J.  H.  Nebergall  engaged  in  the  sale 
of  groceries,  etc.,  in  1877,  which  he  op- 
erated about  a  year  in  the  edifice  also  used 
by  him  as  a  residence,  and  for  the  ac- 
comodation  of  the  traveling  public,  when 
he  disposed  of  the  stock  to  H.  C.  Swayze. 
He  again  embarked  in  this  line  in  Au- 
gust, 1882,  in  the  building  he  removed 
to  its  present  location,  adjoining  the  ho- 
tel and  residence,  in  1881.  He  does  a 
fair  business  and  carries  a  stock  of  about 
$600. 

John  Henry  Nebergall  was  born  March 
5,  1838,  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  and 
was  reared  a  farm.  When  he  was 


seven  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed 
to  Astoria,  Fulton  county,  reaching  that 
village  some  time  in  1848.  His  father 
traded  for  80  acres  of  land  near  Astoria, 
and  remained  there  until  1854.  In  1855, 
he  sold  out  and  purchased  40  acres  of 
land  in  Fulton  county.  The  parents 
died  while  living  in  this  section.  When 
our  subject  was  quite  young  he  "worked 
out"  for  neighboring  farmers,  and  re- 
ceived the  princely  stipend  of  $4  per 
month  for  his  first*  month's  labor.  He 
was  married  June  24,  1860,  to  Arminia 
W.  St.  Glair.  For  some  years  after 
their  marriage  they  lived  in  Lewiston, 
and  then  moved  to  Canton,  where  Mr. 
Nebergall  engaged  in  the  pump  busi- 
ness. The  family  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Mound  township  in  1865,  but  soon  after 
returned  to  Bushnell.  After  several 
changes,  our  subject  settled  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  in  1877,  and  is 
classed  among  the  successful  and  enter- 
prising farmers.  They  have  two  child- 
ren— Delia  and  George. 

H.  W.  Sheets  engaged  in  the  sale  of 
general  merchandise  in  the  fall  of  1879, 
being  a  successor  to  Samuel  Kost.  He 
carries  a  large  and  well  assorted  stock 
of  goods  as  is  usually  found  in  a  store 
of  this  kind.  The  main  building  is 
20x40  feet  in  dimensions, with  an  addition 
20x20  feet  in  size.  Mr.  Sheets  com- 
mands a  good  trade  and  is  the  principal 
merchant  in  the  place. 

Henry  W.  Sheets  is  a  native  of  Clarion 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  on 
March  17,  1836,  and  is  the  son  of  George 
W.  and  Ellen  Sheets.  In  1840,  Mr. 
Sheets  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled 
in  Mound  township,  McDonough  county, 
where  he  took  up  80  acres  of  land,  which 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


979 


be  has  added  to  from  time  to  time,  until 
he  now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  200  acres. 
Our  subject  was  married,  in  1857,  to 
Mary  Dimkle.  The  result  of  this  union 
was  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are 
living.  He  is  now  a  justice  of  the  peace 
in  Mound  township,  and  at  different  times 
has  held  various  township  offices.  He 
is  an  active,  earnest  citizen,  deeply  inter- 
ested in  all  that  pertains  to  his  county 
and  township. 

R.  B.  Butler  erected  a  building  in 
1877,  12x18  feet  in  ground  area,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  groceries  and  feed. 
He  is  still  a  representative  of  that  line 
of  trade. 

In  the  fall  of  1881,  Porter  &  Cowper- 
thwaite,  of  Bardolph,  engaged  in  busi- 
ness at  this  point.  They  put  in  a  stock 
of  hardware  and  drugs,  which  they  op- 
erated about  three  years,  when  they 
failed,  and  the  stock  was  closed  out. 

Swayze  &  Gordon  are  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  wagons,  buggies,  etc., 
and  also  do  a  general  repairing  business. 
The  business  was  established  in  Septem- 
ber, 1877,  by  Thomas  Royal,  as  a  wagon 
shop.  He  ran  it  until  November  20,  of 
that  year,  when  he  was  succeeded  by 
Samuel  Gustin.  While  the  business 
was  being  operated  by  Gustin,  a  black- 
smith shop  was  added  by  Martin  Robin- 
son. J.  Hageman  afterward  succeeded 
Robinson.  On  the  1st  day  of  April, 
1880,  W.  C.  Swayze  took  charge  of  the 
wagon  shop,  and  in  October,  1882,  W.  B. 
Gordon  succeeded  Hageman  in  the 
blacksmith  department,  since  which  time 
the  business  has  been  operated  jointly, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Swayze  <fe 
Gordon,  the  former  having  exclusive 
charge  of  the  wagon  shop,  and  the  latter 


of  the  blacksmith  department.  The 
wagon  making  department  is  16x44  feet 
in  size,  while  the  other  is  16x24  feet  in  . 
dimensions.  This  firm  have  all  the  bus- 
iness they  can  attend  to,  their  patronage 
extending  over  a  radius  of  15  miles. 

William  B.  Gordon  was  born  June  11, 
1839,  in  Macomb,  and  lived  in  that  city 
until  1849,  when  he  removed  to  Augusta, 
Hancock  county,  and  resided  there  until 
1856,  when  he  came  back  to  Macomb.  He 
lived  with  his  parents  until  1858,  when 
he  commenced  with  his  uncle,  Robert 
Broaddus,  to  learn  the  blacksmith  trade. 
He  worked  for  him  about  18  months, 
and  left  Macomb  in  1880,  and  was  at 
different  places  in  the  state.  In  1865  he 
settled  in  Bardolph,  and  ran  a  wagon 
and  blacksmith  shop,  part  of  the  time 
alone,  part  of  the  time  in  partnership 
with  Lewis  Wilson.  In  1880  he  sold  out, 
and  moved  his  family  to  Vermont,  Ful- 
ton county,  where  he  left  his  family  and 
went  to  the  mining  districts  of  Colorado, 
and  was  gone  about  10  months.  He 
came  home,  and  moved  to  Bushnell, 
where  he  opened  a  blacksmith  shop,  in 
July,  1881;  sold  out  and  went  to  Ma- 
comb, to  work  in  the  wagon  shop  of  Price 
&  Son.  In  October,  1882,  he  established 
himself  in  the  blacksmith  business  in 
New  Philadelphia,  where  he  still  con- 
tinues. He  was  married,  November  7, 
1865,  to  Mary  Durell,  of  Vermont.  They 
have  four  children  living  and  three  de- 
ceased. The  eldest,  Hattie,  was  10 
months  old;  Charles,  died  at  the  age  of 
3  years  and  2  months;  Terry,  22  months; 
Margaret,  Walter,  George  and  Ralph 
are  all  at  home.  Mr.  Gordon  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge  of  Bardolph, 
being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  lodge. 


980 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Wellington  Clernan  Swayze  is  a  native 
of  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  born 
the  21st  of  April,  1855.  His  parents  are 
Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Yetter)  Swayze, 
the  father  a  native  of  New  Jersey  and 
the  mother,  of  Pennsylvania.  The  elder 
Swayze  died  in  Pennsylvania,  leaving  a 
widow,  who  still  resides  at  the  old  home, 
Wellington  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
and  in  1878  he  came  to  New  Philadel- 
phia, and  worked  for  his  brother  in  the 
grain  business.  The  next  year  he  hired 
out  on  a  farm,  but  in  the  winter  worked 
for  his  brother  in  the  grain  business.  In 
the  spring  of  1880,  he  opened  out  in  the 
wagon-making  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count, and  is  now  doing  a  good  business, 
starting  with  nothing,  comparatively 
speaking.  In  the  spring  of  1885,  he  was 
duly  elected  clerk  of  the  town  of  Mound- 
He  was  married,  March  12,  1884,  to 
Delia  Nebergall,  daughter  of  John  Neb- 
ergall,  and  has  a  home  in  the  north  part 
of  the  village. 

The  grain  business  now  carried  on  by 
Henry  C.  Swayze  was  established  by 
George  Fritz,  of  Buslmell,  at  the  time 
the  railroad  was  completed  to  the  place. 
William  Steele  carried  on  the  business 
for  Fritz  until  1868,  when  the  latter  gen- 
tleman sold  out  to  S.  A.  Hendee  &  Co., 
of  Bushnell.  They  let  it  lay  idle  for 
about  a  year,  when  the  present  proprie- 
tor came  into  possession  of  the  business. 
The  building  is  28x50  feet  in  ground 
area,  and  contains  bins  with  a  capacity 
of  5,000  bushels.  On  account  of  com- 
petition and  cutting  up  of  territory,  bus- 
iness has  considerably  decreased  during 
the  past  two  years.  From  Aug.  9,  1882, 
until  April  1,  1885,  Mr.  Swayze  has  ship- 
ped 174  cars  of  grain,  mostly  to  Peoria. 


The  grain  business  is  also  represented 
by  William  H.  Miner,  who  established 
the  same  in  1879,  building  an  office  on 
the  main  street  near  the  railroad.  He 
erected  a  warehouse  24x40  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and  with  a  capacity  of  4,000 
bushels.  There  are  also  corn  cribs,  Avith 
a  capacity  of  12,000  bushels.  He  ships 
principally  to  Peoria. 

G.  W.  Solomon  &  Co.  engaged  in  the 
stock  business  in  1880,  the  firm  being 
composed  of  G.  W.  Solomon,  J.  A.  Cow- 
perthwaite  and  W.  N.  Porter.  This  firm 
continued  in  the  purchase  and  shipment 
of  stock  until  November,  1883,  when 
they  were  succeeded  by  S.  A.  D.  Farr 
and  J.  A.  Cowperthwaite.  This  firm  are 
among  the  present  representatives  in 
this  line,  and  do  a  business  of  about 
$40,000  annually.  They  ship  to  Chicago 
and  Peoria,  principally  the  former  place. 
Mr.  Farr  is  the  principal  buyer. 

S.  A.  D.  Farr,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
is  a  native  of  Fulton  county,  and  was 
born  near  Ipava,  October  29,  1854.  He 
farmed  for  several  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  Nebraska,  where  he  engaged 
in  agriculture.  He  returned  in  1880,  and 
went  into  the  lumber  business,  and  sold 
out  to  Mr.  Cowperthwaite  in  1883,  and 
engaged  in  the  stock  trade  as  noted  be- 
low. He  was  married  December  23, 
1873,  to  Phrania  Lindsey  and  has  four 
children.  In  1883,  Mr.  Farr  entered 
into  partnership  with  Mr.  Cowperthwaite 
in  the  stock  business  and  the  firm  now 
does  a  business  amounting  to  $40,000, 
annually.  They  buy  principally  in  Ful- 
ton and  McDonough  counties,  and  ship 
from  various  points.  They  handle  all 
grades  of  fat  cattle,  and  their  principal 
markets  are  Chicago  and  Peoria.  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


981 


Fair  is  the  manager  for  the  firm,  and  at- 
tends to  the  business  details. 

The  stock  business  is  also  represented 
by  Henry  C.  Swayze.  He  commenced 
buying  stock  in  1877,  shipping  to  Chi- 
cago during  the  winter  and  to  Peoria  dur- 
ing the  summer  seasons.  For  the  year 
ending  March  1,  1855,  he  did  a  business 
of  nearly  $17,000.  He  is  also  engaged 
in  the  sale  of  the  Leman  tile,  commenc- 
ing the  sale  of  the  same  in  1884.  In 
1882,  he  handled  the  Bushnell  tile. 

HOTEL. 

J.  H.  Nebergall  operates  the  only  hotel 
in  the  place.  It  is  not  considered  a  reg- 
ular hotel,  as  it  is  more  of  a  private  res- 
idence, although  the  traveling  public  are 
accommodated  here.  The  house  was 
built  in  1877.  Mr.  Nebergall  is  also  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  groceries  in  a  build- 
ing adjoining. 

George  W.  Makinson  is  a  native  of 
Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born 
.  February  25,  1843.  He  passed  his  early 
life  on  a  farm  in  Ohio.  He  enlisted  early 
in  1861,  as  a  private  in  an  Ohio  regiment, 
and  served  for  three  months,  when  he 
was  discharged  on  account  of  failing 
health.  He  recovered,  and  in  July,  1862, 
enlisted  in  company  B,  98th  regiment, 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  under  Capt.  J. 
B.  Mitchell,  as  a  private,  and  was  after- 
wards promoted  to  corporal,  and  served 
as  such  until  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
when  he  was  made  orderly  sergeant,  and 
discharged  as  such,  with  a  commission 
as  2d  lieutenant.  He  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Chickamauga,  Graysville,  Mis- 
sion Eidge,  Knoxville  and  a  number  of 
minor  engagements.  He  was  in  the 
famous  march  to  the  sea,  and  was  in  the 


battle  of  Bentonville,  where  Col.  Reaves 
was  killed,  and  finally  wound  up  his  ca- 
reer as  a  soldier  in  the  grand  review  at 
Washington.  He  was  discharged  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  began  studying  for 
the  ministry.  After  a  course  of  study, 
and  some  time  spent  in  teaching,  he  went 
to  Tennessee,  where  he  was  connected 
with  the  Freedmen's  bureau,  in  1867- 
68.  After  some  years  of  varied  experi- 
ence, he  entered  the  railroad  'service,  and 
during  the  strike  of  1877,  filled  two  mens 
places,  at  different  points.  He  was  mar- 
ried, April  10,  1869,  to  Alice  Baughman. 
They  have  three  children.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  lodge  71,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  Warsaw, 
Hancock  county. 

FIRST   ITEMS. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  town,  was 
Isom  B.  Shaw  and  Mary  J.,  daughter  of 
J.  H.  Wilson,  in  1873. 

The  first  death  was  Mrs.  J.  A.  LeMas- 
ter,  a  daughter  of  George  Sheets,  and  a 
sister  of  H.  W.  Sheets.  Her  death  oc- 
curred March  15,  1875. 

OTHER  PROMINENT  PEOPLE. 

James  Harvey  Langsford,  one  of  the 
most  prominent  citizens  of  Mound  town- 
ship, was  born  June  20,  1817,  near 
Bardstown,  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky. 
His  father,  Nicholas  Langsford,  was  a 
native  of  Plymouth,  England,  and  came 
bo  this  county  when  a  boy,  of  some  16 
years,  and  learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor 
in  one  of  the  eastern  states.  Upon  com- 
ing to  Nelson  county,  he  was  soon  after 
married  to  Sallie  Tichinor,  and  never 
moved  from  that  county.  He  died  in 
1838,  and  his  wife  followed  a  few  years 
tater.  When  21  years  of  age,  James  H., 


982 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


settled  in  Adams  county,  in  this  state, 
where  for  some  20  years  he  cultivated  a 
farm.  He  was  married  April  20,  1843, 
to  Narcissa  Dunlap,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Rachel  (Malone)  Dunlap,  both  na- 
tives of  Kentucky,  who  came  to  Adams 
county,  Illinois,  in  1841,  and  both  died 
there.  From  Adams  county,  Mr.  .and 
Mrs.  Langsford  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  August,  1859,  and  settled  on 
section  26,  in  Mound  township,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres,  upon  which  he  now 
lives.  He  has  since  purchased  more 
land  and  sold  some.  He  occupies  all  the 
land  that  he  owns,  and  has  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  one  of  the  best  farmers  in 
the  township.  Mr.  Langsford's  mother 
was  a  descendant  of  John  Oldham,  who 
came  over  in  the  Mayflower.  Although 
Mr.  Langsford  and  his  wife  were  child- 
less, yet  there  are  several  young  men 
and  women  now  living,  who,  as  children, 
have  been  the  objects  of  their  love  and 
kindness.  Samuel  Ramage,  now  in  Cali- 
fornia, grew  to  manhood  under  their  care 
and  protection.  Mary  Carnes,  Narcissa 
Messick,  and  several  others,  have  lived 
in  the  family  for  years.  Mr.  Langsford 
is  an  active  Christian,  and  has  frequently 
served  as  superintendent  in  a  neighbor- 
ing Sabbath  school.  Mrs.  Langsford 
has  two  younger  sisters,  who  were  reared 
by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Langsford  from  in- 
fancy. The  younger  one,  Lizzie  E.,  is 
still  with  them;  the  elder,  Louisa  J.,  is 
in  Kansas. 

James  H.  Wilson,  son  of  Samuel  and 
Ann  Wilson  (formerly  Boyle)  was  born 
June  11,  1826.  Samuel  Wilson,  his 
father,  was  born  in  February,  1785,  and 
died  September  14,  1841.  Ann  Wilson, 
his  mother,  was  born  August  15,  1798, 


and  died  September  5,  1884.  When 
James  H.  was  but  18  months  old,  or  in 
the  fall  of  1827,  his  parents  emigrated 
to  the  northern  part  of  Putnam  county, 
Indiana,  then  a  very  new  country, 
heavy  timber,  plenty  of  wild  game,  such 
as  bears,  deer,  wolves,  etc.  They  bought 
land  and  improved  a  large  farm  in  that 
place.  James  remained  on  the  old  home- 
stead till  1849.  In  1843  he  joined  the 
Christian  church  at  what  was  called  the 
Hebron  church,  under  the  preaching  of 
P.  M.  Harris,  his  cousin  by  marriage. 
He  still  lived  on  the  same  farm  till  May, 
1849,  when,  in  company  with  P.  M. 
Harris,  he  took  a  little  tour  west,  cross- 
ing the  W abash  river  near  Terre  Haute, 
Indiana,  thence  to  Paris,  Decatur,  Sugar 
Grove,  crossing  the  Illinois  river  at 
Havana,  thence  to  Table  Grove,  Ma- 
comb,  Blandinsville,  crossing  the  Mis- 
sissippi at  Fort  Madison  Iowa,  thence  to 
Ottumwa,  Iowa,  all  a  very  new  country 
at  that  time,  and  considered  a  long  ways 
in  the  west.  There  were  no  railroads  at 
that  time,  so  they  had  to  make  the  trip 
in  a  buggy.  Thence  they  returned 
home  by  about  the  same  route  that 
they  went  out,  arriving  home  about  the 
1st  of  June,  1849.  On  October  4,  he 
was  married  to  Rebecca  James,  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  James. 
Rebecca  James,  now  Wilson,  was  born 
in  Crawfordville,  Montgomery  county, 
Indiana,  December  13, 1832.  Her  father, 
William  James,  died  at  the  age  of  77; 
her  mother  died  in  Bushnell,  Illinois, 
at  the  age  of  63  years,  in  1847.  Rebecca 
James  joined  the  Christian  churcji  at 
what  was  called  the  Hebron  church,  in 
Putnam  county,  Indiana,  July  10,  1850. 
Their  first  son  was  born  in  October  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


983 


the  same  year.  "They  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois, landing  at  Table  Grove,  Fulton 
county,  that  state.  There  he  stayed  till 
1853,  when  he  bought  a  jpiece  of  land 
one  and  a  half  miles  east  of  what  is  now 
the  city  of  Bushnell,  land  being  only 
worth  about  three  to  four  hundred  dol- 
lars per  quarter.  May  4,  1853,  their 
daughter  Mary  Jane  was  born.  Joseph 
A.  was  born  July  10, 1855.  He  sold  that 
land  in  1855  and  bought  half  a  mile 
north  of  Bushnell.  While  living  in 
Bushnell,  their  son,  Lewis  L.,  was  born 
January  10,  1858;  sold  out  there  and 
bought  southeast  of  Bushnell  six  miles, 
adjoining  New  Philadelphia.  Their 
daughter  Peneta  J.,  was  born  February 
8,  1860;  their  daughter,  Mariam  J.,  was 
born  July  26, 1862;  their  son,  Judge  D., 
was  born  January  16,  1865;  their  son, 
Delana  E.,  was  born  January  30,  1867; 
their  son,  Louie  E.  Wilson,  was  born 
July  19,  1870.  In  the  year  of  1867,  he 
and  his  brother,  B.  B.  Wilson,  laid  out 
and  platted  what  is  called  Wilson's  ad- 
dition to  the  town  of  Grant  or  New 
Philadelphia, where  they  resided  till  this 
time.  Mary  J.  Wilson  was  married  to 
I.  B.  Shaw,  February  12,  1873,  and  now 
lives  with  her  husband  at  Greenup,  Illi- 
nois, and  has  one  daughter.  I.  B.  Shaw 
is  railroad  agent  at  that  place.  William 
P.  Wilson  was  married  to  Fannie  Hiett, 
August  27,  1873,  and  has  six  children. 
He  lives  in  York,  Nebraska,  where  he 
running  the  engine  in  an  elevator. 
Joseph  A.  Wilson  was  married  to  Emma 
Walters,  August  30, 1877,  and  has  three 
children,  and  lives  in  York,  Nebraska; 
he  follows  teaming.  Levi  S.  Wilson,  was 
married  to  Martha  M.  Logan,  July  4, 
1883,  and  has  one  daughter;  lives  in 


York,  Nebraska,  and  is  running  an  en- 
gine in  an  elevator.  Peneta  J.  Wilson 
was  married  to  William  Solomon,  De- 
cember 29,  1881,  and  has  one  daughter, 
and  lives  in  New  Philadelphia,  Illinois. 
The  remainder  of  the  children,  Mariam 
L.,  Judge  D.,  Delana  E.  and  Louie  are 
at  home.  The  family  are  all  republicans, 
except  only  son-in-law.  He  and  his  wife 
have  not  at  any  time  since  they  joined  the 
Christian  church  been  disconnected  from 
it.  They  have  nine  children,  two  sons- 
in-law,  three  daughters-in-law,  eleven 
grandchildren — all  alive  up  to  June  1, 
1885.  He  is  59  years  old,  lacking  11 
days.  His  hair  is  white.  His  wife, 
Kebecca,  is  52,  since  December,  1884. 
Her  hair  is  as  black  as  when  she  was  25 
years  of  age. 

Henry  Havens  i§  a  native  of  Warren 
county,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born  Janu- 
ary 3,  1828.  The  family  in  1854,  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county.  He  was 
married  June  26,  1859,  to  Ann  Jackson. 
In  1868,  he  sold  his  farm,  and  purchased 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  12.  The 
farm  had  been  improved  by  William 
Oglesby,  but  Mr.  Haven  has  added  to  it 
largely.  He  has  a  good  house,  and  his 
barns  and  outbuildings  are  of  a  sub- 
stantial character.  In  addition  to  the 
home  farm,  he  owns  valuable  tracts  of 
land  in  Fulton  county,  and  may  be 
classed  among  the  solid,  progressive 
farmers  of  his  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mrs.  Havens  have  had  seven  children 
born  to  them.  He  also  owns  stone  quar- 
ries and  a  fine  clay  bank. 

David  M.  Myers,  one  of  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  this  township,  owns  280 
acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
His  buildings  are  first-class,  and  his  new 


984 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


barn,  42x42,  is  the  envy  of  his  neigh- 
bors. He  makes  stock  raising  a  spe- 
cialty, in  which  he  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful. Mr.  Myers  was  born  August 
2,  1846,  in  Cumberland  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Myers, 
Esq.,  now  a  resident  of  Fulton  county. 
Mr.  Myers  enlisted  in  September,  1863, 
in  company  G,  103d  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  and  served  until  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  40th  regiment,  July,  1865. 
He  was  mustered  out  in  1865,  at  Spring- 
field. He  took  part  in  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Atlanta,  and  followed  the 
fortunes  of  his  regiment  until  the  close. 
In  1870,  he  went  to  California,  and  re- 
mained in  tliat  state  8  months.  Sep- 
tember 26,  1877,  he  was  married  to  Kate 
Burress,  and  went  to  housekeeping  on 
the  farm  where  he  »ow  resides.  They 
have  three  children — Frank  A.,  William 
H.  and  Lulu  Belle.  Mr.  Myers  has 
made  nearly  all  the  improvements  on 
his  farm. 


George  W.  Solomon  is  a  native  of  Illi- 
nois, and  was  born  March  12,  1839.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  a  good  North  Caro- 
lina family  of  .German  extraction.  When 
George  was  10  years  of  age  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  and  remained  one 
winter  in  the  county,  and  moved  to  Ful- 
ton county  in  the  spring  of  1850.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1860,  he  worked  for 
George  Reed,  who  owned  his  present 
farm.  He  was  married  in  1859,  to  Nancy 
Anderson,  and  in  1867  moved  to  the  farm 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  made 
stock  dealing  his  principal  business, 
buying  large  numbers  of  hogs  and  cattle, 
which  after  feeding,  he  ships  to  various 
markets.  He  noAv  owns  480  acres  of 
land,  all  in  cultivation,  he  has  a  large 
herd  of  cattle  in  the  Indian  Nation,  and  is 
a  thorough  cattle  man.  He  is  a  Master 
Mason  and  member  of  lodge  No.  316.  He 
was  supervisor  two  years,  the  board 
which  refunded  the  railroad  bonds.  He 
has  five  children. 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 


MACOMB  TOWNSHIP. 


The  township  of  Macomb  embraces  all 
of  congressional  township  6  north,  range 
2  west,  and  is  one  of  the  best  townships 
for  agricultural  purposes  in  McDonough 
county.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Walnut  Grove  township,  on  the  east  by 


Mound,  on  the   south   by  Scotland,  and 
on  the  west  by  Emmet. 

Crooked  creek  passes  through  the  en- 
tire township,  coming  in  at  section  13, 
and  passing  out  at  section  30.  Drown- 
ing Fork,  of  this  stream,  derived  its 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


985 


name  from  the  circumstance  of  a  man 
being  drowned  there  about  the  year  1827. 
Three  soldiers  were  returning  from  the 
northern  part  of  this  state,  or  Wiscon^ 
sin,  where  they  had  been  fighting  In- 
dians, going  south.  When  they  arrived 
at  this  branch  of  Crooked  creek  they 
found  it  swollen  by  recent  rains.  In 
attempting  to  cross,  two  of  them  were 
drowned.  Their  companion  buried  them 
beside  the  stream,  and  made  his  way  to 
the  block  house,  in  Industry  township, 
where  he  narrated  the  circumstances  to 
the  few  settlers  surrounding  it,  who  re- 
turned with  him  to  the  creek  and  found 
it  as  he  described.  They  gave  it  the 
name  which  it  has  since  borne — Drown- 
ing Fork.  These  streams,  with  other 
smaller  tributaries,  afford  excellent 
drainage  facilities,  while  furnishing 
abundant  supplies  of  water  for  agricul- 
tural and  stock  purposes.  The  only  tim- 
bered land  in  the  township  lies  along  the 
bank  of  Crooked  creek,  though  nearly 
every  one  of  the  many  substantial  farm- 
houses has  its  neat  artificial  grove  sur- 
rounding. The  land,  outside  of  the 
wooded  district,  is  diversified,  being 
composed  in  part  of  level  prairie,  and 
again  of  rolling  surface,  the  whole,  with 
the  numerous  handsome  houses  and 
painted  barns  thickly. studding  the  coun- 
try, presenting  a  picturesque  and  pleas- 
ing landscape  to  the  eye  of  the  observer. 
The  major  part  of  the  city  of  Macomb 
lies  within  the  borders  of  this  township, 
while  Bardolph  is  situated  wholly  within 
its  limits.  The  Quincy  branch  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad 
passes  through  the  township,  thus  af- 
fording, with  the  easy  accessibility  of 
the  two  towns  mentioned,  the  best  of 


market  facilities  for  the  products  of  its 
citizens. 

The  soil  is  a  dark,unctuous  loam  in  gen- 
eral, but  in  some  sections  it  is  composed 
of  light  clay  and  vegetable  mold.  The 
very  best  of  potters  and  fire-clay  is  to  be 
found  in  some  portions,  affording  an  in- 
exhaustible supply  of  these  useful  ma- 
terials, as  well  as  being  a  source  of  reve- 
nue to  the  fortunate  owners  of  the  lands 
on  which  these  clay  banks  are  situated. 

EAELY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  settlement  in  this  township 
of  which  there  is  any  record  was  made 
by  James  Fulton,  in  the  year  1830.  He 
was  born  in  Fleming  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1804,  and  came  to  this  county  from 
that  state.  He  remained  in  this  locality 
for  many  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Macomb,  where  he  died  a  few  years  ago. 

Silas  Hamilton  came  to  McDonough 
county  in  1831,  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  on  section  4,  Macomb  township. 
They  came  from  Adair  county,  Kentucky. 
Levi,  his  father,  afterward  removed  to 
Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1882.  He  was  a 
staunch,  generous  Kentuckian  and  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  but 
not  a  very  progressive  .citizen. 

Alexander  Harris  located  in  Macomb 
township  in  1831,  about  the  center  of 
section  22.  He  resided  here  until  his 
death,  The  homestead  is  still  occupied 
by  this  family. 

In  1831,  George  Miller  located  on  the 
south  half  of  section  24,  building  his 
first  house  on  the  southwest  quarter  of 
that  section.  He  came  from  Virginia, 
but  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  im- 
proved the  farm  and  afterward  erected 
the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by 


986 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Joseph  Work.  He  had  a  wife,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter,  and  in  1843,  joined  the 
Mormons  going  to  Nauvoo.  He  after- 
ward went  to  Indian  territory,  where  he 
built  a  school  house  for  the  Indians,  at 
Cherokee,  and  later  removed  to  Texas. 

In  1831  or  1832,  Abner  Walker  came 
from  Kentucky  and  located  on  the  south- 
east quarter  of  section  16.  He  afterward 
removed  to  the  city  of  Macomb,  where 
he  subsequently  died. 

James  Harris  settled  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  22,  where  David  Hol- 
ler now  lives,  in  1832  or  1833.  He  im- 
proved the  place  and  resided  there  until 
his  death.  His  wife  also  died  there  and 
both  were  buried  on  the  place  upon 
which  they  settled  at  that  early  day.  Mr. 
Harris  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church  and  materially  assisted  Wil- 
liam H.,  Jackson  in  organizing  the  first 
Sunday  school  in  the  township,  in  1837, 
at  the  house  of  George  Miller. 

James  Creel,  now  a  resident  of  Bland- 
insville,  built  a  small  cabin  on  the  site 
of  the  present  village  of  Bardolph  about 
the  year  1833,  but  did  not  own  it.  The 
cabin  was  afterward  used  for  a  school 
house. 

Robert  Grant,  J.  P.  Updegraff  and 
Ephraim  Palmer  were  settlers  previous 
to  1834 

Thomas  A.  Brooking  came  to  Macomb 
township  in  the  fall  of  1834,  where  he 
spent  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1835,  built  a  double  cabin  on  section  30, 
where  the  cemetery  now  is.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  section  7,  where  he  ac- 
cumulated a  large  amount  of  land,  some 
600  acres  in  all.  In  1856,  he  removed  to 
the  city  of  Macomb,  where  he  afterward 
died. 


John  H.  Snapp  came  to  Macomb  in 
1834,  settling. about  two  miles  north  of 
Bardolph.  He  lived  here  until  1854,  when 
he  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  died 
in  1872.  He  was  born  in  East  Tennes- 
see, in  1809,  where  he  resided  until  he  • 
came  to  this  county.  A  son  of  Mr.  Snapp, 
Alexander,  still  resides  in  the  county, 
living  in  Walnut  Grove  township. 

David  M.  Crabb  located  on  section  17, 
Macomb  township,  in  1836,  where  he  still 
resides. 

John  M.  Crabb,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Virginia,  September 
1,  1792,  and  was  the  son  of  Daniel  and 
Frances  (Middleton)  Crabb,  who  were 
both  natives  of  England,  but  who  came 
to  this  country  prior  to  the  Revolution- 
ary war.  Mrs.  Crabb  was  a  sister  of  Ar- 
thur Middleton,one  of  the  signers  of  the 
immortal  Declaration  of  Independence, 
an  instrument  which  brought  freedom  to 
3,000,000  of  people  then  living,  John 
M.  waa  left  an  orphan  at  a  very  early 
age,  his  mother  dying  when  he  was  but 
two  years  old,  and  his  father  some  four 
years  after.  On  the  death  of  his  father, 
he  was  taken  by  an  uncle,  Samuel  Crabb, 
with  whom  he  lived  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war  of  1812.  This  uncle  en- 
deavored to  do  his  whole  duty  by  his 
lonely  nephew,  and  doubtless  succeeded 
as  well  as  any  but  a  parent  could  suc- 
ceed. In  that  early  day  the  school 
facilities  of  the  country  were  very  lim- 
ited, and  unless  possessed  of  great 
wealth,  few  could  obtain  an  education 
such  is  now  required  of  the  youth  of 
our  land,  Mr.  Crabb,  therefore,  was 
only  instructed  in  those  branches  taught 
in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state, 
but  the  will  power  and  determination  to 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


987 


do  of  the  man  availed  him  much  instead. 
When  war  with  Great  Britain  was  pro- 
claimed in  1812,  Mr.  Crabb,  then  in 
his  20th  year,  was  among  the  first  to 
enlist.  He  served  his  country  faithfully 
as  a  private  soldier,  for  two  years,  prov- 
ing that  he  came  from  good  old  revolu- 
tionary stock.  For  that  service  he  re- 
ceived $8  per  month,  and  a  land  warrant 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  John  M.  Crabb 
and  Ann  Fleming  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  they  were  the  parents  of  10 
children — Frances  Ann,  now  living  on 
the  old  homestead;  Elizabeth,  deceased, 
wife  of  Samuel  McCray;  Mary  M.,  wife 
of  Robert  Kepple,  of  Mound  township; 
Parmelia  L.,  deceased  wife  of  B.  N. 
Chatterton;  Daniel  M.,  a  resident  of 
Macomb  township;  Hannah  L.,  deceased 
wife  of  William  Jackson,  of  Mound 
township;  John  A.,  living  in  Macomb; 
William  E.,  a  resident  of  Page  county, 
Iowa;  Robert  F.,  living  in  Macomb,  and 
Samuel  M.,  deceased.  In  April,  1851, 
Mrs.  John  M.  Crabb,  was  called  on  to 
pay  the  last  debt  of  nature,  and  cross 
the  dark  and  sullen  river  of  death,  leav- 
ing a  large  circle  of  mourning  friends, 
and  a  sorrowing  family  circle.  In  1828, 
Mr.  Crabb,  with  his  family,  then  con- 
sisting of  a  wife  and  six  children,  moved 
from  Virginia  to  Montgomery  county, 
Ohio,  thinking  to  better  his  fortunes  in 
a  newer  country.  Here  they  only  re- 
mained one  year,  when  a  change  was 
made  to  Clinton  county,  in  the  same 
state,  where  they  continued  to  reside 
until  the  fall  of  1836,  when  another 
change  was  made,  this  time  to  the 
regions  of  McDonough  county,  where 
they  arrived  on  the  14th  of  November, 
1836.  For  a  few  weeks  they  lived  in 


the  village  of  Macomb,  when,  leasing 
the  east  half  of  section  16,  Macomb 
township,  the  family  moved  on  this  as 
soon  as  a  house  could  be  provided.  The 
following  spring,  buying  80  acres  of  the 
same  section,  Mr.  Crabb,  with  his  boys, 
began  to  till  the  soil,  which,  for  49  years, 
has  continued  to  yield  bountiful  har- 
vests. No  other  business  did  he  ever 
follow  than  that  of  tiller  of  the  soil,  an 
occupation  suited  to  his  nature.  Although 
he  did  not  amass  wealth,  as  did  many, 
he  added  to  his  possessions  from  time  to 
time,  until  he  had  acquired  sufficient 
means  to  render  him  comfortable  while 
life  should  last.  Up  to  his  54th  year  he 
continued  to  labor  hard,  after  which  he 
surrendered  the  laborious  part  of  the 
work  to  his  sons,  who  had  grown  up 
around  him,  and  who  physically  were 
able  to  endure  the  burdens  and  hard- 
ships of  a  farmer's  life.  When  he  first 
settled  on  his  place,  Abner  Walker  was 
the  only  neighbor  'he  had,  he  living 
then  about  one  mile  east.  The  fever 
and  ague  was  very  common  in  the 
country  at  that  time,  and  the  family  all 
enjoyed  a  touch  of  it.  We  have  re- 
marked that  Abner  Walker  was  the  only 
neighbor.  We  might  qualify  it  by  say- 
ing human  neighbor,  for  all  around  him 
were  prairie  wolves  in  great  numbers, 
so  bold  they  would  come  to  his  very 
doors,  and  from  the  yard  kill  the  fowls 
which  he  had  provided.  The  annual 
prairie  fires  were  then  very  destructive, 
and  great  care  had  to  be  -exercised  to 
prevent  their  crops,  and  even  buildings, 
from  being  destroyed.  Mr.  Crabb,  long 
before  the  grass  would  begin  to  dry, 
would  have  his  entire  fields  plowed 
around  to  prevent  the  spread  of  the  fire 


988 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


when  it  should  come.  In  this  way  he 
saved  himself  from  loss  by  prairie  fires. 
He  was  possessed  of  great  firmness  of 
character,  and  with  his  children  his 
word  was  law;  when  he  commanded, 
obey  they  must.  He  was  very  fond  of 
amusements,  especially  out  door  kind, 
yet  never  carried  his  love  of  the  ridicu- 
lous to  excess.  He  believed  there  was  a 
time  and  place  for  everything,  and 
nothing  approaching  levity  should  be 
permitted  where  sobriety  should  be  the 
rule.  For  many  years  he  was  a  con- 
sistent member  of  the  M.  E.  church, with 
which  body  his  wife  was  likewise  con- 
nected, having  united  while  a  citizen  of 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio.  The  last 
congregation  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected, was  the  one  in  Bardolph,  this 
county.  Mr.  Crabb  departed  this  life 
on  the  10th  day  of  November,  1865,  be- 
ing at  the  time  73  years,  2  months  and 
9  days  old.  He  died  at  the  old  home- 
stead, surrounded  by  his  children,  all 
of  whom  had  reached  man  and  woman's 
estate;  all  of  whom  were  married,  save 
one. 

Daniel  M.  Crabb,  the  eldest  son  of 
John  M.  and  Ann  Crabb,  was  born  in 
Frederick  county,  Virginia,  on  the  14th 
day  of  November,  1823,  and  when  five 
years  old,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  from  which  place  they  came  to 
McDonough  county,  where  they  arrived 
on  the  13th  birth  day  .of  the  subject  of 
our  present  sketch.  From  that  time  to 
the  present,  he  has  been  a  citizen  of  this 
county,  living  in  the  well  known  Crabb 
settlement,  in  Macomb  township.  His 
entire  life  has  been  that  a  farmer,  hav- 
ing never  engaged  in  any  other  occupa- 
tion. Previous  to  his  arrival  in  Ma- 


comb,  he  attended  the  common  schools 
of  Ohio,  and  after  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  went  for,  a  short  time  to  the  old 
Prairie  school,  near  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Patrick  Laughlin,  Esq.,  three 
miles  north  of  Macomb,  and  about  the 
same  distance  from  his  father's  resi- 
dence. On  the  6th  day  of  March,  1850, 
Mr.  Crabb  was  married  to  Rebecca  E. 
Hampton,  with  whom  he  lived  ten  years, 
.she  dying  in  1860.  By  this  union  there 
were  three  children — Anna  E.,  wife  of 
Abner  Niely,  living  in  Blue  Earth 
county,  Minnesota;  Laura,  wife  of 
William  H.  King,  of  Macomb  township, 
and  James  M.,  a  resident  of  the  same 
township.  After  his  first  marriage, 
Daniel  made  a  settlement,  where  he  now 
lives  on  section  17,  where  he  owns  154 
acres.  He  also  owns  25  acres  on  section 
23.  Mr.  Crabb  was  again  married  on 
the  6th  day  of  March,  1862,  to  Mary  E. 
Bardo,  with  whom  he  yet  happily  lives. 
By  this  union  there  was  one  child — 
Robert  Emmet,  living  at  home.  About 
the  year  1841,  Mr.  Crabb  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion,  and  united  with  the  M. 
E.  church.  In  1871,  he  changed  his 
church  relations,  by  uniting  with  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  at  pres- 
ent located  in  the  city  of  Macomb, 
his  wife  also  uniting  with  that  con- 
gregation, though  she  had  for  several 
years  been  a  devoted  member  of  that 
zealous  body  of  Christian  people.  Mr. 
Crabb  now  occupies  the  position  of  trus- 
tee in  that  church. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Lovell  settled 
on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  26,  in 
1836,  where  he  erected  a  brick  house, 
the  first  in  the  township.  He  improved 
the  farm,  and  lived  there  until  1841  or 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


989 


'42,  when  he  removed  to  Bernadotte, 
Fulton  county,  where  he  afterward  died. 

Michael  Vincent  settled  on  the  north- 
west quarter  of  section  25,  in  1837. 

O.  M.  Hoagland,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, came  with  his  family  from  Susli- 
ville,  Schuyler  county,  in  1840,  locating 
on  section  24.  He  died  at  Bardolph, 
August  18,  1875. 

MENTION  OF  OTHER  RESIDENTS. 

In  order  that  those  who  have  labored 
to  advance  the  interests  of  the  township, 
may  be  represented,  the  following  men- 
tion of  the  more  prominent  citizens  is 
given: 

Aaron  R.  McKee  is  a  son  of  William 
R.  McKee,  who  was  born  in  Westmore- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  April  14, 
1783.  He  removed  to  Cincinnati,  when 
a  boy,  that  city  being  then  a  small  town. 
There  he  grew  to  manhood,  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Mills.  He  then  re- 
moved to  the  Dry  Fork  of  Whitewater, 
and  attached  himself  to  the  Quakers. 
He  next  went  to  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  resided  from  1827,  till  1845.  In 
the  latter  year  he  emigrated  to  Indiana, 
and,  15  years  later,  came  to  McDonough 
county,  to  reside  with  his  son,  A.  P.  Mc- 
Kee. He  died  October  12,  1880,  and  is 
buried  at  Oakwood  cemetery.  He  was 
a  pleasant,  social  man  and  highly  es- 
teemed by  all.  Aaron  P.  McKee  was 
born  July  16,  1821,  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  youth  was  spent.  He 
was  engaged  for  a  time  in  steamboating 
on  the  lower  Mississippi,  as  second  mate. 
He  then  returned  to  the  farm,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  farm  work,  made  brick.  In 
1850,  he  emigrated  to  Indiana,  and  on  the 
29th  day  of  April,  of  the  following  year, 


was  married  to  Hannah  Hayhurst,  who 
was  a  native  of  Miami  county,  Ohio.  Mr. 
McKee  came  to  this  county  in  1852.  His 
wife  died  in  1862,  leaving  five  children- 
Daniel  W.,  William  H.,  Charley  A., 
Frank  P.  and  Hannah  I.  He  was  again 
married  May  28,  1863,  to  Eliza  Cromer, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  who  was  born  March 
25,  1840.  They  have  seven  children  liv- 
ing—John C.,  Ida  M.,  Aaron  P.,  Kate, 
Frederick  D.,  Josie  and  Ruby  M.  Mr. 
McKee  is  an  enterprising  citizen,  takes 
an  interest  in  educational  matters;  has 
been  school  director,  and  is  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

Charles  W.  Dallam,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Maryland,  February 
16,  1817.  When  he  was  20  years  of  age, 
he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  1840,  was 
married.  He  remained  in  Ohio  until 
after  the  death  of  his  wife.  The  fruits 
of  this  marriage  were  born — Samuel  W., 
Mathias  W.,  Margaret  J.,  Jos.  S.,  John 
W.  and  William  W.  January  25,  1855, 
he  was  married  to  Mary  Plotts.  By  this 
marriage  he  has  had  four  children.  For 
some  time  he  resided  in  Macomb,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  thresh- 
ing machines.  He  aided  in  building  the 
North  mill,  and  run  it  until  he  sold  out 
and  moved  to  the  farm  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  owns  a  beautiful  farm,  well 
improved,  and  devotes  much  time  to 
stock.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  town 
clerk,  in  which  position  he  displayed 
considerable  ability.  He  is  a  Master  Ma- 
son, and  stands  high  in  the  fraternity. 
Mr.  Dallam  is  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  and  in  poli- 
tics, wishes  to  be  known  as  a  republican. 

John  Wiley,  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Ohio,  November  2, 


990 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1810.  In  1851,  he  came  to  Macomb, 
where  he  worked  at  his  trade,  carpenter- 
ing, building  principally  chaff  pilers, 
known  as  Eolston's  patent.  In  1849,  he 
with  others,  visited  California,  the  land 
of  gold  and  disappointed  hopes.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  in  that  region,  he  visited 
several  localities  and  was  very  success- 
ful. In  1851,  he  returned  home.  He 
has  driven  an  ox-team  across  the  plains, 
starting  March  2,  and  reaching  his  des- 
tination, August  18,  a  romantic  story  for 
these  days  of  steam.  After  his  return 
to  Illinois,  he  lived  in  Macomb  for  about 
three  years,  after  which  he  purchased 
and  improved  the  fine  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  and  on  which  he  has  erected 
a  fine  residence,  costing  $3,000,  He  is 
a  stock-raiser,  and  devotes  considerable 
attention  to  that  branch  of  business.  In 
1882,  he  was  elected  township  supervi- 
sor, which  office  he  held  for  two  years, 
and  for  14  years,  has  served  the  commu- 
nity as  school  director. 

Adam  Douglas  was  born  in  Scotland, 
December  31,  1833,  He  left  his  native 
country  in  1852,  and  finally  settled  in 
Eldorado  township.  His  parents,  John 
and  Janet  Douglas,  also  came  to  this 
county  and  resided  here  until  their  death. 
For  some  years  the  family  rented  land, 
but  by  thrift  and  industry,  were  enabled 
to  purchase  a  fine  farm,  which  is  the 
joint  property  of  Adam  and  his  brother, 
George.  March  18,  1864,  Adam  Doug- 
las was  married  to  Kate  Kelly,  and  the 
fruit  of  that  union  is  five  children — John 
T.,  James  K.,  Bessie,  George  C.  and 
Charles  A.  The  career  of  Mr.  Douglas 
is  a  fin'e  example  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished by  a  determined  will,  united  with 
proper  business  tact.  He  started  with 


nothing,  and  now,  comparatively  a  young 
man,  finds  himself  surrounded  by  plenty, 
the  result  of  his  own  labor.  His  resi- 
dence is  a  model,  and  cost  about  $3,000 
In  politics,  Mr.  Douglas  is  a  republican. 

Abram  A.  Adair,  is  a  native  of  Sum- 
mit county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  March 
25,  1842.  His  parents,  Alfred  and  Patty 
Adair,  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  and 
trace  their  descent  from  the  Plymouth 
pilgrims.  Abram  worked  on  the  farm 
in  Ohio,  until  1868,  when  he  moved  to 
Missouri.  He  remained  seven  years  in 
the  above  named  state,  and  then  settled 
in  Emmet  township,  in  McDonough 
county.  He  was  married  in  Missouri, 
August  31,  to  Sarah  E.  McCord.  He 
enlisted  in  June,  1862,  in  the  104th 
Ohio  volunteers,  and  served  with  credit, 
participating  in  several  pitched  battles, 
and  a  number  of  skirmishes.  Mr.  Adair 
was  wounded  but  not  permanently  dis- 
abled, and  at  the  close  of  his  term  of 
service  was  mustered  out  at  Cincinnati. 
He  has  filled  the  office  of  supervisor, 
and  is  an  earnest  republican. 

D.  E.  Ferster,  was  born  June  22, 1822. 
He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in 
1865,  removed  from  that  state  to  McDon- 
ough county,  settling  in  Chalmers  town- 
ship, where  he  owned  80  acres  of  land. 
In  the  fall  of  1870,  he  removed  to  Ma- 
comb township,  where  he  now  owns  100 
acres  of  fine  land.  He  also  owns  a 
house  and  three  lots  in  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb. He  was  married,  January  15, 
1843,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  one  son, 
Henry  M.,  has  grown  to  manhood.  The 
son  named  above  married  Elizabeth 
Wayland,  and  owns  76  acres  of  land. 
He  has  six  living  children — Ada  M.,  Ef- 
fie  C.,  -William  E.,  Clements,  Luther, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


991 


and  Samuel  C.  James,  the  second  son, 
died  February  4,  1869,  and  his  remains 
are  interred  in  the  Camp  Creek  ceme- 
etery.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  church,  Macomb. 

Stephen  V.  K.  Gloyd,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  in  Hampshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  February  22, 
1826.  His  parents,  Stephen  and  Hulda 
Gloyd,  were  of  English  descent,  and 
most  worthy  people.  Mr.  Gloyd's  father 
died  some  years  since,  but  his  mother  is 
still  living,  at  the  advanced  age  of  84 
years.  Our  subject  served  two  years  as 
a  member  of  the  assembly,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
for  14  years.  Our  subject  improved  a 
fine  farm  in  New  York  state,  literally 
hewing  it  out  of  the  timber.  He  now. 
owns  a  good  farm  in  this  county,  which 
he  has  greatly  improved  since  taking 
possession,  and  may  be  considered  an 
active  and  prosperous  farmer.  Previous 
to  his  removal  to  this  county,  in  1868, 
he  had  lived  for  one  year  in  Knox 
county.  He  devotes  much  attention  to 
stock-raising,  and  in  this  branch,  has 
been  very  successful.  He  was  married 
in  October,  1850,  to  Louisa  Smith,  a  na- 
tive of  New  York.  She  died  May  11, 
1874,  and  is  interred  in  Oakwood  ceme- 
tery. Four  children  were  the  result  of 
this  marriage,  and  three  are  living.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
church,  and  when  it  comes  to  voting, 
Mr.  Gloyd  always  drops  a  republican 
ticket  into  the  box. 

Isaac  F.  and  Andrew  J.  Cline,  the 
subjects  of  this  sketch,  are  the  sons  of 
William  Cline.  The  latter  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  September 
6,  1788,  and  was  married  to  Nancy  Fil- 


son,  February  9,  1809,  and  by  this  union 
was  the  parent  of  eight  children — Pene- 
lope, John,  William,  Charles,  Elizabeth, 
Caroline,  James  M.,  Samuel  F.  and 
Mary  M.,  who  have  all  passed  away  to 
the  land  of  rest,  except  Samuel,  who  re- 
sides in  Montgomery  county,  Kansas. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  William 
Cline,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mar- 
tha Fulton,  born  in  Fleming  county, 
Kentucky,  Fovember  7,  1796.  The  date 
of  this  marriage  was  September  29, 1828. 
By  this  union  there  were  five  children — 
Isaac  F.,  born  February  27,  1830;  An- 
drew J.,  born  September  14, 1831;  Eliza- 
beth F.,  born  October  9,  1834;  Martha 
Ann,  born  November  11,  1837.  Wil- 
liam Cline  died  in  his  native  county, 
June  7,  1847.  After  the  death  of  their 
father,  in  the  fall  of  1850,  his  widow,  with 
her  family,  moved  to  Vermont,  Fulton 
county,  and  from  thence  to  McDonough, 
where  a  farm  of  140  acres  was  purchased 
— afterward  increased  to  290  acres  be- 
sides this.  Andrew  J.  owns  40  acres  in 
Macomb  township.  This  land  the  sons 
have  improved  until  it  ranks  among  the 
best  farms  in  the  county.  They  have 
built  a  dwelling  house  at  a  cost  of  $2,200, 
with  neat  and  commodious  stables,  barns, 
and  other  farm  buildings.  They  devote 
their  time  chiefly  to  raising  grain  and 
stock,  in  which  they  are  very  successful. 
Martha  Cline,  the  mother,  died  Novem- 
ber 18,  1864,  and  her  remains  are  inter- 
red in  the  cemetery  near  Vermont,  Ful- 
ton county.  I.  F.,  A.  J.  and  Elizabeth, 
are  on  this  old  homestead;  Thomas  F., 
resides  in  Neosho,  Kansas,  and  Martha, 
wife  of  Joseph  Patterson  lives  in  Macomb 
township.  Elizabeth  Cline,  a  sister,  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church. 


992 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Robert  E.  Ellison  is  a  native  of  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  born  April  5,  1811.  His 
parents  came  there  with  the  first  emi- 
grants, and  settled  at  Three  Islands,  now 
Manchester,  in  1791,  and  was  in  con- 
stant fear  of  the  Indians,  who  made 
raids  on  them,  and  captured  his  father's 
brother,  and  held  him  one  year,  and 
others  of  the  small  colony  at  different 
times.  Robert  lost  both  his  parents  at 
an  early  age,  and  the  care  of  a  large 
family  of  younger  sisters  and  brothers 
fell  to  his  lot.  In  time  the  family 
dwindled  down  to  but  few,  and  in  1851, 
he  married  Ann  Work,  and  as  a  result 
had  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are 
dead  —  Sarah  R,  William,  Isabell  and 
Thomas.  Those  yet  alive — John,  Eliza-  . 
beth,  Oscar  and  Jennie.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1860,  purchased  a  farm  of 
160  acres,  upon  which  he  resides. 

George  Upp,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
is  a  native  of  Perry  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  July  23,  1823,  and  was  the  son 
of  John  and  Margaret  Upp.  Mr.  Upp's 
mother  died  when  he  was  quite  young, 
and  after  several  removals,  and  having 
reached  the  years  of  manhood,  he  de- 
cided to  make  his  home  farther  west. 
He  was  married  January  10,  1847,  to 
Rachel  Towers,  and  1851  started  for  his 
future  home,  finally  locating  in  McDon- 
,  ough  county.  He  made  the  journey  by 
wagon,  bringing  his  family  and  house- 
hold goods.  He  rented  land  for  one 
year,  and  then  purchased  160  acres 
where  he  now  resides.  He  continued  to 
add  to  his  farm  until  he  now  owns  815 
acres,  790  of  this  in  one  tract.  He  owns 
four  dwelling  houses  situated  on  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  farm,  and  rents  the 
greater  portion  of  his  land.  He  owns  a 


large  tract  of  fine  timber  laiid,  and  de- 
votes himself  chiefly  to  the  raising  of  fine 
stock.  Of  his  three  children  two  are 
living — Nelson  and  Daniel.  In  politics, 
Mr.  Upp  is  a  democrat. 

Cass  A.  Morey  was  born  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  April  7,  1850,  and  is  the 
son  of  Peter  and  Rebecca  Morey.  The 
family  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1856,  set- 
tling in  Ogle  comity,  and  in  1859  came 
to  McDonough  county.  They  resided 
here  17  years,  and  then  removed  to  Prai- 
rie City,  and  in  1883,  Cass  removed  to 
the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives.  He 
was  educated  at  the  Branch  college,  Ma- 
comb,  and  commenced  teaching  school 
in  1880,  his  first  school  being  that  in 
district  2,  Sciota  township;  he  taught 
the  Good  Hope  school  in  the  winter  of 
1884-5.  March  15,  1883,  he  was  married 
to  Mary  A.  Campbell,  a  daughter  of 
John  S.  Campbell,  who  had  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Sciota  township  for  20  years, 
and  who  is  now  living  in  Iowa.  Mr. 
Morey  owns  75  acres  of  land,  well  im- 
proved, is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  I.  O.  O.  R,  and  in  politics, 
is  a  republican. 

Aaron  Bennett,  the  father  of  Dayton 
Bennett,  was  born  December  1,  1800,  in 
New  London,  Connecticut.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  Connecticut,  and  in  1823 
went  to  Albany  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming.  He  was  married 
March  12, 1823,  to  Rosa  Ella  Burrows. 
One  son — Jefferson — was  born  of  this 
marriage,  and  died  in  Albany  county  at 
the  age  of  26.  The  family  then  moved 
to  Brooklyn,  where,  for  some  time,  Mr. 
Bennett  worked  in  a  fur  factory,  in 
which  business  he  was  not  successful. 
He  then  moved  to  Staten  county,  where 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


993 


for  17  years  lie  lived  on  a  farm.  His 
wife  died  in  Richmond  county,  1838, 
and  November  5,  1838,  he  was  married 
to  Rosella  B.  Fish.  After  this  marriage 
Mr.  Bennett  purchased  his  father-in- 
law's  farm,  and  resided  there  for  17 
years,  when  he  removed  to  Des  Moines 
county,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1855,  when  he  made  a  tour  of 
inspection  to  McDonough  county,  and 
decided  to  locate  there.  He  purchased 
a  good  farm,  on  which  he  erected  a 
dwelling  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  By  the 
second  marriage  two  sons  were  born — 
Albert  C.  and  Dayton.  Albert  enlisted 
August,  1862,  in  company  I,  78th  Illi- 
nois infantry,  and  died  at  New  Berlin, 
Kentucky,  November  12,  1862.  Dayton 
was  born  March  6,  1849,  and  for  some 
years  has  had  charge  of  his  father's 
business.  He  has  a  good  common  school 
education,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
I.  O.  O.  F.  lodge.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

S.  A.  Merriam  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  New  York,  March  11,  1839,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Sallie  Merriam. 
His  mother's  ancestors  were  natives  of 
England,  and  his  grandfather  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  quite  young, 
and  with  his  father  and  step-mother,  our 
subject  moved  to  Illinois,  in  1853,  locat- 
ing in  Fulton  county,  where  they  farmed 
until  1869,  when  the  family  removed  to 
Abingdon,  Knox  county.  He  was  mar- 
ried August  29, 1869,  to  Mary  A.  Shields, 
whose  mother  was  a  sister  of  Judge 
Shields,  of  Bushnell.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  resided  for  some  years  in  War- 
ren county,  and  then  removed  to  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  and 


Mrs.  Merriam  have  three  children— 
Anna  E.,  born  May  26, 1875;  Clarence  L., 
born  March  22,  1878,  and  William 
Shields,  born  December  19,  1883.  S.  A. 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
was  a  student  of  of  Hedding  college, 
Abingdon  for  17  months,  and  has  taught 
school  one  year.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Joseph  Collins,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  October  22,  1819, 
and  when  25  years  of  age  moved  to  Adams 
county,  Illinois,  near  Quincy,  where  he 
was  married  February  19,  1853,  to  Cyn- 
thia Collings.  In  1857,  he  removed  with 
his  family  to  McDouough  county,  where 
he  began  to  improve  a  farm.  He  made 
slow  progress,  but  eventually  was  re- 
warded for  his  labor  by  a  good,  well  im- 
proved farm,  comfortable  buildings,  etc. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
.of  a  social  disposition,  and  it  can  be  said 
of  him,  that  none  knew  him  but  to  love 
him.  He  never  enjoyed  good  health, 
and  died  of  pneumonia.  His  remains 
rest  in  the  beautiful  cemetery  of  Oak- 
wood.  When  Mr.  Collins  died  he  owned 
100  acres  of  land,  to  which,  his  sons  Al- 
bert L.,  Thomas  and  Fielding  have  made 
considerable  additions  at  a  cost  of  $8,000. 
The  land  is  all  under  cultivation,  and  is 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county.  Of 
Mr.  Collin's  10  children,  seven  are  liv- 
ing—Albert L.,  Alfred  N.,  Thomas  E., 
Fielding  L.,  Mary  I.  and  Vituala  E.  Al- 
fred W.  married  Josephine  Alwell,  and 
is  a  model  citizen.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church. 

George  W.  Wetsel  was  born  in  Au- 
gusta county,  Virginia,  January  18,  1833. 
He  was  the  son  of  George  and  Sarah 
Wetsel,  who  were  married  in  1828.  In 


994 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1845,  they  removed  from  Virginia  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  making  the  long 
journey  by  wagon,  and  settled  near  Ver- 
mont. MJ-.  Wetsel  finally  moved  to  Har- 
ris township,  locating  on  the  farm  on 
which  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Wetsel' s  fam- 
ily consisted  of  10  children,  seven  sons 
and  three  daughters,  all  living,  as  are 
their  parents — John  N.,  Christopher  and 
A.  B.,  live  at  New  Salem;  George  W.,  in 
Macomb;  William  H.,  in  Kansas;  Mrs. 
Mary  C.  Bryan,  in  Fulton  county;  Mrs. 
Sarah  Lenett,  Granville  A.  and  Eliza  A., 
Mound,  and  Daniel  W.,  who  resides  on 
the  homestead  in  Fulton  county.  George 
W.  Wetsel  was  married  July  16, 1857,  to 
Elizabeth  McKee,  who  was  a  native  of 
Schuyler  county.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren, all  living — James  G.,  Ezra  J., 
Laura  E.,  Thomas  E.,  George  W.  and 
Flora  O.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wetsel  after 
their  marriage,  lived  in  New  Salem  and 
Mound,  and  in  1876,  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county,  where  he  now  owns  140 
acres  of  land.  He  is  a  trustee  and  class 
leader  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  of 
which  the  family  are  members.  He  is 
also  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school 
and  is  a  tireless  worker  in  church  affairs. 

David  Runkle  was  born  in  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  August  15,  1815,  and  was 
one  of  the  first  of  the  Runkle  family  to 
emigrate  to  Illinois. 

Wm.  J.  Runkle,  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  was  reared  in  Ohio,  where,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1836,  he  married  Margaret 
Kizer,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1862.  He 
was  the  father  of  12  children,  of  whom 
three  are  dead,  their  names  are — Emery 
who  lives  in  Macomb ;  William,  who  re- 
sides on  the  homestead;  married  Emma 
Vogt,  and  they  have  one  child,  David  V ; 


Francis  M. ;  Lewis,  died  August  23, 1873 ; 
Darius,  resides  in  Macomb  township; 
Stephen,  resides  on  the  homestead,  Mrs. 
Mary  Lawson,  lives  in  Hutchinson,  Kan- 
sas, her  husband  was  at  one  time  ed- 
itor of  the  Hutchinson  Interior,  and 
served  two  terms  in  the  Kansas  legisla- 
ture; Phebe  J.,  Margaret  Ann,  Laura  A. 
died  July  7,  1870;  and  Francis  M.  The 
last  named,  enlisted  April  21,  1861,  in 
company  I,  14th  regiment,  Illinois  vol- 
unteers, served  three  years,  and  was 
mustered  out  in  July,  1864.  He  par- 
ticipated in  several  of  the  bloodiest  bat- 
tles of  the  war —  Shiloh,  siege  of  Vicks- 
burgh,  Black  river,  and  Jackson,  he  was 
never  wounded  or  in  the  hospital.  The 
Runkle  farm  comprises  525  acres,  all  in 
one  tract,  besides  80  acres  in  Kansas,  all 
in  the  name  of  Wm.  J.  Runkle.  The 
principal  business  on  the  farm  is  stock 
raising,  feeding  every  year  from  80  to  120 
head  of  cattle,  and  about  300  hogs.  The 
business  is  very  profitable  and  is  well 
managed. 

H.  H.  McElvain  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
and  was  born  February  13,  1824,  and 
when  10  years  of  age,  with  his  parents 
moved  to  LaGrange  county,  Indiana. 
He  was  the  son  of  George  and  Sarah 
McElvain,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. From  Indiana  the  family  moved 
to  this  state,  1846,  settling  near  Blandins- 
ville,  where  they  improved  a  farm  of  270 
acres.  Mr.  McElvain,  Sr.,  died  in  Au- 
gust, 1881,  in  Walnut  Grove  township, 
aged  90  years.  He  was  a  man  possessed 
of  an  iron  constitution  and  admirably 
adapted  to  the  privations  of  pioneer  life. 
Our  subject  was  married  June  10,  1849, 
to  Latitia  A.  Cox,  who  was  a  native  of 
Breckenridge  county,  Kentucky.  After 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


995 


his  marriage  Mr.  McElvain  improved  a 
small  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1855, 
moved  to  Macomb  township  and  im- 
proved a  large  farm.  He  now  owns  a  large 
farm  well  improved  and  valuable,  to- 
gether with  real  estate  and  dwelling 
houses  in  Bushnell.  Mr.  McElvain's 
career  is  a  fine  illustration  of  what  can 
be  done  by  industry  and  perseverance. 
He  was  a  poor  boy,  and  by  his  own  ef- 
forts has  acquired  a  competence.  His 
house  cost  over  $4,000  and  is  the  best  in 
the  township.  He  is  principally  engaged 
in  stock  raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McElvain 
have  had  born  to  them  three  children,  of 
which,  one,  Eugene,  died  in  childhood. 
The  remaining  children — Oscar,  born  in 
1852,  was  married  December  20,  1882, 
to  Miama  H.  Stickle,  they  have  had  one 
child,  Bessie  Maple;  Junia  Etta,  bom 
February  23,  1860,  married  October- 19, 
1882,  to  R.  S.  Halladay,  and  died  De- 
cember 20,  1883,  leaving  one  child,  Etta 
Glenn.  Mr.  McElvain  has  served  as 
road  commissioner  for  15  years,  and 
with  his  family,  is  a  member  of  the  M. 
E.  church. 

Levi  H.  Shriner  was  born  in  Frederick 
county,  Maryland,  October  19,  1838,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Martha  Shriner, 
both  natives  of  Maryland.  The  family, 
in  1847,  moved  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
and  there  our  subject  grew  to  manhood. 
His  mother  died  in  Maryland,  but  her 
place  was  supplied  by  his  step-mother, 
who  was  before  her  marriage,  Mrs. 
Margaret  Bister.  In  1859,  Levi  went  to 
Kansas,  and  after  a  short  sojourn,  they 
returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  in  March, 
1861,  moved  to  McDonough  county, 
where  he  purchased  120  acres  of  land. 
He  now  owns  160  acres  on  section  5,  be- 


side other  farm  lands.  His  home  farm 
is  well  improved,  the  dwelling  house  be- 
ing erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  with  good 
barns  and  other  farm  buildings.  He 
devotes  considerable  attention  to  raising 
the  better  grades  of  stock,  and  his  fine 
pastures.  Mr.  Shriner  was  married  De- 
cember 27,  1864,  to  Hattie  Collins,  a 
daughter  of  Alex.  Collins  of  Adams 
county.  They  have  three  children — 
Junia,  Pearl  and  Myrtle.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  M.  E.  church,  of 
which  Mr.  Shriner  is  trustee.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  township  collector,  and 
in  politics  is  a  republican. 

Andrew  L.  Bryan  was  born  January 
12,  1838.  His  father  died  in  Virginia, 
in  1839,  and  his  mother  afterward  mar- 
ried John  Swisher,  who  in  1855,  with 
his  family,  including  Mr.  Bryan,  moved 
to  this  state  and  county.  Our  subject 
worked  for  some  time  by  the  month,  and 
finally  located  on  a  farm  near  New  Phil- 
adelphia. On  February  28,  1861,  .he  was 
married  to  Lizzie  Rose.  After  sev- 

• 

eral  changes,  Mr.  Bryan  finally  located 
on  section  10,  Macomb  township,  and  so 
well  has  he  prospered  that  he  now  owns 
the  entire  southeast  quarter  of  the  sec- 
tion, besides  80  acres  of  choiee  land  in 
another  locality.  He  may  be  classed 
among  the  progressive  and  successful 
farmers.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryan  are  the 
parents  of  four  living  children — Dora 
A.,  Sarah  E.,  Newton  A.  and  Jessie. 
The  family  are  consistent  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  church,  and  take 
great  interest  in  its  welfare. 

Adam  Zirkel  was  born  in  Hesse-Cas- 
sel,  Germany,  September  17, 1825.  His 
parents  died  in  Germany,  and  our  sub- 
ject, after  attending  school  until  he  was 


996 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


17  years  of  age,  was  bound  apprentice 
to  a  blacksmith,  and  served  three  years, 
according  to  the  German  apprentice  law. 
Becoming  dissatisfied  with  life  in  the 
Fatherland,  he  emigrated  to  America, 
settling  near  New  Brunswick,  state  of 
New  Jersey,  where  he  worked  for  vari- 
ous farmers,  receiving  the  princely  sal- 
ary of  $4  per  month.  After  working 
two  years  in  New  Jersey,  he  moved  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked 
by  the  year  for  two  years,  getting  good 
wages.  He  had  saved  $40  from  work  in 
New  Jersey,  which  he  loaned  at  3  per 
cent.  Soon  after  coming  to  Fulton 
county,  he  was  married  to  Mahala  Tow- 
ers, and  rented  a  farm  in  Walnut  Grove 
township.  He  was  very  successful  as  a 
farmer,  and  was,  in  a  few  years,  able  to 
purchase  the  farm  on  which  he  now  re- 
sides, and  erected  a  comfortable  house, 
costing  $1,800.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zirkel 
have  no  children  of  their  own,  but  have 
an  adopted  child,  who  is  known  as  Carrie 
Zirkel.  He  is  a,  member  of  the  Dutch 
Reformed  church.  Mr.  Zirkel  has  a 
large  sum  of  money  at  interest,  and  is  a 
good  type  of  the  honest,  thrifty  farmer. 
Eli  Holler  is  a  native  of  McDonough 
county.  He  was  born  November  27, 
1851.  He  made  his  home  in  this  county 
until  he  was  21  years  of  age,  when  he 
went  to  Page  county,  Iowa,  and  remained 
there  two  years.  In  1874  he  returned  to 
McDonough  county,  and  purchased  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides,  The  land  at 
that  time  was  unimproved,  and  the  build- 
ings of  little  value.  Since  that  time  he 
has  built  a  house  costing  $1,600,  erected 
comfortable  barns  and  improved  his 
farm.  In  1872,  he  was  married  to  Farn- 
zina  Jackson.  Six  children  have  blessed 


this  union — Lucinda  A.,  Rena  B.,  Clara 
M.,  Gertrude  T.,  Olive  E.  and  Meda  A. 
Mr.  Holler  is  an  enthusiastic  fancier  of 
fine  horses,  and  prefers  Clydesdales, 
which  he  makes  a  specialty.  He  has 
purchased  the  best  stock  that  could  be 
procured,  and  is  famous  for  his  fine 
horses,  which  have  been  a  source  of  con- 
siderable profit. 

John  B.  Ames  was  born  in  Hart 
county,  Kentucky,  October  8,  1824.  His 
parents  were  Erasmus  and  Mary  Ames. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  quite 
young,  and  he  remained  with  his  wid- 
owed mother.  He  was  married,  Febru- 
ary 5,  1847,  to  Martha  E.  Lord,  a  native 
of  Kentucky.  When  they  were  married, 
Mr.  Ames  was  very  poor,  and  worked  for 
a  time  in  a  plow  factory.  He  purchased 
land  in  Indiana,  then  went  home  and 
worked  for  $8  per  month  to  raise  money 
to  make  his  first  payment.  He  was  suc- 
cessful, and  sold  out  for  a  good  price,  re- 
ceiving gold  and  silver  in  payment.  He 
continued  to  speculate  in  land,  and  was 
very  successful.  He  moved  to  Illinois 
in  1864,  and  settled  near  Macomb.  He 
bought  land  for  $20  an  acre,  which  he 
afterward  sold  at  $50  an  acre,  clearing  a 
snug  sum  by  the  operation.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  to  use  drain  tile  in  the  county, 
laying  2-inch  tiling.  He  now  owns  320 
acres  of  good  land,  and  has  given  farms 
to  his  children.  He  has  raised  a  family 
of  seven  children— Samuel  8.,  married 
Lucinda  Patterson;  Willis,  married 
Panthea  Riggs;  Nancy,  married  James 
Cannon.  Elizabeth,  married  Frank 
Pierce;  Eliza,  Jezekiah  and  John.  Mr. 
Ames  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
church.  All  his  trading  is  in  land,  in 
which  he  has  had  phenomenal  success. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


997 


Nathaniel  Owens  is  a  native  of  Bed- 
ford, Lawrence  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  was  born,  February  9,  1841.  His 
father  died  in  1842,  and  his  widow  mar- 
ried John  Low,  with  whom,  in  1852, 
Nathaniel  came  to  Illinois.  He  worked 
for  various  persons  until  August  9, 1862. 
when  he  enlisted  in  company  A,  84th 
Illinois  infantry,  and  served  until  June 
8,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of 
the  service  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He 
participated  in  the  battles  of  Missionary 
Bidge,  Lookout  Mountain,  Kenesaw 
Mountain,  etc.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
last  engagement,  and  sent  to  Nashville, 
where  he  remained  from  June  until 
October.  He  was  then  sent  to  Chatta- 
nooga, and  in  March,  1865,  joined  the 
regiment  at  Huntsville,  Alabama.  After 
his  discharge,  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  worked  for  John  M.  Crabb  and 
others.  He  farmed  in  their  vicinity 
until  February  17,  1870,  when  he  was 
married  to  Charity  Hollenberg.  He 
had  an  interest  in  the  Tunnicliff  farm, 
and  remained  there  four  years,  when  he 
moved  to  Chalmers  township,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm  of  120  acres.  He  has, 
in  addition  to  his  own  farm,  worked  Mr. 
Tunnicliff's  farm,  and  ships  his  surplus 
products  to  Chicago.  He  has  four  chil- 
dren living,  and  three  deceased.  His 
first  wife  died  February  5,  1883.  He 
was  married,  the  second  time,  to  Mar- 
garet J.  Bennett,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Mr.  Owens  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  has  reached  the  de- 
gree of  Master  Mason. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

From  the  last  report    of  the   county 
superintendent,  for  the  school  year  end- 


ing June  30,  1884,  it  is  found  that  the 
estimated  value  of  school  property  in 
Macomb  township  amounts  to  $9,400, 
being  free  from  any  bonded  indebted- 
ness. The  amount  of  tax  levy  for  the 
support  of  schools  amounts  to  $3,350. 
The  highest  monthly  wages  paid  any 
male  teacher  is  $60,  and  the  lowest,  $35. 
The  highest  wages  paid  female  teachers 
is  $40,  and  the  lowest,  $20  per  month. 
There  are  eight  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  all  of  which  are  frame,  and 
the  average  number  of  months  of  school 
annually  is  eight.  There  are  270  pupils 
enrolled  in  the  schools  of  the  district 
township,  and  377  children  of  school 
age.  One  district  in  the  township  has  a 
graded  school. 

District  No.  2. — The  school  house 
stands  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  10. 
There  is  one  acre  of  ground  about  this 
building  belonging  to  the  district,  for 
which  $50  was  paid  to  L.  H.  Shriner. 
The  building  was  erected  in  1856,  at  the 
time  the  district  was  set  off.  The  direct- 
ors at  that  time  were:  Madison  Irven, 
chairman;  L.  H.  Shriner  and  A.  Switzer. 
The  building,  furniture,  etc.,  cost  about 
$1,800.  A  tax  of  $2  was  levied  for  school 
purposes,  and  $3  for  building,  and  the 
amount  was  paid  up  in  two  years.  Since 
that  time  they  have  had  nine  months  of 
school  each  year.  The  present  directors 
are:  H.  H.  McElvain,  chairman;  D.  C. 
Harris,  treasurer;  Albert  Collins,  secre- 
tary. 

District  No.  4. — The  meeting  for  the 
organization  of  this  district,  was  held  at 
the  house  of  John  M.  Crabb,  on  the  8th 
day  of  February,  1858.  Directors  were 
chosen  as  follows:  B.  B.  Hampton, 


998 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


president;  George  Upp,  and  I.  N.  Van- 
Meter,  clerk.  The  first  school  house  was 
built  by  William  McCandless,  at  a  cost 
of  $375.  This  building  is  now  standing 
where  it  was  erected,  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  16.  It  is  20x24  feet 
in  size.  The  first  teacher  was  Mary 
Spangler,  and  the  next  was  Caroline 
Spangler.  The  directors  for  1885,  are: 
W.  J.  Runkle,  president;  Daniel  M. 
Crabb,  clerk,  and  John  A.  Crabb. 

CLAY   BANK. 

Runkle's  clay  bank  is  located  near  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  16,  Macomb 
township.  .It  was  first  discovered  by 
Frank  Runkle,  who  noticed  the  clay 
sticking  to  the  legs  of  cattle  which  crossed 
a  ravine  that  passed  through  the  land. 
Stephen,  William  and  Frank  Runkle, 
then  sunk  a  well,  and  after  digging  13 
feet,  procured  an  auger  and  commenced 
boring.  They  found,  after  going  lower, 
potter's  clay,  between  two  layers  of  rock. 
Under  the  lower  layer  of  rock,  they 
struck  fire-clay,  of  splendid  quality.  It 
was  not  operated  to  any  extent,  till  1880. 
The  Runkle  Bros.,  operated  it  at  first, 
for  Eddy  &  Co.  Benjamin  Myers  took 
charge  of  it  in  October,  1880,  and  worked 
it  about  a  year.  George  Dexter  next 
operated  it,  and  after  a  year,  Elisha 
Runkle  came  in  as  partner.  All  these 
took  out  the  clay  for  Eddy  &  Co.  This 
firm  run  it  themselves  after  Dexter  & 
Runkle  discontinued.  William  Stone 
operates  the  bank  for  them.  In  1884, 
2,310  tons  were  taken  out  for  Eddy  & 
Co.,  while  other  potteries  got  about  2,250 
tons  of  the  product.  It  is  sold  at  an 
average  of  20  cents  per  ton.  This  price 
is  in  the  way  of  royalty,  as  the  proprie- 


tors of  the  land  do  not  have  to  handle 
the  clay.  This  bank  supplies  all  the  clay 
used  by  the  Macomb  potteries,  and  a 
great  deal  for  the  tile  works. 

LYCEUM. 

In  the  school  house  of  district  No.  4, 
have  been  held  some  fine  lyceum  meet- 
ings. They  commenced  here  in  1862, 
but  the  society  was  organized  at  the  old 
Prairie  school  house,  and  meetings  had 
been  held  there  for  some  time.  Among 
the  principal  workers  in  this  society, 
were :  Daniel  M.  Crabb,  Thomas  Grant, 
now  of  Monmouth,  Robert  Grant,  Mead 
Bros.,  Cyrus  Van  Meter,  Ed.  Ayers,  Dr. 
Westf  all,  of  Buslmell,  Hiram  Van  Meter, 
Edward  Fuhr,  David  Maguire,  William 
Fuhr,  Elder  Newton  Walker,  now  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  United  Brethren,  and 
Samuel  Crabb,  who  was  a  warm  debater. 
For  a  time  meetings  were  held  at  Pleas- 
ant Hill,  and  while  there,  five  sons  of 
Andrew  McMahon  were  members.  This 
gentleman  is  enthusiastic  in  his  praises 
of  the  work  done  by  these  meetings,  and 
he  attributes  much  of  their  success  in 
life,  to  the  improvement  of  their  minds 
at  these  .meetings.  The  debates  are  still 
continued,  though  many  of  the  most  in- 
terested have  moved  away,  and  there  are 
not  so  many  members  of  the  lyceum  so- 
ciety as  formerly. 

CREAMERY. 

In  October,  1883,  A.  A.  Adair  and  C. 
V.  Chandler  commenced  operations  in 
their  creamery,  which  is  located  on  sec- 
tion 31,  Macomb  township.  They  com- 
menced business  by  using  the  milk  fur- 
nished by  40  cows,  but  they  have  in- 
creased the  capacity  as  business  has 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


999 


grown,  until  they  now  use  the  product 
of  60  cows,  besides  a  large  quantity  of 
milk  furnished  by  farmers  in  all  the  con- 
tiguous territory.  They  now  employ 
eight  cream  wagons  on  the  road,  and  get 
milk  from  portions  of  McDonough,  Han- 
cock and  Schuyler  counties.  The  cream- 
ery building  proper  is  30x42  feet  in 
ground  area,  with  ice  house  in  the  rear. 
The  machinery  is  run  by  steam  power, 
and  the  engine  is  well  suited  to  this 
work.  The  vats  and  churns  are  well  ar- 
ranged, and  the ,  works  may  be  said  to 
have  all  the  latest  improvements  for  mak- 
ing butter.  The  creamery  has  a  capacity 
of  1,500  pounds  a  day,  the  major  part  of 
which  finds  a  market  in  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia and  Baltimore,  though  some  is 
shipped  to  Chicago.  They  make  a  su- 
perior quality  of  butter,  which  is  a 
source  of  profit  to  its  proprietors,  and 
besides  adds  an  important  item  to  the  in- 
dustries of  McDonough  county.  Cream 
for  their  works  is  obtained  from  as  far 
south  as  Colmar.  Calves  and  hogs  are 
kept  by  the  proprietors  to  use  up  the 
surplus  milk  and  refuse  of  the  creamery. 


RELIGIOUS. 


- 


The  organization  of  the  Greenwood 
M.  E.  church  was  effected  in  1857.  Their 
church  building  is  located  on  section  2. 
(See  Ecclesiastical  chapter). 

GRIST  AND   SAW   MILL. 

A  mill  of  this  description  was  built 
by  George  Miller  and  Abner  Walker,  in 
1832  or  3,  near  the  place  now  owned  by 
David  Holler.  They  operated  it  for  a 
time,  when  Miller  sold  out  his  interest 
to  Walker.  It  afterward  passed  into 
several  different  hands  and  was  operated 


by  water  power  until  rented  by  Thomas 
Rabbit,  when  it  was  converted  into  a 
steam  mill.  It  has  since  been  destroyed. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  first  election  under  township  or- 
ganization, occurred  on  the  7th  day  of 
April,  1857.  W.  S.  Hail  and  W.  I.  Hen- 
dricks  were  elected  justices  of  the  peace. 
J.  O.  C.  Wilson  was  the  first  police  mag- 
istrate, having  been  elected  on  the  4th 
of  May,  1857.  W.  S.  Hendricks  was 
the  first  supervisor.  The  present  offi- 
cers of  the  township  are  as  follows: 
Supervisor,  J.  A.  Bricker;  clerk,  H.  A. 
Maxwell;  collector,  W.  M.  Thompson; 
assessor,  I.  Cline;  school  trustees,  John 
Randolph,  Robert  Crabb,  and  J.  M. 
Jackson;  highway  commissioner,  Henry 
Graham;  justices  of  the  peace,  C.  L. 
VanMeter  and  Lewis  Wilson;  consta- 
bles, John  Hindman  and  Samuel  Helms. 

« 

f 

FIRST     ITEMS. 

The  first  Sunday  school  in  the  town- 
ship, was  organized  at  the  house  of 
George  Miller,  in  1837,  by  Rev.  Wil- 
liam H.  Jackson,  assisted  by  James  Har- 
ris and  Michael  Vincent. 

The  first  brick  house  was  built  by  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Lovell,  on  section 
26,  in  1836. 

James  Clarke  was  the  first  justice  of 
the  peace. 

W.  S.  Hendricks  was  the  first  super- 
visor. 

BARDOLPH. 

Bardolph  was  laid  out  August  3, 1854, 
by  order  of  William  H.  Randolph  and 
Charles  Chandler,  and  surveyed  by  Wil- 
liam H.  Rile,  county  surveyor,  at  that 


1000 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


time.  The  town  is  located  on  section  24, 
of  Macomb  township,  and  in  the  midst 
of  one  of  the  best  agricultural  districts 
in  McDonough  county.  The  country 
around  is  rolling  prairie,  although  the 
timber  land  bordering  on  Crooked  creek 
is  not  far  distant.  Bardolph  is  situated 
on  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  railroad,  and  nearly  seven 
miles  by  rail  from  Macomb,  and  196 
miles  from  Chicago.  It  is  laid  out  with 
the  railroad,  the  main  streets  running 
parallel  with,  and  the  business  houses 
fronting  the  road.  The  town  was  first 
given  the  name  of  Kandolph,  in  honor 
of  William  H.  Kandolph,  its  founder, 
but  on  finding  another  town  in  the  state 
having  the  same  name,  it  was  changed 
to  Bardolph. 

The  first  dwelling  house  was  erected 
by  Nathan  Jones  in  1856,  about  the  time 
of  the  completion  of  the  railroad,  and 
the  first  store  building  by  Clinton  A. 
Jones.  In  this  house  Wetherhold  & 
Jones  started  the  first  store  in  Bardolph. 
About  this  time  J.  B.  Hendricks  erected 
a  building.  Both  these  building  were 
erected  on  block  1.  The  first  named 
store  was  occupied  for  a  time  by  its  first 
proprietors,  and  subsequently  by  the 
following  parties  in  the  order  mentioned: 
James  Creel,  Jackson  Brothers,  Dyer  & 
Amos,  hardware,  Jackson  Brothers, 
again,  Dallam  &  Jackson,  Dyer  &  Amos 
and  A.  W.  Fluke.  At  this  time  the 
building  was  removed  to  the  rear  of  the 
Hendrick's  building,  which  was  the  sec- 
ond building  erected  in  the  town.  This 
building  was  first  occupied  by  Hendee  & 
Osborn  as  a  general  store,  for  about  two 
years.  Hendee  &  Beaver  succeeded  this 
firm.  They  sold  to  Cowgill  &  Jackson, 


and  they  to  T.  J.  Creel.  Creel  closed 
out  the  stock,  and  Jackson  Brothers 
moved  in.  After  a  time  they  moved  out 
and  the  building  was  vacant.  In  the 
fall  of  1877,  the  Jackson  Brothers  re- 
moved it  to  its  present  location,  and  oc- 
cupied it  until  1878,  when  they  sold  to 
E.  D.  Stevens.  He  occupied  it  a  short 
time.  Since  that  time  it  has  been  occu- 
pied by  Slinard,  Perrine  &  Mitchell. 
Fluke ;  McElroy  &  Jackson,  are  the  pres- 
ent occupants. 

The  dwelling  house  built  by  Nathan 
Jones,  the  first  in  the  town,  is  still  stand- 
ing on  its  original  site,  on  lot  9,  block 
13.  It  is  a  one-story,  frame  structure, 
and  is  now  owned  by  Dr.  H.  B.  Sikes. 

Later,  in  1856,  the  Hendricks  Bros., 
erected  a  two-story  hotel  building.  One 
of  the  brothers  occupied  it  with  his 
family,  and  run  the  place.  A  short 
time  afterward  the  building  was  bought, 
on  time  payments,  by  a  man  named 
Hunter.  In  1861,  as  he  had  failed  to 
pay  for  it,  it  reverted  to  the  original  pro- 
prietors. They,  however,  sold  it  to  A. 
J.  Turney.  He  occupied  it  till  1863, 
and  then  disposed  of  it  to  Seth  Jacobs, 
and  the  sisters  of  the  latter,  who  con- 
ducted it  till  three  years  later,  when 
Mrs.  Margaret  Bhea  purchased  it.  She 
had  it  four  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
E.  T.  Osborn,  who  only  remained  in  pos- 
session one  year.  He  traded  it  to  Eras- 
tus  Jacobs,  who  was  succeeded  by  the 
present  proprietor  and  occupant,  N.  H. 
Jackson,  in  April,  1884. 

I.  M.  Parvin,  shoemaker,  has  his  place 
of  business  alongside  the  drug  store  of 
Curry  &  Knapp.  The  shop  was  started 
by  his  father,  Samuel  B.  Parvin,  who 
commenced  work  in  the  lumber  office, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1001 


and  afterwards  removed  the  shop  to  its 
present  location.  He  continued  the 
business  there  until  he  died,  in  August, 
1881,  at  which  time  his  son  succeeded 
him.  He  does  shoe  and  boot  making 
and  repairing. 

McElroy  and  Jackson  commenced 
their  present  business  on  the  1st  day  of 
April,  1884.  They  carry  what  is  com- 
monly known  as  a  general  stock,  and  the 
contents  of  their  store  will  average  about 
$2,000.  Their  building  is  96  feet  deep, 
and  their  store  room  is  80  feet  in  depth. 
They  have  a  large  and  varied  assortment 
of  goods,  and  are  doing  a  good  business. 

Nathaniel  H.  Jackson  was  born  in  the 
state  of  Virginia,  on  the  13th  day  of 
October,  1834.  He  is  the-  youngest  liv- 
ing child  of  William  H.  and  Ann  (Mil- 
ler) Jackson,  who,  with  their  family 
came  to  Illinois  in  1836,  settling  in 
Mound  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois.  Nathaniel  H.  remained  with 
his  parents,  assisting  on  the  farm,  until 
his  marriage  with  Elizabeth  Dyer,  daugh- 
ter of  Edward  Dyer,  January  7,  1858. 
The  first  four  years  of  their  married  life 
was  spent  in  Mound  township  on  a  farm. 
In  1862,  they  removed  to  Colchester, 
where  Mr.  Jackson  engaged  in  mercan- 
tile business  for  about  18  months,  when 
he  removed  to  the  village  of  Bardolph, 
in  Macomb  township,  where,  with  the 
exception  of  short  intervals,  he  has  since 
resided,  being  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  until  1868,  when  he  exchanged 
his  stock  of  goods  for  an  interest  in  the 
Bardolph  fire-clay  works.  In  1881,  he 
purchased  a  saw  mill  in  Lawrence  county? 
Arkansas,  where  he  spent  the  greater 
portion  of  the  time  until  1884,  when  he 
sold  out  and  returned  to  Bardolph  and 


opened  the  Bardolph  House,  the  only 
hotel  there.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  late 
war  he  offered  himself  for  enlistment  in 
the  army,  but  was  rejected  on  account  of 
ill  health.  In  the  Masonic  order  he  is  a 
Knight  Templar  and  has  held  nearly  all 
the  offices  in  the  lodge.  He  was  secre- 
tary at  the  time  the  charter  was  granted 
to  Bardolph  lodge.  He  has  been  prom- 
inent in  local  affairs  in  the  village  and 
has  contributed  in  large  measure  to  its 
prosperity.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace 
for  a  period  of  11  years,  supervisor  of 
the  township  for  three  years,  and  school 
treasurer  for  several  years,  besides' which 
he  has  filled  other  less  important  offices. 
His  property  consists  of  a  farm  of  110 
acres,  located  on  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  1,  Mound  township.  His  store 
building  and  residence  is  in  Bardolph. 
The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jack- 
son, were  five  in  number,  three  only  of 
which  are  now  living — Frank  S.,  now 
a  resident  of  Mound  township  and  a 
farmer;  Harry  D.,  a  teacher  of  music 
who  has  followed  his  profession  in  and 
about  Bardolph  for  the  past  five  years; 
and  Nathaniel  H.  Jr.,  who  is  the  younger, 
and  still  at  home  with  his  parents.  Those 
deceased  were  the  oldest,  a  son  named 
William  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  15 
months,  and  the  fourth  child,  a  daugh- 
ter, who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years. 

The  principal  grain  business  of  Bar- 
dolph is  done  by  J.  M.  Pelley,  represent- 
ing Hendee  &  Co.,  of  Bushnell.  They 
have  control  of  the  railroad  company's 
elevator.  During  the  year  1884,  grain 
was  shipped  from  this  firm  as  follows: 
Whea't,  5,000 bushels;  rye,  4,000  bushels ; 
corn,  12,000  bushels;  oats,  3,000  bushels; 
This  was,  however,  a  light  year  for  ship- 


1002 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ment,  as  it  averaged  100,000  bushels  up 
to  1883. 

James  M.  Pelley  was  born  February 

4,  1837,  and  is. a  native  of  Kentucky.  His 
father  died  in  that  state  and  his  mother 
is    now  living  in   McDonough   county. 
When  11  years  of  age,  Mr.  Pelley,  with 
his  mother,  left  Kentucky,  and  located 
in  Macomb  township,  within   a  mile  of 
Bardolph.  They  resided  there  until  1857, 
when  Mr.  Pelley  moved   to  the   village, 
and  went  into  business  there.     He  was 
for  a  short  time  in  business  at  St.  Augus- 
tine, Kuox  county,  but  returned  to  Bar- 
dolph and  resides  there.     He  was  mar- 
ried January  1, 1860,  to  Sarah  E.  Rearson, 
and  they  have  seven  children — David  E., 
Eva  M.,  Elizabeth  E.,  Rosa  A.,  Nancy  F., 
Mary  C.  and  James  E.     The  oldest  son, 
Wiley  P.,   was  killed  while  braking  on 
the  C.  B.  &  Q.  railroad,  near  Biggsville, 
in  1880.     Mr.  Pelley  is  a  Master  Mason, 
and  with  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.     He  is  now  village 
treasurer,    custodian   of    the    township 
school  funds,  and  has  for  several   terms 
been  a  member  of  the  town  board.     He 
owns  a  nice  dwelling  and  eight  acres  of 
land  in  the  corporate  limits  of  Bardolph. 

ORGANIC. 

April  15,  1869,  Bardolph  was  incor- 
porated as  a  town  by  a  special  act  of  the 
legislature,  and  the  following  trustees 
were  appointed  by  that  body :  President, 
A.  Russell;  trustees,  W.  J.  Merritt,  W. 

5.  Hendricks,  E.    Dyer,  N.    D.    Clark; 
clerk,  David    Adams.     After    this    the 
trustees  were  elected  annually,  the  po- 
lice magistrate  acting  as  president. 

On  the  5th  day  of  February,  1876, 
Bardolph  was  incorporated  as  a  village. 


The  main  cause  for  this  change  was  that 
the  town  trustees  were  also  school  direc- 
tors for  district  No.  7,  part  of  which  is 
in  the  country,  and  the  people  residing 
out  of  the  corporation,  therefore,  had  no 
voice  in  choosing  the  directors.  This 
naturally  caused  dissatisfaction,  and  as  a 
remedy,  the  town  was  changed  to  a  vil- 
lage, and  a  board  of  school  directors  cre- 
ated, separate  and  apart  from  the  village 
officers. 

Annual  elections  are  held  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  April,  at  which  a  president 
and  five  village  trustees  and  a  clerk  are 
chosen.  The  first  board  of  trustees 
were:  President,  H.  A.  Maxwell;  trus- 
tees, E.  D.  Stevens,  J.  B.  Knapp,  J.  M. 
Pelley,  Lewis  Wilson,  and  J.  T.  Norris; 
clerk,  T.  A.  Jackson.  Bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $2,000  are  required  to  be 
given  by  the  treasurer  and  clerk  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  the  trust  and 
duties  imposed  upon  them. 

BAEDOLPH  FIEE-CLAT  WOEKS. 

This  extensive  establishment  is  the 
outgrowth  of  a  small  shop  started  in 
Colchester  by  Mr.  A.  Horrocks,  in  1861, 
which  he  had  built  up  from  infantile 
dimensions  until  it  had  assumed  good 
business  proportions.  In  March,  1874, 
a  copartnership  was  formed  between  A. 
Horrocks,  E.  D.  Stevens  and  J.  W. 
Stevens,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hor- 
rocks, Stevens  &  Co.,  and  arrangements 
perfected  for  removing  the  works  to 
Bardolph.  The  capital  stock  invested 
was  $15,000,  divided  in  three  .equal 
shares.  Attempts  were  made  at  that 
time  to  obtain  clay  for  the  works  by 
mining,  which,  however,  proved  futile. 
The  clay  used  has  since  been  taken  from 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1003 


the  farm  of  David  Holler.  Between 
the  months  of  March  and  May,  1876,  an 
engine  house  and  machine  shop  were 
erected  at  Bardolph,  and  in  the  latter 
mouth  the  works  at  Colchester  were 
abandoned,  and  all  the  fixtures  removed 
to  their  new  location.  About  this  time 
the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  in- 
creased to  $30,000.  After  removing  to 
Bardolph,  the  company  manufactured 
fire  brick  and  drain  tile  principally,  the 
former  Article  constituting  the  major 
part  of  their  product.  About  three 
years  afterward,  they  commenced  to  de- 
vote their  principal  attention  to  drain 
tile,  and  so  continued  till  1882,  when 
they  turned  their  efforts  in  the  direction 
of  the  manufacture  of  sewer  pipe,  and 
now  their  output  consists  in  a  great 
measure  of  this  article. 

In  the  spring  of  1877,  the  institution 
was  reorganized  as  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany, with  a  capital  stock  of  $60,000, 
divided  in  shares  of  $100  each.  Messrs. 
Reed,  Babcock,  and  Stilson,  of  Gales- 
burg,  came  into  the  company,  taking 
one-half  the  stock,  while  the  other  half 
was  held  by  the  old  firm.  The  works 
then  took  the  name  of  Bardolph  fire-clay 
works.  The  company  was  organized 
with  the  following  officers:  E.  D. 
Stevens,  president ;  A.  Horrocks,  super- 
intendent; Josiah  Babcock,  secretary 
and  treasurer.  The  stockholders  at  the 
present  time  are:  A.  Horrocks,  Alex. 
McLean,  R.  C.  Pointer,  C.  V.  Chandler, 
and  William  Bailey.  The  officers  at 
present  are:  C.  V.  Chandler,  president; 
A.  Horrocks,  superintendent;  Alex.  Mc- 
Lean, secretary  and  treasurer. 

The  main  building  for  drying  pur- 
poses, is  204  feet  long,  36  wide,  and  two 


stories  high,  to  which  is  attached  the 
engine  house  and  machine  shops,  50x36 
feet,  two  stories  high.  In  addition  to 
this,  they  have  four  sheds,  each  150x20 
feet,  or  a  total  shed  room  of  600x20  feet. 
The  engine  used  is  20-horse  power,  but 
from  the  way  it  is  geared,  it  is  equal  to  a 
60-horse  power  engine.  They  have  10 
large  ovens  for  burning  purposes.  Of 
these,  eight  are  21  feet,  4  inches  in  the 
clear,  and  two  are  25  feet  in  the  clear. 
In  1877,  the  company  constructed  a 
tramway,  two  miles  in  length,  from  their 
works  to  the  clay  banks,  on  which  all 
their  clay  is  transported.  The  factory 
for  a  time  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  be- 
ing the  largest  in  the  state,  and  is  now 
equal  to  any.  The  works  are  situated 
about  one-half  mile  west  of  Bardolph, 
on  the  line  of  the  C.,  P.  &  Q.  railroad, 
which  affords  ample  side-track  facilities. 
Sixty  hands  find  employment  here,  and 
the  establishment,  it  will  be  seen,  is  a 
prize  for  Bardolph.  Most  of  the  product 
is  shipped  to  Chicago,  though  it  finds  a 
market  throughout  the  entire  country. 

Abram  Horrocks  was  born  July  5, 1832, 
in  Lancashire,  England,  where  he  lived 
on  a  farm  until  he  reached  the  age  of  16, 
at  which  time  he  went  into  a  fire  brick 
and  terra  cotta  pottery,  and  worked  until 
he  came  to  the  United  States,  being  then 
24  years  old.  He  settled  at  Pottsville, 
Pennsylvania,  and  engaged  in  coal  min- 
ing, there  being  no  pottery  works  in  that 
neighborhood.  Three  years  after  he 
came  to  La  Salle,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  as  a  coal  miner  for  six  months. 
He  then  went  to  Henderson  Grove,  near 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  where  he  opened  a 
coal  mine  and  worked  eight  months, 
thence,  in  1857,  to  Colchester,  where  he 


1004 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


worked  for  the  Quincy  coal  company  one 
year,  and  thence  to  Avon,  where  he  was 
engaged  as  manager  and  superintendent 
of  the  works  of  a  fire  brick  company,  a 
Chicago  institution,  and  where  he  re- 
mained till  November,  1859,  when  the 
company  became  bankrupt,  owing  him  at 
the  time  $500.  He  then  returned  to 
Colchester  and  again  entered  the  service 
of  the  Quincy  coal  company,  by  whom 
he  was  employed  at  this  time  18  months. 
He  then  rented  a  coal  bank  and  went  to 
mining  coal  on  his  own  responsibility. 
He  saved  all  the  clay  taken  from  the 
mine,  from  which  he  commenced,  in  a 
small  way,  the  manufacture  of  brick,  the 
clay  being  ground  for  the  purpose  in  a 
corn  grinder.  He  was  assisted  at  this 
time  by  Robert  Entwisle.  Being  short 
of  means  they  secured  credit  at  a  store. 
The  first  season's  operations  resulted  in 
the  manufacture  of  20,000  brick,  which 
were  sold  at  $20  a  thousand.  Upon  set- 
tlement of  accounts  at  the  store  they 
found  themselves  in  debt  $36.  They 
succeeding  in  hireing  a  mule  which  they 
used  to  grind  clay.  He  continued  in 
the  business  until  he  left  Colchester, 
when  he  had  accumulated  about  $8,000, 
over  and  above  his  expenditures  in  open- 
ing up  mines  and  developing  the  brick- 
making  business.  He  made  it  a  rule  to 
keep  out  of  debt  and  conducted  his  busi- 
ness on  strictly  business  principles,  and 
to  which  he  gave  both  industry  and  close 
attention.  In  April,  1883,  he  went  to 
his  brick  yard  and  found  a  machine 
which  was  used  in  mining  clay,  out  of 
order,  and  while  engaged  in  cleaning  out 
the  knives,  his  right  arm  was  caught  by 
them  and  taken  off  near  the  shoulder. 
By  this  accident  he  was  laid  off  from  his 


work  only  two  months.  Mr.  Horrocks 
now  has  about  $15,000  invested  in  his 
business.  He  owns  80  acres  of  land  in ' 
Macomb  township,  and  five  acres  where 
he  lives.  He  owns  seven  houses  in  Bar- 
dolph,  and  has  also  investments  in  notes 
and  like  securities.  He  was  married  in 
England  July  28, 1852,  to  Eliza  Fletcher, 
a  native  of  Lancashire.  They  have  had 
no  children.  This  man  learned  to  read 
by  studying  the  signs  over  shop  doors. 
He  is  possessed  of  rare  intelligence,  is  a 
good  geologist  in  his  rude  way,  and  is  the 
best  judge  of  clays  for  tile,  pottery,  fire 
brick  and  the  like,  in  the  county,  and 
possibly  in  the  state. 

Robert  C.  Pointer  was  born  in  Msr  i- 
dosia,  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1838.  His  parents  were  Wil- 
liam and  Elizabeth  ( Morrison )  Pointer, 
who  were  natives  of  Fleming  and  Cum- 
berland counties,  Kentucky,  whence  they 
came  to  Morgan  county,  being  among 
the  earliest  settlers.  During  the  early 
childhood  of  Robert,  his  family  removed 
to  the  place  where  Concord  now  stands, 
where  they  remained  until  the  spring  of 
1855,  and  whence  they  removed  to  a 
farm  purchased  by  his  father  near  La- 
Harpe,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  remained  four  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1859,  they  again  changed  their  resi- 
dence to  Scotland  township,  McDonough 
county,  where  Robert  resided  until  1877, 
when  he  settled  in  Bardolph.  Soon  after 
removing  to  Bardolph,  he  became  inter- 
ested in  the  fire  clay  works  at  that  place, 
his  interest  being  a  one-third  ownership, 
and  he  has  since  given  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  manufacture  of  tile,  etc.  He 
now  has  $10,000  invested  in  the  works, 
besides  which,  he  is  the  owner  of  a  farm 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1005 


in  Scotland  township,  and  a  house  and 
five  lots  in  Bardolph.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  A. 
O.  U.  W.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
village  board  of  trustees  four  years,  and 
of  the  school  board  five  years.  He  was 
married  May  5, 1864,  to  Flora  Gates,  a 
native  of  McDonough  county,  and  a 
daughter  of  Nathan  Gates,  who  died 
when  she  was  about  one  year  old.  They 
have  six  children — Anna  E.,  Jennie  D., 
Ida  M.,  Sarah  L.,  William  0.,  and 
Flora  N. 

BARDOLPH  POTTERY  WORKS. 

In  the  early  part  of  1870,  William 
Cleveland  located  in  Macomb  with  his 
family.  He  was  a  practical  tile  maker, 
as  was  also  his  son,  H.  A.  Cleveland. 
About  this  time  experiments  were  being 
made  with  clay,  obtained  upon  the  farm 
of  David  Holler,  near  Bardolph,  and 
the  citizens  made  overtures  to  Mr. 
Cleveland  to  induce  him  to  come  to  the 
town  for  the  purpose  of  utilizing  the 
clay  in  the  manufacture  of  pottery.  The 
negotiations  were  successful,  and  Mr. 
Cleveland  began  in  the  fall  of  1870  to 
erect  shops  and  a  kiln.  Manufacturing 
was  soon  commenced,  Mr.  Cleveland  as- 
sociating with  him  Mr.  J.  Stoffer.  In 
1872,  the  proprietors  sold  a  one-fifth  in- 
terest to  W.  M.  Albert.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  firm  had  built  another  pottery 
in  Macomb,  and  in  1873,  Stoffer  and  Al- 
bert exchanged  their  interests  in  the 
Macomb  pottery  with  Mr.  Cleveland, 
the  latter  taking  the  Bardolph  works. 
The  business  was  conducted  by  William 
Cleveland  &  Son,  until  1878,  when  W. 
M.  Albert  and  J.  F.  Easton  purchased 
the  Bardolph  pottery  and  took  control. 


After  one  year  of  partnership,  Mr.  Al- 
bert became  sole  proprietor,  and  has 
conducted  the  business  since  that  time. 
When  he  took  charge,  the  buildings  were 
in  bad  repair  and  the  works  generally 
in  bad  condition.  He  began  to  improve 
the  facilities,  enlarge  the  buildings,  and 
put  up  another  kiln.  The  main  build- 
ing now  covers  a  plot  of  ground  30x180 
feet  in  area,  while  there  is  a  wing  24 
feet  square  contiguous.  He  also  erected 
such  other  small  buildings  as  were  found 
necessary  for  successful  work.  Besides 
these  improvements,  he  put  in  new  ma- 
chiners,  so  that  he  can  now  turn  out,  ac- 
cording to  demand,  from  5,000  to  15,000 
gallons  of  ware  per  month.  His  clay  is 
procured  from  what  are  known  as  the 
Holler  clay  banks,  in  Macomb  township, 
two  miles  west  of  Bardolph. 

George  J.  Boothe,  our  subject  was 
married  July  4,  1852,  to  Mary  Vincent, 
a  daughter  of  Michael  Vincent,  who 
came  to  McDonough  county  at  a  very 
early  day,  and  settled  near  Bardolph. 
Mr.  Vincent  was  born  in  Kentucky,  in 
1787,  and  his  wife,  Harriet  Tinsley,  was 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  a 
well-borer  by  trade.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Boothe  have  had  born  to  them  11  children 
—Martha  A.,  born  March  28,  1853,  died 
July  9,  1874;  James  A.,  born  July  25, 
1854,  died  May  6, 1873;  Ella,  born  March 
25,  1856,  died  October  24,  1871;  Harriet 
I.,  born  February  27,  1856;  Charles  D., 
1860,  died  June  6,  1882;  Nettie  May, 
born  January  10,  1862;  Mary  Ida,  born 
February  14,  1865,  died  May  31,  1865; 
Franklin,  born  October  11,  1866,  died 
July  10,  1871;  George  V.,  born  October 
25,  1868.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church.  Mrs.  Boothe 


1006 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


owns  a  fine  farm  of  271  acres,  in  Ma- 
comb  township,  and  residence  property 
in  Bardolph. 

Michael  Vincent  was  born  in  Virginia, 
July  27,  1787,  and  made  a  profession  of 
faith  October  15, 1827,  at  the  Providence 
church  in  AVilson  county,  Tennessee. 
He  was  married  to  Harriet  A.  Tinsley, 
April  2,  1833,  in  Adair  county,  Ken- 
tucky, who  was  born  September  1,  1814, 
in  that  county,  and  departed  this  life 
August  9,  1881.  He  died  June  22,  1871. 
They  were  the  parents  of  10  children 
— Mary  E.,  the  eldest,  who  was  born 
March  14,  1834;  Martha  J.,  born  June 
27, 1835;  Mahala  T.,  born  December  21, 
1837,  died  October  5,  1837;  David  A., 
born  September  20,  1837;  James  C., 
born  November  12, 1840,  died  March  17, 
1841;  John  G.,  born  January  14,  1842; 
George  W.,  born  June  25,  1845;  Joseph 
M.,  born  March  28?  1849,  died  July  22, 
1874,  and  Emma  A.,  born  November  24, 
1855. 

SOCIETIES. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  17th  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1868,  it  was  decided  to  get 
together  all  interested,  to  talk  over  the 
feasibility  of  organizing  a  lodge  of  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  A 
second  meeting  was  accordingly  held, 
with  H.  C.  Mullen,  chairman,  and  J.  S. 
Martin,  secretary,  and  it  was  decided 
to  appoint  a  committee  to  ask  the  grand 
lodge  for  the  dispensation.  On  the  10th 
of  June,  another  meeting  was  held,  and 
the  30th  of  the  same  month  was  set  for 
organization.  On  the  latter  date  the 
members  met,  and  decided  that  the  fol- 
lowing should  be  the  officers  of  the 
lodge:  J.  L.  Getty,  N.  G.;Wm.  Kirk- 
patrick,  V.  G.;  L.  Wilson,  treasurer;  J. 


L.  Martin,  secretary.  The  following 
are  the  names  of  the  charter  members: 
H.  C.  Mullen,  L.  Wilson,  John  L.  Getty, 
J.  S.  Martin  and  William  Kirkpatrick. 
At  this  meeting,  Bardolph  lodge,  No. 
371,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  was  fully  organized, 
and  the  temporary  organization  made 
permanent.  W.  L.  Imes  received  the 
commission  of  D.  D.  G.  M.,  from  the 
grand  lodge.  Trustees  were  chosen  as 
follows:  J.  L.  Getty,  T.  Wilson,  J.  S. 
Martin,  C.  N.  Dallam  and  James  Boyd. 
The  following  subordinate  officers  were 
chosen:  C.  W.  Dallam,  conductor; 
James  Boyd,  O.  G.;  William  Gordon, 
I.  G.  Saturday  evening  was  chosen  as 
the  time  for  meetings.  On  Saturday 
evening,  July  11,  1868,  the  first  meeting 
of  the  lodge,  as  an  organized  body,  was 
held,  in  the  old  Masonic  hall,  which  was 
formerly  a  school  building.  This  build- 
ing has  since  been  torn  down.  The 
officers  for  1885,  are — L.  Wilson,  D.  D. 
G.  M.;  Thomas  Bryson,  N.  G.;  J.  F. 
Easton,  V.  G.;  H.  B.  Sikes,  secretary; 
Louis  Wilson,  Treasurer;  William  Ma- 
son, I.  G. ;  L.  Wilson,  warden;  Peter 
Dougherty,  E.  S.  N.  G.;  Daniel  Work- 
ham,  E.  S.  V.  G.;  Peter  Dougherty,  E. 
A.  Borley,  William  Mason,  C.  L.  Van 
Meter  and  Thomas  Eichey,  trustees. 
The  membership  is  reported  at  25.  The 
lodge  is  in  good  condition,  is  out  of 
debt,  and  has  a  two-thirds  interest  in 
Odd  Fellows  hall,  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  own- 
ing the  other  one-third.  The  lodge 
room  is  30x18  feet  in  dimensions,  and  is 
nicely  fitted  up.  The  only  charter  mem- 
ber who  now  appears  on  the  lodge  roll 
is  L.  Wilson. 

Bardolph  lodge,  No.  128,  Ancient  Or- 
der of  United  Workmen,  was  organized 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1007 


on  the  10th  of  October,  1878,  at  the 
school  house,  by  L.  W.  Cook,  installing 
officer,  of  Quincy.  The  charter  mem- 
bers were  —  H.  A. .  Maxwell,  Sylvester 
Moore,  Robert  C.  Pointer,  John  Hind- 
man,  Henry  L.  Booth,  R.  E.  Spangler, 
Robert  Work,  Henry  Duncan.  Dr.  J.  B. 
Knapp,  Jackson  Dennis,  E.  A.  Ander^ 
son,  J.  E.  Hendrickson,  T.  J.  Creel,  and 
John  Parvin.  At  the  organization,  offi- 
cers were  elected  as  follows — J.  E.  Hen- 
drickson, P.M.  W. ;  H.  A.  Maxwell,  M.W.; 
R.  C.  Pointer,  G.F.;  J.  Hindman,  over- 
seer; H.  L.  Booth,  recorder;  T.  J.  Creel, 
receiver;  R.  E.  Spangler,  financier; 
Jackson  Dennis,  guide;  E.  A.  Ander- 
son, LAV.;  F.  M.  Riffle,  O.W.  The 
charter  was  held  open  a  few  days,  and 
David  Beal,  Francis  M.  Riffle^  J.  T. 
Kirkpatrick,  W.  Guy  McCandless  and 
Samuel  V.  Portlock  enrolled  their  names 
on  the  charter.  David  Beal,  S.  Moore 
and  R.  Work  were  chosen  trustees.  The 
first  representative  to  the  grand  lodge 
was  J.  E.  Hendrickson,  who  attended 
the  session  at  Springfield,  in  February, 
1879.  He  was  chosen  by  the  grand 
lodge  as  chairman  of  its  finance  commit- 
tee, and  has  held  that  honor  for  Bar- 
dolph  lodge  ever  since.  The  lodge  has 
28  members.  They  meet  weekly  in  the 
hall  erected  by  them  in  conjunction 
with  the  Odd  Fellows.  The  officers  for 
1885  are— John  Hendrickson,  P.M.W.; 
T.  J.  Creel,  M.W.;  H.  L.  Booth,  fore- 
man; John  Pugh,  overseer;  J.  E.  Hen- 
drickson, receiver  and  recorder;  H.  A. 
Maxwell,  financier;  William  Dougherty; 
guide;  S.  V.  Portlock,  I.W.;  T.  J.  Kirk- 
patrick, O.W.  The  trustees  have  not 
changed. 

George  M.  Scott  post,  No.  260,  Grand 


Army  of  the  Republic,  was  organized  on 
the  24th  day  of  May,  1883,  under  Char-" 
ter  Commander  W.  C.  Butler,  and  re- 
ceived their  charter  June  4,  1883.  This 
document  bears  the  following  names — 
J.  E.  Hendrickson,  W.  C.  Butler,  Wil- 
liam Stanley,  H.  J.  Faulkner,  M.  D. 
Donevarn,  G.  A.  Rexroat,  R.  S.  Stevens, 
D.  W.  Lambert,  William  Lucas,  L.  F. 
Ernpey,  R.  S.  Head  and  Dr.  J.  B. 
Knapp.  The  roster  has  since  been 
filled  out  with  the  following  names — 
Lewis  Wilson,  Donret  Markham,  James 
H.  Morgan,  John  C.  Maxwell,  John  Par- 
vin and  Henry  Seybold.  The  first  offi- 
cers were  as  follows  —  W.  C.  Butler, 
Com.;  R.  S.  Stevens,  S.  V.C.;  H.  J. 
Faulkner,  J.V.C.;  J.  B.  Knapp,  surgeon; 
R.  S.  Head,  Q.M.;  J.  C.  Hendrickson, 
O.D.;  William  Stanley,  O.G.;  D.  W. 
Lambert,  adjutant;  William  Lucas,  ser- 
geant major.  There  are  about  45  old 
soldiers,  in  Bardolph,  but  the  post  has 
only  18  members.  However,  those  are 
quite  regular  in  their  attendance  at 
meetings.  The  officers  for  1885  are — 
J.  E.  Hendrickson,  Com.;  William 
Stanley,  S.V.C.;  R.  S.  Stevens,  J.V.C.; 
John  Parvin,  O.D. ;  William  Lucas, 
O.G.;  Lewis  Wilson,  Q.M.;  J.  B.  Knapp, 
surgeon;  D.  W.  Lambert,  adjutant;  R.  H. 
Head,  sergeant  major.  Meetings  are 
held  on  the  first  and  third  Wednesday 
of  each  month,  in  the  hall  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  and  Workmen. 

Bardolph  lodge,  No.  572,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  was  organized 
May  28,  1867,  by  R.  D.  Hammond,  W.M., 
from  J.  B.  Kyle  lodge,  at  Macomb.  The 
charter  members  were — Charles  Wells, 
William  J.  Merritt,  Oakey  M.  Hoagland, 
Thomas  J.  Means,  Lyman  Porter,  W.  S. 


6O 


1008 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Hagar,  Milton  Darr,  Charles  Dallam, 
W-.  S.  Hendricks,  Ashel  Russell  and 
N.  H.  Jackson.  The  officers  under  dis- 
pensation were— Charles  Wells,  W.M. ; 
William  S.  Hendricks,  S.W.;  William 
J.  Merritt,  J.W.;  O.  M.  Hoagland,  treas- 
urer; Lyman  Porter,  secretary;  William 
S.  Hager,  S.D.;  T.  J.  Means,  J.D.;  M. 
Darr,  tyler.  At  the  charter  election  the 
following  officers  were  chosen — Charles 
Wells,  W.M.;  W.  S.  Hager,  S.W.;  A. 
Russell,  J.W.;  O.  M.  Hoagland,  treas- 
urer; N.  H.  Jackson,  secretary;  Lyman 
Porter,  S.D.;  Joel  C.  Bond,  J.D.;  Wil- 
liam H.  Foster,  tyler.  Their  place  of 
meeting  is  over  Knapp  &  Curry's  drug 
store.  The  hall  was  erected  by  the 
lodge,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  This  amount 
was  vouched  for^by  the  old  members* 
and  they  gradually  paid  off  the  indebted- 
ness. They  have  a  much  better  fur- 
nished room  than  is  usually  found  in 
towns  of  this  size.  The  equipments  in- 
clude an  organ  purchased  in  1884.  At 
present  there  are  37  members  in  good 
standing,  and  an  active  interest  is  mani- 
fested by  all.  The  officers  for  1885  are 
— H.  B.  Sikes,  W.M.;  Lewis  Wilson, 
S.W.;  R.  C.  Pointer,  J.W.;  H.  A.  Max- 
well, secretary;  A.  Horrocks,  treasurer; 
John  W.  Booth,  J.  W. ;  James  A.  Roberts, 
S.W.;  James  Pellett,  tyler;  J.  M.  Jack- 
son, chaplain. 

Bardolph  council,  No.  19,  Order  of 
Golden  Rule,  was  instituted  Thursday 
evening  March  26,  1885,  by  Mr.  C.  D. 
Hendryx,  supreme  council  deputy,  with 
the  following  charter  members — George 
Curry  and  Annie  E.  Curry;  J.  A.  Perrine 
and  Hanna  T.  Perrine;  C.  A.  Head  and 
Ida  M.  Head;  Thomas  J.  Nester  and 
Jessie  Nester;  W.  H.  Greene  andHattie 


W.  Greene;  Ed.  Dallam  and  Ellie  Dai- 
lam;  Elias  Barley  and  Lizzie  Barley; 
S.  V.  Portlock  and  Nancy  Portlock; 
L.  F.  Empey  and  Malinda  Empey; 
Charles  Falgret,  Lute  Wilson,  B.  M. 
Bevins,  Charles  Dallam,  N.  H.  Jackson, 
George  Waid,  Everett  Hudson,  C.  M. 
Melvin,  Peter  Dougherty,  J.  F.  Kirk- 
patrick,  David  Beal,  Dr.  H.  B.  Sikes, 
and  Moses  Foster.  The  following  gen- 
tlemen were,  on  organization,  chosen 
the  first  officers  of  the  council:  C.  A. 
Head,  chief  patriarch;  J.  A.  Perrine, 
chief  councilor;  Charles  Dallam,  chief 
captain;  George  Curry,  chief  secretary; 
Mrs.  Hattie  W.  Green,  financial  secre- 
tary; N.  H.  Jackson,  treasurer;  Charles 
Falgretj  captain  of  guards;  Bassett  M. 
Bevins,  1st  guard;  Lute  Wilson,  2d 
guard;  Thomas  Nester,  sentry;  Dr.  H.  B. 
Sikes,  medical  examiner. 

BARDOLPH   CORNET  BAND. 

This  band  was  organized  in  May, 
1883,  and,  although  a  young  organiza- 
tion, it  has  attained  a  great  deal  of  pro- 
ficiency, and  is  one  of  the  prized  institu- 
tions of  Bardolph.  In  1883,  at  Lovett's 
jubilee,  held  at  Buslmell,  it  took  the 
first  prize  for  proficiency  in  playing, 
over  a  number  of  bands.  The  prize 
consisted  of  $50  in  cash.  There  it  had 
to  compete  with  older  organizations,  but 
was  able  to  do  so  successfully.  Since 
that  time  their  progress  has  been  rapid. 
The  following  is  the  composition  of  the 
band  J.  H.  Jackson,  1st  E-flat;  H.  L. 
Wilson,  1st  B-flat;  C.  E.  Taylor,  2d 
B-flat;  T.  Nester,  solo  alto;  C.  Jackson, 
1st  alto;  J.  C.  Smith,  1st  tenor;  C.  E. 
Easton,  2d  tenor;  S.  F.  Jackson,  bari- 
tone; L.  L.  Wilson,  tuba;  J.  D.  Hayes, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1009 


bass  drum;  A.  W.  Fluke,  snare  drum. 
The  officers  are  L.  L.  Wilson,  presi- 
dent; C.  E.  Taylor,  secretary;  J.  H. 
Jackson,  leader. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

In  the  winter  of  1836,  a  school  was 
taught  on  the  northeast  quarter  of  the 
northwest  quarter  of  section  24,  Macomb 
township,  which  is  the  same  quarter  on 
Avhich  now  stands  the  town  of  Bardolph. 
The  house  had  been  built  for  a  dwelling, 
and  the  family  had  moved  away.  Only 
three  months'  session  was  held  here. 
The  house  was  afterwards  torn  down, 
The  next  school  in  the  neighborhood  was 
taught  in  a  cabin  in  the  edge  of  Mound 
township,  011  section  17,  in  1837.  The 
land  on  which  this  cabin  was  erected  was 
the  property  of  a  man  named  Joseph 
Smith.  Two  terms  were  taught  at  this 
place.  A  log  school  house  was  then 
erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 17,  Mound  township.  After  one 
term  there,  it  was  occupied  by  a  family 
for  a  dwelling.  The  next  term  in  this 
neighborhood  was  again  held  in  a  cabin 
on  the  west  side  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  24.  This  building  belonged 
to  James  Creel.  After  the  term  men- 
tioned, he  removed  the  building.  The 
next  school  was  held  in  another  log  cabin, 
011  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  24.  Two  winter 
terms  were  taught  there.  The  next  school 
was  held  in  a  cabin  a  little  west  of  the 
last  named  place,  on  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  24.  It  was  occupied  as  a 
school  until  a  new  one  was  erected  in 
town. 

This  school  building  was  erected  in 
1860,  and,  properly  speaking,  was  the 


first  school  edifice  in  the  village  of  Bar- 
dolph. It  was  erected  as  a  two-story 
building,  and  the  upper  floor  was  used 
as  a  Good  Templar's  hall.  It  is  a  frame 
building,  and  stands  on  the  corner  of 
Green  and  Poplar  streets.  Plenney  M. 
Wilcox  taught  the  first  term  of  school  in 
that  building,  and  the  directors  at  the 
time  were  I.  M.  Parvin,  F.  M.  Allison 
and  O.  M.  Hoagland. 

The  building  at  present  in  use  for 
school  purposes  was  commenced  in  Au- 
gust, 1874,  and  formally  accepted  from 
the  contractors  by  the  board  on  the  7th 
of  December,  1874.  It  is  a  good  two- 
story  four  room  edifice,  and  was  erected 
and  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $4,500,  though 
the  building  proper  was  let  for  $3,150, 
to  N.  Easton,  L.  McPherson  and  H.  M. 
Siebold.  The  school  comprises  three  de- 
partments, high  school,  primary  and  in- 
termediate. One  room  is  unoccupied. 
The  first  teachers  in  this  building  were: 
High  school,  H.  A.  Maxwell;  intermedi- 
ate, Miss  F.  G.  Phelps;  primary,  Mrs.  S. 
M.  Hall.  The  members  of  the  school 
board  for  1885,  are:  Dr.  H.  B.  Sikes, 
president;  J.  E.  Hendrickson,  secretary, 
and  Dr.  J.  B.  Knapp.  The  corps  of 
teachers  is  as  follows:  C.  A.  Head,  prin- 
cipal ;  Miss  Lena  Spangler,  intermediate, 
and  Miss  Nellie  Miller,  primary. 

Gary  A.  Head,  principal  of  the  Bar- 
dolph public  schools,  was  born  in  New 
Salem  township,  McDonough  county, 
April  15,  1857,  and  is  the  son  of  Bigger 
J.  and  Sarah  A.  Head.  He  lived  with 
his  parents  on  a  farm  until  nearly  six 
years  of  age,  when  they  sold  out  and  re- 
moved to  Macomb.  Here  he  was  en- 
rolled as  a  student  in  the  public  schools. 
Applying  himself  diligently,  he  early 


1010 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


completed  the  course  of  that  institute, 
and  took  a  special  course  in  the  McDon- 
ough  normal  and  scientific  college. 
When  but  16  years  of  age  he  went  to 
Chicago,  and  acquired  a  commercial  and 
business  education  in  one  of  the  leading 
institutes  of  that  great  city.  Afterwards 
he  engaged  with  his  uncle  in  the  real 
estate  and  loan  business,  at  151  LaSalle 
street.  Disliking  the  business,  he  re- 
turned to  McDonough  county,  and  in 
1876  began  the  work  of  teaching.  In 
this,  his  chosen  profession,  he  has  been 
eminently  successful,  and  acquired  a 
reputation  for  tact  and  ability  that  is  sec- 
ond to  none  in  the  county.  He  was  three 
times  elected  principal  of  the  Fountain 
Green  schools,  three  times  elected  to  a 
similar  position  at  Hamilton.  Hancock 
county,  Illinois,  and  is  retained  for  a 
second  year  at  the  head  of  the  Bardolph 
schools.  Prof.  Head  was  married,  De- 
cember 24, 1879,  to  Ida  Eakle,  the  young- 
est daughter  of  John  B.  and  Mary  A. 
Eakle,  of  Tennessee.  The  result  of  this 
marriage  is  two  bright  and  intelligent 
children,  a  boy  and  a  girl — Lilia  A., 
born  January  3,  188L,  and  Carl  V.,  born 
October  24,  1883.  Mr.  Head  is  a  promi- 
nent and  influential  member  of  the  M. 
E.  church,  and  a  member  of  the  order  of 
the  Golden  Rule;  he  is  state  deputy  and 
organizer  for  this  society. 

PEOPLE  OF  BAEDOLPH. 

As  no  history  can  be  complete  which 
does  not  treat  of  the  people,  the  sketches 
of  citizens  not  given  in  the  business  his- 
tory are  here  inserted: 

Abraham  Powers  was  born  March  25, 
1825,  in  the  town  of  Hardwick,  Vermont, 
near  Montpelier,  his  parents  being  Isaac 


and  Rachel    (Marshall)    Powers.     His 
father  was  also  born  in  Vermont,  and 
was    a   cousin    of    Hiram   Powers,  the 
sculptor.     The   family  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough county,   Illinois,  in  1833,  set- 
tling on  sections  1  and  12  (80  acres  in 
each),  in  Eldorado  township,  they  being 
among  the  earliest  settlers  there.     The 
land  was  partially  improved  by  his  father, 
who  died  February  10, 1836,  being  killed 
by  the  running  away  of  a  team  of  horses 
he  was  driving.     His  mother  died,  at  her 
residence,  April  24, 1862.     Abraham  was 
married,  December  25,  1848,  to  Frances 
M.  Eeesor,  who  was  born  in  Montgom- 
ery, county,   Ohio,  in   1823,   where  her 
father's   family  lived  until  1834,   when 
they  moved  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois, 
and  seven  years  later,   he  went  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  settling  in  Eldorado 
township,  where  they  became  acquainted. 
After  his  marriage   the   couple   lived  at 
the  old  homestead  till   1867,  when  they 
removed  to  section  6,  New  Salem  town- 
ship.    He  owns   the   northwest  quarter 
of  that  section,  and  he  made  it  his  home 
till  April,  1880,    when    they  moved  to 
Bardolph.     He  owns  his    present  resv 
dence  in  that  place,  besides  three  other 
houses  and  some  vacant  lots.     He  is  in 
good  circumstances   and  is   engaged  in 
overseeing  and  caring  for  his  property. 
He  has  two  sons — Willard  R.,  who  is  an 
attorney-at-law,  and  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of   his  profession    in  Chicago, 
where  he  studied  law  under  the  tutelage 
of  Judge  Forrester  and  Martin  Beem. 
He  is  prominent  in  his  profession,  hav- 
ing received  at  one  time  a  fee  of  $10,000 
from  the  Bell  Telephone  company.    Or- 
ville  M.,  who  is  the  principal   and  pro- 
prietor of   the    Metropolitan    business 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1011 


college,  of  Chicago,  Illinois.  This  insti- 
tution was  organized  by  Orville,  and  his 
brother  in  January,  1873,  both  having 
graduated  from  the  Macomb  high  school 
and  the  Quincy  business  college.  There 
are  about  400  students  in  attendance, 
and  10  teachers  and  instructors  in  the 
several  branches  are  employed.  Or- 
ville M.  is  one  of  the  originators  of  the 
work  entitled  "Secrets  of  Success  in 
Business." 

George  F.  Hendrickson  was  born  in 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  near  Cincinnati, 
on  the  25th  day  of  June,  1812,  his  father 
at  that  time  was  serving  in  the  army  in 
the  war  of  1812.  Soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war  he  moved  to  Lewis  county, 
Kentucky,  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  to  manhood,  with  such  edu- 
cation as  could  be  derived  from  the 
country  schools  of  that  day,  a  log  school 
house,  with  dirt  floor,  puncheon  seats 
and  greased  paper  for  window  glass.  He 
learned  the  cooper  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed for  years.  In  1831  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Nancy  McKinzie,  of  Lewis 
county,  Kentucky,  whose  family  were 
among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  that  state. 
After  his  marriage,  he  settled  in  Con- 
cord, Kentucky,  a  town  on  the  Ohio 
river,  and  engaged  largely  in  the  cooper- 
ing business,  shipping,  in  float  boats, 
to  Maysville,  Kentucky,  and  Cincinnati, 
Ohio.  In  1843  he  moved  to  Portsmouth, 
Ohio,  in  order  to  secure  better  school- 
ing advantages  for  his  children.  He 
continued  his  trade  there  for  several 
years,  and  in  1846,  he  purchased  a  farm 
in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  on  the  Ohio 
river  bottoms,  intending  to  turn  his 
attention  to  farming,  but  the  floods  of 
1846,  swept  every  building  (of  which 


there  were  two,  besides  out  buildings, ) 
and  fence  from  the  place.  This  so  dis- 
gusted him  with  attempting  to  farm  in 
such  a  country,  that  he  set  his  eyes  west- 
ward, and  in  March,  1847,  with  his  wife 
and  family  of  seven  children,  landed  at 
Liverpool,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He 
located  in  Vermont,  but  the  following 
year  bought  a  farm  west  of  Ipava, 
where  he  farmed  with  varied  success, 
until  the  winter  of  1854,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  one  mile  west  of  what  is 
now  Buslmell,  this  county.  The  land 
was  raw  prairie,  but  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  he  broke  up  80  acres,  and  sowed  it 
in  spring  wheat,  and  shipped  the  first 
grain,  1,000  bushels  of  wheat,  ever 
shipped  from  Buslmell,  for  which  he 
received  $1  per  bushel.  In  1858,he  sold 
his  farm  and  moved  to  the  village  of 
Bushnell,  and  in  connection  with  Harri- 
son Everett,  went  into  the  mercantile 
business,  which  was  followed  until  the 
fall  of  1861,  when  his  sons,  five  in  num- 
ber, enlisted  in  the  army,  he  closing  out 
his  business  with  the  intention  of  en- 
listing, himself,  but  was  prevailed  upon 
by  his  sons,  and  family  at  home,  to  re- 
main at  home.  In  1865  he  removed  to 
Johnson  county,.  Kansas,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm,  but  two  years  later  he 
sold  it  and  located  in  Olathe,  county 
seat  of  Johnson  county,  where  he  is 
still  residing,  a  hale  and  hearty  man  of 
73  years,  living  a  retired  life,  having 
amassed  sufficient  of  "worldly  goods" 
for  the  declining  years  of  himself  and 
wife.  Forty-three  years  of  his  life  time 
he  has  served  the  public  in  various 
offices  continually.  He  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  in  Kentucky,  in 
Fulton  county,  in  this  county,  and  in 


1012 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Johnson  county,  Kansas,  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors 
of  this  county,  representing  Bushnell 
township.  In  1872,  he  was  elected 
county  judge  of  Johnson  county,  and 
served  for  10  consecutive  years  in  that 
office,  declining  to  longer  serve,  on  ac- 
count of  the  labor  of  the  office,  and  his 
advanced  age.  During  his  official  years 
he  officiated  at  upwards  of  1,500  mar- 
riages, near  1,200  in  Johnson  county 
alone.  One  son  lost  his  life  in  the  army, 
near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  at  the  time  of  the 
evacuation  of  that  place  by  Hood.  Those 
living  are — John  E.,  living  in  Bardolph, 
this  county;  Marcellus  C.,  in  Colorado 
Springs,  Colorado;  James  F.,  in  Olathe, 
Kansas;  Dr.  Charles  D.,  in  Orange, 
Massachusetts;  Mrs.  H.  M.  Sells,  in 
Phelps  county,  Missouri,  and  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Pettyjohn,  in  Olathe,  Kansas.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  an  old  time  whig,  until  the 
demise  of  that  party,  when  he  enrolled 
under  the  banner  of  the  republican 
party,  of  which  he  has  always  been  a 
strong  advocate,  until  of  late  years  he 
has  almost  entirely  withdrawn  from  all 
political  affiliations.  He  was  a  warm 
supporter  of  St.  John,  in  the  late  politi- 
cal contest,  more  from  a  moral  and  re- 
ligious point  of  view,  than  a  political 
one,  being  a  neighbor  and  a  warm  per- 
sonal friend.  He  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Christian  church  for  nearly  50  years, 
and  has  always  been  a  close  student  of 
the  bible. 

John  E.  Hendrickson,  station  agent  at 
Bardolph,  and  in  control  of  the  Ameri- 
can express  and  telegraph  department, 
was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Kentucky, 
September  15,  1836.  His  parents  were 
George  F.  and  Nancy  (McKinzie)  Hen- 


drickson, whose  biographical  sketch  ap- 
pears in  another  place.  The  family 
came  to  Illinois  in  March,  1847,  and  set- 
tled at  Vermont,  in  Fulton  county,  and 
John  E.  made  his  home  there  until  1855, 
receiving,  meantime,  a  common  school 
education.  He  then  removed  to  a  farm 
one  mile  west  of  the  place,  where  Bush- 
nell is  now  located,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  attending  school  at  Abingdon 
college.  In  the  spring  of  1858,  he  went 
to  Kansas,  locating  on  a  farm,  but  ill- 
health  compelled  him,  after  a  year's 
residence  there,  to  return  to  Illinois,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1859,  he,  in  company 
with  his  father,  engaged  in  mercantile 
business  in  Bushnell,  where  he  remained 
until  August,  1861,  when  he  assisted 
Captain  G.  M.  Scott  in  raising  a  com- 
pany of  cavalry,  of  which  he  was  elected 
orderly  sergeant,  and  going  to  Spring- 
field, secured  the  acceptance  of  the  com- 
pany by  the  state  authorities.  About 
this  time  a  position  in  the  band  of  the 
29th  infantry  was  tendered  to  him;  he 
accepted,  and  served  in  that  capacity 
one  year,  participating  in  the  battles  at 
Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  and  Shiloh, 
and  the  advance  on  Corinth.  He  was 
mustered  out  in  July,  1862,  and  was  a 
sutler  in  the  army  during  the  winter  fol- 
lowing. He  was  married  July  2,  1863, 
to  Eliza  A.  Walker,  of  Macomb,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  D.  Walker,  and  entered  the 
service  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad  com- 
pany, at  Bushnell,  in  November,  1863, 
where  he  remained  until  August  27, 
1867,  when  he  accepted  the  position  he 
now  holds.  Since  his  residence  in  Bar- 
dolph, he  has  been  a  member  of  the  vil- 
lage board  of  trustees,  and  a  member  of 
the  school  board  for  the  last  five  years. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1013 


He  is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  "W.,  in 

which  he  has  filled  various  offices;  and 
at  present  is  chairman  of  the  grand 
lodge  finance  committee,  and  is  the 
present  commander  of  G.  M.  Scott  post, 
No.  260,  G.  A.  R.;  is  a  member  of 
Quincy  legion,  No.  9,  of  Select  Knights, 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  G.  T.,  and  of  the 
Golden  Rule,  and  secretary  of  the 
County  Sunday  School  association  for 
six  years  past.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
M.  E.  church,  being  a  trustee,  steward 
and  class  leader;  is  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school,  and  takes 
an  active  interest  in  Sunday  school  work. 
He  is  a  republican  in  politics,  and  is 
chairman  of  the  township  republican 
central  committee,  and  a  member  of  the 
county  central  committee.  His  children 
are — John  F.,  born  May  26,  1864,  who  is 
the  station  agent  of  the  C.  I.  railroad,  at 
Little  York,  Illinois,  and  Hattie  N., 
born  February  22,  1872. 

Dr.  Horace  B.  Sikes  was  born  in 
North  Granville,  Washington  county, 
New  York,  April  5,  1842,  and  is  of  En- 
glish and  Dutch  descent.  Our  subject 
left  Granville  in  1862,  and  attended 
school  and  clerked  in  a  store  for  several 
months.  He  went  to  Michigan,  where 
he  taught  school  during  the  winter  of 
1863-' 64.  He  then  entered  a  store, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time  as 
clerk  and  book-keeper.  He  then  went 
to  Chicago,  and  traveled  for  a  wholesale 
notion  house.  He  then  returned  to 
Michigan,  and  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  Harvey,  of  Romeo,  and  took  two 
courses  of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor.  He 
graduated  in  1872,  and  settled  at  Table 
Grove,  Illinois,  where  he  practiced  med- 
icine in  partnership  with  Dr.  A.  J. 


Bacon.  He  settled  in  Bardolph  May 
18,  1875,  and  in  the  spring  of  1884,  at- 
tended the  practitioners'  course  at  Rush 
medical  college.  He  was  married  March 
19, 1883, to  Fidelia  R.  Hill, who  died  March 
27,  1885.  The  doctor  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  order,  and  is  master  of  Bar- 
dolph lodge,  No.  572,  which  office  he  has 
held  for  five  years,  and  is  also  secretary 
of  the  I.  O.  O.-  F.  lodge.  For  the  last 
four  years  he  has  been  president  of  the 
town  board.  His  property  is  mostly  in 
the  town  of  Bardolph. 

Lewis  Wilson,  the  only  blacksmith  in 
the  town  of  Bardolph,  is  a  native  of 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  May  10,  1832.  His  parents  died 
when  he  was  very  young,  and  he  made 
his  home  with  his  aunt,  Mary  Jones. 
He  lived  with  his  aunt  until  he  was  18 
years  of  age,  when  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany H,  2d  U.  S.  dragoons,  and  was  sent 
to  Carlisle  barracks,  where  he  remained, 
drilling  until  April,  1851.  He  served  as 
a  blacksmith  and  as  bugler.  At  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  the  regiment  was  fitted 
out  to  cross  the  plains,  and  was  sent  to 
Mexico.  He  served  there  and  in  Cali- 
fornia and  Texas,  and  was  discharged  in 
1856,  at  Fort  Union,  New  Mexico,  his 
term  having  expired.  He  bought  up  a 
lot  of  horses,  which  he  brought  to  Ma- 
comb,  Illinois,  for  sale.  He  worked  at 
his  trade  in  Macomb  and  other  places, 
and  February  2,  1858,  was  married  to 
Ann  M.  Kuhn.  In  1860,  he  located  at 
Bardolph,  after  a  visit  to  Colorado.  In 
1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  119th  infantry. 
He  was  discharged  in  1865  as  sergeant, 
and  resumed  his  trade  at  Bardolph.  He 
has  increased  his  business  by  the  addi- 
tion of  a  wagon  shop,  and  is  doing  a 


1014 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


good  jobbing  trade.     He  has  nine  chil- 
dren living. 

James  Park  was  born  November  30, 
1802,  near  Cannonsburgh,  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  vigorous  mind,  and  was  fond 
of  study.  He  entered  Jefferson  college 
in  1823,  and  was  a  diligent  student,  and 
graduated  with  honors  in  1827.  His  fa- 
vorite studies  were  mathematics  and  the 
languages.  After  graduating,  he  taught 
one  year  at  Kittanning,  and  then  18 
months  under  Dr.  McClusky,  at  West 
Alexander.  He  then  taught  two  years 
in  Jefferson  college  as  professor  of  Latin 
and  Greek.  After  teaching  some  six 
months  at  Waterford  he  became  the  prin- 
cipal of  Erie  academy,  which  he  suc- 
cessfully conducted  for  four  and  a-half 
years.  After  closing  his  school  in  Erie, 
he  spent  two  or  three  years  at  home,  and 
on  the  waters  of  St.  Joseph,  in  Williams 
county,  Ohio,  clearing  some  land  which 
he  had  purchased  there.  He  put  up  a 
cabin  on  this  land,  with  the  expectation 
of  occupying  it,  but  changed  his  mind, 
and  sold  it.  He  resumed  teaching,  spend- 
ing three  years  in  Kentucky,  two  at 
Mount  Zion  and  one  at  Winchester. 


After  closing  his  school  in  Kentucky,  he 
was  married,  September  2, 1847,  to  Anna 
J.  Hamilton,  of  Meadville,  Pennsylvania. 
They  moved  to  Ohio  the  same  fall,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  on  Cherry  Fork,  near 
Eckmansville,  Adams  county.  They  re- 
sided there  nearly  20  years,  where  they 
enjoyed  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
the  neighbors  and  acquaintances.  For. 
the  purpose  of  getting  nearer  church 
and  school,  he  sold  his  farm,  and  in  April 
of  1867  removed  to  Bardolph,  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois.  He  united  with 
the  Presbyterian  church  while  in  Adams 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  scrupulously 
honest,  and  would  suffer  wrong  rather 
than  trespass  on  the  rights  of  others. 
He  was  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  church 
and  other  benevolent  agencies.  Never, 
when  able  to  attend,  was  his  seat  at 
church  vacant.  He  was  twice  elected 
ruling  elder,  but  declined.  After  coin- 
ing to  Bardolph,  he  retired  from  active 
labor,  devoting  most  of  his  time  to  read- 
ing. He  died  at  Bardolph,  February  11, 
1882,  aged  79  years,  2  months  and  12 
days.  He  left  a  wife  and  four  daugh- 
ters, who  still  survive  him.  His  remains 
rest  in  Oakwood  cemetery,  Macomb. 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 


WALNUT  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 


This  township  lies  on  the  northern 
tier  and  comprises  the  territory  known 
as  7  north  and  range  2  west.  It  is  a 
beautiful  prairie  country,  only  about  100 


acres  of  timber  land  being  within  its 
borders.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Warren  county,  on  the  east  by  Prairie 
City  and  Bushnell  townships,  with  Ma- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1015 


comb  on  the  south  and  Sciota  township 
on  the  west.  It  was  first  settled  in  1830, 
but  emigration  did  not  amount  to  much 
earlier  than  1835,  only  one  family  living 
here  for  a  short  time  prior  to  the  latter 
date.  The  township  is  well  represented 
by  the  numerous  religious  denomina- 
tions, each  having  good  church  build- 
ings, showing  the  inhabitants  are  not  ad- 
verse to  religious  influences.  As  to  its 
educational  facilities,  it  is  up  to  the  av- 
erage. The  T.  P.  &  W.  railroad  passes 
through  the  township  on  the  south  side, 
and  the  St.  L.  C.  &  R.  I.  crosses  its  north- 
east corner.  A  portion  of  Good  Hope 
lies  in  the  township,  near  the  southwest 
corner.  This  town  is  mentioned  elste- 
where.  Bushnell  and  Prairie  city  are 
within  convenient  distance,  which  give 
the  people  good  markets.  Politically, 
the  township  may  be  classed  as  repub- 
lican. 

The  pioneer  settler  of  Walnut  Grove 
township,  was  Isaac  Bartlett,  who  came 
from  the  state  of  Tennessee  in  the  fall 
of  1830,  settling  on  section  34.  After 
erecting  a  cabin,  he  left  his  father  and 
mother  there  and  went  over  to  the  vicin- 
ity of  Spring  creek,  in  Emmet  township, 
to  work  at  breaking  prairie.  While  here 
at  work  the  memorable  deep  snow  came 
and  it  was  many  days  of  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts before  he  succeeded  in  getting 
back  to  his  aged  parents,  who,  he  was 
aware,  must  be  in  destitute  circumstan- 
ces. He  found  them  in  a  half  starved 
ancl  frozen  condition,  with  nothing  to  eat 
and  but  little  fuel  to  protect  them  in 
their  rudely  constructed  habitation  from 
the  bitter  blasts  of  one  of  the  worst 
winters  in  the  history  of  McDonough 
county.  The  family  cow,  which  had 


died  of  exposure  and  starvation,  was  all 
that  was  left  to  eat,  and  upon  the  arrival 
of  the  son,  who  had  been  several  days 
in  coming  from  Spring  creek  settlement 
with  three  yoke  of  oxen,  a  sled  and  pro- 
visions, he  found  the  old  gentleman  at 
work  removing  the  hide  from  the  carcass 
of  the  dead  cow,  preparatory  to  getting 
something  to  appease  their  hunger.  The 
old  folks  partook  of  the  provisions 
brought  by  the  son,  who  soon  afterward 
removed  them  to  where  he  was  stopping, 
on  Spring  creek. 

No  further  effort  was  made  to  settle 
Walnut  Grove  until  the  spring  of  1835, 
when  Sydney  Geer,  an  eastern  man, 
who  came  from  Schuyler  county  here, 
entered  land  on  section  14  and  built  a 
cabin.  He  broke  out  about  five  acres  of 
land,  which  he  planted  to  corn.  The 
year  following  he  returned  to  Schuyler 
county.  He  had  a  wife,  but  no  children. 
Mr.  Geer  was  a  superstitious  man,  and 
late  in  the  same  year  he  came,  he  re- 
turned to  Schuyler  county  with  his  wife 
on  a  visit  to  her  relations.  While  ab- 
sent, the  wind  played  sad  havoc  with  his 
fences,  etc.,  and  the  wild  hogs  got  in 
and  destroyed  some  of  his  corn.  The 
next  season  the  team  ran  away,  dragging 
him  some  distance  and  hurting  him 
quite  badly,  and  thinking  he  would  have 
no  prosperity  or  good  luck  here,  he  left, 
as  recorded  above. 

J.  H.  Campbell  arrived  in  the  town- 
ship, March  20,  1835,  remaining  one 
year,  when  he  removed  to  Industry  town- 
ship. He  is  now  living  a  retired  life  in 
the  city  of  Macomb.  He  is  a  native  of 
Tennessee,  but  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
the  state  of  Kentucky,  from  which  place 
he  came  to  this  county. 


1016 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


The  next  settlers  were  Gilmer  and 
Quintus  Walker,  and  families.  These 
two  gentlemen  came  up  from  where  they 
were  living  on  Camp  creek,  in  Industry 
township,  in  the  fall  of  1835,  and  selected 
farms  in  this  township  upon  which  to 
settle.  Gilmer  bought  land  on  section 
34  and  Quintus  selected  a  place  on  sec- 
tion 10  to  build  a  cabin,  intending  all 
the  while  to  purchase  land  on  section 
16,  as  soon  as  'it  was  thrown  open  for 
purchase  by  the  settlers.  Gilmer  con- 
structed a  frame  house,  the  first  one  in 
the  township,  on  section  34,  in  the  fall 
of  1835,  which  was  one  story  in  height, 
with  one  room  and  pole  studding,  into 
which  he  removed  his  family,  who  were 
at  Camp  Point,  as  soon  as  it  was  com- 
pleted. As  soon  as  this  house  was 
finished,  Gilmer  assisted  Quintus  and  the 
latter' s  father-in-law,  Alexander  Camp- 
bell, to  erect  a  log  cabin  for  Quintus.  The 
house  was  intended  to  be  used,  only,  un- 
til his  removal  to  section  16,  and  was 
completed  and  ready  for  occupancy  in 
January,  1836,when  the  family  moved 
into  it.  The  following  fall  the  other 
house  was  erected  on  section  16,  as  con- 
templated, and  the  family  removed  to 
that  place. 

The  Walker  family  and  their  connec- 
tions, are  among  the  most  prominent 
families,  and  some  of  the  members  of  the 
family  have  gained  wide  celebrity  and 
high  reputation.  Besides  the  sketches 
which  here  follow,  many  references  are 
made  to  different  members  of  the  family 
in  various  places  in  this  work. 

Quintus  Walker  was  born  in  Adair 
county,  state  of  Kentucky,  three  miles 
south  of  Columbia,  the  county  seat,  May 
20,  1814.  His  father,  Alexander  Walker, 


who  was  married  in  Virginia,  March  22, 
1790,  to  Mary  Magdaline  Hammond,  who 
was  a  native  of  North  Carolina.  Alex- 
ander Walker  was  born  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  celebrated  Natural  Bridge, 
renowned  in  geography.  In  the  good  old 
days  in  which  Alexander  Walker  lived, 
large  families  were  the  rule,  hence  we 
are  not  surprised  to  learn  that  his  family 
record  comprised  11  persons — Joseph 
Gilmer,  born  January  9,  1793,  died  Oct- 
ober 12,  1841;  Cyrus,  born  May  6,  1791, 
died  September  26,  1876;  David,  born 
April  15,  1795,  died  August  10,  1795; 
Abner,  born  August  10,  1796,  died  June 
22,  1851;  Cynthia,  born  March  25,  1798. 
She  is  a  widow  and  resides  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kansas.  Margaret,  born  Janu- 
ary 7,  1800.  She  married  John  Calhoun, 
and  died  January  4,  1828.  Allen,  born 
January  2,  1802,  died  August  31,  1858; 
Alexander,  born  December  10, 1803,  died 
August  17,  1827;  Jane  Hammond,  born 
July  4,  1805,  died  July  18, 1844;  Andrew 
Hammond,  born  August  16,  1808,  died 
January  6,  1885;  Pinkney,  born  March 
11,  1811,  died  March  8,  1815.  Mrs.  Al- 
exander Walker  died  in  1811,  and  Mr. 
Walker  married  Mrs.  Margaret  F. 
Coumbes.  Of  this  marriage  the  follow- 
ing children  were  born — Martha  Magda- 
line, born  November  28,  1816,  died  Nov- 
ember 22,  1844;  Thomas  P.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1819.  He  is  a  resident  of  Kan- 
sas, and  is  a  minister  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  Mr.  Walker  died  July  25, 
1824,  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  a*hd 
his  wife  died  June  8,  1858.  Quintus, 
our  subject,  was  reared  in  Kentucky,  and 
in  1830,  when  17  years  of  age,  decided  to 
remove  to  Illinois.  They  settled  in  Sanga- 
mon  county,  at  Clarey's  Grove,  and  spent 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1017 


the  winter  there.  In  the  fall  of  1831, 
the  family  removed  to  Industry  town- 
ship, McDonough  county.  In  the  win- 
ter of  1835-36,  Mr.  Walker  built  a  cabin 
in  Walnut  Grove  township.  He  has  re- 
mained on  this  until  the  present  time. 
Mr.  Walker  enjoys  the  proud  distinction 
of  belonging  to  the  pioneer  band,  and 
was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Walnut 
Grove,  if  indeed  he  was  not  the  first.  He 
was  married  August  1,  1833,  to  Mahala 
Campbell,  daughter  of  Alexander  and 
Mary  Campbell. 

Robert  Pollock  was  born  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  May  26,  1829.  He  was 
the  son  of  David  and  Jane  (Lowry)  Pol- 
lock. His  parents  were  natives  of  Ire- 
land. In  1834,  they  removed  to  McDon- 
ough county  and  settled  near  Macomb, 
and  soon  after  united  with  the  First 
Presbyterian  church  of  that  city.  Mr. 
Pollock's  mother  died  in  the  fall  of  1834, 
and  his  father  soon  after  followed.  After 
the  death  of  his  parents,  Robert  resided 
with  relatives  in  Peoria  and  Springfield. 
When  eight  years  of  age,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  family  of  his  future 
father-in-law,  Quintus  Walker,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  reached  the 
years  of  manhood.  March  8,  1855,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  his  benefactor.  Seven  children 
were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pollock,  four 
of  whom  died  in  infancy — Quintus  Al- 
exander, Wm.  L.,  Mahala  J.,  Robert  E. 
Melvin  C.,  born  April  26,  1862;  Elmer 
A.,  born  March  1,  1868;  and  Mary  Eliz- 
abeth, born  January  16,  1872.  Mr.  Pol- 
lock owns  90  acres  of  tillable  land  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  and  has  four 
acres  of  timber  located  in  another  sec- 
tion. He  has  held  the  office  of  school 


director,  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  of  the  Anti- 
Horse-Thief  association.  He  has  held 
the  offices  of  ruling  elder  and  deacon  in 
the  Presbyterian  church  for  a  number  of 
years. 

Alexander  Campbell,  deceased,  a  pio- 
neer of  McDonough  county,  was  born  in 
Augusta  county,  Virginia,  April  19, 1789. 
His  grandfather  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land. Alexander  Campbell  was  quite 
young  when  his  parents  moved  to  Knox 
county,  Tennessee,  and  settled  on  a  farm, 
remaining  there  until  22  years  of  age, 
he  married  Mary  Strain,  of  Tennessee. 
In  1829,  he  with  his  wife  and  family  of 
seven  children,  started  for  the  state  of 
Illinois,  but  on  account  of  a  late  start  in 
the  fall,  stopped  in  Christian  county, 
Kentucky,  one  season,  after  which  he 
came  and  settled  on  Camp  creek,  in  In- 
dustry township,  McDonough  county, 
where  he  lived  six  years.  In  1836,  he 
came  to  Walnut  Grove  township,  and 
settled  on  section  16,  and  remained  there 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  October 
16,  1845.  His  widow  survived  him  until 
the  fall  of  1855.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren— Jane  L.,  Mahala  A.,  John  S., 
David,  W.  S.  D.,  Mary  A.  and  Margaret, 
all  of  whom  lived  to  be  grown  and  mar- 
ried. Mr.  Campbell  was  a  prominent 
citizen,  very  active  in  works  of  charity, 
and  an  earnest  Christian.  He  was  elder 
in  the  Presbyterian  church  for  many 
years.  While  living  at  Camp  creek,  he 
organized  the  first  Sunday  school  in  the 
county,  being  the  year  1833,  at  the  house 
of  John  Rodgers.  At  the  present  time, 
there  are  but  six  persons  living  who  were 
members  of  that  school,  viz:  Quintus 
Walker  and  wife,  of  Walnut  Grove  town- 


1018 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ship,  this  county;  Thomas  P.  M.  Wal- 
ker, of  Fountain  Green,  Illinois;  John 
S.  Campbell,  of  Chariton,  Iowa;  David 
Campbell,  of  Good  Hope,  and  W.  S.  D. 
Campbell,  of  Warren  county,  Illinois. 
As  to  politics,  he  was  a  whig,  until  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party,  in 
which  he  was  quite  active.  He  was  hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him. 

Gilmer  Walker,  mentioned  above,  was 
a  well  known  and  highly  respected  citi- 
zen, and  is  mentioned  in  more  than  one 
place  in  this  book.  Below  are  sketches 
of  the  families  of  his  daughters,  Mrs. 
J.  J.  Scott  and  Mrs.  William  Early. 

John  J.  Scott,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  4, 
1830,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Rachel 
F.  (Randolph)  Scott.  When  John  J., 
was  about  nine  years  of  age,  his  parents 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  locating 
a  few  miles  south  of  Macomb,  where 
they  resided  for  several  years.  They 
afterward  removed  to  Macomb,  where 
their  remaining  days  were  spent.  Ra- 
chel Scott  died  April  16,  1859,  aged  67 
years,  and  John  Scott,  June  4,  1870, 
aged  84  years.  They  are  both  buried 
in  Oakwood  cemetery,  Macomb.  John 
J.  Scott  was  married  June  16,  1859,  to 
Flora  Walker,  daughter  of  Gilmer  and 
Susan  (Bell)  Walker,  pioneer  settlers  of 
McDonough  county,  who  removed  to 
this  county  from  Adair  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1833,  settling  in  Scotland  township, 
where  they  lived  for  two  or  three  years. 
Mr.  Walker  then  bought  a  tract  of  land 
in  Walnut  Grove  township,  where  he  re- 
moved in  1836,  and  resided  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1841.  His 
wife,  Susan,  died  in  Macomb,  in  1842. 


Flora  (Walker)  Scott  was  born  in  Wal- 
nut Grove  township,  June  2,  1837.  She 
was  the  first  child  born  in  the  township. 
John  J.  and  Flora  Scott  were  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children— Susan  Bell,  An- 
nie R.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
months;  Lucetta,  Annetta,  Lizzie  W., 
who  died  June  21,  1882,  aged  16  years; 
Walter  G.  and  John  F.  Mr.  Scott  owned 
and  resided  on  a  farm  in  Scotland  town- 
ship, until  1870.  He  then  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  in  Walnut  Grove  township, 
and  removed  there.  The  first  railroad 
station  on  the  Wabash  railroad,  west  of 
Buslmell,  was  laid  out  on  Mr.  Scott's 
farm,  and  named  Scottsburg,  in  his  honor. 
His  death  occurred  November  24,  1875, 
arid  his  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  Oak- 
wood  cemetery,  Macomb.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  in  belief,  and  died  a  Chris- 
tian. His  widow  is  a  member  of  that 
church  also.  She  still  owns  and  lives  on 
her  farm  at  Scottsburg. 

William  L.  Early  was  born  in  Gibson 
county,  Indiana,  April  21,  1831,  and  was 
a  son  of  Lewis  and  Sarah  Early.  He  lived 
in  Indiana  until  16  years  of  age,  when 
he  came  to  McDonough  county  with  his 
parents,  who  purchased  land  on  section 
35,  this  township,  where  William  now 
resides,  his  father  and  mother  dying  in 
January,  1862.  He  was  married  June 
7,  1854,  to  Catharine,  a  daughter  of 
Susan  and  Gilmer  Walker,  and  a  sister 
of  the  late  Judge  Walker,  of  the  su- 
preme bench  of  Illinois.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children — Jesse  B.,  Mary 
L.,  William  £.,  Percy  W.,  Ernest  R., 
John  S.,  James  R.,  Joseph  S.,  Pinck- 
ney  A. 

Andrew  H.  Walker,  now  deceased,  lo- 
cated in  Walnut  Grove  township  in  1836. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1019 


Andrew  Harmon  Walker,  deceased, 
was  married  March  20,  1834,  to  Jane 
Campbell,  daughter  of  Alexander  Camp- 
bell. Six  children  were  born  of  this 
marriage — Margaret,  Alexander  C.,  Jo- 
seph Gilmer,  Isabella,  Cynthia,  and  a 
child  which  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Walker  died  October  29,  1845.  Janu- 
ary 31,  1850,  Mr.  Walker  married  Mrs. 
Mary  Noel,  who  was  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. By  this  marriage  there  were  six 
children — William  A.,  Cyrus  A.,  Mont- 
gomery Allen,  Martha  J.,  Marion  Alice, 
Ellen  M.  Mr.  Walker  during  his  life- 
time was  a  prominent  resident  of  the 
county,  and  after  his  death  the  follow- 
ing biographical  sketch  appeared  in  the 
Macomb  Journal  of  January  22,  1885: 
"Andrew  Harmon  Walker,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  was  born  on  the  16th  day  of 
August,  1808,  near  Columbia,  Adair 
county,  Kentucky.  He  had  nine  brothers 
and  four  sisters— all  of  whom  are  now 
dead  except  Quintus  Walker,  who  is 
living  in  this  county,  Rev.  Thomas 
Walker,  who  is  living  in  Kansas,  and 
Cynthia  Campbell,  also  in  Kansas.  When 
three  years  old  his  mother  died,  and 
when  he  was  about  16  years  of  age  his 
father  died.  He  was  early  destined  by 
his  father  to  be  a  lawyer,  and  to  that  end 
was  given  the  best  educational  advan- 
tages that  the  state  afforded.  Although 
always  opposed  to  a  public  life,  in  order 
to  please  his  father  and  older  brother, 
Cyrus,  who  was  a  member  of  the  pro- 
fession, he  consented  to  prepare  himself 
for  the  bar.  He  obtained  his  license, 
and  made  speeches,  -in  which  he  gave 
promise  of  a  brilliant  and  successful  ca- 
reer, but,  being  always  of  a  quiet  and  re- 
tiring disposition,  he  decided  that  a  pub- 


lic life  would  not  suit  him.  In  1830,  he, 
in  company  with  his  younger  brothers, 
sister  and  step-mother,  left  Kentucky 
and  came  to  Sangamon  county,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1831,  they  moved  to  Camp 
creek  in  this  county.  Andrew  had,  how- 
ever, before  this  made  several  trips 
through  McDonough,  and  had  been  in 
Macomb  when  it  was  first  surveyed.  In 
1834  he  was  married  to  Jane  Campbell, 
and  in  1836,  he  moved  to  Walnut  Grove 
township,  where  he  remained  until  his 
death.  He  made  a  profession  of  reli- 
gion when  he  was  29  years  of  age,  but 
never  united  with  a  church,  and  those  of 
his  children  and  friends,  who  were  with 
him  in  his  last  sickness,  feel  that  they  do 
not  mourn  as  those  who  have  no  hope. 
His  two  first  winters  in  Illinois  were 
times  of  great  privation — the  first  win- 
ter was  that  of  the  deep  snow;  the  next, 
they  being  short  of  provisions  on  Camp 
creek,  Andrew  took  a  pack-horse  and 
went  back  to  Sangamon  county  for  sup- 
plies. Before  he  started  back  the 
weather  became  very  cold,  but  fearing 
the  family  would  suffer,  he  started  on 
his  homeward  journey.  In  crossing  the 
river  on  the  ice,  when  about  the  middle, 
the  ice  began  to  crack,  and  fearing  it 
would  break,  left  his  horse  and  ran  for 
the  bank.  Upon  reaching  safety,  and 
looking  back  he  saw  his  horse  still  stand- 
ing in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  re- 
turning brought  the  animal  across;  and 
though  impeded  by  snow,  reached  home 
safely,  where  he  found  the  family  in  a 
destitute  condition.  He  taught  district 
school  for  a  number  of  terms  in  McDon- 
ough county.  Owing  to  his  aversion  to 
public  life,  he  would  never  accept  any 
office,  unless  there  was  no  one  else  that 


1020 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


could  fill  the  place.  He  filled  the  office 
of  school  trustee  for  several  years,  and 
also  that  of  school  treasurer.  He  was 
in  the  Mormon  war  as  a  volunteer.  His 
wife  died  October  28, 1845,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  he  was  father  and  mother  both 
to  his  children.  After  several  years  he 
married  Mrs.  Mary  Noel,  who  survives 
him.  He  was  the  father  of  12  children. 
His  first  wife's  children  were  Margaret 
Michaels,  who  died  a  few  years  ago  in 
Missouri ;  A.  C.  Walker,  who  is  living  in 
Little  River,  Kansas;  J.  G.  Walker,  who 
is  near  Salisbury,  Missouri;  Isabella 
Scott,  living  in  Walnut  Grove  township, 
this  county;  Cynthia  Axtell,  living  in 
Kansas,  and  a  child  which  died  in  in- 
fancy; his  second  wife's  children  were 
W.  A.  Walker,  living  in  Baileyville,  Kan- 
sas; C.  A.  and  M.  A.  Walker,  who  live 
on  the  old  homestead,  and  three  who 
died  in  infancy.  He  was  sick  for  some 
time  before  his  death,  and  his  disease 
was  of  a  peculiar  and  trying  nature.  He 
suffered  a  great  deal,  but  tried  hard  to 
be  patient  in  all  his  afflictions.  He  died 
about  five  o'clock  a.  m.,  January  6, 1885. 
The  funeral  took  place  the  next  day,  at- 
tended by  a  large  concourse  of  friends 
and  relatives.  The  sermon  was  preached 
by  the  Rev.  H.  J.  Frothingham,  of  Bush- 
nell.  The  remains  were  buried  in  the 
Pearce  cemetery." 

Levi  Hamilton  and   family   came   in 
1835. 

Harrison  Hamilton,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  August  5 
1826,  his  parents  being  Levi  and  Ma- 
linda  (Creel)  Hamilton.  He  was  only 
eight  or  nine  years  of  age  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  this  county.  They  lo- 
cated on  section  5,  Macomb  township, 


where  they  lived  until  the  spring  of  1873, 
when  they  left  their  farm,  and  afterward, 
in  1878,  they  moved  with  their  son  Uriah 
to  Shenandoah,  Iowa,  where  their  re- 
maining days  were  spent.  Mrs.  Hamil- 
ton died  there  in  January,  1881,  and  in 
March,  1882,  the  death  of  Levi  took  place. 
They  were  the  parents  of  but  three  chil- 
dren— Harrison,  Uriah  and  Silas  H.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Harrison,  resided 
in  this  county  from  the  time  he  came 
with  his  parents  when  but  a  small  boy 
until  his  death,  January  29,  1867.  He 
received  his  schooling  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  neighborhood,  and  com- 
pleted his  education  at  the  Cherry  Grove 
academy,  near  Abingdon.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  8,  18-18,  to  Rachel  Ballance, 
a  native  of  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  ( Welborn ) 
Ballance.  In  1831,  her  parents  came  to 
America,  and  after  a  residence  of  two 
years  in  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  and  three 
years  at  Wilmington,  Delaware,  they 
came  to  McDonough  county,  locating  at 
Macomb,  where  they  remained  about 
three  months.  In  the  meantime  Mr. 
Ballance  purchased  a  tract  of  land  in 
Walnut  Grove  township,  to  which  place 
they  shortly  afterward  removed,  residing 
in  a  small  house  on  a  neighboring  farm 
until  he  had  time  to  build  a  house  and 
improve  his  own  farm.  Here  her  mother 
died  July  28,  1848,  and  her  father  on 
the  6th  day  of  July,  1861.  They  are 
both  buried  in  the  Walnut  Grove  ceme- 
tery. Mrs.  Hamilton  is  the  eldest  of  a 
family  of  five  children,  all  girls.  The 
names  of  her  other  sisters  are — Mary, 
Hannah,  Elizabeth  and  Rebecca.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hamilton  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children — Annie  M.,  Albert  W., 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1021 


deceased,  Joseph  F.,  William  L.,  Ellis 
W.,  Mary  J.,  deceased,  and  one  other 
that  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Hamilton  was 
a  member  of  the  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian church,  and  served  as  deacon  some 
18  years  at  the  Walnut  Grove  church. 
Mrs.  Hamilton  still  retains  a  fine  farm 
of  130  acres,  which  is  nearly  all  under 
cultivation.  It  is  managed  by  Ellis,  who 
also  carries  on  stock  raising  to  a  consid- 
siderable  extent. 

Joseph  Franklin  Hamilton,  son  of 
Harrison  and  Rachel  (Ballance)  Hamil- 
ton, was  born  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  resides,  December  3,  1852.  He  was 
reared  in  this  township,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years  at  Bushnell,  which 
time  his  father  was  engaged  in  the  dry 
goods  business.  He  attended  the  district 
schools,  the  public  schools  of  Bushnell 
while  living  there,  and  three  terms  at 
the  Normal  college  in  Macomb.  He  was 
married  March  5,  1879,  to  Anna  L.  Alli- 
son, a  daughter  of  Andrew  H.  and  Lu- 
cinda  (Brown)  Allison,  of  Scotland  town- 
ship. She  is  a  native  of  this  county,  be- 
ing born  in  Scotland  township,  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Normal  college  at  Ma- 
comb,  class  of  1873.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  children— Andrew  Welborn, 
born  November  28,  1881;  and  Edith 
Beulah,  born  April  14, 1884  Mr.  Ham- 
ilton has  101  acres  of  choice  land,  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation  or  in  pasture. 

Among  the  pioneer  of  Walnut  Grove 
was  James  Hogshett,  who  settled  here 
in  1837.  He  was  born  in  Virginia  in 
1780,  where  he  was  also  married,  and 
afterward  removed  to  Highland  county, 
Ohio,  where  his  wife  died  in  1830.  In 
1833,  he  emigrated  farther  west,  set- 
tling in  Fulton  county,  from  which 


place  he  came  to  this  township  as  above. 
He  afterward  returned  to  Fulton  county, 
where  he  died  at  Ellisville,  March  8, 
1861.  Mr.  Hogshett  was  the  father  of 
Mrs.  A.  H.  Walker,  who  still  resides  in 
this  township.  The  farm  upon  which 
he  settled  is  now  owned  by  W.  H.  Stew- 
art. 

Ephraim  Banning  was  the  next  set- 
tler, coming  during  the  summer  of  1836. 
He  was  a  young, unmarried  man  and  came 
from  Virginia.  He  worked  for  Abner 
Walker  in  a  saw  mill  in  Macomb  town- 
ship that  winter,  and  the  following 
spring  located  on  section  34,  where  he 
erected  a  cabin.  During  the  summer  he 
returned  to  Virginia,  and  was  married 
to  Mary  Potter,  returning  immediately 
to  the  home  he  had  prepared  here.  He 
afterward  built  a  frame  addition  to  the 
cabin,  which  is  still  standing  on  the 
Flora  Scott  place.  His  wife  died  a  few 
years  after  coming  to  the  county,  leav- 
ing three  children.  He  subsequently 
married  Louise,  a  daughter  of  Gilmer 
Walker,  and  in  1855,  removed  to  Kan- 
sas. They  remained  there  until  about 
1861,  when  they  removed  to  near  Brook- 
field,  Missouri,  where  he  has  since  died. 
His  widow  and  most  of  the  family  now 
reside  in  Chicago. 

Hugh  Ervin  also  came  in  1836,  locat- 
ing on  section  1.  He  resided  in  different 
parts  of  the  township,  until  the  spring 
of  1848,  when  he  removed  to  the  city 
of  Macomb,  where  he  still  resides. 

A  short  time  after  Banning  came, 
some  Mormon  families,  who  had  been 
driven  out  of  Missouri,  located  in  the 
township.  Among  them  were  the  Har- 
mons, father  and  son.  They  took  some 
grain  down  to  Nauvoo  to  sell  and  do  some 


1022 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


trading.  While  returning  with  their 
wagons  and  ox  teams,  it  became  so  se- 
verely cold  w  hile  they  were  crossing  the 
prairie  between  Nauvoo  aud  Carthage, 
that  they  were  both  frozen  to  death. 
The  son  was  found  first.  He  had  taken 
off  his  coat,  wrapped  it  about  himself, 
and  laid  down.  The  father  was  found 
a  short  distance  further.  The  oxen  were, 
also,  found  in  the  neighborhood  hitched 
to  the  wagon. 

These  families  were  not  permanent 
settlers.  They  built  small  cabins,  re- 
mained a  short  time,  and  passed  on,  go- 
ing to  Nauvoo.  The  Griffin  family  cq.me 
about  the  same  time  as  did  the  Mormons, 
but  did  not  remain  long. 

In  the  spring  of  1837,  Robert  Perry 
came  from  Knox  county,  Tennessee,  lo- 
cating on  section  16,  where  he  erected  a 
cabin.  He  had  a  wife,  but  no  children, 
and  died  after  a  residence  of  less  than  a 
year  in  the  township.'  After  his  death, 
Mrs.  Perry  returned  to  her  home  in 
Tennessee,  where  she  afterward  died. 

Joseph  and  John  Ballance  came  with 
their  families  in  1837  and  selected  a 
home  on  section  28,  where  they  erected 
cabins.  They  came  from  England,  di- 
rectly to  this  county.  John  afterward 
removed  to  Kansas  with  his  family,  but 
Joseph,  reared  his  family  and  died  in 
this  township. 

In  1838,  F.  Livingston  and  William 
Young,  with  their  families,  came  to  the 
township. 

In  the  fall  of  1839,  W.  W.  Stewart 
came,  and  afterward  purchased  the  place 
settled  by  James  Hogshett,  where  he 
still  resides. 

William  W.  Stewart  was  born  in  Tocld 
county,  Kentucky,  August  15,  1819,  his 


parents  being  William  K.  and  Lucretia 
(Moore)  Stewart,  the  former  being  a  na- 
tive of  North  Carolina,  and  the  latter  of 
South  Carolina.  His  parents  remained 
in  Kentucky  until  1830,  when  they  re- 
moved to  Shelby ville,  Shelby  county,  Il- 
linois, where  they  passed  the  winter  of 
1830-31,  and  the  following  spring  re- 
moved to  Vandalia.  During  the  sum- 
mer, Mrs.  Stewart  died,  and  was  interred 
in  the  cemetery  at  that  place.  Mr.  Stew- 
art was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  having 
been  ordained  in  the  state  of  Tennessee. 
He  studied  theology  with  Dr.  Blackburn, 
and  was  ordained  about  the  year  1816. 
He  preached  four  years  at  Vandalia, 
having  waited  at  Shelbyville  for  the  ap- 
pointment. He  came  from  Vandalia  to 
McDonough  county  in  the  spring  of 
1836,  locating  at  Macomb,  where  he  was 
pastor,  for  17  consecutive  years,  of  the 
first  Presbyterian  church  organized  in 
that  place,  or  in  McDonough  county. 
His  death  occurred  April  26,  1852,  and 
he  was  buried  in  the  old  cemetery  at 
Macomb.  He  was  married  to  Lucretia 
Moore,  at  Pond  river,  April  1,  1817,  aud 
were  the  parents  of  six  children— James 
H.,  married  Isabel  McKamy,  who  reside 
at  Monmouth,  he  being  a  lawyer  and 
judge  of  the  county;  William  W.;  Nar- 
cissa  C.,  died  in  infancy;  Mary  M.,  wife 
of  John  McKinney,  a  lawyer  at  Aledo, 
this  state;  Nancy  H.,  second  wife  and 
widow  of  James  W.  Matthews,  and  re- 
sides at  Monmouth;  John  C.,  drowned  in 
Crooked  creek,  in  February,  1843.  Wil- 
liam W.  and  James  attended  the  South 
Hanover,  Indiana,  college,  two  years, 
while  their  parents  were  residents  of 
Vandalia.  In  1833,  William  W.  went  to 
Kentucky  on  horseback,  residing  about 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1023 


a  year  and  a  half  at  Hopkinsville,  that 
state,  when  he  went  to  Bond  county, 
where  he  worked  on  a  farm  until  coming 
to  this  county,  about  the  first  of  Septem- 
ber, 1839.  He  worketl  for  Gilmer  Walker 
until  the  next  spring,  at  $8  per  month. 
He  remained  in  the  township  until  1841, 
when  he  worked  in  AVarreii  county  about 
two  years,  after  which  he  returned  to 
this  county  and  worked  for  Hugh  Ervin, 
and  in  the  township,  some  four  years. 
Mr.  Stewart  was  married,  May  18,  1848, 
to  Martha  Cr afford,  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  and  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Deborah  Craf- 
ford.  He  had  purchased  his  farm  sev- 
eral years  previous  to  the  time  of  his 
marriage,  but  did  not  remove  upon  it 
until  that  time.  His  farm  consists  of 
80  acres  on  section  14,  and  104  acres  on 
section  13.  Mr.  Ste \\art  is  a  member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  and  the  Anti- 
Horse  Thief  association.  He  has  held 
every  office  in  the  township,  except  that 
of  assessor,  and  has  served  as  supervisor 
for  five  years.  He  was,  also,  school 
treasurer  11  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stew- 
art are  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: William  K.,  Mary  L.,  wife  of 
Manning  Ball,  of  Bushnell;  James  H., 
married  to  Viola  Engle,  and  reside  in 
Sciota  township;  Frances  C.,  Henrietta 
B.,  Wallace  W.,  Flora  May  and  John 
Mariner,  all  living. 

OTHER  SETTLERS. 

Besides  those  mentioned,  there  are 
many  others  whose  sketches  must  ap- 
pear to  make  the  history  of  Walnut  Grove 
township  complete. 

William  J.  Edie  was  born  in  Brooks 
county,  AVest  Virginia,  January  24, 


1829.  William  was  reared  in  West  Vir- 
ginia, and  assisted  his  father  on  the 
farm.  In  1852  he  graduated  from  Jeff- 
erson college,  Pennsylvania,  and  taught 
school  several  months  in  that  state.  In 
1853,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  at 
Vermont,  Fulton  county,  where  he 
taught  a  select  high  school  for  several 
terms.  He,  later,  taught  a  select  school 
at  Lewiston,  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  During  this  pe- 
riod he  was  elected  county  surveyor,  and 
filled  the  office  with  great  acceptance  for 
the  period  of  two  years.  In  1865  he 
moVed  to  McDonough  county,  and  loca- 
ted on  a  farm  of  240  acres,  which  he 
had  purchased  in  1864,  in  Walnut  Grove 
township.  He  was  elected  county  sur- 
veyor in  1869,  but  refused  re-election. 
He  was  married  February  24,  1858,  to 
Sophia  Irwin,  daughter  of  the  late  Judge 
Irwin,  and  five  children  was  the  result 
of  this  union — Charlie,  Irwin,  Maggie  E., 
Walter  and  William  J.  Mrs.  Edie 
died  March  30,  1866,  and  November  28, 
1870,  he  married  Evaline  Harris.  He 
owns  440  acres  of  land  in  McDonough 
county,  all  of  which  is  under  cultivation, 
besides  80  acres  in  Iowa.  He  makes 
stock-raising  a  specialty,  and  is  reputed 
one  of  the  best  farmers  in  the  county. 
He  has  held  numerous  township  offices, 
and  is  considered  an  active,  energetic 
citizen. 

Henry  Mariner  was  born  in  Sharon, 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut,  March 
10,  1818.  His  parents  were  Buell  and 
Esther  (Lord)  Mariner.  When  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  five  years 
of  age,  the  family  removed  to  Yates 
county,  New  York.  Henry  resided  here 
and  attended  school  until  1838,  when  he, 


1024 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


in  company  with  a  brother,  concluded 
to  try  their  fortunes  in  the  west.  They 
settled  near  Canton,  Fulton  county,  and 
Mr.  Mariner  busied  himself  in  farming 
and  running  a  saw  mill  until  he  removed 
to  McDonough  county  in  the  spring  of 
1855,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 11,  where  he  has  resided  until  the 
present  time.  He  was  married  in  Fulton 
county,  October  5,  1848,  to  Lucretia 
Stearnes,  who  was  a  native  of  Naples, 
Ontario  county,  New  York,  and  died 
March  24,  1885.  They  have  had  two 
children — Mary  E.  and  Ada  M.  Mr. 
Mariner  owns  320  acres  of  land,  all  of 
which  is  arable  land.  In  1869  he  erected 
the  house  in  which  he  now  resides.  It 
is  two  stories  in  height,  and  presents  a 
fine  appearance.  He  devotes  considera- 
ble time  and  means  to  stock  raising,  is  a 
member  of  the  Anti-Horse  Thief  associa- 
tion, and  was  collector  of  Walnut  Grove 
township  for  one  term.  He  was  elected 
tcf  the  board  of  supervisors  from  Walnut 
Grove  township  for  five  terms,  from  1878 
to  1883. 

Asa  J.  Tiger  was  born  in  Hunterdon 
county,  New  Jersey,  October  14,  1825, 
his  parents  being  Jacob  and  Mary  ( Cra- 
mer) Tiger.  They  were  also  born  in 
that  county,  reared,  and  died  there.  Asa 
received  his  education  in  New  Jersey, 
where  he  remained  until  September  1, 
1855,  when  he  emigrated  to  Fulton 
county,  this  state,  where  he  resided  until 
the  spring  of  1862.  At  that  time  he 
came  to  McDonough  county,  locating  on 
section  24,  this  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  Dr.  Abram  Hull.  It 
was  wild  land  at  that  time,  but  such  are 
the  improvements  made  by  Mr.  Tiger 
that  it  ranks  among  the  best  farms  of 


the  township  at  present.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Soinerville,  NeW  Jersey,  October 
14, 1854,  to  Margaretta  E.  Kline,  a  native 
of  Hunterdon  county.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  three  children — Mary  E.,  wife  of 
Newton  Swisher,  who  resides  in  Bushnell 
township ;  Anna  J.,  wife  of  George  Moore, 
who  resides  in  Ogle  county,  Nebraska; 
and  Gilbert  W.,  living  at  home.  Mr. 
Tiger  has  163  acres  of  land,  nearly  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  carries 
on  stock  raising  to  some  extent,  having 
raised  Poland  China  hogs  ever  since  he 
came  to  the  state.  Mr.  Tiger  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Bush- 
nell, and  has  held  the  offices  of  vice  grand 
and  others.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Anti-Horse  Thief  association,  and  is  wor- 
thy president,  filling  the  second  term  of 
that  office  at  present.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tiger 
are  both  members  of  the  Linn  Grove  M. 
E.  church,  of  which  Mr.  Tiger  was  one 
of  the  organizers.  There  were  13  chil- 
dren in  his  parent's  family,  he  being  the 
sixth  in  order  of  age.  They  all  grew  to 
manhood  and  womanhood,  and  were 
married. 

Thomas  King  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  East  Tennessee,  November  6, 
1814.  His  birth  place  was  about  seven 
miles  from  Jonesboro,  and  three  miles 
from  the  beautiful  Wataga  river.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Lydia  ( Tilton ) 
King.  His  father  was  a  minister  of  the 
gospel,  well  known  and  respected 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties. 
Thomas  King,  when  in  his  21st  year, 
left  his  old  home  in  Tennessee,  -in  com- 
pany with  his  parents,  on  the  10th  day 
of  September,  1835,  and  reached  his  des- 
tination, Hill's  Grove,  in  McDonough 
county,  on  the  following  18th  of  October, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1025 


having  camped  out  every  night  for  38 
days  while  en  route  from  East  Tennessee 
to  Illinois.  He  was  married  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  November  17,  1836,  to 
Mary  Holden.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  was  the  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  and  Phoebe  (Rodgers) 
Holden.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  continued 
to  reside  in  Tennessee  township  until 
1846,  when  they  removed  to  Walnut 
Grove,  near  the  section  where  they  now 
reside.  Mr.  King  owns  200  acres  of 
land,  which  is  all  under  cultivation  or  in 
pasture.  He  also  owns  11  acres  of  fine 
wood  land.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of 
Pleasant  Mound  M.  E.  church  for  more 
than  26  years,  or  ever  since  the  church 
was  built.  He  was  a  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Anti-Horse-Thief  Associa- 
tion. He  has  served  the  public  seven 
consecutive  terms  as  commissioner  of 
highways,  in  which  capacity  he  has  given 
general  satisfaction.  He  has  raised  a 
large  family,  giving  them  all  a  liberal 
education.  Rev.  Henry  C.  King,  now  of 
Denver,  Colorado,  is  his  son,  and  Mrs. 
Anna  Wood,  wife  of  Rev.  Thos.  Wood, 
of  the  Central  Illinois  conference,  is  his 
daughter.  Mr.  King  is  a  democrat  in 
politics,  while  he  and  his  family  are 
earnest  members  of  the  Methodist 
church.  Withal,  he  is  a  respected  and 
well-to-do  citizen.  A  sketch  of  his 
father,  Rev.  James  King,  the  well  known 
pioneer  preacher,  is  here  appended: 

Rev.  James  King  was  born  April  13, 
1778,  at  Harrisburg,  Dauphin  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  was  the  son  of 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  King,  who  sailed 
from  Dublin  in  1755,  in  a  brigantine 
bound  for  Philadelphia.  James  King 
was  educated  at  Middletown,  Pennsyl- 


vania. He  completed  his  common  school 
studies,  together  with  geometry,  trigo- 
nometry and  surveying,  in  his  17th  year. 
He  was  a  fine  mathematician,  something 
of  an  artist,  and  a  splendid  penman.  His 
old  books,  in  which  all  of  his  school 
work  is  written,  are  not  only  rare,  but 
they  are  an  heirloom  to  the  family.  He 
moved,  with  his  parents,  to  Jonesboro, 
Washington  county,  Tennessee,  in  1795. 
Here  he  took  up  a  course  of  reading, 
and  prepared  himself  for  the  ministry. 
He  came  to  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  October 
10,  1806,  and  after  being  kindly  received 
by  Dr.  Tiffin,  a  Methodist  minister, 
who  was  then  governor  of  the  state,  he 
was  placed  in  charge  of  a  circuit.  He 
continued  as  a  circuit  rider  in  Kentucky 
and  Ohio  for  about  eight  years,  and  was 
made  an  elder  by  Bishop  William  Mc- 
Kendree,  November  7,  1810.  He  was 
married  at  Lexington,  Kentucky,  during 
this  time,  to  Lydia  Tilton.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage,  he  returned  to  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  remained  for  more  than 
20  years.  He  was  admitted  to  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  December  24,  1831. 
He  and  his  wife,  with  a  family  of  five 
sons  and  two  daughters,  arrived  at 
Hill's  Grove,  McDonough  county,  Octo- 
ber 18,  1835.  The  names  of  his  sons 
were — Thomas,  Richard  Tilton,  James, 
John  W.  and  Clark,  all  of  whom  lived  in 
McDonough  county  for  a  number  of 
years.  James  King,  Jr.,  died  at  the  old 
home,  near  Hill's  Grove,  in  his  19th 
year,  and  was  buried  in  what  is  now 
known  as  the  King  grave  yard,  which 
was  on  the  old  farm.  His  daughters 
were- Anna  and  Olethea,  now  respectively 
Mrs.  David  Kepple  and  Mrs.  J.  F.  Tan- 
nehill.  Rev.  James  King  moved  from 


1026 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Hill's  Grove  to  his  lands  in  Walnut 
Grove  and  Prairie  City  townships,  in 
1846.  Here  he  died,  March  8,  1849, 
aged  70  years,  10  months  and  25  days. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Lydia  Tilton,  died  on  July  5,  1852,  aged 
66  years,  3  months  and  19  days.  Clark 
King  died  at  the  residence  of  John  W. 
King,  in  Prairie  City  township,  in  the 
fall  of  1852,  following  the  death  of  his 
parents.  John  W.  King  died  at  his  res- 
idence, in  Prairie  City  township,  Octo- 
ber 28,  1865.  Rev.  James  King  and 
wife,  and  two  of  his  sons,  sleep  side  by 
side,  in  the  McMahill  cemetery,  Warren 
county.  Thos.  King, Mrs. Kepple  and  Mrs. 
Tannehill,  still  reside  in  McDonough 
county,  while  Richard  Tilton  King,  now 
lives  at  Appleton  City,  St.  Clair  county, 
Missouri.  The  calling  of  Rev.  James 
King,  was  that  of  a  Methodist  minister. 
He  was  opposed  to  slavery  and  while  in 
the  state  of  Tennessee,  presented  numer- 
ous petitions  against  it  to  the  legisla- 
ture of  that  state.  Copies  of  these  peti- 
tions are  still  among  his  private  papers. 
He  owned  at  one  time  more  than  2,000 
acres  of  land  in  McDonough  and  Han- 
cock counties,  and  a  few  years  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  gave  each  of  his  sur- 
viving children,  200  acres  of  land  or  the 
equivalent.  He  was  one  of  the  pioneer 
Methodist  preachers  of  the  county  and 
was  a  prominent  man  at  that  time. 

John  F.  Tannehill,  son  of^  James  and 
Anna  Tannehill,  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  August  2,  1814.  In  1839, 
he  emigrated  to  McDonough  county,  and 
from  thence  proceeded  to  Plymouth, 
Hancock  county,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  and  then  went  to  Keosaqua,  Iowa, 
where  he  worked  at  bricklaying  and 


plastering.  After  some  years,  he  finally 
located  in  Walnut  Grove,  where  he  now 
resides.  In  1841,  he  was  married  to 
Olethea  P.  King,  daughter  of  the  Rev. 
James  King,  one  of  the  pioneer  preach- 
ers of  McDonough  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tannehill  are  the  parents  of  three 
children — James,  married  Fanny  Arm- 
strong, resides  in  Buslmell  township; 
William,  married  Etta  Matthews,  resides 
in  Prairie  Grove,  and  John  F.  is  in  the 
stock  business,  and  being  unmarried,  re- 
sides with  his  parents.  Mr.  Tannehill 
owns  240  acres  of  fine  land,  all  under 
cultivation,  or  in  pasture.  He  devotes 
considerable  time  to  stock  raising,  in 
which  he  is  quite  successful.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Anti-Horse  Thief  Asso- 
ciation. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tannehill  are 
prominent  members  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
and  take  great  interest  in  the  prosperity 
of  the  congregation. 

William  M.  Hageman  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  June  27,  1834,  and 
is  a  son  of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  Hage- 
man. He  lived  in  that  county,  upon  a 
farm,  until  1857,  when  he  and  his  wife 
started  with  a  team  overland  for  McDon- 
ough county,  arriving  here  in  November 
of  that  year,  being  21  days  on  the  road. 
He  located  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  24,  and  has  resided  there  ever 
since,  witnessing  the  birth  and  growth 
of  a  generation.  He  was  married  in 
Wayne  county,  Ohio,  October  16,  1856, 
to  Sarah  E.  Jontz,  also  a  native  of  that 
county.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  liv- 
ing children — Henry  J.,  married  Fran- 
ces Quigle,  and  resides  in  Walnut  Grove 
township;  Harriet  M.,  wife  of  John  W. 
Zaring,  and  resides  in  Washington 
county,  Iowa;  Minerva,  wife  of  Clinton 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1027 


Gossard,  who  resides  upon  Mr.  Hage- 
man's  home  place;  Mary  E.,  wife  of 
George  W.  Brewbaker,  who  resides  in 
this  township;  Charles  Ezra  and  Wil- 
liam Leander,  the  two  youngest  sons, 
are  yet  at  home.  There  was  also  one 
child  that  died  in  infancy,  in  Ohio,  the 
dats  of  its  death  being  September  5, 
1857.  Mr.  Hageman  has  700  acres  of 
land,  which  is  all  improved  except  two 
quarters,  320  of  which  is  in  Kansas.  He 
also  owns  real  estate  in  Iowa,  which  he 
purchased  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Linn  Grove 
church,  deeded  the  land  for  it,  was  the 
first  clerk  of  the  organization  and  served 
011  the  building  committee.  He  has  also 
been  school  trustee,  and  was  clerk  of  the 
township  for  one  year.  Mr.  Hageman, 
his  wife  and  their  four  eldest  children, 
are  all  members  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

Aaron  Snodgrass  was  born  in  Madi- 
son county,  Ohio,  March  20,  1819.  He 
is  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth 
(Smith)  Snodgrass.  His  parents  were 
married  in  Virginia,  and  soon  after  re- 
moved to  Madison  county,  Ohio,  where 
Aaron  was  born.  In  the  spring  of  1821, 
his  father  died,  and  the  family,  after 
several  changes,  settled  in  Washington 
county,  Indiana,  where  our  subject  re- 
sided until  he  reached  his  majority,  re- 
ceiving his  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county.  In  1842,  he  re- 
moved to  Canton,  Fulton  county, Illinois; 
remained  there  until  1849,  when  he  lo- 
cated at  Linn  Grove,  Walnut  Grove 
township,  and  has  resided  there  since 
that.  In  1852,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Lucia  Johnson,  the  fruits  of  union  being 
a  family  of  five  children,  viz — Hulda 
A.,  married  James  P.  Arundel,  and  re- 


sides in  Warren  county;  Louisa  M., 
married  Porter  Hall,  and  resides  in 
Walnut  Grove  township;  Demosthenes, 
died  while  in  Wisconsin;  Emily  E., 
married  Jacob  Kline,  resides  in  Bush- 
nell  township;  Lucinda  C.,  died  August 
19,  1873;  Aaron,  died  September  16, 
1862.  Mrs.  Snodgrass  died  April  4, 
1881.  Mr.  Snodgrass  owns  183  acres 
of  fine  land,  which  he  has  brought  to  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  devotes 
much  time  to  stock-raising,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Mutual  Benefit  society, 
of  Buslmell.  Mr.  Snodgrass  has  wit- 
nessed many  changes  since  his  residence 
in  Illinois.  Changes  and  improvements, 
from  the  semi-wild  to  the  present,  to 
which  he  has  contributed  his  share,  be- 
ing always  found  foremost  in  every 
good  work.  Mr.  Snodgrass  is  a  man  of 
artistic  taste,  which  he  is  displaying  in 
the  laying  out  and  beautifying  of  his 
grounds.  On  one  part  of  his  property 
he  is  engaged  in  bringing  into  a  state  of 
beauty,  three  semi-artificial  lakes. 
These  are  fed  by  a  splendid  spring, 
which  has  an  immense  flow,  furnishing 
an  ever-pure  supply  of  water.  To  an 
already  naturally  beautiful  locality,  he 
has  added  the  enchantments  of  art;  the 
plow,  the  wagon,  and  the  shovel  have  all 
helped  in  removing  the  surplus  earth 
from  the  lakes,  and  filling  it  in  at  places 
where  it  was  needed,  according  to  his 
plan.  Beautiful  rows  of  evergreens 
adorn  parts  of  the  surrounding  eleva- 
tions, and  more  are  being  planted.  Al- 
ready many  trees  abound  to  furnish 
shade  for  pleasure  parties  seeking  en- 
joyment at  the  lakes.  When  Mr.  Snod- 
grass completes  the  work  he  has  under- 
taken in  the  improvement  of  his  grounds, 


1028 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


he  will  have  one  of  the  finest  pleasure- 
resorts  in  a  large  area  of  country,  He 
will  probably  stock  the  lakes  with  fish, 
and  the  place  will  no  doubt  be  one  of 
profit  to  him  in  the  future.  There  are 
three  lakes,  separated  by  walks  running 
between  them.  Mr.  Snodgrass  has 
erected  a  park  house  of  tasty  design  near 
the  lakes,  and  will  have  all  needed  facil- 
ities for  pleasure,  with  settees,  boats, 
etc.  He  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
pains  he  has  taken  in  the  direction  of 
improvements.  People  of  McDonough 
county  will  now  have  another  fine  place 
for  picnics  and  gatherings. 

Abraham  Arthur  was  born  in  Hunt- 
ingdon, county,  Pennsylvania,  on  No- 
vember 22,  1824.  His  parents  were 
Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Zimmerman) 
Arthur,  both  natives  of  the  Keystone 
state.  Our  subject,  in  1844,  left  the 
parental  roof,  and  joined  his  fortunes 
with  the  hardy  adventurers,  who  were 
peopling  the  west.  He  located  at  Rush- 
ville,  Schuyler  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1845,  when  he  removed  to 
Beardstown.  After  several  changes,  in 
1856,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  section  26, 
Walnut  Grove  township.  Previous  to 
this  removal,  in  1846,  he  was  married  to 
Margaret  Ann  Hageman,  who  was  a  na- 
tive of  Wayne  county,  Ohio.  Six  chil- 
dren were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur, 
viz — Joseph,  died  May  18,  1865;  Jesse, 
married  Harriet  Atkinson,  and  resides 
in  Whiting,  Kansas;  Franklin,  married 
November,  1877,  to  Lucinda  Vertrees, 
died  August  4,  1879,  his  wife  having 
died  May  4,  previous;  Mary  J.,  married 
Jacob  Angle,  and  resides  at  Whiting, 
Kansas;  Catherine  Frances,  married 
Fillmore  Mummert,  resides  on  Mr.  Ar- 


thur's farm,  and  Margaret  Jeanette,  who 
married  William  Thompson,  and  resides 
near  Rushville,  Illinois.  Mr.  Arthur 
enlisted  in  February,  1865,  in  company 
C,  151st  Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  and 
served  in  Georgia  until  February,  1866, 
when  they  were  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field, Illinois.  Mr.  Arthur  served  as 
first  corporal  of  the  company,  and  was 
mustered  out  as  such.  Our  subject 
owns  191  acres  of  land,  140  of  which  are 
under  cultivation.  He  is  also  a  success- 
ful stock  raiser,  devoting  his  attention 
chiefly  to  horses,  cattle,  and  hogs.  He 
has  held  the  office  of  school  director, 
and  is  a  member  of  the  Anti-Horse- 
Thief  association. 

Jesse  D.  Hageman  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Ohio,  February  5,  1839,  being  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Susan  (Lickey)  Hage- 
man. When  he  was  but  nine  months  of 
age  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  that  portion  of  what  was  then 
Morgan  county,  but  now  known  as  Cass, 
where  he  was  reared  and  received  his 
schooling.  In  1861,  he  came  to  this 
county,  locating  on  land  which  his  father 
had  purchased  in  1858.  This  land  was  the 
east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 23,  upon  which  he  has  resided  ever 
since,  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
spent  in  Warren  county.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  that  county,  September  4,  1862, 
to  Sitha  J.  Fruit,  widow  of  Alexander  D. 
Fruit,  and  a  daughter  of  Bennett  and 
Joyce  (Dunbar)  Thurman.  They  loca- 
ted in  Prairie  City  township  in  1854,  and 
afterward  removed  to  Cherokee  county, 
Kansas,  where  her  father  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1869.  Her  mother  still  resides  there 
with  her  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth  Mc- 
Clure.  Mrs.  Hageman  was  the  second 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1029 


in  order  of  age  of  a  family  of  11  children, 
being  born  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky, 
February  13, 1841.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hage- 
man  are  the  parents  of  five  children — 
Emma  A.,  Carrie  C.,  Edward  F.,  Mar- 
tha A.,  deceased,  and  Oliver  N.  Mr. 
Hageman  has  156  acres  of  land,  80  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has  been 
assessor  one  year,  justice  of  the  peace 
four  years,  school  director  of  district  No. 
6,  three  years,  and  is  a  life  member  of 
the  state  liberal  league.  It  is  considered 
that  he  has  the  finest  library  in  the  town- 
ship. It  comprises  about  200  volumes 
of  standard  works  and  fiction  and  he  has 
spent  nearly  30  years  in  the  collection  of 
the  same.  Mr.  Hageman  was  the  eldest 
in  a  family  of  eight  children.  His  father 
died  in  Cass  county,  this  state,  in  Aug- 
ust, 1874.  His  mother  also  died  there 
in  September,  1883.  They  were  resi- 
dents of  that  county  from  1839  until  the 
time  of  their  death. 

Albert  H.  Pittinger  was  born  in  Brook 
county,  Virginia,  March  25, 1830.  When 
he  was  seven  years  of  age  the  family  re- 
moved to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  remained  two  years.  From  this 
point  they  removed  to  Schuyler  county, 
where  the  parents  resided  until  their 
death — the  father  dying  in  1868,  and 
the  mother  in  1865.  His  father  and 
mother  were  the  parents  of  10  children, 
of  whom  Albert  H.  was  the  sixth  in  or- 
der. He  removed  to  McDonough  county 
in  1874,  and  located  on  his  present  farm, 
on  section  13,  Walnut  Grove  township. 
He  was  married  in  Rushville,  March  6, 
1856,  to  Eugenia  P.  Sandidge,  whose 
parents  were  among  the  first  settlers  of 
the  county,  and  figured  in  its  early  his- 
tory. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pittinger  are  the 


parents  of  four  children — Daniel  H., 
Eugene  Boss,  Charles  and  Clarence  A. 
Mr.  Pittinger  owns  236  acres  of  fine  land, 
all  under  cultivation,  and  devotes  consid- 
erable time  to  stock  raising.  In  the 
summer  of  1884,  he  built  his  present  fine 
residence,  which  is  not  surpassed  in  the 
township.  It  is  a  frame,  two  stories  in 
height,  with  basement,  cemented  and 
tiled.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Anti-Horse  Thief  association. 

John  Henry  Snapp,  now  deceased,  was 
born  in  East  Tennessee,  in  1809.  He 
was  reared  in  Tennessee,  and  in  1834 
left  that  state  and  came  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located  in  Macomb  township, 
about  two  miles  north  of  Bardolph.  He 
was  married  in  East  Tennessee  to  Mary 
Ann  Kepple,  a  native  of  that  state.  They 
were  the  parents  of  nine  children — Mar- 
garet, who  married  John  Gibbs,  died  in 
this  county;  Elizabeth,  married  Darius 
Jones,resides  one  mile  northeast  of  Bush- 
nell ;  Alexander,  the  subject  of  the  fol- 
lowing sketch;  William,  enlisted  in  the 
55th  Illinois  infantry,  and  while  serving 
under  Grant,  at  Yicksburg,  took  sick 
and  died,  just  after  the  city  was  taken; 
John,  living  in  Mercer  county,  Missouri ; 
Mary,  married  John  Gibbs,  resides  three 
miles  south  of  Bushnell;  Lucy,  married 
William  Rhodes,  resides  in  Mercer 
county,  Missouri;  two  others  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snapp  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  Mrs.  Snapp  died  in 
this  county  in  1848,  and  Mr.  Snapp  re- 
moved to  Missouri  in  1854.  He  died  in 
that  state,  in  Mercer  county,  in  1872. 

Alexander  Snapp,  son  of  John  Henry, 
was  born  in  East  Tennessee,  on  the  26th 
day  of  January,  1834.  Late  in  the  same 
year  his  parents  removed  from  Tennes- 


1030 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


see  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Macomb  township.  Our  sub- 
ject was  reared  in  this  county,  and  has 
spent  his  life  within  its  limits,  with  the 
exception  of  three  years  spent  in  Mercer 
county,  Missouri,  making  a  residence  in 
McDonough  county  of  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury. In  1864,  he  returned  from  Mis- 
souri, and  located  on  section  21,  Walnut 
Grove  township,  where  he  has  continued 
to  reside  ever  since.  He  was  married 
in  this  county,  January  1,  1856,  to  Bar- 
bara Arthur,  a  native  of  Blair  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Zimmerman)  Arthur. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snapp  are  the  parents  of 
nine  children — James  Nelson,  died  in 
infancy;  John  Henry;  Elizabeth,  died, 
aged  five  years,  in  September,  1866; 
Clara,  died  in  May,  1866,  in  infancy; 
Mary  Ann,  married  to  Moses  Gallahue, 
residing  in  Sciota  township;  Marion, 
Nora  May,  Clara  Ellen,  and  Franklin. 
Mr.  Snapp  has  282  acres  of  land,  all  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  pays 
particular  attention  to  stock  raising,  mak- 
ing that  his  business.  He  raises  mostly 
cattle  and  hogs,  of  good  quality. 

J.  B.  Pearce  was  born  in  Blount  county, 
Tennessee,  November  3,  1808.  His  pa- 
rents were  David  and  Sarah  (Bartlett) 
Pearce.  His  father  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  mother  in  Maryland  In 
1811,  his  parents  removed  to  Madison 
county,  Illinois,  but  returned  to  East 
Tennessee  during  the  same  year.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  reared  in 
Tennessee  until  the  winter  of  1829-30, 
which  he  spent  in  Madison  county,  this 
state,  and  in  the  spring  of  1830,  re- 
moved to  Morgan  county,  in  that  part 
now  known  as  Cass  county,  where  he 


resided  until  the  spring  of  1850.  At 
that  time  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  located  wrhere  he  now  resides,  on 
the  northwest  quarter  of  section  26, 
which  he  purchased  of  Hugh  Ervin, 
now  a  resident  of  the  city  of  Macomb. 
He  completed  the  residence  he  now  oc- 
cupies, in  the  fall  of  1868.  It  is  con- 
structed of  brick,  28x36  feet  in  ground 
area,  two  stories  and  a  basement  in 
height,  and  was  the  first  brick  house 
erected  in  the  township.  The  brick 
were  burned  on  the  place  and  are  of 
good  quality.  Mr.  Pearce  was  married 
in  Cass  county,  August  14,  1831,  to  Ann 
Clark,  a  daughter  of  William  M.  and 
Margaret  Clark.  Her  death  occurred 
February  21,  1884.  They  were  the  pa- 
rents of  12  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living — Emeline,  wife  of  Robert  Dun- 
can, and  died  in  Arkansas;  Ellen,  Vic- 
toria, wife  of  Jarrett  Orrohood,  living 
in  Madison  county,  Iowa;  Jackson,  died 
at  the  age  of  14  months;  Hester  A., 
wife  of  James  McGee,  and  died  in  this 
county;  Sarah  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
Cline,  and  resides  at  Macomb;  Lucinda 
J.,  wife  of  John  Dixon,  and  resides  in 
Greene  county,  Missouri;  George  C., 
married  Addie  Ingalls,  and  resides  at 
Oskaloosa,  Iowa;  Florence;  David  F., 
married  Lizzie  Amos,  and  lives  near 
Macomb;  Lula  Frances,  died  in  this 
county,  and  Esther  Isabel.  Mr.  Pearce 
has  320  acres  of  land,  two-thirds  of 
which  is  under  cultivation.  He  has 
been  assessor  of  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship. His  mother  died  in  McMinn 
county,  Tennessee,  in  1858,  at  the  age  of 
75  years,  and  his  father's  death  occurred 
in  the  same  county,  March  4,  1885,  at 
the  advanced  age  of  102  years. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1031 


Jacob  Baumann,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  Ger- 
many, February  1,  1832.  In  1854,  Mr. 
Baumann  bade  adieu  to  the  fatherland, 
and  kindred,  and  departed  to  try  his  for- 
tunes in  America.  He  landed  in  New 
York,  and  after  remaining  in  that  state 
two  years,  concluded  to  go  further  west. 
He  finally  located  in  Walnut  Grove 
township,  where  he  now  owns  a  fine 
farm,  comprising  404  acres,  nearly  all 
of  which  is  cultivated,  April  6,  1858, 
he  was  married  to  Catharine  Schumann. 
By  this  marriage  10  children  were  born 
— Mary,  John,  Anna,  George,  Christina, 
Jacob,  Joseph,  Christian,  Frederick,  and 
Samuel  Tilden.  Mr.  Baumann  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and 
is  an  earnest  supporter  of  its  doctrines. 

William  Wiley  Young  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
March'  26,  1810,  and  is  the  son  of  Jesse 
and  Margaret  (Wiley)  Young.  When 
William  was  three  years  of  age,  the 
family  removed  to  what  was  then  the 
backwoods,  Brown  county,  Ohio,  about 
45  miles  from  Cincinnati.  Here  our 
subject  resided  until  he  had  reached  his 
eighteenth  year,  when  the  family  re- 
moved to  Johnson  county,  Indiana,  and 
here  he  lost  his  mother  by  death,  in  1840. 
In  October,  1840,  Mr.  Young  decided  to 
locate  in  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
on  section  2,  Walnut  Grove  township, 
where  he  has  continued  to  reside  until 
the  present  time.  His  father  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  and  was  a  near  relative  of 
Commodore  Barney,  and  was  a  strong 
adherent  of  the  American  institutions, 
and  although  his  country  turned  against 
the  United  States,  he  fought  for  this 
country  in  and  during  the  Revolution- 


ary war.  When  he  landed  in  Illinois, 
his  fortunes  were  at  a  low  ebb,  he  only 
having  $12  and  one  cut  ninepence.  Al- 
though poor  in  purse,  he  was  rich  in  en-, 
ergy,  and  now  owns  210  acres  of  fine 
farming  land.  Previous  to  coming  to 
Illinois,  he  had  married  in  Indiana,  to 
Nancy  K.  Hoback,  a  native  of  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky.  His  wife  died  June 
25,  1854,  having  borne  him  seven  chil- 
dren— Milton,  who  married  Etta  Dan- 
iels; Jesse,  deceased;  Sarah  A.,  who 
married  John  Buckstone.  She  and  her 
husband  resided  in  Prairie  City,  where 
Buckstone  still  resides ;  her  only  daugh- 
ter teaches  in  the  high  school;  William 
K.,  married  Margaret  Thurman,  resides 
at  Mankato,  Minnesota;  Martha  J.,  mar- 
ried Hamilton  Cable,  and  resides  in  Page 
county,  Irwa;  Elizabeth,  who  died  Aug- 
ust 5,  1853,  and  John  C.,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Cole,  and  resides  in  Fremont 
county,  Iowa.  Jan.  30, 1855,  Mr.  Young 
was  married  to  Margaret  Campbell,  who 
died  July  21,  1869,  having  borne  five 
children — Mary  A.,  Nelson  Wiley,  Mar- 
garet E.,  James  G.  and  David  H.  The 
fruits  of  his  marriage  with  his  first  and 
second  wives,  was  13  children,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  second  wife,  Wm. 
W.  Young  married  Mrs.  Nancy  Cole, 
widow  of  John  Cole,  deceased.  This 
last  marriage  was  the  22d  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1870.  The  present  Mrs.  Young  was 
the  mother  of  10  children,  as  the  fruits 
of  her  marriage  with  her  former  hus- 
band. She  resides  with  her  husband, 
William  W.  Young,  on  the  farm  where 
her  husband  settled,  in  the  year  1840, 
which  was  then  unsettled,  except  by  Quin- 
tus  Walker,  an  old,  respected  citizen. 
Mr.  Young  never  cared  to  hold  office,  for 


1032 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


he  could  find  more  profitable  and  con- 
genial employment  in  looking  after  his 
farm.  He  has  always  taken  a  great  in- 
terest in  church  and  Sunday  school  mat- 
ters, and  has  acted  as  class-leader  and 
superintendent.  He  aided  in  organizing 
the  Mound  church,  and  gave  consider- 
able money  to  the  building  f  und.  In 
the  early  days  of  the  settlement,  he  has 
hauled  grain  to  Oquawka  and  Warsaw, 
and  after  traveling  this  distance,  has 
sold  oats  for  15  cents  per  bushel.  Josiah 
T.  Young,  secretary  of  state,  of  Iowa,  is 
a  nephew  of  Mr.  Young,  and  served  with 
distinction  as  a  soldier  during  the  rebel- 
lion. The  parents  of  the  present  Mrs. 
Young  were  of  Scotch  descent.  The 
father  lived  to  be  102  years  old,  and  the 
mother  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  87. 
Her  grandfather  on  her  mothers  side 
was  Col.  Stubblefield,  one  of  the  heroes 
of  the  Revolution,  and  Mrs.  Young's 
father  died  at  an  advanced  age,  in  Cham- 
paign county,  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  where 
he  had  resided  for  more  than  60  years. 

Jacob  Detrick  the  son  of  John  and 
Juda  Detrick,  and  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Rockingham  county 
Virginia,  August  24,  1827,  and  resided 
in  that  county  and  state  until  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  27.  Leaving  Virginia 
he  settled  in  Indian  Point  township,  near 
Abingdon,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming.  In  March,  1866, 
he  removed  to  McDonough  county,  locat- 
ing on  a  fine  farm.  Mr.  Detrick  was 
married  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia, 
to  Rebecca  Swecker,  October  18,  1849. 
They  are  the  parents  of  11  children — 
Mary  Catherine,  married  James  H.  Her- 
ring, and  resides  in  Bushnell  township ; 
Elizabeth  Abigail,  John  Benjamin,  Lucy 


Jane  Bell,  and  Jacob  Daniel  Sebastian, 
deceased.  Lydia  Frances  Jida,  married 
John  D.  Herring,  and  resides  in  Walnut 
Grove  township;  Josephine  E.  married 
Thomas  Herring,  and  resides  in  Macomb 
township;  William  A.  D.  married  Sarah 
E.  Rutledge,and  resides  in  Walnut  Grove 
township;  Emma  Ann  Florence  married 
James  A.  Rinker,and  resides  in  Macomb 
township;  Herring  J.  and  Sarah  E.  are 
single  yet.  Mr.  Detrick  owns  200  acres 
of  land  which  he  has  acquired  by  indus- 
try and  business  like  qualities.  He  is  a 
successful  stockman.  In  the  years  of 
1874,  5,  6  and  7,  he  held  the  office  of  as- 
sessor, and  has  served  two  years  as  trus- 
tee of  schools,  and  has  been  a  director 
for  13  consecutive  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Detrick  are  members  of  the  Spring  Run 
German  Baptist  church,  were  among  its 
first  members,  and  he  now  serves  as  a 
deacon,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church. 

D.  W.  Lantz  was  born  in  Sussex  county, 
New  Jersey,  October  10, 1816.  Mr.  Lantz 
comes  of  patriotic  stock,  his  grandfather 
having  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
enduring  all  the  trials  and  hardships  of 
that  period,  which  tried  men's  souls. 
Our  subject  remained  a  resident  of  New 
Jersey  until  1846,  when  finding  small 
chance  for  preferment  in  his  native  state, 
he  resolved  to  join  the  tide  of  emigration 
which  was  setting  in  for  the  west.  In 
June,  1846,  he  located  on  a  farm  in  Ful- 
ton county,  and  remained  there  12  years 
and  removed  to  a  farm  located  on  section 
22,  Walnut  Grove  township,  McDonough 
county,  where  he  still  resides.  In  1860, 
Mr.  Lantz  was  joined  by  his  parents, 
who  made  their  home  with  him  until 
their  death.  Mr.  Lantz  was  married 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1033 


January  1,  1842,  to  Malinda  Herninover, 
prior  to  his  departure  for  the  west.  To 
them,  eight  children  have  been  born— 
Delphine,  married  Edwin  Dewey,  resid- 
ing in  Farmer  City,  Illinois;  Margaret, 
married  Emanuel  Hageman,  residing 
near  Leaven  worth,  Kansas ;  Watson,mar- 
ried  Lina  Buck,  residing  in  Walnut 
Grove;  Mary,  married  William  Lofton, 
residing  in  Hancock  county;  Martha, 
married  Alvin  Berber,  residing  in  Kan- 
sas, Thomas  county;  Selma  and  David 
Edgar.  A  son,  Albert,  born  in  1847,  died 
when  an  infant.  Mr.  Lantz  owns  185 
acres  of  fine  land,  all  of  which  is  under 
cultivation,  and  pays  some  attention  to 
stock  raising. 

Elisha  Fargusson  was  born  in  Adair 
county,  Kentucky.  January  29, 1814,  and 
is  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Nancy  Fargus- 
son. There  Elisha  was  reared  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  19  years,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  locating  in  Morgan 
county,  where  he  farmed  for  two  years, 
being  a  resident  of  that  county  during 
the  winter  of  the  deep  snow.  On  many 
occasions  during  that  bitter  and  dreary 
winter,  he  plowed  his  way  through  three 
feet  of  snow  to  gather  the  topmost  ears 
from  the  corn  field  for  food.  In  the  fall 
of  1832,  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
settling  at  Wolf  Grove,  in  Macomb 
township.  At  that  time  there  were  but 
three  cabins  in  the  settlement.  He  re- 
sided here  until  1843,  when  he  removed 
to  Galena,  where  he  engaged  in  mining 
lead  for  seven  years.  He  then  went  to 
California,  where  he  continued  to  en- 
gage in  mining  some  nine  years,  when 
he  returned  to  McDonough  county.  He 
took  up  his  residence  in  Macomb  town- 
ship once  more,  where  he  resided  until 


his  present  house  was  erected,  just 
across  the  line  into  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship. Mr.  Fargusson  was  married  in 
McDonough  county,  April  11,  1861,  to 
Isabel  Duncan,  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Catherine  Duncan,  who  came  from 
the  state  of  Kentucky  to  this  county  in 
1842.  Her  father  died  in  1860,  but  her 
mother  is  still  living,  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  daughter,  Isabel.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fargusson  are  the  parents 
of  six  children — William,  Walter,  Mary, 
Bertha,  Arthur  and  Ernest.  Mr.  Far- 
gusson has  over  500  acres  of  land,  all 
under  cultivation,  and  part  of  which  is 
underlaid  with  tiling.  His  present  res- 
idence was  erected  in  1876  and  '77,  and  is 
16x32  feet  in  size,  two  stories  high,  with 
a  basement  and  L,  the  latter  of  which  is 
16x18  feet. 

John  Allison,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Scot- 
land township,  McDonough  county,  and 
is  the  son  of  John  and  Maria  (Provine) 
Allison.  Our  subject  resided  in  Scot- 
land township,  where  he  received  the 
rudiments  of  an  education,  and  attended 
two  terms  of  the  Normal  school,  at  Ma- 
comb. He  was  married  November  10, 
1874,  to  Anna  M.  Munson,  and  located 
on  a  farm  in  section  32,  Walnut  Grove 
township,  where  he  remained  until  1883, 
when  he  removed  to  another  farm,  which 
he  had  purchased  in  the  same  township, 
and  where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Allison  were  the  parents  of  two 
children — Bertha  Eudora,  and  Mabel 
Maria,  who  died  January  29, 1885.  Mr. 
Allison  owns  273  acres  of  fine  land,  all 
of  which,  save  20  acres,  is  cultivated. 
He  also  devotes  considerable  time  and 
attention  to  stock-raising.  He  is  a 
member  of  Good  Hope  lodge,  A.  O.  U. 


1084 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


W.,  has  been  overseer  two  terms,  and 
now  serves  the  brethren  as  guide.  His 
parents  are  living,  and  are  residents  of 
Scotland  township. 

Frederick  Cruser,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  Jan- 
uary 23,  1820.  He  was  the  son  of  Ma- 
thias  VanDyke  and  Sarah  Ann  (Ten- 
broek)  Cruser.  His  father  died  in  Mid- 
dlesex, New  Jersey,  February  15,  1885. 
aged  97  years.  His  mother  is  still  liv- 
ing. The  early  life  of  our  subject  was 
passed  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  was 
educated,  being  for  some  years  a  stu- 
dent of  Princeton  college.  Mr.  Cruser 
was  a  relative  of  the  VanDykes,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  best  families  of  New 
Jersey,  and  whose  history  dates  back  to 
colonial  days.  In  1848,  our  subject 
removed  to  Illinois,  and  located  at  Fair- 
view,  Fulton  county,  where  he  taught 
school  and  worked  on  a  farm.  He  re- 
sided at  Fairview  for  eight  years,  when 
he  removed  to  McDonough  county,  and 
settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  was 
living  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
married  February  13,  1841,  by  the  Rev. 
Jacob  Spears,  in  Somerset,  New  Jersey, 
to  his  wife,  who  is  now  his  widow.  The 
fruit  of  this  union  was  nine  children — 
Helen  Ann,  Nicholas,  Frederick,  and 
Edward  L.,  deceased;  the  surviving 
children  are — DeWitt  Tenbroek,  who 
married  Margaret  Campbell,  of  Ma- 
comb,  they  reside  in  Maconjb,  and 
Mr.  Cruser  is  a  mail  agent  on  the  C.  B. 
&  Q. ;  Mathias  VanDyke,  who  married 
Martha  Lemon,  and  resides  in  Sciota 
township;  Caroline,  married  Rev.  T.  H. 
Heiich,  who  is  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Connersville,  Indiana; 
Margaret  V.,  married  James  A.  Coch- 


ran,  and  resides  with  Mrs.  Cruser.  Mr. 
Cochran  is  school  treasurer  of  Walnut 
Grove  township,  and  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge.  Of  his 
three  children,  two,  Carrie  Marjorie  and 
Blanche,  died  in  infancy,  leaving  one 
son,  Edward  Cruser,  to  gladden  their 
home.  Josephine,  another  daughter, 
married  Henry  H.  Smith,  and  with  her 
husband  resides  at  Macomb,  where  Mr. 
Smith  is  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits. 
Mr.  Cruser,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  in 
1872,  owned  considerable  property, 
which,  with  the  exception  of  160  acres 
deeded  to  his  wife,  was  divided  among 
the  children.  During  his  life  time  he 
held  many  offices  of  trust,  having  at 
various  times  been  elected  collector, 
clerk,  treasurer,  assessor  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  Mrs.  Cruser's  maiden  name 
was  Margaret  Robinson.  Her  father 
died  in  1846,  and  her  mother  in  1843. 
She  has  seen  many  sorrows,  but  now 
surrounded  by  children  and  grandchild- 
ren, on  the  farm  where  she  lived  with 
her  husband,  hopes  to  spend  the  remain- 
der of  her  days  in  peace. 

Alexander  Crane  was  born  at  Eliza- 
bethtown,  New  Jersey,  April  5,  1809. 
Alexander  remained  with  his  parents  at 
Elizabethtown  until  he  had  reached  his 
23d  year,  enjoying  meanwhile  the  best 
educational  facilities  of  the  town.  He 
then  decided  to  go  west  for  a  short  time. 
He  resided  with  a  sister  in  Missouri 
until  the  family  settled  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  farm  where  he 
died,  and  where  his  family  now  reside. 
He  was  married,  in  Peoria  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  20,  1846,  to  Eebecca  A. 
Hand,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crane  were  the  parents  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1035 


eight  children — Margaret  E.,  married 
F.  M.  Park,  and  resides  in  Warren 
county;  Alvah,  resides  on  the  home 
farm;  Henry,  married  Mary  E.  Corey; 
Win.  Asa,  married  Etta  Harris,  lives 
near  Ashland,  Saunders  county,  Ne- 
braska; Fred  Oliver,  MaryH.  and  Maria 
A.  Mr.  Crane  died,  April  25,  1875,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Sorghum  Grove  ceme- 
tery. He  had  filled  several  offices  of 
trust,  and  had  been  township  trustee 
and  school  director.  He  left,  at  his 
death,  a  farm  of  320  acres  of  fine  land, 
well  improved  and  valuable.  Of  this, 
Mrs.  Crane  received  80  acres  as  a  home, 
and  the  remainder  was  divided  among 
the  children.  In  1816,  Mr.  C's  widowed 
mother  came  west  to  make  her  home  with 
her  son.  She  died  in  October,  1864. 

Thomas  B.  Stites,  a  resident  of  section 
30,  came  to  the  township  and  county  in 
1880.  He  was  born  in  Brown  county, 
Illinois,  January  8,  1856,  his  parents  be- 
ing Jonathan  J.,and  Elizabeth  (Barton) 
Stites.  His  father  was  an  early  settler 
of  that  county,  where  he  died  in  1867. 
His  mother  also  died  there  in  1865. 
Thomas  B.  was  the  third,  in  order  of  age, 
in  a  family  of  three  children  and  is  also 
the  only  surviving  member,  the  two  elder 
children  being  deceased.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Brown  county,  September  20, 
1877,  to  Mary  L.,  a  daughter  of  Y.  C. 
and  Catherine  Vincent.  Four  children 
have  been  born  to  them — Lena,  Harold, 
Ethel  and  Lela.  Mr.  Stites  is  the  owner 
of  a  fine  farm,  of  60  acres,  which  he 
purchased  of  John  Austin,  at  the  time 
he  came  to  the  county.  The  farm  is  all 
under  cultivation,  nicely  fenced  and  im- 
proved, upon  which  stands  a  fine,  large 
two-story  residence. 


James  Hudson  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Illinois,  January  16,  1839.  He 
was  married  October  8,  1863,  to  Louisa 
M.  Green,  and  in  the  spring  of  1868,  lo- 
cated on  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
10,  Walnut  Grove  township.  The  result 
of  this  union  was  four  children — Zalmon 
E.,  Eva  M.,  Mary  Lucretia,  and  Eosie  M. 
When  Mr.  Hudson  located  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  he  had  $1,000  which  he 
gave  in  part  payment  for  80  acres  of 
land.  Since  then  he  has  by  industry 
and  the  exercise  of  good  business  quali- 
fications, added  largely  to  his  original 
possessions.  He  devotes  much  time  and 
attention  to  stock  raising,  in  which  he 
has  been  very  successful.  For  many 
.years  he  has  served  the  public  as  school 
director,  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  ed- 
ucational matters.  He  is  the  clerk  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  school  dis- 
trict and  commissioner  of  highways,  in 
which  office  he  gives  general  satisfac- 
tion. 

Daniel  Keister,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Berks  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  16, 
1820,  and  was  the  son  of  Conrad  and 
Catherine  Keister.  While  Daniel  was  a 
child  his  parents  removed  to  Stark 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  until 
their  death,  the  mother  dying  in  1866, 
and  the  father  in  1869.  In  1856,  our 
subject  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
McDonough  county,  on  the  farm  where 
his  family  now  reside.  Mr.  Keister  was 
married  in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 21,  1846,  to  Helena  Huber,  who  was 
a  native  of  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keister  were  the  parents 
of  five  children — Catherine,  Jonathan, 
Samuel,  Jacob  and  Lucy.  Mr.  Keister 
died  in  March,  1875,  leaving  his  widow 


1036 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


160  acres  of  land,  on  which  she  now  re- 
sides. Samuel  was  born  in  McDonough 
county,  1852,  and  December,  1875,  was 
married  to  Isabel  Patekin.  They  were 
the  parents  of  two  children — Nellie  and 
Jacob.  Mrs.  Samuel  Keister  died  Au- 
gust 10,  1880. 

William  Wesley  Shoop  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Maryland,  February 
14,  1835,  his  parents  being  Henry  and 
Rebecca  (Casey)  Shoop.  He  remained 
iu  Maryland  until  he  had  reached 
his  20th  year,  when  he  decided 
to  join  the  throng  moving  westward. 
Before  starting  on  the  western  trip 
he  visited  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the 
29th  day  of  March,  1855,  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Susan  Wishard,  a  na- 
tive of  Welsh  Run,  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  located,  soon  after 
his  marriage,  in  Canton,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  some 
years,  working  during  the  summer  in  a 
brickyard,  and  in  a  packing  house  dur- 
ing the  winter.  In  the  fall  of  1856,  he 
left  Canton  and  located  on  a  farm  in 
Fulton  county.  He  remained  there  10 
years,  after  which  he  went  to  Walnut 
Grove  and  settled  on  the  farm  which  he 
now  owns.  He  engaged  for  a  time  in 
outside  pursuits,  and  returned  to  the 
farm  in  1885.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoop  are 
the  parents  of  eight  living  children — 
Florence,  married  John  B.  Griggs,  of 
Warren  county;  Lydia  Ann,  married 
to  George  W.  Taylor,  of  Walnut  Grove 
township;  William  Henry,  Emma  Cath- 
erine, Alva,  Frederick,  George  Edward 
and  Maggie.  The  children,  Mary  Lizzie 
and  John  Wesley  are  now  dead.  When 
Mr.  Shoop  located  in  this  county  he 
bought  89  acres  of  land.  He  has  added 


thereto  until  he  now  owns  380  acres,  all 
under  cultivation.  He  is  a  lover  of  fine 
horses,  and  owns  two  fine  ones — one  an 
imported  Clyde  and  one  a  French 
and  Morgan.  He  also  grades  to  short- 
horn cattle.  Mr.  Shoop  is  a  member  of 
Golden  Gate  lodge,  No.  248,  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.,  and  now  holds  the  office  of  senior 
warden ;  he  is  also  past  master.  He  has 
served  as  collector  of  Walnut  Grove 
township. 

James  A.  Brown  was  born  in  Arm- 
strong county,  Pennsylvania,  January  1, 
1828,  and  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Marshall)  Brown.  The  early  years  of 
our  subject  were  passed  in  Armstrong 
and  Westmoreland  counties.  He  re- 
ceived the  rudiments  of  an  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  until  1858,  when  he 
removed  to  Missouri.  In  1861,  he  de- 
cided to  locate  in  Illinois,  and  selected 
Walnut  Grove  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased a  farm,  as  his  future  home.  He 
was  married  in  1855,in  Armstrong  county, 
Pennsylvania,  to  Ellen  Spence,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Catherine  Spence,  and  13 
children  have  blessed  their  union  — James 
A.,  married  Emma  Moore,  resides  in 
Rossville;  John  Allison,  resides  in  Good 
Hope  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  tile 
business;  Frank  L.,  married  Addie  Clark 
and  he  is  a  merchant  in  Good  Hope. 
The  remaining  children  are — William 
L.,Nettie,  Thomas  S.,  Alice,  Nellie,  Edna, 
Carrie,  Addie,  and  Velasco  C.  One  son 
Elmer  Ellsworth,  died  in  1867,  aged 
three  years.  Mr.  Brown  owns  380  acres 
of  land  and  is  a  fine  type  of  the  success- 
ful farmer.  He  has  devoted  considera- 
ble time  to  stock  raising  and  is  a  good 
judge  of  the  better  breeds  of  cattle  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COT]  NT Y. 


1037 


hogs.  He  lias  always  taken  a  great  in- 
terest in  educational  matters  and  for 
many  years  has  served  as  school  direc- 
tor. He  has  also  been  elected  road  com- 
missioner several  terms.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  and 
A.  O.  U.  W.  orders.  He  has  served  the 
Odd  Fellows  as  guide,  chaplain  and  in- 
side guard,  and  is  now  recording  secre- 
tary for  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  The  family 
are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
at  Good  Hope. 

John  A.  Carlin,  a  prominent  man  of 
Walnut  Grove  township,  was  born  May 
3, 1844,  near  Table  Grove,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  His  parents,  Stephen  and 
Sophia  (Dolan)  Carlin,  are  natives  of 
Ireland,  but  came  to  this  country  at  a 
very  early  age.  Mr.  Carlin,  after  receiv- 
ing a  preliminary  education,  entered 
Lombard  university,  at  Galesburg,  but 
before  he  had  completed  the  course,  his 
health  failed,  and  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  school.  September  2, 1872,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Rosa  R.  Sapple, 
daughter  of  Robert  T.  and  Louisa  Sap- 
pie,  at  St.  Augustine,  Knox  county,  Illi- 
nois. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carlin  are  the  par- 
ents of  two  lovely  children — Albert  Jus- 
tin and  Adrian  Francis.  In  the  year 
1872,  Mr.  Carlin  moved  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located  on  section  29,  where 
he  owns  and  cultivates  a  splendid  farm 
of  160  acres.  In  politics  he  is  a  demo- 
crat, and  has  taken  a  great  interest  in 
the  fortunes  of  his  party,  being  regarded 
as  a  safe  and  shrewd  leader,  one  whose 
counsels  are  always  safe,  and  generally 
attended  by  success.  It  is  claimed  by 
many  that  to  Mr.  Carlin's  influence  is 
largely  due  what  success  has  attended 
the  democratic  party,  not  only  in  Walnut 


Grove  township,  but  also  in  the  entire 
county.  He  has  represented  his  party 
in  the  board  of  supervisors  with  distin- 
guished ability,  and  will  doubtless  reach 
a  higher  mark  in  the  political  world. 

James  Booth,  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  in  1828,  came  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  located  as  a  weaver  and  built 
up  a  large  business,  which  went  down 
in  the  financial  crash  which  followed 
the  suspension  of  the  U.  S.  bank,  in 
1837.  In  1846,  he  removed  to  Macomb, 
Illinois,  and  in  1855,  located  on  the 
homestead  in  Walnut  Grove,  McDon- 
ough county.  James  C.  was  born  Oc- 
tober 16,  1839,  in  Ireland,  while  the  fam- 
ily were  on  a  visit  to  the  Emerald  Isle, 
and  is  the  youngest  of  six  children.  He 
was  married  January  30,  1871,  to  Sarah 
Elizabeth  Cruse,  of  Monroe  county,Iowa, 
and  three  children  blessed  the  union. 
James  C.,  early  responded  to  the  call  for 
men,  enlisting  in  1862,  and  serving  to 
the  end  of  the  struggle.  He  participated 
in  many  of  the  movements  of  the  west- 
ern armies,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Mo- 
bile in  1865.  He  met  his  brother,  Wil- 
liam, who  was  a  member  of  company  F, 
55th  Illinois  infantry,  once  during  his 
term  of  service.  The  family  owns  182 
acres  of  fine  land,  all  under  cultivation, 
and  are  fine  types  of  American  farmers. 
James  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
lodge  at  Good  Hope,  and  is  a  prominent 
worker  in  the  order. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  following  general  statistics  are 
taken  from  the  last  annual  report  of  the 
county  superintendent,  for  the  school 
year  ending  June  30,  1884:  Walnut 


1038 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Grove  township  has  334  children  of  school 
age.  There  are  242  pupils  enrolled  in 
the  schools  of  the  district  township. 
There  are  eight  school  buildings  in  the 
township,  all  of  which  are  frame,  and 
the  average  number  of  months  of  school 
taught  annually,  seven  and  seven-eighths. 
The  highest  monthly  wages  paid  any 
male  teacher  is  $45,  and  the  lowest,  $36. 
The  highest  wages  paid  female  teachers 
is  $40,  and  the  lowest,  $20  per  month. 
The  value  of  school  property  in  Walnut 
Grove  township  amounts  to  $2,500, 
being  free  from  any  bonded  indebted- 
ness. The  amount  of  tax  levy  for  the 
support  of  schools  amounts  to  $2,875. 

The  first  school  house  on  the  present 
site  of  the  southwest  corner  of  section 
4,  in  district  No.  1,  was  removed  there  in 
1863.  It  was  24x28  feet  in  size,  and  was 
valued  at  $200. 

School  district  No.  2  embraces  sections 
3,  4,  9  and  10.  The  school  house,  which 
was  erected  in  the  fall  of  1863,  is  located 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  section  4.  A 
meeting  was  held,  August  3, 1863,  at  the 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  9,  when 
.the  following  directors  were  chosen: 
James  W.  Griggs,  Warrel  Tracy  and 
George  W.  Beckner.  The  first  teacher 
was  Dell  Stearns,  who  was  employed  to 
teach  a  three  months'  term.  James 
Erving  did  the  carpenter  work  on  the 
building.  In  the  fall  of  1877,  an  addi- 
tion was  made  to  the  house,  which  at 
present  is  16x32  feet  in  size.  Eva  Hud- 
son teaches  the  school  at  present.  Pre- 
vious to  the  erection  of  the  present 
building,  a  school  house  was  built  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  section  9,  in 
1856,  which  was  attended  by  the  children 
for  miles  around.  It  was  known  as 


Hickory  Grove  school  house.  The  funds 
for  its  erection  were  furnished  mostly 
by  the  county,  although  several  citizens 
who  were  able,  subscribed  different, 
sums,  that  the  building  might  be  large 
enough  to  be  used  also  for  reMgious 
purposes.  The  first  teacher  in  this 
house  was  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Frost. 

School  district  No.  3  was  organized  in 
1863,  and  a  house  erected,  the  following 
year,  on  the  northwest  corner  of  section 
7,  the  district  embracing  sections  5,  6,  7 
and  8.  It  is  20x30  feet  in  dimensions, 
and  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  $300. 
The  first  board  of  directors  were:  John 
Cochrane,  A.  E.  Campbell  and  David  A. 
Vanice.  It  is  not  remembered  who 
taught  the  first  term  of  school  in  the 
building,  but  James  B.  Campbell,  now 
deceased,  taught  the  second  term.  Those 
who  serve  the  district  at  present  as  di- 
rectors are:  Robert  Campbell,  W.  J. 
Edie  and  I.  Lenhart.  There  was  school 
taught  in  a  log  cabin,  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  present  building,  by  Emma 
Colts,  in  1863.  Two  terms  were  taught 
there,  the  second  by  Priscilla  Waddle. 
The  cabin  was  torn  down  when  the  pres- 
ent school  house  was  erected. 

Hiwassie  district  No.  4  was  organized 
August  10,  1863,  and  a  house  built  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  section  19,  the 
same  year,  at  a  cost  of  $351.50,  and  in 
1873  it  was  moved  to  its  present  location, 
on  section  18.  School  was  first  taught 
in  this  building  by  S.  P.  Camp,  who 
commenced  teaching  on  December  10, 
1863.  Owing  to  ill  health,  he  was  com- 
pelled to  quit  teaching  in  a  short  time. 
William  H.  Harris  taught  the  remainder 
of  the  term.  Previous  to  building  this 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1039 


house,  the  children  of  this  district,  as 
well  as  of  districts  1,  2  and  3,  were  sent 
to  Hickory  Grove  school,  which  stood  on 
section  8,  and  is  now  the  Shiloh  church 
building.  The  first  directors  were:  S.  P. 
Camp,  E.  Lemons  and  C.  C.  Kennett. 
The  present  directors  are:  J.  A.  Brown, 
Charles  Stairwalt  and  Frank  Kidder. 
Minnie  Edie  is  the  present  teacher  in 
this  district. 

Center  district  No.  5  was  organized  in 
1863,  and  a  building  22x24  feet  in  size, 
erected  on  section  14,  at  a  cost  of  $500. 
Minnie  McConnell  taught  the  first  term 
of  school  in  this  building.  George 
Lackens  taught  the  school  during  the 
winter  of  1884-85. 

The  school  house  in  district  No.  6, 
also  known  as  Linn  Grove,  is  located  on 
the  northwest  corner  of  section  24.  It 
is  18x26  feet  in  size,  and  was  erected  in 
1863. 

The  building  in  district  No.  7  is  lo- 
cated on  the  southwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26.  It  is  20x30  feet  in  size,  and 
was  completed  in  1872.  The  district  is 
also  known  as  Greenwood. 

School  district  No.  8  is  a  union  of  No. 
3,  of  Macomb,  and  No.  8,  of  Walnut 
Grove  townships.  The  building  is  situ- 
ated on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
32,AValnut  Grove  township,  and  is  valued 
at  $500. 

District  No.  9  is  a  union  district  with 
that  opposite,  in  Sciota  township,  the 
building  being  situated  in  the  village  of 
Good  Hope. 

TOWN   HALL. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting,  held  on 
April  3,  1883,  a  town  hall  was  ordered  to 
be  built,  the  dimensions  to  be  20x30 


feet,  and  to  cost  $400.  The  building 
was  constructed  during  the  summer  of 
1884,  about  the  geographical  center  of 
the  township,  the  contract  being  let  to 
William  Parkins,  of  Good  Hope.^  The 
building  committee  which  was  appointed 
was  composed  of  James  Hudson,  W.  J. 
Edie  and  J.  A.  Brown,  Sr.  At  the  meet- 
ing in  1884,  an  additional  $100  was  ap- 
propriated for  the  completion  of  the 
structure. 

SORGHUM    MILL. 

A  sorghum  mill  was  erected  in  the 
fall  of  1860,  by  a  son  of  R.  W.  Whit- 
tlesey,  on  the  northeast  corner  of  sec- 
tion 16.  Sorghum  making  was  a  new 
feature  here  at  that  time,  and  as  there 
were  a  couple  of  families  living  there, 
the  location  was  facetiously  known  as 
Sorghum  City.  There  was,  however, 
some  talk  of  starting  a  town,  previous  to 
the  advent  of  the  T.,  P.  &  W.  railroad. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  in  Walnut 
Grove  township  were  held  at  the  house 
of  Gilmer  Walker,  on  section  24,  in  the 
early  spring  of  1836,  Rev.  William  Fra- 
zier,  a  Presbyterian  minister  from  Ma- 
comb,  conducting  the  services.  Among 
those  who  were  present  were:  Alexan- 
der Campbell,  Quintus  and  Mahala 
Walker,  Mary  Walker,  Robert  Pollock, 
Levi  and  Malinda  Hamilton  and  their 
child,  Silas,  Gilmer  and  Susan  Walker, 
Louisa,  Martha,  Susetta,  Mary  J.,  Cyn- 
tha,  Catharine  and  Ellen  Walker,  Sam- 
uel Pollock,  and  Messrs.  Dague  and  Tal- 
bot. 

The  second  religious  services  in  the 
township  were  conducted  by  the  Rev. 


"62" 


1040 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Griggs,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  who 
was  passing  through  the  county  during 
the  spring  of  1836.  He  preached  in  a 
small  log  cabin  erected  and  deserted  by 
some  0f  the  early  settlers  who  did  not 
remain  long  in  the  township.  Among 
those  who  attended  were  Gilmer  Walker 
and  wife,  Quintus  Walker,  and  wife  and 
daughter  Mary,  Alexander  Campbell 
and  wife,  and  John  S.,  David,  Samuel, 
Mary  A.  and  Margaret,  their  children. 
The  services  were  to  have  been  held  at 
the  residence  of  Gilmer  Walker,  but 
owing  to  the  sickness  of  some  of  the 
children,  with  whooping  cough,  the  place 
of  meeting  was  changed  to  the  cabin,  as 
above  mentioned. 

There  are  several  church  organizations 
in  the  township,  a  complete  history  of 
which  appears  in  the  Ecclesiastical 
chapter. 

ORGANIZATION. 

At  the  election  held  at  the  house  of 
Thomas  F.  Flowers,  Tuesday,  April  7, 
1857,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the 
township  in  accordance  with  an  act  of 
the  legislature,  the  following  persons 
were  elected  to  fill  the  several  officers  of 
the  township :  David  J.  Duncan,  super- 
visor; Joshua  Larkins,  assessor;  Fred- 
erick Cruser,  collector  and  clerk;  W.  S. 
D.  Campbell  and  John  O.  Wilson,  jus- 
tices; Jesse  B.  Pearce,  overseer  of  the 
poor;  Harrison  Hamilton,  S.  Painter, 
and  William  W.  Stewart,  commissioner 
of  highways;  Samuel  Painter  and  John 
J.  Buxton,  constables;  Jesse  B.  Pearce 
and  Solomon  Snooks,  pound-masters. 
The  township  was  divided  into  six  road 
districts,  with  the  following  overseers: 
Joshua  Larkins,  Samuel  Painter,  Lewis 
Shafer,  John  McSpirit,  Thomas  F. 


Flowers,  John  Hogue.  There  was  also 
$100  raised  for  town  expenses,  and  $100 
for  building  bridges  and  repairing  roads. 
The  officers  for  1884  were:  E.  W.  Fox, 
clerk;  Jacob  Detrick,  assessor;  John 
Bauman,  collector;  Simon  Rutledge, 
commissioner  of  highways;  Henry  Mar- 
iner, school  trustee;  Samuel  Burtis,  con- 
stable. 

HISTORICAL. 

In  1837,  while  justice  of  the  peace, 
Gilmer  Walker  held  court  under  a  large 
elm  tree,  which  stood  on  his  farm.  The 
tree  has  since  been  cut  down. 

The  first  religious  services  were  held 
at  the  house  of  Gilmer  Walker  in  1836, 
by  Rev.  William  Frazier,  a  Presbyter- 
ian minister. 

The  pioneer  marriage  of  the  township, 
was  Rev.  Harrison  Berry,  a  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  preacher,  and  Mary 
M.  Walker,  a  daughter  of  Alexander 
and  Margaret  (Frost)  Walker.  They 
were  united  in  marriage  at  the  residence 
of  her  parents,  on  section  16,  February 
15,  1838,  by  Rev.  Cyrus  Haines,  a  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  minister  who  had 
been  preaching  in  the  county  for  some 
time.  The  groom  is  now  living  in  Kan- 
sas. The  bride  died  in  Industry  town- 
ship, November  22,  1844. 

The  first  school  was  taught  by  Walker 
Findley,  in  1838,  in  a  log  cabin  on  sec- 
tion 16,  near  what  is  known  as  the  Deer 
park,  on  the  land  now  owned  by  Frank- 
lin Smith.  The  cabin  was  built  by 
Robert  Perry,  a  settler  of  1837,  who 
came  from  Knox  county,  Tennessee. 
Among  the  scholars  of  that  school  were : 
David  Hogshett,  Robert  Pollock,  Mary 
and  Margaret  Walker,  and  Margaret  and 
David  Campbell. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1041 


The  first  prairie  was  broken  by  Sidney 
Geer  in  1835.  Gilmer  and  Quintus 
Walker  did  some  breaking  in  1836. 

Sidney  Geer  planted  the  first  corn  in 
the  spring  of  1835,  but  did  not  gather 
any  that  year,  as  the  wild  hogs  destroyed 
the  crop. 

Gilmer  and  Quintus  Walker  sowed  the 
first  wheat  in  the  spring  of  1837.  They 
sowed  a  small  amount  for  family  use 
only. 

The  first  death  in  the  township  was 
that  of  Martha,  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gilmer  Walker.  She  died  in  the  fall  of 
1837  and  is  buried  in  the  Pearce  ceme- 
tery, near  the  northwest  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 26,  and  was  the  first  one  interred 
there. 

The  next  death  in  the  township  was 
that  of  Frederick  Dague,  who  had  come 
from  Virginia  and  had  worked  for  Gil- 
mer Walker,  and  who  had  just  erected  a 
house  for  himself,  when  his  death  occur- 
red, in  1839.  He  was  also  buried  in  the 
Pearce  cemetery. 

The  third  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Eph- 
raim  Banning,  whose  death  occurred 
shortly  after  Dague's.  She  was  also 
buried  in  the  Pearce  cemetery. 

The  first  frame  house  was  built  by  Gil- 
mer Walker  on  section  34,  in  the  fall  of 
1835.  It  was  a  small  one-story  affair. 

Alexander  Campbell  was  the  first  jus- 
tice of  the  peace,  and  Dr.  D.  J.  Dungan 
was  the  first  supervisor. 

The  first  cabin  was  erected  by  Isaac 
Bartlett,  on  section  34,  in  the  fall  of  1830. 
He  was  also  the  first  settler  in  the  town- 
ship. 

WALNUT  GROVE. 

The  town  was  laid  out  by  Wiiliam  J. 
Edie,  county  surveyor,  under  the  direc- 


tion of  D.  B.  Keith,  in  1870.  It  is  located 
on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  1,  on 
the  line  of  the  St.  Louis  division  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad, 
the  plat  covering  about  three  acres.  The 
surrounding  country  is  thickly  settled 
and  well  improved,  affording  a  lucrative 
business  for  the  few  enterprises  here. 
There  are  two  grain  elevators,  one  feed 
mill,  one  general  store,  two  blacksmith 
shops,  postoffice,  station,  a  town  hall  and 
five  dwelling  houses  in  the  plat. 

The  iron  for  the  railroad  was  laid  into 
what  is  now  the  station  of  Walnut  Grove, 
in  August,  1869,  and  depot  grounds  laid 
out,  but  no  building  was  erected  until 
later  in  the  fall. 

The  first  store  at  Walnut  Grove  sta- 
tion was  erected  by  S.  P.  King,  in  the 
fall  of  1870,  who  put  in  a  general  stock 
of  merchandise.  He  afterward  disposed 
of  the  business  to  Henry  Livingston,  who 
has  been  succeeded  by  Dr.  Cowgill,  and 
S.  A.  Hendee,  of  Bushnell.  The  latter 
gentleman  removed  the  stock  to  the 
building  now  occupied  by  G.  F.  Fair- 
man. 

POSTOFFICE. 

A  postoffice  was  established  a  number 
of  years  ago.  The  succession  of  post- 
masters are  as  follows:  S.  P.  King,  H. 
Livingston,  H.  M.  Harrington,  J.  W. 
Darneille,  D.  B.  Keith  and  G.  H.  Fair- 
man. 

ELEVATORS. 

The  Burtis  elevator  was  constructed  in 
1877,  having  been  torn  down  and  removed 
from  Neponset  to  this  place,  and  rebuilt 
by  Hendee  &  Dole,  of  Bushnell.  The 
main  building,  or  elevator  proper,  is 
30x50  feet  in  ground  area.  Besides  this, 
there  is  a  horse  power  room  16x20  feet 


1042 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


in  size.  Lewis  Russell  was  the  first  to 
operate  the  elevator  for  the  firm,  and  was 
succeeded  in  1878,  by  Harry  Benson.  It 
was  afterward  managed  by  Robert  Rus- 
sell, Joseph  Sanders,  Samuel  M.  Burtis, 
James  Garretson  and  Philip  Fairman. 
August  4,  1884,  Samuel  M.  Burtis  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Heudee,  and 
the  exclusive  ownership  of  all  fixtures, 
scales,  horse  power,  etc.,  while  Mr.  Dole 
retains  an  interest  in  the  elevator  proper} 
and  under  this  management  the  business 
of  the  elevator  is  now  carried  on.  It  has 
a  capacity  of  about  15,000  bushels,  be- 
sides an  additional  ware  room. 

The  elevator  owned  by  George  W.  Mc- 
Mahill,  was  erected  by  that  gentleman  in 
the  fall  of  1882,  and  is  24x30  feet  in 
ground  area,  with  a  horse  power  room 
20x20  feet  in  size.  There  is  also  a  drive- 
way 12  feet  in  width,  with  a  dump  at- 
tachment, and  a  wind  mill,  Eclipse  pat- 
tern and  Beloit  construction,f  or  the  grind- 
ing of  feed.  The  mill  has  a  20-foot 
wheel  and  is  70  feet  in  height.  Mr.  Mc- 
Mahill  and  Simon  Raymond  run  the  ele- 
vator for  about  one  month,  when  Samuel 
M.  Burtis  took  Mr.  Raymond's  place  in 
the  firm  and  it  continued  under  this  man- 
agement about  one  year.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time  Mr.  Burtis  leased  the 
entire  concern  and  operated  it  until 
March,  1885,  since  which  time  it  has  been 
idle.  The  elevator  has  a  capacity  of 
about  10,000  bushels  of  grain. 

SOCIETY. 

Grange  No.  119,  Patrons  of  Husbandry, 
was  organized  by  dispensation  October 
6,  1873.  The  date  of  the  charter,  which 
was  granted,  is  October  6,  of  that  year. 


SCOTTSBURG. 

This  place  is  situated  on  the  T.  P.  & 
W.  railroad,  on  section  35.  No  regular 
survey  has  ever  been  made  or  plat  re- 
corded, and  no  effort  ever  put  forth  to 
make  the  place  one  of  >  special  import- 
ance, as  it  is  but  four  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  the  town  of  Good  Hope  and  about 
an  equal  distance  west  of  Bushnell. 
Large  quantities  of  fire  clay  are  hauled 
here  from  various  clay  banks  for  ship- 
ment to  Peoria  and  elsewhere.  There  is 
also  considerable  grain  shipped  from  this 
place. 

Scottsburg  station  was  opened  Novem- 
ber 22,  1870,  with  Thomas  Burley  as 
agent.  He  has  been  succeeded  by  J.  R. 
Smith,  R.  E.  Harris  and  A.  C.  Ford,  the 
present  incumbent,  who  took  charge  of 
the  office  July  5,  1871. 

A.  C.  Ford,  son  of  John  and  Grace 
(Smith)  Ford,  is  a  native  of  Otsego 
county,  New  York,  born  May  2,  1843. 
He  was  there  reared  until  he  attained  his 
17th  year,  when  he  removed  to  Susque- 
hanna  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
followed  farming  some  six  or  seven 
months.  He  then  returned  to  New  York, 
going  to  Windsor,  Broome  county,  where 
he  enlisted  in  company  G.,  89th  New 
York  infantry,  in  October,  1861,  being 
in  the  9th  army  corps,  under  Burn- 
sides.  He  took  part  in  the  engagements 
of  Hatteras  and  Roanoke  islands,  and 
Washington  court  house,  when  he  was 
stricken  with  the  typhoid  fever  and  sent 
to  the  hospital.  On  leaving  the  hospital 
he  went  to  Newport  News  and  up  the 
James  river  to  reinforce  McClellan,  go- 
ing as  far  as  White  House  Landing, 
where  the  rebels  were  found  to  be  re- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1043 


treating.  He  afterward  participated  in 
several  engagements,  among  which  were 
Fredericksburg  and  South  Mountain,  af- 
ter which  he  went  to  David's  Island, 
New  York,  where  he  received  his  dis- 
charge. After  returning  from  the  army 
he  spent  two  or  three  years  at  Iowa  City, 
Iowa,  and  after  a  residence  of  two  or 
three  years  in  New  York,  came  to  this 
county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr. 
Ford  was  married  July  9, 1867,  to  Esther 
J.  Darwin,  daughter  of  A.  F.  and  Har- 
riet Darwin,  and  a  native  of  Cortland 
county,  New  York.  Four  children  have 
been  born  to  them — Anna  Grace,  De  Witt 
Kay,  Albert  W.  and  Alva  L.  Mr.  Ford 
is  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.  frater- 
nity, at  Good  Hope,  and  at  present  is  the 
inside  watchman  of  the  lodge,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  order.  He 
has  86  acres  of  land  in  this  county,  and 
owns  1,280  acres  in  Weld  county,  Colo- 
rado. 

POSTOFFICE. 

The  postoffice  at  Scottsburg  was  estab- 
lished in  1872,  and  G.  C.  Pierce  appointed 
postmaster. 

ELEVATOR. 

In  July,  1882,  an  elevator  was  erected 
by  J.  Cole  &  Co.,  of  Bushnell,  the  firm 
being  composed  of  J.  Cole  and  A.  C. 
Ford.  The  building  is  26x64  feet  in 
ground  area,  50  feet  to  the  comb  of  the 
roof,  and  has  a  capacity  of  15,000  bushels. 
They  also  have  side  track  facilities,  Fair- 
banks scales,  and  operate  what  is  termed 
a  dump  elevator.  They  buy  mostly 
corn,  rye  and  oats,  their  principal  ship- 
ping points  being  eastern  markets  and 
the  city  of  Peoria.  They  ship  on  an  ave- 
rage about  200  car  loads  per  year. 


REMINISCENCE. 

The  following  material  is  furnished  by 
Quintus  Walker.  That  which  appears 
elsewhere  is  omitted  here.  It  is  mostly 
in  his  own  language: 

The  first  winter    spent  by    Quintus 
Walker  and  his  family  in  Illinois  was 
that  of  the  deep  snow.  After  undergoing 
many   experiences,  they  finally  arrived 
in  McDonough  county,  locating  at  what 
was  then  called  Eoger's  settlement,  which 
was  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Industry, 
and  the  southwest  of  Scotland  townships. 
On  the  night  of  the  26th  of  September, 
there  came  a  freeze,  which  killed   every 
green  thing,  and  in  a  few  days  the  prai- 
rie took  fire  and  burned  off,  and  for  that 
reason,  they  had  to  feed  the  stock  much 
sooner  than   they  had  expected;  there- 
fore the  hay,   of  which  they  supposed 
they  had  cut  enough,  ran  out,  the  corn 
was  frost  bitten,  and  but  little  in  the  set- 
tlement.     An    older    brother,    Andrew 
Walker,  went  back  to  Sangamon  county, 
to  get  a  wagon  load  of  provisions,  but  it 
snowed,  and  turned  so  cold,  so  that  he 
could  not  take  a  load  back.  So  becoming 
uneasy  about  the  family,  he  took  a  pack 
horse  and  what  provision  he  could  take, 
and  started  back.     In  crossing  the  river, 
he  got  about  the  middle  of  the  stream  on 
the  ice,  when  it  began  to  crack,  as  if  it 
would  break.     He  left  his  horse  and  ran 
for  the  bank;  but  upon  reaching  it,  and 
looking  back,  he   saw   the    horse    still 
standing  where  he  left  it;  he  then  went 
back  and  got  the  horse  and  got  home 
safely  and  found  the  family  almost  out 
of  provisions.     It  was  a  very  cold  and 
stormy  fall  and  winter.     It  snowed  three 
times  in  October,  and  was   so  cold  and 
stormy  that  they  could  not  get  back  to 


1044 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Sangamon  county  for  provisions.  Com- 
ing from  the  south,  as  most  of  the  set- 
tlers did,  their  clothes  were  not  as  warm 
as  they  should  have  been  for  this  climate, 
being  mostly  cotton,  and  instead  of  boots 
every  one  wore  shoes.  Thus,  they  were 
not  in  condition  to  go  across  the  prairie 
to  get  relief.  There  were  no  provisions 
to  be  bought  in  the  settlement,  and  they 
became  reduced  to  such  straits  that  they 
had  nothing  to  live  on  except  bread,  and 
that  was  made  from  frost  bitten  corn, 
grated  into  meal,  and  when  made  into 
bread,  was  black,  and  scarcely  fit  to  eat. 
The  deep  snow  of  the  winter  before, 
and  the  Indians,  had  driven  the  wild 
game  almost  all  out  of  the  county. 
They  were  out  of  hay,  which  was  all 
the  stock  had  to  eat,  there  being  none  to 
be  bought,  but  they  each  were  willing  to 
divide  with  the  other,  so  Quintus  and 
Andrew  Walker  made  a  hand  sled  and 
hauled  hay  half  a  mile  from  a  neigh- 
bor's, for  the  stock.  Then,  with  all  the 
care  they  could  give  them,  five  of  the 
cows  which  they  were  expecting  to  give 
milk,  got  so  weak  that  when  they  would 
lie  down,  they  could  not  get  up,  and  it 
got  so  that  when  any  of  the  neighbors 
saw  Quintus  coming,  they  would  say, 
"there  is  another  cow  down,"  and  as 
soon  as  the  grass  began  to  grow  in  the 
sloughs,  enough  so  he  could  get  a  hatful, 
Quintus  would  go  daily  and  pick  grass 
for  the  cows,  they  being  too  weak  to  go 
themselves.  It  was  a  very  backward, 
cold  spring,  and  their  horses  were  so 
weak  that  they  had  to  wait  until  grass 
came,  before  they  could  do  any  work. 
It  was  the  10th  of  May  before  the  teams 
were  fit  to  do  anything,  then  it  was  so 
cold  that  the  men  would  work  with  their 


overcoats  and  mittens  on.  There  was 
no  seed  com  here,  so  they  had  to  wait 
until  corn  was  brought  from  the  south, 
to  Beardstown,  and  had  to  go  there  for 
it.  When  the  weather  became  warm 
enough,  a  great  many  of  the  settlers 
were  so  discouraged  that  they  went  back 
south.  The  houses  were  built  of  round 
logs,  notched  at  the  ends,  and  then 
chinked  and  stopped  up  with  mud;  the 
floor  was  of  split  timber,  or  puncheon, 
and  the  roof  was  covered  with  clap- 
boards, which  were  split  out  of  logs. 
They  were  eight  or  ten  inches  wide,  and 
three  feet  long,  and  laid  on  and  weighted 
down  with  poles.  There  was  no  stone 
or  brick  used,  and  the  fireplace  was 
made  of  earth,  and  the  chimney  of 
wood,  built  up  and  daubed  with  mud, 
both  inside  and  outside.  The  whole 
house,  windows,  doors  and  all,  were 
built  without  a  nail  being  used.  Every 
time  it  would  snow,  it  would  sift  in  all 
over  everything.  It  was  no  unusual 
thing  to  wake  up  in  the  morning  and 
find  an  inch  of  snow  on  the  bed  and 
over  the  floor,  and  have  to  sweep  it  out 
of  the  house.  I  would  say  that  for  the 
first  25  years  after  we  came  to  the 
country,  it  was  hard  on  the  women  and 
oxen,  and  the  next  25  years  was  very 
hard  on  the  men  and  horses.  It  was 
hard  on  the  women,  because  they  worked 
out  in  the  fields,  and  made  all  the  wear- 
ing apparel  for  the  family;  it  was  hard 
on  the  oxen,  because  the  breaking  of 
the  prairie  and  all  the  work  was  done 
with  them.  They  were  even  used  in 
traveling  about  the  country,  going  to 
church,  etc.  It  is  now  hard  on  the  men 
and  horses,  because  the  farm  work  is 
all  done  with  horses  instead  of  oxen. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1045 


It  might  be  interesting  to  the  younger 
persons  of  to-day  to  know  something  of 
how  we  broke  the  prairie.  We  never 
considered  it  a  good  team  unless  we 
had  from  four  to  six  yoke  of  oxen 
hitched  to  the  plow,  which  would 
have  to  be  turned  out  at  night  to  get 
something  to  eat.  They  would  fre- 
quently go  to  the  bush  and  hide.  I 
have  many  times  searched  for  them  for 
half  a  day  before  finding  them.  The 
tall  grass  would  be  wet  with  dew,  and  I 
would  be  as  wet  as  I  could  be.  The 
team  generally  consisted  of  two  yoke  of 
well-broke  oxen,  and  the  others  of  raw 
steers,  and  it  was  a  great  deal  of  trouble  to 
get  them  yoked,  and  I  would  have  to  get 
them  in  a  lot  to  do  so.  The  time  for  break- 
ing was  in  the  months  of  May  and  June.  If 
broke  earlier  than  that,  it  would  grow  up 
again;  if  later,  it  would  not  rot  by  the 
next  spring.  Oxen  were  used  for  every- 
thing. Some  had  110  horses  at  all,  and 
had  to  put  in  and  tend  all  their  crops 
with  oxen.  In  those  days  we  had  no 
threshing  machines.  The  first  load  of 
wheat  I  sold,  I  cleaned  off  a  circle  on  the 
ground,  put  my  wheat  on  it,  and  then 
chained  three  yoke  of  oxen  together, 
and,  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  circle, 
drove  the  oxen  around  until  the  grain 
was  tramped  out.  I  then  cleaned  it 
with  the  wind,  and  hauled  it  to  Rush- 
ville,  and  it  sold  for  30  cents  per  bushel. 
The  land  through  here  was  all  used 
in  payment  to  soldiers  for  their  services 
in  the  war  of  1812.  A  good  many  of 
them  were  dead,  and  the  others  sup- 
posed that  it  was  not  worth  much.  The 
settlers  coming,  not  knowing  who  was 
tie  owner  of  the  land,  would  squat  on  it, 
hoping  to  find  the  owner  when  they  be- 


come able  to  buy  it.  It  was  necessary 
that  they  should  have  timber,  and  not 
knowing  who  the  owner  of  any  of  the 
timber  was,  they  got  wood  where  it  was 
the  handiest.  It  was  not  considered 
stealing,  because  the  settlement  of  the 
country  made  the  timber  land  more 
valuable  than  hitherto.  I  remember  an 
instance  in  my  own  experience.  In  1837, 1 
was  getting  timber  north  of  where  I  lived, 
when  the  owner,  who  had  come  on  to 
see  about  his  land,  came  over  to  where  I 
was.  He  wanted  to  sell  the  land  to  me. 
I  told  him  I  was  not  able  to  buy,  and  he 
then  wanted  me  to  sell  it  for  him,  and 
keep  the  settlers  from  cutting  the  timber 
on  it.  I  told  him  I  could  not  do  that, 
for  all  of  us  had  to  have  fuel.  He  then 
told  me  not  to  cut  any  more  off  of  his 
land.  I  told  him  it  was  the  handiest  for 
me,  and  that  we  had  to  have  wood,  and 
that  his  land  would  be  worth  more  if  the 
country  was  settled  up,  even  if  his  tim- 
ber was  all  cut  off.  He  then  said, 
"Don't  cut  any  more  than  you  can  help," 
and  went  away  in  perfect  good  humor 
He  offered  me  the  land  for  less  than  the 
congress  price.  The  same  land  sold  a 
short  time  ago  for  nearly  $3,000. 

In  1832,  the  settlement  was  very  uneasy 
for  fear  the  Indians  would  come  and  take 
revenge  (they  had  been  driven  out  a  year 
or  two  before. )  As  an  incident  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  I  remember  a  man  had 
a  claim,  with  house  and  lot  fenced  in, 
who  was  so  much  afraid,  that  he  sold  his 
claim  for  a  coverlid  and  left  the  country; 
and  for  fear  the  Indians  would  come,  a 
company  was  raised  to  range  up  and 
down  the  Mississippi  river,  to  watch  that 
they  did  not  come  across,  and  while  the 
company  was  gone,  those  who  stayed  at 


1046 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


home  agreed  to  work  their  corn.  John 
Campbell  and  myself  were  appointed  to 
work  Lose  Jones'  corn.  We  went  there 
early  one  morning,  expecting  to  work  it 
over  in  one  day.  While  in  the  house 
waiting  for  breakfast  (the  girl  was  get- 
ting breakfast,  and  had  her  dough  on  a 
lid  on  the  dirt  hearth)  there  was  a  pig 
and  a  pup  quarreling  as  to  which  should 
get  the  closest  to  the  fire.  The  pig 
rooted  the  pup  on  to  the  dough,  causing 
him  to  step  in  the  middle  of  it.  The 
girl,  seeing  it,  went  up  and  smoothed 
out  the  tracks  with  her  hand,  and  cooked 
the  dough  for  our  breakfast.  John  mo- 
tioned for  me  to  come  out,  and  I  went 
out  with  him.  He  said,  "Oh,  I  can't  eat 
here."  I  said:  "We  must  eat,  for  we 
have  got  to  work,  and  we  can't  work  un- 
less we  eat;"  and  we  did  eat,  and  got  over 
the  corn,  too. 

When  I  was  married,  our  wedding  tour 
was  as  follows:  I  took  the  fore  wheels 
of  a  wagon,  put  a  sack  of  corn  on,  and 
hitched  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  it,  and  seated 
ourselves  on  the  sack,  driving  the  cattle 
without  any  lines.  There  being  no  road, 
we  struck  off  across  the  prairie  to  Bacon's 
mill,  below  Macomb.  On  the  way  we 
stopped  on  Troublesome  creek  to  see  the 
Indian's  grave,  who  had  been  killed  by  a 
deer.  He  was  buried  in  a  trough  on  top 
of  the  ground,  and  a  pen  of  poles  built 
around,  with  loop  holes  cut  in  it  for  him 
to  shoot  through.  His  gun,  knife,  kettle, 
etc.,  were  also  placed  in  the  pen,  but 
they  had  been  stolen  when  we  saw  it. 
There  was,  also,  a  path  cut  down  to  the 
creek  for  him  to  get  water. 

After  moving  into  Walnut  Grove,  the 
deer  and  wolves  became  very  plentiful; 
the  deer  were  very  hard  on  the  com; 


they  would  come  into  the  fields  at  night 
and  eat  the  corn. 

In  1838,  a  grand  wolf  hunt  was  orga- 
nized. A  pole  was  erected  east  of  Ma- 
comb,  and  word  was  sent  to  the  people 
of  adjoining  counties  to  meet  on  a  cer- 
tain day  at  that  pole,  driving  all  the 
wild  game  in,  thus  forming  a  circle  many 
miles  in  diameter,  and  to  bring  horns, 
drums,  etc.,  to  make  a  noise,  to  scare  the 
wolves  up.  As  they  began  to  close  up 
within  a  mile  of  the  pole,  great  droves 
of  deer  could  be  seen,  which  the  hunters 
did  not  kill,  the  object  of  the  hunt  being 
to  kill  wolves,  and  as  the  men  closed  up 
nearer,  the  deer  would  sometimes  jump 
over  their  heads  or  run  under  the  horses ; 
but  there  were  but  few  wolves  killed,  for 
they  would  hide  in  the  long  grass,  and 
break  through  the  lines  and  escape. 

Samuel  Campbell,  a  small  boy,  was 
sent  one  evening  to  the  creek  bottom 
after  the  sheep.  Night  came  on,  bring- 
ing no  tidings  of  the  boy  or  sheep.  The 
parents  of  the  child  becoming  very  much 
alarmed,  the  neighbors  started  out  to 
hunt  for  him.  I  was  one  of  the  searchers. 
We  hunted  all  night  through  the  brush, 
and  up  and  down  the  creek,  calling  him 
by  name,  yet  we  could  find  no  trace  of 
either  the  boy  or  the  sheep,  and  we  very 
much  feared  that  he  had  either  been 
killed  by  wild  beasts,  or  had  fallen 
into  the  creek  and  drownd.  Thus  the 
search  continued  until  morning,  when 
the  boy  came  home,  driving  the  sheep 
before  him.  The  sheep  had  run  off,  and 
following  them,  he  had  gone  a  distance 
of  two  miles,  and  coming  in  the  vicinity 
of  my  brother  Cyrus',  it  being  so  late, 
they  compelled  him  to  stay  all  night  for 
fear  some  harm  might  befall  him  should 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1047 


he  attempt  to  go  home  so  late.  When  I 
moved  to  Walnut  Grove,  the  game  was 
very  plenty.  Indian  wigwams  were  still 
standing,  and  buffalo  and  elk  horns  were 
lying  over  the  prairie.  It  was  very 
tempting  to  hunt.  I  began  to  hunt  and 
bought  an  imported  bull  pup  from  Eng- 
land, and  took  great  pains  in  training 
him  to  hunt.  One  of  my  first  experien- 
ces, was  two  deer  who  had  come  into  my 
field  one  night  to  eat  corn,  and  I  saw 
them  come  out  in  the  morning,  and 
watched  them  until  I  saw  them  go  in  a 
bunch  of  hazel  brush  at  the  head  of  a 
little  hollow,  then  I  took  my  young  dog 
and  crept  up  on  them.  My  dog  I  had 
tamed  to  creep  close  behind  me.  I  got 
close  enough  so  that  I  could  see  the 
horns  of  one  of  the  deer,  then  I  pre- 
pared to  shoot,  intending  to  shoot  the 
deer  in  the  brain.  The  gun  I  had  was 
an  old  flintlock  rifle  I  had  gotten  of  an 
old  Virginia  hunter,  and  very  large  cal- 
ibre, running  about  40  bullets  to  the 
pound.  I  raised  my  gun  and  fired,  and 
he  dropped  down,  I  felt  sure  that  I  had 
hit  him  in  the  brain,  and  dropping  my 
gun  in  the  snow,  I  drew  my  knife  and 
ran  up  to  stick  him,  placing  one  foot  on 
the  down  horn,  and  grasping  the  other 
with  one  hand,  was  about  to  stick  him, 
when  he  sprang  up,  pushing  against  me 
as  he  did  so,  for  a  fight.  I  found  I 
could  not  hold  him  down,  so  I  called  my 
dog,  who  sprang  at  the  deer,  grasping 
him  by  the  throat.  While  the  dog  and 
deer  were  hotly  engaged,  I  ran  back 
to  my  gun  and  commenced  to  load, 
when  I  found  that  the  snow  had  run  in 
so  that  I  could  not  fire  it,  and  while  the 
dog  and  deer  were  fighting,  I  was  trying 
to  dry  the  gun  so  I  could  use  it.  They 


fought  fiercely,  sometimes  the  deer 
would  throw  the  dog  as  high  as  my 
head.  They  kept  working  down  the  hill 
but  before  I  could  get  my  gun  in  order 
to  shoot,  the  dog  became  exhausted,  and 
the  deer  pushed  him  into  a  snowbank, 
and  he  lay  there  panting,  too  weak  to  re- 
new the  battle.  The  deer  stood  and 
looked  at  him  a  minute,  then  turning, 
ran  off.  I  suppose  that  the  ball  struck 
him  at  the  base  of  the  horn  and  only 
stunned  him,  and  I  have  always  believed 
that  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  dog,  the 
buck  would  have  killed  me,  as  there  was 
nothing  large  enough  to  climb  up  out  of 
his  reach.  The  dog  and  I  were  both 
green  at  that  time,  and  it  taught  us  a  les- 
son. After  that  experience  I  was  not 
afraid  to  wound  a  deer  on  the  prairie,  if 
I  had  my  dog  with  me.  At  certain  times 
in  the  year,  if  a  buck  was  wounded  he 
was  very  apt  to  make  at  a  person  for  bat- 
tle. One  time  I  wounded  a  buck  on  the 
prairie.  At  the  crack  of  the  gun,  he 
wheeled  around  and  came  at  me  with 
his  hair  all  turned  the  wrong  way.  I 
gave  my  dog  the  word,  and  he  sprang 
and  grasped  the  buck  by  the  back  of  the 
neck.  I  drew  my  knife  and  ran  behind 
and  hamstrung  him.  I  hunted  most  of 
the  time  on  the  prairie,  and  would  some- 
times hunt  on  horseback.  I  had  a  horse 
trained  to  hunt,  and  whenever  a  deer 
would  jump  up,  both  my  dog  and  my 
horse  would  stand  perfectly  still  until 
I  fired  and  gave  them  the  word  to 
go.  At  one  time  when  I  was  about  three 
miles  from  home,  in  a  creek  bottom,  in 
high  grass,  a  couple  of  deer  jumped  up. 
I  shot  one  and  commenced  to  load,  still 
sitting  on  my  horse,  and  just  as  I  ran 
the  ball  down,  the  gun  went  off,shooting 


1048 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  gun  stick  through  my  hand,  break- 
ing some  of  the  bones  and  cutting  an 
artery.  The  blood  spurted  out  in  a 
stream  almost  as  thick  as  my  finger.  I 
was  about  a  mile  from  any  house,  and 
the  way  my  hand  was  bleeding  I  was 
afraid  to  get  off  my  horse  to  try  to  stop 
the  blood  for  fear  I  would  get  so  weak 
from  loss  of  blood  that  I  could  not  get 
on  again,  so  I  rode  my  horse  at  the  top 
of  his  speed  for  the  nearest  house.  When 
I  got  to  the  house,  John  Ballard,  jumped 
on  the  horse  and  rode  to  Macomb,  a 
distance  of  10  miles,  for  the  doctor. 
While  he  was  gone,  we  bound  my  hand 
up  with  sole  leather  so  that  it  did  not 
bleed  much.  When  the  doctor  came  it 
was  not  bleeding  much,  so  he  did  noth- 
ing with  it  then.  I  had  sent  word  to 
my  father-in-law,  A.  Campbell,  so  he 
came  over  after  me  in  a  wagon.  The 
doctor  went  home  with  me  and  stayed 
all  night  and  dressed  my  hand  in  the 
morning.  The  next  morning  my  brother- 
in-law,  D.  Campbell,  came  over.  He 
asked  me  where  my  gun  was.  I  de- 
scribed the  place  where  I  dropped  it 
when  shot,  and  told  him  if  he  would  go 
and  get  it  he  might  have  it,  as  I  did  not 
want  to  see  it,  and  never  expected  to 


hunt  any  more.  He  went  and  got  it  and 
brought  it  to  my  house,  and  as  he  hung 
it  up  in  its  accustomed  place,  and  said, 
"the  first  deer  you  shoot  you  must  give 
me  half."  Before  my  hand  was  well 
enough  to  do  anything  else,  I  had  killed 
several  deer.  I  used  to  hunt  going 
across  prairie,  across  the  wind.  When- 
ever we  struck  the  scent  of  a  deer,  my 
dog  would  stop,  then  all  I  had  to  do  was 
to  follow  until  I  got  close  enough  to 
shoot.  I  was  very  successful.  At  one 
time  I  killed  10  deer  in  11  successive 
shots.  I  only  kept  account  one  year  of 
the  number  I  killed.  That  year  I  killed 
50,  and  I  suppose  that  was  about  the 
average  for  20  years.  That  game  was 
plenty,  so  I  have  no  doubt  that  in  the 
20  years  I  killed  at  least  1,000.  While 
hunting,  I  used  to  capture  fawns  and 
would  bring  them  home  and  tame  them 
and  let  them  run  in  an  enclosed  lot, 
where  they  would  breed,  and  I  had  at 
one  time  over  20  head.  Wild  deer  would 
jump  in  with  them  at  night,  and  I  would 
shoot  them.  The  tame  deer  would  not 
jump  over  the  fence,  but  gamboled 
playfully  through  the  shady  park,  con- 
tented and  happy  as  dumb  creatures 
might  be. 


CHAPTER    XL. 


CITY  OF  MACOMB. 


The  city  of  Macomb,  the  most  beauti- 
ful and  enterprising  town  in  this  part  of 
the  state  of  Illinois,  originated  55  years 


ago,  when  the  beautiful  country  that  sur- 
rounds it,  was  just  beginning  to  attract 
the  attention  of  those  in  search  of  homes, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1049 


and  the  surroundings  were  as  free  and 
wild  as  the  time  when  the  stars  of  the 
morning  sang  anthems  of  joy  at  nature' s 
dawn.  It  has  been  one  continual  change 
from  the  moment  that  John  Baker  built 
his  humble  pole  cabin  upon  its  site,  until 
the  Macomb  of  to-day  stands  forth,  one 
of  the  bright  jewels  in  the  diadem  of  a 
noble  state.  While  there  may  have  been 
nothing  really  remarkable  in  the  devel- 
opment of  the  past,  or  nothing  peculiarly 
striking  in  the  present,  still  there  is 
much  that  cannot  fail  to  be  of  interest 
to  those  who  have  been  closely  connected 
and  identified  with  the  city  in  all  the 
various  changes  that  have  occurred  from 
year  to  year.  To  those  who  have  watched 
its  progress  from  an  early  day,  when 
McDonough  county  was  but  a  compara- 
tive wilderness,  until  the  present  time, 
the  accomplishment  of  by-gone  days 
would  seem  now  like  a  herculean  task, 
but  are  in  reality  the  sure  and  legitimate 
results  of  an  advanced  state  of  civiliza- 
tion. Endowed  with  many  splendid 
natural  advantages,  aided  by  the  strong 
arm  of  enterprising  husbandry,  McDon- 
ough county,  has  assumed  a  position 
among  the  best  and  wealthier  of  her  sis- 
ter counties  throughout  the  state,  and 
Macomb,  as  the  first  town  within  her 
boundaries,  has  kept  pace  with  the  im- 
provements and  advancement. 

Macomb  is  situated  in  the  exact  geo- 
graphical center  of  McDonough  county, 
at  the  point  of  meeting  of  the  four  town- 
ships of  Emmet,  Macomb,  Chalmers  and 
Scotland.  The  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  passes 
through  it,  connecting  it  with  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world.  The  many  manufac- 
turing establishments  which  have  sprung 


up  within  its  limits,  and  the  rich  and 
productive  agricultural  and  stock  rais- 
ing country  that  surround  it,  are  an  ex- 
cellent guarantee  of  a  permanent  and 
solid  growth  in  the  future. 

There  are  many  fine  and  substantial 
brick  buildings  to  be  seen  upon  the  bus- 
iness thoroughfares,  and  many  costly 
and  elegant  residences  in  the  other  por- 
tions of  the  city.  An  abundance  of  trees 
adorn  the  streets,  which  in  summer  af- 
ford a  grateful  shade  and  enhance  the 
beauty  of  the  place.  The  location  is 
healthy;  the  inhabitants  of  a  class  pos- 
sessing rare  intelligence  and  culture,  and 
the  society  of  the  most  refined  and  de- 
sirable character. 

EARLY   DAYS. 

The  first  settlers  upon  the  present  site 
of  the  town  of  Macomb,  were  John 
Baker  and  Oliver  C.  Rice,  who,  in  the 
spring  of  1829,  built  a  double  log  cabin, 
near  where  the  high  school  building 
now  stands,  in  the  Fourth  ward,  and 
therein  installed  themselves.  Mr.  Ba- 
ker's family  consisted  of  his  wife  and 
two  daughters,  about  10  and  12  years  of 
age  respectively.  Mr.  Rice  removed  to 
Spring  creek,  in  the  fall  of  1829,  but 
Mr.  Baker  resided  here,  when,  in  July, 
1830,  shortly  after  the  organization  of 
the  county,  the  county  commissioners 
met  and  resolved  that  "the  present  seat 
of  justice  be  at  the  house  of  John 
Baker,  and  that  for  the  present,  the  same 
be  known  as  the  town  of  Washington." 
In  the  month  of  December,  1830,  the 
general  assembly  that  met  at  Vandalia, 
passed  the  following  act,  which  was  en- 
titled: 


1050 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 

I 


AN  ACT  to  establish  a  permanent  seat  of 
justice  for  the  county  of  McDonough: 
Sec.  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  People  of  the 
State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  General 
Assembly,  That  the  county  seat  of  the 
county  of  McDonough  be,  and  is  hereby,  es- 
tablished on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
81,  in  township  6  north,  of  range  2  west,  and 
that  the  commissioners  of  said  county  aie 
hereby  authorized  to  purchase  said  quarter 
section  of  land  of  the  United  States,  as  pio- 
vided  for  by  the  laws  of  congress;;  and  that 
the  name  of  said  county  seat  be  called 
McComb. 

This  was  approved  by  the  governor, 
and  forwarded  to  this  county,  with  the 
following  certificate  appended: 

SECRETARY'S  OFFICE,     \ 
VANDALIA,  24  Dec.,  1830.  / 
I,  Alex.  P,  Field,  secretary  of  the  state  of 
Illinois,  do  hereby  certify  that  the  above  is  a 
correct  copy  of  the  original  bill  on  file  in  this 
office. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  the  seal 
[SEAL,.]        of  the   state,    at  Vandalia,  the 
24th  of  December,  1830. 
A.  P.  FIELD, 

Secretary  of  state. 

About  the  same  time,  James  Clarke, 
one  of  the  county  commissioners,  pro- 
ceded  to  the  city  of  Springfield,  where 
was  situated  the  United  States  land  of- 
fice, for  this  district,  and,  in  the  name  of 
the  county  of  McDonough,  entered  the 
southwest  quarter  of  section  31,  in  town- 
ship 6  north,  range  2  west,  or  in  what  is 
now  Macomb  township. 

Thus  was  born  the  city  of  Macomb, 
or  as  the  early  records  have  it  McComb. 
It  was  named  after  General  Macomb, 
who  commanded  the  American  forces  in 
the  engagement  at  Plattsburg,  who  en- 
gaged the  British  troops  while  Commo- 
dore Thomas  McDonough  fought  the 
naval  battle  of  Lake  Champlain,  during 
the  war  of  1812-15. 


On  the  1st  of  April,  1831,  the  place  re- 
ceived another  settler,  in  the  person  of 
James  M.  Campbell,  who  had  just  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court,  and  who  had  come  to  take 
up  the  duties  of  the  office,  at  the  new 
seat  of  justice  of  McDonough  county. 
He,  at  once,  erected  a  log  house  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  cabin  of  Mr.  Baker, 
and  herein  opened  the  first  store  in  the 
city  of  Macomb,  and  in  the  county,  as 
will  be  noticed  further  on. 

It  being  decided  now  to  lay  out  the 
future  city  of  Macomb,  at  a  meeting  of 
the  county  commissioner's  court,  held  in 
the  spring  of  1831,  a  plat  of  the  future 
town  was  presented  by  James  Vance, 
one  of  the  commissioners,  on  which  the 
lots  were  to  be  60x120  feet  in  size,  with 
the  streets  but  40  feet,  and  alleys  12  feet 
wide.  The  short-sighted  policy  of  con- 
tracting the  new  town  to  such  limited 
quarters,  was  not  agreeable  to  the  most 
intelligent  of  the  future  citizens  of  the 
county,  and  a  plat  of  Macomb,  having 
lots  60x174,  12  lots  to  the  block,  with 
good  wide  streets,  being  presented  by 
James  M.  Campbell,  a  petition  of  the 
citizens  was  presented  to  the  commis- 
sioners at  a  special  term  held  in  April, 
1831,  asking  its  adoption,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly done,  Mr.  Vance  opposing  it 
strongly  and  entering  his  protest,  which 
was  placed  upon  the  records.  This  plat 
was  drawn  by  Mr.  Campbell,  after  the 
plat  of  Frankfort,  Kentucky,  his  native 
place.  John  J.  Keaton  was  at  once  em- 
ployed to  make  the  survey. 

This  party  was  not  a  regular  surveyor, 
and  is  said  to  have  known  less  about 
running  the  lines  than  the  men  he  em- 
ployed to  carry  the  chain.  David 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Clarke  and  John  Baker  were  chain- 
bearers,  and  received  therefor  the  sum 
of  50  cents  per  day ;  William  McDonald 
drove  the  stakes  for  62^  cents  per  day. 
Owing  to  the  lack  of  knowledge  on  the 
part  of  the  surveyor,  he  was  not  able  to 
make  the  corners — in  fact  never  did 
make  them,  and  they  have  not  been 
straightened  to  any  great  extent  to  this 
day. 

The  first  sale  of  the  lots  was  made  in 
May,  1831,  and  but  few  of  them  were 
disposed  of,  as  there  were  but  few  bid- 
ders present.  The  deeds  of  these  lots 
were  given  with  the  stipulation  that 
Macomb  was  to  be  the  permanent  county 
seat,  which  was  used  by  the  citizens 
when  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  justice 
was  agitated  some  years  ago,  as  a  reason 
why  it  could  not  be  done,  they  averring 
that  damages  could  be  had  of  the  county 
for  violation  of  the  contract.  It  is  in 
order  to  say  that  it  took  11  sales  before 
all  of  the  lots  were  closed  out.  This 
realized  $4,903.55,  for  what  cost  the 
county  $168.88,  a  net  profit  of  $4,816.67. 
The  assessed  value  of  the  city  property 
in  1884,  was  $564,775. 

No  sooner  had  the  town  a  legal  exist- 
ence, than  it  received  several  accessions 
to  its  citizens;  Moses  Hinton  and  L.  H. 
RoBinson,  who  entered  into  mercantile 
trade;  James  Clarke,  who  had  up  to  this 
time  been  living  a  little  southwest  of  the 
city,  moved  to  Macomb,  and  erected  a 
log  house  on  the  corner  of  West  Jackson 
street  and  the  square,  and  opened  the 
first  tavern  or  inn  in  the  place;  Michael 
Stinson  moved  here  from  Chalmers 
township,  where  he  had  been  living  for 
about  a  year,  but  did  not  remain  very 
long,  leaving  for  the  west.  Samuel 


Bogart  was  also  a  settler  of  the  same 
year,  opening  a  small  store  in  the  little 
village,  in  company  with  John  Baker. 
He  was  the  major  commanding  the  odd 
battalion  of  Mounted  Bangers,  as  it  was 
called  during  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
Some  time  after  this  he  left  for  Iowa. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Cocke  was  the 
next  to  locate  at  Macomb.  He  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  did 
some  little  business  in  the  way  of  mak- 
ing out  papers  for  a  few  men,  but  the 
bulk  of  that  kind  of  business  devolved 
upon  J.  M.  Campbell,  the  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court,  etc.  He  also  removed  to 
Burlington,  Iowa. 

Nicholas  B.  Rogers  came  in  the  same 
summer,  and  died  a  resident  of  the  em- 
bryo city. 

Among  the  other  settlers  of  this,  the 
first  year  of  the  city's  existence,  was 
David  Clarke,  long  a  resident  of  this 
place,  and  one  well  known  to  all  of  the 
citizens.  He  was  the  son  of  John  and 
Ann  (Whitten)  Clarke,  and  was  born  on 
the  28th  of  September,  1799,  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Kentucky.  Here  he  re- 
sided with  his  parents  until  after  he 
reached  his  majority.  At  four  years  of 
age  he  was  sent  to  one  of  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county,  and  con- 
tinued going  at  intervals  until  he  was 
eight,  when  he  was  put  to  work  upon  the 
farm  by  his  parents,  who  were  in  only 
moderate  circumstances,  and  here  was 
kept  at  hard  labor  until  he  reached  his 
majority.  At  16,  he  was  permitted  to 
attend  school  three  weeks,  which  fin- 
ished his  education.  When  he  reached 
his  majority,  he  placed  himself  under  the 
instruction  of  a  music  teacher  for  some 
months,  acquiring  a  pretty  thorough 


1052 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


knowledge  of  the  science  of  music,  as 
taught  in  that  day.  As  soon  as  he  fin- 
ished his  course,  he  adopted  the  teach- 
ing of  music  as  a  profession,  and  for 
three  years  he  traveled  constantly 
through  the  state,  engaged  in  that  work. 
In  early  life  he  connected  himself  with 
the  Baptist  church,  and  when  only  22 
years  of  age,  compiled  a  hymn  book, 
which  he  denominated  Clarke's  Hymns. 
This  book  was  adopted  by  the  Baptists 
and  several  other  denominations  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  continued  in  use  for  many 
years.  Two  large  editions  were  issued, 
and  speedily  sold.  Many  copies  are  yet 
in  existence,  and  held  as  precious  heir- 
looms by  their  possessors.  On  the  24th 
day  of  November,  1825,  he  was  married 
to  Eliza  Swink  Russell,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Russell,  in  Green  county,  Ken- 
tucky. Samuel  Russell  was  well  known 
as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  county. 
Twelve  children  were  born  unto  them, 
four  only  of  whom  are  now  living — Mar- 
garet M.,  wife  of  Corydon  C.  Chapman; 
Christopher  Columbus,  Samuel  James, 
and  Annie  E.,  wife  of  Sidney  S.  Chap- 
man. In  the  fall  of  1830,  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  this  county,  where  he 
resided  for  many  years,  being  well 
known  to  nearly  every  citizen,  espe- 
cially the  older  settlers.  For  many  years 
in  the  early  day,  he  run  a  tavern,  which 
at  that  time  was  more  of  a  public  resort 
than  the  hotel  of  to-day.  Here  the  peo- 
ple for  miles  around  assembled  to  dis- 
cuss the  news  of  the  time,  and  to  indulge 
in  drink.  For  four  years  he  was  town 
constable,  and  eight  years  a  justice  of 
the  peace.  During  the  first  four  years 
he  was  justice,  he  tried  over  900  cases,  a 
very  large  docket  at  that  time.  He  was 


ever  ready  to  render  a  decision,  and  as 
soon  as  a  case  on  trial  was  finished,  his 
judgment  was  rendered  and  recorded  in 
his  docket.  Of  all  the  cases  appealed 
from  his  decision  to  the  circuit  court,  he 
never  had  a  judgment  reversed.  Mr. 
Clarke  some  years  since  retired  from  ac- 
tive life,  and  on  the  5th  of  March,  1884, 
departed  this  life,  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends. 

David  Detherow,  during  the  summer 
of  1831,  came  to  Macomb,  and  was  one 
of  its  oldest  setters.  He  left  the  county 
long  years  ago,  with  his  father-in-law, 
William  Southward. 

James  W.  Brattle  was  the  next  to  make 
a  settlement  in  this  city,  appearing  here 
in  1831.  In  1834,  the  commissioners 
finding  that  the  survey  made  by  Keaton, 
was  incorrect  in  many  particulars,  Mr. 
Brattle  re-surveyed  it,  without  altering 
the  corners  of  the  blocks,  however,  and 
re-platted  it,  making  what  is  known  as 
plat  No.  2,  which  was  recorded  March 
6,  1835.  Mr.  Brattle  was  for  many  years 
the  county  surveyor,  and  is  said  to  have 
run  the  lines  over  more  land  in  this 
county  than  any  other  man.  He  is  still 
a  resident  of  Macomb. 

W.  W.  Chapman,  an  attorney,  came 
to  Macomb  in  1832,  and  hung  out  his 
shingle.  After  about  a  year  or* so, 
he  left  this  locality,  and  moved  to  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  or  Flint  Hills,  as  it  was 
then  called. 

About  the  same  time,  a  doctor  by  the 
name  of  J.  L.  Shuff,  put  up  his  sign  in 
in  the  embryo  town,  and  became  a  citi- 
zen of  the  place.  He  is  mentioned  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  the  medical  profession 

William  H.  Dawson,  a  native  of  Adair 
county,  Ky.,  came  to  Macomb  in  1832. 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1053 


In  1833,  Colonel  William  Bailey,  came 
to  the  town  of  Macomb,  and  established 
a  store  for  the  sale  of  general  merchan- 
dise, just  north  of  the  site  of  the  store 
presided  over  by  his  son,  George  W.,  on 
the  south  east  corner  of  Randolph  and 
east  Jackson  streets.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  the  leading  merchant  in  the  town. 

Benjamin  F.  Naylor,  also,  connected 
with  the  official  life  of  the  county,  was 
a  settler  in  Macomb  during  the  year 
1833.  A  sketch  of  him  is  given  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  the  educational  inter- 
ests of  the  county,  in  a  preceding  part 
of  this  work. 

John  Perry  Head,  came  to  Macomb 
in  1833,  and  made  a  settlement  where 
he  remained  many  years. 

William  Cameron  settled  in  the  town 
of  Macomb  as  early  as  1833. 

John  Anderson  settled  in  Macomb 
during  the  year  1834,  having  erected  a 
hotel  on  lot  1,  block  24,  now  occupied  by 
the  city  hall.  This  inn,  which  was 
named  the  Green  Tree,  was  operated  by 
Mr.  Anderson  until  his  death  in  1846. 
It  was,  as  has  been  said,  a  frame  struc- 
ture, the  main  building  18x40  feet  in  di- 
mensions, two  stories  high,  with  an  L 
about  20  feet  long  in  the  rear,  one  and 
a  half  stories  high.  On  the  death  of 
Mr.  Anderson,  his  son,  Robert  F.,  took 
charge  and  ran  it  about  two  years,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Joseph, 
who  continued  it  until  1850.  Early  that 
year,  James  C.  Head  became  the  pro- 
prietor, and  run  it  until  the  following 
spring,  when  it  was  remodeled  and  used 
as  a  store  room  and  dwelling.  In  1855, 
it  was  again  changed  into  a  hotel,  and, 
under  the  name  of  the  American  house, 
it  was  operated  by  Joel  Pennington  about 


a  year,  when  it  once  more  was  changed 
to  a  store  building.  It  has  since  been 
removed  and  the  fine  brick  City  hall 
erected  on  its  site. 

T.  Lyle  Dickey,  then  a  young  man, 
but  now  one  of  the  supreme  judges  of 
this  state,  came  to  Macomb  in  1835,  and 
taught  school  while  studying  law.  He 
removed  from  here  in  1836. 

Resin  Naylor  located  in  Macomb  in 
1834,  and  opened  a  harness  shop.  He 
was  connected  with  the  official  life  of  the 
county  and  is  noted  in  that  connection. 
He  was  familiarly  known  throughout  the 
county  as  "Boss  Naylor." 

Thompson  Chandler  came  to  the  em- 
bryo city  of  Macomb  in  the  spring  of 
1834,  and  is  still  a  resident  of  that  burg. 
He  is  mentioned  at  length  in  the  chapter 
devoted  to  representative  men  in  official 
life.  On  coming  to  this  place,  he  entered 
into  the  mercantile  business  with  Wil- 
liam P.  Richards,  who  had  come  about 
the  same  time,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Richards  &  Chandler. 

Charles  Chandler  was  one  of  the  prom- 
inent arrivals  of  the  year  1834.  This 
gentlemen  long  one  of  the  foremost  bu- 
siness men  of  the  city,  and  indeed  of  the 
county,  resided  in  Macomb  until  the  day 
of  his  death. 

Among  the  settlers  of  1834,  there  was 
no  one  more  prominent  than  Thomas  A. 
Brooking,  who  was  the  second  son  of  a 
family  of  11,  eight  daughters  and  three 
sons,  and  was  born  in  Nottaway  county, 
Virginia,  near  Richmond,  the  20th  day  of 
January,  1795.  His  parents  were  Thos. 
Vivian  and  Elizabeth  (Sherwin)  Brook- 
ing, the  latter  being  the  daughter  of 
Colonel  Samuel  Sherwin,  of  revolution- 
ary fame.  But  little  is  known  of  his 


1054 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


early  history,  save  that  every  opportu- 
nity was  given  him  to  obtain  such  edu- 
cation as  would  fit  him  for  a  useful  sta- 
tion in  life.  He  attended  a  good  class- 
ical school  in  Chesterfield  county,  Vir- 
ginia, under  charge  of  Prof.  Ferguson, 
a  noted  teacher  in  his  day,  and  after- 
ward under  Prof.  Smith.  He  then  went 
to  Manchester,  Virginia,  and  entered  a 
school  under  charge  of  Prof.  O'Reily, 
one  of  the  best  classical  scholars  in  the 
state.  When  he  completed  the  prescribed 
course  in  this  school,  he  returned  to 
Richmond,  Virginia,  and  entered  the 
law  office  of  Alexander  McRae,  one  of 
the  most  talented  lawyers  in  the  city, 
where  he  pursued  his  studies  for  a  suffi- 
cient length  of  time  to  enable  him  to  pass 
a  satisfactory  examination  and  obtain 
admittance  to  the  bar.  On  receiving  his 
diploma,  he  removed  to  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in 
practice,  but  for  some  cause  he  aban- 
doned the  idea  of  making  the  legal  pro- 
fession a  life  business,  but  the  knowl- 
edge obtained  through  his  reading  was 
beneficial  during  life.  A  few  mouths 
before  reaching  his  majority,  he  removed 
to  Kentucky,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Versailles,  where  he  engaged  in  the  mer- 
cantile trade.  Here  he  formed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Mary  Louisa  Threshly, 
which  soon  terminated  in  love,  and  the 
offer  of  his  hand  and  heart  in  marriage. 
Accordingly,  on  the  25th  day  of  January, 
1816,  the  young  couple  were  duly  mar- 
ried. The  tie  thus  f  o/med  remained  un- 
broken until  severed-by  the  death  of  Mr. 
Brooking  in  1858.  Thirteen  children 
were  they  blessed  with,  six  of  whom  have 
passed  on  to  that  other  shore,  seven  yet 
living  to  fill  responsible  stations  in  life. 


One  of  the  number,  Edward  Brooking, 
lost  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  country, 
as  a  member  of  the  137th  regiment,  Illi- 
nois volunteers.  Of  the  number  now 
living — William  is  a  large  farmer,  living 
north  of  Macomb;  A.  V.,  is  a  farmer  and 
stock  dealer;  R.  S.,  is  a  trader;  Mrs.  Jane 
Randolph,  widow  of  the  late  William  H. 
Randolph,  who  lives  in  Macomb;  Mrs. 
Augusta  Palmer  who  lives  in  Palestine, 
Texas;  Mrs.  Lucy  Snyder  lives  in  Car- 
rollton,  Missouri;  Mrs.  Julia  Randolph, 
wife  of  J.  H.  Randolph,  of  Fort  Scott, 
Kansas.  Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Mr. 
Brooking  returned  to  Richmond,  Vir- 
ginia, where  he  remained  three  years, 
after  which  he  located  in  Union  county, 
Kentucky,  where  he  leased  the  celebrated 
Sulphur  Springs,  continuing  in  its  charge 
five  years,  when  he  removed  to  Prince- 
ton, Caldwell  county,  remaining  there 
until  the  fall  of  1834,  when  he  made  his 
final  removal  to  McDonough  county,  set- 
tling in  the  town  of  Macomb.  By  a 
series  of  unfortunate  ventures  in  Ken- 
tucky he  lost  his  entire  fortune,  and  came 
to  this  county  a  poor  man  but  with  a 
determined  will  and  the  intention  of  re- 
trieving all.  On  his  arrival  here  he  en- 
gaged as  a  teacher  of  a  select  school, 
continuing  the  same  until  the  following 
spring.  For  two  seasons  following  he 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick, 
north  of  town,  on  the  site  of  Oakwood 
cemetery,  after  which  he  removed  to  the 
old  farm  now  owned  by  his  son,  William 
T.  Brooking,  where  he  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1850,  when  he  purchased 
the  old  hotel  on  the  west  side  of  the 
square,  which  he  carried  on  for  some 
years.  On  the  25th  of  February,  1858, 
he  died,  and  was  buried  on  the  old  home- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1055 


stead  with  Masonic  honors.  Mr.  Brook- 
ing was  one  of  the  men  who  have  helped 
materially  to  develope  this  county. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1834,  Joseph 
P.  Updegraff  came  to  Macomb,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  business  of  builder.  He 
has  followed  that  line  of  trade  and  sev- 
eral others  in  Macomb  ever  since,  and  is 
numbered  among  the  substantial  men  of 
the  town. 

Joseph  P.  Updegraff,  one  of  the  old 
settlers  of  McDonough  county,  and  one 
of  her  prominent  citizens,  was  born  in 
Hardin  county,  Virginia,  May  27,  1813, 
his  parents  being  Ambrose  and  Catha- 
rine ( Robinson )  Updegraff.  About  the 
year  1816,  the  family  removed  to  Jeffer- 
son county,  Ohio.  Here  Ambrose  Upde- 
graff was  associated  in  the  manufacture 
of  hats,  but  his  time  was  principally  oc- 
cupied in  attending  to  the  duties  of 
offices  of  trust,which  he  held  continually. 
Joseph  P.  resided  with  his  parents  until 
1833,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and,  in 
March,  1834,  settled  in  Macomb,  thus 
becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of  McDon- 
ough county.  Here  he  at  first  followed 
the  occupation  of  a  builder  and  manu- 
facturer of  brick,  and,  in  1834,  took  the 
contract  to  build  the  court  house,  which 
was  really  what  brought  him  to  the 
county.  He  followed  the  occupation  of 
a  builder  for  some  10  years,  when  he  en- 
tered a  tract  of  land  three  miles  north  of 
Macomb,  and  settled  thereon.  One  year 
later,  found  him  again  in  Macomb,  en- 
gaged in  merchandising.  He  subse- 
quently purchased  another  farm  west  of 
Macomb,  in  Chalmers  township,  and  re- 
sided there  about  five  years,  since  which 
time  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Macomb 
most  of  the  time,  following  various  mer_ 


cantile  pursuits.  Mr.  Updegraff  has 
been  twice  married.  September  16, 
1835,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Elizabeth  Brooking,  a  daughter  of 
Thomas  A.  Brooking.  She  died  in  Octo- 
ber, 1872,  two  children  surviving  her — 
Imogene,  now  the  wife  of  J.  A.  Gates,  of 
Oswego,  Kansas,  and  Joseph  Atherton, 
of  the  same  city.  Mr.  Updegraff  was 
again  married,  June  19,  1833,  to  Mrs. 
Caroline  Head,  the  widow  of  Horace 
Head.  She  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  about  as  long  as  Mr.  U.,  and  was 
always  a  warm  friend  of  the  family. 
Politically,  Mr.  Updegraff  is  a  republi- 
can, and  was  formerly  a  whig.  He  has 
served  as  mayor  of  Macomb  three  terms, 
and  has  also  filled  various  other  local 
offices,  in  each  of  which  he  gave  full  sat- 
isfaction to  the  people. 

Among  the  arrivals  of  1834,  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Macomb,  was  B.  F.  Martin,  who 
was  then  20  years  of  age  and  an  adept 
at  the  trade  of  shoemaking,  but  who  soon 
dropped  that  trade  and  took  up  that  of 
carpentering  and  cabinet  making.  He 
is  still  among  the  business  men  of  Ma- 
comb, mentioned  further  on. 

David  F.  Martin,  also  a  cabinet  maker, 
a  brother  of  B.  F.,  came  at  the  same 
time  and  worked  at  his  trade.  After  a 
few  years  he  purchased  a  farm  on  Spring 
creek,  where  he  died  in  the  fall  of  1845. 

In  1833,  Thomas  Pickett  came  to  Ma- 
comb and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
cabinet  making. 

Dr.  James  B.  Kyle,  one  of  the  pioneer 
physicians  of  the  county,  settled  in  the 
rising  city,  in  1835.  A  sketch  of  this 
gentleman  is  found  in  the  chapter  de- 
voted to  the  medical  profession  of  the 
county. 


63 


1056 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Among  others  who  arrived  in  1835, 
was  William  H.  Randolph,  who,  on  ar- 
rival, opened  up  a  small  stock  of  gro- 
ceries. An  extended  sketch  of  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph appears  in  the  chapter  entitled 
"National,  State  and  County  Represen- 
tation," to  which  the  reader  is  referred. 

Major  John  M.  Walker,  one  among 
the  early  settlers  of  McDonough  county, 
died  Sunday,  July  9, 1876.  He  was  born 
in  Tazewell  county,  Virginia,  July  2, 
1800,  and  was,  therefore,  a  few  days  over 
76  years  of  age.  His  father  removed  to 
Tennessee  at  an  early  day,  where  the  de- 
ceased remained  until  the  year  1834, 
when  he  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
where  he  resided  until  the  day  of  his 
death.  For  many  years  he  was  engaged 
ift  the  land  business,  and  sold  much  of 
the  land  in  the  county  upon  which  now 
are  valuable  farms.  Of  late  years  he 
was  engaged  in  farming.  In  the  days  of 
the  whig  party  he  was  an  active,  work- 
ing member  of  that  organization,  but 
upon  its  demise,  he  became  identified 
with  the  young  democracy,  where  he  re- 
mained steadfast  during  all  the  political 
changes  which  have  taken  place  in  the 
last  few  years. 

Many  others  now  flocked  in,  in  fact 
too  rapidly  to  note,  but  some  of  the  more 
prominent  are  given  to  convey  the  idea 
of  the  class  of  citizens  of  this  locality  in 
the  early  days. 

BUSINESS    DEVELOPMENT. 

As  has  been  mentioned,  the  first  store 
in  the  city  of  Macomb,  and  in  the  county 
of  McDonough,  was  instituted  by  James 
M.  Campbell,  in  the  spring  of  1831.  This 
was  in  a  small  hewn  log  cabin,  18  feet 
square,  with  puncheon  floor,  which  stood 


at  that  time  in  the  middle  of  what  is  now 
Jefferson  street,  about  the  width  of  a  lot 
and  a  half  west  of  McArthur,  and  about 
20  feet  south  of  the  cabin  of  John  Baker, 
which  was  located  on  the  west  side  of 
lot  11,'  in  block  24,  of  the  original  town 
of  Macomb.  The  building  had  a  board 
roof,  but  roughly  laid  on.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, who  was  at  this  time  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court,  clerk  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court,  county  recorder, 
notary  public,  and  postmaster  of  Ma- 
comb, put  in  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, hardware,  etc.,  such  as  is  usually 
kept  in  all  new  settlements,  and  spoken 
of  as  general  merchandise.  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, who  was  an  active,  energetic,  thor- 
ough-going specimen  of  a  man,  as  all 
who  know  him  testify,  attended  to  his 
multitudinous  duties,  and  ran  this  store, 
the  only  one  in  the  county,  for  about  a 
a  year,  alone,  when  he  admitted  a  part- 
ner in  the  person  of  John  A.  Chenoweth, 
and  under  the  firm  name  of  Campbell 
&  Chenoweth,  it  continued  three  years. 
Mr.  Campbell  then  withdrew,  placing  in 
his  place  his  brother-in-law,  Joseph  L. 
Hempstead,  and  the  firm  name  changed 
to  that  of  Hempstead  &  Chenoweth,  and 
so  continued  for  two  years,  when  it  was 
wound  up,  Mr.  Chenoweth  leaving  with 
a  larger  share  of  the  institution  than 
rightfully  was  his.  In  this  connection 
it  will  be  proper  to  state  that,  previous 
to  Mr.  Chenoweth's  connection  with  the 
store  that  Mr.  Campbell  had  erected  a 
frame  building  on  the  northwest  corner 
of  Lafayette  and  Jackson  streets,  oppo- 
site the  public  square,  into  which  he  had 
moved  his  goods.  This  building  was 
afterwards  moved  to  another  lot  in  block 
27,  on  east  Jackson  street,  east  of  Camp- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1057 


bell,  it  having  been  sold  to  Rev.  W.  K. 
Stewart,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and 
is  still  standing,  a  monument  of  pioneer 
days. 

Shortly  after  Mr.  Campbell  had  started 
in  business,  Moses  Hinton  and  Lawson 
H.  Robinson,  built  a  store  room  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  square,  on  the 
lot  now  occupied  by  the  Union  National 
bank.  Here  they  opened  the  second 
stock  of  goods  in  the  county,  and  carried 
the  usual  assorted  goods,  as  in  all  new 
settlements.  They  remained  in  business 
for  several  years,  when  they  closed  out. 

Mr.  Hinton  remained  here  a  few  years 
after  that,  and  died  in  Macomb.  L.  H. 
Eobinson  left  for  some  southern  expe- 
dition, and  died  while  away.  His  widow, 
who  has  re-married,  is  still  a  resident  of 
the  city. 

Shortly  after  that,  Baker,  Bogart  & 
Company  opened  a  store.  These  gentle- 
men were  John  Baker,  a  Baptist  clergy- 
man, and  Samuel  Bogart,  a  Methodist 
minister.  They  remained  in  trade  about 
a  year, when  Mr.  Baker  moved  to  Crooked 
creek,  and  in  company  with  William  Mc- 
Donald, ran  a  mill. 

W.  W.  Bailey,  in  the  year  1833,  opened 
a  general  store,  which  has  survived  to 
the  present  day,  being  represented  by 
the  dry  goods  establishment  of  his  son, 
George  W.  Bailey. 

Atkinson  &  Vaughn  were  the  next  to 
engage  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness in  Macomb,  coming  here  from 
Springfield  about  the  year  1834.  Their 
store  was  just  north  of  the  Bailey  build- 
ing, on  the  east  side  of  the  square.  They 
ran  about  a  year  when  the  firm  was  dis- 
solved, the  business  being  run  by  John 
Atkinson  for  a  short  time.  In  1835,  he 


was  succeeded  by  N.  P.  Tinsley,  who 
was  one  of  the  most  successful  and 
prominent  business  men  of  his  day. 

From  this  time  out  merchants  began 
to  come  in,  too  fast  for  memory  to  recall 
them;  all  kept  for  years,  what  were 
called  general  merchandise  stores,  but 
about  1860,  the  various  lines  began  to 
separate,  and  the  city  put  on  metropoli- 
tan airs.  The  following  is  the  history  of 

THE   PRESENT  BUSINESS  HOUSES. 

George  W.  Bailey  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing dry  goods  merchants  of  Macomb,  as 
well  as  the  representative  of  the  oldest 
house  in  the  county.  This  business  was 
established  in  1833,  by  W.  W.  Bailey, 
the  father  of  the  present  proprietor, 
who  erected  a  frame  building,  on  the 
site  of  the  store  now  occupied  by  Geo. 
W.  This  building  was  one  story  and  a 
half  high,  40x60  feet  on  the  ground,  and 
was  used  as  a  store  building  and  resi- 
dence. The  elder  Mr.  Bailey  ran  the 
store  for  many  years,  and  was  succeeded 
by  W.  S.  Bailey,  and  he  by  the  present 
proprietor,  in  1860.  The  present  hand- 
some brick  edifice  occupied  by  Mr.  Bai- 
ley, was  erected  by  him  in  1877,  and 
has  a  fine  store  room  upon  the  ground 
floor,  21x80  feet  in  size,  in  which  a  fine 
and  well  assorted  stock  of  goods,  that 
will  invoice  about  $10,000,  is  carried. 

George  W.  Bailey",  son  of  W.  W.  and 
Elizabeth  M.  (Walker)  Bailey,  was  born 
on  the  21st  of  August,  1838,  on  the  very 
spot  where  he  has  been  carrying  on  bus- 
iness for  the  past  25  years.  He  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  of  Macomb, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in 
the  Monmouth  college,  at  Monmouth, 
Illinois.  He  was  brought  up  to  a  mer- 


1058 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


cantile  life,  and,  in  1860,  engaged  in  bus- 
iness for  himself,  as  before  mentioned. 
In  February,  1861,  Mr.  Bailey  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Eliza  M.  Worthing- 
ton,  of  Rushville,  a  daughter  of  Dr.  R. 
M.  Worthington.  They  have  reared 
three  children — Rowland,  Annie  L.,  and 
James  W.  Mr.  Bailey  was  one  of  the 
original  stock-holders  of  the  Union  Na- 
tional Bank,  of  Macomb,  and  is  one  of 
its  directors.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
original  stock-holders  of  the  Macomb 
Loan  and  Building  association,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  director  continually,  and 
was  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  estab- 
lishing the  Macomb  Tile  and  Sewer 
Pipe  company,  and  is  one  of  its  direc- 
tors, being  one  of  its  original  stock-hold- 
ers. In  fact,  Mr.  Bailey  is  one  of  Ma- 
comb's  most  enterprising  men,  being  al- 
ways among  the  first  to  take  hold  of  any- 
thing looking  to  the  advancement  of  that 
city's  interests.  He  built  his  present 
store  building  in  1877,  it '  being  a  two- 
story  brick  structure,  21x80  feet  in  di- 
mensions, and  having  a  metal  roof.  He 
had  previously,  in  1872,  built  the  two 
store  buildings  adjoining  him  on  the 
north — they  being  two  story  front,  and 
one  story  rear — which  he  has  leased  to 
other  parties.  The  building  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  B.  R.  Hampton  as  a 
printing  office,  was  also  erected  by  Mr. 
Bailey.  He  votes  with  the  republican 
party,  but  his  extensive  business  inter- 
ests always  prevented  him  from  taking 
an  active  part  in  politics,  even  if  he  felt 
so  inclined.  The  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the 
I.  O.  M.  A.,  societies  claim  him  as  an 
honored  member. 

Among  the  leading  dry  goods  dealers 
in  Macomb,  and  in  the  county,   is    that 


of  Ross  &  Holland.  This  place  was  es- 
tablished by  S.  A.  M.  Ross,  in  1861,  and 
continued,  alone  most  of  the  time,  by 
him  until  1876,  when  he  associated  with 
himself,  his  son,  C.  N.,  as  a  partner,  the 
firm  name  being  changed  to  S.  A.  M. 
Ross  &  Son.  In  1879,  J.  B.  Stapp  be- 
came a  partner,  and  the  firm  changed  to 
Ross  &  Stapp.  The  latter  put  in  no  cap- 
ital, but  business  knowledge  and  work, 
so  as  to  take  the  load  of  business  cares 
from  the  shoulders  of  the  elder  Mr. 
Ross.  In  1883,  Mr.  Stapp  withdrew 
from  the  firm,  and  the  store  was  run  un- 
der the  name  of  C.  N.  Ross,  until  in 
March,  1885,  when  Frank  L.  Holland 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  business, 
and  the  firm  name  changed  to  its  pres- 
ent form.  They  have  recently  enlarged 
their  business  and  added  carpets  to 
their  other  trade.  They  carry  one  of 
the  heaviest  stocks  in  the  county. 

C.  N.  Ross,  one  of  the  leading  mer- 
chants of  Macomb,  is  a  son  of  S.  A.  M. 
and  Sophia  A.  Ross,  and  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county,  state  of  New  York,  on 
the  4th  day  of  March,  1853.  His  parents 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
in  1861,  and  settled  in  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb. Here  C.  N.  Ross  received  his  ed- 
ucation and  was  bred  to  mercantile  life 
in  the  store  of  his  father,  with  whom  he 
afterwards  became  associated  as  a  part- 
ner in  the  business.  Endowed  with  a 
natural  ability  for  mercantile  pursuits, 
he  has  been  eminently  successful.  In 
the  month  of  April,  1881,  Mr.  Ross  led 
to  the  hymeneal  altar  Mary  W.  Matteson, 
of  Galesburg,  Illinois.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  republican,  but,  as  his  business  re- 
quires his  whole  time  and  attention,  he 
gives  but  little  of  his  time  to  political 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1059 


matters.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

The  dry  goods  establishment  of  Wyne 
Bros.,  was  instituted  in  the  fall  of  1874, 
by  J.  W.  Wyne  and  J.  B.  Stapp,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Stapp  &  Wyne.  They 
continued  together  until  February,  1879, 
when  by  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Stapp, 
Mr.  Wyne  became  sole  proprietor.  Until 
April,  1882,  he  remained  alone  in  the 
business,  but  at  that  time  he  associated 
with  him,  his  brother,  H.  C.,  and  the 
present  firm  was  formed.  They  carry  a 
large  stock  and  are  doing  a  first-class 
business.  Their  store  is  on  the  east  side 
of  the  square,  and  is  one  of  the  hand- 
somest in  the  city. 

J.  W.  Wyne,  one  of  the  firm  of  Wyne 
Bros.,  was  born  in  Macomb,  February 
27,  1850.  After  receiving  his  education 
he  commenced  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk, 
and,  in  1774,  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  with  J.  B.  Stepp.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1876,  J.  W.  Wyne  and  Alice  Ervin, 
a  daughter  of  William  Ervin,  were  united 
in  marriage.  They  are  the  parents  of 
two  children — Ervin  and  Mary.  Mr. 
Wyne  is  a  member  of  the  A.  F.  &.  A.  M. 

H.  C.  Wyne,  of  the  firm  of  Wyne  Bros., 
is  a  son  of  J.  E.  and  Clarinda  Wyne.  He 
was  born  in  the  city  of  Macomb  on  the 
7th  of  March,  1852,  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  that  city.  When 
he  was  but  a  mere  lad  he  entered  the 
postoffice  as  a  clerk,  and  served  as  such 
at  different  intervals  for  several  years. 
In  1876  he  went  to  Washington  territory 
and  wras  there  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  until  1881,  when  he  returned  to 
Macomb,  and,  in  April,  1882,  became  a 
member  of  the  present  firm  of  Wyne 
Bros. 


Veiiable  Bros.,  dealers  in  general  mer- 
chandise, commenced  business  in  1866. 
The  dry  goods  department  of  their  busi- 
ness was  established  by  their  father  in 
1861.  The  present  firm,  James  C.  and 
John  W.  Venable,  carry  a  stock  of  about 
$14,000,  and  their  annual  sales  foot  up 
from  $30,000  to  $33,000.  Their  sales- 
room is  24x80  feet  in  size. 

Charles  Mapes  commenced  business 
in  August,  1881,  in  partnership  with  D. 
M.  Graves.  On  the  1st  of  February,  1885, 
the  latter  retired  from  the  firm  and  the 
business  was  run  by  Mr.  Mapes  alone. 
Graves  &  Mapes  purchased  the  stock, 
fixtures  and  good  will  of  Churchill  & 
Twyman.  This  establishment  dates  from 
an  early  day,  and  many  changes  have 
occurred  since  its  inception.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  William  Bell,  in  1839  or  1840, 
was  the  originator  of  the  stand. 

Charles  Mapes,  one  of  the  leading  dry 
goods  merchants  of  the  city  of  Macomb, 
is  a  native  of  Bureau  county,  Illinois, 
born  April  19,  1856.  His  parents  are 
Elder  G.  W.  Mapes  and  Martha  (Dem- 
son  )  Mapes,  wrho  now  reside  near  Mon- 
tezuma,  Iowa.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
went  to  Eureka,  Woodford  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1873,  and  there  attended  Chris- 
tian college  two  years.  He  subsequently 
taught  school  in  that  county.  In  1876, 
he  came  to  Macomb,  and  entered  the  law 
office  of  William  H.  Neece.  Three  years 
later  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  be- 
gan practicing  his  profession.  He  con- 
tinued it  however,  but  a  short  time,  then 
engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business  in 
partnership  with  H.  C.  Twyman,  the 
name  of  the  firm  being,  H.  C.  Twyman  & 
Co.  In  September,  1881,  D.  M.  Graves 
purchased  an  interest  in,  and  H.  C.  Twy- 


1060 


HJSTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


man  retired  from  the  fiwn.  February  1, 
1885,  Mr.  Mapes  bought  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Graves,  and  is  now  conducting  the 
business  alone.  Charles  Mapes  was  mar- 
ried April  19,  1880,  to  Belle  Twyman, 
daughter  of  H.  C.  Twyinan.  Three  chil- 
dren have  been  born  to  them,  only  one  of 
whom — Lucy,  is  now  living.  George  H. 
and  Martha  are  deceased.  Mr.  Mapes  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  blue  lodge  and 
chapter,  also  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  dry  goods  house  of  Stapp  &  New- 
ton was  established  by  that  firm  on  the 
8th  of  March,  1884,  in  a  new  brick  build- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  the  square.  They 
carry  a  stock  of  about  $6,000,  in  a  sales- 
room 22x70  feet  in  floor  measurement. 

A.  P.  Wetherhold  established  a  dry 
goods  store  during  the  year  1862,  and  un- 
der that  gentleman  it  throve  exceedingly 
well.  On  February  1,  1885,  Mr.  Weth- 
erhold formed  a  partnership  with  H.  H. 
Smith,  and  the  firm  name  Changed  to 
that  of  Smith  &  Co.  Their  salesroom 
which  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  square, 
in  Bailey's  block,  is  20x90  feet  in  size. 
They  carry  about  $8,000  in  stock. 

J.  C.  McClellan  &  Son,  dealers  in 
clothing,  hats,  caps  and  gents'  furnishing 
goods,  are  the  representatives  of  a  busi- 
ness that  was  established  in  1872  or  3, 
by  S.  P.  Dewey.  In  1875,  the  latter  dis- 
posed of  it  to  J.  C.  McClellan,  who,  in 
1882,  admitted  his  son  to  a  partnership. 
They  occupy  a  store  building  24x80  feet 
in  ground  area,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
square,  and  carry  a  stock  of  from  $6,000 
to  $10,000.  They  have  a  merchant  tail- 
oring department  in  connection  with 
their  other  business. 

The  clothing  house  now  operated  by 
I.  M.  Fellheimer,  was  established  in 


1866,  by  Strauss  &  Co.,  who  continued 
it  until  1868,  when  .John  Strauss  be- 
came sole  proprietor.  In  1877  he  as- 
sociated with  himself  S.  P.  Wilson,  as  a 
partner,  and  the  firm  name  changed  to 
that  of  Strauss  &  Wilson.  -In  1878,  I. 
M.  Fellheimer  purchased  the  interest  of 
Mr.  Strauss,  and  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wilson  &  Fellheimer,  the  business  was 
carried  on  until  1882,  when  I.  M.  Fell- 
heimer became  the  sole  proprietor.  He 
carries  a  large  and  carefully  selected 
stock,  and  does  an  immense  business. 

W.  S.  Kenner,  a  representative  of  the 
clothing  business,  commenced  business 
in  1877,  in  company  with  A.  V.  Brook- 
ing, under  the  firm  name  of  Brooking 
&  Kenner,  they  purchasing  the  business 
of  Major  &  Trotter,  who  had  established 
the  business  about  four  years  previously. 
In  August,  1878,  Mr.  Brooking  with- 
drew from  the  firm,  since  which  time 
Mr.  Kenner  has  operated  the  trade 
singly. 

W.  L.  Kenner,  clothier  and  gents' 
furnisher,  of  Macomb,  was  born  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  July  24, 
1838,  his  parents  being  L.  W.  and  Mary 
H.  (Bell)  Kenner,  both  of  whom  are 
natives  of  Kentucky.  In  1864,  they 
came  to  McDonough  county,  but  only 
remained  two  or  three  years,  then  re- 
turning to  Kentucky,  where  they  still 
reside.  W.  L.  Kenner  received  his  ed- 
ucation in  private  schools,  and  was 
early  initiated  into  a  business  life,  his 
father  being  a  merchant  tailor  and  also 
a  general  merchant.  On  the  llth  day 
of  February,  1862,  Mr.  Kenner  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Emma.  T. 
Myers,  and  in  February,  1863,  removed 
to  Homer,  Indiana,  and  engaged  in  gen- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1061 


eral  merchandising,  and  also,  for  a  time, 
followed  agricultural  pursuits.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1865,  he  removed  to  Macomb,  and 
for  one  year  acted  in  the  capacity  of 
clerk,  at  the  Randolph  house.  He  then 
engaged  in  farming  in  Scotland  town- 
ship, where  he  purchased  320  acres  of 
land,  which  he  still  owns.  In  1874,  he 
returned  to  Macomb,  and  was  engaged 
in  general  speculation  until  1877,  when 
he  purchased,  in  company  with  A.  V. 
Brooking,  the  clothing  business  of  Ma- 
jor &  Trotter.  In  August,  1878,  Mr, 
Brooking  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner 
and  withdrew  from  the  firm,  since  which 
time  Mr.  Kenner  has  been  the  sole  pro- 
prietor. Mrs.  Kenner  died  September 
3,  1882,  leaving  six  children — J.  B., 
Mary  C.,  Mattie  R.,  Willie  and  Ollie, 
twins,  and  John.  One  child,  James, 
a  twin  brother  of  John,  died  at  the  age 
of  11  months.  February  25,  1883,  Mrs. 
Anna  B.  Garrison,  nee  Seward,  became 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Kenner.  He  is  a  demo- 
crat, but  has  no  political  aspirations. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kenner,  and  two  of  the 
children,  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 

J.  H.  Phelps,  merchant  tailor,  estab- 
lished business  in  Macomb,  October  1, 
1877,  in  the  Bailey  block,  on  the  north 
side  of  the  square,  upstairs.  He  after- 
wards removed  to  the  east,  and  then  the 
south  side  of  the  square,  and  in  Febru- 
ary, 1882,  removed  to  his  present  loca- 
tion, in  the  Opera  House  block.  Here 
he  has  a  room  20x65  feet  in  size,  in 
which  he  carries  a  stock  of  about  $3,000 
worth  of  goods  in  his  line.  He  fur- 
nishes employment  to  some  four  men. 

J.  H.    Phelps,  the  leading  merchant 
tailor  of    Macomb,  is  a  native  of   this 


county.  He  was  born  February  14, 
1847,  and  nearly  all  his  life  has  been 
spent  in  Macomfo.  He  learned  the  trade 
of  tailor  when  17  vears  old,  which  has 
always  been  his  business.  He  now  has 
a  good  trade  established,  and  is  a  genial, 
accommodating  gentleman.  He  was 
married  in  May,  1869,  to  M.  K.  Shrier. 
They  have  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  now  living — Willie  and  Orrin. 

George  Milligan,  merchant  tailor,  com- 
menced business  in  Macomb,  in  1873. 
His  present  place  of  business  is  in  the 
First  National  bank  building,  up  stairs. 

Thomas  J.  Beard  was  the  first  to  deal 
in  hardware,  exclusively.  He  was  a  tinner 
by  trade,  and  on  coming  here  in  1834  or 
1835,  did  that  kind  of  work.  Later  on, 
he  put  in  a  stock  of  goods  and  was  the 
first  to  make  a  business  of  selling 
stoves.  He  died  in  Macomb,  in  April, 
1878. 

Scott  &  Brooking,  dealers  in  hard- 
ware, agricultural  implements,  stoves, 
cutlery  and  lamp  goods,  commenced 
business  in  December,  1881,  being  suc- 
cessors to  Cook  &  Scott,  who  had  pur- 
chased the  stock  of  C.  S.  Cottrell,  some 
five  years  previously.  The  stand  was 
established  in  1856,  by  Cottrell  Brothers. 
The  present  firm  occupy  the  whole  of 
the  three  stories  of  the  brick  building 
on  the  south  side  of  the  square,  each  of 
which  is  24x170  feet  in  floor  area.  In 
addition  to  this,  they  have  two  ware 
rooms,  one  20x70,  and  the  other  20x40 
feet  in  size,  used  for  storage  purposes. 
The  firm,  composed  of  Robert  Brook- 
ing and  J.  W.  Scott,  carry  a  stock  of 
about  $12,000,  and  do  a  business  of 
about  $40,000,  annually. 

Robert  Brooking,  of  the  firm  of  Scott 


1062 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


&  Brooking,  Macomb,  is  the  oldest  son 
of  Alexander  H.  and  Laura  (Wayland) 
Brooking.  He  was  born  November  17, 
1849,  in  this  county.  He  remained  on  a 
farm  until  1863,  when  he  came  to  Ma- 
comb  and  entered  the  high  school.  In 
1868,  he  removed  to  Mexico,  Audrain 
county,  Missouri,  and  remained  four 
years,engaged  in  farming  and  merchan- 
dising. In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  returned 
to  McDonough  county,  and  went  into  the 
hardware  store  of  C.  S.  Cottrell,  there 
he  remained  four  years.  Meanwhile  the 
firm  was  changed  to  Cook  &  Scott,  and 
for  them  he  clerked  five  years.  He  then 
bought  Cook's  interest,  and,  thus,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1881,  the  firm  of  Scott  &  Brook- 
ing was  established.  He  is  a  genial,  ac- 
commodating gentleman,  thoroughly  un- 
derstands his  business,  and  deservedly 
has  a  good  share  of  public  patronage. 
He  was  married  June  12,  1871,  to  Addie 
Farmer,  a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have 
had  two  children — Frank  A.,  and  Ray 
E.  He  is  a  public  spirited  citizen;  was 
collector  of  taxes  in  the  city  for  1876, 
and  always  takes  an  interest  in  public 
matters.  He  is  a  staunch  republican, 
and  frequently  takes  active  part  in  the 
various  political  contests.  Being  an  able 
speaker,  his  aid  is  much  sought  for 
during  the  political  campaigns  of  the 
county,  and  he  has  thus,  at  different 
times,  rendered  valuable  assistance  to 
the  party  of  his  choice. 

J.  A.  Smith  has  a  general  hardware 
establishment  on  the  west  side  of  the 
square.  The  business  was  originated  by 
C.  L.  Stewart,  who  was  succeeded  by  Mc- 
Intosh  &  Blount,  who  were  followed  by 
Blount  &  Smith.  In  August,  1881,  it 
became  the  property  of  the  present  pro- 


prietor. His  sales  room  is  23x108,  in 
which,  and  in  a  room  in  the  second  story, 
of  the  same  size,  he  carries  $10,000 
worth  of  goods  in  his  line. 

Joseph  W.  Hays  was  born  in  Hire, 
township,  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
August  5,  1836,  his  parents  being  Wm. 
H.  and  Mary  (Funk)  Hays,  with  whom 
he  resided  on  a  farm  and  attended 
school  until  reaching  the  age  of  15  years. 
He  then  spent  one  year  in  Wisconsin, 
then  went  to  Pike's  Peak,  and  from  there 
to  Henry  county,  Missouri,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1863,  at  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  his  native  county,  and  has 
has  since  been  a  resident  of  Macomb. 
Here  he  served  as  a  book-keeper  for 
Thomas  J.  Beard  for  about  12  years, 
and  in  1874,  entered  into  partnership 
with  C.  L.  Stewart,  under  the  firm  name 
of  C.  L.  Stewart  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business,  which  they  con- 
ducted for  two  years,  then  selling  out  to 
J.  W.  Mclntosh.  In  1876,  Mr.  Hays  re- 
ceived the  nomination  for  the  office  of 
sheriff,  on  the  democratic  ticket,  but  was 
defeated  with  the  rest  of  the  ticket.  In 
1879,  he  received  the  appointment  of 
deputy  sheriff  and  served  one  term,  since 
which  time  he  has  served  in  the  capac- 
ity of  clerk  and  book-keeper  for  J.  A. 
Smith,  hardware  merchant.  In  1867, 
Mr.  Hays  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Maggie  Mitchell,  a  daughter  of  James 
Mitchell.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children — Lena,  Jennie,  Frank  and 
Amanda.  Mr.  Hays  is  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason  and  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 

The  hardware  establishment  now  op- 
erated by  Wells  Bros.,  on  the  north  side, 
originated  with  T.  J.  Beard,  in  1871. 
He  was  succeeded  by  C.  L.  Stewart,  who 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1063 


sold  to  the  present  proprietors  in  1875. 
They  occupy  both  stories  of  the  brick 
two-story  building,  owned  by  the  Beard 
estate,  and  carry  a  stoqk  of  about  $10,000 
worth  of  goods. 

George  M.  Wells,  deceased,  came  to 
McDonough  county,  in  1856,  and,  in 
partnership  with  Joseph  Burton  and  W. 
W.  Wells,  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  in  Macomb,  the  firm  name  be- 
ing G.  M.  Wells  &  Co.  This  partner- 
ship continued  for  about  three  years, 
when  George  M.  Wells  disposed  of  his 
interest  and  withdrew  from  the  firm. 
He  then  retired  from  business,  his  death 
occurring  soon  afterwards,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1860.  He  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut, and  was  born  in  1822.  While  yet  a 
small  boy,  he  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Erie  county,  Ohio,  and  assisted  in 
tilling  the  soil  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  and 
engage  in  merchandising  in  Schuyler 
county,  and  remained  there  until  coming 
to  Macomb.  Mr.  Wells  was  married  in 
Rushville,  Schuyler  county,  to  Louisa 
M.  Foss,  and  their  union  was  blessed 
with  seven  children,  two  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  five  are  now  living — 
Anna  E.,  the  wife  of  Dr.  T.  M.  Jorder, 
of  Chicago;  Edward  L.,  Louisa  H.,  the 
wife  of  Frank  R.  Kyle;  George  P.  and 
Wheeler  F.  The  widow  of  George  M. 
Wells,  is  still  living  in  Macomb,  and 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Frank  E.  Kyle. 

Edward  L.  Wells,  of  the  firm  of  Wells 
Bros.,  hardware  merchants,  was  born  on 
the  18th  day  of  January,  1843,  in  Brook- 
lyn, Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  his  par- 
ents being  George  M.  and  Louisa  ( Foss ) 
Wells.  With  his  parents,  Edward  L., 


came  to  Macomb,  in  1856,  where  he  was 
bred  to  mercantile  life.  In  1864,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business  with 
Thomas  J.  Beard,  and  did  business  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  T.  J.  Beard  &  Co., 
Mr.  Beard  having  established  the  busi- 
ness some  years  previous.  This  part- 
nership continued  for  some  five  years, 
when  Mr.  Wells  disposed  of  his  interest 
and  retired  from  the  firm.  He  remained 
out  of  active  business  from  that  time 
until  1875,  at  which  time  he,  in  com- 
pany with  his  brothers,  George  P.  and 
Wheeler  F.,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Wells  Bros.,  succeeded  C.  L.  Stewart  in 
the  hardware  business.  In  the  month 
of  October,  1869,  Edward  L.  Wells  was 
nnited  in  marriage  with  Mary  C.  Baker, 
a  daughter  of  J.  H.  Baker,  and  as  a  re- 
sult of  that  union,  they  now  have  two 
children — George  M.  and  Edward  B. 
Mr.  Wells  is  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  in 
politics  is  a  republican,  and  always  ex- 
ercises his  right  of  franchise.  He  has 
had  no  ambition  for  political  preferment, 
although  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
city  council  of  Macomb. 

George  P.  Wells,  also  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Wells  Brothers,  was  born  in 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  December  23, 
1848,  and  came  to  Macomb,  with  his  par- 
ents, in  1856.  In  1875,  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  his  brothers  in  the  hardware 
business,  which  they  still  continue.  Mr. 
Wells  was  married  December  10,  1873, 
to  Mary  L.  Walker,  a  daughter  of  James 
D.  Walker.  They  are  the  parents  of 
four  children — Mary,  Walker,  Charles 
and  Nellie.  Mr.  Wells  is  a  member  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen, 
in  politics  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  as  a  member  of  the  city  council. 


1064 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


E.  M.  Farmer,  a  leading  merchant  in 
the  boot  and  shoe  line  in  the  city,  com- 
menced business  in  the  Scott  building, 
on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square,  in 
August,  1882.  Previous  to  this  he  had 
been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Farmer  & 
Ross,  in  the  same  line  of  trade,  next  door 
but  succeeded  that  firm  upon  removal.  His 
salesroom  is  20x100  feet  in  size,  and  he 
carries  a  stock  that  will  average  in  value 
about  $10,000. 

Ed.  M.  Farmer,  boot  and  shoe  manu- 
facturer and  dealer,  came  to  this  county 
when  but  three  years  old,  from  Indiana, 
where  he  was  born  September  21,  1855. 
His  parents  were  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
(Iceminger)  Farmer.  The  former  died 
in  December,  1868,  and  the  latter  is  still 
living.  He  came  to  this  county  with  his 
parents  and  settled  in  Macomb.  His 
father  was  a  tombstone  cutter,  and  came 
to  his  death  in  consequence  of  a  collection 
of  marble  dust  about  the  heart.  Ed.  M. 
worked  on  a  farm  most  of  the  time  until 
17  years  old,  when  he  commenced  learn- 
ing the  trade  of  shoemaker.  He  was  in- 
dustrious and  worked  at  the  bench  for 
five  years,  then  engaged  in  business  on 
the  east  side  of  square.  He  then  formed  a 
partnership  with  Joseph  Durr,  which 
continued  three  years,  when.  Durr's  in- 
terest was  purchased  by  S.  A.  M.  Ross. 
The  firm  of  Farmer  &  Ross  continued 
three  years,  since  which  time  Mr.  Farmer 
has  been  sole  proprietor  of  the  business. 
He  now  has  one  of  the  best  establish- 
ments of  the  kind  in  the  city,  and  is  an 
agreeable  and  accommodating  gentle- 
man. He  was  married  in  November, 
1876,  to  Ida  M.  Smith,  a  native  of  this 
county  and  daughter  of  John  T.  Smith. 
They  have  had  three  children  all  of 


whom  are  now  living — Walter,  Roy  and 
Delia.  Mr.  Farmer  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  his  op- 
portunity was  quite  limited,  by  personal 
endeavor  and  application,  however,  he 
has  secured  a  fair  business  education. 
He  has  been  brought  up  in  this  county, 
and  is  well  known  throughout  its  bor- 
ders. 

B.  F.  Randolph,  boot  and  shoe  dealer, 
commenced  business  about  the  year  1868, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  square,  on  the 
site  of  the  present  Masonic  block.  He 
was  the  successor  of  C.  M.  Ray,  who  es- 
tablished the  same  several  years  previ- 
ously. In  1872,  Mr.  Randolph  removed 
the  stock  to  his  present  location  on  the 
north  side  of  the  square.  This  room  is 
20x74  feet  in  size.  His  stock  is  valued 
at  about  $10,000. 

Among  the  representatives  of  the  boot 
and  shoe  firms,  Kerman  &  Howard  must 
not  be  missed.  This  establishment  orig- 
inated with  J.  N.  Brown,  in  1869,  who 
was  succeeded  by  Lamon  and  Blount. 
Mr.  Blount  retiring,  the  firm  name  was 
changed  to  that  of  P.  E.  Lamon,  and  in 
August,  1880,  the  business  was  purchased 
by  the  present  proprietors.  They  are 
located  on  .the  north  side  of  the  square, 
where  they  carry  about  $8,000  in  stock. 

The  pioneer  drug  store  of  Macomb 
was  established  by  T.  B.  Maury,  in  1849, 
and  was  by  him  continued  until  1856. 

The  popular  drug  store  now  conducted 
in  Macomb,  by  John  M.  Keefer,  was 
opened  in  1861  by  George  D.  Keefer, 
in  company  with  a  brother-in-law  as  a 
silent  partner,  but  three  years  later 
George  D.  bought  out  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  and  continued  the  business  alone 
until  the  winter  of  1866-67,  when  John 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1005 


M.  Keefer  bought  an  interest,  the  firm 
name  then  becoming  George  D.  Keefer 
and  Brother.  This  partnership  contin- 
ued until  the  death  of  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  occurred,  which  was  on  the 
14th  day  of  July,  1879.  The  firm,  by 
excellent  business  qualifications,  and  a 
thorough  mastery  of  the  drug  profession, 
was  eminently  successful.  John  M. 
Keefer  is  now  the  sole  proprietor  of  the 
business,  and  carries  a  full  line  of  every- 
thing which  is  kept  in  a  first-class  drug 
store.  On  the  25th  day  of  February, 
1879,  John  M.  Keefer  and  Lucy  Beard, 
a  daughter  of  T.  J.  Beard,  were  united 
in  marriage.  Two  children  have  been 
born  to  them,  one  of  whom,  Ruth,  is  now 
living.  Mr.  Keefer,  also,  has  two  chil- 
dren by  a  former  wife.  In  politics,  he 
is  a  democrat,  always  exercising  his  right 
of  franchise,  but  has  had  no  ambition 
for  political  preferment.  He  is  a  Royal 
Arch  Mason,  having  joined  the  order  in 
1865,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Mr.  Keefer  is  one  of  Ma- 
comb's  prominent  and  most  successful 
business  men,  and  takes  an  active  inter- 
est in  everything  intended  to  benefit  that 
city  and  vicinity.  He  is  a  stockholder 
and  director  in  the  Macomb  Tile  and 
Sewer  Pipe  company,  and  is,  also,  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Macomb  Building  and  Loan 
association.  He  is  a  native  of  the  state 
of  Maryland,  and  was  born  at  Clear 
Spring,  Washington  county,  Maryland, 
March  31, 1839,  his  parents  being  George 
and  Susan  (Fogwell)  Keefer.  When 
John  M.  was  14  years  of  age,  his  parents 
removed  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall 
of  1854,  to  Canton,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  was  engaged  in  the  drug  trade  up 
to  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 


in  1862.  The  mother  still  resides  there, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  80  years.  In 
1861,  John  M.  Keefer  enlisted  in  the 
United  States  service,  and  served  as  hos- 
pital steward  for  three  years.  After  his 
discharge,  he  went  to  Virginia  City, 
Montana  territory,  and  remained  until 
the  fall  of  1866,  at  which  time  he  came 
to  Macomb,  and  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  with  his  brother,  as  heretofore 
mentioned. 

E.  A.  Lane,  the  druggist  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square,  under  the  Miller 
House,  is  the  successor  to  Lane  &  Gore, 
who  opened  a  new  stock  of  drugs,  medi- 
cines, etc.,  in  1877.  Mr.  Lane  became 
the  sole  proprietor  in  April,  1878.  The 
room  is  18x60,  and  is  well  filled  with  a 
choice  stock,  valued  at  $2,000.  In  1870, 
a  drug  store  was  established  in  this  build- 
ing by  Twyman  Bros.,  who  were  suc- 
ceeded by  McMillan  &  Ervin,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1871.  These  latter  gentleman  con- 
tinued about  a  year,  when  William  Ervin 
sold  to  McMillan,  but  in  about  a  month 
the  latter  was  succeeded  by  Ervin  & 
Kyle.  In  about  a  year  this  firm  became 
William  Ervin  &  Son,  and  the  stock  was 
removed  to  a  building  on  the  south  side 
of  the  square. 

Enoch  A.  Lane,  proprietor  of  a  drug 
store  in  Macomb,  and  a  business  man  of 
the  place,  is  a  native  of  this  county.  Ha 
was  born  in  Industry  township,  where 
his  parents  are  old  settlers.  Enoch  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  enlisted  in 
the  army,  February,  27,  1865,  in  com- 
pany G,  49fch  Illinois  infantry,  and  served 
until  September,  1865,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  Illinois.  After 
his  army  experience,  he  returned  to  this 
county,  and  attended  the  city  high  school 


1066 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY; 


one  and  a-half  years,  after  which  he 
taught  school  one  and  a-half  year  in 
Chalmers  township.  He  then  entered 
the  drug  store  of  P.  H.  Delaney,  where 
he  continued  for  a  little  more  than  eight 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time 
he  established  his  present  business.  He 
was  married  December  23,  1875,  to  Mar- 
tha F.  Benton,  a  native  of  Indiana,  but 
at  that  time  a  resident  of  Bushnell.  Mr. 
Lane  is  the  owner  of  160  acres  in  section 
13,  Chalmers  township,  the  homestead 
formerly  owned  by  his  father.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  the  G.  A.  R. 
Mrs.  Lane  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church. 

Ervin  &  Son,  druggists,  who  are  spoken 
of  above,  came  into  existence,  as  a  firm, 
in  1873,  and  removed  to  their  present 
location,  on  the  south  side  of  the  square, 
in  March,  1877.  Their  salesroom  is  60 
feet  long  by  18  feet  wide,  and  is  well 
filled  with  a  choice  assortment  of  fine 
drugs  and  fancy  articles  that  will  invoice 
nearly  $3,500. 

Frank  R.  Kyle,  another  leading  dealer 
in  drugs,  medicines,  paints,  oils,  etc.,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  square,  commenced 
business  in  February,  1862,  purchasing 
the  same  of  T.  B.  Maury,  and  con- 
tinued to  occupy  the  building  now  used 
by  Joseph  Durr,  until  the  spring  of 
1868,  when  J.  McMillan  purchased  an 
interest,  and  remained  in  about  a  year, 
when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  Kyle,  who  op- 
erated it  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when  he 
negotiated  for  his  present  building,  into 
which  he  removed,  in  November  of  that 
year.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  his  brother, 
Joseph  B.  Kyle,  became  a  partner  in  the 
business,  remaining  about  a  year,  since 


which  time,  Mr.  Kyle  has  continued  to 
run  the  store  alone.  His  room  is  20x80, 
and  he  carries  a  stock  of  about  $3,000. 

Frank  R.  Kyle  established  his  present 
business  in  Macomb,  in  the  month  of 
February,  1862,  and  consequently,  is  the 
oldest  merchant  in  his  line  in  the  city. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  state  of  Illinois, 
and  was  born  on  the  26th  day  of  January, 
1840,  in  the  city  of  Macomb,  his  parents 
being  James  B.  and  Sarah  P.  (Rice) 
Kyle.  He  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Macomb,  and,  after 
reaching  his  18th  year,  commenced  mer- 
cantile life  in  the  capacity  of  a  clerk  in 
the  drug  store  of  Dr.  D.  B.  Rice,  with 
whom  he  remained  about  two  years. 
From  that  time  until  the  month  ot 
August,  1861,  he  acted  as  a  clerk  in  a 
c.lothing  store,  and  then  enlisted  in  com- 
pany H,  2d  Illinois  cavalry,  and  served 
as  a  bugler  for  six  months,  then  being 
discharged,  on  account  of  physical  disa- 
bility. Returning  to  Macomb,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  trade,  as  the  successor 
of  T.  B.  Maury.  He  continued  to  run 
this  store  until  the  spring  of  1865,  when 
he  sold  it  to  Dr.  Richie,  and  established 
his  present  business,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  square.  Frank  H.  Kyle  and 
Louisa  H.  Wells,  a  daughter  of  George 
M.  and  Louisa  (Foss)  Wells,  were  united 
in  marriage  on  the  9th  day  of  June, 
1869.  As  a  result  of  this  union,  they 
are  the  parents  of  one  son — Ralph  B. 
Mr.  Kyle  is  a  republican,  has  been  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  but  has  no 
desire  for  political  honors.  He  is  a 
Presbyterian,  and  a  Royal  Arch  Mason, 
having  served  as  high  priest  of  that 
order  for  several  years. 

L.  M.  Rost  established  a  drug  busi- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1067 


ness  on  the  west  side  of  the  square,  in 
August,  1881.  In  February,  1882,  he 
was  succeeded  by  the  present  firm  of 
Host  &  Stinson,  of  which  he  is  a  mein- 
.ber.  Salesroom,  20x60. 

P.  H.  Delaney  first  commenced  in  the 
drug  business  in  the  spring  of  1865,  in 
the  building  now  occupied  by  J.  H.  Ma- 
loney  as  a  grocery  store.  He  had,  as  a 
partner  at  that  time,  H.  W.  Gash,  but  in 
about  a  year,  the  interest  of  the  latter 
was  purchased  by  J.  W.  McCartney.  In 
another  year,  W.  H.  Hainline  became 
the  owner  of  Mr.  McCartney's  interest, 
and  shortly  afterwards  the  stock  was  re- 
moved to  a  building  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Stapp  &  Newton  store.  After 
about  two  years  of  partnership,  Mr. 
Hainline  sold  out  to  Mr.  Delaney,  who 
has  run  it  ever  since.  -He  has  since  re- 
moved to  his  present  location,  and  has 
a  fine  salesroom,  20x130,  in  which  he 
carries  a  large  stock  of  fine  drugs, 
paints,  oils,  toilet  articles,  and  fancy  ar- 
ticles, that  will  invoice  about  $4,000. 

P.  H.  Delaney,  druggist  in  Macomb, 
came  to  this  county  in  1865,  from  Nash- 
ville, Tennessee.  He  was  born  in 
Queens  county,  Ireland,  June  22,  1841, 
and  remained  in  his  native  county,  until 
1848,  when,  with  his  mother,  he  came 
to  America,  his  father  having  died  in 
Ireland.  They  landed  at  New  Orleans, 
and  went  thence  to  Clarksville,  Tennes- 
see, and  there  remained  until  1849.  -He 
then  went  to  Mississippi,  and  lived  until 
1857,  clerking  in  stores,  and  attending 
school.  His  principal  education,  how- 
ever, was  obtained  by  personal  applica- 
tion and  endeavor,  when  not  in  school, 
and  so  far  as  his  business  qualifications 
are  concerned,  he  may  properly  be  called 


a  self-made  man.  In  1857,  he  returned 
to  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  and  engaged 
in  the  drug  business,  continued  two 
years,  then  read  medicine  with  Dr.  E. 
B.  Haskins  as  preceptor  two  years.  The 
medical  education  thus  obtained,  was 
subsequently  supplemented  by  attend- 
ance on  a  course  of  medical  lectures  at 
Nashville,  in  1859  and  '60.  From  Ten- 
nessee, he  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois. 
During  his  stay  at  that  place  the  civil 
war  broke  out,  and  in  defense  of  the 
Union  of  his  adopted  country,  he  en- 
listed in  company  A,  16th  Illinois  infan- 
try, and  served  as  private  until  1863, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of 
hospital  steward,  and  remained  with  the 
regiment  until  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field, in  1865.  He  participated  in  all 
the  engagements  during  that  noble 
inarch  from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  including 
the  battle  of  Bentonville,  in  which  about 
one-third  of'  his  company  were  killed. 
At  the  conclusion  of  his  army  service, 
he  came  to  Macomb,  and  bought  a  stock 
of  drugs  from  Dr.  Ritchie,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  public  square,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  H.  W.  Gash.  The 
business  under  that  firm  continued 
about  one  year,  when  Gash  sold  out  to 
John  W.  McCartney,  who  subsequently 
died  of  consumption  in  Maryville,  Cali- 
fornia. Then  P.  H.  Delaney  became  sole 
proprietor,  and  is  now  engaged  in  that 
business  on  the  north  side  of  the  square. 
In  addition  to  the  drug  trade  and  office 
work,  he  is  a  taxidermist,  and  has 
numerous  specimens  of  rare  and  beauti- 
ful birds  of  various  families  and  climes. 
He  Was  married  in  1857,  to  Mary  E. 
Lane,  a  native  of  this  county.  They 
have  one  child  16  years  old,  who  is  now 


1068 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


attending  St.  Francis  college  in  Quincy, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Delaney  belongs  to  all  the 
fraternal  societies,  and  is  a  genial,  whole- 
souled  gentleman. 

The  jewelry  house  of  Stocker  &  Son 
was  established  by  L.  Stocker,  in  1854, 
in  the  clothing  store  of  J.  R.  Brown,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square.  A  year 
later  he  removed  to  the  south  side  in  a 
small  frame  building.  During  the  year 
1860,  he  erected  a  brick  building  on  the 
site  of  his  present  location,  but  which, 
in  1878,  he  tore  down,  as  it  was  incon- 
veniently small,  and  built  his  present 
double  brick  store,  two  stories  high.  In 
1879,  the  present  firm  was  formed. 
They  occupy  a  sales  room  of  18x80  feet 
in  size,  and  carry  a  stock  of  jewelry,  sil- 
verware, etc.,  which  is  one  of  the  largest 
in  the  county. 

L.  Stocker,  jeweler,  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Macomb  since  1854,  in  which 
year  he  came  from  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  established  himself  in  the  jewelry 
business,  which  he  has  continued  to  the 
present  time,  and  has  a  good  trade.  He 
is  the  oldest  jeweler  in  Macomb,  and 
undoubtedly  carries  the  largest  stock  in 
his  line  of  any  house  in  McDonough 
county.  He  is  a  native  of  Germany, 
having  been  born  in  Bavaria,  on  the  26th 
day  of  April,  1830.  He  learned  the 
jeweler's  trade  in  his  native  country, 
where  he  resided  until  1851,  when  he 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  and  set- 
tled in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  there  follow- 
ing his  trade.  The  ceremony,  which* 
united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony 
L.  Stocker  and  Miss  M.  B.  Pechtold, 
also  native  of  Germany,  was  performed 
in  the  year  of  1851,  Eight  children  have 
been  born  to  them.  One  died  in  infancy, 


one  was  drowned  at  the  age  of  10  years, 
and  six  are  living — Edward,  Amelia, 
Josephine,  Herman,  Lucinda,  and  Pau- 
line. Politically,  Mr.  Stocker  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, but  from  1856  to  1867,  affiliated 
with  the  republican  party.  He  takes 
only  enough  interest  in  politics  to  per- 
form his  duty  as  a  citizen.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  the  I. 
O.  O.  F. 

Charles  Kline,  one  of  the  leading  jew- 
elers of  Macomb,  established  his  place 
in  1872.  He  carries  a  large  and  well  as- 
sorted stock  of  goods  in  his  line  in  his 
fine  store  building  on  the  north  side  of 
the  public  square. 

Charles  Kline,  one  of  the  pioneer 
jewelers  of  Macomb,  came  to  that  city 
in  1859,  and,  in  1861,  commenced  work- 
ing for  L.  Stocker,  and  so  continued 
until  1868.  He  then  went  to  Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin,  and  accepted  a  position 
in  the  wholesale  jewelry  house  of  his 
uncles,  C.  Preusser  &  Bro.,  which  he  re- 
tained for  four  years.  Later,  he  returned 
to  Macomb,  and  established  his  present 
business,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
marked  success.  Mr.  Kline  was  born 
near  Frankf  urt-on-the-Main,  on  the  25th 
day  of  February,  1835.  When  only  13 
years  of  age,  he  emigrated  to  the  United 
States,  alone,  the  journey  across  the 
Atlantic  consuming  46  days.  Arriving 
in  New  York,  he  immediately  proceeded 
to  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  com- 
menced his  trade  of  a  jeweler,  with  one 
of  his  uncles,  all  of  his  male  relatives 
being  jewelers.  December  8,  1848,  the 
store  in  which  he  was  working  was  con- 
sumed by  fire,  and  Charles  lost  all  of 
his  personal  effects.  The  following 
year  he  went  to  Grand  Rapids,  where 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1069 


he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1852,  then 
going  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  from  there  to 
Cincinnati,  and  from  there  to  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  at  the  latter  place  he  was  un- 
able to  procure  work,  so  he  proceeded 
up  the  river,  and  for  about  a  year 
worked  in  LaCrosse,  Wisconsin.  After 
working  in  various  other  Wisconsin 
towns,  we  find  him  next  at  Hannibal, 
Missouri,  then  at  Palmyra,  then  at  Mus- 
catine,  Iowa,  next  at  Memphis,  Tennes- 
see, and  in  1859,  in  Macomb.  In  June, 
1864,  Sadie  M.  Pearce,  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  Pearce,  became  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Kline.  They  have  four  children — Kit- 
tie,  Charles  A.,  Bessie  and  Florence. 
Mr.  Kline  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  but 
has  no  political  aspirations.  He  is  a 
Knight  Templar,  has  been  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F,  since  1862;  was  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W. 
lodge  of  Macomb,  and  also  belongs  to 
the  I.  O.  M.  A. 

The  jewelry  and  stationery  store  of  T. 
B.  Shafer,  was  established  by  him  in 
1879,  in  the  place  he  now  occupies,  on 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  public 
square.  He  carries  a  finely  selected 
stock  in  both  lines,  of  about  $8,000,  and 
does  an  annual  business  of  about  $14,- 
000.  General  watch  and  jewelry  repair- 
ing is  carried  on,  and  all  novelties  in 
wall  paper,  notions,  fancy  articles, 
silverware,  jewelry,  books,  stationery, 
etc.,  kept  on  hand. 

T.  B.  Shaffer,  jeweler,  is  a  native  of 
Hancock  county,  Illinois,  born  in  Ply- 
mouth, September  18, 1851.  His  parents 
are  still  living  in  that  county.  He  re- 
ceived a  good  education,  graduating  at  the 
high  school.  In  1879,  he  came  to  Ma- 
comb, having  previously  been  engaged 


in  the  jewelry  business  two  years,  and 
two  years  in  the  lumber  trade,  in  his 
native  county.  On  coming  here,  he  en- 
gaged in  the  jewelry  business,  and  in 
connection,  kept  a  book  store,  in  1882. 
Mr.  Shaffer  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  P. 
and  politically,  a  democrat. 

The  book,  stationery  and  artist's  ma- 
terial depot  of  Anderson  &  Fentem,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  square,  was  estab- 
lished by  Julia  Trull,  in  November, 
1880,  and  who  was  succeeded  in  March, 
1884,  by  the  present  proprietors.  Their 
art  sales  room  is  22x110  feet  in  floor 
area,  and  the  stock  they  carry  will 
reach  about  $5,000  in  value. 

William  E.  Anderson  is  a  native  of 
this  county,  born  in  Tennessee  township, 
November  15,  1863,  and  is  a  son  of  Wil- 
liam J.,  and  Sarah  A.  Anderson.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  a  farm,  and  like 
most  farmer's  sons,  he  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  as  opportunity  afforded, 
and  secured  a  fair  education,  which  was 
subsequently  supplemented  by  a  course 
of  instruction  in  the  schools  of  Macomb. 
In  1883,  he  taught  school  in  Scotland 
township,  and  in  the  spring  of  1884,  en- 
gaged in  business.  He  is  now  a  partner 
in  the  bookstore  firm  of  Anderson  & 
Fentem. 

George  R.  Fentem,  one  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  a  bookstore  in  Mecomb,  was 
born  in  Memphis,  Tennessee,  October 
29,  1858,  and  there  lived  until  the  fall 
of  1864.  He  then  came  to  this  county, 
and  settled  in  Hire  township.  He  early 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and  in 
1880,  and  until  1882,  attended  Normal 
school  at  Macomb — then  having  the 
necessary  qualifications,  he  taught 
school  at  Pennington's  Point,  and  in 


1070 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Bethel  township.  Then  he  went  into 
business  in  Macomb.  He  was  married 
September  2,  1884,  at  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, to  Ida  M.  Patterson,  a  native -of 
Sangamon  county.  Mr.  Fentem  is  a 
member  of  the  K.  of  P. 

E.  H.  Black,  dealer  in  books,  station- 
ery, toys,  wall  papers,  etc..  is  the  succes- 
sor of  S.  J.  Clarke.  In  1869,  he  pur- 
chased one  half  interest  in  business 
with  Henry  Seymour,  and  continued 
with  him,  under  the  firm  name  of  Sey- 
mour &  Company,  until  April,  1871, 
when  he  withdrew  and  entered  into  bus- 
iness for  himself,  succeeding  Mr.  Clarke. 
His  place  of  business  is  in  the  Opera 
House  block. 

John  H.  Grigsby,  has  a  fine  grocery 
stand  on  the  west  side  of  the  square. 
He  commenced  business  in  August, 
1884,  buying  out  Samuel  Frost,  who  had 
purchased  the  building  and  put  in  a 
new  stock  two  years  previous.  Before 
this,  Barclay  &  Simpson  had  run  a  gro- 
cery store  in  the  same  building,  succeed- 
ing John  Keefer,  who  had  had  a  drug 
stock  in  the  same  building.  The  sales- 
room is  20x50  feet  in  size,  and  the  stock 
is  invoiced  at  $2,000. 

John  H.  Grigsby,  fourth  son  of  Na- 
thaniel Grigsby,  of  Blandinsville,  was 
born  in  that  township,  December  7, 1861. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town,  and  at  the  age  of 
19  years,  engaged  in  the  stock  business 
upon  his  father's  farm.  August  27, 1882, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lulu  E. 
Paggett,  a  native  of  Indiana,  but  at  that 
time,  a  resident  of  Blandinsville.  They 
have  one  child — Callie  L.,  born  October 
7,  1883.  After  his  marriage,  Mr.  Grigsby 
continued  to  reside  upon  the  homestead 


farm  until  his  removal  to  the  city  of 
Macomb,  in  August,  1884.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
still  carries  on.  He  is  a  member  "of  the 
Golden  Rule,  Macomb  Council  No.  17. 
As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Grigsby  is  en- 
terprising and  prosperous.  Socially,  he 
is  a  genial,  pleasant  gentleman. 

In  the  year  1871,  J.  B.  Simpson  and 
T.  J.  Farley,  under  the  firm  name  and 
style  of  Simpson  &  Farley,  established 
a  grocery  store  on  the  west  side  of  the 
square,  where  they  continued  until  July, 
1883,  when  they  removed  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  public  square,  in  the 
Opera  House  block.  Soon  after  the  re- 
moval, Mr.  Simpson  disposed  of  his  in- 
terest to  W.  H.  Davis,  and  the  firm  name 
changed  to  Farley  &  Davis.  They  carry 
full  lines  of  groceries,  provisions  and 
queensware,  and  their  stock  would  in- 
voice over  $2,000. 

W.  M.  Lipe  established  his  present 
grocery  business  on  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  Lafayette  and  Franklin  streets, 
in  1878.  In  1881,  he  erected  the  build- 
ing now  occupied  by  him.  It  is  of  brick, 
and  the  salesroom  is  20x90  feet  in  floor 
area,  and  two  stories  high. 

Lucian  Brooking  is  a  son  of  W.  T. 
and  Louie  (Walker)  Brooking.  He  is 
a  native  of  the  state  of  Texas,  being 
born  on  the  4th  day  of  January,  1858. 
At  that  time  the  family  were  sojourning 
in  that  state,  on  account  of  the  ill  health 
of  W.  T.  Brooking.  They  soon  after- 
wards returned  to  McDonough  county ,« 
Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  on  section 
7,  in  Macomb  township,  where,  after 
reaching  a  suitable  age,  Lucian  helped 
till  the  soil.  He  received  his  education 
partly  in  the  district  schools  of  his  town- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1071 


ship,  and  partly  in  the  Macorab  public 
schools.  On  the  llth  of  March,  1879, 
Lucian  Brooking  and  Jennie  Munsell, 
of  Hamilton,  Iowa,  were  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony.  He  then  en- 
gaged in  agricultural  pursuits,  which  he 
followed  until  the  fall  of  1884,  at  which 
time,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  his  en- 
tire crop  by  the  hail  storm,  he  left  the 
farm  and  removed  to  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business,  which  he  continued  till  March, 
1885,  when  he  sold  out  to  Booth  Bros. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brooking  have  had  two 
children  born  to  them,  one  of  whom  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  months,  and  the  other, 
Albert  M.,  is  still  living,  In  politics, 
Mr.  Brooking  is  a  republican,  but  has 
no  ambition  for  political  preferment. 

The  grocery  business  of  Booth  Bros., 
was  established  by  W.  T.  Brooking  & 
Son,  in  1884.  On  January  1,  1885,  the 
senior  partner  withdrew  and  the  busi- 
ness was  run  by  Lucian  Brooking,  until 
March,  of  the  same  year,  when  it  was 
purchased  by  the  present  proprietors. 
It  is  located  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  square,  under  the  Miller  house. 

Venard  &  Simpson,  groceries,  provis- 
ions, flour,  feed,  etc.,  commenced  busi- 
ness in  January,  1884,  succeeding  Cris- 
singer  &  Venard,  who  had  purchased 
the  stock  of  William  Davis  about  a  year 
previous,  and  had  moved  it  from  the 
building  now  occupied  by  Wm.  Ruckle's 
billiard  room,  to  its  present  location. 
The  salesroom  is  20x50  feet  in  size,  and 
contains  stock  to  the  amount  of  $1,800. 

W.  F.  Smith,  the  enterprising  dealer 
in  groceries,  flour  and  feed,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  square,  established  this  busi- 
ness in  October,  1884.  The  salesroom 


occupied  by  him  is  22x65  feet  in  floor 
area,  and  the  stock  carried  by  him  will 
invoice  about  $2,300. 

W.  F.  Smith,  a  son  of  John  S.  and 
Mary  A.  (Risley)  Smith,  was  born  in 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  March  4,  1845,  and 
when  one  year  of  age  was  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Macomb.  When  quite  a 
small  boy  he  commenced  work  with  his 
father  as  a  plasterer  and  brick-layer, 
which  he  followed  until  1861,  when  he 
enlisted  in  company  B,  16th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, and  served  with  that  company  for 
three  months,  being  then  discharged  on 
account  of  his  extreme  youth,  16  years. 
But  young  Smith  was  determined  to  be 
a  defender  of  his  country,  and,  in  1862, 
again  enlisted,  this  time  in  company,  I, 
78th  Illinois  infantry.  At  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and 
was  confined  for  14  months  in  Richmond, 
Andersonville,  and  other  places.  It  was 
then  arranged  that  10,000  sick  and 
wounded  should  be  exchanged,  and  young 
Smith  was  counted  as  one  of  that  num- 
ber. He  was  then,  in  1865,  mustered 
out  of  the  service,  and  returned  to  Ma- 
comb.  In  March,  1866,  he  went  to  Brook- 
field,  Missouri,  and  took  charge  of  the 
mason  work  for  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joe 
railroad,  which  position  he  filled  until 
December  23,  1867,  at  which  time  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Alice  E.  Barber,  a 
native  of  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  im- 
mediately returned  to  Macomb.  Here 
he  remained,  working  at  his  trade,  until 
the  spring  of  1869,  when  he  went  to  Han- 
nibal, Missouri,  and  again  took  charge 
of  the  mason  work  for  the  same  road  as 
before,  which  position  he  held  until  1873, 
when  he  removed  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
and  followed  his  trade.  In  1876,  he  took 


64 


1072 


HISTOBY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


charge  of  the  mason  work  of  the  Denver, 
South  Park  &  Pacific '  railroad,  and  con- 
tinued in  that  position  until  1880.  In 
that  year  he  organized  what  is  known  as 
the  South  Park  Lime  &  Flux  Co.,  and 
was  chosen  its  general  manager.  On 
November  7,  1883,  he  sold  his  interest 
in  said  business,  and  returned  to  Ma- 
comb,  and,  after  a  short  -visit,  again 
started  westward,  going  to  Washington 
territory,  and  other  points  in  the  west. 
March  13,  1884,  found  him  at  Benton- 
ville,  Arkansas,  where  he  built  a  house, 
and  settled  down.  He  was  well  pleased 
with  the  climate,  but  could  not  say  as 
much  for  the  people,  so  he  sold  out  and 
returned  to  Macomb,  where  he  has  ever 
since  been  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  Avere  both 
dancing  teachers,  and  for  many  years 
taught  dancing  schools.  Mr.  Smith  has 
-traveled  in  every  state  and  territory  in 
the  union,  as  also  through  Mexico,  being 
generally  accompanied  by  his  family. 
During  the  past  year,  he,  together  with 
his  wife  and  son,  'Edwin  F.,  traveled 
about  37,000  miles.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.  and  the  G.  A.  R. 

Brooking  and  Sutton,  who  are  among 
the  leading  grocers  of  the  city,  located 
on  the  southwest  corner  of  the  square, 
in  a  fine,  large,  new  brick  building.  The 
members  of  this  firm  are  J.  H.  Brooking 
and  W.  C.  Sutton.  They  established  the 
stand  in  November,  1882. 

Cook  and  Smith  are  dealers  in  gro- 
ceries and  provisions,  on  the  south  east 
corner  of  the  square,  under  the  Miller 
House.  This  stand  originated  with  D. 
Shumate  in  1867  or  8,  in  a  room  to  the 
north  of  this.  From  him  it  passed  into 


the  hands  of  Lusk  and  Crissinger,  who 
sold  out  to  the  present  proprietor.  The 
sales  room  is  22x90  feet  in  size,  and  the 
stock  carried  is  about  $3,000. 

J.  W.  Cook,  a  son  of  William  and 
Sarah  ( Criswell )  Cook,  was  born  in  Can- 
nonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  on  the  8th  day 
of  May,  1844,  and  carne  to  Macomb 
with  his  parents  in  1851.  In  1859,  he 
commenced  life  as  a  waiter  boy  in  the 
Kandolph  house,  and  served  as  such 
for  about  three  years.  Then,  on  March 
4,  1862,  he  began  working  at  the  tinner's 
trade,  and  after  following  the  same  for 
some  nine  years,  engaged  as  a  clerk  in 
the  hardware  store  of  C.  S.  Cottrell.  At 
the  death  of  Mr.  Cottrell,  Mr.  Cook, 
with  J.  W.  Scott  as  a  partner,  purchased 
the  business,  and,  under  the  firm  name 
of  Cook  and  Scott,  conducted  the  busi- 
ness for  five  years,  when  Mr.  Cook  dis- 
posed of  his  interest  to  his  partner  and 
withdrew  from  the  firm.  He  then  formed 
a  partnership  with  H.  K.  Smith,  and, 
under  the  style  of  Cook  and  Smith,  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business,  grocery 
and  hardware,  and  to-day  finds  him  en- 
gaged in  business  in  the  very  room, 
where,  from  1859  to  1862,  he  served  as 
a  waiter  boy.  In  July,  1878,  Mr.  Cook 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Jennie  E. 
Randolph,  and,  as  a  result  of  that  union 
they  have  two  children — Rea  and  Jay. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican,  and  has 
represented  the  first  ward  in  the  city 
council  for  two  years. 

William  Cook  ( deceased )  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Macomb, 
Illinois,  in  1851.  By  trade  he  was  a 
carpenter,  and  for  several  years  acted  as 
a  ship  carpenter,  running  from  Pitts- 
burg  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  married 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1073 


in  Cannonsburg,  Pennsylvania,  to  Sarah 
Criswell,  and  resided  in  his  native  state 
until  1851,  when  he  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  located  at  Macomb.  But  he  had  no 
more  than  settled  down  in  his  new  home 
when  he  was  attacked  by  that  dreadful 
disease,  cholera,  which  caused  his  death 
suddenly,  in  1851,  after  an  illness  of 
about  ten  hours.  His  widow  resided  at 
Macoinb  until  June,  1884,  at  which  time 
her  death  occurred.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook 
were  the  parents  of  two  children,  both 
of  whom  still  reside  in  Macomb — J.  W. 
and  Mattie,  now  the  wife  of  W.  H.  ]J. 
Bonham. 

J.  H.  Maloney  carries  a  general  stock 
of  groceries,  Hour,  feed,  queensware,  etc.,, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square. 
He,  in  company  with  M.  P.  Agnew,  pur- 
chased the  business  of  Loven  Garrett, 
in  1879.  The  stand  was  established  by 
D^  M.  Graves,  from  whom  Mr.  Garrett 
bought  it.  After  Mr.  Maloney  had  run 
the  business  with  Mr.  Agnew  for  about 
a  year,  he  purchased  the  interest  of  his 
partner,  and  has  ever  since  run  it  alone. 
He  carries  about  $1,500  to  $1,600  in 
stock,  and  does  a  large  business. 

J.  H.  Maloney,  proprietor  of  a  general 
grocery  store  in  Macomb,  came  to  this 
county  in  the  spring  of  1871,  from  Mich- 
igan. He  was  born  in  that  state,  March 
1, 1857,  and  there  remained  until  coming 
here.  In  his  native  state  he  worked  in 
a  carriage  and  wagon  shop,  having  there 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  He 
received  a  fair  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  place  of  his  old  home,  and 
upon  his  arrival  here  engaged  to  work  at 
his  trade  in  the  carriage  shop  of  J.  R. 
Gribble,  and  there  continued  for  two 
years.  He  worked  at  his  trade  for  dif- 


ferent parties,  until  he  established  his 
present  business.  He  was  married,  May 
4,  1873,  to  Margaret  McGann.  They 
have  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  are 
living — Hattie,  Louis  and  Walter.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Maloney  is  a  democrat.  He 
is  a  genial,  accommodating  gentleman. 

Gamage  &  McMillan  are  among  the 
representatives  of  the  grocery  trade. 
This  place  was  established  by  J.  S. 
Gamage,  May  1,  1873.  In  November, 
1881,  the  present  firm  wasformed,  They 
have  a  nice  salesroom,  22x70,  on  Ran- 
dolph street,  a  few  doors  south  of  the 
public  square.  They  carry  a  stock  of 
about  $2,000. 

John  McMillan,  one  of  the  business 
men  of  Macomb,  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  August  17,  1818.  He  is  a  son 
of  John  and  Mary  (McKinney)  McMil- 
lan, both  of  whom  were  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. Both  his  paternal  and  mater- 
nal grandfathers  were  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution,  and  came  from  Scotland  to 
this  country  in  1745.  John  remained  in 
his  native  state  until  the  time  of  his  com- 
ing to  this  county,  in  1854.  He  was 
brought  up  on  a  farm,  and,  at  the  age  of 
18  years,  learned  the  trade  of  druggist, 
in  Canfield,  Mahoning  county.  When 
he  removed  from  Ohio,  he  came  west, 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Schuyler  county, 
Illinois,  near  Huntsville;  thence  he  went 
to  Doddsville,  and  engaged  in  business 
two  years;  then  came  to  this  county. 
In  1860,  he  engaged  in  the  drug  business 
with  J.  W.  Ellis,  and  continued  eight 
months;  then  formed  a  partnership  with 
A.  B.  Stewart,  and  under  the  firm  name 
of  J.  McMillan  &  Company,  carried  on 
the  trade  until  1865.  In  September  of 
that  year  he  sold  his  interest,  but  re- 


1074 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


mained  in  the  store  for  one  year  after- 
ward. He  then  clerked  for  Frank  E. 
Kyle,  18  months,  when  he  removed  to 
Winona  county,  Minnesota.  Keturning, 
in  the  spring  following,  he  entered  into 
a  partnership  with  Mr.  Kyle,  and  con- 
tinued until  1872;  then  sold,  and  pur- 
chased the  business  of  Twyman  Bros., 
and  associated  Captain  Irvin  as  a  partner. 
Subsequently  he  disposed  of  his  interest 
there,  and  again,  with  Frank  Kyle, worked 
until  about  1881.  November  1, 1881,  he 
went  into  business  with  J.  S.  Gam  age, 
and  has  since  continued.  He  was  united 
in  the  bonds  of  matrimony,  October  5, 
1848,  with  Louisa  E.  Bruce,  of  Canfield, 
Ohio.  They  have  had  three  children — 
Lewis,  who  was  the  first  child,  died  when 
young;  those  living  are  Ella  L.  and  Lua, 
wife  of  Willis  Holmes,  and  living  in  Ma- 
comb.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McMillan  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
organization  he  has  been  an  elder.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  His 
home  is  on  North  Campbell  street,  in 
Hayes'  addition,  where  he  is  comforta- 
bly situated. 

The  popular  grocer,  W.  F.  Wells,  estab- 
lished his  present  business  in  March, 
1882,  and  carries  a  fine,  clean  stock. 

Among  the  prominent  merchants  of 
Macomb,  is  W.  F.  Wells,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  grocery  business.  He  is  a  native 
of  the  state  of  Illinois,  and  was  born  in 
Brooklyn,  Schuyler  county,  on  the  22d 
day  of  November,  1850,  being  the  son 
of  G.  M.  and  Louisa  (Foss)  Wells,  who 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  in  1856, 
and  settled  in  Macomb,  where  W.  F., 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and 
afterward  engaged  in  mercantile  life.  In 
1872,  he  became  associated  in  business 


with  his  brothers,  Edward  L.  and  George1 
P.,  and,  under  the  firm  name  of  Wells 
Bros.,  engaged  in  the  hardware  trade. 
This  partnership  continued  until  Decem- 
ber, 1881,  when  Wheeler  F.,  retired  from 
the  firm,  and,  in  March  of  the  following 
year,  established  the  grocery  business  in 
which  he  is  now  engaged.  He  has  gained 
a  wide  reputation  for  honesty  and  fair 
dealing,  and,  being  endowed  with  a  natu- 
ral ability  for  mercantile  pursuits,  has 
been  eminently  successful.  In  the  fall 
of  1870,  Wheeler  F.  Wells  and  Ella  E. 
Dodds,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Dodds, 
were  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matri- 
mony. As  a  result  of  this  union,  there 
•has  been  one  child  born  to  them — Annie. 
Mr.  Wells  is  a  member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  the  Ancient  Order  of 
United  Workmen  lodges  of  the  city  of 
Macomb. 

W.  G.  McClellan  &  Bro.,  are  dealers 
in  groceries,  crockery,  glassware,  etc.,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square.  This  busi- 
ness was  established  by  W.  G.  McClel- 
lan, in  1880,  a  few  doors  south  of  their 
present  location.  In  March,  1883,  he  re- 
moved to  the  building  now  occupied  by 
them,  and  in  March,  1884,  the  present 
firm  was  formed.  Their  salesroom  is 
22x90  feet  in  area,  and  in  addition  they 
have  a  wareroom  8x70  feet  in  size.  They 
carry  a  stock  valued  at  $3,500. 

Maury  &  Stoffer,  dealers  in  groceries, 
etc.,  are  located  on  the  north  side  of  the 
square,  in  the  Bailey  block.  This  firm 
commenced  business  in  March,  1883,  on 
the  east  side  under  the  Miller  house, 
buying  out  Frost  &  Maury,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded Charles  Mustain.  The  latter  had 
purchased  it  of  Simpson  &  Lipe.  In 
October,  1883,  they  removed  to  their 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1075 


present  location.  Their  salesroom  -is 
20x85  feet  ill  size,  and  they  carry  stock 
to  the  amount  of  $2,000. 

T.  B.  Maury^a  son  of  one  of  the  pioneers 
of  McDonough  county,  came  to  the  county 
in  1837.  He  was  then  only  a  boy  of  15, 
as  he  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Ken- 
tucky, November  12,  1822.  His  parents 
were  Abraham  and  Nancy  B.  (Bell) 
Maury,  both  native  Virginians.  They 
came  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and  three  years 
later  settled  in  Macomb,  where  the  for- 
mer died  in  1838,  and  the  latter  in  1875. 
They  were  the  parents  of  six  children, 
four  of  whom  survived  them — T.  B. ; 
Willia  G.,  the  widow  of  W.  S.  Stepp; 
Mary,  now  the  wife  of  J.  P.  McCandless, 
and  John  W.  T.  B.  Maury  upon  com- 
ing to  Macomb,  entered  a  store  as  a  clerk 
and  chore  boy.  In  1848,  he  established 
himself  in  the  boot  and  shoe  business, 
but  one  year  later  changed  to  the 
drug  line,  thus  becoming  the  first  ex- 
clusive drug  merchant  in  Macomb.  In 
1857,  he  changed  his  business  to  that 
of  grocer,  but,  in  1860,  again  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  drug  line.  In 
1802,  Mr.  Maury  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  his  country,  and  served  as  hospital 
steward  of  the  84th  Illinois  infantry  for 
•one  year,  when  he  was  discharged  on  ac- 
count of  physical  disability.  Returning 
to  Macomb,  he  served  as  constable, 
deputy  sheriff,  and  as  a  deputy  in  other 
county  offices,  at  different  times,  until 
1869,  when  he  received  the  appointment 
of  postmaster,  and  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity for  upwards  of  eight  years,  giving 
entire  satisfaction.  He  then  established 
his  present  grocery  business,  and  has 
met  with  deserved  success.  Politically, 
Mr.  Maury  is  a  republican,  and  is  a  mem- 


ber in  good  standing  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  of  the  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
1846,  with  Rachel  Hampton,  a  daughter 
of  V.  C.  Hampton.  They  have  had  seven 
children  born  to  them,  four  of  whom  are 
now  living — Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of 
George  Baker;  Willia  B.,  now  the  wife 
of  Oscar  Gash;  Samantha,  now  the  wife 
of  Wadsworth  Stoffer,  and  Millard  F. 

The  grocery  establishment  now  con- 
trolled by  George  W.  Pace  &  Son,  was 
established  in  1865,  by  J.  T.  and  Robert 
Adcock,  on  the  corner  of  Randolph  and 
East  Jackson  streets.  Shortly  after  its 
inception,  J.  T.  Adcock  became  sole  pro- 
prietor, a  position  which  he  held,  with 
the  exception  of  a  short  time  when  James 
Shannon  was  associated  with  him,  until 
September  1,  1884,  when  George  W. 
Pace,  and  his  son,  Henry,  succeeded  him, 
under  the  above  firm  name  and  style. 
They  carry  a  good  stock  and  do  a  fair 
business  on  a  basis  of  square  and  honest 
dealing. 

William  I.  Pace,  deceased,  was  a  pio- 
neer of  this  county,  having  came  here  in 
1830,  when  the  country  contained  but 
few  settlements.  He  was  a  native  Ken- 
tuckian,  and  by  occupation  a  farmer.  In 
1830,  he  was  married  to  Sally  J.  Vawter, 
and  coining  to  Illinois,  first  settled  in 
Chalmers  township  in  the  place  now 
known  as  the  Robert  Venard  farm,  but 
in  the  spring  of  1835,  moved  to  Scotland 
township,  on  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  A.  J.  Pace.  There  in  1850, 
Mrs.  Pace  died,  leaving  eight  children — 
Ingram  A.,  since  deceased;  Thomas  J., 
now  a  resident  of  Chalmers  township; 
Susan  E.,  wife  of  W.  H.  Dawson,  of  Ma- 
comb; George  W.,  of  Macomb;  Permelia 


1076 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


J.,  wife  of  George  W.  Porter,  of  Chal- 
mers township;  Andrew  J.,  residing  on 
the  homestead ;  Anna,  wife  of  J.  T.  Ad- 
cock,  and  Amanda, wife  of  Henry  Smith. 
In  1851,  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  Pace  was  married  to  Mrs.  Esther 
Doubler,  formerly  Adair,  and  afterwards 
they  resided  in  Scotland  township, 
which  was  their  home  until  the  death  of 
both  in  1855.  They  had  one  daughter — 
Fannie  Bell,  now  the  wife  of  Dewitt 
Roberts,  principal  of  Grant  street  high 
school,  Denver,  Colorado;  Mr.  Pace  took 
an  active  interest  in  political  matters,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  was  assessor  of 
McDonough  county.  He  was  captain  of 
a  military  company  and  went  to  Nauvoo 
to  arrest  John  Smith.  During  the  years 
of  1833-34  and  35,  he  was  engaged  in 
selling  the  Seth  Thomas  clocks,  and  was 
favorably  known  throughout  the  county. 
;  George  W.  Pace,  one  of  his  sons,  was 
born  in  Chalmers  township  May  13, 1835, 
and  made  the  farm  his  home  until  19 
years  old,  when  he  was  engaged  as  clerk 
in  the  postoffice  for  five  years.  He  then 
resumed  farming,  and  continued  two 
years  when  he  came  to  Macomb  and  en- 
tered the  store  of  O.  F.  Piper,  as  clerk, 
and  has  since  been  engaged  in  mercantile 
business,  either  as  clerk  or  proprietor. 
He  was  at  one  time  engaged  in  partner- 
ship with  A.  P.  Wetherhold,  and  again 
in  the  grocery  trade  with  J.  E.  Lane.  In 
September,  1884,  with  his  son  Henry,  he 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  Sep- 
tember 5,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Sallie 
J.  Sweeney,  they  have  had  four  children 
— Henry,  James  M.,  principal  of  schools 
in  Secor,  Illinois;  Lizzie  aud  Hattie. 
Mr.  Pace  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  of  the  Universalist  church. 


George  Adcock,  dealer  in  groceries  and 
meats,  commenced  this  business  in  May, 
1884,  purchasing  of  David  Scott,  who  had 
operated  this  business  for  two  or  three 
years.  The  stock  is  valued  at  about  $1,- 
500,  and  the  store  is  20x114.  The  build- 
ing was  erected  in  1875,  by  David  Scott, 
who  first  occupied  it  with  a  stock  of  fur- 
niture. In  a  couple  'of  years  he  closed 
this  out  to  John  McElrath,  who  removed 
the  stock  to  another  building.  It  was 
then  occupied  by  Farmer  &  Ross,  as  a 
boot  and  shoe  store,  aud  afterwards  by 
Mr.  Scott  as  grocery  store. 

John  and  Thomas  McElrath  opened 
the  first  furniture  and  cabinet  making 
establishment  in  Macomb,  in  1843.  It  is 
told  of  them  that  in  1849,  John  Anderson 
wanted  a  dozen  chairs,  and  as  lumber  of 
the  right  kind  was  scarce,  McElrath  and 
Brother  went  out  with  a  team,  cut  down 
a  cottonwood  tree,  and  from  that,  split 
out  the  chair  bottoms,  and  had  the  chairs 
ready  for  use  in  the  hotel  when  court  con- 
vened. Some  of  these  chairs  are  in  ex- 
istence yet.  The  firm  continued  until 
the  death  of  Thomas  McElrath,  since 
which  time  it  has  been  continued  by 
John  McElrath,  and  to-day  is  one  of  the 
institutions  of  the  city. 

M.  T.  Winslow,  the  leading  merchant, 
in  the  furniture  business,  commenced  in 
May,  1882,  purchasing  the  stand  and 
stock  of  B.  F.  Martin  &  Son,  the  pioneer 
furniture' dealers.  He  has  large  ware- 
rooms  in  the  opera  house  block,  and  car- 
ries an  immense  stock  of  all  the  goods  in 
his  line,  from  common  stock  to  high  art 
goods. 

M.  T.  Winslow,  one  of  Macoinb's  prom- 
inent and  enterprising  citizens,  came  to 
the  county  in  February,  1856.  He  is  a 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1077 


native  of  Jefferson  county,  New  York, 
and  was  born  on  the  7th  day  of  August, 
1824  He  received  a  fine  education,  and 
subsequently  studied  medicine,  taking  a 
course  of  study  at  the  Geneva  medical 
college,  and  followed  this  profession  for 
some  six  years.  In  1849,  he  was  married 
to  Sarah  M.  Blount,  and  in  1855,  they  re- 
moved to  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  Mrs. 
Winslow  died  in  February,  1856,  leaving 
two  children,  one  of  whom,  M.  Rosa,  is 
still  living.  Immediately  after  the  death 
of  his  wife,  Mr.  Winslow  removed  to 
Macomb?  and  entered  the  employ  of  Mc- 
Coy, Randolph  &  Blount,  bankers,  and, 
at  the  expiration  of  a  year,  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  bank,  the  firm  name  then 
being  changed  to  Randolph  &  Co.  This 
company  subsequently  purchased  stock 
of  a  bank  in  Nebraska,  but,  in  1858,  closed 
their  bank  business,  on  account  of  the 
crash  of  the  previous  year.  As  his  health 
at  that  time  would  not  permit  Mr.  Wins- 
low  to  engage  in  busiiiesg  for  himself,  he 
accepted  the  position  of  book-keeper  with 
a  hardware  firm.  In  January,  1864, 
Thomas  M.  Jordan  established  a  bank  in 
Macomb,  and  Mr.  Winslow  conducted 
the  business  for  him  for  some  four  years, 
when,  in  company  with  Leonard  Holland, 
he  purchased  the  business.  Two  years 
later  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner, 
Mr.  Holland,  but  continued  in  the  bank 
for  some  time  after.  In  1871,  Mr.  Wins- 
low  succeeded  in  forming  a  stock  com- 
pany, with  $60,000  capital,  obtained  a 
charter,  and  organized  the  Union  Na- 
tional bank.  He  served  as  book-keeper 
and  teller  in  that  bank  until  January  1, 
1876,  when  he  accepted  the  position  of 
cashier,  of  the  savings  department  of  the 
First  National  bank,  and  served  in  that 


capacity  until  May,  1882,  when  he  pur- 
chased the  furniture  business  of  B.  F. 
Martin  &  Son,  which  he  still  owns  and 
conducts,  and  has  the  principal  trade  in 
that  line  in  the  county.  Mr.  Winslow's 
past  business  experience  has  proven  him 
to  be  an  excellent  manager.  He  affiliates 
with  the  republican  party,  and  has  served 
the  people  as  city  treasurer,  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  and  of  the  board 
of  education,  in  each  of  which  positions 
he  gave  entire  satisfaction  to  both  dem- 
ocrats and  republicans.  From  his  youth 
up  to  the  present  time  he  has  been  a 
faithful  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 
M.  T.  Winslow  and  Sarah  A.  Wolverton 
were  united  in  marriage  in  1859,  and  six 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living — J.  Edward,  Sarah 
Eliza,  Ivy  Dell  and  Walter  M. 

B.  F.  Martin  &  Son,  the  representa- 
tives of  the  undertaking  business,  are 
located  on  West  Jackson  street.  They 
were  engaged  in  the  furniture  business 
from  1861  or  '62,  until  May  1882,  when 
they  sold  out  to  M.  T.  Winslow,  and  fol- 
lowed the  branch  of  it  as  above.  W.  E. 
Martin,  the  junior  partner,  was  the  late 
mayor  of  Macomb.  Prior  to  the  for- 
mation of  the  present  firm,  B.  F.  Martin 
was  engaged  in  the  furniture  business, 
being  the  first  in  that  line  in  the  city. 

B.  F.  Martin,  one  of  Macomb' s  prom- 
inent citizens,  was  born  in  1814,  near 
Georgetown,  Kentucky,  at  which  point 
he  learned  the  shoe-making  trade,  at 
which  he  worked  up  to  the  time  of  his 
coming  to  Macomb,  in  1834.  He  then 
discontinued  his  trade,  and  worked  at 
carpenter  and  cabinet  work,  subse- 
quently becoming  the  first  furniture 
dealer  in  Macomb,  which  business  he 


1078 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


has  continued  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  1861,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
his  son,  William  E.,  under  the  firm  name 
of  B.  F.  Martin  &  Son,  which  partner- 
ship continued  until  May,  1882.  In  pol- 
itics, Mr.  Martin  is  a  republican,  and 
has  served  as  mayor,  and  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council,  but,  personally,  he 
has  no  admiration  for  official  position. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  been  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living — William  E.,  the  partner 
of  his  father;  Amanda  E.,  now  the 
wife  of  W.  J.  Van  Hoesen;  John  B.;  Ida, 
now  the  wife  of  J.  B.  Blazer;  and  Minnie. 
Thomas  J.  Martin,  the  third  child,  died 
at  the  age  of  35  years.  Edgar,  the  next 
to  the  youngest  child,  died  at  the  age  of 
20  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church.  He  is  a 
charter  member  of  said  church,  organ- 
ized in  1845;  was  selected  as  one  of  the 
elders  at  that  time. 

W.  E.  Martin,  late  mayor  of  Macomb, 
is  a  son  of  B.  -F.  and  Margaret  A. 
(Head)  Martin,  and  was  born  February 
3,  1842,  in  Macomb,  where  he  received 
his  education.  At  the  age  of  17  years,  he 
commenced  mercantile  life  as  a  clerk  in 
a  grocery  store,  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity two  years  in  Macomb.  At  the  time 
of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  was 
at  Marseilles,  this  state,  and  went  to 
Springfield,  with  the  intention  of  en- 
listing in  the  16th  regiment,  but  they 
had  not  arrived  yet  from  home.  He 
then  returned  to  his  home,  and  his 
mother  prevailed  on  him  to  wait  until 
the  next  call  for  troops,  but,  as  he  soon 
afterwards,  on  the  21st  of  May,  1861,  en- 
gaged in  the  furniture  business,  he  did 
not  enlist.  Two  of  his  brothers,  John 


B.  and  T.  J.  Martin,  however,  were  do- 
ing service  for  their  country.  W.  E. 
continued  in  the  furniture  business,  un- 
der the  .  firm  name  of  B.  F.  Martin  & 
Son,  until  the  month  of  May,  1882, 
when  the  firm  sold  out  to  M.  T.  Win- 
slow.  Since  that  date,  Mr.  Martin  has 
been  carrying  on  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness. In  politics,  he  is  a  republican, 
and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  city 
council  two  terms,  and  was  the  late 
mayor  of  Macomb.  W.  E.  Martin  and 
Albertine  Hovey,  a  native'  of  Urbana, 
Ohio,  were  united  in  marriage  at 
Urbana,  Ohio,  the  5th  of  April,  1866. 
They  have  had  five  children  born  to 
them,  four  of  whom  are  still  living — 
Charles,  Samuel,  William,  and  Edward. 
Ever  since  reaching  his  majority,  Mr. 
Martin  has  been  an  honored  member  of 
the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  met 
with  deserved  "success  in  the  different 
lines  of  business  with  which  he  has  been 
associated,  and,  as  an  executive  officer, 
has  met  with  the  approval  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Macomb. 

The  lumber  firm  of  Blount  Bros,  is 
composed  of  J.  W.  and  Asher  Blount. 
In  1864,  J.  W.  purchased  the  interest  of 
Joseph  Anderson,  in  the  lumber  firm  of 
Anderson  Bros.,  and  under  the  firm 
name  of  Anderson  &  Blount,  continued 
for  two  years.  In  1866,  Asher  Blount 
purchased  the  interest  of  James  Ander- 
son, and  the  firm  became  Blount 
Bros.,  and  continued  until  1875,'  when 
J.  W.  retired  from  the  firm,  but  in  Jan- 
uary, 1882,  again  came  into  it,  and  the 
old  firm  name  was  restored. 

J.  W.  Blount,  one  of  Macomb's  sub- 
stantial citizens,  and  a  resident  of  Illi- 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1079 


nois  since  1844,  was  born  in  Ellisburg, 
New  York,  July  12,  1821,  his  parents 
being  Ambrose  and  Betsy  (Wood) 
Blount,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
the  New  England  states,  and  who  had 
four  children  born  to  them  before  re- 
moving to  New  York.  J.  W.  Blount 
resided  with  his  parents,  assisting  them 
in  tilling  the  soil,  and  taught  school, 
until  he  reached  his  22d  year,  when  he 
removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  there  com- 
mencing mercantile  life  as  a  clerk.  In 
April,  1847,  Kebecca  S.  Randolph,  of 
Macomb,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Ran- 
dolph, became  his  wife.  They  have 
been  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of 
whom  are  yet  living — Ivy  E.,  now  the 
wife  of  John  S.  Provine;  Ida  L.,  now 
the  wife  of  Frank  J.  Blount;  Junia  A., 
wife  of  George  Kerman;  Ambrose  B. 
and  Nellie  R.  B.  In  1848,  Mr.  Blount 
removed  to  Macomb,  and  followed  mer- 
chandising about  one  year,  then  return- 
ing to  Quincy,  where  he  again  entered 
the  employ  of  S.  &  W.  B.  Thayer.  He 
remained  with  this  firm  12  years,  with 
the  exception  of  three  intervals,  when 
he  came  to  Macomb  on  account  of  his 
health.  In  1856,  he  became  a  perma- 
nent resident  of  McDonough  county, 
and  from  1857  to  18G4,  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1864,  he  succeeded 
Joseph  Anderson,  of  the  firm  of  Ander- 
son Bros.,  lumber  merchants,  thus  be- 
coming half  owner  in  the  business.  In 
1866,  Asher  Blount  succeeded  James 
Anderson  in  the  firm,  the  firm  name 
then  being  changed  to  Blount  Brothers, 
which  partnership  continued  until  Jan- 
uary 1,  1875,  when  on  account  of  ill 
health,  J.  W. Blount  retired  from  the  firm, 
and  engaged  in  the  hardware  business. 


January  1,  1882,  he  sold  his  hardware 
interests  and  again  became  the  part- 
ner of  his  brother  in  the  lumber  trade. 
Politically,  Mr.  Blount  is  a  republican, 
being  formerly  a  whig.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  city  council,  as  also  of 
the  school  board,  having  served  as  pres- 
ident of  the  board  for  two  years.  Ever 
since  1847,  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  has  claimed 
him  as  an  honored  member. 

Asher  Blount,  of  the  firm  of  Blount 
Bros.,  lumber  merchants,  was  born  in 
Jefferson  county,  New  York,  May  27, 
1819.  He  came  to  Macomb  in  1866,  and 
engaged  in  the  lumber  business  with  his 
brother,  J.  W.,  as  noted  above.  Previ- 
ous to  coming  to  Macomb,  he  had  been 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
blacksmithing.  In  1848,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Roxanna  Miles,  who  died  in 
1860,  leaving  three  children — Mary,  now 
Mrs.  J.  W.  Hosman;  Frank  J.  and  Fred 
P.  In  1868,  Mr.  Blount  returned  to 
New  York,  where  he  married  his  pres- 
ent wife,  Cynthia  S.  Barney.  They  have 
two  children — Harry  and  Myra.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  republican,  but,  previous 
to  the  organization  of  that  party,  he 
affiliated  with  the  democrats. 

The  lumber  yard  of  J.  S.  Gamage 
originated  with  that  gentleman  in  1879. 
It  is  located  on  West  Jefferson  street. 
He  carries  about  $5,000  worth  of  stock, 
and  does  a  fair  business. 

The  leading  dealers  in  agricultural 
implements,  who  devote  their  attention 
to  that  line  of  trade  exclusively,  are 
Isaac  Van  Hoesen,  and  Sylvester  & 
Morrison. 

The  farmer's  agricultural  implement 
house  of  W.  J.  VanHoesen,  was  erected 
by  VanHosen  &  Son,  in  1867.  It  is  a 


1080 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


large  warehouse,  24x108;  located  on  the 
corner  of  Randolph  and  Calhoun  streets. 
The  present  proprietor,  W.  J., the  Son,  of 
the  former  firm,  handles  a  large  line  of 
agricultural  machinery,  among  which 
may  be  found  the  Piano  self-binder, 
threshing  machines,  etc.  For  a  long 
time  he  made  a  specialty  of  handling  the 
McCormick  goods.  Their  sales  will  av- 
erage under  favorable  circumstances, 
about  $40,000  per  annum. 

Isaac  W.  VanHoesen,  who  is  well 
known  throughout  this  county,  came  here 
May  2,  1856,  from  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio, 
driving  through  with  a  team.  He  is  a 
native  of  New  York ;  born  at  Kinderhook 
Columbia  county,  October  1,  1804.  He 
was  brought  up  to  manufacturing  bus- 
iness, his  father  before  him  having  been 
employed  in  that  line  of  trade.  From 
New  York  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  re- 
mained one  year,  then  came  directly  to 
this  county  as  before  stated,  settling  at 
Macomb.  His  first  employment  here 
was  work  in  the  clerk's  office,  under 
Isaac  Grantham.  He  then  engaged  in 
selling  the  McCormick  machinery  under 
the  general  agent  for  three  years.  In 
1862,  being  familiar  with  the  business, 
and  a  good  salesman,  he  made  a  contract 
with  the  company,  and  secured  the  gen- 
eral agency  for  this  county,  and  some 
other  territory  adjoining.  He  was  suc- 
cessful in  the  business,  and  thus  con- 
tinued until  October  1,  1870.  From  that 
time  until  September,  1882,  he  was  the 
local  agent  at  Macomb,  for  the  same 
company.  In  1882,  he  sold  out  the  bus- 
iness to  C.  B.  Sylvester,  and  has  since 
been  living  mostly  a  retired  life,  not 
being  actively  engaged  in  any  business. 
He  was  married  May  31,  1828,  to  Jane 


Cornell  a  native  of  New  York.  By  that 
union  there  were  five  children,  three 
girls  and  two  boys,  all  of  whom  are  still 
living — Gertrude  living  at  home,  Mar- 
garet, who  was  married  to  Allen  Miller, 
deceased,  now  the  wife  of  T.  J.  Price, 
living  at  Macomb;  Emily  living  at 
home;  W.  J.,  married,  and  living  in  Ma- 
comb; and  Isaac  N.,  married  to  liitta 
Bagby,  and  living  in  Lawrence,  Kansas. 
His  wife  died  June  10.  1874. 

W.  J.  Van  Hoesen,  the  fourth  child 
of  Isaac  and  Jane  ( Cornell )  Van  Hoesen, 
was  born  in  Kinderhook,  New  York,  Au- 
gust 12,  1840.  He  came  west  with  his 
parents,  and  engaged  in  business  at  Ma- 
comb. He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  state,  and  always 
made  his  home  with  his  parents  until 
his  marriage  January  5, 1863,  to  Amanda 
E.  Martin,  daughter  of  B.  F.  Martin,  of 
Macomb.  They  have  had  seven  chil- 
dren, six  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Willie,  now  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa ;  Gertie, 
Nellie,  Harry,  at  home;  Jennie  and 
Margie.  Politically,  Mr.  Van  Hoesen 
does  not  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father,  but  is  a  democrat.  He  is  now 
engaged  in  the  agricultural  implement 
and  farm  machinery  business,  at  Ma- 
comb. 

Sylvester  &  Morrison,  dealers  in  agri- 
cultural machinery,  are  a  new  firm  loca- 
ted on  the  south  side  of  the  square.  The 
partnership  was  formed  in  1885,  and 
opened  February  1,  1885,  at  this  point 
for  business.  They  carry  a  full  line  of 
agricultural  implements  and  machinery, 
and  have  the  exclusive  agency  for  Mc- 
Cormick's  harvesting  machinery,  and  for 
the  Springfield, Ohio,  engines  and  thresh- 
ers. They  are  agents  for  the  Weir, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1081 


Furst  &  Bradley  and  Buford  plows. 
The  store  room  they  occupy  is  one  of  the 
best  in  the  city,  having  been  built  for  a 
dry  goods  establishment. 

Charles  R.  Sylvester  came  to  this 
county  in  1872,  from  Louisiana.  He 
was  born  August  23,  1834,  in  the  state 
of  Maine.  His  father  was  a  mechanic, 
and  Sylvester,  possessing  natural  apti- 
tude in  that  direction,  acquired  in  his 
youth  considerable  skill  at  IJiat  occu- 
pation. He  remained  in  his  native  state 
until  22  years  of  age,  then  went  to  Min- 
nesota, there  engaging  in  various  occu- 
pations from  1856  till  1870.  Three  years 
of  that  time,  however,  were  spent  in  the 
army.  He  enlisted  in  1862,  in  company 
I,  of  the  7th  Minnesota  infantry.  Among 
the  engagements  in  which  he  participa- 
ted were,  Nashville,  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
and  many  others.  From  Minnesota,  he 
he  went  to  Louisiana  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  building  a  sugar  house.  He 
remained  in  that  state  only  a  short  time, 
coming  then,  as  before  stated,  to  this 
county.  He  followed  carpentering,  prin- 
cipally, for  some  time  after  coming  here, 
then  engaged  in  the  agricultural  imple- 
ment trade,  which  he  now  follows.  Mr. 
Sylvester  was  united  in  marriage,  in 
October,  1863,  with  Rachel  E.  Elliott,  a 
native  of  Maine.  Mr.  Sylvester's  pa- 
rents died  in  Maine,  his  father  in  1846, 
and  his  mother  in  1842.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  G.  A.  R.,  and  politically,  a 
democrat. 

Levi  Morrison,  one  of  the  business 
men  of  Macomb,  is  a  native  of  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  born  July  9, 1850. 
In  1866,  he  left  his  native  state  and 
came  to  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  re- 
maining near  Astoria  six  months;  he 


then  came  to  "this  county  and  settled  in 
Scotland  township,  on  a  farm  in  section 
4.  In  1873,  he  left  the  homestead,  went 
to  Oregon  and  settled  in  Marion  county, 
where  he  remained  till  1880,  engaged 
principally  in  farming.  He  sold  out 
there  and  came  to  Scotland  township, 
this  county,  and  made  that  his  home  un- 
til 1884,  when  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Charles  Sylvester,  in  the  farm  ma- 
chinery and  implement  business.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  that  year  he  moved 
to  his  present  home  in  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb.  His  parents  are  now  residents 
of  Kansas.  Mr.  Morrison  was  married 
to  Elmira  Taney,  .of  Carroll  county, 
Maryland,  March  23,  1873.  They  have 
four  children — Anna  C.,  Andrew  M., 
Bettie  M.  and  Almira  A. 

George  Gadd,  a  popular  grocery  and 
restaurant  man,  has  his  establishment  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square.  This  place 
of  business  was  established  by  Peter 
Hesh  and  Gabriel  Gesler,  in  1875.  In 
1878,  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Gadd,  of 
John  Gessler,  into  whose  hands  it  had 
come.  The  room  occupied  is  20x120  feet 
in  size,  and  the  stock  is  valued  at  about 
$3,000. 

William  Palmer,  who  keeps  the  res- 
taurant on  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
square,  commenced  business  March  6, 
1885. 

The  city  bakery  of  Tuggle  &  Gilfrey, 
is  located  011  North  Randolph  street,  in 
a  building  20x70  feet  in  size.  The  pres- 
ent firm  are  the  successors  of  Henry 
Beckhaus,  and  they  have  an  investment 
of  about  $1,400. 

The  restaurant  now  run  by  W.  B. 
Lane  was  established  in  1873,  by  that 
gentleman  and  Garry  Adcock.  In  about 


1082 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


six  months  Mr.  Lane  purchased  the  in- 
terest of  his  partner  and  continued  the 
business  in  the  same  place,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square.  He  carries  a  com- 
plete stock  of  confectionery,  oysters,  to- 
bacco, etc.,  to  the  value  of  nearly,  if  not 
quite,  $1,000. 

The  restaurant  and  bakery  in  the 
opera  house  block,  is  operated  by  J. 
Gesler  &  Co.,  who,  as  the  successors  of 
Twyman  &  Johnson,  commenced  busi- 
ness on  the  27th  of  January,  1885.  This 
place  was  established  by  A.  P.  Swanson, 
in  the  fall  of  1872.  Tke  room  they  oc- 
cupy is  20x70  feet  in  floor  area,  and  they 
carry  a  stock  of  about  $1,500. 

James  Gesler,  proprietor  of  a  restau- 
rant in  Macomb,  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Margaret  ( Griesheimer )  Gesler,  and  a  na- 
tive of  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  born  November 
26,  1854.  The  following  year,  David 
Gesler  removed,  with  his  family,  to  Ma- 
comb,  McDonough  county,  Illinois.  He 
was,  by  trade,  a  tinner,  which  occupation 
he  followed  after  coming  here,  and  in 
which  he  is  still  engaged,  in  the  city  of 
Macomb.  James  Gesler  was  reared  and 
educated  in  this  city,  and  in  1873,  entered 
the  bakery  of  Tuggle  &  Gilfrey,  as  clerk, 
and  continued  in  the  same  business  11 
years.  January  27,  1885,  he  purchased 
his  present  business.  Mr.  Gesler  was 
married  May  18,  1882,  to  Laura  E.  Wolf, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Wolf.  Their  resi- 
dence is  upon  North  Lafayette  street. 
Mr.  Gesler  thoroughly  understands  his 
business,  having  had  years  of  experience, 
and  being  naturally  a  genial  and  accom- 
modating gentleman,  is  well  calculated 
for  the  trade  of  restauranter.  He  is  well 
known  in  this  city  and  county,  having 
spent  nearly  all  his  life  here,  and  numer- 


ous are  his  friends  and  acquaintances, 
who  can  testify  to  the  toothsomeness  of 
his  viands,  and  the  excellence  of  his 
menu. 

Among  the  leading  representatives  of 
the  millinery  business  of  Macomb,  is 
Mrs.  M.  F.  Jacobs,  who  established  her 
business  on  East  Jackson  street,  in  1858. 
She  afterwards  removed  to  the  east  side 
of  the  square,  and  to  her  present  loca- 
tion, on  th^e  north  side,  July  10,  1872,  in 
Bailey's  block.  The  room  she  occupies 
is  14x80  feet  in  size,  and  the  well  selected 
stock  she  carries  will  invoice  from  $1,500 
to  $2,000. 

Mrs.  M.  A.  White  established  the  busi- 
ness of  millinery  and  dressmaking,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  square,  in  the  spring 
of  1869.  She  removed  to  her  present 
location,  on  the  east  side,  in  1873.  The 
salesroom  is  20x80  feet  in  size,  and  the 
stock  will  invoice  about  $1,500. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  Mrs.  A.  Gary 
established  the  business  of  millinery  and 
dressmaking,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
square,  and  in  the  following  year  moved 
to  her  present  location,  on  Randolph 
street,  a  few  doors  south  of  the  square. 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Askew  commenced  the  busi- 
ness of  millinery  and  dressmaking,  in 
August,  1878,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
square,  as  the  successor  of  Mrs.  Good, 
who  established  the  business.  She 
moved  to  her  present  location,  on  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  square,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1881.  She  carries  a  stock  of 
millinery,  fancy  articles,  etc.,  that  will 
invoice  in  the  neighborhood  of  $2,000. 

Mrs.  L.  C.  Donaldson,  since  1877,  has 
been  a  dealer  in  dry  goods,  notions,  boots 
and  shoes,  glass  and  tinware,  at  the  store 
where  she  now  is.  Her  store  is  well 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1083 


supplied,  and  she  is  doing  a  large 
business. 

Gary  W.  Adcock  first  entered  into  the 
meat  market  business  in  September, 
1878,  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Z. 
T.,  on  the  east  side  of  the  square.  In 
December,  1882,  'they  removed  to  the 
present  location,  and  on  the  10th  of  De- 
cember, 1883,  Gary  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  his  brother,  and  has  run  it  alone, 
since.  His  salesroom  is  20x70  feet  in 
size. 

The  meat  market  on  North  Kandolph 
street  has  been  run  by  J.  R.  Hubbard 
ever  since  July  18,  1882,  he  succeeding 
the  firm  of  Davis  &  Hubbard,  until  early 
in  March,  1885,  when  he  died. 

D.  S.  Hampton,  who  runs  the  feed  store 
on  the  south  side  of  the  square,  in  the 
building  owned  by  the  Cottrell  estate, 
commenced  business  in  March,  1879,  in 
the  building  now  occupied  by  Host  & 
Stinson.     He  removed  to  his  present  lo- 
cation in  November,  1883.     His  room  is 
20x80  feet  in  size. 

E.  P.   Dawson,   cigar    manufacturer, 
commenced  business  in  1865,  on  the  west 
side  of  the  square.    He  was  the  successor 
of  a  man  by  the  name  of  Shufort,  from 
Quincy,  who,  a  week  before,  had  pur- 
chased the  same  of  R  M.  Schaffer,  who 
had  established  the  first  factory  of  this 
kind  in  Macomb.     The  present  location 
of  this  place  of  business  is  on  North 
Randolph    street,   in    the    McDonough 
building,  where   they  have   convenient 
quarters.     S.  B.  Dawson  is  the  manager. 

Thomas  Smithers,  the  leading  barber 
of  the  town,  engaged  in  the  business 
some  time  since. 

William  T.  Smithers,  son  of  Thomas 
T.  and  Sarah  E.  (Gunter)  Smithers,  was 


born  in  Rushville,  Illinois,  May  28, 1851, 
but  has  been  a  resident  of  McDonough 
county  since  childhood.  After  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  14  years,  he  commen- 
ced the  barber's  trade,  and  has  ever  since 
followed  the  same,  In  1871,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Hannah  Usher, 
a  daughter  of  George  Usher,  of  Colches- 
ter. They  have  had  four  children  born 
to  them,  two  of  whom  are  now  living. 
— Maurice  and  George.  •  The  entire  fam- 
ily have  always  adhered  to  democratic 
principles,  politically,  and  those  living 
and  entitled  to  the  right  of  suffrage,  vote 
the  democratic  ticket. 

Thomas  Smithers;  now  deceased,  was 
a  native  Keiituckian,  being  the  son 
of  Thomas  Smithers.  In  1833,  the  fam- 
ily removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
McDonough  county,  engaging  in  farm- 
ing. His  mother  afterward  died  here, 
and  his  father  continued  to  reside  in  the 
county,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
years  spent  in  Rushville,  until  his  death 
which  occurred  in  1865.  There  were 
eight  children  born  to  them,  seven  of. 
whom  are  yet  living — John  B.,  of  Ma- 
comb;  Mary  J.,  the  wife  of  Jeffer- 
son Pennington ;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Ben- 
jamin Vail;  Robert,  of  Galesburg;  James, 
Joseph,  and  Thomas  T.  Thomas  Smith- 
ers, Sr.,  was  a  soldier  of  both  Mexican 
and  Black  Hawk  wars. 

Thomas  T.  Smithers,  Jr.,  learned  the 
cooper's  trade  after  arriving  at  a  suit- 
able age.  In  1850,  at  Rushville,  Illinois, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah 
E.  Gunter,  and  now  resides  in  the  city 
of  Macomb.  He  enlisted  in  company 
D,  28th  Illinois  infantry,  and,  after  serv- 
ing one  year  was  honorably  discharged. 
He  is  at  present  engaged  in  making  mor- 


1084 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tar  for  mason  work;  in  fact,  he  has  mixed 
the  mortar  for  nearly  every  brick  struc- 
ture in  Macomb.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas 
T.  Smithers  were  the  parents  of  13  chil- 
4ren,  six  :>f  whom  are  now  living — Wil- 
liam T.,  Joseph,  Susan,  wife  of  George 
Upton;  Sarah  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Frank 
Hohenadel;  Charles  B.,  and  Edwin. 

W.  J.  Wolf,  barber,  commenced  busi- 
ness on  the  6th  of  February,  1879,  at 
his  present  location  on  the  south  side  of 
the  s.quare.  He  operates  three  chairs. 

C.  Hall,  another  knight  of  the  razor, 
commenced  business  on  the  west  side  of 
the  square,  in  January,  1883,  as  suc- 
cessor of  Leach  &  Hall.  He  runs  one 
chair. 

Leach  &  O'Neal  are  among  the  barbers 
of  Macomb,  and  as  a  firm,  commenced 
operations  in  March,  1884,  as  successors 
to  Trip  O'Neal,  in  the  second  story  over 
W.  M.  Lipe's  store.  They  have  two 
chairs. 

A.  J.  Thomas  was  the  pioneer  photo- 
grapher of  Macomb,  locating  there  in 
1849.  He  afterwards  formed  a  co-part- 
nership with  Pearson,  who  sold  out  •  to 
S.  B.  Danley,  who  is  at  present  follow- 
ing the  same  line  of  business.  Mr.  Dan- 
ley  came  into  possession  of  this  place  in 
August,  1863,  and  is,  therefore,  one  of 
the  oldest  photographers  now  in  business 
in  the  city. 

S.  P.  Danley,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
December  19,  1834.  His  father,  Thomas 
Danley,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ver- 
mont, but  his  mother  was  a  native  of 
Ohio.  Thomas  Danley  was  by  trade  a 
carpenter,  which  occupation  he  followed 
in  Ohio,  until  1853,  then  removed  his 
family  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Mc- 


Donough  county,  and  was  here  engaged 
in  farming  until  his  death,  which  took 
place  in  the  fall  of  1872.  Mrs.  Danley 
survived  her  husband  several  years.  Of 
the  twelve  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Danley,  seven  are  now  living — Elizabeth, 
now  the  wife  of  Leonard  Odenweller; 
William ;  Lucy,  now  the  wife  of  Wesley 
Jones,  resides  in  Kansas;  S.  P.,  Van  M., 
Robert;  and  Mary,  wife  of  D.  K.  Miller. 
S.  P.  Danley,  learned  his  trade  of  wagon 
maker,  and  followed  the  same  at  Macomb 
until  1861.  He  then  enlisted  in  company 
A,  16th  Illinois  infantry,  and  served  as 
musician  nine  months,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  physical  disability 
caused  by  injuries  received  in  a  railroad 
accident.  Returning  to  Macomb,  he,  in 
August,  1863,  engaged  in  the  photograph 
business  and  is  now  the  oldest  photo- 
grapher in  Macomb.  Mr.  Danley  has 
been  twice  married.  In  1861,  to  Emma 
Fox;  she  died  in  1862,  leaving  one  child 
which  died  in  infancy.  In  1863,  Mr. 
Danley  was  married  to  Amanda  Duncan, 
daughter  of  William  and  Amanda  Dun- 
can. By  this  union  seven  children  have 
been  born — Mary  A.,  Catherine  B.,  Lucy, 
Lamote,  Harry,  Rolla  and  Nellie.  Mr. 
Danley  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  the  G.  A.  R. 

Thomas  Philpot  located  in  Macomb  in 
August,  1863,  and  opened  a  gallery  for 
the  taking  of  photographs,  ambrotypes, 
etc.,  and  has  been  continually  in  that 
line  of  business,  in  this  place,  with  the 
exception  of  about  three  months  when 
he  was  located  in  Galesburg.  He  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  this  line  in  the  county. 

The  Patterson  Brothers  established  a 
photograph  gallery  in  Macomb,  in  June, 
1881,  and  ran  it  very  successfully  until 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1085 


in  1885,  when  Edgar  Patterson  became 
sole  proprietor.  The  gallery  is  hand- 
somely fitted  up,  and  Mr.  Patterson  ex- 
cels in  this  art.  A  sketch  of  Mr.  Patter- 
son appears  later  on,  in  connection  with 
a  mention  of  his  father. 

H.  W.  Gates  established  a  photograph 
gallery  in  August,  1884. 

The  business  of  livery  stable  keeping 
has  three  able  representatives,  Winslow 
H.  Taylor,  A.  Monger  and  A.  D.  Tobin. 

The  livery  stable  now  occupied  by 
Winslow  H.  Taylor,  originated  with  Silas 
French,  who  built  the  barn,  which  is  lo- 
cated on  Randolph  street  just  south  of 
the  old  Randolph  house.  Mr.  Taylor 
purchased  the  business  in  1880,  and  has 
continued  in  that  line  ever  since.  He  has 
about  15  head  of  horses,  and  all  neces- 
sary buggies,  carriages  and  other  appur- 
tences,  and  has  a  large  patronage.  The 
barn  is  of  frame,  50x120  feet,  besides 
sheds,  etc.  Mr.  Taylor  owns  a  beautiful 
hearse  and  does  the  principal  business  in 
providing  for  funerals. 

The  brick  livery  barn  on  east  Jackson, 
now  occupied  by  A.  Tobin,  was  erected 
in  the  year  1869,  by  Alexander  V.  Brook- 
ing. In  1871,  he  built  the  back  part  and 
added  one  story  to  the  older  portion.  He 
ran  this  place  for  some  16  years,  when 
he  sold  out  to  A.  Monger,  but  in  a  short 
time  bought  it  back.  He  afterwards  sold 
it  to  Robert  Thomas  who,  in  turn  dis- 
posed of  it  to  the  present  proprietor,  A. 
Tobin,  April  22,  1884.  It  cost  about  $4- 
000,  and  is  one  of  the  old  standbys  in 
this  line.  Mr.  Tobin  keeps  about  eight 
horses  and  all  the  necessary  equipment. 
He  does  a  fair  business. 

A.  D.  Tobin,  the  gentlemanly  propri- 
etor of  the  above  mentioned  livery  stable, 


is  comparatively  a  new  settler  in  this 
county,  having  only  been  here  since 
April  1,  1884.  He  is  a  native  of  Mis- 
souri, and  was  born  December  23,  1857, 
his  parents  being  Alfred  and  Mary 
(Leath)  Tobin.  His  early  life  was  spent 
on  a  farm,  and  his  education  received  in 
the  common  schools.  He  remained  on 
the  old  homestead  until  23  years  of  age, 
then  remained  in  that  county  three  years 
before  coming  here.  His  father  died 
when  he  was  but  four  years  old.  His 
mother  is  still  living  in  Page  county, 
Iowa.  He  engaged  here  in  the  livery 
business,  has  a  good  stable,  and  a  fair 
trade.  When  22  years  old  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Alice  E.  Roberts,  a  native  of  New 
York  state.  Her  parents  live  in  Mis- 
souri. They  have  had  one  child  which 
died  when  about  three  months  old.  Po- 
litically, Mr.  Tobin  is  a  republican. 

Monger's  livery  stable  is  located  on 
west  Jackson  street  near  the  square. 
This  stable  was  established  by  William 
Dodds.  He  disposed  of  it  to  Benjamin 
Murphy,  who,  hoAvever,  ran  it  only  about 
six  months,  selling  it  December  6,  1884, 
to  A.  Monger,  who  has  run  it  ever  since. 
He  keeps  about  14  horses  and  good 
equipments  generally. 

A.  Monger,  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
leading  livery  stables  of  Macomb,  came 
to  this  county  in  1854,  from  Clinton 
county,  Ohio.  He  is  a  native  of  that 
state,  and  was  born  January  17,  1832. 
He  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  his 
time  was  for  many  years  occupied  with 
the  business  incident  to  agricultural 
life.  Upon  his  arrival  in  this  county, 
he  settled  in  Sciota  township,  where  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  unimproved 
land,  and  proceeded  to  make  a  farm.  He 


1086 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


there  lived  until  1870,  when  he  moved  to 
the  village  of  Good  Hope,  and  engaged 
in  the  livery  business.  The  place  being 
toa  small  to  furnish  the  amount  of  busi- 
ness desired,  he  traded  the  ^property 
towards  the  purchase  of  a  stable  and 
stock  in  Macomb,  where  he  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  business.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  first  to  Emeline  Hudson 
in  1853.  By  that  union  there  were  three 
children,  none  of  whom  are  living.  The 
first  wife  died  in  1864  He  was  married, 
the  second  time,  in  1866,  to  Ruth  A.  Hud- 
son. By  this  marriage  there  are  three  chil- 
dren— Cora  Dell,  now  married  to  Charles 
McNalley;  Ira  and  Lucinda  N.,  living 
at  home.  Mr.  Monger  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church;  politi- 
cally, he  is  a  democrat. 

Turner's  feed  and.  sale  stable  was  es- 
tablished by  D.  Turner.  He  built  the 
barn,  and  moved  into  it  December  1, 
1882,  but  has  since  built  several  addi- 
tions, until  it  is  now  60x110  feet  in  size, 
and  is  fitted  up  with  accommodations 
for  225  horses.  This  is  the  headquarters 
for  the  horse  buyers  of  this  section. 
Last  year  there  was  sold  from  it  24  car. 
loads,  besides  many  in  small  lots.  The 
barn  is  located  on  South  Lafayette  street, 
near  the  square. 

In  the  line  of  shoemaking,  Joseph 
Durr  has  been  the  longest  in  trade  in 
Macomb.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  who 
came  to  Macomb  in  1846,  when  but  15 
years  of  age.  Here  he  learned  the  trade 
of  shoemaker,  which  he  has  nearly  ever 
since  followed. 

Patrick  O'Meara,  shoemaker  and  gen- 
eral repairer  of  foot-gear,  has  been  es- 
tablished in  business  here  since  1881,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  square. 


Patrick  O'Meara  was  born  in  Tipper- 
ary,  Ireland,  in  1817,  and  is  a  son  of  Pat- 
rick and  Fannie  O'Meara.  He  left  his 
native  county  in  1847,  and  came  to  Amer- 
ica, landing  in  New  York  city,  where  he 
remained  about  a  year.  From  that  city 
he  went  to  Springfield,  Massachusetts, 
thence  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  thence  to 
Canton,  coming  to  Macomb  in  1853.  He 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  Ireland? 
serving  an  apprenticeship  of  seven  years, 
and  after  coming  to  Macomb,  engaged  in 
that  business,  which  he  has  followed 
since  that  time.  He  is  a  good  workman 
and  thoroughly  understands  his  busi- 
ness. He  had  a  family  of  six  children- 
Carroll  T.,  now  in  business  in  Chicago, 
Illinois;  Michael  J.,  now  in  Winfield, 
Kansas,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the  boot 
and  shoe  business;  William,  deceased; 
William  P.,  who  is  now  engaged  in  clerk- 
ing in  the  dry  goods  store  of  George 
Bailey,  at  Macomb;  Fannie  E.,  at  home, 
and  Mary  E.  deceased.  All  of  these 
children  have  enjoyed  the  advantages 
for  obtaining  a  liberal  education  and  are 
intelligent  and  useful  members  of  so- 
ciety. 

David  Knapp  commenced  the  business 
of  shoemaking,  in  Macomb,  in  1868. 

David  Knapp,  secretary  of  the  Ma- 
comb  Calendar  Clock  company,  came  to 
this  city  in  March,  1866.  He  first  came 
to  the  county  in  1856,  and  settled  at 
Prairie  City,  where  he  engaged  in  work 
at  the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  making. 
At  that  place  he  made  the  first  pair  of 
boots  ever  there  manufactured.  Subse- 
quently he  moved  back  to  Fulton  county 
from  whence  he  came,  and  remained  un- 
til 1866.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
was  born  July  16,  1833.  He  was  brought 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1087 


up  to  the  trade  of  shoemaker,  making  his 
first  pair  of  shoes  when  but  11  years  old. 
The  family  moved  from  Ohio  to  Logan 
county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1844,  where 
for  one  year  his  father  managed  a  farm 
then  engaged  in  business  in  a  shoe  shop. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  worked  with 
him,  and  in  1851,  moved  to  Canton,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  until  coming  here. 
His  mother  died  in  Ohio  and  his  father 
in  Canton,  Illinois.  Mr.  Knapp,  when 
he  come  here  worked  at  his  trade  for  18 
mouths,  then  opened  a  shop  of  his  own, 
and  has  since  continued  the  trade,  except 
when  engaged  in  the  clock  factory.  He 
was  first  married  in  1860,  to  Harriet  E. 
Bidamon,  a  native  of  Illinois.  By  that 
union  were  two  children,  one  of  whom  is 
now  living,  Sarah  E.  His  first  wife  died 
in  August,  1865.  He  was  again  married 
in  September,  1872,  to  Mary  Jane  Sos- 
man.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 
and  A.  O.  U.  W.  and  of  the  M.  E.  cliurch. 
Politically,  he  is,  and  always  has  been,  a 
republican. 

Ingram  &  Sons,  the  oldest  firm  now 
in  Macomb  in  the  painting  line,  are  lo- 
cated on  north  Lafayette  street.  The 
establishment  was  founded  by  B.  D. 
Ingram,  and  the  present  shop  was  built 
in  1866.  They  do  a  full  line  of  house, 
sign  and  ornamental  painting,  graining, 
paper  hanging,  calsomining  and  decora- 
ting. 

B.  D.  Ingram  came  to  this  county 
from  New  Albany,  Indiana,  in  March, 
1856.  He  is  a  native  of  that  state,  born 
in  Floyd  county/ October  5,  1830.  His 
youth  was  spent  mostly  upon  a  farm. 
His  mother  died  when  he  was  only  two 
years  old.  His  father's  death  occurred 
in  1876,  in  Indiana.  The  subject  of  this 


sketch,  when  17  years  of  age,  went  to 
Waterloo,  Iowa,  where  he  was  engaged 
for  five  years  at  the  painter's  trade.  He 
then  returned  to  Indiana,  and  remained 
until  the  date  of  his  coming  here.  After 
coming  to  Macomb,  he  engaged  in  paint- 
ing, paper  hanging,  etc.  He  has  con- 
tinued in  that  business  until  the  present 
time,  with  the  exception  of  three  years, 
which  he  spent  upon  a  farm  in  Hancock 
county,  Illinois.  He  subsequently  sold 
his  farm,  and  returned  to  Macamb.  He" 
has  been  twice  married — first,  Decem- 
ber 5,  1855,  to  Sarah  J.  Argenbright,  a 
native  of  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  who 
died  May  28,  1872.  He  had,  by  this 
union,  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living — Alice,  Charles  B.,  Eddie  S., 
Nellie  M.  and  Frank  C.  Mr.  Ingram 
was  again  married  December  3,  1874,  to 
Lucia  A.  Osmer,  a  native  of  New  York. 
By  this  marriage  there  is  one  child — 
Ruth  C.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ingram  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  has  been,  politically,  a 
republican,  but  now  supports  the  pro- 
hibition party.  He  voted  that  ticket  at 
the  election  of  1884,  and  is  a  staunch 
advocate  of  the  cause  of  temperance. 
Mr.  Ingram' s  sons  are  engaged  with 
him  in  the  business  of  painting,  calso- 
mining, graining,  paper  hanging,  etc. 

W.  L.  and  James  L.  Gribble,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Gribble  Bros.,  art, 
among  the  leading  sign  writers  and  car- 
riage painters  of  this  section.  They  are 
able  artists,  and  have  their  shop  over  the 
factory  of  their  father,  J.  L.  Gribble, 
for  whom  they  do  the  carriage  and  buggy 
painting. 

J.  L.  Hoskinson  is  conducting  a  har- 
ness-making and  saddlery  establishment, 


loss 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


on  the  south  side  of  the  public  square. 
This  institute  originated  with  A.  E.  Hos- 
kinson,  in  1852,  and  was  conducted  by 
him  until  1877,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  his  brother,  the  present  proprietor. 
J.  L.  Hoskinson  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  state  of  Illinois  since  1844.  He 
is  a  native  of  Monongalia  county,  West 
Virginia,  and  was  born  February  24, 
1819,  his  parents  being  Charles  L.,  and 
Mary  (Lantz)  Hoskinson,  who  were  the 
parents  of  five  children,  three  sons  and 
two  daughters.  Three  of  the  children 
removed  to  Illinois — J.  L.,  Elizabeth, 
deceased,  and  A.  E.,  also  deceased. 
When  J.  L.  was  about  eight  years  old, 
the  family  moved  to  Shelbyville,  Indi- 
ana, where,  in  1828,  the  father  died.  The 
mother  subsequently,  was  married  to 
Whitfield  Chandler,  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Both  are  now  dead. 
When  J.  L.  was  about  16  years  old,  he 
went  to  Martinsville,  Indiana,  and  served 
an  apprenticeship  at  the  harness  and 
saddlery  trade,  and  remained  until  he 
had  reached  his  majority.  He  then 
worked  at  his  trade  in  the  state  of  Penn- 
sylvania until  1844,  when  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  located  at  Rushville  where  he 
was  engaged  in  the  harness  business  un- 
til 1877,  when  he  came  to  Macomb,  and 
succeeded  his  brother  in  business,  where 
he  still  continues.  He  was  married  July 
10,  1842,  to  Edith  Edwards,  at  Mt.  Mor- 
ris, Greene  county,  Penn.  They  have 
had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living — Helen  M.,  wife  of  G.  A.  Wilson, 
M.  D.,  of  Peoria,  Illinois;  William  O., 
who  during  the  civil  war,  enlisted  in  the 
10th  Missouri  regiment,  served  19 
months  and  was  hojiorably  discharged. 
He  subsequently  enlisted  in  the  16th 


Illinois,  and  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  then  enlisted  in  the  reg- 
ular army;  Thomas  J.,  George  M.,  who 
resides  in  Macomb;  Charles  E.,  also  a 
resident  of  that  place. 

F.  J.  Hoffman,  who  is  engaged  in  the 
business  of  harness  making,  established 
his  present  business  in  1861,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  square,  and  moved  to  his 
present  location  in  about  1876.  He  oc- 
cupies a  room  22x60  feet  in  size  and  car- 
ries about  $4,000  worth  of  stock. 

Joseph  M.  Martin  &  Son,  builders  and 
contractors,  on  Jefferson  street  between 
Lafayette  and  Randolph,  commenced 
business  in  1873,  as  successor  to  J.  M. 
Martin,  who  had  established  the  same  in 
1849.  The  shop  is  20x40,  one  story  high. 

BANKS. 

The  first  account  of  any  banking  insti- 
tution dates  from  1856,  when  William  H. 
Randolph  &  Co.  opened  a  bank  and  ex- 
change office  in  Macomb.  They,  in  an 
evil  hour,  took  stock  to  the  amount  of 
$20,000  in  what  afterwards  proved  to  be 
a  wild  cat  bank  of  the  worst  species.  The 
country  was  flooded  with  the  issues  of 
this  bank,  though  not  all  being  of  the 
series  assumed  by  Messrs.  Randolph  & 
Co.  The  name  of  this  institution  was 
the  Nemaha  Valley  bank,  having  a  large 
number  of  stockholders  throughout  the 
county.  Its  plan  of  doing  business  was 
substantially  as  follows :  Its  stock  was  di- 
vided into  a  certain  number  of  shares  and 
sold  to  parties  desiring  them,  the  buyer 
being  entitled  to  a  certain  amount  of  the 
bills  of  the  bank  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  shares  held.  The  bills  held 
by  each  contributing  purchaser  constitu- 
ted a  series  for  which  he  was  only  to  be 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1089 


held  responsible,  each  redeeming  the 'se- 
ries assigned  to  himself.  Arrangements 
were  entered  into  by  the  holders  of  the 
different  series  to  redeem  the  notes  of 
each  other  when  presented  for  payment, 
and  sending  them  in  for  redemption. 
This  arrangement  served  to  strengthen 
the  confidence  of  the  people  in  their 
stability. 

This  county  was  also  flooded  with  the 
notes  of  the  Platte  Valley  bank,  another 
institution  of  the  same  wild  cat  species. 
When  the  crash  in  1858  came  the  notes 
of  these  banks  were  at  once  presented  to 
the  different  depositories  for  redemp- 
tion. Messrs.  Randolph  &  Co.,  though 
having  but  $20,000,  continued  to  redeem 
until  they  had  paid  out  over  $25,000, 
and,  then  becoming  satisfied  that  they 
would  never  be  enabled  to  obtain  any- 
thing from  McCoy,  the  owner  of  the 
Nemaha  Valley  bank,  they  were  forced 
to  suspend.  The  loss  to  the  firm  of  Ran- 
dolph &  Co.  has  been  put  down  at  $100,- 
QOO,  and  many  others  in  Macomb  suff- 
fered  from  the  effects  of  the  collapse. 

There  being  now  no  bank  in  the  city, 
in  March,  1858,  Charles  Chandler  opened 
a  private  banking  establishment  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  public  square. 
At  this  time,  it  will  be  remembered, 
many  failures  of  bankers  and  other  busi- 
ness men  were  occurring  all  over  the 
country,  yet  notwithstanding,  the  people 
of  the  county  reposed  in  him  unbounded 
confidence  and  trusted  him  implicitly, 
depositing  with  him  their  means  with- 
out fear  that  their  trust  would  be  be- 
trayed. Hard  times  continued  until  the 
second  year  of  the  war.  In  1861  the 
country  was  drained  of  its  silver  as  well 
as  of  its  gold,  and  sufficient  change  for 


the  transaction  of  business  could  not  be 
obtained.  At  this  juncture  Mr.  Chan- 
dler issued  several  thousand  dollars  of 
"scrip,"  of  the  denomination  of  five,  ten, 
twenty-five  and  fifty  cents  each,  which 
were  readily  received  by  the  people 
everywhere,  and  we  doubt  not  that  to- 
day there  is  a  small  quantity  of  this 
currency  scattered  throughout  the  coun- 
try and  held  as  a  souvenir  of  the  war. 
Mr.  Chandler  continued  this  private 
bank  until  February  8,  1865,  when  a 
charter  having  been  procured,  the 

FIKST  NATIONAL  BANK  OF  MACOMB 

was  organized,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$50,000,  and  with  the  following  stock- 
holders: Charles  Chandler,  Joseph  An- 
derson, Joseph  Burton,  J.  W.  Mclntosh, 

C.  V.  Chandler,  A.  E.  Hoskinson,  S.  F. 
Lancey,  Henry  C.  Twyman,  J.  H.  Cum- 
mings  and  J.  B.  Cummings.     The  bank 
was  opened  for  business  on  the  morning 
of  April  17,  1865,  with  the  following  offi- 
cers in  charge:  Charles  Chandler,  presi- 
dent; J.  H.   Cummings,  cashier;  C.  V. 
Chandler,  teller;  Joseph  Burton,  Joseph 
Anderson,  S.  F.  Lancey,  A.  E.  Hoskin- 
son and  Charles  Chandler,  directors. 

The  capital  stock  of  this  financial  insti- 
tution was  increased,  February  2,  1871, 
to  $75,000,  and  October  2,  of  that  year, 
to  $100,000.  At  that  time  the  officers  of 
the  bank  were:  Charles  Chandler,  presi- 
dent; J.  H.  Cummings,  cashier;  C.  V. 
Chandler,  assistant  cashier;  with  the 
board  of  directors  consisting  of  Charles 
Chandler,  J.  W.  Mclntosh,  S.  F.  Lancy, 

D.  Runkle,  A.  E.  Hoskinson,  J.  H.  Cum- 
mings, and  C.  S.  Cottrell.     Mr.  Cottrell 
dying  in  December,  1876,  D.  G.  Tunni- 
cliff  was  elected  to  fill  his  place  in  the 


1090 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


board  of  directors,  and  at  the*same  meet- 
ing David  Scott  was  chosen  to  fill  the 
vacancy  made  by  the  retirement  of  A. 
E.  Hoskinson.  In  December,  1878,  the 
bank  and  the  community  at  large  met 
with  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  Charles 
Chandler.  On  the  14th  of  January,  1879, 
at  a  meeting  of  those  interested,  Charles 
V.  Chandler  was  duly  elected  to  the  of- 
fice of  president  and  director.  This 
makes  the  management  of  the  bank  in 
the  hands  of  C.  Y.  Chandler,  president; 
J.  H.  Cummings,  cashier;  J.  W.  Mcln- 
tosh,  H.  C.  Twyman,  J.  H.  Cummings, 
C.  V.  Chandler,  L.  Stocker,  D.  Eunkle 
and  E.  N.  Hicks,  directors. 

The  following  is  the  sworn  statement  of 
the  bank  at  the  close  of  business  on  Tues- 
day, March  10, 1885: 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts  $303,868  37 

Overdrafts.. 11,366  33 

U.  8.  bonds  to  secure  circulation,  4 

per  cents 100,00000 

U.  S.  bonds  on  hand,  at  par 20,200  00 

Other  stocks,  bonds  and  mortgages..  80,192  47 
Due  from  approved  reserve 

agents $45,777  63 

Due  from  other  national 

banks 4,88428 

50,661  91 

Other  real  estate $1,386  28 

Furniture  and  fixtures...      3,000  00 

4,386  28 

Current  expenses 2,417  66 

Checks,  other  cash  items.  $7,996  07 

Bills  of  other  banks  4,736  00 

Fractional     paper      cur- 
rency, nickels,  pennies.        259  42 

Specie,  gold  coin  18,140  00 

Silver  coin  3,220  00 

Legal  tender  notes  42,000  00 

76,351  49 

Redemption  fund  with  U.  S.  Treas- 
urer, 5  per  cent  of  circulation 4,500  00 

Total....." $653,944  51 


LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  paid  in 100,000  00 

Surplus  fund.... 112,500  00 

Undivided   profits 13,989  33 

National  bank  notes  out- 
standing   $90,000  00 

Less  amount  on  hand 7,200  00       82,800  00 

Individual  deposits  sub- 
ject to  check  212,719  70 

Demand  certificates  of 
deposit 131,068  37  343,788  07 

Due  to  state  banks  and  bankers...,  867  11 


Totul $653,944  51 

The  bank  has  sometimes  much  larger 
lines  of  deposit  than  shown  above,  often 
exceeding  three  and  four  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars.  On  July  10,  1882,  it  was 
$581,848.47. 

C.  V.  Chandler,  'who  is  without  doubt 
McDonough  county's  most  prominent 
and  enterprising  citizen,  was  born  in  the 
first  ward  of  the  city  of  Maconib,  on  the 
25th  day  of  January,  1843,  and  is  still 
a  resident  of  the  same  ward.  His  edu- 
cation was  received  partly  in  Macomb, 
partly  in  Danbury,  Connecticut,  and 
partly  at  the  Lake  Forest  academy,  Il- 
linois. He  was  prepared  to  enter  Will- 
iam's college,  in  1862,  but,  becoming  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  re- 
turned to  Macomb  and  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  company  I,  78th  Illinois  volun- 
teer infantry.  He  only  served  as  a  pri- 
vate about  nine  months,  being  then  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  2d  lieutenant. 
During  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  on 
the  20th  of  September,  1863,  he  was 
wounded,  a  rifle  ball  passing  through 
both  thighs,  and  a  few  moments  later 
received  another  wound,  the  ball  passing 
through  one  thigh.  Mr.  Chandler  was 
the  last  man  wounded  in  his  company. 
He  had  just  taken  hold  of  a  small  hick- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1091 


ory  tree,  and  remarked  to  the  1st  lieuten- 
ant, "I  guess  we  are  through  all  right," 
when,  almost  immediately,  he  was  struck. 
He  then  caught  hold  of  his  limb,  and 
modified  his  remark,  thusly:     "I  guess 
we  are  not."     Mr.   Chandler  afterwards 
cut  down  said  tree,  and  now  has  a  cane 
made   therefrom.     After  the  battle,  he 
obtained   a  furlough   and    returned    to 
Macomb,  where  he  nursed  the  wounds 
until  March  1,  1864,  at  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  his  regiment,  and  was  much 
surprised  to  find  that  he  had  been  pro- 
moted to  adjutant,  the  commission  dat- 
ing from  the  day  he  was  wounded.     But 
he  soon  found  that  the  injuries  he  had 
received  would  not  permit  him  to  remain 
in  active  service,  and  so,  in  April,  he  re- 
signed   his    commission   and    returned 
home.     Upon  his  return,  he  entered  the 
private    banking    house   of   his  father, 
which  soon  afterwards  was  changed  to 
the  First  National   bank,  and  served  as 
teller  until  the  death  of  his  father,  De- 
cember 26,  1878,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came the  president  of  that  institution, 
which  position  he  still  retains.     He  is 
also  the  president  of  the  Bardolph  Fire 
Clay  works,  this  being  his  seventh   year 
as  such.     He  is  the  largest  stock-holder 
of  the  Macomb  Wagon  company,  and  is 
its  present  president,  and  was  one  of  the 
incorporators  of  the  first  pottery  works 
in  Macomb.  Mr.  Chandler  is  the  largest 
property  owner  in  Macomb,  being  the 
builder  and  owner  of  the  Opera  House 
block,   which   is  known    as   Chandler's 
Block,  besides  which  he  has  eight  other 
large,  brick  business   buildings  located 
on  the  square.     Like  his  father  before 
him,  Mr.  Chandler  is  an  ardent  republi- 
can.    He  was  appointed  city  treasurer 


in  1870,  and  has  held  that  office  continu- 
ally to  the  present  time.  This  is  the  only 
office  he  would  accept,  as  his  private 
business  is  so  extensive  that  it  requires 
his  entire  attention.  He  is  the  present 
commander  of  McDonough  Post,  No. 
103,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  is 
also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason,  a  member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  also  of  the 
Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  On 
the  28th  day  of  August,  1866,  C.  V.  Chan- 
dler and  Clara  A.  Baker,  daughter  of 
Judge  J.  H.  Baker,  were  united  in  the 
holy  bonds  of  matrimony.  As  a  result 
of  this  union,  they  have  been  the  parents 
of  six  children — Charles  J.,  died  in  in- 
fancy; Clara,  Mary,  Ralph,  George  and 
Isabella.  Mr.  Chandler's  father  and  his 
wife's  father,  were  both  natives  of  Al- 
stead,  New  Hampshire,  so,  when  they 
visit  in  that  section,  they  find  their 
friends  living  side  by  side.  Before  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler  lived 
in  the  same  ward. 

Jesse  Henry  Cummings,  the  cashier 
of  the  First  National  bank  of  Macomb, 
is  a  native  of  cecil  County,  Maryland, 
and  was  born  December  29,  1834.  His 
parents  were  James  and  Rachel  ( Hall ) 
Cummings,  who  were  natives  of  the 
same  state  and  county.  The  former  died 
in  1837,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  child- 
ren, aged  from  three  to  fourteen  years, 
all  of  whom  reached  maturity  and  were 
married.  Three  of  then  are  still  living 
— John  B.,  of  Bushnell;  J.  H.,  and  Sarah, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Hamilton,  and  re- 
siding in  Pennsylvania.  About  1838,  the 
mother,  with  her  family,  moved  to  wes- 
tern Pennsylvania,  where  Jesse  H.  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
lived  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He 


1092 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


then,  in  March  1855,  came  to  Macomb, 
his  brother  J.  B.  having  preceded  him. 
Upon  his  arrival,  he  first  served  as  clerk 
in  the  hardware  store  of  T.  J  Beard.  In 
the  summer  of  1856,  he  entered  the 
bank  of  Randolph  &  Co.,  and  there  laid 
the  foundation  of  his  future  business 
life.  When  that  bank  closed  its  doors, 
Mr.  Cummin  gs  again  clerked  in  a  mer- 
cantile store,  and  in  1861,  entered,  as 
clerk,  the  banking  house  of  Charles 
Chandler  &  Co.,  and  thus  continued  un- 
til the  bank  was  changed  to  the  First 
National,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
cashier  and  director.  He  is  a  man  of 
excellent  business  qualifications;  is  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Ma- 
comb  Tile  and  Sewer  Pipe  company;  a  di- 
rector, and  the  treasurer  of  the  Macomb 
Pottery  company ;  and  a  director  in  and 
treasurer  of  the  Macomb  Building  asso- 
ciation. For  10  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  city  council  and  is  president  of 
the  board  of  education.  He  was  mar- 
ried November  3,  1857,  to  Ella  Pearson, 
daughter  of  Isaac  S.  Pearson,  and  the 
union  has  been  blessed  with  three  child- 
ren— Harry  W.,  May  and  Jessie. 

THE  IJNION  NATIONAL  BANK. 

Was  organized  under  charter  in  1871, 
with  a  capital  of  $60,000.  The  officers 
were  the  following  named:  W.  S.  Bai- 
ley, president;  L.  Holland,  cashier;  M. 
T.  Winslow,  teller;  N.  P.  Tinsley,  W.  S. 
McNair,  C.  S.  Cottrell,  William  Wether- 
hold,  L.  Holland,  W.  S.  Bailey  and  J. 
W.  Blount,  directors.  The  bank  opened 
its  doors  for  business  on  the  1st  of  Oct- 
ober, 1871,  and  from  the  start  did  a  fine 
business.  The  first  statement  made  by 
it,  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 


governing  such  institutions,  was  on  the 
16th  of  December,  1871,  which  was  as 
follows : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts   $4G,231  77 

Overdrafts 1,284  GO 

United  States  bonds  60,000  00 

Due  from  agents 17,848  04 

Current  expenses 847  73 

Checks  and  other  cash  items  312  52 

Bills  of  other  banks 5,863  00 

Fractional  currency 890  44 

Specie 103  00 

Legal  tenders 13,390  00 


Total $146,771  10 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital $60,000  00 

Undivided  profits 1,256  13 

Circulating  notes ...  54,000  00 

Individual  deposits  ...  35,514  97 


Total $146,771  10 

W.  S.  Bailey  has  been  the  president 
of  the  bank  ever  since-  its  inception,  with 
the  exception  of  during  the  years  1879 
and  1880,  when  W.  E.  Odell  occupied 
that  position.  L.  Holland  was  succeeded 
in  the  office  of  cashier,  in  July,  1880  by 
I.  N.  Pearson,  who  held  that  position 
until  January,  1883,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Albert  Eads.  The  present 
officers  are  as  follows:  W.  S.  Bailey, 
president;  Albert  Eads,  cashier;  J.  D. 
Hixon,  assistant  cashier;  A.  B.  Blount, 
clerk;  W.  S.  Bailey,  J.  W.  Blount,  W. 
E.  Odell,  I.  N.  Pearson,  G.  W.  Bailey, 
M.  F.  Jacobs  and  Albert  Eads,  directors. 
On  the  9th  of  April,  1878,  this  bank  re- 
duced its  capital  stock  to  $50,000,  which 
is  the  present  amount.  Notwithstand- 
ing that  it  was  the  second  bank  estab- 
lished in  Macomb,  it  has  steadily  grown 
in  public  favor  and  gained  in  profitable 
business,  until  it  is  now  as  strong  a  finan- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1093 


cial  institution  as  any  in  this  section  of 
the  state  of  Illinois,  as  will  be  seen  by 
its  last  published  statement  made  of  the 
condition  of  the  bank,  at  the  close  of 
business,  March  10,  1885.  This  is  as 
follows : 

RESOURCES. 

Loans  and  discounts $98,861  54 

Overdrafts 1,034  44 

U.  8.  bonds  to  secure  circulation 50,000  00 

U.  S.  bond  on  hand . 5,800  CO 

Other  stocks,  bonds  and  mortgages..  24,500  00 

Due  from  approved  reserve  agents..  13,180  54 

Due  from  other  national  banks 245  35 

Real  estate,  furniture  and  fixtures....  1,258  00 

Current  expenses  and  taxes  paid....  1,385  51 

Premiums  paid 341  07 

Bills  of  other  banks $5,524  00 

Nickels  and  pennies 297  29 

Specie 10,217  00  . 

Silver  certificates 2,500  00 

Legal  tender  notes  ..   13,50000 

32,038  29 

Redemption  fund  with  U.  S.  treas- 
urer ...  2,250  00 


Total $230,894  74 

LIABILITIES. 

Capital  stock  uaid  in 'JSO.OOO  00 

Surplus  fund 25,126  51 

Undivided  profits 4,711  30 

National  bank  notes  outstanding 43,100  00 

Individual  deposits  sub- 
ject to  check $57,314  49 

Demand    certificates    of 
deposit  50,642  44 

107,956  93 


Total $230,894  74 

Among  Macomb's  prominent  citizens 
we  will  mention  Albert  Eads,  the  pres- 
ent cashier  of  the  Union  National  bank 
of  Macomb,  who  was  born  in  Knoxville, 
Illinois,  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1842, 
his  parents  being  John  and  Margaret 
(Anderson)  Eads.  Albert  was  left  moth- 
erless when  not  yet  three  years  of  age, 
and  he  was  then  reared  in  the  family  of 


his  grandfather,  in  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, until  reaching  his  12th  year,  when 
he  attended  school  at  Knoxville,  remain- 
ing there  until  1859,  with  his  father. 
For  the  next  year  he  attended  school  at 
East  Hampton,  Massachusetts.  When 
the  civil  war  broke  out,  it  fired  Albert's 
patriotic  heart,  and  he  enlisted  in  com- 
pany C,  51st  Illinois  infantry.  He  en- 
listed as  a  private,  but  was  immediately 
chosen  as  second  lieutenant,  and,  before 
reaching  his  21st  birthday,  he  was  pro- 
moted first  lieutenant  and  served  as 
such  until  February,  1865.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1864,  he  received  severe  in- 
juries from  a  fall,  and  in  July,  1864, 
was  detailed  as  a  military  conductor, 
from  Nashville,  Tennessee,  to  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
During  the  month  of  September,  1864, 
and  was  exchanged  in  the  November  fol- 
lowing. In  February,  1865,  he  resigned 
and  then  returned  to  Knoxville,  Illinois, 
during  the  fall  of  1865,  he  took  a  course 
of  study  at  Eastman's  Business  college, 
in  New  York,  and  in  1866  and  1867,  he 
was  engaged  in  merchandising  at  To- 
peka,  Kansas.  In  1868,  he  came  to  Ma- 
comb,  where  he  carried  on  the  dry  goods 
business  for  two  years.  For  the  next 
few  years  he  gave  his  attention  to  a  farm 
which  he  had  previously  purchased  near 
the  city.  In  1776,  he  entered  the  Union 
National  bank  as  a  book-keeper,  and  now 
holds  the  responsible  position  of  cashier 
in  said  institution.  On  the  28th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1868,  Mary  C.  Tinsley,  a  daughter 
of  N.  P.  Tinsley,  became  the  beloved 
wife  of  Mr.  Eads.  They  now  have  one 
child — Lizzie  E.  Mr.  Eads  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  is  a 
Royal  Arch  Mason,  having  served  as 


1094 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


master  of  the  Blue  lodge  for  11  consec- 
utive years.  Politically,  he  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, but  has  had  no  ambition  for  polit- 
ical preferment. 

EXPRESS  AND   TELEGRAPH. 

The  agency  of  the  American  Express 
company  was  established  in  Macomb  in 
the  latter  part  of  1855,  or  early  in  the 
year  1856,  with  John  Brown  as  the  first 
agent.  It  was  then  located  in  Mr. 
Brown's  dry  goods  house,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  square,  but  has  occupied  vari- 
ous buildings  since  that  time,  and  is 
now  located  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  block, 
on  the  north  side.  J.  S.  Gash  is  the 
present  agent. 

Macomb  has  a  branch  office  of  the 
Western  Union  telegraph  located  in  the 
business  portion  of  town.  Previous  to 
its  establishment,  the  business  was  all 
done  at  the  depot.  On  the  14th  of 
March,  1884,  the  present  office  was  in- 
itiated in  the  second  story  of  the 
Stocker  block,  where  it  is  at  present  lo- 
cated. 

HOTELS. 

The  pioneer  hotel,  as  has  been  men- 
tioned, was  reared  by  James  Clarke,  in 
1831.  It  was  a  large  hewn  log  edifice,  a 
story  and  a  half  high.  Here  he  re- 
mained for  many  years.  Later  he  built 
a  fine  brick  addition  in  front  of  this.  He 
was  the  landlord  until  succeeded  by 
George  Head.  Silas  French  afterwards 
purchased  the  property,  and  built  an- 
other story  to  the  brick  part,  and  made 
other  additions.  After  running  it  some 
time,  he  rented  it  to  Thomas  A.  Brook- 
ing, in  1850.  He  was  the  landlord  for 
several  years.  After  this,  it  passed 
through  several  hands,  became  known  as 


the  St.  Elmo,  and' has  been  torn  down  to 
make  room  for  improvements. 

The  Park  house  was  built  in  185G,  by 
the  county  for  a  jail,  and  was  used  as 
such  until  the  latter  part  of  November, 
1876,  when  the  new  jail  was  completed. 
At  that  time  the  old  building  was  sold, 
and  was  remodeled  and  altered  into  its 
present  form,  and  opened  by  Richard 
Williams  as  a  hotel,  under  the  name  of 
the  Williams  house.  In  August,  1882, 
he  was  succeeded  by  Thomas  J.  Jolly, 
the  present  proprietor.  The  structure  is 
of  brick,  60  feet  square,  two  stories  high, 
and  contains  10  sleeping  rooms,  besides 
the  usual  other  rooms  of  a  hotel.  The 
name,  Park  house,  was  given  it  by  its 
present'  owner,  as  it  lies  just  south  of  the 
city  park. 

Thomas  Jarvis  Jolly,  landlord  and 
proprietor  of  the  Park  hotel,  at  Macomb, 
was  born  in  London,  England,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1841.  He  is  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Susan  (Jarvis)  Jolly,  both  natives 
of  England.  Thomas  Jolry,  Sr.,  was, 
during  the  latter  portion  of  his  life,  a 
wharfinger  at  the  East  India  docks,  Lon- 
don. Previously,  he  had  been  a  reliev- 
ing officer  (here  known  as  supervisor) 
in  the  employ  of  the  Risbridge  Union. 
He  died  in  London  in  1879.  His  wife 
died  in  Suffolk,  in  1863.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  educated  in  his  native 
city,  and  on  arriving  at  a  suitable  age, 
engaged  as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  estab- 
lishment, r  occupying  the  same  position 
until  he  came  to  America,  in  1867.  He 
was  married  July  30,  1865,  to  Emma 
Hayes,  a  native  of  Somersetshire,  Eng- 
gland.  On  coming  to  America,-  he  came 
directly  to  Macomb,  and  commenced 
clerking  in  the  old  Brown's  hotel,  where 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1095 


he  continued  a  short  time.  He  then  en- 
tered the  Randolph  house  as  clerk, 
which  position  he  occupied  for  14  years, 
during  which  he  gained  a  knowledge  of 
hotel-keeping,  and  of  the  wants  of  the 
traveling  public.  In  1882,  he  engaged 
in  his  present  business,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  abundant  success,  his  house 
being  full  at  all  times.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jolly  are  the  parents  of  seven  children 
— Emma,  now  in  Ida~ho;  Albert,  Arthur, 
Horace,  Ethie,  Rosa,  and  Chesterfield. 
The  Randolph  house,  the  largest  hotel 
in  McDonough  county,  was  built  by 
William  H.  Randolph.  He  commenced 
its  erection  in  1856,  and  finished  it  the 
year  following.  On  its  completion,  it 
was  opened  by  D.  C.  Flint,  but  he.  pot 
meeting  with  the  success  anticipated,  in 
1858,  Mr.  Randolph,  although  having 
many  other  business  interests  and  cares, 
assumed  the  position  of  landlord,  which 
he  kept  until  the  1st  of  November,  1864, 
when  he  was  killed,  as  is  detailed  at 
length  elsewhere.  He  was  followed  by 
his  brother,  Jacob  Randolph,  Mrs.  W. 
H.  Randolph,  George  Fay,  Cuyler, 
and  A.  V.  Brooking.  In  May,  1883,  the 
hotel  was  rented  by  the  present  proprie- 
tor, Phineas  J.  Miller,  who*  at  once  re- 
opened the  caravansery.  The  building, 
which  is  a  large,  three-story  brick  build- 
ing, some  120  feet  long  on  the  front,  and 
some  90  feet  deep,  contains  about  40 
sleeping  rooms,  a  large  and  convenient 
office,  a  ladies'  parlor,  and  a  dining  room 
about  30x40  feet  in  size.  The  ground 
floor  is  occupied  by  five  or  six  stores, 
and  the  office,  etc.,  of  the  hotel  are  in  the 
second  story,  a  wide  and  commodious 
stairway  affording  ingress  thereto.  It  is 
well  furnished,  and  has  a  good  trade. 


Among  the  more  prominent  hotel  men 
of  the  county,  is  Phineas  J.  Miller,  the 
proprietor  of  the  Miller  house,  a  son  of 
Joseph  H.  and  Phoebe  Ann  (Janney) 
Miller.  He  was  born  in  Alexandria, 
Virginia,  on  the  24th  day  of  March, 
1833.  In  1846,  the  family  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  at  Vermont,  Fulton 
county,  and  engaged  in  agricultural 
pursuits.  The  parents  died  there,  leav- 
ing a  family  of  four  children,  of  whom 
Phineas  was  the  eldest.  He  assisted  in 
tilling  the  soil  until  about  1855.  In 
April,  1856,  at  Vermont,  Illinois,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Caroline  E. 
Dray,  a  native  of  Allegheny  City,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  daughter  of  Moses  and 
Eliza  Dray.  He  then  resided  near  Ver- 
mont, until  1864,  at  which  time  he  re- 
moved to  Pekin,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in 
the  livery  business,  following  the  same 
until  1871.  During  the  next  nine  years 
he  acted  in  the  capacity  of  book-keeper 
in  a  Pekin  distillery.  Mr.  Miller,  in 
May,  1883,  removed  to  Macomb,  Mc- 
Donough county,  where  he  has  since 
been  the  proprietor  of  the  Miller  house, 
formerly  known  as  the  Randolph  house. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  reared  a  fam- 
ily of  six  children — Fannie  J.,  a  teacher 
in  the  Galesburg  schools;  Louis,  a 
printer  by  trade,  and  at  present  work- 
ing on  the  Minneapolis  Tribune;  Mag- 
gie, who  graduated  at  Pekin,  and  is  now 
a  teacher  in  the  Galesburg  schools; 
Harry  H.,  a  telegraph  operator,  at  Chi- 
cago; Edwin  J.  and  George  P.  Mr. 
Miller  is  finely  educated,  is  an  excellent 
accountant,  and  a  genial,  whole-souled 
gentleman.  Mrs.  Miller,  his  wife,  is  a 
lady  who  is  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
have  the  honor  of  an  acquaintance  with 


1096 


HISTORY  OF*  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


her.  She  is  a  kind  mother,  and  is  ever 
ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the 
needy. 

The  Williams  house  was  built  by 
Richard  Williams,  the  present  proprie- 
tor. It  is  located  on  North  Randolph 
street,  about  a  block  and  a  half  north  of 
the  public  square.  It  is  a  neat  frame 
building,  36x68  feet  in  ground  area,  two- 
stories  high,  with  a  porch  or  veranda 
running  the  whole  length  of  the  front 
of  the  building.  It  contains  besides 
office,  dining  room,  etc.,  about  20  sleep- 
ing rooms,  and  has  a  liberal  patronage. 
The  house  cost  about  $4,000. 

Richard  Williams,  proprietor  of  the 
Williams  house,  is  a  native  of  Missouri, 
where  he  lived  until  10  years  of  age. 
He  then  came  to  Illinois,  and  lived  for  a 
few  years  in  Mason  county,  thence  to 
Fulton  county,  where  he  lived  upon  a 
farm.  Here  moved  from  the  latter  county 
to  McDonough,  in  1858.  He  was,  for  a 
number  of  years  after  coming  here,  en- 
gaged in  carpentering,  in  the  city  of 
Macomb,  helping  to  build  the  Randolph 
house,  a  school  house,  and  other  build- 
ings. He  then  worked  14  years  in  the 
mill  located  in  the  south  part  of  the 
city,  after  which  he  began  keeping  hotel 
at  the  Park  house,  then  the  Williams 
house,  where  he  continued  until  he 
built  the  house  which  he  now  occupies. 
The  Williams  house  is  favorably  known 
to  the  traveling  public,  and  has  the  rep- 
utation of  being  well  and  neatly  kept. 
Mr.  Williams  receives  fully  his  share  of 
the  public  patronage,  and  is  a  deserv- 
edly popular  landlord.  He  was  mar- 
ried October  5,  1859,  to  Elizabeth  Ben- 
nett, daughter  of  George  W.  Bennett,  of 
Fulton  county.  They  have  one  daugh- 


ter— Alice.  Mr.  Williams'  parents  were 
John  and  Elizabeth  ( Johnson )  Williams, 
natives  of  Tennessee. 

BOARD  OF  TRADE. 

The  Macomb  board  of  trade  was 
established  by  F.  A.  Thomas,  in  1883, 
in  the  small  frame  building  next  to  the 
Scott  block.  He  continued  to  operate 
this  until  November  26,  1884,  when  it 
was  purchased  by  the  present  proprie- 
tor, S.  L.  Hawkins.  Previous  to  this, 
however,  on  March  4,  1884,  it  was  re- 
moved to  its  present  location,  in  the 
second  story  of  the  Stocker  building. 
Mr.  Hawkins  does  a  regular  commission 
business  through  Chicago,  in  the  various 
commodities  sold  on  the  board  of  trade 
of  that  great  center,  wheat,  corn,  oats, 
pork,  lard,  flour,  etc. 

GREENHOUSE. 

The  Macomb  greenhouse  and  market 
garden  is  operated  by  1.  L.  Pillsbury, 
who  built  one  of  the  conservatories, 
which  is  14x30  feet  in  dimension,  in 
1882.  In  1883,  he  built  the  other,  which 
is  11x60  feet  in  size,  and  added  the  hot 
beds.  He  has  in  all,  about  2,500  square 
feet  of  glass.  He  devotes  to  the  busi- 
ness of  market  gardening  upwards  of 
five  acres  of  land,  and  is  doing  a  fine 
business,  supplying  a  large  part  of  the 
county,  although  he  does  some  shipping. 
One  of  the  greenhouses  is  largely  de- 
voted to  raising  of  blossoms,  as  cut 
flowers  is  a  specialty  with  him. 

FLOURING   MILLS. 

.The  North  roller  mill,  of  Macomb, 
was  built  by  N.  P.  Tinsley,  in  1857.  He 
sold  it,  in  1881,  to  David  Scott,  who  is 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1097 


the  present  owner.  It  is  located  in  the 
extreme  northern  porbion  of  the  city, 
and  is  a  fine  large  structure,  three- 
stories  and  a  basement  in  height,  and 
has,  in  addition,  a  grain  warehouse,with 
a  capacity  of  holding  10,000  bushels  of 
grain.  The  mill  cost  Mr.  Scott  some 
$8,000,  and  he  has  made  additions  and 
repairs,  in  the  shape  of  new  machinery, 
to  the  extent  of  $8^000  more,  and  is  a 
complete  piece  of  property.  It  is  fully 
equipped  with  four  sets  of  buhrs,  and 
seven  sets  of  rollers,  all  driven  by  a  60- 
horse  power  engine.  The  mill  is  both  a 
merchant  and  exchange  mill,  and  does 
an  immense  business. 

The  Center  mill  was  built  in  the 
spring  of  1879,  by  David  Scott  and  John 
Penrose,  at  a  cost  of  $12,000.  The  co- 
partnership of  these  parties  lasted  for 
about  two  years,  when  Mr.  Scott  bought 
the  interest  of  Mr.  Penrose,  and  run  it 
up  to  a  short  time  since.  The  mill  is  a 
good  one  and  in  good  repair.  It  con- 
tains four  sets  of  buhrs  and  a  complete 
set  of  rollers.  The  motive  power  is 
furnished  by  an  engine  of  50-horse 
power,  which  is  located  in  the  basement. 
The  building  is  40x60  feet  in  ground 
area,  and  is  located  on  lot  1,  block  25. 

In  1849,  N.  P.  Tinsley  built  a  mill  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  town  of  Ma- 
comb,  which  he  operated  until  1856, 
when  he  sold  it  to  Clisby  &  Trull.  This 
mill  was  afterwards  removed  to  Col- 
chester, and  in  connection  with  the 
annals  of  that  place,  a  history  of  it  is 
given  in  full. 

MACOMB   TILE  AND  SEWEE  PIPE   COMPANY. 

The  company  with  the  above  name, 
was  incorporated  in  the  spring  of  1883, 


with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000.  The 
establishment  of  it  was  largely  due  to 
the  efforts  of  Dr.  W.  F.  Bayne,  Jesse  H. 
Cummings,  J.  C.  McClellan,  G.  W.  Bai- 
ley and  Andrew  H.  Allison,  who  were 
appointed  by  the  secretary  of  state,  as 
commissioners,  to  opei*  the  books  of  the 
company  and  to  receive  subscriptions  to 
the  capital  stock  to  the  amount  above 
given.  As  soon  as  the  stock  was  all 
taken,  and  the  articles  of  incorporation 
completed,  they  purchased  five  and  one- 
half  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  city  cor- 
poration line  on  the  west,  and  built  what 
is  now  the  main  building.  This  is  50x200 
feet  in  ground  area,  with  an  L,  50x100 
feet  in  size.  The  basement  of  the  edi- 
fice is  built  of  sfone  and  the  superstruct- 
ure of  brick.  The  latter  is  three  stories 
high,  and  is  fitted  up  with  all  the  neces- 
sary machinery  of  the  most  approved 
and  improved  kind.  The  building  was. 
completed,  and  manufacturing  began  in 
March,  1884,  since  which  time  they  have 
turned  out  an  immense  amount  of  ware. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the.  stock-hold- 
ers, the  following  gentlemen  were  chosen 
directors  of  the  company:  Dr.  W.  F. 
Bayne,  J.  H.  Cummings,  J.  C.  McClel- 
lan, J.  M.  Keefer,  J.  W.  Mclntosh,  An- 
drew H.  Allison  and  G.  W.  Bailey.  This 
board  met  and  elected  the  following  of- 
ficers: Dr.  W.  F.  Bayne,  president;  G. 
W.  Bailey,  secretary;  J.  H.  Cummings, 
treasurer.  The  officers  at  present  are  as 
follows:  W.  F.  Bayne,  president;  Sam- 
uel Frost,  secretary;  Albert  Eads,  treas- 
urer; W.  F.  Bayne,  J.  M.  Keefer,  J.  B. 
Venard,  G.  W.  Bailey,  Andrew  Allison, 
J.  H.  Cummings,  Albert  Eads,  directors. 

The  business  proved  very  successful 
from  the  start,  and  a  good  trade  was  es- 


1098 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


tablished  and  the  works  were  in  contin- 
ued operation  until  January,  1885,  when 
they  were  closed  down  until  March  1,  to 
make  some  repairs  and  additions,  look- 
ing to  an  increase  of  capacity  and  trade. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  stock-hold- 
ers of  the  company,  among  whom  are 
some  of  the  most  enterprising,  citizens 
of  Macomb  and  the  surrounding  coun- 
try: J.  M.  Keefer,  G.  W.  Bailey,  A.  H. 
Allison,  J.  M.  Kelley,  Charles  Shevalier, 
Martin  &  Son,  W.  E.  Odell,  J.  H.  Baker, 
T.  F.  Willis,  J.  S.  Sosman,  C.  W.  Dines, 
W.  F.  Wells,  C.  G.  Chandler,  Albert 
Eads,  M.  C.  Eads,  A.  Binnie,  N.  Camp- 
bell, T.  C.  Yard,  Blount  Bros.,  J.  L.  Bai- 
ley, J.  W.  Mclntosh,  J.  T.  Adcock,  Amos 
Scott,  J.  W.  Scott,  G.  C.  Gumbart,  J.  B. 
Venard,  W.  F.  Bayne,  J.  H.  Cummings, 
Peter  Hesh,  J.  T.  Applegate,  F.  Jacobs, 
Samuel  Frost,  Edgar  Bolles,  C.  N.  Boss, 
S.  L.  Sommers,  P.  H.  Garretson,  I.  M. 
Fellheimer,  L.  Stocker,  William  Ward 
and  Lucinda  Allison. 

EAGLE   POTTEEY. 

In  the  year  1875,  A.  W.  Eddy  and  J. 
M.  Forest  began  the  erection  of  a  pottery 
works  on  the  ground  formerly  occupied 
by  the  brick  yard  of  Perry  &  C.  N.  Hard- 
ing. They,  at  first,  simply  remodeled 
the  kiln  used  for  the  making  of  bricks 
and  in  it  burned  the  ware  made  by  them. 
This  firm  of  A.  W.  Eddy  &  Co.,  contin- 
ued in  active  operation  for  about  two 
years,  when  Mr.  Eddy  withdrew  and  J. 
S.  Patterson  became  a  partner,  and  the 
firm  name  and  style  altered  to  that  of  J. 
M.  Forest  &  Co.  In  the  fall  of  1879, 
Mr.  Forest  sold  his  interest  to  A.  W. 
Fauckentaugh,  when  the  firm  name  be- 
came J.  S.  Patterson  &  Co.  They  en- 


larged the  works  considerably,  and  in- 
creased the  business  to  a  large  extent. 
In  1881,  Mr.  Fauckentaugh  disposed  of 
his  interest  to  William  M.  Ragon  and 
Asher  Blount.  At  that  time  the  com- 
pany was  formed  and  took  the  name  of 
the  Eagle  Pottery.  They  have  added  to 
the  capacity  of  the  wofks,  putting  in  a 
new  kiln,  steam  pipes  and  crusher,  so 
that  now  the  works,  have  a  capacity  of 
turning  out  9,000  gallons  of  first  class 
ware  per  week;  ware  that  has  a  wide 
reputation  for  its  quality  and  finish.  In 
1883,  Mr.  Ragon  became  sole  proprietor 
of  the  institution  and  remains  so  at  the 
present  writing. 

BUCKEYE  POTTERY. 

Among  the  other  industrial  institu- 
tions of  Macomb,  of  this  nature,  is  the 
Buckeye,  which  is  located  on  Carroll 
street,  near  the  railroad  track.  This  was 
established  by  the  present  proprietors, 
Joseph  Pech  &  Sons,  in  1882,  they  erect- 
ing the  necessary  buildings  at  that  time. 
They  have  a  capital  of  $20,000  invested 
here,  and  afford  employment  to  some  20 
hands.  Most  of  their  ware,  which  is  of 
a  superior  quality,  made  from  clay  found 
within  the  limits  of  the  county,  to  Ne- 
braska, Iowa  and  other  western  states. 

Joseph  Pech  came  to  this  county  from 
Ohio,  in  1882.  He  is  a  native  of  Bohe- 
mia, born  June  15,  1827,  and  came  to 
this  county  about  the  year  1852.  His 
parents  were  agriculturists,  and  upon 
the  farm  Joseph  remained  until  12  years 
old,  when  he  was  sent  to  Vienna,  and 
there  remained  12  years,  four  years  being 
spent  as  apprentice  to  the  trade  of  pot- 
ter. According  to  the  custom  of  the 
country  he  worked  from  place  to  place  a 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1099 


number  of  years,  or  until  leaving  his  na- 
tive land.  With  his  father  he  settled 
at  Manitowoc,  Wisconsin,  and  engaged 
in  farming.  That  was  at  that  time  a  new 
country,  and  under  their  management  a 
farm  of  160  acres  was  improved,  then 
sold,  and  the  family  removed  to  the  city 
of  Madison.  Mr.  Pech  then  concluded 
to  work  at  the  business  and  trade  with 
which  he  was  familiar  and  to  that  end, 
formed  a  partnership  and  commenced 
making  stoneware.  The  quality  of  clay 
at  that  point  proved  unfit  for  the  busi- 
ness, and  the  project  was  abandoned  in 
consequence.  He  then  went  to  Ohio  and 
settling  at  Atwater,  in  Portage  county, 
engaged  in  teaching  school,  and  followed 
that  occupation  about  one  year.  He 
then  went  to  Atwater  of  the  same  county, 
worked  at  his  trade  about  15  years,  accu- 
mulating some  money,  with  which  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  that  county,  and 
after  a  time  he  moved  on  to  it,  and  made 
a  business  farming  together  with  the  pot- 
tery trade,  having  an  interest  in  a  manu- 
factory in  Atwater.  He  retained  that 
interest  until  1877,  when  he  sold  out  and 
engaged  exclusively  in  farming.  He 
there  lived  until  1882,  when  he  came  here 
as.  before  stated,  and  engaged  in  his  pres- 
ent business,  owning  with  his  sons  the 
Buckeye  pottery,  a  history  of  which  ap- 
pears elsewhere.  He  was  married  May 
4,  1854,  to  Anna  Sterba,  a  native  of  Aus- 
tria. They  have  had  six  children,  two . 
boys  and  four  girls,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— W.  J.,  married  to  Lucinda  Stocker, 
living  at  home  with  his  father,  with 
whom  he  is  in  partnership,  and  having 
one  child — Arthur;  Frank,  also  living  at 
home  and  a  member  of  the  company; 
Anna,  Clara,  Josephine  and  Flora,  twins. 


W.  J.  Pech  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  F.  M. 
Pech  is  a  member  of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.  and 
both  are,  politically,  republicans. 

CARRIAGE   MANUFACTORIES. 

J.  L.  Gribble,  the  leading  manufac- 
turer of  and  dealer  in  carriages,  buggies 
and  spring  wagons,  in  Macomb,  com- 
menced operations  in  1864,  in  that  city, 
and  with  the  exception  of  about  a  year 
and  a  half  has  continued  ever  since.  The 
building  at  present  occupied  by  him,  was 
mostly  erected  in  1871,  and  theinain  part 
is  24x120  feet  in  ground  area,  with  a  car- 
riage repository  of  18x120  feet.  The 
workshop  is  two  stories  in  height,  the 
upper  one  being  used  as  a  paintshop. 
Mr.  Gribble  is  doing  a  business  of  about 
$10,000  per  annum,  selling  his  goods 
principally  in  this  vicinity.  He  also, 
does  all  kinds  of  painting,  repairing  and 
trimming  of  all  kinds  of  light  vehicles, 
and  all  kinds  of  wood  work,  such 
as  threshers  and  other  agricultural  im- 
plements. He  employs  from  four  to  six 
men  all  the  time.  He  also,  keeps  on 
hand  a  stock  of  the  best  class  of  eastern 
made  vehicles,  and  intends  increasing 
this  branch  of  his  business. 

John  L.  Gribble  was  born  in  Tennes- 
see, March  20,  183*4 ,  and  is  now  among 
the  active  business  men  of  Macomb, 
owning  and  operating  a  wagon  and  car- 
riage manufactory.  He  came  to  this 
county  in  1857,  and  first  settled  on  Spring 
creek,  and  there  working  at  the  trade  of 
carpenter.  He  commenced  the  wagon 
making  business  in  the  vicinity  of  what 
was  called  Clark's  mill,  and  there  fol- 
lowed the  trade  until  coming  to  Macomb. 
Thus  from  a  small  beginning  a  business 


1100 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


of  considerable  importance  has  grown 
up,  a  history  of  which  appears  above. 
Mr.  Gribble  was  married  October  18,1859, 
to  Caroline  Osborn,  a  native  of  Missouri. 
They  have  five  children — William  L., 
now  working  in  the  paint  shop  of  the 
carriage  factory;  James  L.,  Walter  H., 
Arthur  L.  and  Bertie. 

A.  K.  Lodge,  the  popular  manufacturer 
of,  and  dealer  in,  carriages,  located  at 
Macomb  in  1871,  at  which  time  he  en- 
gaged in  his  present  business,  in  con- 
nection with  B.  F.  Gill.  In  1877,  Mr. 
Lodge  became  the  sole  proprietor,  and 
is  now  doing  an  immense  business. 

Mr.  Lodge  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
and  was  born  in  June,  1840.  His  father 
followed  agricultural  pursuits,  and  thus 
A.  K.'s  early  life  was  spent  in  tilling 
the  soil.  But  life  on  a  farm  was  too 
dreary  for  him,  and  so,  after  reaching 
his  majority,  he  bade  adieu  to  the  farm, 
and  for  the  succeeding  nine  years  fol- 
lowed sailing  on  inland  waters.  At 
Philadelphia,  on  the  31st  of  December, 
1867,  Mr.  Lodge  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Amanda  Thompson.  They  are 
now  the  parents  of  one  son — Howard 
Thompson.  As  before  noted,  Mr.  Lodge 
located  at  Macomb  in  January,  1871,  and 
engaged  in  business.  By  good  manage- 
ment, close  attention  'to  business,  and 
turning  out  nothing  but  first-class  work, 
he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large 
trade,  which  keeps  constantly  increasing. 
It  is  to  such  men  as  him  that  cities  are 
indebted,  in  an  eminent  degree,  for  their 
growth. 

THE  MACOMB  WAGON  WORKS. 

Was  organized  in  1882.  The  old  build- 
ing they  occupy,  on  the  corner  of  Cal- 


houn  and  Campbell  streets,  was  originally 
used  for  the  manufacture  of  sorghum 
evaporators,  and  afterwards  as  a  foundry. 
The  first  to  engage  in  the  wagon  manu- 
facture on  this  site,  was  the  firm  of 
Wiley  &  Fisher.  J.  M.  Price  afterwards 
purchased  the  interest  of  Mr.  Wiley, 
and  the  firm  became  Price  &  Fisher. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Stewart  & 
Price,  who  ran  the  business  about  three 
years.  J.  M.  Price  &  Son  then  operated 
here  for  about  the  same  length  of  time, 
when  the  present  organization  was 
effected.  The  officers  are:  J.  M.  Price, 
president  and  superintendent;  D.  G. 
Price,  secretary;  and  C.  V.  Chandler, 
treasurer.  An  addition  to  their  works 
was  built,  shortly  after  the  formation  of 
the  company,  of  brick,  90x24  feet  in 
size,  and  also  a  warehouse  for  storage 
purposes.  They  furnish  employment 
for  from  12  to  15  men,  and  sell  about 
200  wagons  annually.  They  do  heavy 
work  almost  exclusively,  in  the  line  of 
farm  and  freight  wagons,  busses,  drays, 
etc. 

William  L.  Imes,  the  oldest  wagon 
manufacturer  in  Macomb,  removed  to 
that  city  in  1849,  and  located  on  what  is 
now  the  corner  of  Carroll  and  Edwards 
streets,  where  he  has  been  conducting 
business  ever  since.  When  he  first 
arrived,  he  entered  into  a  partnership 
with  C.  W.  Dallam,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  threshing  machines,  and, 
during  the  fall  of  1849,  built  one  of  the 
first,  if  not  the  first,  threshing  machine 
which  was  operated  in  the  state  of  Illi- 
nois. The  first  trial  of  the  machine 
was  had  on  the  farm  of  Benjamin  Head, 
near  Macomb,  and  it  was  subsequently 
sold  to  a  man  living  in  Hancock  county. 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1101 


During  the  next  few  years,  several  ma- 
chines were  built,  all  of  which  did  good 
work.  Mr.  Dallam  sold  his  interest  in 
the  business  to  -Nelson  Updegraff,  in* 
1856.  At  Mr.  Updegraff' s  deabh,  which 
occurred  in  1860  or  1861,  Mr.  Imes  be- 
came the  sole  proprietor.  He  then  gave 
his  attention  to  the  manufacture  of 
plows,  cultivators,  harrows  and  other 
agricultural  implements,  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1870,  since  which  time  he 
has  given  his  time  and  attention  to  the 
manufacture  of  carriages,  light  and* 
heavy  wagons,  etc.  William  L.  Imes  is 
a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and 
was  born  April  20,  1821,  his  parents 
being  Isaac  and  Elizabeth  (Lowry) 
Imes.  At  an  early  day,  he  commenced 
work  as  a  carpenter  and  millwright,  and 
in  1844  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  worked 
on  a  flouring  mill  at  Bonaparte,  on  the 
DesMoines  river.  He  then  went  to 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  spent  the  winter, 
and  then  returned  to  Ohio.  In  1847  he 
worked  on  a  mill  at  Brookville,  Indiana, 
then  followed  house-building  at  Coving- 
ton,  Kentucky,  for  one  year,  and,  from 
the  latter  point,  came  to  Macomb.  On 
the  25th  of  February,  1852,  at  Macomb, 
W.  L.  Imes  and  Ann  Ferguson  were 
united  in  marriage.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children — Charles  L,  Wil- 
liam T.,"  Eliza  A.,  Lewis  E.,  Mary  F., 
George  F.  and  Laura  B.  Mr.  Imes  is  a 
democrat,  and  is  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  both 
subordinate  and  encampment,  and  served 
four  years  as  a  representative  to  •  the 
grand  lodge. 

Corydon  Carlos  Chapman  was  born 
near  Amherst  Corners,  Lorain  county, 
Ohio,  April  2,  1834.  He  is  the  son  of 


Jacob  K.  and  Juliza  (Griffith)  Chap- 
man. The  great-grandfather  of  Jacob 
K.  was  Benjamin  Chapman,  who  lived 
and  died  in  England.  The  latter  had 
three  sons,  Benjamin,  James  and  John, 
who,  on  arriving  at  years  of  maturity, 
left  their  home  in  England,  and  went  to 
different  countries — Benjamin  to  France, 
James  to  Ireland,  and  John  to  Scotland. 
Their  father  subsequently  died  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  leaving  a  large  fortune  to 
his  sons.  Benjamin  returned  from 
France,  but  found  the  entire  estate  con- 
fiscated by  the  government.  He  then 
came  to  America,  and  landed  in  South 
Carolina.  James  and  John  came,  some 
years  later,  to  the  United  States,  and 
settled  near  Salem,  Massachusetts,  and 
were  living  there  during  the  period  of 
witchcraft  and  persecution.  John  had 
a  family  of  13  children,  of  whom  the 
youngest  two,  Isaac  and  Adam,  are  the 
only  ones  now  remembered.  Adam, 
when  last  heard  from,  in  1882,  was  living 
in  Ohio,  at  the  advanced  age  of  95  years. 
Isaac  reared  five  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters— Uriah,  Elenius,  Daniel,  Isaac  and 
Jacob  (twins),  Roxy,  Olive  and  Rebecca. 
Jacob  K.  was  born  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  in  1803,  and  when  a  young  man, 
went  to  Ohio,  where  he  was  married  to 
Juliza  Griffith,  in  the  year  1825  or  1826. 
He  was  engaged  in  farming  in  that 
state  until  the  spring  of  1832.  He  then 
started,  with  his  carpet-sack  on  his 
back,  on  foot  and  alone,  for  the  far  west. 
He  traveled  through  the  thick  forests  of 
Ohio  and  Indiana  to  Fort  Dearborn 
(now  Chicago),  where  he  tarried  two 
days  to  rest,  then  proceeded  to  Jackson 
county,  Missouri.  After  stopping  there 
six  weeks,  he  started  to  return,  on  the 


1102 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


same  road  lie  had  come,  and  reached  his 
home,  in  Ohio,  in  the  fall,  having  trav- 
eled 1,400  miles.  In  1838,  he  started, 
with  his  family,  for  Illinois,  but  stopped 
in  Indiana  till  1839,  when  he  resumed 
his  journey,  arriving  in  Hancock  county, 
where  he  resided  until  1846.  During 
his  residence  in  that  county,  his  wife 
died,  in  1845.  The  following  year,  he 
removed  to  Walworth  county,  Wiscon- 
sin, and  one  year  later,  to  Geauga  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  again  married,  to 
Harriet  Allen.  In  1854  he  removed  to 
Macomb,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
He  then  went  to  Crawford  county,  Wis- 
consin, and  there  lived  until  1868.  In 
that  year  he  returned  to  Geauga  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  died,  on  January  15, 
1871.  His  children  were — Sidney  S., 
Hiram  F.,  Albert  B.,  Barbara  A.,  Cory- 
don  C.,  Emma  C.,  Willard  D.,  Orson  O., 
and  Sarah.  Of  these,  one  son,  Willard 
D.,  lost  his  life  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
May  22, 1863.  The  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Corydon  C.  Chapman,  was  four  months 
old  when  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois. 
He  remained  with  them  until  the  death 
of  his  mother,  in  1845,  he  being  then  ten 
years  old.  He  then  began  earning  his 
own  livelihood,  working  upon  a  farm. 
At  the  age  of  21,  he  was  married  to 
Margaret  M.  Clarke,  whose  parents  were 
from  Kentucky,  having  settled  near  Ma- 
comb  in  1829,  She  was  born  here  in 
1837.  Their  marriage  took  place,  April 
19,  1855.  They  have  had  nine  children, 
six  of  whom  are  living — Louis  M.,  Annie, 
John,  Lizzie,  Fred  and  Harry.  Those 
deceased  are — Millard'Fillmore,  Eva  and 
Willie.  Mr.  Chapman  is  by  trade  a  car- 
riage woodworker,  and  is  a  skilled  work- 
man. His  wife,  Margaret  M.  Chapman, 


is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church, 
and  has  held  that  connection  for  35 
years.  Mr.  Chapman  is,  politically,  a 
republican. 

VINEGAR   FACTORIES. 

Alexander  Holmes  was  the  originator 
of  this  branch  of  business  in  Macomb, 
and  in  September,  1874,  erected  a  press 
on  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Mc- 
Arthur  streets,  having  a  capacity  of  80 
gallons  per  hour,  or  800  gallons  per  day 
of  10  working  hours.  That  year  the 
apple  crop  was  very  heavy,  and  conse- 
quently work  was  plenty,  and  the  press 
was  run  nearly  to  its  full  capacity  for 
some  two  or  three  months.  In  1875, 
apples  were  very  scarce,  but  notwith- 
standing a  good  run  was  made.  A  ready 
sale  was  found  at  fair  prices  for  all  the 
vinegar  manufactured,  and  the  demand 
was  in  excess  of  the  supply.  In  1876, 
another  and  still  larger  press  was  added 
with  a  capacity  of  120  gallons  an  hour, 
making  200  gallons  per  day,  of  ten  hours, 
as  the  amount  that  could  be  produced. 
During  the  year  1884,  Alexander  Holmes, 
became  the  owner,  by  purchase  of  the 
building  on  the  corner  of  Jefferson  and 
Lafayette  streets,  formerly  the  property 
of  J.  W.  Mclntosh,  and  fitted  it  up  for 
the  manufacture  of  cider  and  cider  vine- 
gar. He  soon  afterward  added  to  it  a 
mill  for  grinding  feed  and  has  since 
operated  both  branches  of  the  business. 

In  1876,  Pillsbury  Bros,  embarked  in 
the  manufacture  of  vinegar.  They  do  an 
immense  business,  in  the  single  year  of 
1880,  shipping  some  30,000  gallons.  The 
vinegar  is  all  made  from  cider,  the  pure 
juice  of  the  apple.  In  the  fall  of  1884, 
they  added  four  tanks,  each  holding 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1103 


about  150  barrels,  and  now  they  have 
storage  capacity  of  24,000.  They  have 
an  engine  to  furnish  the  mptive  power, 
and  every  facility  to  carry  on  a  large  bu- 
siness, in  good  shape. 

THE  MACOMB  BOTTLING  WORKS. 

is  located  on  the  corner  of  east  Jackson 
and  Monroe  streets.  It  was  opened,  in 
July,  1883,  by  W.  A.  George  and  D.  N. 
Bryan,  in  the  basement  of  another  build- 
ing. Here  they  continued  until  the  fol- 
lowing October,  when  they  built  a  small 
building  for  storage,  near  the  Pittsburg 
cider  press,  which  they  used  until  the 
spring  of  1884,  when  they  rented  the 
building  next  to  Efvin's  drug  store 
known  as  the  Board  of  Trade  building. 
.  In  August,  1884,  W.  A.  George  disposed 
of  his  interest  to  G.  A.  Bryan,  and  for 
30  days  the  firm  name  was  Bryan  and 
Bro.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time, 
D.  W.  Bryan  purchased  the  interest  of 
his  brother,  and  removed  to  his  present 
location,  which  he  built  at  a  cost  of  $300. 
The  machinery  he  uses  in  his  busi- 
ness is  worth  about  $2,700  more. 
He  manufactures  lemon,  sarsaparilla, 
and  strawberry  soda  water,  birch  beer, 
Buffalo  mead,  Belfast  ginger  ale,  Little 
Daisy,  cream  soda,  champaign  cider,  etc. 
It  has  been  a  successful  business  here, 
and  they  have  a  large  line  of  trade  in  all 
the  surrounding  towns. 

D.  W.  Bryan  is  a  native  of  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  born  near  the  city  of 
La  Salle,  March  31,  1855.  He  remained 
in  his  native  county  till  1871,  then  went 
to  ElPaso  and  engaged  in  the  bottling 
business,  working  there  for  his  brother, 
John  Bryan.  He  went  from  thence  to 
Chicago  where  he  worked  at  the  same 


business  for  nearly  a  year,  after  which 
he  followed  the  same  occupation  at 
Galesburg  for  a  time.  From  Galesburg 
he  removed  to  Kansas  and  engaged  in 
farming  until  the  spring  of  1882,  at 
which  time  he  returned  to  his  native 
state  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
manufacturing  soda  water  at  Canton, 
where  he  remained  until  the  date  of  his 
coming  to  Macomb.  He  was  married 
April  16,1877,to  Hannah  Ingor,of  Beloit, 
Wisconsin.  In  the  spring  of  1882,  be- 
fore his  removal  from  Kansas  to  Illinois, 
Mr.  Bryan  met  with  a  terrible  calamity, 
a  cyclone  passing  over  his  place,  killed 
his  wife  and  two  children  and  destroyed 
nearly  all  of  his  property,  Mr.  Bryan 
himself,  barely  escaped  with  his  life. 
The  children  killed  by  the  storm  were 
Stella  and  a  babe  not  named.  One  son, 
Willie  A.,  is  also  deceased.  Mr.  Bryan 
was  again  married  July  29,  1883,  to  Eva 
M.  George,  daughter  of  his  former  part- 
ner, W.  A.  George. 

MACOMB  MARBLE  WORKS. 

This  institution  was  established  by  B. 
T.  Quinn  in  1873,  and  shortly  afterward 
the  firm  changed  to  Quinn  and  Wilson. 
The  latter  after  a  time  retiring,  Mr. 
Quinn  conducted  the  business,  until  No- 
vember 10,  1884,  when  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  S.  B.  Davis  &  Co.,  the  present 
proprietors.  It  is  located  on  the  corner 
of  Washington  and  Eandolph  streets. 
The  building  is  20x35  feet  in  size.  They 
are  doing  an  extensive  business,  and 
handle  all  kinds  of  foreign  and  domes- 
tic marbles. 

Emmet  T.  Dunn  is  a  son  of  O.  B. 
Dunn,  of  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania, 
where  Emmet  was  born,  December  27, 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1857.  He  removed  with  bis  parents  to 
Monmouth,  Illinois,  and  there  resided 
for  20  years.  His  parents  then  moved 
to  northwestern  Nebraska,  where  they 
now  live.  Emmet  T.  Dunn  was  mar- 
ried May  10,  1881,  to  Margaret  Davis, 
daughter  of  S.  B.  Davis,  of  Hire  town- 
ship, McDonough  county.  He  lived  in 
Monmouth  two  years  after  marriage, 
then  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he  re- 
mained until  November,  1884  At  that 
date  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  engaged 
in  the  marble  business  at  Macomb, 
where  he  is  at  present  located.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dunn  have  had  one  child — Bessie, 
who  was  born  February  22,  1882,  and 
died  October  10,  1884.  Mr.  Dunn  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Trin- 
ity lodge,  No.  561,  at  Monmouth. 

MACOMB  CALENDAR  CLOCK  COMPANY. 

The  corporation  with  the  above  title 
was  organized  on  the  22d  of  February, 
1882,  at  the  city  of  Macomb,  with  the 
following  officers:  C.  "VV.  Slade,  presi- 
dent; C.  V.  Chandler,  treasurer;  W.  L. 
Kenner,  secretary.  Mr.  Kenner  after- 
wards resigned  his  office,  and  April  13, 
1882,  David  Knapp  was  elected  secre- 
tary, an  office  which  he  now  holds.  The 
company  was  formed  with  a  capital 
stock  of  $20,000,  and  acquiring  the  pat- 
ent of  the  inventor,  they  purchased  new 
and  improved  machinery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  a  first-class  calendar  clock,  of 
anew  design.  They -commenced  opera- 
tions, and  for  a  time  gave  employment 
to  from  12  to  15  men,  but  in  July,  1883, 
they  suspended  operations,  having  made 
about  1,000  clocks,  but  not  having  pro- 
vided for  the  sale  of  their  ware,  they  had 
them  on  hand,  and  so  shut  down.  The 


clock  they  manufacture  is  really  a  first- 
class  article,  and  the  manufacture  is 
bound  to  be  one  of  the  leading  industries 
of  Macomb. 

C.  W.  Slade,  president  of  the  Macomb 
Calendar  Clock  company,  came  to  this 
county  in  April,  1874,  from  Havana,  Ma- 
son county.  He  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  September  17,  1825.  He  received 
a  fair  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  his  native-  state,  and  remained  at  home 
on  a  farm  until  26  years  old,  engaging 
with  his  father  in  the  various  occupa- 
tions incident  to  agricultural  life.  He 
was  there,  on  Christmas  day,  1851,  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  E.  LeSourd,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  continued  to  remain  on  the 
old  homestead  for  six  years,  when  he 
bought  a  farm  in  Warren  county,  Ohio, 
and  made  that  his  home  until  coming 
to  this  state.  He  first  settled  in 
Illinois,  on  a  splendid  farm  in  Mason 
county,  and  there  remained  four  years, 
when,  on  account  of  failing  health,  and 
consequent  inability  to  perform  farm 
work,  he  removed  to  Havana,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  dry  goods  business,  and 
was  thus  employed  for  five  years,  then 
came  to  Macomb.  In  1876,  he  here  en- 
gaged in  the  grocery  business,  and  re- 
mained in  that  trade  on  the  southeast 
corner  of  the  public  square  until  July, 
1882.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  vari- 
ously employed  in  different  lines  of 
business,  and  in  closing  up  accounts. 
In  partnership  with  a  son-in-law,  he  is 
interested  in  a  grocery  store  in  Clinton, 
Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slade  have  had 
eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living — Mary  A.,  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  J. 
L.  Walker,  and  living  in  Emmetsburg, 
Palo  Alto  county,  Iowa;  Eva  C.,  married 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1105 


to  William  H.  Wilson,  and  living  in 
Clinton,  Iowa;  Viola  B.,  wife  of  Frank- 
lin P.  Bennage,  they  are  residents  of 
Springfield,  Missouri ;  Anna  L.,  living  at 
home,  and  Clarence  W.,  living  at  home. 
Politically,  Mr.  Slade  is  a  member  of  the 
democratic  party. 

NOVELTY  WORKS. 

This  was  established  in  1873,  by  E.  E. 
Harris,  who  is  still  proprietor.  It  is 
located  on  the  west  side  of  Randolph 
street,  north  of  the  Union  National  bank. 
All  kinds  of  novelties  are  here  manufac- 
tured, including  models  for  inventors' 
machine  work.  Mr.  Harris,  also  deals 
in  pumps  and  windmills,  and  does  all 
kinds  of  plumbing  and  fitting,  and  has  a 
good  line  of  business. 

E.  E.  Harris,  the  popular  machinist 
of  Macomb,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  E.  Harris. 
He  is  a  native  of  the  state  of  Kentucky, 
being  born  there  on  the  4th  day  of  July, 
1846.  With  his  parents  he  came  to 
McDonough  county,  and  received  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
city  of  Macomb.  His  natural  inclina- 
tions running  to  the  mechanic  arts,  he 
served  an  apprenticeship  of  three  years 
each  to  the  trades  of  machinist,  moulder 
and  patternmaker,  and  thus  is  eminently 
fitted  for  the  business  in  which  he  is 
now  engaged.  After  he  had  served  his 
different  apprenticeships,  he  went  to 
Missouri,  where  he  was  engaged  for 
some  six  years.  At  the  expiration  of 
that  time,  he  returned  to  Macomb,  and 
established  his  present  business,  in 
which  he  is  meeting  with  well-deserved 
success.  While  a  resident  of  Missouri, 
in  1871,  Mr.  Harris  and  Mattie  Jackson, 
a  native  of  Kentucky,  were  united  in 


marriage.  They  have  been  blessed  with 
five  children — Lisle,  Florence.  Ealph, 
Mary,  and  Lelia.  Mr.  Harris  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Golden  Eule  society,  of  Ma- 
comb. 

George  Snyder  runs  a  novelty  shop 
upon  the  south  side  of  the  square,  where 
he  repairs  anything  brought  to  him,  be 
it  wood,  iron,  brass,  ivory  and  or  ma- 
terial. He  is  a  machinist,  having  served 
20  years  at  the  business.  He  came  to 
Madomb,  October  31,  1883,  and  com- 
menced his  present  business. 

FOUNDEY. 

The  foundry  of  A.  Fisher  &  Bro.,  was 
erected  by  that  firm  in  the  year  1873.  It 
is  located  on  the  west  side  of  Eandolph 
street,  just  north  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  rail- 
road. The  main  building  or  foundry,  is 
of  brick,  and  is  40x136  feet  in  ground 
area.  The  machine  shop  is  60x80  -feet. 
They  make  a  specialty  of  casting  and 
finishing  school  furniture,  and  do  a  gen- 
eral jobbing  business  in  their  line.  This 
business  was  established  by  Thomas 
Wiley,  in  about  1856.  In  1868,  A.  Fisher 
came  to  McDonough  county,  and  be- 
came associated  with  Mr.  Wiley  in  the 
business.  Later,  Mr.  Wiley  sold  out, 
and  the  firm  became  Fisher  &  Price, 
which  lasted  for  a  few  years.  Then  the 
present  •  firm  was  organized,  and  the 
foundry  buildings  erected. 

PLANING    MILL. 

This  was  built  upon  what  is  now  the 
public  park,  by  Fred  Burt,  in  1868,  and 
the  following  year  was  burned  to  the 
ground.  Mr.  Burt  immediately  rebuilt 
it,  and  operated  it  until  1874,  when  it 
was  purchased  by  W.  O.  Thomas.  Up 


1106 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


to  this  time  the  machinery  was  of  a  very 
inferior  quality,  and  he  immediately 
put  in  new  and  improved  kinds.  The 
building  was  32x80  feet  on  the  ground. 
Mr.  Thomas  continued  to  run  this  until 
March,  1885,  when,  to  make  room  for  the 
improvements  in  the  park,  he  removed 
to  its  present  location,  near  the  gas- 
works. The  building  was  in  two  parts: 
one  32x48  feet  in  size,  built  of  wood, 
and  one  32x32  feet,  of  brick.  The  latter 
is  used  as  the  engine  room,  and  is  16 
feet  high.  This  is  said  to  be  the  only 
mill  of  the  kind  in  the  county,  and  the 
only  one  between  Galesburg  and  Quincy. 
William  O.  Thomas,  proprietor  of  the 
planing  mill,  at  Macomb,  was  born  in 
Urbana,  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 26,  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Ross  and 
Elizabeth  (Gray)  Thomas,  the  former 
of  Welsh,  and  the  latter  of  English 
origin.  Both  died  in  Ohio,  where  Wil- 
liain  lived  until  1855.  He  was  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  16  years, 
began  learning  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  in  that  state  until  the 
above  date,  when  he  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county.  After  coming  here  he 
continued  to  follow  his  trade,  building 
many  of  the  principal  buildings  in  the 
city  of  Macomb.  In  1875  he  went  to 
Knoxville,  and  there  built  the  Swedish 
college  and  a  public  school  building. 
He  is  still  engaged  in  contracting  and 
building.  He  is  a  first-class  workman, 
and  a  thorougly  honest  and  reliable 
contractor.  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  in 
Ohio,  August  10,  1851,  to  Elizabeth 
Doak,  a  native  of  Ohio,  They  have  six 
children — John  A.,  who  is  now  living  in 
Chicago,  Illinois;  Arabella,  wife  of  B.  F. 
Frank,  of  Chicago;  William  B.,  living 


in  Kansas ;  Eva,  who  is  engaged  in  teach- 
ing music  in  Chicago;  Beryl  and  Char- 
les, at  home  with  their  parents. 

Among  the  largest  buyers  and  shippers 
of  stock  in  Macomb  is  Emery  Rankle, 
who  has  been  engaged  in  that  line  of 
trade  at  this  place  for  over  20  years. 
He  buys  cattle,  hogs,  sheep,  etc.,  and 
ships  large  quantities  to  Chicago,  St. 
Louis,  and  the  eastern  market,  and  is 
one  of  the  solid  men  of  the  community. 

CITY   GAS   WORKS. 

This  was  built  in  October,  1874,  and 
mains  laid  that  fall  and  the  following 
spring  throughout  the  principal  streets. 
In  March,  1880,  it  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
but  was  rebuilt  in  March,  1881.  It  is 
one  of  the  institutions  of  the  city  worthy 
of  notice  as  a  credit  to  Macomb. 

OPEKA  HOUSE. 

The  opera  house  in  Macomb  was  erec- 
ted by  C.  V.  Chandler,  on  north  Lafay- 
ette street,  during  the  year  1872,  opera- 
tions commencing  in  March.  A  fine 
row  of  store  rooms  occupy  the  first  floor 
of  the  block,  while  the  opera  house  pro- 
per is  located  in  the  second  gtory.  The 
entire  building  is  60x80  feet  in  dimen- 
sions, and  well  and  substantially  built  of 
brick,  in  the  best  manner  known  to  ma- 
sons. The  auditorium  is  60x56  feet  in 
size,  with  a  fine  gallery  extending  around 
three  sides  of  the  room.  The  stage  is 
22x24  feet  in  size,  and  well-equipped 
with  elegant  drop  curtain  and  scenery, 
and  furnished  in  good  theatrical  fashion. 
The  auditorium  is  well  seated,  and  has  a 
capacity  of  holding  800  people.  To 
the  public  spirit  and  enterprise  of 
Mr.  Chandler,  the  people  of  Macomb 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1107 


owe  this  really  fine  place  for  holding  all 
kinds  of  entertainment,  "which  cost 
about  $31,000.  It  was  opened  in  April, 
1873,  for  the  first  time,  by  Edwin 
Wight's  theatrical  troupe,  to  a  good 
house. 

DEPOT. 

In  1855,  when  the  railroad  came  to 
Macomb,  the  depot  was  located  out  in 
the  western  part  of  town,  just  north  of 
Loven  Garrett's  addition.  Here  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Cameron  was  the  first 
station  agent.  In  1860,  a  petition  of  the 
citizens  of  Macomb  was  circulated,  prin- 
cipally through  the  efforts  of  N.  P.  Tins- 
,ley,  and  obtained  many  signatures,  ask- 
ing the  railroad  company  to  remove  the 
depot  to  a  more  convenient  location, 
which  was  accordingly  done,  the  city 
giving  the  company  the  use  of  the 
grounds  then  appropriated  for  a  park. 
The  new  depot  was  soon  built,  and  the 
old  one  torn  down,  removed  to  another 
lot,  put  up  and  used  for  a  planing  mill. 
The  new  depot  was  burned  down,  but 
was  at  once  rebuilt.  The  present  agent 
at  this  point  is  C.  E.  Crissey. 

Charles  E.  Crissey  is  a  son  of  C.  D. 
and  Samira  C.  (Toms)  Crissey,  Samira 
a  native  of  New  York  City,  C.  D.,  of 
Stamford,  Connecticut,  where  they 
were  married.  Soon  after  marriage 
they  removed  to  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  where  Mr.  Crissey  engaged  in 
dealing  in  grain,  continuing  that  busi- 
ness about  15  years.  He  still  lives  in 
the  city  of  Macomb,  and  is  engaged  in 
the  freight  and  baggage  department  of 
the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  E.  E.  Charles  E.  was 
born  in  Macomb  November  15,  1856. 
At  the  age  of  16  years,  he  began  learn- 
ing telegraphy,  being  meantime  baggage 


and  switch  man.  He  continued  thus 
employed  four  years,  after  which  he  was 
night  operator  two  and-  a  half  years.  In 
1880,  he  was  given  full  charge  of  the 
station  of  Macomb,  as  agent  of  the  C.,  B. 
&  Q.  E.  E.  Co.,  in  which  position  he 
has,  by  strict  attention  to  business,  and 
his  genial  and  accommodating  manners, 
won  many  friends.  He  is  the  owner  of 
some  real  estate  in  the  city  of  Macomb. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  also  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W., 
and  of  the  Good  Templars.  Mr.  Crissey 
is  a  popular  and  worthy  gentleman,  and 
well  fitted  for  the  position  which  he  oc- 
cupies. 

Daniel  Galvin  was  born  in  Kilrush 
town,  county  of  Clare,  Ireland,  August 
15,  1833.  In  1850,  he  came  to  America, 
landed  at  Quebec,  and  for  two  seasons 
engaged  in  towing  timber  with  sail  boat, 
to  sail  ships  bound  for  Europe.  He 
went  to  Virginia  and  worked  there  one 
season  on  public  works,  and  went  to 
Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  and  worked 
there  on  track  repairs  about  one  year, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  the  year  1855, 
and  worked  on  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi 
railroad  one  year  as  track  foreman,  and 
then  came  to  Galesburg  in  the  year  1856, 
and  worked  on  section  there  as  track 
foreman,  on  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  The  com- 
pany changed  him  to  Quincy,  on  section 
there,  and  from  Quincy  to  Camp  Point, 
and  all  along  between  Quincy  and  Gales- 
burg,  as  extra  foreman,  until  and  up  to 
1863.  He  left  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  company  in  spring  of  1864, 
and  was  hired  by  the  Wabash  &  West- 
ern railroad  company  one  year  as  track 
foreman.  He  left  that  company  in  the 
spring  of  1865,  and  went  to  work  again 


1108 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


for  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Co.  He  came  to  Ma- 
comb  in  April,  1865,  and  has  been  in  the 
employ  of  the  C.  B.  &  Q.  Co.,  up  to  this 
time.  He  purchased  his.  present  resi- 
dence, wliich  is  located  in  the  western 
part  of  the  city  of  Macomb,  and  is  a 
pleasant  and  desirable  home.  Mr.  Gal- 
vin  was  married  in  the  city  of  Quincy, 
Illinois,  November  4,  1863,  to  Esther  E. 
Flynn,  born  in  Swinford  town,  county 
of  Mayo,  Ireland.  They  have  had  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living 
— Eliza,  Esther,  who  is  now  attending 
school  at  Quincy,  and  Willie.  Joanna  is 
deceased. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

Dr.  E.  F.  King,  dentist,  was  born  in 
Buffalo,  New  York,  March  8,  1855,  and 
is  a  son  of  N.  H.  King,  who  is  practi- 
cing dentistry  in  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
where  he  has  resided  since  1864.  In 
1870,  E.  F.,  entered  his  father's  office  in 
Baltimore,  and  studied  dentistry  with 
him  until  1876,  when  he  attended  the 
Baltimore  and  Maryland  college,  and 
graduated  in  1877,  and  entered  the  office 
of  Drs.  Coy  &  Mills,  in  Brooklyn,  New 
York,  where  he  remained  for  about  eight 
months,  when  he  again  entered  the  office 
of  his  father,  and  remained  with  him 
until  he  came  to  Macomb.  He  was  as- 
sociated with  Dr.  Downing  for  one  year, 
after  which  he  removed  to  his  present 
office  in  Bailey's  block,  east  side  square, 
where  he  has  four  rooms  nicely  fitted 
up.  He  uses  the  latest  known  way  of 
extracting  teeth,  using  aesthetics.  Dr. 
King  has  been  successful  in  business, 
and  has  a  large  and  lucrative  practice, 
extending  through  this  and  adjoining 
counties.  Charles  McLean  is  in  his  of- 
fice as  an  assistant. 


Thomas  J.  Price,  dealer  in,  and  manu- 
facturer of -sorghum  evaporators,  ami 
machinery  for  producing  sugar  from 
sorghum  cane,  was  born  in  Meigs  county, 
Tennessee,  February  23, 1828.  His  par- 
ents were  Samuel  Price  and  Barsheba 
(Atchley)  Price,  who  were  natives  of 
Tennessee.  Thomas  J.,  when  two  years 
old,  in  1830,  came  to  this  state  with  his 
parents  and  settled  in  Schuyler  county. 
They  then  remained  two  years,  when 
they  went  to  Washington  county,  Ar- 
kansas, and  lived  two  years,  and  where, 
in  1834,  the  mother  died.  The  family 
then  came  back  to  Schuyler  county,  and 
in  1850,  settled  in  this  county,  and  in 
Industry  township;  subsequently  the 
father  moved  to  Macomb,  and  later  died 
at  Eushville,  at  the  advanced  age  of  91 
'years  and  six  months,  leaving  a  family 
of  four  grown  children,  three  sons  and 
one  daughter.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  married  July  6,  1848,  to 
Eleanor  Wilson,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They 
have  had  eight  children,  four  of  whom 
are  now  living — William,  who  is  married 
and  resides  in  Macomb;  George  W., 
teaching  school  in  Chapin,  Morgan 
county,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Illinois  col- 
lege; John  M.,  traveling  salesman  for  a 
St.  Louis  firm,  and  Edward  E.,  living  at 
home.  Mrs.  Price  died  in  1869,  and  he 
was  again  married  May  18,  1876,  to  Mag- 
gie Miller,  formerly  Van  Hoe  sen,  who 
has  living,one  child  by  her  first  husband. 
Mr.  Price  has  been  for  25  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Christian  church,  at  In- 
dustry. 

S.  R.  Beardsley,  dealer  in  grain  at 
Macomb,  is  a  native  of  New  York  state, 
born  May  7,  1823,  near  the  city  of 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1109 


Rochester.  He  was  brought  up  on  a 
farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
His  parents  both  died  in  New  York.  He 
came  to  Macomb  in  the  spring  of  1858, 
and  contracted,  with  three  others,  for  the 
building  of  14  miles  of  the  Rock  Island 
and  Alton  railroad.  After  they  had 
done  considerable  work,  the  railroad 
company  became  bankrupt  and  they 
were  obliged  to  abandon  their  work  and 
received  only  pay  for  that  which  they 
had  already  done.  Mr.  Beardsley  then 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business  which 
he  continued  about  three  years,  then  be- 
gan buying  grain  and  stock.  He  now 
buys  grain  exclusively,  shipping,  on  an 
average,  about  75,000  bushels  annually. 
He  was  married  in  1851,  to  Caroline  A. 
Goetschius,  a  native  of  New  York  state, 
but  of  German  descent.  They  have  had 
five  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living — LeRoy,  aged  31  years,  married 
to  Alice  Hammer;  Lida,  aged  22,  and 
Louie,  aged  15.  The  eldest,  LeRoy,  is 
a  broker  on  the  board  of  trade  in  Chi- 
cago. One  son,  Frank,  died  in  Macomb 
when  four  years  old.  Mr.  Beardsley,  is 
politically,  a  supporter  of  the  republi- 
can party. 

Captain  G.  C.  Gumbart  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  having  been  born  in  that  di- 
vision of  Europe  on  the  14th  day  of 
May,  1826.  He  was  educated  for  the 
profession  of  civil  engineer,  attending 
the  military  school  of  Hesse  Darm- 
stadt. He,  like  all  the  residents  of  that 
military  empire,  served  in  the  German 
army  from  1847  to  1853,  two  years  being 
in  service  in  the  field.  In  1853,  he  de- 
cided to  leave  the  Fatherland,  and  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  landing  at 
New  York,  November  29,  where  he  re- 


mained until  1859.      He   then  removed 
to  St.  Louis  and  became  the  local  editor 
of  the    Westliche  Post  where    he     re- 
mained until  1861.     On  the  breaking  out 
of     the    war,    he    was     appointed     by 
General    Fremont,    first    lieutenant    of 
Schwartz's  battery.     In  the  fall  of  1861, 
he  saw  some  service   in  Missouri  under 
General  Oglesby,  and  was,  in  January, 
1862,  transferred  to  Kentucky.      On  the 
12th  day  of  February,  following,  he  gave 
the  command  to  his  battery  to  open  fire 
on  Fort  Donelson,  the  first  guns  of  that 
memorable  conflict.     On  the  13th  he  was 
posted,  with  Oglesby's  brigade  on   the 
extreme  left  of  the  rebel  lines,  about 
450  yards  from  their  rifle  pits,  and  on 
the  15th,  when  General  Pillow  attempt- 
ed to  break  through  our  lines,  Lieuten- 
ant Gumbart  was  compelled  to  leave  the 
field,  x  but  not  till    after  he  was  twice 
wounded.     On  the  1st  of  February,  pre- 
ceding this,  the  battery  had  been  trans- 
ferred to   the   Illinois  .volunteers,  and 
thereafter  was  known  as  company  E,  2d 
Illinois  artillery.     Captain  Gumbart  re- 
joined his  battery,  being  healed  of  his 
wounds,  while  the  army  lay  before  Cor- 
inth.      He  went  from  there  to  Jackson, 
Tennessee.     While  here,  he  was  detailed 
as  chief  of  artillery,  to  General  Leon- 
ard Ross,  at  Bolivar,   Tennessee.      No- 
vember, 1862,  he  went  as  chief  of  artil- 
lery, with  General  John  A.   Logan,  to 
LaGrange,  and  afterwards,  in  the  same 
capacity,  with  General  John  A.  Lauman, 
through  the  state  of  Mississippi.      He 
then  went  to  Vicksburg,  and   after  the 
second  battle   of  Jackson,  Mississippi, 
resigned  his  commission  on  account  of 
disability.    In  1864,  he  came  to  Macomb, 
and  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business. 


1110 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


In  1879  and  1880,  he  was  mayor  of  Ma- 
comb.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  in- 
surance business.  In  April,  1862,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  with  Esther  Feilbach,  a 
native  of  thatstate,  by  whom  he  has  six 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy 
and  four  are  living.  The  latter  are — 
Louis  F.,  Otto  D.,  Georgiana,  and  Con- 
rad G.  In  politics,  Mr.Gumbart,  is  a 
republican,  and  favors  women's  suffrage. 
Joseph  W.  Mclntosh  came  to  Macomb 
in  1856,  and  at  once'  formed  a  partnership 
with  J.  B.  Cummings  and  J.  B.  Pierson, 
and,  under  the  firm  name  of  Pierson, 
Cummings  &  Co.,  engaged  in  a  general 
mercantile  business,  on  the  corner  on 
which  the  Randolph  house  now  stands, 
and  continued  for  about  12  months.  He 
then  ran  a  billiard  room  until  1864,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  live  stock,  and  running  a  farm.  His 
farm  is  situated  in  Chalmers  township 
and  contains  420  acres,  but  Mr.  Mclntosh 
always  resides  in  Macomb.  During  the 
years  1875  and  1876,  he  was  also  engaged 
in  the  hardware  business,  in  the  last 
named  year,  selling  to  J.  A.  Smith.  Mr. 
M.  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
Macomb's  development,  being  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  First  Na- 
tional bank,  and  for  many  years  one  of 
its  directors.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  Macomb  Tile 
and  Sewer  Pipe  company,  and  of  the  Cal- 
endar Clock  company.  In  politics,  he  is 
a  democrat,  and  has  officially  served  the 
people  of  Macomb  at  different  times.  Mr. 
Mclntosh  is  a  native  of  Bath  county, 
Kentucky,  was  born  March  10,  1830,  his 
parents  being  Frederick  and  Rebecca 
(Helphenstine)  Mclntosh,  the  former  of 


whom  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
the  latter  of  Indiana.  Joseph  resided  in 
his  native  state  until  1852,  when  the  en- 
tire family  removed  to  California,  where 
the  father  died  in  1853,  and  the  mother 
still  resides,  now  being  in  her  91st  year. 
Joseph  resided  there  until  1856,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  Macomb.  December 
15,  1856,  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  Mr. 
Mclntosh  and  Fannie  F.  Woodward,  a 
native  of  that  city,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage, and  Mrs.  Mclntosh  died  in  1884, 
leaving  eight  children — Louis,  now  re- 
sides in  California;  Carrie,  the  wife  of 
William  Fisher;  Laura,  wife  of  I.  M. 
Fellheimer;  Kate,  Nellie,  Joseph,  Mary 
and  James.  Mr.  Mclntosh  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F. 

James  R.  Patterson  has  been  a  resident 
of  the  city  of  Macomb  since  the  spring  of 
1865.  He  was  born  October  10,  1834,  in 
Wyoming  county,  New  York,  and  is  a 
son  of.  William  and  Catherine  (Eggles- 
ton)  Patterson,  the  former  of  Irish  and 
German  descent,  and  the  latter  of  Scotch 
and  German.  They  removed  when 
James  was  quite  young, to  Geauga  county, 
Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Patterson  died,  and 
Mr.  Patterson  was  again  married.  In 
1850,  the  family  moved  west  to  Delaware 
county,  Iowa,  and  there  William  Patter- 
son died.  In  1852,  James  began  busi- 
ness for  himself.  Three  years  later  he 
went  to  Kossouth  county,  Iowa,  where 
he  remained  till  1857,  thence  to  Missouri, 
there  living  until  1861.  August  29,  of 
that  year,  he  Was  married  to  Priscilla 
Bell,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Rush- 
ville,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  He  re- 
sided in  Rushville  until  1865,  when  as 
before  stated,  he  came  to  Macomb.  Since 
coming  here,  Mr.  Patterson  has  been 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1111 


employed  in  moving  buildings,  and  is  the 
only  one  in  the  city,  who  makes  that  a 
business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Patterson  are 
the  parents  of  six  children — Edgar,  Wil- 
liam, Maud,  George,  Scott  and  Thomas, 
all  of  these  children  are  gifted  with  ar- 
tistic talent  of  a  high  order. 

O.  F.  Piper,  who  at  present  is  engaged 
in  the  insurance  business,  came  to  Ma- 
comb  in  1855.  He  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford county,  Illinois,  on  the  14th  day  of 
February,  1822,  being  the  son  of  Edward 
H.  and  Anna  (Blackburn)  Piper,  the 
former  of  whom  was  a  native  Kentuck- 
ian,  and  served  as  the  first  circuit  and 
county  clerk  of  Crawford  county,  Illinois, 
the  latter  of  which  offices  he  held  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  1835.  O.  F. 
Piper  resided  in  his  native  county  until 
1836,  when,  on  account  of  the  death  of 
his  father,  the  family  removed  to  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  a  farm. 
Here,  in  1844,  Mr.  Piper  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Mary  A.  Hawkins,  and  in 
1855,  removed  to  Macomb,  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  entered  into  a 
partnership  with  Arthur  G.  Burr,  and 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business.  It 
was  conducted  under  the  firm  name  of 
Burr  &  Piper,  about  two  years,  when 
Mr.  Piper  disposed  of  his  interest,  and, 
from  that  time  until  1865,  was  engaged 
in  the  grocery  trade.  The  following  year 
he  followed  the  business  of  insurance, 
and  then  entered  the  lumber  trade  as  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  Martin  &  Piper. 
During  the  year  1868,  he  gave  his  entire 
attention  to  insurance,  and  in  1869,  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  Indian  agent 
of  the  southern  Apaches  of  Arizona  and 
New  Mexico.  He  held  this  position  for 
two  years,  then  resigned  and  returned  to 


Macomb,  and  has  ever  since  been  en- 
gaged in  the  insurance  business,  and 
also  acted  as  a  justice  of  the  peace.  In 
politics,  he  is  a  republican,  and  has 
served  the  people  in  the  county  board  of 
supervisors,  in  the  city  council,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  education.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Piper  have  had  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  are  now  living — Edward 
S.,  who  enlisted  in  company  C,  84th  Illi- 
nois infantry,  and  died  while  in  the  ser- 
vice; Alice  B.,  the  wife  of  David  S.  Black- 
burn, of  California;  Mary  C.,  wife  of  Ar- 
thur Moore,  of  Clinton,  Illinois;  Walter 
L.,  of  Macomb;  Charles,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  18  years;  Lewis,  of  Clinton;  and 
Orlando,  of  Macomb.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Piper  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

John  W.  Churchill,  builder  and  con- 
tractor of  Macomb,  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky,  July  2,  1826.  His 
father,  Bichard  H.  Churchill,  was  also  a 
native  Kentuckian,  and  came  to  this 
county  in  1833,  engaging  in  farming  in 
Emmet  township,  four  miles  from  Ma- 
comb on  what  is  known  as  the  Miller 
place.  He  was  the  owner  of  considera- 
ble land  at  different  times  and  places, 
and  continued  farming  about  three  years 
when  he  removed  to  Macomb  and  opened 
a  general  store  and  there  died  in  1837. 
The  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  formerly  Sarah  Ann  Brown,  also 
from  Kentucky,  and  after  the  death  of 
her  husband  returned  to  her  native  state 
with  the  children.  John  W.,  was  mar- 
ried in  Jeffersonville,  Indiana,  to  Mary 
J.  McConnaughey,  of  Jeffersonville,  In- 
diana. They  resided  in  Indiana  six  years 
then  went  to  Champaign  county  and 
lived  seven  years,  thence  to  this  county, 


1112 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  Macomb  in  1864.  Here  he  worked 
at  the  trade  of  carpenter  until  1868,  when 
he  commenced  taking  contracts,  and  has 
since  built,  by  the  job,  many  public  and 
private  buildings  in  around  Macomb  and 
vicinity.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Churchill  have 
eight  children,  all  but  one  of  whom  are 
living  at  home  with  them — Harry,  living 
in  Peoria;  Blanche,  a  teacher  in  the  pub- 
lic school  at  Macomb;  Albert,  Laura  F., 
John  C.,  Samuel,  Zoe  and  Robert.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  he  is  a  highly  esteemed  citi- 
zen of  the  place. 

John  H.  Fuhr,  of  the  firm  of  Fuhr  & 
Chandler,  carpenters,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Pennsylvania,  August 
29,  1841.  He  was  the  son  of  George 
Fuhr,  a  blacksmith,  who  was  born  and 
raised  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 
His  mother's  name  was  Amanda  Hayes. 
His  parents  moved  to  Westmoreland 
county,  where  his  father  carried  on  the 
blacksmith  business  for  '  16  years.  He 
now  lives  upon  a  farm  three  miles  north- 
east of  Macomb.  John  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade  in  Macomb.  He  worked 
four  years  with  McElrath  as  a  cabinet- 
maker, afterward  working  at  Abingdon 
and  Quincy.  In  1864,  he  was  married 
to  Mary  Kelly,  and  removed  to  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  where  he  carried  on  a 
cabinet  shop,  and  afterward  the  carpen- 
ter business.  Returning  to  Macomb  he 
worked  with  Thomas  and  Martin,  until 
some  eight  years  ago,  he  went  into  part- 
nership with  Chandler.  They  have  a 
fine  shop,  and  are  doing  a  good  business. 
Some  of  the  finest  houses  in  Macomb 
and  surrounding,  country  were  built  by 
them.  Mr.  Fulir  has  three  children — 
Clara,  Henry  and  Albert.  One  child, 


Freddie  B.,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Fuhr 
is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Masonic  order. 
Edward  McDonough  is  the  son  of 
Hugh  McDonough,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in 
the  north  of  Ireland,  and  at  an  early 
age  came  to  America  and  settled  near 
Frankfort,  Kentucky.  He  commenced 
life  as  a  peddler,  driving  a  horse  and 
wagon,  but  soon  after  his  marriage  he 
abandoned  this  business  and  became  a 
farmer.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. Eight  children  were  born  to 
them,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 
They  came  to  McDonough  county  in 
1831,  and  settled  in  Tennessee  township, 
where  Edward  was -born,  April  14, 1832. 
He  lived  at  home  until  the  year  1849, 
when  he  went  to  live  with  a  man  named 
Ambrose  Owens,  where  he  worked  for 
his  board,  remaining  six  months.  He 
afterward  worked  for  Richard  Craig, 
in  Industry  township,  and  also  for  David 
Scott.  He  saved  his  money  and  used  it 
in  procuring  an  education.  He  came  to 
Macomb  and  lived  with  Isaac  Grantham, 
the  old  county  clerk,  for  three  years. 
During  these  years  he  attended  school, 
in  the  meantime  working  for  his  board. 
He  engaged  with  the  late  N.  P.  Tinsley, 
who  was  in  the  dry  goods  and  milling 
business,  and  worked  for  him  several 
years.  He  finally  commenced  business 
on  his  own  account,  and  was  very  suc- 
cessful. In  1880,  he  was  taken  with 
erysipelas,  and  was  obliged  to  abandon 
active  work.  Mr.  McDonough  has  ac- 
cumulated a  good  portion  of  property. 
His  marriage  occurred  December  1, 
1864,  his  wife  being  Amanda  N.  Biizan, 
from  Warren  county.  She  died  Janu- 
ary 22,  1879,  leaving  three  children — 
William,  Mary  C.  and  Edward  H.  Mr. 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1113 


McDonough  has  not  since  married.  A 
relative  of  the  family,  "Aunt  Kitty," 
took  charge  of  the  household,  and  now, 
at  the  age  of  85  years,  is  with  them, 
beloved  by  all.  Mr.  McDonough  pos- 
sesses many  of  the  characteristics  of  his 
father,  who  was  greatly  honored  .and 
esteemed  by  his  neighbors  for  his  many 
good  qualities. 

William  Ward,  foreman  of  the  tile 
works  at  Macomb,  was  born  in  Stafford- 
shire, England,  January  28,  1838.  His 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Matilda  ( Ball ) 
Ward,  also  natives  of  England.  Thomas 
Ward  and  his  ancestors,  for  many  gen- 
erations, have  been  potters.  He  is  now 
living  in  England  at  the  advanced  age 
of  80  years,  and  is  still  engaged  in  sell- 
ing pottery  to  the  trade.  His  wife  is 
also  living.  William  grew  to  manhood 
in  his  native  country,  learning  his  trade 
at  Gibbs,  Cannon  &  Co.,  in  Stafford- 
shire. In  1862,  he  went  to  Rio  Janeiro, 
South  America,  being  sent  there  by 
Thomas  Brassey,  the  great  railway  con- 
tractor and  sewer  builder,  to  manufac- 
ture the  sewer  pipes  for  that  city.  After 
completing  his  work  he  returned  to 
Staffordshire,England,  and  again  worked 
for  Gibbs,  Cannon  &  Co.  He  left  their 
employ,  to  come  to  America,  in  1856, 
landing  in  New  York  in  April,  of  that 
year.  He  went  to  Ohio  and  established 
tile  works,  two  miles  from  Liverpool, 
for  N.  U.  Walker,  there  remaining  one 
and  a  half  years,  thence  to  Columbus, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  employed  by  the 
Columbus  sewer  pipe  company,  for  sev- 
eral years,  coming  from  there  to  Mon- 
mouth,  Illinois,  where  he  established 
the  tile  works  at  that  place,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Columbus.  He  came  to  Mc- 


Donough county  in  1880,  and  four  years 
later,  to  Macomb.  He  is  a  skilled  work- 
man and-  thoroughly  understands  every 
branch  of  his  trade.  Mr.  Ward  has 
been  married  three  times,  first  to  Su- 
sanna Pugh,  who  died,  leaving  him  one 
son,  Herbert,  who  is  now  married  to 
Mary  Horrocks,  of  Bardolph.  Mr. 
Ward's  second  wife  was  formerly  Mrs. 
Martha  Marks,  nee  Lovell,  widow  of 
William  Marks.  She  had  by  her  for- 
mer marriage,  five  children — Katie,  Ed- 
ward, Clara,  Alice  and  Thomas.  Mr. 
Ward's  present  wife  was  Susanna  Set- 
ter, a  native  of  England.  He  had  by 
his  second  marriage,  one  daughter — 
Matilda. 

POSTOFFICE. 

During  the  summer  of  1831,  an  ar- 
rangement was  made  by  James  M. 
Campbell  with  the  postmaster  at  Rush- 
ville,  by  which  letters  for  residents  of 
McDonough  county  would  be  forwarded 
to  him,  at  Macomb,  there  being  no  post- 
office  within  the  limits  of  the  county, 
he  being  personally  responsible  for  the 
postage  of  25  cents  per  letter,  then  sel- 
dom, if  ever,  .prepaid.  Mr.  Campbell, 
it  is  said,  on  receiving  the  letters,  would 
put  them  in  his  hat  for  safe  keeping, 
and  from  this  grew  the  story  that  he 
carried  the  postoffice  in  that  useful  arti- 
cle of  dress.  Mr.  Campbell  was  asked 
if  he  would  accept  the  postmastership 
if  it  could  be  got,  and  on  his  assenting, 
a  petition  was  circulated  and  signed  by 
nearly  all  the  citizens  of  the  county. 
Accordingly  in  October,  of  that  year, 
the  postoffice  of  Macomb  was  estab- 
lished, with  James  M.  Campbell  as  post- 
master, and  a  mail  route  arranged.  For 
10  years  he  held  the  office  uninterrupt- 


1114 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


edly,  until  in  1841,  some  false  charges 
having  been  made  against  him,  he  was 
removed  and  George  W.  Damron  ap- 
pointed in  his  place.  ,For  a  month  or 
two  this  continued,  but  as  soon  as  the 
truth  of  the  matter  was  made  known  to 
the  postmaster-general,  Mr.  Campbell 
was  reinstated  with  honor,  although  he 
did  not  desire  the  office.  Mr.  Campbell 
held  this  important  position  until  July, 
1846,  when,  upon  resigning,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Jonathan  H.  Baker,  who  con- 
tinued to  be  postmaster  until  1849, when 
he  gave  way  to  Resin  Naylor,  who  was 
succeeded  by  J.  W.  Westfall.  and  later 
by  J.  W.  Atkinson.  Joseph  E.  Wyne 
was  appointed  postmaster  by  President 
Lincoln,  in  1861,  but  did  not  serve  out  a 
term.  He  was  succeeded  in  this  office 
by  J.  K.  Magie,  who  in  turn  made  way 
for  Iverson  L.  Twyman.  T.  B.  Maury 
was  the  next  incumbent, being  appointed 
May  10,  1869,  and  serving  until  October 
30,  1877,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J. 
B.  Venard,  the  present  postmaster.  The 
office  was  made  a  money  order  one  in 
1865,  the  first  order  being  issued  on  the 
3d  of  July,  of  that  year,  and  was  issued 
to  Harrison  Bailey,  of  Blandinsville, 
and  to  the  order  of  Will  Bailey,  of 
Memphis,  Tennessee.  It  was  for  the 
sum  of  $10.  In  1871,  it  was  constituted 
an  international  money  order  office,  and 
the  first  order  of  that  character  was 
drawn  November  24,  1871.  It  was 
issued  to  Thomas  J.  Jolly,  of  Macomb, 
payable  to  Thomas  Jolly,  Mile-End 
road,  England,  and  was  for  18s  and 
7d,  or  $5.00.  The  first  postal  note  was 
issued  to  Prof.  Max  Kennedy,  on  the 
4th  of  September,  1883,  for  the  sum  of 
$4.50. 


Among  McDonough  county's  most 
prominent  citizens,  must  be  mentioned 
Josephus  B.  Venard,  who  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  March  3,  1832, 
and  who  has  spent  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  upon  a  farm.  His  parents  were 
George  and  Frances  (Mitchell)  Venard, 
native  Kentuckians,  who  removed  to  Mc- 
Donough county,  Illinois,  in  1832,  where 
they  resided  up  to  the  time  of  their 
death,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time 
spent  in  Hancock  county.  They  were 
well  known  and  highly  respected  by  a 
large  number  of  people,  both  in  Hancock 
and  McDonough  counties.  They  reared 
a  family  of  nine  children.  From  the 
time  Josephus  B.  Venard  reached  his 
ninth  year,  he  was  compelled  to  do  his 
share  of  the  farm  labors,  having  to  plow 
and  do  such  other  manual  labor  as  his 
strength  would  permit  of.  He  was  only 
enabled  to  spend  a  few  weeks  of  his  life 
in  the  public  schools  of  the  county,  but 
it  was  the  custom  of  his  father  to  gather 
the  children  around  him  in  the  evening, 
after  the  toils  of  the  day  were  over,  and 
teach  them  as  much  as  possible  between 
the  short  time  intervening  between  sup- 
per and  the  hour  for  retiring.  When 
the  war  broke  out,  J.  B.  became  im- 
bued with  patriotism,  and  enlisted  on 
the  2d  day  of  August,  1861,  as  a  private 
in  Captain  J.  D.  Walker's  company,  2d 
Illinois  cavalry,  and  in  about  30  days 
thereafter,  the  second  lieutenant  resign- 
ing, he  was  chosen  by  the  men  t<3  fill  the 
vacancy,,  and  was  then  duly  commis- 
sioned. He  retained  this  position  until 
January  17,  1862,  when  he  was  promoted 
to  first  lieutenant.  While  still  holding  a 
commission  as  lieutenant  of  company 
H,  he  was  assigned  to  command  com- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1115 


pany  A,  during  the  Red  river  campaign, 
and  discharged  the  duties  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  his  superior  officers. 
July  20, 1864,  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain of  company  H,  and  served  as  such 
until  it  was  consolidated  with  other 
companies,  and  lettered  E,  when  he  was 
placed  in  command,  and  served  with  it 
until  January  3,  1866,  when  he  was  mus- 
tered out.  The  2d  Illinois  cavalry  de- 
serves the  thanks  of  the  whole  country, 
for  no  regiment  in  the  entire  service  ac- 
quitted itself  more  honorably  than'  did 
it,  being  in  active  service  from  its  mus- 
ter-in until  the  close  of  the  war.  Cap- 
tain Venard  served  with  honor  and  dis- 
tinction, and  took  an  active  part  in  al- 
most every  engagement  in  which  the 
regiment  participated.  In  the  early  part 
of  1865,  he  came  home  on  a  furlough, 
and  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mary 
E.  Curtiss,  on  the  14th  day  of  March,  of 
that  year.  Their  union  has  been  blessed 
with  five  children,  all  of  whom  are  liv- 
ing— Olive  R,  Helen,  Dollie,  George 
C.,  and  Bessie.  Captain  Venard  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  sheriff  in  1874,  re- 
ceiving a  majority  over  both  his  political 
opponents,  and,  as  an  instance  of  his 
personal  popularity,  we  will  cite  the  fact 
that  he  carried  Sciqta  township  by  35 
majority,  being  the  firSt  and  only  repub- 
lican that  has  ever  done  so.  He  also 
carried  the  township  in  which  he  was 
raised— Bethel — being  another  demo- 
cratic stronghold.  As  a  civil  officer,  he 
brought  to  bear  the  same  unswerving 
zeal  that  characterized  him  as  an  army 
officer,  and  gave  entire  satisfaction,  dis- 
charging his  duties  faithfully  and  con- 
scientiously, and  never  shirking  a  re- 
sponsibility. He  professed  religion  in 


1874,  and  on  his  removal  to  Macomb,  in 
the  fall  of  that  year,  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  is  now  a  faith- 
ful member  thereof.  As  a  citizen,  Cap- 
tain Venard  stands  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  people,  of  the  county.  He  is 
the  present  postmaster  of  MaCbinb,  hav- 
ing been  appointed  to  the  office  Novem- 
ber 1,  1877.  The  lodges  A.  R  and 
A.  M.,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  G.  A.  R.,  claim 
him  as  an  honored  member. 

R.  H.  Venard,  the  present  assistant 
postmaster  of  Macomb,  is  a  son  of  Geo. 
and  Frances  Venard,  and  was  born  in 
Bethel  township,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  on  the  15th  day  of  June,  1840. 
He  resided  with  his  parents,  and  assisted 
in  tilling  the  soil  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  and  then  took  a  trip  jto  the  Pa- 
cific slope,  and  spent  the  four  succeeding 
years  in  Oregon  and  California.  He 
then,  in  1866,  returned  to  his  native 
county,  and  again  resumed  agricultural 
pursuits,  which  he  followed  until  1880. 
Mr.  Venard's  brother  died  in  1868,  and 
he  then  purchased  the  homestead,  con- 
taining 110  acres,  which  he  still  owns. 
He  removed  to  Macomb  in  1880,  since 
which  time  he  has  assisted  his  brother, 
J.  B.  Venard,  in  the  postoffice.  In  1868, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Orpha 
Weaver,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
of  which  state  her  parents  are  still  resi- 
dents. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Venard  have  been 
the  parents  of  four  children,  three  of 
whom  are  still  living — Georgie  F.,  Wal- 
lace O.,  and  Karl  D.  Mr.  Venard  affil- 
iates with  the  republican  party. 

GOVEKNMENT. 

For  the  first  10  years  of  its  existence, 
the  town  of  Macomb  was  governed  by 


1116 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  county  commissioners'  court,  but  in 
1841,  by  an  act  of  incorporation  passed 
by  the  general  assembly,  the  government 
was  entrusted  to  a  board  of  five  trustees. 
By  the  same  act,  the  limits  of  the  incor- 
poration were  made  one  mile  square, 
with  the  public  square  of  Macomb  as  the 
center.  It  has  been  found  impossible  to 
find  the  record  book  of  the  board  of 
trustees,  as  it  has  been  entirely  lost  sight 
of,  and  in  its  absence,  we  are  indebted  to 
Clarke's  history  of  the  county  for  the 
following  partial  list  of  them.  He  says 
of  it:  "In  looking  over  the  old  papers, 
we  discovered  the  poll  books  of  several 
annual  elections,  and  give  the  names  of 
such  of  those  we  could  find  who  were 
elected  trustees,  aiid  the  year  each 
served: 

1849— William  H.  Randolph,  A.  S. 
Bonham,  C.  A.  Lawson,  T.  J.  Beard, 
John  P.  Head. 

1850— William  H.  Franklin,  Richard 
W.  Stephenson,  John  P.  Head,  William 
L.  Broaddus,  Joseph  E.  Wyne,  Charles 
Chandler,  William  T.  Head. 

1852 — B.  R.  Hampton,  C.  A.  Lawson, 
J.  M.  Major,  J.  P.  Updegraff,  C.  W. 
Dallain. 

1853— Thompson  Chandler,  J.  E. 
Wyne,  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  W.  S.  Hendricks, 
J.  M.  Martin. 

1854— J.  L.  N.  Hall,  J.  M.  Martin,  J. 
E.  Wyne,  Thomas  J.  Beard,  C.  A.  Law- 
son. 

1856— Abraham  Rowe,  J.  E.  Wyne,  T. 
J.  Beard,  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  Garrett  Bon- 
ham." 

MUNICIPAL. 

The  city  of  Macomb  was  incorporated 
in  1856,  the  first  election  taking  place 
on  the  8th  of  November.  This  was  for 


officers  for  six  months,  or  until  the  an- 
nual election,  in  May.  At  the  next  ses- 
sion of  the  general  assembly,  in  the 
early  part  of  1857,  a  special  act  of  incor- 
poration was  passed  and  approved  by 
Governor  Bissell,  on  the  14th  of  Febru- 
ary, in  which  the  boundaries  of  the  in- 
corporation are  set  forth  as  follows.: 
"All  that  district  of  country  in  the  county 
of  McDonough  artd  state  of  Illinois,  em- 
braced in  the  following  limits,  to-wit: 
The  south  half  of  section  31,  the  south-, 
west  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  31,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  31,  all  in  township  6,  north  of 
the  base  line  of  range  2,  west  of  the  4th 
principal  meridian;  and  the  southeast 
quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 36 ;  the  southeast  quarter  of  said  sec- 
tion 36,  in  township  6,  north  of  range  3, 
west  of  the  4th  principal  meridian;  and 
the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  1,  in  township  5,north 
of  range  3,  west  of  the  4th  principal 
meridian;  and  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  6,  and  the  northwest  quarter  of 
the  northeast  quarter  of  section  6,  in 
township  5,  north  of  range  2,  west  of  the 
4th  principal  meridian." 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  the 
officers  of  the  city  from  the  date  of  its 
incorporation  to  the  present  time,  given 
by  years: 

1856  — Mayor,  John  O.  C.  Wilson; 
aldermen,  James  M.  Campbell,  Joseph 
McCroskey,  William  H.  Randolph,  Sam- 
uel G.  Cannon;  clerk,  H.  E.  Worsharn. 

1857 —  Mayor,  Joseph  P.  Updegraff; 
aldermen,  First  ward,  James  M.  Camp- 
bell and  James  Clarke;  Second  ward, 
William  L.  Broaddus  and  O.  F.  Piper; 
Third  ward,  William  H.  Franklin  and 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  CODNTY. 


1117 


William  H.  Randolph;  Fourth  ward, 
Thomas  J.  Beard  and  Samuel  G.  Can- 
non; clerk  and  attorney,  Carter  Van 
Vleck;  marshal  and  supervisor,  G.  L. 
Farwell;  treasurer,  George  W.  Smith; 
assessor  and  collector",  H.  E.  Worsham; 
surveyor,  Charles  A.  Gilchrist;  sexton, 
David  Clarke;  board  of  health,  James 

D.  Walker,  Thomas  M.  Jordan,  William 
Wetherhold;  school  inspectors,  J.  L.  N. 
Hall,  J.  H.  Baker,  J.  B.  Cummings,  W. 

E.  Withrow. 

1858 — Mayor,  Joseph  P.  Updegraff; 
aldermen,  First  ward,  James  Clarke  and 
Cnarles  Chandler;  second  ward,  O.  F. 
Piper  and  P.  Hamilton;  Third  ward, 
William  H.  Franklin  and  William  E. 
Withrow;  Fourth  ward,  Thomas  J. 
Beard,  Samuel  G.  Cannon,  and  Wil- 
liam P.  Barrett;  clerk  and  attorney, 
Lewis  H.  Waters;  marshal  and  supervi- 
sor, William  L.  Broaddus;  treasurer, 
George  W.  Smith;  assessor  and  collec- 
tor, J.  H.  Cummings;  surveyor,  George 
W.  Page;  weigher,  C.  A.  Humes;  sexton, 
Peter  Clark;  board  of  health,  James  D. 
Walker,  Thomas  M.  Jordan,  William 
Wetherhold;  school  inspectors,  W.  E. 
Withrow,  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  J.  B.  Cummings, 
J.  H.  Baker  and  J.  Hagerty. 

1859 — Mayor,  James  D.  Walker;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  Charles  Chandler 
and  Joseph  Burton,  Francis  D.  Lipe, 
elected  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  Charles  Chandler;  Second 
ward,  O.  F.  Piper  and  Joseph  E.  Wyne; 
Third  ward,  George  M.  Wells  and  J.  L. 
N.  Hall;  Fourth  ward,  William  P.  Bar- 
rett and  Samuel  G.  Cannon,  Thomas  E. 
Morgan  elected  to  fill  vacancy  caused  by 
resignation  of  Samuel  G.  Cannon;  clerk 
and  attorney,  George  Wells;  marshal 


and  supervisor,  George  W.  Smith ;  treas- 
urer, J.  B.  Cummings,  assessor  and  col- 
lector, J.  H.  Cummings;  weigher,  Hugh 
Ervin;  sexton,  Peter  Clark;  board  of 
health,  Thomas  M.  Jordan,-  William 
Wetherhold  aud  J.  B.  Kyle ;  school  in- 
spectors, William  E.  Withrow,  Joseph 
C.  Thompson,  David  P.  Wells,  Carter 
Van  Vleck  and  T.  E.  Martin.. 

1860— Mayor,  Charles  Chandler;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  Joseph  Burton  and 
W.  H.  Neece;  Second  ward,  J.  E.  Wyne 
and  R  H.  Broaddus;  Third  ward,  G.  M. 
Wells  and  J.  L.  N.  Hall;  Fourth  ward, 
Thomas  E.  Morgan  and  H.  F.  Chase; 
clerk  and  attorney,  Qeorge  Wells;  mar- 
shal and  supervisor,  George  W.  Smith; 
treasurer,  W.  W.  Pro  vine;  assessor  and 
collector,  C.  M.  Ray;  board  of  health, 
James  B.  Kyle,  James  D.  Walker, 
Thomas  M.  Jordan  and  William  Weth- 
erhold; school  inspectors,  William  E. 
Withrow,  James  W.  Mathews,  D.  P. 
Wells,  Thompson  Chandler  and  Thomas 
J.  Beard. 

1861 — Mayor,  James  B.  Kyle;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  W.  H.  Neece  and  John 
Knappenberger;  Second  ward,  R.  H. 
Broaddus  and  Iverson  L.  Twyman; 
Third  ward,  J.  L.  N.  Hall  and  T.  M. 
Jordan;  Fourth  ward,  H.  F.  Chase  and 
Loven  Garrett;  clerk  and  attorney,  Geo. 
Wells;  marshal,  G.  L.  Farwell,  Reuben 
H.  Broaddus  appointed  to  fill  the  va- 
cancy caused  by  G.  L.  Farwell  resign- 
ing; treasurer,  W.  W.  Pro  vine;  assessor 
and  collector,  C.  M.  Ray;  surveyor,  A.  J. 
White ;  supervisor,  G.  W.  Smith ;  weigh- 
er, J.  W.  Westfall;  school  inspectors, 
J.  W.  Mathews,  Charles  Chairfler,  Car- 
ter Van  Vleck,  J.  C.  Thompson  and 
J.  B.  Cummings. 


1118 


•  HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1862— B.  F.  Martin,  mayor;  John 
Knappenberger  and  J.  H.  Baker,  alder- 
men from  First  ward;  Iverson  L.  Twy- 
man  and  Elisha  Morse,  Jr.,  Second  ward; 
T.  M.  Jordan  and  L.  Clisby,  Third  ward ; 
Loven  Garrett  and  Washington  Good- 
win, from  the  Fourth  ward^  Geo.  Wells, 
clerk  and  attorney;  John  Q.  Lane,  mar- 
shal; W.  W.  Provine,  treasurer;  C.  M. 
Bay,  assessor  and  collector;  G.  W. 
Smith,  weigher;  school  inspectors,  Wil- 
liam H.  Neece,  J.  B.  Cuinmings,  T.  J. 
Beard,  C.  S.  Churchill  and  William  E. 
Withrow. 

1863.— Mayor,  Edward  A.  Floyd;  al- 
derman, first  ward,%  J.  H.  Baker  and 
Alexander  McLean;  second  ward,  R.  L. 
Cochrane  and  O.  F.  Piper;  third  ward, 
L.  Clisby  and  W.  E.  Withrow;  fourth 
ward,  Washington  Goodwin  and  S.  F. 
Lancey;  clerk  and  attorney,  George 
Wells;  marshal,  Joseph  P.  Updegraff, 
George  W.  Smith  appointed  to  fill  va- 
cancy caused  by  the  resignation  of  Jos- 
eph P.  -Updegraff;  treasurer,  William 
W.  Provine— M.  T.  Winslow  to  fill  va- 
cancy; assessor  and  collector,  John  L. 
Anderson;  supervisor,  Geo.  W.  Smith; 
weigher,  Thomas  Gilmore;  school  in- 
spectors, John  B.  Cummin gs,  Charles 
Chandler,  James  W.  Matthews,  Edward 
A.  Floyd,  Joseph  Burton,  L.  Clisby, 
and  W.  O.  Metcalf. 

186 J..— Mayor,  Thomas  M.  Jordan; 
alderman,  First  ward,  Alexander  Mc- 
Lean and  Joseph  Durr;  Second  ward, 
R.  L.  Cochrane  and  James  Anderson; 
Third  ward,  Wrn.  E.  Withrow  and  L. 
Clisby ;  Fourth  ward,  S.  F.  Lancey  and 
John  Penrose;  clerk  and  attorney,  C. 
F.  Wheat:  marshal,  supervisor,  collector 
and  assessor,  Chauncy  Case;  treasurer, 


M.  T.  Winslow;  surveyor  and  engineer, 
J.  W.  Brattle ;  weigher,  William  G.  Cord ; 
board  of  health,  R.  D.  Hammond,  T. 
Chandler,  Charles  M.Ray  and  the  mayor; 
school  inspectors,  C.  M.  Ray,  J.  E. 
Wyne,  S.  F.  Lancey,  J.  H.  Baker  and 
Joseph  Burton. 

1865.— Mayor,  T.  M.  Jordan;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  Joseph  Durr  and  J. 
W.  Blount;  Second  ward,  James  Ander- 
son and  R.  L.  Cochrane;  Third  ward, 
Lorenzo  Clisby  and  J.  P.  Updegraff; 
Fourth  ward,  John  Penrose  and  James 
Brown;  clerk,  W.  E.  Withrow;  marshal, 
assessor  and  collector,  John  E.  Lane, 
treasurer,  M.  T.  Winslow;  attorney,  C. 
F.  Wheat;  surveyor,  James  W.  Brattle; 
supervisor,  George  W.  Smith ;  weigher, 
William  G.  Cord;  sexton,  Win.  Dowlan; 
board  of  health,  R.  D.  Hammond,  T. 
Chandler,  Charles  M.  Ray,  and  the 
Mayor;  school  inspectors,  S.  F.  Lancey, 
W.  E.  Withrow,  O.  F.  Piper,  J.  W. 
Blount  and  J.  H.  Baker. 

1866— Mayor,  Joseph  M.  Martin;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  J.  W.  Blount  and 
S.  G.  Wadsworth;  Second  ward,  R.  L. 
Cochrane  and  W.  F.  Bayne;  Third  ward, 
Joseph  P.  Updegraff  and  W.  S.  Hail; 
Fourth  ward,  E.  B.  Hamill  and  R.  J. 
Adcock ;  clerk,  W.  E.  Withrow ;  marshal, 
J.  E.  Lane;  treasurer,  M.  T.  Winslow; 
attorney,  C.  F.  Wheat;  assessor  and  col- 
lector, J.  E.  Lane;  surveyor,  J.  W.  Brat- 
tle; supervisor,  G.  W.  Curtis;  weigher, 
Isaac  Hillyer;  sexton,  John  Axford; 
board  of  health,  E.  B.  Hamill,  W.  O. 
Blaisdell  and  C.  M.  Ray;  school  inspec- 
tors T.  M.  Jordan,  S.  F.  Lancey,  O.  F. 
Piper,  L.  H.  Waters  and  J.  W.  Blount. 

1867— Mayor,  T.  M.  Jordan;  aldermen, 
First  ward,G.-H.  Bane  and  J.  W.  Blount; 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1119 


Second  ward,  W.  F.  Bayne  and  R.  L. 
Cochrane;  Third  ward,  "W.  S.  Hail  and 
William  Venable;  Fourth  ward,  John 
Shute  and  E.  B.  Hamill;  clerk,  W.  E. 
Withrow;  marshal  and  supervisor,  Thos. 
Gilfrey;  treasurer,  M.  T.  Winslow;  attor- 
ney, Asa  A.  Matteson;  assessor  and  col- 
lector, T.  B.  Maury ;  surveyor,  James  W. 
Brattle;  weigher,  Isaac  Hilly er;  sexton, 
John  Axford;  board  of  health,  G.  H. 
Bane,  R.  D.  Hammond.  W.  F.  Bayne 
and  the  mayor;  school  inspectors,  J.  W. 
Blount,  O.  F.  Piper,  William  Venable, 
S.  F.  Lancey  and  J.  C.  Thompson. 

1868— Mayor,  Joseph  P.  Updegraff; 
aldermen,  First  ward,  J.  W.  Blount  and 
W.  H.  Hainline;  Second  ward,  R.  L. 
Cochrane  and  O.  F.  Piper;  Third  ward, 
William  Venable  and  E.  L.  Wells; 
Fourth  ward,  E.  B.  Hamill  and  Joseph 
W.  Mclntosh;  clerk,  W.  E.  Withrow; 
marshal  and  supervisor,  G.  L.  Farwell; 
treasurer,  J.  H.  Cummings;  attorney,  C. 
F.  Wheat;  assessor  and  collector,  H.  W. 
Gash;  surveyor,  James  W.  Brattle; 
weigher,  D.  Blazer;  sexton,  John  Axford; 
board  of  health,  R.  D.  Hammond,  J.  B. 
Kyle,  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  and  the  mayor; 
school  inspectors,  S.  F.  Lancey,  J.  W. 
Blount,  O.  F.  Piper,  William  Venable 
and  H.  R.  Bartleson. 

1869— Mayor,  G.  K.  Hall;  aldermen, 
First  ward,  W.  H.  Hainline  and  J.  T. 
Adcock;  Second  ward,  O.  F.  Piper  and 
C.  N.  Harding;  Third  ward,  E.  L.  Wells 
and  William  Venable;  Fourth  ward,  J. 
W.  Mclntosh  and  Theodore  L.  Kendrick; 
clerk,  W.  E.  Withrow;  marshal  and  su- 
pervisor, J.  A.  Chapman;  treasurer,  M. 
T.  Winslow;  attorney  A.  A.  Matteson; 
assessor,  J.  W.  Blount;  collector,  J.  E. 
Wyne;  surveyor,  J.  W.  Brattle;  weigher, 


D.  Blazer;  sexton,  John  Axford;  school 
inspectors,  W.  E.  Withrow,  O.  F.  Piper, 
H.  R.  Bartleson,  J.  W.  Blount  and  S.  F. 
Lancey. 

1870 — Mayor,  Joseph  E.  Wyne;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  Joseph  T.  Adcock  and 
Thompson  Chandler ;  Second  ward,  C.  N. 
Harding  and  J.  H.  Cummings;  Third 
ward,  William  Venable  and  A.  B.  Chap- 
man; Fourth  ward,  Theodore  L.  Ken- 
drick and  Joseph  Durr;  clerk,  H.  R. 
Bartleson;  marshal,  John  Scott;  treas- 
urer, C.  V.  Chandler;  attorney,  L.  A. 
Simmons;  assessor,  J.  W.  Westfall;  col- 
lector, C.  C.  Chapman;  supervisor,  J.  A. 
Chapman;  surveyor,  D.  M.  Chapman; 
weigher,  Benjamin  T.  Applegate;  sex- 
ton, Benjamin  Vail;  board  of  health,  J. 

B.  Kyle,  M.  C.  Archer,  G.  H.  Bane  and 
the  mayor;    school   inspectors,    J.    W. 
Blount,  H.  R.  Bartleson,  W.  E.  With- 
row, S.  F.  Lancey  and  R.  H.  Broaddus. 

1871 — Mayor,  Joseph  M.  Martin;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  Thompson  Chandler 
and  B.  F.  Martin;  Second  ward,  J.  H. 
Cummings  and  John  McMillen;  Third 
ward,  A.  B.  Chapman  and  Thomas  Gil- 
more;  Fourth  ward,  S.  F.  Lancey  and 
Joseph  W.  Mclntosh;  clerk,  H.  R.  Bar- 
tleson; marshal,  John  Hillyer;  treasurer, 

C.  V.  Chandler;  attorney,  Ira  G.  Mosher; 
assessor,   J.  S,   Gash;  collector,  S.    G. 
Wadsworth;  surveyor,  J.  W. Brattle;  su- 
pervisor,  George   W.   Smith;    weigher, 
Benjamin  T.  Applegate;  sexton,  John  Ax- 
ford; board  of  health,  W.  O.  Blaisdell, 
A.E.  Hoskinson,Thompson  Chandler  and 
the  mayor;  school  inspectors,  Joseph  T. 
Adcock,  Virgil  McDavitt,  Thomas  Gil- 
more,   J.    C.    Reynolds  and  William  E. 
Withrow. 

1872— Mayor,  Charles  N.  Harding;  al- 


67 


1120 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


dermen,  First  ward,  B.  F.  Martin  and 
Thompson  Chandler;  Second  ward,  John 
McMillen  and  J.  H.  Cummings;  Third 
ward,  Thomas  Gilmore  and  William  Ven- 
able ;  Fourth  ward,  Joseph  Mclntosh  and 
James  Gamage;  clerk,  W.  E.  Withrow; 
marshal,  John  Hillyer;  treasurer,  C.  Y. 
Chandler;  attorney,  W.  J.  Franklin;  as- 
sessor, James  S.  Gash;  collector,  Willis 
I.  Twyman;  surveyor,  James  W.  Brattle; 
supervisor,  George  W.  Smith;  weigher, 
Isaac  Hillyer;  sexton,  John  Axford; 
school  inspectors,  C.  Y.  Chandler,  E.  H. 
Broaddus,  L.  Clisby,  Joseph  W.  Mcln- 
tosh and  William  E.  Withrow. 

1873 — Mayor,  Alexander  McLean;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  Thompson  Chandler 
and  S.  A.  M.  Boss;  Second  ward,  J.  H. 
Cummings  and  B.  L.  Cochrane;  Third 
ward,  William  Yenable  and  Frank  B. 
Kyle ;  Fourth  ward,  James  Gamage  and 
W.  G.  McClellan;  clerk  and  attorney,  E. 
P.  Pillsbury;  marshal,  H.  G.  Cheatham; 
treasurer,  C.  Y.  Chandler; assessor, Hugh 
Ervin;  collector,  T.  J.  Martin;  surveyor 
and  engineer,  James  W.  Brattle;  super- 
visor, George  W.  Smith;  weigher,  Isaac 
Hillyer;  sexton,  John  Axford;  board  of 
health,  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  H.  B.  Livermore, 
P.  H.  Garretson  and  the  mayor;  school 
inspectors,  J.  W.  Blount,  O.  F.  Piper,  J. 
W.  Mclntosh,  William  Yenable  and  Al- 
exander McLean. 

1874 — Mayor,  Alexander  McLean;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  S.  A.  M.  Boss  and 
John  W.  Cook;  Second  ward,  B.  L. 
Cochrane  and  J.  H.  Cummings;  Third 
ward,  Frank  B.  Kyle  and  William  Yena- 
ble; Fourth  ward,  W.  G.  McClellan  and 
James  Gamage;  clerk,  O.  F.  Piper;  mar- 
shal, Karr  McClintock;  treasurer,  C.  Y. 
Chandler;  attorney,  E.  P.  Pillsbury;  as- 


sessor, Hugh  Ervin;  collector,  Hender- 
son Bitchie ;  surveyor,  James  W.  Brattle ; 
supervisor,  A.  Hudson;  weigher,  John 
H.  Nicholson;  sexton,  John  Axford; 
board  of  health,  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  H.  B. 
Livermore,  P.  H.  Garretson  and  the 
mayor;  school  inspectors,  J.  W.  Blount, 
O.  F.  Piper,  J.  W.  Mclntosh,  William 
Venable  and  Alexander  McLean. 

1875 — Mayor,  Alexander  McLean;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  John  W.  Cook  and 
W.  E.  Martin;  Second  ward,  J.  H.  Cum- 
mings and  J.  E.  Wyne ;  Third  ward,  Wil- 
liam Yenable  and  C.  N.  Harding;  Fourth 
ward,  James  Gamage  and  D.  M.  Graves; 
clerk,  O.  F.  Piper;  marshal,  Karr  Mc- 
Clintock; treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler;  at- 
torney, E.  P.  Pillsbury;  assessor,  J.  C. 
Beynolds;  collector,  Bobert  Brooking; 
surveyor  and  engineer,  James  W.  Brat- 
tle; supervisor,  A.  Hudson;  weigher, 
Hugh  Ervin;  sexton,  John  Axford; board 
of  health,  H.  B.  Livermore,  W.  O.  Blais- 
dell, P.  H.  Garretson  and  the  mayor; 
school  inspectors,  Asa  A.  Matteson,  S.  L. 
Sommers,  L.  Clisby,  M.  T.  W^inslow  and 

C.  S.  Cottrell. 

1876 — Mayor,  Alexander  McLean;  al- 
dermen, First  ward,  W.  E.  Martin  and  E. 
F.  Bradford;  Second  ward,  J.  E.  Wyne 
and  J.  H.  Cummings ;  Third  ward,  C.  N. 
Harding  and  David  Scott;  Fourth  ward, 

D.  M.  Graves  and  James  Gamage;  clerk, 
O.  F.  Piper;  marshal,  Karr  McClintock; 
treasurer,   C.  Y.  Chandler;  collector,  J. 
M.  Martin;  attorney,  J.  H.  Franklin;  as- 
sessor, H.  W.  Gash ;  surveyor,  James  W. 
Brattle;     supervisor,     John     Shannon; 
weigher,   John   S.  Smith;  -sexton,  John 
Axford;  board  of  health,  W.  F.  Bayne, 
W.  O.  Blaisdell,  P.  H.  Garretson  and  the 
mayor;  school  inspectors,  E.  F.  Bradford, 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1121 


J.  E.  Wyne,  W.  F.  Bayne,  W.  E.  With- 
row,  J.  W.  Mclntosh  and  M.  T.  Wins- 
low. 

1877 — Mayor,  Asher  Blount;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  E.  F.  Bradford  and  W. 

E.  Martin;   Second  ward,   J.  H.  Cum- 
in ings   and   J.    E.  Wyne;   Third  ward, 
David  Scott  and  John  McLean;  Fourth 
ward,  James  Gamage  and  W.  O.  Thomas; 
clerk,   Louis   E.    Wyne;  marshal,  Karr 
McClintock;  treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler; 
attorney,  John  H.  Franklin;  assessor,  H. 
Ervin:  collector,  W.  H.  Shetteiiy;  sur- 
veyor,  James   W.    Brattle;   supervisor, 
George  B.  Gash;  weigher,  J.  S.  Smith; 
sexton,  John  Shannon;  board  of  health, 
W.  O.   Blaisdell,   W.   F.   Bayne,  P.  H. 
Garretson  and  the  mayor;  school  inspec- 
tors, E.  F.  Bradford,  S.  L.  Sommers,  O. 

F.  Piper,  John  McLean,  M.  T.  Winslow 
and  J.  M.  Martin. 

1878— Mayor,  W.  F.  Bayne;  aldermen, 
First  ward,  W.  E.  Martin  and  E.  L. 
Wells;  Second  ward,  J.  E.  Wyne  and 
J.  H.  Cummings ;  Third  ward,  John  Mc- 
Lean and  A.  B.  Lightner;  Fourth  ward, 
W.  O.  Thomas  and  J.  M.  Hume;  clerk, 
L.  E.  Wyne;  marshal,  Karr  McClintock; 
attorney,  J.  M.  Blazer;  treasurer,  C.  V. 
Chandler;  assessor,  J.  W.  Westfall;  col- 
lector, R.  L.  Cochrane;  surveyor,  J.  W. 
Brattle;  supervisor,  John  Masterson; 
weigher,  Hiram  Russell;  sexton,  John 
Shannon ;  board  of  health,  V.  McDavitt, 
P.  H.  Garretson,  W.  O.  Blaisdell  and  the 
mayor;  school  inspectors,  J.  T.  Adcock, 
E.  L.  Wells,  M.  T.  Winslow,  S.  L.  Som- 
iners,  John  McLean  and  H.  E.  Bartle- 
son. 

1879— Mayor,  G.  C.  Gumbart;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  E.  L.  Wells  and  G.  W. 
Price;  Second  ward,  J.  H.  Cummings 


and  J.  T.  Price;  Third  ward,  A.  B.  Light- 
ner and  Newton  Jellison,  John  Robin- 
son to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  res- 
ignation of  A.  B.  Lightner;  Fourth  ward, 
J.  M.  Hume  and  W.  H.  Shetterly;  clerk, 
James  Tenable;  marshal,  A.  Updegraff; 
treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler;  attorney,  J. 
M.  Blazer ;  assessor,  G.  W.  Eyre ;  collec- 
tor, J.  M.  Martin;  surveyor,  J.  W.  Brat- 
tle; supervisor,  John  Hillyer;  weigher, 
H.  Russell;  sexton,  J.  B.  Russell;  board 
of  health,  W.  F.  Bayne,  V.  McDavitt,  C. 

B.  Ellis  and  the  mayor;  board  of  educa- 
tion, J.  T.  Adcock  and  E.  L.  Wells,  S.  L. 
Sommers,  O.  F.  Piper,  L.  Stocker,  John 
McLean,  M.  T.  Winslow  and  J.  M.  Mar- 
tin. 

1880— Mayor,  G.  C.  Gumbart;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  C.  F.  Wheat  and  G.  W. 
Pace ;  Second  ward,  R.  L.  Cochrane  and 
T.  J.  Price;  Third  ward,  John  Robinson 
and  Newton  Jellison ;  Fourth  ward,  J.  T. 
Russell  and  W.  H.  Shetterly;  clerk,  D. 
Knapp;  marshal,  Karr  McClintock; 
treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler;  attorney,  J. 
M.  Blazer;  assessor,  O.  F.  Piper;  collec- 
tor, J.  M.  Hume;  surveyor  and  engineer, 

C.  Holmes;  supervisor,  J.  C.    Simmons; 
weigher,  H.  Russell;  printers,  Hampton 
and  Hainline;   sexton,   J.    B.    Russell; 
board  of  health,  W.   F.  Bayne,   Virgil. 
McDavitt  and  W.  O.  Blaisdell;  board  of 
education,  J.  T,  Adcock,  E.  L.  Wells,  S. 
L.  Sommers,   O.    F.  Piper,  L.    Stocker, 
John  McLean,  J.  M.  Martin  and  M.  T. 
Winslow. 

1881 — Mayor,  William  Prentiss;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  Ed.  Farmer  and  C.  F. 
Wheat;  Second  ward,  W.  S.  Bailey  and 
R.  L.  Cochrane;  Third  ward,  John  Mc- 
Elrath  and  John  Robinson ;  Fourth  ward, 
J.  T.  Russell  and  J.  M.  Hume;  clerk,  D. 


1122 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


M.  Graves;  marshal,  Karr  McClintock; 
treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler ;  attorney,  J.  H. 
Bacon;  assessor,  G.  W.  Eyre;  collector, 
T.  J.  Price;  surveyor  and  engineer,  C. 
Holmes;  supervisor,  J.  C.  Simmons; 
weigher,  H.  Kussell;  printer,  W.  H.  Hain- 
line;  sexton,  John  Axford;  board  of 
health,  W.  O.  Blaisdell,  W.  F.  Bayne  and 
P.  H.  Garretson ;  board  of  education,  J. 
T.  Adcock,  G.  W.  Pace,  F.  J.  Blount,  S. 
L.  Sommers,  F.  J.  Hoffman,  L.  Stocker, 
Joseph  Durr  and  M.  T.  Winslow. 

1882 — Mayor,  Asher  Blount;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  S.  A.  M.  Boss  and  S. 
P.  Danley;  Second  ward,  C.  M.  Cadwal- 
lader  and  W.  F.  Bayne;  Third  ward,  G. 
P.  Wells  and  J.  C.  McClellan;  Fourth 
ward,  J.  L.  Bailey  and  Edgar  Bolles; 
clerk,  I.  M.  Martin;  marshal,  Karr  Mc- 
Clintock; treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler;  at- 
torney, H.  C.  Agnew;  assessor,  G.  W. 
Eyre;  collector,  J.  T.  Russell;  superin- 
tendent of  streets,  John  Shannon; 
weigher,  H.  Russell;  printer,  W.  H. 
Hainline;  sexton,  John  Axford;  board 
of  health,  W.  F.  Bayne,  H.  B.  Liver- 
more  and  Edgar  Bolles;  board  of  edu- 
cation, J.  W.  Blount,  J.  T.  Adcock,  F. 
J.  Blount,  A.  P.  Wetherhold,  T.  J.  Hoff- 
man, John  McLean,  M.  T.  Winslow  and 
•J.  M.  Martin. 

1883— Mayor,  W.  E.  Martin;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  S.  P.  Danley  and  G. 
W.  Adcock;  Second  ward,  W.  F.  Bayne 
and  B.  F.  Randolph;  Third  ward,  G.  P. 
Wells  and  John  McLean ;  Fourth  ward, 
Edgar  Bolles  and  M.  T.  Winslow;  clerk, 
I.  M.  Martin;  treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler; 
attorney,  James  H.  Bacon;  marshal,  A. 
Updegraff;  assessor,  J.  W.  Liggett;  col- 
lector, B.  J.  Head;  superintendent,  G. 
G.  Butterfield;  weigher,  H.  Russell; 


board  of  health,  W.  F.  Bayne,  H.  B. 
Livermore  and  Edgar  Bolles;  board  of 
education,  J.  W.  Blount,  D.  M.  Graves, 
A.  P.  Wetherhold,  J.  H.  Cummings, 
John  McLean,  L.  Stocker,  J.  M.  Martin 
and  Edward  McDonough. 

1884— Mayor,  W.  E.  Martin;  alder- 
men, First  ward,  S.  P.  Danley  and  B.  F. 
Randolph;  Second  ward,  W.  F.  Bayne, 
John  McLean;  Third  ward,  J.  Archer,  J. 
W.  Scott;  Fourth  ward,  M.  T.  Winslow 
and  W.  O.  Thomas;  clerk,  I.  M.  Martin; 
treasurer,  C.  V.  Chandler;  attorney,  J. 
H.  Bacon;  marshal,  A.  Updegraff;  as- 
sessor, George  W.  Eyre ;  collector,  R.  T. 
Quinn;  superintendent,  John  Masterson 
and  John  Curtis;  weigher,  H.  Russell; 
sexton,  John  Axford;  board  of  educa- 
tion, D.  M.  Graves,  J.  H.  Cummings,  E. 
H.  Black,  L.  Stocker,  J.  C.  McClellan, 
Edward  McDonough,  Samuel- Frost  and 
T.  J.  Farley. 

The  officers  elected  at  the  spring  elec- 
tion, 1885,  were  as  follows:  C.  W.  Dines, 
mayor;  J.  H.  Provine,  treasurer;  I.  M. 
Martin,  clerk;  L.  Y.  Sherman,  attorney; 
William  Yenable  and  Samuel  Frost,  su- 
pervisors; W.  F.  Wells,  G.  E.  Kelly, 
John  Archer  and  Henry  Rost,  aldermen. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

According  to  the  last  annual  report  of 
the  county  superintendent,  for  the  school 
year  ending  June  30,  1884,  the  city  of 
Macomb  has  an  estimated  value  of  school 
property  amounting  to  $44,000,  and  a 
tax  levy  for  the  support  of  her  schools 
amounting  to  $12,000.  It  is  free  from 
any  bonded  indebtedness  and  has  a 
school  library  and  apparatus  valued  at 
$750.  The  highest  wages  paid  any  male 
teacher  is  $120,  and  the  lowest  $85  per 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1123 


month,  while  the  highest  monthly  wages 
paid  lady  teachers  is  $60,  and  the  lowest 
$30.  There  are  two  brick  and  two  frame 
school  buildings,  in  which  an  average  of 
10  months  of  school  are  taught  per  an- 
num. The  total  number  of  children  of 
school  age  in  the  city,  is  1,303,  of  whom 
846  are  enrolled  in  the  schools. 

The  first  school  in  the  village  of  Ma- 
comb,  was  taught  by  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  in 
the  year  1834.  He  came  here  during 
that  year  and  taught  this  school  while 
studying  law  in  the  office  of  Cyrus  Wal- 
ker. Mr.  Dickey  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  while  a  resident  of  this  place,  but 
removed  to  Rushville  in  1836,  and  from 
there  to  Chicago.  He  is  now  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  Illinois, 
and  ranks  with  the  ablest  jurists  of  the 
country.  Several  others  taught  sub- 
scription schools  after  this,  part  of  the 
time  many  of  the  pupils  attending  the 
old  McDonough  college.  In  1846,  it 
being  deemed  necessary  that  some  build- 
ings be  erected  for  common  schools, 
James  M.  Campbell,  with  his  accustomed 
energy,  undertook  to  raise  a  subscription 
for  the  purpose  of  raising  the  money 
among  the  citizens.  Although  he  was 
was  successful  in  getting  the  necessary 
funds  subscribed,  he  found  that  it  was 
another  thing  to  collect  the  greater  part 
of  it,  but  he,  nevertheless  went  to  work 
and  put  up  two  brick  edifices,  18x28  feet 
in  size,  at  his  own  proper  cost  and  ex- 
pense. The  one  in  the  First  ward  was 
upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  Bap- 
tist church,  the  other,  on  the  site  of  the 
present  Third  ward  school.  These  were 
put  up  and  furnished  by  Mr.  Campbell, 
but  in  after  years,  they  growing  too 
small  for  the  wants  of  the  community, 


the  city  sold  them,  covering  the  money 
into  the  treasury.  The  following  year, 
Mr.  Campbell,  also,  erected  a  frame 
school  house  at  the  point  where  the  C. 
B.  &  Q.,  track  crosses  West  Jackson 
street,  in  the  western  addition  to  Macomb. 
This  building  was  afterwards  sold,  and 
altered  into  a  residence,  being  moved 
from  the  lot  on  which  it  stood,  and  is 
now  occupied  by  Peter  Hesh.  These 
were  the  first  houses  erected  for  common 
school  purposes. 

In  1865,  the  building  known  as  the 
high  school,  in  the  Second  ward,  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $29,000.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  the  north  side  of  Calhoun,  be- 
tween Dudley  and  Madison  streets.  The 
architectural  design  is  plain  throughout. 
The  plans  were  drawn  by  G.  P.  Randall, 
of  Chicago,  and  the  work  done  by  the 
city,  superintended  by  W.  O.  Thomas. 
The  building  is  53x94  feet,  two-stories, 
with  basement,  and  contains  six  rooms 
26x33  feet,  a  chapel  48x50  feet,  library 
room,  closets  and  halls.  It  is  heated 
by  steam,  the  engine  for  that  purpose 
being  in  the  basement.  There  are  two 
entrances  to  the  building,  one  each  in 
the  center  of  the  south  and  north 
sides.  These  entrances  open  into  a  hall, 
from  which  a  stairway  leads  to  the  sec- 
ond story.  The  recitation  rooms  are 
each  13  feet  in  height,  while  the  chapel 
is  16  feet,  and  all  are  well  ventilated. 
The  basement  of  the  building  is  con- 
structed of  limestone,  and  the  main 
walls  of  red  brick.  A  belfry  arises 
from  over  the  main  entrance,  in  which 
is  placed  a  bell  weighing  1,200  pounds. 
Although  the  building  is  not  showy,  it 
presents  a  neat,  substantial  appearance, 
and  is  an  honor  to  the  city.  When  this 


1124 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


building  was  completed,  in  1866,  Prof. 
H.  H.  Smith  was  employed  by  the 
school  directors,  as  principal,  at  a  salary 
of  $1,500  per  year,  to  take  charge  of 
the  school.  This  seemed  a  large  sum 
to  many  of  the  citizens  of  Macomb,  for 
the  amount  of  labor  performed,  and 
considerable  opposition  was  made  to  it, 
but  the  friends  of  the  measure  pre- 
vailed. When  Professor  Smith  took 
hold  he  introduced  the  graded  system, 
and  effected  an  almost  entire  change  in 
the  text  books  used.  This  compelled 
the  purchase  by  many,  of  a  number  of 
new  books,  and  the  setting  back  of  many 
scholars  in  some  of  their  studies,  in 
order  that  they  might  conform  to  the 
grade.  This  created  additional  excite- 
ment, each  parent  denying  the  right  of 
the  teacher  to  set  his  child  back,  thus 
compelling  a  review  of  a  study  already 
gone  over.  Many  complaints  were  made 
to  the  professor,  and  for  days  he  was 
interviewed  hourly  by  indignant  par- 
ents. The  expense  of  the  purchase  of 
new  books  was  said  to  be  enormous, 
when  it  was  an  undeniable  fact  it  cost 
majority  of  parents  less  money  to  buy 
the  entire  new  outfit  than  it  would  have 
done  had  the  old  series  of  text  books 
been  retained — the  new  having  been  in- 
troduced at  half  price.  But  Prof.  Smith 
continued  on  the  even  tenor  of  his  way, 
"being  reviled,  he  reviled  not  again," 
knowing  that  in  due  time  the  system 
would  be  approved  by  all.  The  wisdom 
of  his  course  is  now  seen.  For  19  years 
the  system  has  been  tried,  and  with  the 
best  results,  and  there  is  not  a  parent  in 
the  city,  that  has  given  the  subject  any 
thought,  but  will  acknowledge  it  is  the 
better  way.  There  has  been  an  average 


of  12  or  14  graduates  each  year  since  the 
third,  and  many  of  the  teachers  now  em- 
ployed in  the  schools  of  the  city,  or  that 
have  been  employed  for  15  years,  have 
been  graduates.  The  course  of  study 
has  been  as  thorough  as  in  any  of  the 
academies  of  the  country.  Prof.  H.  H. 
Smith  continued  as  superintendent  for 
three  years,  succeeding  in  the  perfect 
organization  of  every  department  of  the 
public  schools.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Prof.  M.  Andrews,  who  occupied  the  po- 
sition for  five  years,  resigning  the  same 
that  he  might  accept  a  like  situation  at 
Galesburg,  in  this  state,  at  a  higher  sal- 
ary. Professor  Shedd  next  succeeded, 
serving  two  years.  He  was  followed  by 
Prof.  C.  C.  Bobbins. 

The  school  building  in  the  Fourth 
ward  was  erected  in  1874,  by  W.  O. 
Thomas,  of  Macomb,  who,  was,  also,  the 
architect.  It  stands  upon  the  corner  of 
Washington  and  Johnson  streets.  Its 
entire  cost,  including  furniture,  etc., 
was  about  $20,000.  It  is  quite  showy, 
and  yet  neat  and  well  proportioned.  The 
basement  is  of  limestone,  while  the  main 
walls  are  of  red  brick.  It  is  two  stories 
in  height,  with  basement.  A  finely  pro- 
portioned belfry  surmounts  the  main 
front,  in  which  is  placed  a  bell  weighing 
900  pounds.  There  are  three  entrances 
— one  each  on  the  east,  north  and  south 
sides.  The  recitation  rooms,  of  which 
there  are  six,  are  in  size  25'  x33  feet; 
those  on  the  first  floor  are  in  height  14 
feet,  while  those  on  the  second  floor  are 
16  feet,  each  being  provided  with  the 
best  modern  school  furniture,  and  every 
appliance  that  would  aid  one  in  acquir- 
ing knowledge.  The  ventilation  is  well 
provided  for,  which  will  certainly  be 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1125 


acknowledged  of  great  importance.  The 
basement  is  used  for  storage,  fuel  and 
heating  purposes,  an  engine  being  placed 
therein,  which  heats  the  entire  building. 
Everything  in  connection  with  the  build- 
ing is  in  good  taste,  and  reflects  great 
credit  upon  the  city  and  its  architect, 
W.  O.  Thomas. 

Besides  these  there  are  two  neat  frame 
edifices,  and  Macomb  can  justly  pride 
herself  upon  the  unexceptional  educa- 
tional facilities  it  possesses.  A  full 
account  of  the  other  institutions  of  the 
town,  for  higher  education,  is  given  else- 
where. 

RELIGIOUS. 

The  first  religious  services  ever  held 
in  the  town  were  probably  in  1833,  under 
the  ministrations  of  the  celebrated  Meth- 
odist preacher,  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright, 
who  shortly  after  organized  a  class, 
which  has  been  successfully  carried  on 
to  the  present  day. 

The  first  church  building  was  erected 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  congregation 
in  1856.  There  are  now  in  the  city  ten 
churches,  viz:  the  Methodist,  Baptist, 
Catholic,  Christian,  Congregationalist, 
Universalist,  Presbyterian,  Lutheran, 
African  Methodist  and  African  Baptist. 
There  is  also  a  congregation  of  Episco- 
palians. Histories  of  each  of  these  re- 
ligious bodies  are  given  in  the  chapter 
on  ecclesiastical  matters. 

OAKWOOD   CEMETERY. 

During  the  year  1856,  W.  H.  Ran- 
dolph laid  off,  for  a  public  cemetery,  a 
tract  of  land  just  north  ofthe  city,  com- 
prising 11  acres,  which  he  christened 
Oakwood  cemetery.  For  years  the  town 
had  felt  the  want  of  a  suitable  place  for 


the  burial  of  the  dead.  The  old  ceme- 
tery, west  of  town,  was  too  small  and 
very  inconvenient  to  the  citizens  of  the 
place,  and  with  his  accustomed  liberality 
and  public  spirit,  Mr.  Randolph  selected 
the  prettiest  and  most  eligible  spot  ad- 
joining the  town,  for  this  city  of  the 
dead.  This  adjoins  the  city  limits.  On 
the  7th  of  June,  1877,  the  city  of  Ma- 
chased  the  unsold  lots  for  about  $1,000, 
and  an  additional  three-acre  lot  within 
the  city  limits  for  $350  more.  It  is 
nearly  all  neatly  fenced,  handsomely 
laid  out  and  well  improved,  and  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  resting  places  for 
the  hallowed  remains  of  loved  ones  in 
this  section  of  country.  The  first  burial 
here  was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Moore, 
who  died  in  the  summer  of  1857.  Two 
or  three  years  afterwards,  his  body  was 
disinterred  and  removed.  The  second 
burial  was  that  of  Lucy  E.  Perry,  on 
August  5,  1857.  J.  H.  Cummings  was 
the  chairman  of  the  first  committee  hav- 
ing it  in  charge.  The  present  committee 
are  the  following  gentlemen:  J.  H. 
Cummings,  S.  L.  Sommers  and  M.  T. 
Winslow.  John  Axford,  the  present 
sexton,  has  been  in  that  position  about 
three-fourths  of  the  time  since  it  was 
first  laid  out. 

What  was  long  known  as  the  old  cem- 
etery was  laid  out  by  the  county  com- 
missioners in  1830,  Robert  Garrett  do- 
nating the  land,  in  trust,  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  first  burial  therein  was  Tru- 
man Boweii,  who  died  in  1831.  The 
second  interment  was  of  a  child  of  L. 
F.  Temple,  who  died  of  some  injuries 
received,  and  was  buried  there  in  1831. 
This  was  not  used  after  the  laying  out  of 
Oakwood. 


1126 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


PUBLIC    LIBRAEY. 

Among  other  public  institutions  of 
which  the  citizens  of  Macomb  can  justly 
pride  themselves,  is  the  Macomb  City 
Library.  For  several  years  previous  to 
1881,  sundry  efforts  looking  toward  the 
establishment  of  a  library  had  been 
made,  but  without  success;  but  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  a  petition  of  the  citi- 
zens being  presented  to  the  city  council, 
they  passed  the  necessary  legislation, 
and  appropriated  the  sum  of  $1,000  for 
the  purpose.  On  the  10th  of  November, 
1881,  Mayor  William  Prentiss  appointed 
the  following  board  of  directors :  B.  E. 
Hampton,  Miss  Mary  Pillsbury,  Dr.  W. 
O.  Blaisdell,  Mrs.  P.  H.  Garretson.  Dr. 
J.  M.  Downing,  Alexander  McLean,  Miss 
Ella  Whitson,  A.  K.  Lodge  and  Mrs. 
W.  S.  Bailey.  On  the  23d  of  November, 
1881,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  office  of 
Drs.  Downing  &  King,  and  an  organiza- 
tion formed  with  B.  E.  Hampton,  chair- 
man, and  Miss  Mary  Pillsbury,  secretary. 
Books  were  purchased,  and  a  library 
formed,  which  was  duly  opened  to  the 
public  on  the  8th  of  April,  1882,  with 
Miss  Mahala  Phelps  as  librarian,  a  po- 
sition which  she  has  held  continuously 
ever  since.  The  library  is  now  in  full 
running  order,  contains  over  1,600  vol- 
umes for  general  circulation,  and  about 
150  of  reference,  all  of  which  are  of  the 
highest  class,  manifesting  the  care  and 
excellent  judgment  displayed  by  the 
board  in  their  selections  of  literature  for 
the  rising  generation.  A  room  in  the 
city  hall  is  handsomely  fitted  up  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  library,  and  an. 
air  of  order,  method  and  neatness  per- 
vades the  apartment.  The  present  offi- 
cers are  as  follows:  B.  E.  Hampton, 


president;  Mary  Pillsbury,  secretary; 
J.  M.  Blazer,  vice-president  and  treas- 
urer; these,  with  the  following  named, 
constitute  the  board  of  directors:  Mrs. 
P.  H.  Garretson,  Jacob  L.  Baily,  Alex- 
ander McLean,  Mrs.  Asher  Blount,  Mrs. 
W.  S.  Bailey,  and  A.  K.  Lodge.  The 
library  is  free  to  all  citizens  of  the  city, 
and  is  open  twice  a  week  for  the  purpose 
of  issuing  books.  The  last  three  months, 
the  average  each  day  has  beeii  199  books 
issued,  which  shows  to  what  an  extent 
the  library  is  patronized. 

SOCIETIES. 

Macomb  lodge,  No.  17,  A.  F.  and  A. 
M.,  was  organized  under  a  dispensation 
granted  January  30,  1843,  to  Charles 
Hays,  Eesin  Naylor,  James  Chandler, 
Jr.,  John  Anderson,  Thomas  J.  Smith- 
ers,Alexander  Simpson  and  O.  M.  Hoag- 
land.  The  first  meeting  was  held  on 
the  24th  of  February,  1843,  when  there 
were  present,  Levi  Lusk,  S.  G.  W.  and 
W.  M.  pro  tern.,  and  the  following  pro 
tern,  officers:  Charles  Hays,  S.  W.; 
James  Chandler,  Jr., J. W. ;  John  Ander- 
son, S. ;  Joseph  M.  Walker,  T. ;  Eesin 
Naylor,  S.  D. ;  Thomas  Smithers,  J.  D. ; 
George  H.  Eice,  tyler,  and  Thomas  A. 
Brooking.  The  first  regular  officers  in- 
stalled, were  Eesin  Naylor,  W.  M.; 
Charles  Hays,  S.  W. ;  James  Chandler, 
Jr.,  J.  W.  Cyrus  Walker  was.  initiated 
at  this  meeting.  At  a  meeting  held 
February  25th,  petitions  were  received 
from  P.  H.  Walker,  William  Ervin  and 
Joseph  E.  Wyne,  and  the  second  and 
third  degrees  were  conferred  upon  C.  A. 
Lawson.  It  received  its  charter  in  the 
following  fall,  that  important  document 
bearing  date  of  October  2,  1843.  Since 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1127 


its  organization,  the  following  have  held 
the  position  of  worshipful  master  of  the 
lodge:  James  Chandler,  Jr.,  Joseph  E. 
Wyiie,  Pinkney  H.  Walker,  William 
Ervin,  Thomas  Brooking,  James  B. 
Kyle,  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  C.  N.  Harding,  C. 
S.  Churchill,  Albert  Eads  and  J.  H. 
Fuhr.  The  present  officers,  are  A.  K. 
Lodge,  W.  M.;  W.  C.  Johnson,  S.  W.; 
Charles  Garrett,  J.  W.;  E.  McDonough, 
T.;  S.  P.  Brewster,  S.;  F.  J.  Farley,  8. 
D.;  E.  W.  Bailey,  J.  D.;  J.  W.  Wyne,  S. 
S.;  H.  Oldknow,  J.  S.,  and  B.  F.  Whit- 
son,  tyler.  The  present  membership  is 
over  100,  and  the  condition  of  the  lodge 
most  excellent.  They  own  the  beautiful 
block  wherein  they  have  their  lodge 
room.  This  building  was  erected  in 
1881,  and  is  in  size  26x80  feet,  three- 
stories  high.  They  let  the  two  lower 
rooms,  and  occupy  the  third  for  lodge 
room.  The  lodge  room,  which  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  state,  is  handsomely 
frescoed,  both  walls  and  ceiling,  with 
emblems  of  the  order  in  each  panel, 
and  the  ceiling  in  azure  studded  with 
gold  stars.  The  gas  fixtures  are  neat 
and  chaste  in  design,  and  a  beautiful 
bronze  statuette  adorns  the  master's 
desk.  Overhead,  in  the  east,  is  a  well- 
proportioned  arch,  with  appropriate 
symbols  and  motto,  and  the  general 
tout  ensemble  of  the  lodge  room  is 
complete,  both  as  regards  adornment 
and  furniture.  The  room  is  26x60  feet 
in  size,  with  ante-room  and  two  examina- 
tion rooms,  and  is  well  ventilated  and 
lighted. 

In  1867,  sundry  of  the  brethren  of 
of  this  lodge,  deeming  the  work  too  mo- 
notonous, wished  to  make  some  inno- 
vations, which  were  not  permitted,  so 


headed  by  Drs.  J.  B.  Kyle  and  Ham- 
mond and  L.  A.  Simmons,  quite  a  num- 
ber petitioned  to  be  allowed  to  set  up 
an  altar  of  their  own, which  was  granted, 
and  Kyle  lodge  started.  After  an  exist- 
ence of  some  10  years,  it  surrendered 
its  charter  to  the  grand  lodge  and  ceased 
to  exist,  most  of  the  members  joining 
the  older  one,  Macomb,  No.  17. 

Morse  Chapter,  No.  19,  Eoyal  Arch 
Masons,  was  organized  under  a  dispen- 
sation in  August,  1854.  The  first  meet- 
ing was  held  August  28th.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  list  of  the  original  members : 
G.  M.  Huggins,  William  Ervin,  J.  L. 
N.  Hall,  James  B.  Kyle,  Cyrus  A.  Law- 
son,  I.  M.  Westfall,  Thomas  I.  Garrett, 
Ealph  Harris,  O.  M.  Hoagland,  Charles 
Hays  and  D.  G.  Tumiicliff.  Of  these, 
but  four  or  five  are  now  living,  most  of 
them  have  been  transported  to  the  tem- 
ple and  fitted  into  their  proper  niches. 
The  first  officers  were:  Ealph  Harris, 
M.  E.  H.  P.;  James  B.Kyle,  E.  K.; 
Cyrus  A.  Lawson,  E.  S.;  G.  M.  Hug- 
gins,  C.  H.;  J.  L.  N.  Hall,  P.  S.;  Wil- 
liam Ervin,  E.  A.  C.;  I.  M.  Westfall,  M. 
F.  V.;  Charles  Hays,  M.  S.  V.;  D.  G, 
Tunnicliff,  S.;  Thomas  I.  Garrett,  G, 
The  chapter  has  at  present  a  member- 
ship of  over  80,  and  is  in  a  flourishing 
condition.  The  present  officers  are: 
Charles  W,  Mapes,  M,  E.  H.  P.;  George 
Gadd,  E.  K.;  F.  E,  Kyle,  E.  S;  Joseph 
W.  Kyle,  C,  H.;  Albert  Eads,  P,  S.;  Ed. 
McDonough,  T.;  James  M.  Martin,  S.; 
John  H.  Fuhr,  E.A.C.;  Finley  Chandler, 
M.  T.  V.;  W.  C.  Johnson,  M.  S.V.;  J.  M. 
Keefer,  M.  F.V-;  B.  T.Whitson,  G.  The 
charter  of  the  chapter  was  received  at  a 
meeting  held  October  24,  1854. 

Military  Tract  lodge,  No.  145,  LOO. 


1128 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


F.,  was  organized  under  a  charter  dated 
October  12,  1854,  having  for  its  original 
or  charter  members,  the  following  named 
gentlemen:  I.  M.  Westfall,  I.  M.  Ma- 
jor, Abram  Howe,  V.  H.  Weaver,  James 
Stuart,  Samuel  Bunker  and  J.  B.  Pier- 
son.  Only  one  of  them,  I.  M.  Westfall, 
is  now  in  the  land  of  the  living.  The 
lodge  has  a  present  membership  of  72, 
and  is  in  a  most  excellent  condition,  and 
outside  of  the  debt  of  about  $4,000  on 
their  building,  do  not  owe  anything. 
They  have  just  finished  building  a 
handsome  brick  edifice  on  the  north 
side  of  the  public  square,  at  a  cost  of 
810,000.  This  is  three  stories  high, 
22x70  feet  in  ground  area,  and  was  com- 
pleted in  October,  1884.  In  the  third 
story  is  a  fine  large  lodge  room,  fur- 
nished in  good  shape.  The  present 
officers  are  the  following:  P.  H.  Mc- 
Clellan,  N.  G.;  E.  T.  Quinn,  V.  G.;  J. 
B.  Russell,  R.  S.;  William  L.  Imes,  P. 
S-,  and  who  has  held  that  office  for  22 
consecutive  years;  Thomas  Philpot,  T  ; 
I.  M.  Martin,  P.  N.  G.;  James  P.  Karr, 
S.  W-;  John  Ralston,  conductor. 

Washington  encampment,  No.  39,  I. 
O-  O.  F.,  was  instituted,  at  Macomb, 
March  25,  1857,  by  A.  C  Marsh,  P.  C  P. 
with  the  following  charter  members: 
Isaac  M.  Westfall,  A.  G.  Burr,  William 
S.  Bailey,  Charles  W.  Dallam,  W.  L. 
Imes,  Benjamin  F.  Broaddus  and  J  W. 
Atkinson.  The  first  officers  were:  I.  M. 
Westfall,  C.  P.;  J.  W.  Blount,  H.  P.;  B. 
F.  Broaddus,  S.  W.;  C.  M.  Ray,  J.  W.; 
J.  W.  Atkinson,  S. ;  A.  G.  Burr,  T.  The 
first  initiates  were  Joseph  W.  Blount, 
Joseph  Head,  V.  H  Weaver  and  C.  M. 
Ray,  Since  its  organization,  some  91 
have  joined  this  camp,  which  is,  at 


present,  in  excellent  condition.  Four  of 
it  members  have  been  called  to  a  higher 
lodge  since  this  was  started — B  F. 
Broaddus,  in  November,  1859;  J.  W. 
Ellis,  August,  1861;  C.  M.  Ray,  Septem- 
ber, 1867,  and  Nathan  J.  Graves,  June, 
1880.  The  present  officers  are  as  fol- 
lows: W.  E.  Martin,  C.  P.;  John  Mc- 
Millan, H.  P.;  J.  P.  Karr,  S.  W.;  J.  A. 
Smith,  J.  W.;  D.Knapp,  S.;  W.  L.  Imes, 
T.;  S.  P.  Brewster,  O.  S-,  and  represen- 
tative to  the  grand  encampment. 

Montrose  lodge,  No.  104,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  was  organized  in  May,  1882, 
under  a  dispensation.  On  October  18th, 
of  the  same  year,  a  charter  was  granted 
them,  which  bears  the  names  of  the  fol- 
lowing gentlemen  as  charter  members: 
C.  V.  Chandler,  A.  K.  Lodge,  C.  H. 
Whitaker,  J.  M.  Downing,  I.  N.  Pear- 
son, G.  H.  Wyne,  C.  Mapes,  R.  Leach, 
J.  E.  Lane,  George  Trubel,  George 
Gadd,  Z.  W.  Willis,  C.  Mustain,  E.  A. 
Lane,  W.  E.  Martin,  W.F.  Wells,  G.  W. 
Howard,  R.  T.  Quinn,  Fred  Newland,  C. 
N.  Ross,  William  Ragon,  D.  McLean, 
R.  Lawrence,  G.  C.  Trull,  W.  Venable, 
J.  S.  Gash,  P.  H.  Garretson,  B.  F.  Ran- 
dolph, Isaac  Fellheimer,  J.  Bailey,  M. 
P.  Agiiew,  D.  M.  Graves,  J.  M.  Ervin,  T. 
Philpot,  D.  Ray,  J.  L.  Wilson,  C.  J. 
James,  G.  W.  Bailey,  M.  O'Meara,  F. 
Ralston,  and  C.  W.  Dines. 

The  lodge,  which  has  at  present  a 
membership  of  75  knights,  is  in  a  flour- 
ishing condition,  both  financially  and 
otherwise,  and  is  growing  with  a  more 
healthy  growth,  and  with  more  rapidity 
than  any  other  lodge  ever  organized  in 
Macomb.  They  have  a  fine  lodge  room 
in  the  third  story  over  the  store  of  Vena- 
ble Bros.  The  officers  at  present  are  the 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1129 


following  mentioned:  Charles  I.  Imes, 
P.  C.;  H.  W.  Gash,  C.  C.;  E.  W.  Bailey, 
V.  C.;  F.  Ralston,  P.;  D.  M.  Graves,  M. 
of  E.;  George  Fentem,  M.  of  F.;  N.  H. 
Kendrick,  M.  at  A. ;  W.  D.  Newton,  K. 
of  E.  and  S. ;  Edgar  Aldredge,  I.  G,; 
John  St.  Clair,  O.  G. ;  A.  K.  Lodge,  spe- 
cial deputy. 

McDonough  post,  No.  103,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Eepublic,  was  organized  at 
the  court  house  on  the  8th  of  August, 
1881,  by  E.  A.  Sherbine,  mustering  of- 
ficer, assisted  by  J.  L.  Eichardson,  J.  L. 
Bennett,  E.  A.  Walcott,  and  L.  C. 
Welch,  of  post  No.  28;  andL.  S.  Lam- 
bert and  C.  B.  Hyde,  of  post  No.  45. 
The  following  were  the  original  mem- 
bers: J.  B.  Venard,  T.  J.  Martin,  G.  L. 
Farwell,  E.  Lawrence,  W.  A.  Chapman, 
J.  E.  Lane,  J.  C.  Emmons,  E.  E.  Mc- 
Mullen,  William  Venable,  J.  C.  McClel- 
lan,  Samuel  Frost,  Karr  McClintock,  W. 
G.  McClellan,  J.  T.  Eussell,  J.  M.  Hume, 
E.  A.  Lane,  J.  A.  Gordon,  Fred  New- 
land,  F.  A.  Luthey,  James  Foster,  T.  J. 
Farley,  I.  C.  Hillyer,  and  M.  M.  McDon- 
ald. The  first  officers  were:  William 
Venable,  C.;  E.  E.  McMullen,  S.  V.  C.; 
T.  J.  Farley,  J.  V.  C.;  S.  Frost,  chaplain; 
E.  Lawrence,  Q.  M. ;  G.  L.  Farwell,  O. 
D.;  W.  A.  Chapman,  O.  G.;  W.  G.  Mc- 
Clellan, adjutant;  J.  M.  Hume,  S.  M.; 
T.  J.  Martin,  Q.  M.  S.  Since  its  organi- 
zation, William  Venable,  E.  E.  McMul- 
len, C.  V.  Chandler,  and  G.  W.  Eeid, 
have  occupied  the  position  of  post  com- 
mander. This  is  one  of  the  largest  posts 
in  the  state,  and  has  a  membership  of 
160,  in  good  standing.  They  have  mus- 
tered in  some  235,  but  many  have 
dropped  off  by  death,  removal,  and  the 
organization  of  the  post  at  Colchester, 


the  latter  of  which  caused  the  loss  of 
about  30,  they  living  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  that  town.  T.  J.  Martin  and  E. 
Lawrence  are  the  only  ones  that  have 
died.  The  post  has  a  beautiful  room, 
25x80,  on  the  west  side  of  the  square, 
which  is  neatly  and  appropriately  fur- 
nished, and  fitted  up  for  the  purpose. 
The  present  officers  are  the  following: 
G.  W.  Eeid,  C.;  Amos  Scott,  S.  V.  C,; 
L.  E,  Collins,  J.  V.  C.;  W.  G.  McClel- 
lan, Q.  M. ;  H.  W.  Gash,  A. ;  A.  K.  Tullis, 
chaplain;  B.  I.  Dunn,  S.  M.;  T.  J.  Farley, 

0.  D.;  W.  H.  Hainline,  J.  A.;  I.  C.  Hill- 
yer, O.  G. ;  Jesse  Liggitt,  Q.  M.  S. ;  and 
J.  B.  Eussell,  S.  M. 

Council  No.  18,  Golden  Eule  associa- 
tion, was  organized  February  14,  1885, 
with  14  members,  at  Macomb,  by  T.  S. 
Stamps,  S.  D.  The  following  is  the  list 
of  original  members :  G.  W.  Bailey,  Dr. 
E.  Bolles,  W.  A.  Chapman,  J.  H. 
Grigsby,  D.  H.  Hampton,  E.  E.  Harris, 

1.  M.  Martin,  J.    T.  McFarland,  E.  O. 
McLaren,  J.  K.  Seem,  M.  C.  Shumate, 
M.  H.  Scott,   W.   S.  Perry  and  H.  K. 
Smith.     The  first  officers  were :     M.  C. 
Shumate,  chief  patriarch;  J.  K.  Seem, 
chief  councillor;  D.  H.  Hampton,  chief 
captain;  I.  M.  Martin,  secretary;  H.  K. 
Smith,  treasurer;  W.  A.  Chapman,  cap- 
tain of   the   guard,    M.  H.  Scott,  first 
guard;  E.  E.  Harris,  second  guard;  J.  H. 
Grigsby,  sentry.      Present  officere  are: 
I.    M.  Martin,   chief   patriarch;    J.    K. 
Seem,  chief  councillor;  E.    E.    Harris, 
chief  captain ;  M.  C.  Shumate,  secretary; 
H.  K.  Smith,  treasurer  ;D.  H.  Hampton, 
captain   of   the  guard:  J.  H.  Grigsby, 
first  guard:  W.  S.  Sperry,  second  guard; 
W.  A.  Chapman,  sentry;  G.  W.  Bailey, 
chaplain.      This  is  a  benevolent  order, 


1130 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


offering   insurance  to  both  sexes,  who 
are  both  eligible  to  membership. 

Macomb  lodge,  No.  29,  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  was  orga- 
ized  November  23,  1876,  by  D.  D.  G.  M., 
M.  W.  Newton,  of  Quincy,  with  the  fol- 
lowing charter  members :  W.  F.  Bayne, 
B.  J.  Head,  W.  J,  Boyd,  I.  N.  Pearson, 
J .  B .  Venard,  N .  Bucher,  James  Knapp, 

A.  V.  Brooking,  Charles  Kline,   E.   A. 
Hail,  W.  S.  Lowe,  D.  Knapp,  Joseph  S. 
Gamage,    Alexander    McLean,    L.    W. 
Scott,  Virgil  McDavitt,  W.  H.  Shatterly, 
Thomas  Philpot,  Leroy  Cannon,    S.    P. 
Brewster,  H.  A.  Tuggle,  B.  T.  Whitson. 
Truman  W.  Willis,  W.  F.  King,  Henry 
K.  Smith,  Henry  H.    Smith,  Leslie  A. 
Koss,  Clayton  N.    Ross,   A.  L.  Stowell, 
James   P.  Karr,  Manning  H.  Case,   J- 
W.  Yeast,  Charles  C.  Hays,  Leonard  A. 
H  jops,  Alexander  Holmes,  Cornelius  F. 
Westfall.      The  first  officers  were  the 
following:      W.   F.   Bayne,  P.   M.  WT.; 
Alexander    McLean,    M.    W.;    Charles 
Kline,  Fore. ;  Joseph  S.  Gamage,  O. ;  I. 
N.  Pearson,  Rec.;  David  Knapp,  Fin.; 

B.  J.  Head,  Rec.;   J.  B.  Venard,  O.  W.; 
L.  W.  Scott,  I.  W.;  A.  V.  Brooking,  V. 
McDavitt  and  W.  H.  Shatterly,  trustees. 
Since    its    organization    the    following 
have,  held  the  office    of   master  work- 
man, in  the  lodge :     Alexander  McLean, 
J.   B.  Venard,  S.   P.  Brewster,  M.  H. 
Case,  H.  S.  Thornburg,  Thomas  Philpot, 
William    Russell,    A.    Holmes,    B.    T. 
Whitson,  B.   B.  Russell,  A.  T.  Vawter, 
George  W.  Bailey,  J.  C.  McClellan,  E. 
H.  Black  and  T.   W.  Willis.      In  the 
office   of   recorder,    the  following  have 
served:      I.  N.  Pearson,  one  term;  C-  N. 
Ross,  one  term;  J.  W.  Yeast,  three  terms; 
T.  W.  Willis,  eight  terms;  J.  H.  Provine, 


H.  C.  Agnew  and  E.  H.  Black,  each  one 
term.  David  Knapp,  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  lodge,  was  elected  financier, 
and  J.  H.  Head,  receiver,  and  both 
have  been  elected  by  acclamation,  at 
every  election  since.  Alexander  McLean, 
was  elected  trustee  of  the  grand  lodge, 
in  1876,  and  in  1878,  was  grand  mas- 
ter workman  of  the  grand  lodge  of  Illi- 
nois, and  since  1881,  has  acted  as 
grand  receiver  of  the  same  lodge  and 
has  held  other  high  offices.  The  follow- 
ing are  the  present  officers:  H.  C.  Ag- 
new, P.  M.  W.;  G.  W.  Hoskinson,  M. 
W-;P.  H.  McClellan;  foreman ;R.  Leach, 
overseer;  T.  W.  Willis,  recorder;  B.  J. 
Head,  receiver;  D.  Knapp,  financier;  B- 
B.  Russell,  guide;  W.  F.  Willis,  inside 
watchman;  Luther  Meek,  outside  watch- 
man. The  deaths  in  this  lodge  since  its 
start,  have  been :  Leroy  W.  Cannon,  died 
August  21,  1877;  H.  H.  Whissen,  Au- 
gust 10,  1879;  W.  H.  Shatterly,  April  2, 
1881;  Henry  Beckhaus,  August  11, 1883. 
Macomb  lodge,  No.  410,  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Good  Templars,  was 
duly  organized  August  1,  1883,  with  the 
following  charter  members:  C.  W. 
Ayling,  W.  T.  Ball,  Carrie  Carr,  Jessie 
Carr,  Carrie  Coats,  James  K.  Coats,  C. 
E.  Crissey,  Frank  Friend,  Nina  Friend, 
Edith  Garrett,  Allie  Henton,  B.  O.  In- 
gram, Belle  McElrath,  Minnie  Martin, 
William  Meek,  Edna  Meek,  C.  E.  Mitch- 
ell, John  Robinson,  Frank  Robinson  and 
James  W.  Brattle.  For  several  years 
before  this,  a  lodge  of  this  order  has  ex- 
isted here  but  had  died  out  previous  to 
the  institution  of  this  one.  The  lodge 
has  now  a  membership  of  about  60,  with 
the  present  officers  in  the  chairs:  James 
Coats,  W.  C.  T. ;  Eliza  Goodwin,  W.  V.  T. ; 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1131 


Clara  Coats,  W.  S. ;  George  Snyder,  W. 
F.  S.;  Effie  Smith,  W.  T.;  Bert  Gesler, 
W.  M.;  Edna  Meek,  W.  C.;  Henry  Har- 
mon, W.  I.  G.;  and  Jessie  Carr,  P.  W. 
C.  T. 

FIRE   DEPAETMENT. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1883,  the  city 
council  of  Macomb,  purchased  a  hook 
and  ladder  truck  as  the' nucleus  of  a  fire 
department.  This  was  bought  of  C.  Q. 
Carleton  &  Co.,  of  Chicago,  for  the  sum 
of  $500.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  an 
organization  of  the  Salamander  Hook  and 
Ladder  company  was  effected.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  October  5th,  when  con- 
stitution and  by-laws  were  adopted.  Fred 
Ralston  was  chosen  foreman,  A.  W.  Eddy, 
first  assistant,  L.  E.  Imes,  second  assist- 
ant. The  following  were  the  first  mem- 
bers: Fred  Ralston,  L.  E.  Imes,  R.  T. 
Quinn,  B.  F.  Whitson,  E.  Sprague,  Joe 
Beltzer,  James  Gribble,  S.  R.  Westfall, 
Frank  Martin,  Frank  Miles,  Charles 
McClellan,  Harry  Collins,  Charles  I. 
Imes,  D.  McCaughey  and  Herman 
Voughtlander.  The  company  have  done 
excellent 'service  whenever  called  upon 
to  save  property  and  are  appreciated  at 
their  full  worth. 

On  the  5th  of  May,  1884,  the  council 
of  the  city  of  Macomb  passed  an  ordi- 
nance establishing  a  fire  department  in 
that  place.  It  made  an  executive  depart- 
ment of  the  municipal  government  of 
the  city  to  be  known  as  the  fire  depart- 
ment, which  embraces  one  fire  marshal, 
one  first  and  one  second  assistant  fire 
marshal,  and  such  other  officers  and  men 
as  were  necessary  to  operate  the  differ- 
ent apparatus'  provided  and  to  be  pro- 
vided, and  passed  good  and  sufficient 
laws  for  the  government  of  the  depart- 


ment. Fred  Ralston  was  chosen  the  first 
fire  marshal  and  still  retains  that  posi- 
tion. 

In  July,  1884,  the  city  further  increased 
the  efficiency  of  the  fire  department  by 
the  purchase  of  two  Holloway  chemical 
engines  at  an  expenditure  of  $1,640.  Two 
companies  were  at  one  formed  known  as 
engine  company  No.  1,  and  No.  2. 

Engine  company  No.  1,  is  composed 
of  the  following  members:  W.  D.  New- 
ton, foreman,  R.  W.  Bailey,  Charles  Mc- 
Cluhan,  W.  C.  Sutton,  Henry  Kerman, 
W.  O'Meara,  Lawson  Wilson,  F.  Gilmore 
and  Arthur  Simpson. 

No.  2,  of  R.  T.  Quinn,  foreman,  R.  E. 
Harris,  Oscar  Gash,  Thomas  Hoskinson, 
Joseph  Beltzer,  N.  Bowman,  G.  G.  But- 
terfield,  J.  Minium,  Charles  Harding,  R. 
N.  Kellough  and  John  Owens. 

COENET   BAND. 

Prior  to  the  days  of  the  war,  during 
the  campaign  of  1860,  Macomb  had  two 
excellent  bands,  but  no  record  of  them 
remains  at  present.  In  the  spring  of 
1871,  steps  were  taken  to  organize  a  new 
cornet  band  that  met  with  great  success. 
Among  the  earliest  members  were:  Ira 

D.  Twyman,    Charles    Stevens,  Nelson 
Brooking,  William  Thomas,  Geo.  Hard- 
ing, Samuel  Fox,  William  Hampton,  J. 

E.  Russell  and   John  Broaddus      This 
band  grew  in  number  and  efficiency  and 
in  1876,  Centennial  year,  had  the  follow- 
ing membership:     William  Harker,  Eb 
and  leader;  W.  Stoffer,  Eb;  J.  E.  Russell, 
Bb;  E.  C-  Pierce,  Eb  clarinet,  John  Ar- 
genbright,  Bb  clarinet;  W-  R.  Hampton, 
solo  alto;  W.  Thomas,alto;  Charles  Frost, 
alto;  G.  C.  Trull,  baritone;  Joseph  Sos- 
man,  tenor;  J.  M.  Ervin,  tenor;   Ira  D. 


1132 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Twyman,    tuba;    Thomas    Lusk,   snare 
drum ;  and  Al.  Myers,  bass  drum. 

Constantly  changing  membership,  it 
ran  down  until  the  need  of  reorganiza- 
tion became  apparent,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1884,  the  present  band  was  formed 
It  contains  the  following  gentlemen:  J. 
E.  Russell,  solo  Bb  and  leader;  Elsa 
Bowen,  1st  Bb;  E.  W.  Bailey,  Eb  clari- 
net; Jacob  L.  Baily,  Bb  clarinet;  Arthur 
Brooking,  solo  alto;  Bert  Smithers,  1st 
alto;  Harvell  Shannon,  2d  alto;  Charles 
McLean,  1st  tenor;  Frederick  Gilmore, 
2d  tenor;  B.  H.  Hickson,  baritone;  Ar- 
thur Simpson,  tuba;  Frank  Lane,  bass 
drum ;  and  George  Patterson,  snare  drum. 

OTHER  LEADING  PEOPLE. 

Many  of  Macomb's  prominent  citizens 
are  mentioned  in  connection  with  her 
business  interests,  and  many  more  in  the 
different  general  chapters;  but  following 
will  be  found  the  biographical  sketches 
of  retired  merchants  and  others  whose 
names  are  now  more  prominent  in  the 
county  for  other  reasons  than  their  con- 
nection with  the  trade  interests  of  the 
city.  Some  of  those  here  mentioned  at 
length  are  not  now  living,  but  they  were 
far  too  eminent  to  be  passed  by  without 
notice  in  this  place: 

In  the  Island  of  Call,  in  1807,  there 
was  born  one  Hector  McLean,  who,  at 
the  age  of  18  years,  removed  to  Glasgow, 
Scotland.  He  there  learned  the  trade  of 
a  stone  mason,  and,  subsequently,  was  a 
builder  and  contractor.  In  1847,  he  re- 
ceived an  appointment  in  the  internal 
revenue  service  of  the  English  govern- 
ment, which  position  he  held  for  two 
years,  and,  in  June,  1849,  emigrated  to 
the  United  States,  and  settled  in  Mc- 


Donough  county,  Illinois,  in  August  of 
that  year.  He  again  resumed  his  trade, 
and  also  farmed  some, which  he  continued 
until  1869,  at  which  time  his  death  oc- 
curred. He  was  married  in  Scotland  to 
Catherine  McMillan,  who  survived  him 
some  six  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McLean 
were  the  parents  of  five  children,  three 
of  whom  are  still  living — Alexander, 
Duncan  and  Isabella.  Two  of  their  chil- 
dren— John  and  Hector,  have  died.  Mr. 
McLean  declared  his  intention  to  become 
a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  as  soon 
as  he  arrived  in  the  country.  He  at  first 
associated  with  the  whig  party,  and  af- 
terwards with  the  republican  party,  and 
continued  so  to  affiliate  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death.  As  a  citizen,  he  stood  high 
in  the  community  in  which  he  lived,  be- 
ing a  good  neighbor,  and  a  kind-hearted, 
benevolent  man,  and  his  death  was  a  sad 
blow  to  his  family  and  to  his  many 
friends.  Mr.  McLean  was  one  of  the 
principal  members  of  the  Congregational 
church  of  Macornb,  and  was  a  Free  Ma- 
son for  many  years. 

Alexander  McLean,  the  eldest  son  of 
Hector  and  Catherine  (McMillan)  Mc- 
Lean, was  born  in  the  city  of  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  September  24,  1833.  After 
reaching  a  suitable  age,  he  attended  a 
private  school,  where  he  remained  until 
he  was  13  years  old.  With  his  parents, 
June  5,  1849,  he  bid  farewell  to  the  land 
of  his  birth,  and  took  passage  for  the 
United  States,  with  the  intention  of  mak- 
ing that  country  his  future  home.  On 
the  17th  of  the  July  following,  the  fam- 
ily arrived  in  New  York,  from  whence 
they  started  for  their  objective  point, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  arrived 
on  the  14th  of  August,  in  the  vicinity  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1133 


Camp  creek,  near  Macomb,  where  they 
had  friends  residing.  They  remained 
here  until  the  following  spring,  when 
they  removed  to  the  town  of  Macomb. 
Alexander  here  worked  with  his  father 
for  several  years  at  the  stone-mason's 
trade.  He  had  an  excellent  memory,  was 
well  versed  in  the  literature  of  the  day, 
was  possessed  of  good  conversational 
powers,  and,  consequently,  secured  the 
attention  of  those  who  were  in  a  position 
to  advance  his  interests.  He  was  selected 
as  a  deputy  by  William  H.  Randolph, 
then  circuit  clerk,  and  gave  entire  satis- 
faction, not  only  to  Mr.  Randolph,  but 
to  the  members  of  the  bar  and  the  peo- 
ple generally.  At  the  expiration  of  Mr. 
Randolph's  term  of  office,  he,  with  Mr. 
McLean  and  others,  opened  an  office  for 
the  purchase  and  sale  of  real  estate,  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  McLean,  Randolph 
&  Co.  For  several  years  the  firm  did  an 
extensive  business  in  this  line,  but  Mr. 
McLean  withdrew  from  the  firm  in  1858. 
In  February,  1864,  he  left  Macomb  for 
New  York  city,  having  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  clerk  of  a  large  real  estate 
dealer,  engaged  in  dealing  in  western 
land,  and  the  knowledge  acquired  by 
personal  dealing  enabled  him  to  be  of 
great  assistance  to  the  firm  in  the  selec- 
tion of  lands.  From  1864,  to  1871,  he 
was  a  citizen  of  either  New  York  city  or 
Brooklyn.  While  living  in  Brooklyn, 
together  with  his  beloved  wife,  he  united 
with  the  Clinton  Avenue  Baptist  church, 
in  December,  1867.  Shortly  afterwards 
he  was  elected  superintendent  of  its  Sun- 
day school,  and  officiated  in  that  capacity 
for  two  years.  In  1871,  he  returned  to 
Macomb,  and  was  chosen  to  fill  the  same 
position  in  the  Baptist  Sunday  school  of 


that  city,  which  duties  he  performed  for 
two  years.  Mr.  McLean  has  been  an 
earnest  worker  in  this  particular  field, 
devoting  much  time  and  thought  to  it. 
He  has  done  much  to  promote  the  inter- 
ests of  the  county  Sunday  school  associ- 
ation, and  has  been  one  of  its  most  zeal- 
ous members.  He  was  chosen  by  that 
body  as  editor  of  the  Sunday  school  col- 
umn of  the  Macomb  Journal,  which  po- 
sition he  has  satisfactorily  filled  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  Salem  Baptist 
association,  of  which  the  Baptist  church 
of  Macomb  forms  a  part,  has  again  ap- 
pointed him  moderator,  this  being  his 
seventh  term.  He  has  also  been  chosen 
by  the  people,  on  several  occasions,  to 
fill  public  office,  each  time  discharging 
his  duties  satisfactorily.  The  first  office 
to  which  he  was  elected  was  that  of  al- 
derman in  1863,  carrying  his  ward 
.against  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in 
the  ruling  party,  the  democratic,  not- 
withstanding the  fact  that  he  was  re- 
garded as  a  very  radical  republican.  In 
1873,  he  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Macomb,  which  office  he  filled  with  honor 
and  distinction  for  four  successive  years, 
and  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  during  his 
administration  more  public  improvement 
was  made  than  during  any  other  previous 
four  years  in  the  history  of  that  city. 
Mr.  McLean  is  a  thorough  and  consistent 
republican,  firmly  believing  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  that  party,  and  as  a  campaign 
worker  he  is  indefatigable,  and,  where 
success  is  possible,  will  help  largely  to 
secure  it.  In  1876,  he  was  elected  as 
one  of  the  presidential  electors  of  this 
state,  and,  as  a  mark  of  esteem,  his  col- 
leagues selected  him  as  messenger  to  de- 
liver the  returns  to  the  vice-president  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


the  United  States,  at  Washington.  He  is 
a  most  earnest  supporter  of  the  cause  of 
education,  in  every  branch,  arid  will  sac- 
rifice time  and  money  for  the  good  of 
either.  Governor  Cullom,  in  recognition 
of  these  qualities,  appointed  him  as  one 
of  the  trustees  of  the  Illinois  Industrial 
university,  of  Champaign,  and  time  has 
proven  that  a  more  eminently  fitted  man 
for  the  position  could  not  have  been 
found.  Alexander  McLean  is  probably 
as  well  known  throughout  the  state  as 
any  other  man  in  it,  both  politically,  and 
as  an  active  member  of  nearly  all  of  the 
secret  organizations  extant.  He  is  a, 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  Blue  lodge 
chapter, com mandery  and  consistory;  also 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both  subordinate  and 
encampment;  as  also  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  is  past  grand  master  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  for  five  years  has  been 
the  receiver  of  the  Grand  lodge.  He  is 
also  president  of  the  I.  O.  M.  A.,  and  for 
six  years  served  as  its  grand  secretary, 
in  which  capacity  he  served  faithfully, 
and  in  a  great  measure  is  responsible  for 
the  present  flourishing  condition  of  that 
order.  For  several  years  he  was  grand 
commander  of  the  Select  Knights  of  the 
A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  at  present  is  a  director 
in  the  Clayton  Mutual  Masonic  Insur- 
ance company.  Alexander  McLean  and 
Martha  J.  Eandolph,  a  daughter  of  Ben- 
jamin F.  Randolph,  a  pioneer  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  were  united  in  mar- 
riage on  the  last  day  in  December,  1856. 
As  a  result  of  this  union  10  children 
were  born  unto  them,  nine  sons  and  one 
daughter — William,deceased,  Alexander, 
John,  Frank,  Edward,  deceased,  Edgar, 
Fred,  William,  Iva,  deceased,  and  Wal- 
ter. 


Colonel  Charles  Chandler,  deceased, 
and  one  of  the  most  enterprising  and 
successful  business  men  that  has  ever 
lived  in  Macomb,  was  a  son  of  James 
and  Abigail  (Vilas)  Chandler,  was  born 
in  Alstead,  Cheshire  county,  New  Hamp- 
shire, August  28,  1809.  His  father  was 
also  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  his 
mother  of  Massachusetts.  Both  lived  to 
a  good  old  age ;  the  mother  died  in  1854, 
aged  79  years,  the  father  in  1857,  aged 
86  years.  James  Chandler  was  a  farmer, 
and  reared  his  son  to  habits  of  industry, 
giving  him  an  opportunity  to  develop 
his  muscle  in  tilling  the  hard  soil  of 
New  England,  and  his  mind  to  some  ex- 
tent in  a  district  school  during  the  win- 
ter season.  At  the  age  of  19,  by  consent 
of  his  parents,  he  went  to  Boston,  and 
spent  two  years  in  learning  to  sell  mer- 
chandise; then  returned  home,  and  at  the 
end  of  another  year  started  for  the  west, 
halting  two  years  in  Cincinnati.  In  the 
spring  of  1834,  he  made  his  appearance 
in  Macomb,  the  future  field  of  his  enter- 
prise. His  older  brother,  Thompson 
Chandler,  reached  here  a  few  months 
earlier,  and  is  still  living  in  Macomb, 
where  he  has  made  a  highly  honorable 
record  as  a  business  man,  county  judge, 
member  of  the  supervisors'  court,  etc. 
Our  subject  began  business  here  as  a 
clerk  in  a  store,  of  which  his  brother  was 
part  owner,  and  in  two  years  began  to 
sell  goods  for  himself.  At  the  end  of 
three  years,  seeing,  as  he  rightly  thought, 
a  good  opportunity  to  speculate  in  land, 
he  changed  his  business  to  real  estate, 
in  which  he  was  very  successful.  He 
bought  land  at  very  low  figures;  it 
rose  gradually,  sometimes  rapidly,  on 
his  hands,  and  in  a  few  years  he  was  the 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1135 


owner  of  extensive  tracts,  which  the  ad- 
vent of  railroads  and  other  causes,  made 
very  valuable.  In  making  his  pur- 
chases of  real  estate,  he  showed  great 
foresight  and  judgment,  and  hence  his 
grand  success.  In  1858,  Mr.  Chandler 
became  a  banker,  and  continued  that 
business  u»til  his  death,  which  occurred 
December  26,  1878.  He  was  a  private 
banker  until  1865,  when  the  First  Na- 
tional bank  of  Macomb  was  organized^ 
and  he  became  its  president.  He  man- 
aged it  with  great  care  and  ability,  plac- 
ing it  on  a  solid  basis,  second  to  that  of 
no  other  institution  of  the  kind  in  this 
part  of  the  state.  Mr.  Chandler  aided 
in  1865,  in  establishing  a  private  bank  at 
Bushnell,  which  was  changed  to  the 
Farmer's  National  bank,  and  he  con- 
tinued one  of  its  largest  stockholders 
and  directors  until  his  death  oc- 
curred. Mr.  Chandler  was  a  republican 
of  whig  antecedents,  and  always  took 
great  interest  in  politics,  although  he 
did  not  seek  office  for  himself.  He  was, 
however,  coroner  for  two  years,  a  county 
school  commissioner  four  years,  a  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  for  a  long  time,  alder- 
man two  or  three  years,  and  mayor  one 
term.  He  was  a  true  lover  of  his  coun- 
try, and  during  the  civil  war  gave  both 
time  and  money  to  help  the  cause  of  the 
union.  Too  old  to  go  into  the  service 
himself,  he  did  much  to  encourage  others 
to  enlist,  and  was  so  active  and  efficient 
that  Governor  Yates  commissioned  him 
colonel  of  the  state  militia,  authorizing 
him  to  raise  a  regiment  for  home  ser- 
vice .  For  some  years  before  his  demise, 
Colonel  Chandler  was  accustomed  to 
spend  his  winter  in  a  warmer  climate — 
Florida,  and  other  gulf  states,  Central 


America,  Mexico,  South  America,  etc. 
He  was  a  man  of  varied  and  extensive 
knowledge,  and  an  interesting  converser. 
He  was  married  December  15,  1836,  to 
Sarah  K.  Cheatham,  of  Macomb,  and 
she  died  in  1855,  leaving  three  children, 
four  having  preceded  her  to  the  spirit 
world.  She  was  an  excellent  wife  and 
mother,  and  an  active  Christian  till  her 
death.  The  three  children  living  are — 
Martha  Abigail,  married  to  Henry  C. 
Twyman,  merchant  of  Macomb ;  Charles 
Vilasco,  president  of  the  First  National 
bank  of  Macomb,  and  James  Edgar, 
late  president  of  the  Farmers'  National 
bank  of  Bushnell.  In  personal  appear- 
ance, he  was  a  model  of  neatness,  with  a 
face  smoothly  shaven,  and  wearing  ap- 
parel always  in  good  taste .  In  the  fam- 
ily circle,  he  was  always  kind  and  indul- 
gent to  his  children  and  grandchildren, 
treating  them  with  the  tenderness  that 
begot  love  in  their  hearts.  In  public, 
he  pursued  the  same  course,  treating  all 
with  kind  consideration.  The  older 
residents  of  this  city  speak  of  our  subject 
with  the  tenderness  of  a  brother,  they 
regarding  him  as  a  model  business  man 
and  an  unusually  kind  neighbor . 

Nathaniel  P.  Tinsley,  deceased,  was 
among  the  prominent  men  of  the  county 
and  of  Macomb  at  an  early  day.  He 
witnessed  the  development  of  this  place, 
and  was  more  closely  identified  with  its 
interests  than  would  appear  to  the  casual 
observer.  His  deeds  of  kindness,  and 
acts  of  benevolence,  were  without  osten- 
tation or  display,  and  the  full  measure 
of  his  strength  and  influence  as  a  public 
benefactor,  was  imperfectly  understood, 
and  not  fully  appreciated.  The  histo- 
rian of  the  present  day,  and  of  after 


68 


1136 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


years,  when  the  results  of  his  action  are, 
and  will  be  so  apparent,  can  not  find  any 
personal  record  so  full  of  deeds  of  actual 
and  permanent  benefit  to  Macomb.  He 
was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born 
in  Amherst  county,  November  1,  1810. 
When  but  six  years  old,  his  parents 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  there  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  brought  up.  At 
the  age  of  19,  he  entered  a  store  in  Col- 
umbia, of  that  state,  as  clerk.  In  1836, 
he  came  to  Macornb,  and  opened  a  store, 
which  was  among  the  first  business 
houses  of  the  place,  and  here  continued 
in  trade  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  July  20,  1882.  He  was 
married  in  1838,  to  Telitha  C.  Walker, 
who  died  June  24,  1847.  By  that  union 
were  four  children,  only  one  of  whom  is 
now  living,  and  she  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
A.  Eads,  cashier  of  the  Union  National 
bank.  Mr.  Tinsley  commenced  busi- 
ness here  in  a  small  building  on  the  east 
side,  and  there  continued  until  1837, 
when  he  built  a  two  story  frame  on  the 
north  side,  moved  in,  and  remained  un- 
til 1857,  then  erected  a  brick  block, 
which  he  occupied  until  the  time  of  his 
death.  In  1849,  he  built  a  mill  on  South 
Randolph  street,  which,  in  1856,  he  sold 
to  Clisby  &  Trull.  In  1857,  he  built  a 
mill  in  the  north  part  of  town,  which  he 
subsequently  sold  to  David  Scott.  In 
addition  to  these  improvements,  he  built 
a  number  of  good  residences.  Among 
the  many  things  directly  traceable  to  his 
influence,  is  the  location  of  the  railroad 
depot  at  a  point  convenient  and  accessi- 
ble, and  without  doubt  the  location  of 
the  county  seat  would  have  been  changed 
to  some  other  point  than  Macomb,  ex- 
cept for  his  timely  action.  His  action 


always  seems  to  have  been  characterized, 
not  by  any  selfish  motive,  but  solely  for 
the  public  good,  and  thus  he  is,  and 
ever  will  be,  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance. 

John  McLean,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Glasgow,  Scotland,  September  12,  1835. 
In  the  year  1849,  lie  emigrated  with  his 
parents,  Hector  and  Catherine  (McMil- 
lan )  McLean,  to  America,  and  settled  in 
Scotland  township.  A  few  months  later 
they  removed  to  the  city  of  Macomb, 
where  John  remained  until  1861.  In 
that  year  he  was  married  to  Martha  F. 
Hunter,  daughter  of  William  Hunter,  of 
Macomb,  and  again  removed  to  Scotland 
township,  and  located  upon  a  farm.  He 
continued  a  resident  there  until  October, 
1875,  when  he  returned  to  Macomb, 
where  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his 
death,  August  2, 1884.  Mrs.  McLean  is 
a  native  of  Cincinnati,  and  is  still  living. 
Mr.  McLean  owned  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  a  farm  of  260  acres  in  Scotland 
township,  and  a  residence  and  one  block 
of  ground,  in  the  city  of  Macomb.  He 
started  in  life  with  a  very  small  portion 
of  this  world's  goods,  but  succeeded  in 
accumulating  a  comfortable  fortune,  and 
died  in  prosperous  circumstances.  He 
served  for  eight  years  as  clerk  of  Scot- 
land township,  which  office  he  resigned 
when  he  moved  to  Macomb.  At  the  lat- 
ter place  he  held  the  office  of  alderman 
four  years,  and  was,  for  the  same  length 
of  time,  one  of  the  city  school  board. 
He  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church,  and  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  He  was  very  active  in 
Sunday  school  work  and  also  in  the 
cause  of  temperance.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McLean  had  eight  children,  three  of 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1137 


whom  are  living — Charles  H.,  Edwin  Y. 
and  Nellie  B.  Three  sons  and  two 
daughters  died  in  childhood — Alexander 
H.,  William  A.,  John  M.,  Elizabeth  C. 
and  Mattie  J.,  who  with  their  father  are 
buried  in  Oakwood  cemetery,  near  the 
city  of  Macoinb.  John  McLean  was  a 
brother  of  Alexander  McLean,  and  also, 
of  Judge  Duncan  McLean,  now  of  Idaho 
territory. 

Benjamin  Randolph,  deceased,  came 
to  this  county  in  1840,  and  for  many 
years  here  enjoyed  a  popularity  known 
to  but  few  men.  He  was  held  in  high 
esteem,  and  many  acts  of  kindness  are 
remembered  as  indicative  of  his  charac- 
ter and  benevolence.  He  was  born  in 
Kentucky  November  7,  1797.  The 
family  moved  to  Ohio  when  he  was  quite 
young,  and  in  that  state  he  was  brought 
up.  His  first  wife  was  Ivy  Sargeant, 
and  by  that  union  were  eight  children, 
two  of  whom  are  now  living — Mrs.  Jos 
Blount,  and  Mrs.  Alexander  McLean,  of 
Macomb.  He  was  again  married  Feb- 
ruary 29,  1852,  to  Juliet  G.  Weaver,  and 
they  lived  on  a  farm  in  Macomb  town- 
ship until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  May  3,  1864.  Two  children 
were  born  to  them — William  B.,  de- 
ceased, and  Alivia  M.,  who  lives  with 
her  mother,  now  Mrs.  Webb.  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph was  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  died  in  the  full 
assurance  of  a  blissful  immortality. 

L.  Holland,  one  of  Macomb's  promi- 
nent men,  is  a  native  of  Belchertown, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  born  on  the  26th 
of  July,  1815.  He  resided  in  his  native 
state  until  he  attained  his  majority, 
when  he  started  westward  and  located  at 
Peoria,  Illinois,  in  1837.  Here  he  was 


engaged  in  mercantile  business  until 
1864,  with  the  exception  of  four  years, 
when  he  resided  at  Lacon  and  carried 
on  a  like  business.  From  Peoria,  in 
1864,  he  removed  to  Augusta,  Hancock 
county,  Illinois,  and  opened  a  private 
bank,  which  he  continued  to  run  till 
1869.  From  Augusta,  Mr.  Holland  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  and  set- 
tled at  Macomb,  where  he  succeeded 
Dr.  T.  M.  Jordan  in  the  banking  busi- 
ness, M.  T.  Winslow  being  his  partner, 
the  style  of  the  firm  being  Holland  & 
Winslow.  This  firm  continued  the  bus- 
iness until  1872,  when,  through  their 
efforts,  the  Union  National  Bank  was 
established,  and  Mr.  Holland  became  a 
director  and  also  its  first  cashier,  which 
position  he  held  until  1880,  when  he 
sold  his  interest  in  the  institution  and 
and  withdrew  from  the  company.  He 
then  went  to  Farmington,  Iowa,  and 
there  established  the  City  Bank,  which 
he  continued  to  run  until  1884,  at  which 
time  he  closed  out  the  business  of  that 
institution,  and  returned  to  Macomb 
(his  family  having  resided  there  contin- 
ually) where  he  is  now  leading  a  retired 
life,  his  health  not  permitting  him  to  be 
actively  engaged  in  business.  Mr.  Hol- 
land has  been  twice  married.  In  1843, 
to  Lucy  A.  Bartlett,  a  daughter  of  Dr. 
Peter  Bartlett,  of  Peoria.  She  after- 
ward died,  leaving  two  children,  who 
have  since  followed  her.  Later  Louise 
M  Cheesbro  became  his  wife.  She  is  a 
native  of  New  York,  being  born  near 
Utica.  By  this  union  five  children  have 
been  born  to  them,  one  of  whom  died  in 
infancy,  and  four  are  still  living — Louise, 
the  wife  of  James  H.  Bacon;  Frank  L., 
William  B.  and  Philo  L.  Mr.  Holland 


1138 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


is  a  republican,  and  his  religious  con- 
nections are  with  the  Baptist  clmrch. 

Alexander   Blackburn    came    to  this 
county  October  28th,   1853.      He    had 
previously  been  here   and  purchased  a 
farm   adjoining  the   town   of  Macomb, 
consisting  of   160  acres  of  prairie  land, 
with  80  acres  of  timber  adjoining.     He 
came    from   LaPorte    county,    Indiana, 
where  he  was  a  pioneer,  having  removed 
to  that  place  from  Sullivan  county,  In- 
diana, in  1832     He  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1805.     His  early 
life  was  spent  upon  a  farm  in  his  native 
state,  and  in   Sullivan  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  removed  with  his  father's 
family,  in  1816,  at  11  years  old,  where 
he  obtained  a  limited  education  in  sub- 
scription schools.     He  remained  on  the 
old  homestead  assisting  his  parents  in 
the  various  occupations  incident  to  farm 
life,  until  the  death   of  his  father,  in 
1824,  when,  soon  after,  the  sole  manage- 
ment devolved  upon  him.     He  thus  re- 
mained upon  the  place  until  27  years 
old.     He  then  left  the  old  homestead, 
April    10,   1832,  and  went  to  LaPorte 
county,  Indiana,  travelling  by  the  slow 
and  tedious    ox-team,   and    then    after 
journeying  30  days,  camping  out  with 
his  family.     About  one  half  the   route 
had  never    been    travelled    by  wagon, 
His  was  the  first  wagon  that  crossed  the 
Kankakee  rapids,  where  Momence  now 
is  located.     It  was  then  Indian  country, 
and  he  camped  out  on  the  ground  until 
he  had  a  cabin  built.     He  then  engaged 
in  farming,  in  which  he  continued,  on 
the  same  place,  for  over  21  years,  when 
he  sold  out  and  came  to  McDonough 
county.      This   was  in  1853.      He  was 
married   January   28,   1828,  to  Delilah 


Polke,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  brought  by 
parents  to  Indiana  territory  in  infancy, 
about   1807.      When  he    came  to  this 
county  he  continued  his  occupation  of 
farming  for   17   years,  then   moved   to 
Macomb.     He  disposed  of  the  farm  so 
long  occupied,  but  now  owns  176  acres 
on  section  29,  Macomb  township,  which 
is  occupied  by  a  tenant.     His  wife  died 
August  4,  1874.     They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living  and  have  families — William   M., 
who  is  married,  and  now  the  president 
of  the  university  of  Northern  Dakota; 
Charles  P.  died  when  eleven  years  old; 
John,   now  living    in    LaBette    county 
Kansas;  Margaret  P.,  who  was  married 
to  John  L.  Andrew,  of  LaPorte  county, 
Indiana,  died  in  January,  1868;   Nancy 
J.  died  when  nine  years  old;  Edward  P. 
died  when  three  years  of  age;  Ann  Eliz- 
abeth,  who    was    married  to   John  M. 
Lownan,   deceased;   she   is  living  with 
her  father  in   Macomb,   and    has    one 
child,  Alexander  B.;  Alexander,  a  min- 
ister in  the  Baptist  church,  now  living 
in  Lafayette,Tippacanoe  county,  Indiana; 
and  Charles  E.,  living  in  Monmouth,  en- 
gaged in  the    livery   and    undertaking 
business.     Mr.  Blackburn  is  a  member 
of  the   Presbyterian   church,   a    genial 
gentleman,  and  politically,  a  republican. 
He  voted  for  John  Q.  Adams  for  presi- 
dent, 1828,  was  a  whig  and   afterward, 
entered  the    ranks   of    the    republican 
party,  upon  its  organization.     An  ardent 
anti-slavery  man,   although  not  politi- 
cally an  abolitionist;  a  pioneer  in  Sab- 
bath school  and  temperance  work,  and 
an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for 
over  50  years. 

Charles   S.   Cottrell    (deceased)   was 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1139 


born  in  Ohautauqua  county,  New  York, 
February  21,  1833,  and  was  in  his  44th 
year  at  the  date  of  his  death.  He  lived 
in  his  native  state  until  19  years  old, 
learning  meanwhile,  the  trade  of  tinner. 
In  1852,  he  came  west  with  his  father's 
family,  settling  in  Aurora,  this  state.  In 
1856,  in  company  with  his  brother,  G.  C. 
Cottrell,  he  came  to  Macomb  and  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business.  In 
1866,  they  dissolved  partnership,  and 
Charles  S.  became  sole  proprietor.  The 
business  thus  established  continued  to 
grow  until  it  became  one  of  the  most 
extensive  in  this  part  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Cottrell  was  a  successful  business  man- 
He  erected  numerous  good  buildings, 
was  an  enterprising  citizen,  and  contrib- 
uted largely  in  advancing  the  interests 
of  the  city  of  Macomb.  He  had  the 
respect  and  confidence  of  the  people, 
with  whom  he  was  quite  popular,  and 
his  death  cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire 
community.  He  was  first  married  in 
1865,  to  Clara  Anderson,  who  died  in 
1870.  By  that  union  were  two  children 
— George  Robert,  now  a  resident  of 
Quincy,  and  Mary  Alice,  of  the  same 
place.  He  was  again  married  in  Sep- 
tember, 1873,  to  Amy  A.  Davis,  a  native 
of  Tioga  county,  Pennsylvania.  By  this 
union  were  two  children — Clara  D.  and 
Charles  S.,  both  living  at  home  with  the 
widow  on  the  old  homestead  in  Macomb. 
Mrs.  Cottrell  is  a  lady  of  refinement  and 
intelligence,  and  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

D.  M.  Graves,  a  prominent  citizen  of 
Macomb,  came  to  this  county  Septem- 
ber 1,  1862,  from  Hancock  county,  this 
state.  He  is  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  born 
October  17,  1843,  and  remained  in  that 


state  until  eight  years  old,  when  he 
went  to  Hancock  county .  He  received 
a  fair  education  in  the  public  schools, 
and  worked  some  on  the  farm .  When 
he  came  to  McDonough  county  he  en- 
gaged with  his  father  in  buying  and  ship- 
ping grain,  which  business  he  followed 
about  three  years,  or  until  the  close  of 
the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He  then  for 
four  years  engaged  with  his  father  in 
merchandising.  He  also  clerked  a 
a  number  of  years  in  the  dry  goods 
stores  of  Macomb .  His  father  died  in 
June,  1880.  He  then  sold  agricultural 
implements  for  a  time,  and  was  engaged 
in  the  dry  goods  trade  until  February 
1,  1885,  when  he  sold  out  to  his  part- 
ner, Charles  Mapes .  He  now  owns  and 
manages  a  farm  of  120  acres,  located 
near  the  city  of  Macomb .  He  was  mar- 
ried, January  29,  1867,  to  Tillie  C. 
Smith,  a  native  of  Ohio .  They  have  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living  and  all  at  home — Mabel  F.,  Frank 
M .  and  Florence  E .  Mr .  Graves  has 
been  alderman  and  city  clerk,  and  is 
now  a  member  of  the  school  board .  He 
has  been  connected  with  the  I .  O .  O.  F . 
since  21  years  old,  and  has  filled  all  the 
offices  in  both  encampment  and  subordi- 
nate lodge,  and  is  also  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge.  Politically 
he  is  a  staunch  republican . 

Loven  Garrett  came  to  this  county  in 
1834,  in  June,  from  Adair  county,  Ken- 
tucky, and  therefore  may  be  properly 
classed  among  the  pioneers.  He  came 
here  directly  from  his  native  state,  where 
he  was  born,  March  12, 1824,  his  parents 
being  Robert  and  Catharine  (Yates) 
Garrett.  They  were  both  natives  of 
Virginia,  and  died  in  this  county.  The 


1140 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


subject  of  this  sketch  came  here  with 
his  parents,  and  settled  in  the  village  of 
Macomb,  in  the  fall  of  1834.  They  pur- 
chased a  farm  of  160  acres  in  Emmet 
township,  about  two  miles  from  Macomb. 
The  place  had  on  it  but  little  improve- 
ment, only  a  small  log  cabin,  and  about 
ten  acres  under  cultivation.  They  moved 
on  to  that  place,  improved  it,  and  there 
lived  about  eight  years,  then  coming  to 
Macomb,  and  the  farm  was  still  kept  in 
the  family,  one-half  of  it  having  been 
given  to  a  daughter.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch,  as  may  be  seen,  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm ;  his  education  was  necessarily 
limited,  although  enough  was  obtained 
for  the  ordinary  business  of  life.  In 
1851,  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade, 
and  had  the  first  store  selling  that  kind 
of  goods  exclusively,  in  Macomb.  He 
continued  in  that  business  most  of  the 
time  for  25  years,  selling  out  and  chang- 
ing locations  a  number  of  times.  He 
also  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
shipping  fruit.  In  1880  he  sold  entirely 
out  of  the  grocery  trade,  and  since  that 
time  has  been  variously  employed,  but 
having  no  particular  business.  He  was 
first  married,  May  24,  1844,  to  Nancy  J. 
Dungen.  By  that  union  there  was  one 
child — Lillian,  now  the  wife  of  Theo- 
dore Frank,  and  living  in  this  county. 
His  first  wife  died,  June  18,  1856.  He 
was  again  married,  October  7,  1858,  to 
Annie  E.  Gadd,  a  native  of  England. 
By  this  marriage  there  were  nine  chil- 
dren, eight  of  whom  are  now  living — 
Arthur  R,  in  Chicago;  Edith  A.,  at 
home;  Charles  Y.,  in  Nebraska,  who. 
was  married  to  Minnie  Farley,  of  Ma- 
comb; Elsie  F.,  living  at  home;  Luther 
D.,  in  Chicago;  Maurice  M.,  at  home; 


Edwin  L.  and  James  R.  Mr-  Garrett 
has  been  identified  with  the  public  inter- 
ests to  some  extent,  having  been  magis- 
trate four  years,  and  city  alderman  one 
term.  He  now  occupies  a  residence  on 
West  Jackson  street,  where  he  has  been 
living  for  26  years.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  and,  politically, 
a  democrat. 

J.  T.  Hagerty,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
McDonough  county,  came  here  on  the 
20th  day  of  February,  1835,  from  Brown 
county,  this  state,  and  first  settled  in 
what  is  now  Blandinsville  township.  He 
is  a  native  of  Harrison  county,  Ken- 
tucky, born  February  8,  1817.  His 
mother  died  when  he  was  but  five  years 
old,  and  at  the  age  of  nine  years,  his 
father  brought  him  to  the  state  of  Mis- 
souri, where  they  remained  one  year.  In 
1830,  they  came  to  Beardstown,  of  this 
state,  and  thence  to  Brown  county,  where 
the  father  died,  in  1857.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  remained  in  Brown  county 
about  five  years,  and  then  came  to  this 
county,  as  before  stated,  in  1835,  and 
lived  on  the  place  where  he  first  settled, 
for  17  years,  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. He  yet  owns  the  place,  which, 
from  unimproved  timber  land,  he  trans- 
ferred into  a  good  farm.  It  consists  of 
320  acres.  In  April,  1856,  he  came  to 
Macomb,  and  having  leased  his  farm, 
engaged  in  the  livery  business,  in 
which  he  continued  seven  years,  then 
sold  out,  and  again  gave  his  personal  at- 
tention to  the  farm  for  three  years,  which 
had  been,  under  the  management  of  ten- 
ants, considerably  "run  down.  After 
having  renovated  the  place,  and  put  it 
in  good  condition,  he  returned  to  his 
family  in  Macomb,  and  has  since  made 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1141 


this  his  home.  He  was  married,  August 
1,  1839,  to  Sarah  Vance,  daughter  of 
John  Vance,  who  came  to  this  county  in 
1826,  and  was  among  its  earliest  settlers. 
Mrs.  Hagerty  is  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  came  here  when  a  little  girl.  She 
has  witnessed  the  development  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  and  is  quite  familiar 
with  its  early  growth  and  settlement. 
Her  advent  in  this  county  bears  date 
December  24,  1826,  at  which  time  her 
father  brought  the  family  here,  having 
preceded  them  and  made  here  a  crop,  in 
the  spring  and  summer  of  1826,  in  what 
is  now  Blandinsville  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hagerty  have  had  three  children, 
two  boys  and  one  girl,  all  of  whom  are 
now  living — John  V.,  married  to  Abigail 
Brewster  (deceased),  and  now  living  on 
a  farm  in  this  county;  William  H.,  mar- 
ried to  May  Coley,  and  living  in  Oswego, 
Kansas;  and  Frances  Ellen,  wife  of 
James  Cochrane.  She  is  living  at  home, 
with  her  father,  and  has  with  her  a  son 
15  years  old.  Politically,  Mr.  Hagerty 
has  always  been  affiliated  with  the  re- 
publican party.  He  is  now  living  a  re- 
tired life  in  Macomb,  where  he  is  com- 
fortably situated,  passing  down  the 
decline  of  life  in  peace  and  happiness. 

William  Hunter,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Macomb,  came  to  McDonough  county 
April  11,  1853,  from  Cincinnati  and  set- 
tled on  section  1,  township  of  Chalmers 
He  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  born 
June  16,  1816  His  father  and  mother 
both  died  in  Scotland,  the  former  when 
William  was  but  six  years  old.  On  the 
8th  day  of  June,  1839,  he  left  his  native 
land  for  this  country,  and  came  to  Ma- 
rietta, Ohio,  where  he  had  friends,  with 
whom  he  remained  about  seven  months, 


then  went  to  Cincinnati  and  clerked  in 
a  grocery  store  about  two  years.  In  1842, 
he  engaged  in  that  business  for  himself, 
and  continued  until  1853,  when  he  came 
here  as  above  stated.  He  bought  160 
acres  of  land  in  Chalmers  township  and 
120  acres  in  Scotland,  and  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising. .  The 
farm  in  Chalmers  was  partly  improved 
at  that  time,  which  he  afterwards  re- 
placed with  new  buildings,  and  there  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1878,  when 
he  moved  into  the  city  of  Macomb  He 
still  owns  and  controls  both  these  farms, 
which  are  now  occupied  by  his  son.  He 
was  first  married  in  1843,  to  Elizabeth 
Harvey.  By  that  union  there  were  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living 
— Martha  F.,  who  was  married  to  John 
McLean,  nqw  deceased,  now  living  in 
Macomb  and  has  two  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter living;  Elizabeth,  now  the  wife  of 
Captain  George  W.  Reid,  and  living  on 
a  farm  in  Chalmers  township ;  James  H. 
now  living  in  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  law;  Jennie, 
now  engaged  in  the  millinery  business 
and  living  in  Macomb;  William,  who  was 
married  to  Mattie  Dunn,  grand-daughter 
of  Judge  Dunn,  who  is  well  known  in 
Indiana;  he  is  now  living  in  Clinton, 
Illinois,  and  is  a  Presbyterian  preacher; 
Susan,  now  the  wife  of  James  E.  Cooper 
and  living  on  a  farm  in  Scotland  town- 
ship; Robert,  married  to  Ella  Cumber- 
land and  living  on  the  old  homestead; 
and  Emma  B.,  living  at  home.  Cath- 
erine, the  fifth  child  and  fourth  daughter, 
died  in  this  county  in  1864,  aged  14 
years.  Mr.  Hunter's  first  wife  died 
September  4,  1858.  He  was  again  mar- 
ried in  1861,  to  Mrs.  Schull,  formerly 


1142 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Eliza  McBricle,  who  died  in  1870.  He 
was  married  the  third  time  in  August, 
1871,  to  Sallie  M.  Craig,  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. Mr.  Hunter  has  long  been  a  con- 
sistent and  influential  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Politically,  he  is 
a  republican,  decided  in  principle,  yet 
being  raised  in  a  country  where  the  office 
sought  the  man  as  a  rule,  and  not  the 
man  the  office,  could  not  approve  the 
scramble  for  nomination,  and  conse- 
quently never  was  elevated  to  office. 

Hiram  Tatman,  a  resident  of  the  city 
of  Macomb,  came  to  the  county  from 
Missouri,  in  June,  1840.  He  was  born 
near  Lexington,  Kentucky,  November  7, 
1803,  and  was  reared  a  farmer.  When 
quite  young  he  went  with  his  parents  to 
Ohio,  and  there  lived  until  eight  years 
old,  then  moved  25  miles  down  the  Ohio 
river,  stopping  at  a  place  called  "Yaller 
banks,"  on  the  Kentucky  side.  One 
year  later  they  moved  near  L  :>uisville, 
and  remained  a  short  time,  thence  to 
Indiana,  and  soon  after  to  a  place  in 
Missouri,  15  miles  below  St.  Genevieve, 
lived  there  one  summer,  then  removed 
to  "Washington  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  five  years.  He  next  re- 
moved to  Texas,  but  soon  returned  to 
Washington  county.  His  father's  death 
occurred  at  this  time,  and  he  continued 
to  live  in  that  county  till  1836.  In  that 
year  he  moved  to  Missouri,  from  whence 
he  came  to  this  county.  He  first  settled 
on  Camp  creek,  near  Pennington's  Point, 
purchasing  in  that  locality,  600  acres  of 
wild  land.  He  put  450  acres  under  cul- 
tivation, and  resided  there  until  1859, 
when  he  sold  out  and  became  a  resident 
of  Macomb.  He  has  been  twice  mar- 
ried, first,  May  13,  1824,  to  Mary  Silk- 


wood,  and  by  that  union  had  12  children, 
nine  of  whom  are  still  living — Sirledon 
and  William  M.,  twins,  now  living  in 
Douglas  county ;  Minerva  Jane,  who  was 
the  wife  of  Noah  Perry,  deceased,  now 
married  to  M.  Fay,  of  Sacramento,  Cali- 
fornia; Hiram  H.,  living  in  this  county; 
Thomas,  in  Greene  county,  Illinois; 
Sarah,  formerly  the  wife  of  John  Rhodes, 
deceased,  now  married  to  John  Tostly, 
of  Scott  county,  Illinois;  Bazila,  living 
in  Oketa,  Kansas;  Cynthia,  wife  of  W. 
Taylor,  of  Macomb,  and  Andrew  A.,  a 
resident  of  Macomb.  Mrs.  Tatman  died 
in  1881,  in  California.  His  present 
wife  was  formerly  Elizabeth  Martin.  Mr. 
Tatman  has  always  been,  politically,  a 
supporter  of  the  democratic  party. 

George  D.  Keefer  (deceased)  was  a 
native  of  Clear  Spring,  Washington 
county,  Maryland,  and  was  born  July  25, 
1832,  being  the  son  of  George  and  Susan 
( Fogwell )  Keefer .  After  reaching  his 
majoritv,  he  left  his  native  city,  and 
went  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  for  one  year 
he  clerked  for  Detrich  &  Oldin,  whole- 
sale druggists .  While  there  he  laid  the 
foundation  of  a  strict  business  life.  In 
1854,  he  removed  to  Canton,  Illinois, 
and  engaged  in  the  drug  business  with 
his  father,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Keefer  &  Son,  which  partnership  con- 
tinued until  1861,  at  which  time  George 
D.  retired  from  the  firm,  and  imme- 
diately proceeded  to  look  up  a  location . 
He  traveled  through  Illinois,  Missouri 
and  Iowa,  and  .finally  chose  Macomb  as 
the  most  eligible  locality.  Here  he  es- 
tablished himself  in  business,  his  capi- 
tal being  very  meagre,  in  fact,  the  capi- 
tal with  which  he  bought  the  first  bill 
of  goods  was  furnished  by  a  brother-in- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1143 


LTW,  wlio  put  in  $1,000  against  Mr. 
Reefer's  time  and  experience.  The  busi- 
ness was  conducted  under  the  name  of 
George  D.  Keefer,  who,  three  years 
later,  bought  out  the  interest  of  his 
silent  partner,  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  the  winter  of  1866-67, 
at  which  time  John  M.  Keefer  became 
a  partner,  and  the  firm  was  styled  Geo. 
D.  Keefer  &  Brother.  This  partnership 
existed  until  July  14, 1879,  when  George 
D.  departed  this  life.  To  no  man  is  Ma- 
comb  more  indebted  than  to  Mr.  Keefer, 
for  to  him  is  due  the  credit  that  Macomb 
has  the  handsomest  and  most  tastefully 
arranged  business  houses  of  any  city  of 
its  size  in  the  state — he  making  the 
first  grand  departure  from  the  old  style, 
by  fitting  up  his  store  in  a  most  beauti- 
ful and  attractive  manner,  and  soon  after 
other  business  houses  followed  in  the 
wake.  He  was  possessed  of  most  won- 
derful will  power,  and  remained  actively 
engaged  in  business  almost  up  to  the 
day  of  his  death,  although  for  the  last 
year  and  a  half  of  his  life  he  was  hardly 
able  to  walk.  While  in  such  poor  health 
he  also  superintended  the  building  of 
his  residence,  which  is  the  handsomest 
in  the  city  of  Macomb.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  excellent  business  qualities, 
was  a  thorough  master  of  the  drug  pro- 
fession, and  at  his  death  left  a  compe- 
tence for  his  widowed  wife  and  children. 
George  D.  Keefer  and  Maggie  B.  Sten- 
son,  of  Philadelphia,  were  united  in 
marriage  in  November,  1866.  They  had 
seven  children  born  to  them,  four  of 
whom  were  left  to  a  mother's  care — 
George,  Henry,  Frank  and  Fred. 

B.  M.  Bonham  has  been  a  resident  of 
McDonough  county  since  January,  1839, 


having  come  here  at  that  date  from 
Shelby  county,  Illinois.  He  was  born 
March  26,  1806,  in  Flushing  county, 
Kentucky.  He  left  his  native  county, 
October  5,  1834,  going  then  to  Shelby 
county,  where  he  bought  120  acres  of 
wild  land,  which  he  improved  and  made 
his  residence  until  he  eame  here.  After 
his  arrival  here  he  spent  one  winter  in 
Macomb,  then  rented  the  "Kyle  farm," 
where  he  lived  two  years,  after  which, 
in  the  winter  of  1842-43,  he  purchased 
the  place  where  he  now  lives,  compris- 
ing eighty  acres,  now  lying  in  the  sub- 
urbs of  the  city  of  Macomb.  He  has 
lived  here  continually,  except  a  short 
time  spent  in  Missouri.  His  place  now 
contains  but  15  acres,  he  having  sold  the 
remainder  of  his  original  purchase.  He 
was  formerly  a  whig,  but  of  late  years,  a 
republican,  in  politics.  His  father  died 
in  1818,  but  his  mother  survived  until 
November,  1858,  when  she  died  in  Mc- 
Donough county,  aged  84  years.  B.  M. 
Bonham  was  married  March  22, 1833,  to 
Lucinda  Grain,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  by  this  union  had  seven  children, 
two  of  whom  are  now  living — Theodore, 
married  to  Mary  D.  Hampton,  living  in 
Macomb,  (they  have  five  children,  four 
sons  and  one  daughter),  and  William 
Harrison,  married  to  Martha  Cook,  and 
also  living  in  Macomb,  (they  have  three 
children — -two  sons  and  one  daughter. ) 
Mrs.  Bonham  died  in  March,  1854,  and 
Mr.  Bonham  was  married  on  the  15th 
of  September  of  the  same  year,  to  Emily 
Grain,  a  cousin  of  his  first  wife,  also  a 
native  of  Kentucky.  There  were  three 
children  by  this  marriage,  one  of  whom, 
a  son,  is  deceased.  The  two  living  are 
Becca,  married  to  Frank  A.  Smith,  of 


1144 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Macomb,  and  Edna  D.,  married  to  Wil- 
liam P.  Daniron  and  living  at  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Damron  have 
two  children — Frankie  B.,  a  bright  boy 
of  five  years,  and  Mary  Tutt,  the  baby. 
Mr.  Bonham  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Universalist  church  since  its  organiza- 
tion in  1851,  and -has  always  been  prom- 
inently identified  with  the  interests  of 
that  church,  having  served  for  many 
years,  in  an  efficient  manner,  as  one  of 
its  trustees.  His  family  are  also  num- 
bers of  that  organization. 

Thomas  J.  Doak  came  to  this  county 
in  March,  1868,  settling  then  on  a  farm 
in  Macomb  township.  He  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  born  December  17, 1839.  He 
was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  as  he 
had  opportunity,  attended  the  common 
school,  thus  acquiring  a  limited  educa- 
tion. He  remained  on  the  same  place 
until  he  came  here.  His  father  died  in 
Kentucky,  and  his  mother,  some  years 
later,  in  York  county,  Nebraska.  He 
bought  a  partially  improved  farm  con- 
sisting of  80  acres,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Subsequently  he  purchased 
an  additional  30  acres,  upon  which  he 
made  improvements.  In  1881,  he  sold 
the  80  acres,  having  previously  ex- 
changed the  30  for  residence  property 
in  Macomb,  where  he  now  lives,  and 
which  has  been  his  residence  since  1871. 
He  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1866, 
to  Nannie  J.  McCampbell,  a  native  of 
Kentucky.  By  that  union  were  two 
children — John  and  George,  both  of 
whom  are  living  at  home.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Doak  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
church. 

James  Fulton,  deceased,  a  pioneer 
of  McDonough  county,  settled  in  Eldo- 


rado township  in  1836,  removing  thither 
from  Vermont,  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  had  located  the  previous  year. 
He  was  born  in  Fleming  county,  Ken- 
tucky, April  14,  1804.  He  was  a  grand- 
son of  Isaac  Fulton,  a  native  of  the 
Emerald  Isle,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  shortly  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  and  settled  in  the 
city  of  Baltimore.  There  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Martha  Work,  by  whom  he  had 
one  son,  Isaac,  the  father  of  James,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  Soon  after  the 
birth  of  this  son,  Isaac, Sr., was  drowned, 
and  the  child  was  taken  and  brought  up 
by  a  Mrs.  Martha  Anderson,  a  relative 
of  the  mother,  who  lived  in  Virginia. 
Isaac  grew  to  manhood  in  Virginia,  and 
left  that  state  in  search  of  his  mother, 
who  had  married  again.  She  died, 
however,  before  her  son's  arrival.  He 
remained  in  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Crail,  nee 
Bennington.  By  this  union  five  child- 
ren were  born — Martha,  wife  of  William 
Cline ;  Thomas,  Isaac,  John  and  James, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  James  Ful- 
ton was  married  January  31,  1826,  in 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  to  Mary 
Bonham,  and  came  to  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  1829.  In  1856,  they  removed 
from  Eldorado  township,  to  Macomb 
township,  and  in  November,  1881,  be- 
came residents  of  Macomb,  where  James 
Fulton  died,  January  20, 1883.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fulton  reared  a  family  of  10 
daughters  and  two  sons — Elizabeth, wife 
of  George  W.  Scott,  of  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois; Constance,  who  was  married  to 
Henry  Edie,  and  died  in  Butler,  Mis- 
souri, September  30,  1870;  Ale  Ann, wife 
of  D.  N.  Miller,  of  Shenandoah,  Iowa; 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1145 


Amariah,  deceased;  William,  deceased; 
Robert  R.,  in  Texas;  Angeline,  widow 
of  D.  G.  Harland,  of  New  Salem  town- 
ship; Margaret,  wife  of  James  G.  Evans, 
of  Industry  township;  Armazinda,  de- 
ceased September  21,  1868,  wife  of 
Granville  Wright,  of  Fulton  county; 
Aratus,  living  in  Scotland  township; 
Dilcy,  wife  of  William  Miller,  of  In- 
dustry; Sarilda  M.,  wife  of  R.  A.  Miller, 
of  Kansas;  Mary  Ann,  widow  of  J.  W. 
Carlin,  living  in  Macomb,  and  Adela. 
The  later  is  a  teacher,  having  taught  in 
this  county  for  12  years,  and  one  year 
at  LaClede  seminary,Lebanon,Missouri. 
She  is  at  present  teaching  in  Warren 
county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Fulton  was  for 
40  years,  a  consistent  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  was  connected 
with  the  church  at  Macomb,  for  25 
years.  His  widow  still  mourns  him, and 
resides  in  Macomb. 

Jonathan  Stoffer  is  a  son  of  Adam  and 
Phebe  ( Tyson )  Stoffer.  They  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  where  they  were 
married.  After  marriage  they  removed 
to  Ohio.  Jonathan  Stoffer  was  born  in 
Portage  county,  of  that  state,  January, 
13,  1827.  When  19  years  old  he  went 
to  Brown  county,  Illinois,  which,  with  the 
exception  of  one  winter  spent  in  his  native 
county,  was  his  residence  until  1870.  In 
that  year  he  removed  to  McDonough 
county,  and  located  at  Bardolph,  where, 
he  engaged  in  the  pottery  business.  Two 
years  later  he  came  to  Macomb  and 
built  the  first  pottery  ever  erected  in  that 
town.  He  operated  the  same  until  1881, 
then  sold  out  and  went  to  Tennessee, 
where  he  built  another  pottery,  making 
three  buildings  for  that  purpose  in  this 
county  which  he  has  helped  to  build. 


He  followed  farming  in  Ohio,  and  dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Brown  county,  was 
employed  as  a  carpenter.  He  is  not  en- 
gaged in  any  business  at  present.  Mr. 
Stoffer  has  been  three  times  married; 
first  to  Eliza  Myers,  by  whom  he  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  living 
—Wads worth,  now  a  grocery  merchant 
in  the  city  of  Macomb ;  Henry,  also  in 
in  Macomb ;  and  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Minium,  of  Kansas.  Mr.  Stoffer' s  sec- 
ond marriage  was  to  Janet  Allbert,  and 
he  has  by  this  union,  one  child— Sher- 
man. His  third  wife  was  formerly  Tina 
Ewing. 

John  S.  Smith  was  born  in  Little  York, 
York  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  March, 
1802.  His  brother,  the  Rev.  William 
Smith,  still  resides  at  Little  York,  and 
and  is  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  that 
community.  While  yet  a  young  man, 
Mr.  Smith  removed  to  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Risley.  During  the  year  1864,  he  came 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Macomb,  Mc- 
Donough county,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  for  a  number  of  years,  that  of  a 
plasterer. 

Manning  H.  Case,  of  this  county,  lives 
on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  30, 
Macomb  township,  where  he  owns  a 
nicely  improved  farm,  and  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  dairying.  He  came 
here  in  1867,  from  Ohio,  and  was  born  in 
that  state  in  Summit  county,  April  5, 
1844.  He  was  brought  up  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  18  years  he  en- 
listed in  the  army  in  company  A,  42d 
Ohio  volunteer  infantry,  which  was  Pres- 
ident Garfield's  old  regiment,  and  re- 
mained in  the  service  three  years,  par- 


1146 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


ticipating  in  many  battles,  among  them : 
Vicksburg,  Ked  River,  or  engagements 
during  that  campaign ;  Pound  Gap,  Cum- 
berland Gap  and  Middle  Creek.  After 
his  term  of  service  expired  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  there  remained  one  year,  then 
went  west,  prospecting  in  Kansas,  Col- 
orado and  other  sections  of  country.  He 
was  married  in  1868  to  Rhoda  J.  Har- 
mon. They  have  had  four  children,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living — Herbert  H., 
deceased,  Freddie  H ,  deceased,  H.  Don 
at  home  and  George  A.  Mr.  Case  is  a 
member  of  the  G.  A.  R.,  A.  O.  U.  W., 
and  politically,  a  member  of  the  republi- 
can party. 

John  E.  Lane,  the  present  deputy  sher- 
iff of  McDoiiough  county,  was  born  in 
Russell  county,  Kentucky,  October  1, 
1834.  In  the  spring  of  1836,  his  parents, 
Gholson  and  Mary  (Jones)  Lane,  re- 
moved to  McDonough  county,  and  set- 
tled in  Industry  township.  John  E. 
grew  to  manhood  in  this  county,  and, 
May  24.  1861,  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
company  A,  of  the  16th  Illinois  infantry. 
In  1862,  he  was  appointed  first  sergeant, 
and  served  until  the  20th  of  June,  1864. 
He  returned  from  the  army  to  the  city  of 
Macomb,  and  was  there  married  October 
20,  1864,  to  Josie  A.  Kendrick,  daughter 
of  W.  H.  Kendrick,  of  Macomb.  In  May, 
1865,  Mr.  Lane  was  appointed  city  mar- 
shal, assessor  and  collector,  and  served 
two  years.  In  December,  1866,  he  was 
appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  Colonel 
Samuel  Wilson,  and  served  two  years, 
after  which,  in  1868,  he  was  elected  sher- 
iff of  McDonough  county,  which  office  he- 
held,  also,  two  years.  He  then  purchased 
a  farm  in  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  on 
which  he  resided  two  years,  engaged  in 


farming,  then  returned  to  Macomb.  On 
the  16th  day  of  January,  1873,  he  bought 
the  interest  of  S.  L.  Babcock,  and  became 
a  partner  of  Jos.  Updegraff  in  the  gro- 
cery business.  This  partnership  con- 
tinued one  year,  then  Mr.  Lane  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  Mr.  Updegraff  and 
carried  on  the  business  alone  about  a 
year.  He  then  formed  a  partnership 
with  G.  W.  Pace,  which  lasted  until  Au- 
gust 6,  1877,  when  they  sold  out.  Mr. 
Lane  was  elected  in  the  spring  of  that 
year,  to  the  office  of  constable,  and  re- 
elected  to  the  same  in  the  spring  of  1881. 
In  1880,  he  was  appointed  deputy  sheriff 
by  Fred  Newland,  and  in  1882,  re-ap- 
pointed to  serve  four  years.  Mr.  Lane  is 
a  worthy  and  public  spirited  citizen,  and 
as  a  public  officer,  has  served  in  a  faith- 
ful and  efficient  manner.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lane  have  one  son — Frank  A. 

Charles  Shevalier,  a  prominent  and 
wealthy  citizen  of  Macomb,  is  a  son  of 
John  Shevalier,  a  farmer  of  Cortland 
county,  New  York,  who  died  there  in 
1866.  Charles  was  born  in  the  same 
county,  May  15,  1831.  His  early  life 
was  spent  in  his  native  state.  In  1851, 
he  came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  at  La 
Harpe,  where  he  remained  one  year,  then 
came  to  McDonough  county  and  located 
in  Blandinsville  where  he  followed  the 
shoemaker's  trade,  having  learned  the 
same  in  his  native  county.  He  continued 
in  that  occupation  13  years.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Cortland  county,  New  York, 
with  the  intention  of  making  that  place 
his  permanent  home,  but  finally  decided 
to  return  to  this  county,  which  he  did, 
in  1867,  settling  then,  in  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb, where  he  has  since  been  a  resident. 
He  here  engaged  in  buying  and  selling 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1147 


produce,  also  hides,  pelts  and  furs.  He 
carried  on  that  business  three  years,  af- 
ter which  he  opened  a  shoe  shop,  which 
he  run  four  years,  employing  several 
men.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  aban- 
doned the  business,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  speculating  and  loaning 
money.  He  is  the  owner  of  much  real 
estate  in  Macomb  and  Hire  townships, 
also  in  the  city  of  Macomb.  He  owns 
an  interest  in  the  Macomb  tile  works, 
also  the  banks  from  which  the  clay  is 
obtained.  Mr.  Shevalier  was  married  in 
Carthage,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  in 
1862,  to  Catherine  Chaplin,  a  native  of 
Cortland  county,  New  York.  She  died 
December  24,  1884,  in  Macomb.  They 
had  no  children.  Mr.  Shevalier  is  the 
only  representative  of  his  family,  who 
has  ever  located  in  McDonough  county. 
Simon  Lafayette  Sommers  was  born 
October  23,  1823,  in  Alexandria  county, 
Virginia.  His  father,  John  A.  Som- 
mers, was  a  civil  engineer  on  the  Chesa- 
peake &  Ohio  canal,  and  died  while  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity.  Captain  Simon  Som- 
mers, the  grandfather  of  Simon  Lafay- 
ette, was  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  family  is  of  English  origin, 
and  several  of  its  members  have  attained 
distinction  in  this  country.  Dr.  John  E. 
Sommers,  U.  S.  surgeon,  now  stationed 
at  Omaha,  is  a  cousin.  George  W.  was 
a  judge,  and  also  a  member  of  congress 
from  West  Virginia.  Simon  L.'s  mother 
was  Susanna  Young,  a  daughter  of 
Abram  Young,  who  resided  about  one 
miles  east  of  the  capitol  building,  in 
Washington.  The  government  pur- 
chased his  farm,  laid  it  out  into  lots, 
streets,  avenues,  and  reservations,  and 
deeded  one-third  of  the  lots  to  him  as  a 


part  of  the  consideration.  Simon  L.'s 
family,  upon  the  mother's  side',  were  of 
Scotch  descent.  At  16  years  of  age, 
Simon  was  sent  to  an  academy  inFauquier 
county,  Virginia,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  About  the  year  1844,  he 
entered  upon  the  occupation  of  a  school 
teacher,  and  taught  successfully  in 
Charles  county,  Maryland,  and  afterward 
in  Montgomery  county,  Alabama,  re- 
turning to  the  farm  in  1847,  where  he 
remained  until  1855,  in  the  meantime 
serving  as  county  surveyor  of  his  native 
county.  In  1855,  he  became  agent  and 
attorney,  in  fact,  for  W.  W.  Corcoran,  of 
Washington  City,  and  came  west  to  look 
after  the  extensive  landed  interests  of 
his  employer.  He  continued  in  that 
service  until  December,  1859.  The 
spring  of  1861,  found  Mr.  Sommers  in 
his  native  county,  and  espousing  the 
southern  cause.  He  raised  a  company, 
and  was  elected  captain,  but  before  the 
company  was  mustered  into  the  service, 
the  members  were  captured  at  their 
homes  by  the  Union  forces,  and  the  com- 
pany was  thus  disbanded.  At  the  time 
of  the  capture,  Mr.  Sommers  was  absent 
at  Fairfax  court  house.  During  the  war 
Mr.  Sommers  was  in  the  South,  and 
served  as  civil  assistant  engineer.  In 
July,  1865,  he  was  reappointed  land 
agent  for  Mr.  Corcoran,  and  came  to 
Macomb,  where  he  has  since  resided  in 
that  capacity.  Mr .  Sommers  was  mar- 
ried March  17,  1863,  to  Margaret  Maria 
Newton,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Sarah 
Ann  A.  Newton,  formerly  of  the  U.  S. 
navy.  Seven  children  have  been  born 
to  them,  six  •  of  whom  are  living.  Mr. 
Sommers  is  a  Master  Mason  of  Macomb 
lodge,  No.  17,  and  for  five  years  served 


1148 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


as  a  member   of  the  Macomb   board  of 
education. 

John  Ewing  was  born  in  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 12,  1818,  and  is  the  fourth  child 
of  the-,  late  Thomas  Ewing.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Ohio,  and  in  January,  1845,  was  married 
to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and 
Rachel  Malarnee,  of  Jefferson  county, 
Ohio.  The  fruits  of  this  union  was  a 
family  of  six  children,  only  two  of  whom 
are  now  living — Pardon  died  in  Littleton 
township  and  Alvin  died  soon  afterward 
in  the  same  place;  Mary  E.,  now  the  wife 
of  Dr.  A.  R.  Clark,  now  resides  in  Rush- 
ville;  Homer  died  in  infancy ;  Margaret 
Ann  died  in  young  womanhood;  Asa 
T.,  the  sixth  child,  is  living  in  Littleton 
on  the  old  homestead.  When  Mr.  Ew- 
ing was  still  a  small  child,  the  family 
removed  to  Smithfield,  in  the  same  state, 
but  in  April,1853,  Ewing  left  Ohio  and 
settled  in  Littleton  township,  where  he 
still  owns  a  farm  of  360  acres,  40  acres 
of  which  is  coal  and  timber  land.  Stock 
raising  was  his  specialty,  although  he 
was  for  some  years,  agent  for  the  Mc- 
Cormick  reaping  machine,  in  Rushville. 
In  1869,  Mr.  Ewing  was  elected  by  the 
democratic  party,  as  a  representative  in 
the  legislature  from  Schuyler  county, 
and  served  with  credit  to  himself.  His 
course  as  a  representative  was  distin- 
guished by  his  great  fidelity  to  the  in- 
terests of  his  constituents,  and  his  wis- 
dom, honesty,  and  independance  won 
the  approbation  of  all  parties.  In  1872, 
Mr.  Ewing  met  with  a  great  loss  in  the 
death  of  his  wife.  He  subsequently, 
met  and  married  Mrs.  Margaret  E.  Hall, 
the  widow  of  Edward  Hall,  who  died 


from  disease  contracted  in  the  army. 
Mr.  Ewing  is  a  man  who  takes  great  in- 
terest in  public  affairs.  He  is  now  a 
resident  of  Macomb,  in  which  city  he 
recently  settled,  where  he  expects  to 
spend  the  balance  of  his  days. 

William  Harrison  Franklin  became  a 
resident  of  McDonough  county  in  1839. 
He  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  13th  of  June,  1813,  being 
the  son  of  James  and  Nancy  ( Whitten ) 
Franklin,  and  was  reared  on  a  farm,  and 
resided  in  his  native  state  up  to  the  time 
of  his  removing  to  this  county.  Upon 
locating  in  Macomb,  he  took  up  the  legal 
profession,  having  studied  law  previous 
to  leaving  his  native  state.  He  contin- 
ued this  profession  until  1858;  being  lo- 
cated in  Missouri  from  1842  to  1844. 
On  the  1st  of  April,  1841,  William  H. 
Franklin  and  Maria  Clarke,  a  daughter 
of  James  Clarke^  were  united  in  marriage. 
As  a  result  of  this  union,  they  have 
been  the  parents  of  10  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living — W.  J.,  a  lawyer 
at  Junction  City,  Kansas;  John  H.,  a 
lawyer  at  Russell,  Kansas,  at  present 
editor  of  the  Russell  Record;  George 
A.  of  Macomb,  and  Harry,  a  jeweler 
of  McLean  county.  After  abandoning 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  Mr.  Frank- 
lin for  several  years  conducted  a  fruit 
nursery.  In  politics,  he  is  a  republican, 
and  from  1831  to  1856  was  a  whig.  He 
has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  po- 
lice magistrate  for  35  years,  and  at  pres- 
ent fills  the  latter  office;  also  served  as 
master  in  chancery  for  two  years.  Mr. 
Franklin  has  never  asked  for  an  office, 
but  his  friends  have  secured  his  nomi- 
nation at  different  times.  He  received 
the  nomination  for  state  senator  in  1856, 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1149 


but  the  entire  ticket  was  defeated.  At 
one  time,  during  his  absence  from  the 
county,  he  received  the  nomination  for 
county  judge,  but  the  democrats  again 
succeeded  in  electing  their  ticket.  Mr. 
Franklin  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Christian  church,  of  Macomb,  of 
which  he  is  still  a  member.  The  tem- 
perance cause  has  always  found  in  him 
a  strong  supporter,  he  having  been  a 
conscientious  temperance  man  for  the 
past  40  years. 

George  A.  Franklin,  a  son  of  William 
H.  and  Maria  J.  (Clarke)  Franklin,  was 
born  in  Macomb,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois,  on  the  llth  day  of  December, 
1857.  He  received  a  limited  education 
in  the  Macomb  schools,  and  has  resided 
in  that  city  up  to  the  present  date,  with 
the  exception  of  three  years  which  he 
spent  in  the  state  of  Kansas.  George 
A.  Franklin  and  Anna  Pulford,  a  native 
of  Hartford,  Wisconsin,  were  united  in 
marriage  March  25, 1882.  They  are  the 
parents  of  one  child,  a  daughter — Maria. 
The  I.  O.  O.  F.,  claim  Mr.  Franklin  as 
an  honored  member  of  their  society. 

Samuel  Smith  was  born  January  29, 
1829,  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  is  of  German  extraction.  His 
parents,  William  and  Margaret  (Kosh) 
Smith,  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Ohio,  thence  to  Effingham  county,  Illi- 
nois, at  an  early  day.  William  Smith 
was  by  occupation,  a  farmer.  During 
their  residence  in  Effingham  county, 
Mrs.  Smith  died,  and  Mr.  Smith  after- 
wards returned  to  Ohio.  He  subse- 
quently came  back  to  this  state,  and 
died  in  Fulton  county.  Samuel  Smith 
came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Fulton 
county,  where  he  resided  eight  years, 


five  years  upon  a  place  known  as  the 
Holmes  farm,  and  three  years  upon 
another  farm.  He  then  removed  to 
Blandinsville,  and  rented  a  farm  of 
John  Hagerty,  where  he  lived  till  1861. 
In  that  year  he  purchased  80  acres  of 
land  near  Good  Hope,  to  which  he  ad- 
ded 160  acres  the  following  year.  This 
property  he  sold  and  moved  to  the  city 
of  Macomb,  and  for  one  and  a  half  years 
resided  upon  West  Jackson  street.  He 
then  purchased  20  acres  in  section  32, 
and  property  adjoining,  within  the  city 
limits.  He  now  owns  90  acres  in  sec- 
tion 32,  90  acres  in  Lamoine,  40  acres 
in  Schuyler  county,  and  130  acres  in 
Page  county,  Iowa.  Mr.  Smith  is  now 
living  a  retired  life,  and  has  a  pleasant 
home,  with  agreeable  surroundings.  He 
was  married  on  Thursday,  of  the  first 
week  in  March,  1850,  to  Mary  Smith, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, near  the  birthplace  of  her  hus- 
band. She  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  Smith.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith 
have  four  children — William  H.,  who 
lived  near  Good  Hope;  John  M.,  a  resi- 
dent of  Good  Hope;  Susan,  wife  of 
John  A.  Duncan,  of  Page  county,  Iowa; 
and  Mary  M.,  a  teacher  in  this  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  M.  E.  church.  Mr.  Smith 
holds  the  office  of  church  trustee,  and  is 
an  active  worker  in  the  church. 

Archibald  McCandless,  deceased,  the 
father  of  the  well  known  family  of  that 
name,  was  born,  May  10,  1787,  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of 
Scotch  descent.  He  lived,  most  of  his 
life,  upon  the  farm  which  was  his  birth- 
place. He  was  married  to  Elizabeth 
Flannigan,  a  native  of  the  same  county, 


1150 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


who  died  there.  He  came  to  McDon- 
ough  county  in  1856,  and  settled  at  Ma- 
comb,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  sincere 
Christian,  and  always  active  in  Christian 
work,  being  for  many  years  an  elder  in 
the  church,  where  he  resided  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  also  a  leader  of  singing  in 
the  same  church  for  40  years.  After 
coming  to  Macomb,  he  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he  was 
connected  until  his  death.  He  was  buried 
at  Oakwood  cemetery.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCandless  reared  a  family  of  13  chil- 
dren— William  R,  now  in  Washington, 
Kansas;  John  B.,  now  living  in  Colum- 
bus City,  Iowa;  Alexander  G.,  deceased, 
formerly  a  physician  in  Pittsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  died,  in  1875;  Wil- 
son, deceased,  who  came  to  this  county 
in  1836,  and  died  the  following  year; 
Jam.es  H.,  who  came  here  in  1852,  and 
engaged  in  farming  until  1883,  when  he 
moved  to  Kansas,  where  he  now  lives; 
Nancy  N.,  wife  of  Matthew  Trotter,  of 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania;  Mar- 
garet A.,  widow  of  B.  E.  Morgan,  who 
emigrated  to  this  county  in  1853,  and 
located  at  Macomb,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  carpentering,  and  died  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago,  leaving  his  wife  and 
three  children;  she  now  lives  in  Colum- 
bus City,  Iowa;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  S.  J. 
Byers,  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania; Joseph  P.,  living  in  Macomb; 
Archibald  B.,  a  physician  at  Columbus 
City,  Iowa;  Moses  A.,  who  was  killed 
during  the  late  war,  at  the  battle  of  Mis- 
sion Ridge,  in  1863;  Sarah  Jane,  de- 
ceased wife  of  William  Davidson;  and 
Mary  B.,  deceased  wife  of  John  Hast- 
ings, of  Ohio.  Joseph  P.  McCandless 
was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 


vania, September  14,  1826.  When  16 
years  of  age,  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter's trade.  In  1850,  he  came  to 
Macomb,  where  he  followed  his  trade 
until  1875.  He  then  removed  to  section 
32,  Mound  township,  where  he  owned  a 
farm  of  160  acres,  being  the  northwest 
quarter,  on  which  he  resided  until  the 
spring  of  1884,  when  he  abandoned 
farming,  on  account  of  failing  health, 
and  returned  to  Macomb.  Mr.  McCand- 
less was  married  in  this  city,  September 
14,  1852,  to  Mary  B.  Maury,  daughter  of 
Abram  and  Nancy  B.  Maury.  By  this 
union  there  are  two  children — Archibald 
S.,  a  graduate  of  Chicago  Dental  col- 
lege, now  engaged  in  practicing  his  pro- 
fession at  Marshall  town,  Iowa;  and 
Mattie,  wife  of  F.  H.  Downing,  a  dentist 
at  Kushville,  Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCandless  have  one  adopted  child — 
Hattie  Wilson. 

John  D.  Walker  is  a  native  of  Athens 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  March 
31,  1805.  His  father,  John  Walker,  was 
a  native  of  Yorkshire,  England,  but  came 
to  this  country  in  the  early  part  of  the 
century.  He  was  by  trade  a  house  car- 
penter, which  occupation  his  son  John 
followed  for  many  years.  He  died  at 
Athens  about  the  year  1850.  John's 
mother  died  when  he  was  but  five  years 
old,  and  his  father  married  again.  At 
21  years  of  age  the  young  man  left  home, 
working  at  the  carpenter's  trade.  He 
had  charge  of  the  building  of  the  poor- 
house  in  Lancaster  county.  From  thence 
he  went  to  New  Baltimore,  where  he 
had  charge  of  the  building  of  a  school 
house.  At  Milford,  in  1829,  he  was 
married  to  Catharine  liutan,  and  soon 
afterward  moved  to  Shanesville,  where 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1151 


lie  remained  two  years.  He  then  sold 
out  and  went  back  to  his  father's  house, 
and  gathered  up  a  drove  of  horses,  which 
he  took  to  Virginia  and  sold.  He  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Virginia  about  eight 
months,  and  then  went  to  Pittsburg,  and 
soon  afterward  his  wife  died.  His  sec- 
ond wife  was  Jane  Sample.  In  1832, 
Mr.  Walker  settled  in  Macomb,  and  his 
first  work  was  to  build  a  14-foot  log 
cabin,  which  was  located  on  the  lot 
where  now  stands  the  Uiiiversalist 
church .  He  afterward  built  a  house  on 
the  same  lot,  which  he  sold  for  $500 . 
He  built  the  house  which  John  Sim- 
mons now  lives  in.  He  afterward  moved 
out  upon  a  farm  east  of  Macomb,  which 
he  improved.  That  farm  was  subse- 
quently known  as  the  Kinney  farm. 
Upon  returning  to  Macomb,  he  took  a 
house  near  his  present  home,  where  his 
wife  died,  leaving  five  children,  as  fol- 
lows: Matilda,  Mary,  Eliza,  Jane  and 
Martha,  all  living  but  Mary,  who  died 
as  the  wife  of  Jacob  Miller .  Matilda  is 
the  wife  of  William  Binnie,  and  lives  in 
Kansas  City;  Eliza  is  the  wife  of  John 
E.  Hendrickson,  of  Bardolph.  Jane  is 
the  wife  of  Rudolph  Winegar,  living  at 
Oneida.  Martha  is  the  wife  of  Albert 
Thayer,  living  at  Edwards  station.  Mr. 
Walker  built  his  present  commodious 
house  in  1880.  Upon  coming  to  Ma- 
comb he  pursued  the  occupation  of  a 
tanner,  but  meeting  a  loss  by  fire,  he 
turned  his  attention  to  butchering,  and 
for  15  years  he  sold  meat  to  the  people 
of  Macomb.  In  the  meantime  he  culti- 
vated upon  his  farm  an  extensive  nurs- 
ery, and  at  length  'devoted  himself 
wholly  to  farming.  In  1858  his  second 
wife  died,  and  in  1864  he  married  Mrs. 


Gash,  a  widow,  who  did  not  long  sur- 
vive. He  is  now  living  with  his  fourth 
wife,  who  was  Mrs.  Martha  Taylor,  and 
they  have  two  daughters — Lillian,  wife 
of  George  E.  Shimp;  and  Maud,  who 
still  remains  at  home. 

Benjamin  E.  Simpson,  deceased,  was 
born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  July 
25,  1836.  He  moved  to  the  city  of  Ma- 
comb in  1874,  from  Camp  creek,  Mc- 
Donough  county,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  farming  and  dealing  in  cattle.  He 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Flora  Mont- 
gomery Walker,  a  native  of  Burlington, 
Iowa,  born  April  26,  1853,  who  survives 
him.  His  death  occurred,  June  4, 1878. 
Three  children  were  born  to  them — 
Maggie  E.,  who  was  born  February  15, 
1871,  and  died  July  3,  1879;  Minnie  A1. 
born  November  17,  1872;  and  Cyrus 
Walker,  born  November  15, 1874.  These 
children  were  all  born  at  Camp  creek. 
Mr.  Simpson  was  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  with  which 
Mrs.  Simpson  still  holds  membership. 

Richard  D.  Tate  is  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, being  born  in  Greenup,  now  called 
Carter  county,  on  the  5th  of  July,  1831. 
His  boyhood  days  were  spent  upon  the 
farm  where  he  was  born.  In  the  fall  of 
1845,  his  parents,  David  and  Nancy 
( Wilson )  Tate,  removed  to  Illinois,  lo- 
cating in  Henderson  county,  where  they 
remained  but  a  short  time.  Coming  to 
McDonough  county,  they  purchased  a 
farm  a  few  miles  south  of  Macomb.  His 
parents  afterward  removed  to  Arkansas, 
his  mother  dying  at  Hico,  that  state,  on 
Friday,  October  18,  1871,  aged  68  years. 
His  father  now  lives  near  Cincinnati, 
Washington  county,  Arkansas,  with  a  son 
John.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  did 


1152 


HISTOEY  OF  MoDONOFGH  COUNTY. 


not  go  to  Arkansas,  but  has  lived  in  Ma- 
comb,  or  near  by,  ever  since  his  removal 
to  the  county.  He  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Emiline  Hall  on  the  20th  day 
of  December,  1855.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Joel  and  Mary  (Clark)  Hall,  and  was 
born  near  Maxwell,  Washington  county, 
Kentucky,  October  17,  1837.  Her  par- 
ents removed  to  Illinois  when  she  was 
two  years  of  age,  and  settled  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  where  she  has  continued 
to  reside  ever  since.  Her  mother  died 
August  26,  1844.  Her  father  died  No- 
vember 15,  1881.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tate 
have  had  five  children  born  to  them,  two 
of  whom  are  now  living — Albert  and 
Effie.  Mr.  Tate  received  but  little  edu- 
cation and  it  has  been  by  hard  labor  and 
the  closest  economy,  that  he  and  his  wife 
have  managed  to  secure  a  comfortable 
home  in  which  to  spend  their  declining 
years.  Mr.  Tate  has  been  a  life  long 
democrat,  and  enjoys  to  the  fullest  ex- 
tent the  rise  of  that  party  to  power. 

Albert  K.  Tate  was  born  February  28, 
1861,  in  Macomb,  and  is  the  son  of 
Eichard  D.  and  Emeline  (Hall)  Tate. 
His  early  life  was  passed  in  Macomb 
where  he  attended  school  until  14  years 
of  age.  He  spent  one  season  on  a  farm, 
and  August  10,  1875,  began  to  learn  the 
mysteries  of  the  typographical  art  in  the 
office  of  the  Macomb  Eayle.  He  worked 
for  the  Eagle  four  years,  and  then  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  remained  a  few 
months,  and  then  traveled  for  three  or 
four  years,  working  at  his  trade  in  var- 
ious towns.  In  September  1883,  he  con- 
nected himself  with  the  Union  Publish- 
ing Co.,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  for 
nearly  a  year  was  in  Iowa  in  the  inter- 
est of  his  employers.  He  located  in 


Springfield,  and  was  made  secretary  of 
the  company,  and  remained  with  it  until 
it  collapsed,  in  the  fall  of  1884.  He,  for 
a  time  after  this,  worked  in  the  Stale 
Journal  job  rooms,  until  he  removed  to 
Macomb  to  accept  the  foremanship  of  the 
K«(/Ic  office.  He  Avas  married  Septem- 
ber 25,  1884,  to  B,  Bertha  Farr,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Nina  Farr  of  Astoria, 
Fulton  county. 

Edward  Hobart,  deceased,  was  born 
in  Dublin,  Ireland,  January  4,  1797. 
At  the  age  of  13  he  had  mastered  the 
common  English  branches,  after  which 
he  entered  a  naval  academy,  and  soon 
after  enlisted  in  the  English  navy, 
Avhere  he  served  as  midshipman  three 
years.  Before  he  was  21  years  old,  he 
owned  and  commanded  a  vessel  that 
plied  between  some  of  the  British  Isles. 
After  a  year  or  two,  becoming  tired  of 
that  sort  of  life,  he  sold  his  vessel  and 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  ex- 
porting goods  from  Liverpool  to  New 
York  City.  About  the  year  1828,  in 
company  with  his  brother  William,  he 
came  to  America  for  a  permanent  resi- 
dence. Settling  in  Oswego  county,  New 
York,  they  engaged  in  the  milling  busi- 
ness. While  there,  in  1830,  he  was  uni- 
ted in  marriage  with  Miriam  McCall, 
with  whom  he  lived  in  happy  union  for 
more  than  half  a  century,  and  who  still 
survives  him.  Fourteen  children  were 
born  to  them,  of  whom  seven  sons  and 
one  daughter  are  living.  The  daughter 
is  the  wife  of  William  Champ,  Colches- 
ter, this  county.  Of  the  sons,  John  H., 
the  oldest,  and  Albert,  the  youngest,  re- 
side at  Kansas  City,  Missouri;  Eichard 
and  Frank  at  Beloit,  Kansas;  Lewis  at 
Humboldt,  Kansas;  Nelson,  at  Napier- 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1153 


ville,  this  state ;  and  Wesley,  in  Macomb, 
A  few  years  after  marriage,  Mr.  Hobart 
sold  his  mill  and  engaged  in  farming, 
which  he  followed  until  he  retired  from 
active  business.  In  the  spring  of  1848, 
he  moved  with  his  family  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  this  county,  which  was  his 
home  till  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  March  4,  1885.  In  1872,  he 
sold  his  farm  and  moved  to  Macomb, 
where  he  passed  his  latter  years,  un- 
vexed  by  the  trials  of  active  business 
life.  When  he  retired  from  active  life, 
his  sons  and  daughter  all  grown  and  do- 
ing for  themselves,  Mr.  Hobart  found 
himself  the  possessor  of  a  sum  sufficient 
to  support  himself  and  wife  in  frugality, 
during  their  declining  years.  In  1879, 
however,  fortune,  which  had  been  alter- 
nately for  and  against  him,  made  an- 
other revolution  in  his  favor.  A  wealthy 
relative  (second  cousin)  died  in  Ireland, 
leaving  no  will.  Mr.  Hobart  was  one  of 
eight  legal  heirs;  his  portion  of  the  per- 
sonal estate  was  $38,000,  which  he  re- 
ceived in  the  summer  of  1880.  Two 
years  later  a  sister  died  in  Ireland,  and 
she,  by  will,  bequeathed  him  $4,000. 
Thus  was  the  evening  of  his  life  sur- 
rounded by  an  ample  competency,  and 
his  mind  relieved  from  all  financial 
cares.  His  creed  in  religion  was  the 
same  as  his  business  and  social  rule;  he 
believed  that  a  man  who  was  fit  to  live 
was  ready  to  die.  He  did  his  duty,  as 
conscience  dictated,  to  his  government 
the  community,  his  neighbor  and  his 
family,  and  left  his  future  to  the  hands 
of  a  just  and  merciful  God. 

Wesley  Hobart  was  born  in  Chalmers 
township,  October  22,  1852.  He  went  to 
Quincy  in  1870,  and  engaged  in  a  broom 


factory  with  his  brother,  where  he 
worked  until  1873,  when  he  came  back 
to  McDonough  county,  and  started  a 
broom  factory  in  Macomb,  which  he  run 
for  some  years.  He  was  married  April 
2,  1884,  to  Rosa  Fugate,  of  Sclmyler 
county. 

The  Hobart  family  were  mostly  raised 
in  Chalmers  township.  The  following  is 
the  order  of  their  birth — John,  Richard, 
Martha,  Lewis,  Frank,  Wesley,  Horatio, 
Albert.  John,  Richard,  Lewis,  and 
Frank  served  in  the  war  for  the  union. 
Albert  was  born  upon  the  old  homestead 
January  27,  1857.  He  was  educated  in 
both  the  country  and  the  city,  and  at- 
tended commercial  college  in  Kansas 
City.  In  1877,  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  railroad.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1879,  he  traveled  abroad  through 
England  and  Ireland.  In  1880,  he  was 
deputy  sheriff  under  his  brother,  in 
Mitchell  county,  Kansas.  He  is  now  a 
resident  of  Kansas  City,  and  engaged  in 
the  cracker  and  candy  trade. 
•  William  McClintock,  deceased,  a 
pioneer  of  1843,  was  a  native  of  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was 
born  in  the  year  1800.  His  father,  Rob- 
ert McClintock,  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, and  a  weaver  by  occupation,  while 
his  mother,  Rebecca  (Karr)  McClin- 
tock, was  born  in  county  Tyrone,  Ire- 
land. William  McClintock  was  the  sec- 
ond of  five  sons,  was  reared  on  a  farm, 
and,  with  his  parents,  removed  to  Mus- 
kingum  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Nancy  Decker, 
a  native  of  Jersey  county,  that  state. 
While  a  resident  of  that  county,  he  fol- 
lowed farming,  and,  under  contract, 
built  one  mile  of  the  Wheeling  turn- 


1154 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


pike.  In  1839,  lie  removed  to  Illinois, 
locating  in  Fulton  county,  from  whence, 
in  1843,  he  came  to  McDonough  county, 
and  settled  on  the  southeast  quarter  of 
section  14,  in  Eldorado  township,  where 
he  tilled  the  soil  until  1855,  at  which 
time  he  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to 
the  city  of  Macomb.  During  the  fall  of 
1855,  and  the  summer  of  1856,  he  fur- 
nished all  the  stone  for  the  mason  work 
on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
railroad,  between  Colchester  and  Kepple 
creek,  a  distance  of  some  15  miles.  He 
owned  a  stone  quarry  near  Macomb,  and 
thus  for  several  years  furnished  the 
stone  used  in  the  mason  work  in  and 
around  that  city.  In  March,  1863,  he 
returned  to  Eldorado  township,  but  hav- 
ing previously  contracted  the  disease 
known  as  "stone-cutter's  consumption," 
he  was  unable  to  perform  any  manual 
labor,  and  in  1862,  died  from  said  dis- 
ease. His  wife  survives  him,  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  eldest  daugh- 
ter, in  Eldorado  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McClintock  reared  nine  children-- 
Elizabeth Ann,  wife  of  William  D.  Fos- 
ter, of  Eldorado  township;  Karr,  of  Ma- 
comb; Frances  Jane,  wife  of  John  N. 
Foster,  of  Eldorado  township;  James 
S.,  in  the  restaurant  business,  at  Eldo- 
rado, Kansas;  Catherine  M.,  wife  of  H. 
H.  Smith,  of  Nebraska;  Richard  H., 
who  enlisted  in  company  B,  84th  Illinois 
infantry,  and  was  killed  during  the  bat- 
tle at  Chickamagua;  Margaret,  wife  of 
Mark  Ullery,  of  Galesburg;  Rebecca  L., 
of  Macomb,  widow  of  E.  Hill;  and  Wil- 
liam W.,  of  Leadville,  Colorado.  Mr. 
McClintock  was  an  elder  in  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he 
was  a  member  for  at  least  35  years. 


Karr  McClintock,  Ison  of  William  and 
Nancy  (Decker)  McClintock,  was  born 
in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  April  14, 
i  1832,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1839,  and  to  McDonough  county 
in  1843,  where  he  -has  since  resided. 
From  the  time  he  reached  a  suitable  age 
until  1859,  he  followed  agricultural  pur- 
suits, and  then  learned  the  carriage  and 
and  wagon-maker's  trade.  His  father 
was  an  excellent  mechanic  and  always 
had  a  good  kit  of  tools,  with  which  Karr 
became  familiar  during  his  younger 
years,  thus  enabling  him  to  make  very 
rapid  progress  at  his  trade.  During  the 
month  of  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in 
company  I,  78th  Illinois  infantry,  and 
was  with  said  regiment  until  it  was 
mustered  out,  in  June,  1865.  He  par- 
ticipated in  all  the  engagements  in  which 
that  company  took  part,  and  returned, 
home  without  a  wound.  During  one 
year  of  his  service  he  was  engaged  as 
brigade  wagon  carpenter,  and  subse- 
quently was  train  master  of  the  2d  brig- 
ade, 2d  division,  14th  army  corps,  from 
Atlanta,  Georgia,  to  Washington  City. 
Returning  to  Macomb,  he  resumed  his 
trade  and  followed  the  same  until  1873, 
at  which  time  he  was  elected  city  mar- 
shal, the  duties  of  which  office  he  ful- 
filled with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  citizens  for  five  years. 
He  again  resumed  work  at  his  trade, 
but  one  year  later  the  people  again 
called  upon  him  to  serve  as  city  marshal, 
which  office  he  filled  for  three  years 
more,  since  which  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  dealing  in  agricultural  imple- 
ments, and  attending  to  collections.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican,  is  a  member 
of  the  I.  O.  O.  F.,  both  subordinate  and 


HISTORY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1155 


encampment,  as  is  he  also  a  member  of 
the  I.  O.  M.  A.,  and  the  G.  A.  R.  On 
the  6th  of  October,  1854,  Karr  McClint- 
ock  and  Samantha  Ann  Mathewson  were 
united  in  marriage.  She  is  a  native  of 
Hancock  county,  Virginia,  was  born  Au- 
gust 6,  1835,  her  parents  being  William 
and  Susannah  (Kirk)  Mathewson,  and, 
with  her  parents,  became  a  resident  of 
McDonough  county  in  1851.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McClintock  have  been  the  parents 
of  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  still 
living — Susannah  and  Richard  Frank. 
Robert  Wakefield  Norris  was  born 
five  miles  from  Bushnell,  in  Cumber- 
land county,  Kentucky,  March  15,  1850. 
He  is  a  son  of  William  W.  and  Mary 
(Ewing)  Norris,  who  in  1852,  removed 
to  Warren  county,  of  the  same  state 
where  Robert  W.  spent  his  childhood, 
and  at  the  age  of  15,  made  a  public  pro- 
fession of  religion,  uniting  with  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church.  He 
began  preparing  himself  for  the  minis- 
try at  Auburn,  Kentucky,  and  subse- 
quently took  a  regular  theological  course 
at  Lebanon  college,  Lebanon,  Tennes- 
see. He  entered  the  institution  in  1880, 
and  graduated  in  June  1883.  He  began 
his  ministerial  labors  at  Bloomfield,  In- 
diana, having  charge  of  a  church  there. 
He  came  to  Macoinb  in  November,  1884, 
after  spending  several  months  of  the 
summer  of  that  year  in  evangelical  work. 

FIRST  ITEMS. 

The  first  birth  in  the  town  of  Macomb 
was  that  of  a  son  of  Moses  Hinton,  who 
was  born  during  the  year  1832.  It  did 
not  live  a  great  while. 

The  second  birth  was  that  of  Mary 
Eliza,  daughter  of  James  M.  and  Clar- 


issa H.  Campbell,  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary 4,  1833. 

The  first  death  was  the  infant  son  of 
Moses  Hinton,  mentioned  above. 

The  first  marriage  in  the  village  took 
place  upon  the  18th  of  October,  1831, 
when  David  Detherow  and  Ruth  South- 
ward were  joined  in  wedlock  under  the 
ministration  of  Rev.  Samuel  Bogart. 

The  first  stove  owned  in  Macoinb,  was 
brought  to  the  town  in  1834,  by  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Lovell,  of  whom  James 
M.  Campbell  purchased  it,  paying  for  it 
the  sum  of  $80  for  the  naked  stove.  The 
furniture  was  made  by  Matthews,  who 
settled  very  early  at  Foster's  Point. 

The  first  house  on  the  site  of  this 
town  was  built  by  John  Baker  and  Oliver 
C.  Rice,  in  1829. 

The  first  store  in  the  town  was  opened 
in  1831,  by  James  M.  Campbell. 

The  pioneer  blacksmith  in  the  town 
of  Macomb,  was  undoubtedly  John  Price, 
who  came  here  about  the  year  1832,  and 
set  up  a  shop  near  the  site  of  A.  K. 
Lodge's  new  building. 
-  The  first  carpenter  was  John  Perry 
Head,  who  located  here  in  1833,  and  en- 
tered upon  his  trade. 


ADDITIONAL  BIOGRAPHIES. 

The  following  sketches  came  in  too 
late  for  insertion  in  their  proper  places. 

William  W.  Sandidge,  of  Walnut 
Grove,  deceased,  was  born  near  Eliza- 
bethtown,  Kentucky,  December  13, 1839, 
and  was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Mary 
Sandidge.  Some  time  in  the  forties,  the 
family  removed  to  Illinois,  and  located 
in  Eldorado  township,  McDonough 
county,  where  they  reside  at  this1  time. 
Our  subject  was  reared  in  this  county, 


1156 


HISTOEY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


and  educated  here.  He  was  married 
February  20,  1862,  to  Samantha  Lind- 
say, whose  parents  came  to  this  county, 
in  1858.  Mr.  Sandidge  died  in  October, 
1867.  Four  childreii  were  born  of  this 
marriage — Philena,  Anna,  George  and 
Araminda.  Philena  and  Araminda,  are 
school  teachers,  in  this  county.  Mrs. 
Sandidge  owns  166  acres  of  fine  land, 
all  well  improved. 

Samuel  M.  Burtis,  of  Walnut  Grove, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
May  26,  1858,  in  Schuyler  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Lo- 
rilla  Burtis.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
New  York,  and  his  mother  of  Virginia. 
They  located  near  Kock  Island,  while 
the  Indians  of  the  Black  Hawk  tribe 
held  possession  of  the  country,  and  re- 
turned after  a  time  to  Schuyler  county. 
Our  subject  attended  school  at  the  Sol- 
dier's Home,  an  institution  for  the  chil- 
dren of  Illinois  soldiers,  at  Normal.  He 
then  went  to  Lawrence,  Kansas,  and 
Kansas  City,  and  then  visited  Denver, 
finally  returning  to  Normal,  where  he  at- 
tended one  term  of  school,  and  ran  a 
stationary  engine.  After  some  traveling 
he  finally  settled  in  his  present  location 
and  engaged  in  business.  He  was  mar- 
ried January  5,  1882,  to  Florence  E. 
Hewitt,  and  one  child — Winnifred,  has 
been  born  to  them.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow. 

John  Miller  Jackson,  one  of  the 
prominent  men  of  Macomb  township, 
was  born  in  Orange  county,  Virginia, 
October  11,  1825.  He  attended  school, 
before  he  was  11  years  of  age,  and  re- 
ceived a  fair  common  school  education. 
He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  28 
years  of  age,  learning  the  carpenter's 
trade  meanwhile.  October  11,  1853,  he 


was  married  to  Harriet  Head.  Three 
children  were  born  of  this  marriage,  and 
all  died  in  infancy.  Mrs.  Jackson  died 
September  4,  1862,  and  in  1869,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  J.  Evans.  Mr.  Jackson  owns 
real  estate  in  Macomb  and  Mound,  and 
has  retired  from  active  business.  He  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  M.  E.  church, 
and  has  held  a  number  of  important  of- 
fices in  the  township. 

Simon  Spangler,  of  Macomb  township, 
settled  in  McDonough  county,  Decem- 
ber 1,  1840,  locating  in  Mound  township. 
He  came  to  Macomb  township,  in  1845, 
where  he  bought  80  acres  of  farming 
land  and  seven  acres  of  timber,  in  Wal- 
nut Grove  township.  He  improved  his 
land  himself,  and  made  rails  enough  to 
fence  the  whole  tract,  and  had  the  best 
corn  in  the  neighborhood.  He  built  his 
residence  in  1852,  after  he  had  conquered 
the  wilderness.  For  the  first  seven  years 
he  lived  in  the  log  cabin  on  the  farm. 
He  was  born  December  6,  1800,  and 
died  December  4,  1878.  He  was  one  of 
the  ideal  pioneers,  honest  and  faithful. 
His  father,  G.  F.  Spangler,  was  of  Ger- 
man descent,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the 
old  colonial  Indian  wars.  He  was  a 
noted  marksman  and  wrestler,  and  on 
one  occasion  he  was  captured  by  the  sav- 
ages, but  escaped  after  being  a  prisoner 
six  months.  Our  subject  was  married 
February  22,  1827,  to  Hannah  Jane 
Johnson,  and  nine  children  were  born  to 
them — Mary  Helen,  who  lives  on  the  old 
homestead;  Orlando,  Theodore,  Laura 
Kufus,  Asahel,  Emeline,  Julia,  Ann  and 
Elizabeth.  Mrs.  Spangler  died  May  19, 
1884,  and  her  remains  rest  beside  her 
husband,  in  the  Good  Hope  cemetery. 

James  W.  Jackson,  of  Mound  town- 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


1157 


ship,  son  of  William  H.  and  Ann  Jack- 
son, was  born  December  6,  1830,  in  Vir- 
ginia. He  married  Margaret  E.  Kepple, 
and  lived  on  his  father-in-law's  farm  for 
some  time,  purchasing  from  him  80  acres 
of  land.  He  for  the  first  years  of  his 
married  life,  lived  in  a  small  frame  house 
which  he  built,  and  in  1873,  erected  his 
present  dwelling.  They  have  had  12 
children — Franklin  P.,  Ann,  Charles  W., 
Laura  J.,  Margaret  A.,  Con  well,  Lewis 
A.,  Harriet  Eva,  Ida  May,  Nina  C.,  John 
M.,  Mary  Lizzie  and  James  Eben.  Mr. 
Jackson  joined  the  M.  E.  church  when 
15  years  of  age,  and  has  always  been  an 
active  church  worker.  He  has  served  as 
school  director  off  and  on  for  25  years. 
D.  B.  Keith,  of  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Virginia, 
May  26,  1829.  He  was  the  son  of  James 
and  Phebe  Keith.  In  1858  our  subject 
removed  to  McDonough  county,  and  lo- 
cated in  Walnut  Grove  township.  His 
parents  followed  in  1862.  His  father, 
who  was  born  in  1791,  died  March  5, 
1863,  at  the  home  of  his  son,  D.  B. 
After  the  death  of  her  husband,  his 
mother  went  to  Kansas  to  live  with  her 
children  there,  and  died,  January  24, 
1875.  Mr.  Keith  was  married,  June  30, 
1859,  to  Parthena  Vaughn,  whose  par- 
ents are  yet  living,  and  who  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  on  July  18, 
1884.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keith  are  the  par- 
ents of  seven  children,  viz:  James  P., 
George  W.,  Franklin  J.,  Edmond  E., 
Mary  E.,  and  Martha  P.  Mr.  Keith 
owns  a  tract  of  good  land  and  town  lots. 
He  was  postmaster  for  two  years,  and 
has  been  justice  of  the  peace  eight 
years.  He  is  a  member,  and  has  been 
president  of  the  Anti-Horse-Thief  Ass'n. 


Among  the  representative  men  of 
McDonough  county,  none  stand  higher 
in  the  estimation  of  the  people,  or  of 
those  who  were  intimately  acquainted 
with  him,  than  did  John  Montgomery 
Walker.  He  is  a  son  of  the  well-known 
Cyrus  and  Flora  (Montgomery)  Wal- 
ker, the  former  a  Virginian,  the  latter  a 
Kentuckian,  the  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Polly  Montgomery.  John  M.  was 
was  born  at  Columbia,  Adair  county, 
Kentucky,  April  29,  1820,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1833.  When  a  lad  of  13 
years  of  age,  he  came  to  Macomb  with 
his  father,  where  he  went  to  school,  and 
finally  graduated  at  the  McDonough 
college.  He  was  a  thorough  student. 
Soon  after  he  entered  the  office  of  his 
father,  Cyrus  Walker,  and  read  law  with 
him.  In  1841,  he  applied  for,  and  ob- 
tained, a  license  .to  practice  law  in  Illi- 
nois and  Iowa.  He  opened  a  law  office 
in  Burlington  and  subsequently  prac- 
ticed in  that  city,  and  also  Fort  Madison, 
Iowa,  and  for  many  years  had  an  exten- 
sive practice.  He  was  characterized  as 
a  gentleman  of  fine  qualities  and  a 
lawyer.  He  returned  to  Macomb  after 
several  years,  and  again  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  law.  On  the  13th  of 
July,  1845,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Margaret  Sample,  at  West  Point, 
Iowa.  She  was  noted  as  the  belle  of 
Lee  county.  After  a  companionship  of 
over  18  years,  she  departed  this  life 
August  2,  1863.  She  was  a  devout 
Christian  woman,  a  consistent  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  was 
universally  respected  by  all  who  knew 
her.  A  son  and  two  daughters  had 
passed  on  before  to  the  better  world 
above. 


1158 


HISTOKY  OF  McDONOUGH  COUNTY. 


Aaron  Bennett  was  born  December  1, 
1800,  in  New  London  county,  Connecti- 
cut. He  grew  to  manhood  there,  and  in 
1823,  went  to  Albany  county,  New  York, 
where  he  engaged  in  farming,  and  was 
married  soon  after  to  Rosella  Burroughs. 
Two  sons  were  bdrn  of  this  marriage, 
one  of  whom,  Jefferson,  lived  to  be  26 
years  of  age,  dying  at  his  father's  home 
in  Albany  county.  After  farming  in 
Albany  county  for  a  considerable  time, 
Mr.  Bennett  removed  to  New  York  city, 
living  for  a  short  period  there,  and  in 
Brooklyn  and  New  Jersey.  He  next 
removed  to  Staten  Island,  where  he  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  number  of  years; 
here  his  wife  died.  Returning  to  Al- 
bany county,  he  was  again  married,  No- 
vember 5,  1838,  to  Rosella  B.  Fish. 
After  this  marriage,  Mr.  Bennett  pur- 
chased his  father's-iii-law  farm,  and  re- 
sided there  17  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1855,  the  family  removed  to  DesMoines 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  lived  one 
season.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  Mr. 
Bennett  visited  McDonough  county,Illi- 
npis,  and,  liking  the  country,  bought  a 
farm  there,  on  which  the  family  have 
since  lived.  By  the  second  marriage 
there  were  four  children,  two  of  whom, 
Albert  and  Dayton,  lived  to  be  grown. 
Albert  enlisted  in  August,  1862,  in  com- 
pany I,  78th  Illinois  infantry,  and  died 
at  New  Boston,  Kentucky,  November 
12,  1862,  aged  19  years  and  9  months. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bennett  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

Patrick  O'Meara,  although  he  may  not 
be  what  is  termed  an  old  settler,  yet  the 
subject  of  our  present  sketch  has  spent 
30  years  of  his  life  in  Macomb.  Pat- 
rick O'Meara  is  a  native  of  Ireland, 


having  been  born  in  the  county  Tipper- 
ary,  on  the  17th  day  of  March,  1817. 
His  parents  were  Patrick  and  Fannie 
(Hendee)  O'Meara.  He  obtained  the 
education  his  country  afforded,  and  at 
the  age  of  15,  learned  the  shoemaking 
trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
seven  years.  Knowing  the  chances  of 
obtaining  a  livelihood  in  his*  native 
country  were  very  poor,  he  determined 
to  come  to  America,  the  Eldorado  of  the 
world.  In  1845,  he  landed  in  New  York 
city,  and  from  there  went  to  Springfield, 
Massachusetts.  Two  years  later  he 
came  to  Chicago,  but  finding  that  the 
bulk  of  humanity  was  still  pushing 
westward,  he  resolved  on  trying  his 
chances  in  Macomb,  then  a  sparsely  pop- 
ulated village.  On  the  28th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Elizabeth  Brophy,  at  Canton,  Illinois 
The  fruit  of  this  union  were  six  child- 
ren, two  of  these,  "William  and  Mary, 
joining  the  better  throng  while  yet  in 
infancy.  The  four  surviving  are — Car- 
roll T.,  at' present  engaged  in  the  whole- 
sale paper  business  at  Chicago;  Michael 
J.,  now  in  Winfield,  Kansas,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  busi- 
ness; William  P.,  who  enjoys  the  repu- 
tation of  being  a  most  efficient  sales- 
man in  the  dry  goods  house  of  G.  W. 
Bailey,  at  Macomb,  and  Fannie,  the 
youngest,  who  recently  graduated  from 
the  convent  school  in  Quincy,  Illinois. 
Mr.  O'Meara  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 
Catholic  dogmas,  having  been  born  and 
raised  in  that  faith.  Patrick  O'Meara 
has  earned  his  living  by  the  "sweat  of 
his  face,"  idleness  being  a  repulsive 
trait  in  his  nature,  and  to-day,  although 
not  wealthy,  is  very  comfortably  situated. 


